Slave Girl 2: Chapter 52 (Patreon)

My foe grimaces in obvious annoyance at the sudden appearance of the law, not from fear of consequence but from disappointment that our battle had to end.  His body relaxes and he rises out of his combat stance to stand with his hands on top of his head.  The man who had Aristocles pinned and was choking him out lets him go.  Aristocles falls to his knees clutching at his throat as he coughs and wheezes.  As for Max, he continues to hold onto his opponent and keep the poor bastard pinned to the ground.  Flashing a cocky grin my way the man with the missing tooth steps out into the street with his arms raised in a gesture of surrender.  However, his demeanor changes entirely as the guards approach near enough to see them and his smile turns to a look of concern.

The head sticking up taller amongst the town guard helms told me that Cal was okay.  He had found a patrol and the two who had chased him off were nowhere to be seen.  Leading the group of half a dozen guardsmen was square jawed man with a hard scowl that looked etched from granite.  Around his shoulders he wore a crimson cape which was clasped with a large round brooch that displayed a scale.  It was the symbol of Justitia, goddess of justice.

“Amphion?  Wh-what are you doing here?”  The previously cocky man says.

“Ah, Pero.”  Says the guard captain.  “Why am I not surprised to see you.”  He looks to the wall of the building, the spilled paint, and the rest of the scene.  “Now why’d you go and do a silly thing like this, eh Pero?”

“I didn’t!  We didn’t!  They did!”

“And you just stepped in to help, huh?”  The captain points to the man under Max.  “Get Rasmus to his feet.”

“What are you doing here?”  Pero says again, the slur of alcohol still thick in his words.  “This isn’t your usual patrol.”

“And what business is my usual patrol to you?  Mmm?”  Amphion says with a knowing glare.  He then looks to me.  “Is this your building?”

“Mine.”  Croaks Aristocles as he struggles to his feet with the help of the walking stick.  “Right here.”

“Ah yes.  I recognize you.”  As his men take Pero, Rasmus, and the slave I’d been fighting into custody the captain takes everybody’s name then listens to Aristocles’ account of the events of the night.  The basic facts were correct though he wisely skips the part about us purposely waiting here in ambush.  Instead he tells a story about me being a new landowner in need of some copper work and us meeting after hours to discuss it then hitting it off and telling tales into the night over some wine.  I had to hand it to Arisotcles.  That part was a lie, but it was the most truthful lie I’d ever heard.

As Aristocles talks, Max and Cal adding to his account here and there, I note the northerner staring at me.  His hands were bound behind his back just like the others he stood with but unlike them there was no malice in his gaze.  If I had to guess regret and respect were the emotions most near to the surface along with a sort of grim sadness.  From his perspective there was unfinished business between us.  I don’t know why…but I felt for him.

When there is a pause I add my voice.  “The slave was just following commands.”  I nod to the slave.  “He said it was the lash if he didn’t aid them.”

“Might be his head for attacking a citizen.”  The captain says.

“Death?”

“Crucifixion if the praetor wishes to make an example of him.”

I ponder that sentence as a sour feeling turns in my gut.  My next words might just determine a man’s fate between life and death, and I did not care for that feeling.

“I…I threw the first blow.  He was defending himself.”

Amphion studies me.  “You sure about that?”

“He was with them.  I thought he would attack, but he hadn’t yet.  I threw the first punch.”

Aristocles gives me a look, curious as to my motivation for saying this, as the captain shrugs and says.  “It will be noted.”  I worried I might be arrested next but he didn’t seem the least bit interested in charging a citizen for an assault on a slave.

They were just wrapping things up when another group of town law come marching up at double time to see what was happening.  I notice a quick look between this new guard captain and Pero before the two commanders address each other.

“What’s going on here?”

“Vandalism of property and assault for starters.”  Amphion says.  “I’ve got the scene.”

“Uh…this is my usual patch.  Perhaps I could…”

“I’ve got the scene.”  He says again firmly then tells his men.  “Take these fool drunks away.”

“Vincentius!”  Pero says as he is prodded to move.  “Get us out of this!”

“Quiet you fool!”  The other captain snaps and shuts Pero up with a glare before turning to Amphion.  “Could we talk about this?  Now.”

There is a moment of tense silence before an answer comes.

“You can have your say Vincentius, in front of the watch commander at end of night report.”

Vincentius grinds his teeth.  Seeing the battle of wills being lost Pero steps forward only to be restrained by the guards.  “You’re making a big mistake Amphion!  When Regula…”

Pero is silenced with a stiff back hand.  “Quiet dog.  Save your talking for the Praetor.”  Amphion says with no stomach for what either Vincentius or Pero had to say right now.  “The word of such outstanding citizens with such impeccable reputations as you against these three taxpaying business owners and a newly landed estate owner?  I am sure you’ll get a fair hearing.”  He nods to his men.  “Get’em outta here.”

I have to stop myself from laughing at the impotent fury in the faces of Vincentius, Pero, and Rasmus.  The northerner offers me a single nod of acknowledgment, which I return.  The other troop of town guards head off in the opposite direction, their captain still visibly stewing at this turn of events.

“Come down at your earliest convenience.”  Amphion says to Aristocles.  “We’ll need a more fulsome statement.”

“Yes sir!”  Aristocles says, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.  “How’s the day after tomorrow?  I am just so busy right now.”

The captain smirks.  “That will do fine.”  He gives each of us a nod.  “A good night to you citizens.  Hail the Emperor.”

“Hail the Emperor!”  We all say as one.

We stand together and watch them disappear into the night.  It had looked grim there for a moment but it had ended as well as it could have.  We were free, they were arrested, and beyond a few bruises and some paint on the wall little harm had been done.  And I had little doubt that that no nonsense guard captain would see to it that at least some measure of justice was done.  Amadeus had really come through.  I would have to find time to thank him as well as stop by Justitia’s shrine to give offerings to her as well.  We might have have kicked a hornet’s nest here tonight but sometimes you had to take a few stings to rid yourself of pests.  I prayed that tonight would be the end of this.

“Good job.”  I say, breaking the silence.  “It was looking a bit dire there for a moment but we did it.”

“A bit dire!?”  Says Aristocles rubbing his neck.  “That thug damn near ended me.”

“Yeah.”  I say as I wince and rub my tender shoulder where I had hit the stone ground.  “Bad assumptions on my part and a flimsy plan on ours.  Lessons have been learned.”

“That was amazing!”  Max exclaims, his face alight despite the scratches along the left side of it.  “Those idiots will think twice the next time they want to fuck around with us.  Ha ha!  What a battle!”

“Except for me.”  Cal laughs nervously and gulps.  “I ran like Mercury!”

“And bravely too!”  Max slaps his friend’s arm.  “With those two hounds on your trail.  Without you it coulda been bad.”  He looks to me.  “From what I could see on the ground that fight you had was incredible!  Arena type shit.”

“He was an ex-gladiator.”  I say as I look down the darkened street where the northman had disappeared.  Muttering quietly to myself I say.  “Pan-kra-ti-on.  Huh.”

“Rrrr!”  Max shakes out his limbs and starts to pace.  His blood was still up from the combat.  “This calls for a celebration!  Let me provide the wine my brothers in arms.”

I chuckle and shake my head.  “I wish I could Max but I’ve got miles to travel and work in the morning.  Another time.”

“I’ll hold you to that.  Aristocles?”

“Not me.”  He shakes his head.  “I’d rather not be reminded, thanks.  I just want a pillow.”

“Bed?  After that?  Gah!”  Max chortles.  “Looks like it’s you and me buddy.”

“As usual.”  Smiles Cal.  He takes my arm and we shake.  “Thank the gods you were here Quin.  We’d have been doomed without you.”

“He started it!”  Aristocles balks.

“And finished it.”  Cal retorts.  “It was good to meet you.”

“Same.”  I say to him.

“Drop by next time you’re in town.”  Max says and takes my arm for a shake next.  “I will pour you that drink.”

“I shall.  Maximilian, Calogerus, take care.”

“And you Quintus.”  They say.  “See you around Ari.”

“See ya.  And…thanks.  I owe you boys one.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”  Max says.  With that the mismatched pair walk off into the night.  “So what happened after you ran?”

“You know that saying that I can run scared than you can angry?  It’s true!  By the time I rounded the corner…”

As their voices fade away I turn to Aristocles.  “I’ve got to go.”

He nods.  “Yeah.  Hey…uh, you want some company for the road?”

“Company?”

“It’s not safe traveling alone this time of night.”  He says.  “If you don’t mind a guest…”

I grin.  “You miss her.”

He rolls his eyes.  “Pfff.”

“You do.”  I say.  “You feel it.  More than anything, you feel that.”  I smirk.  “Is that real enough for you, skeptic?”

“Shaddup.”

“No shame in it.  Everybody needs somebody.”  After the hard fists of the northman I certainly was yearning the soft caress of my Lady.  “I know Colly won’t be happy until she has her ‘Mathter’ in her arms.”

“You really are a soft one.”  He gripes.  “Soft in head and heart.”

I laugh.  “If you’re coming, let’s go.”

Despite his scornful words his actions speak volumes as he hastens to put away his work and lock up the shop so that he could join me and see his little green ‘dumpling’ tonight.  Forgoing a trip home for clothes or toiletries Aristocles is ready in mere minutes in just the clothes on his back and the stick in his hand.  Walking swiftly and silently we set out under Nox’s heavy blanket, each man thinking only of the warm bed and warmer woman that awaited him.

Chapter 53