Slave Girl 2: Chapter 112 (Patreon)

Our decision to leave seemed to act as the first tumbling stone of an avalanche as through the rest of the day a sense of the coming completion of harvest permeated the mood of the men and women of Horatius’ farm.  The end was so close now and change was afoot.  The permanent staff and family were already beginning to look toward the next phases of the farm cycle while the hired freemen and slaves began to talk about their next jobs or returning home or whatever it might be.  Some already knew that they would be back for next year’s harvest while others hadn’t a clue what the future would bring.  Among my crew, by far the tightest of the working teams, a real sense of finality was settling in.  From our challenging beginnings as a group of inexperienced workers working under an inexperienced leader to now where we were well established as the top crew by a country mile we had come a long way these past six weeks.  We worked together, ate together, laughed together, trained and fought together, and most of them even lived together.  In all the shared time and sweat and toil we’d not only become good friends, but good men as well.

Except for Toke whose warm side was saved exclusively for Collywaddle and, in a weird way, Aristocles the others shared a bond of manly companionship that even I was not fully privy to.  Both because I was the boss and because of the extra time they spent together when I was busy with my women the original five had formed a friendship that I had faith would see them through many summers to come.  These five men from very different backgrounds had been bound together in a beautiful new brotherhood.  They were socializing together, making future plans together, and they’d even gotten dates to the harvest ball together, with a little help from Cassie.  So strong was their bond that the three freemen among them, Lucas, Julian, and Gyasi, had made a pact to pool their earnings and, with some aid from Horatius, try to purchase Oeneus and Quique from their owner in Grumentum with the goal of eventually freeing them.  When I learned of it I promised to chip in my entire end of season bonus to the cause, a generous offer that I might not have made had I known of the coming addition to my family.  But my word had been given and I would see it done.  Besides, it was the right thing to do.  I was leaving here to see my beloved and my child live free.  It felt good to know that something I had done here would see these good men free behind me as well.

That gather sense of change carried through into that evening when, as we all milled about on the platform warming up, Toke took the center of the space to announce in a firm, bold voice.  “I am done.”

A disappointed murmur runs through the rest of us as we look to each other then back to him.  Even Rosa from her blanket is heard to let out a gasp.

“We still have a few more days.”  I say.  “Then another two days until the ball.  Horatius is not releasing the workers until we feast and celebrate.”

“I am done.”  He says with ironclad finality.  I might have argued on our behalf further but at this point I knew just how futile that would be.  He looks about to each of us.  “I have provided you with all of the tools for you to continue on together or on your own.  Hispanians, African, even you Romans, I have never trained with a finer group.  It has been my honor to guide you and teach you and watch as the warriors inside of you reveal themselves.  It might not mean much in the gods grand schemes, but you’ve all given this old berserker something to be proud of.”  

He turns his head toward Gyasi and Cassie.  “Gyasi, your speed and deftness with the bow is a credit to your people.  Find yourself a swift steed and you will be a menace to every enemy in sight.  Cassie, I’ve never seen your better with your accuracy at range and your tenacity on the platform was the equal and more as compared to your brothers.  You would have made a shield maiden second to none.”  As they are still muttering their surprise at Toke’s praise he had already moved on.  “Julian.  Our maul master.”  He smiles.  “I never thought I’d see a barbarian’s heart beating inside of a Roman chest.”  Julian glances about, not sure if he’d just been insulted or complimented.  “Lucas.”

At his name Lucas takes a step forward.  “Wait!  As Quin said, we still have time.  We…”

Toke lets out a low chuckle and slaps a hand down on Lucas’ wide shoulder.  “Of all of us you are the one.  The one who will see blood and glory.  The soldier’s song lives inside of you.”  He says as he gives Lucas a shake.  “For you I ask you to remember but one thing.”  He looks around.  “Remember us.  This time.  This place.  This brotherhood.  Don’t let yourself become just another pair of hobnailed sandals marching to an Emperor’s drum.”  With a slap to Lucas’ chest he looks him in the eyes.  “Not all that oppose you is your enemy.  Not all that wear your colors is your friend.  Hold onto your honor more firmly than your sword.”

“I…I don’t know what that means.”   Lucas whispers.

“You will.”  Toke turns and approaches Quique and Oeneus.  “My fellow slaves, stand proudly.”  He places a hand on each their shoulders.  “On the fields you traded your sweat to fatten another man’s purse.  Out there you were but a tool.  But here in this square you trained like men.  Trading work for skill and pain for virtue.  What you have earned here no Roman can ever take from you.  Quique, with your cunning and your staff you are fearsome at range.  Oeneus, with your knives and speed you are a nightmare in close quarters.  If you must fight for your honor or freedom, then fight!  You are ready.  Use your wits and mind your distance and you will find victory.”

“Uh…yeah.”  Quique nods.  “We’ll do that.”

“Thank you Toke.”  Oeneus says.  “Thank you for everything.”

He nods then at last the old gladiator turns to me.  Stepping right up on me he thuds his chest into mine so hard he nearly knocks me back a step.  I hold my ground as his icy gaze pierces deep into my soul.  For me he has but one whispered word.  “Tomorrow.”

“Tomo…?”  My eyes widen.  “No!  Not yet.  The harvest is not yet…”

His growl so low that only I can hear him he repeats.  “Here.  Tomorrow night.  When Hercules stands high in the South sky.”

“Tomorrow night?”  I play for time.  “No.  Wait.  It’s a new moon.  It is Nox’s time.  It is an ill omen when Luna is hidden.”

“Tomorrow.”

“Toke.  Things have changed.  There are things…you don’t know.”

He shakes his head no.  Things might have changed for me but his will was set in stone.

“After the ball.”  I try to bargain.  “Let us at least have that.  Let us end this as friends.”

“No.”  Before my eyes I watch as a truly terrifying transformation comes over the northman.  In the span of ten seconds I watch his cold gaze harden even further as, in his eyes, I shift from pupil to foe.  In that moment I was everything Roman, everything Empire, everything holding him down, everything that ripped away his old life from him, and the only thing standing between him and the throat of his master.  As the others, sensing the tension rise, gather around us he repeats one last time.  “Tomorrow.”

Chapter 113