War Raven: Barbarian of Rome Chronicles Volume One (18 page)

“If you join me, I’ll have an
amphora
of the inn’s best Falerian. And, please could you call me Guntram, it’s my real name,” he replied, and before she could answer he’d summoned Fagus to their table.

“But, I have never tasted wine...Guntram.” A strange excitement made her stomach jump. “And Fagus forbids me to drink with the customers.”

“Tonight, he will make an exception.”

Fagus raised an eye-brow as the gladiator ordered the wine, together with two cups and a jug of fresh water. Silent, he swiftly returned with the drinks.

Chayna watched Guntram pour a full cup for himself and a half measure for her. He topped hers up with an equal portion of water, commenting, “The Falerian can go to your head if you are not used to it. The water will help.”

She took a sip, grimaced slightly, then said, “Thank you. It’s not...unpleasant.”

“When I was last here, I didn’t have a chance to tell you something,” said Guntram.

“Please, tell me now,” Chayna prompted.

“You told me about your mother,” he began. “It was a terrible thing Chayna, and I understand why you must hate everything to do with the arena.”

Looking into his eyes, Chayna saw the earnestness written there.

“I hate it too – the killing of men who are strangers, and the courting of the stinking mob and the victory parade. Even my Roman name,” said Guntram. “I despise it all, but I have no choice, not if I want to live and maybe one day win my freedom.” He let out a sigh. “Do you understand, Chayna?”

“Yes,” she answered. She saw the relief on his face and her heart went out to him. “I think I do.”

“I wanted to tell you, for you to understand.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling.

“How long have you worked in this shit-hole?” he enquired, sitting back in his chair.

“Ten years,” said Chayna. “I was barely eight when my first master sold me. He had no choice, because he had large gambling debts. It was Fagus’s father, Gaius, who bought me, to help another woman here. She was old, with bad knees.”

“How did he treat you?”

“He was not unkind,” Chayna told him. “It was difficult at first, when I was young. But, it got easier as I grew older, and now I’m a grown woman.”

“That I can see.” A smile stretched to the corners of his mouth, and Chayna felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

“When Gaius died, Fagus came from Cumae to take over the business. I was barely thirteen when he came, and the old woman was sold.” Recalling, Chayna felt her chest tighten. “Her name was Maria, and she was sold to one of the laundries. I heard a whisper afterwards that the work killed her. Fagus told me that he couldn’t afford to keep her on. As you can see, he guzzles any profit he makes.”

“Things must have been hard for you,” he said, “after.”

“It was just the two of us then, and, it’s true that things didn’t get any easier. Yet, I knew that there were others whose lives were much harder. Things might have been worst for me.”

“Could they?”

Their eyes met and his gaze made her look away, worried that her face would betray the brittle sincerity of her words.

“Why didn’t Fagus sell you too?” he asked, his brow creased. “Young and strong, I’m sure you’d have fetched a good price. More than enough to buy someone to take your place, and with coin to spare.”

Avoiding his look, Chayna shrugged her shoulders in mock puzzlement.

“Or maybe because you were pretty?”

“I’m flattered that you find me so, but Fagus has no head for good business, and the wine doesn’t help.” She shifted nervously in her seat, her unease mounting as she sensed that her answers did not convince him. As he took a deep swallow of the Falerian, she seized the chance to move the talk away from herself. “Can I ask how old you are? Because it’s said that your skills far outweigh your years.”

He stared into his cup, seemingly held by contents. “I am twenty years old, as near as matters.”

“Did you have any family in Germania?”

“My family...” She saw his fingers tighten around the cup. “My family were killed.”

Chayna was taken aback by the pain in his voice. Swallowing hard, she felt compelled to continue. “I’m sorry about your family, Guntram. I’ve heard travellers say that the people of Germania marry very young, and wondered perhaps if you had a wife and child?”

“No wife, no child.” His words were edged with bitterness. “But, there was a brother, a boy, and someone else – someone who trusted in me. They may live, but there’s no way of knowing. One day I’ll search for them, after I deal with the one responsible for the deaths of my people.”

She felt his anger wash over her in waves.

“Guntram, I’m so sorry,” her hand reached across the table to rest on his, “I see the memory causes you great pain, and I understand the feeling of great loss.”

He looked away, but his hand remained.

“And what about your future, after you’ve done these things?” she asked, trying to sound cheerful.

His eyes met hers again, and they’d lost some of the hardness.

“A woman to share my life and lots of children. Boys to hunt with and girls to fuss over me.” He pinched his chin thoughtfully. “When the time is right, I’d like to return to my village with others who are willing, and rebuild what’s been destroyed. Perhaps, I’ll plant some grapes and produce a fine, German Falerian.” A weak smile emerging, he took a sip of his wine. “It would be a welcome change to mead, and perhaps make me rich too?”

Chayna winced at the mention of children, but managed to respond, “They are good things to wish for.”

Guntram cleared his throat. “There is another matter I’d like to discuss with you.”

“I see.” Chayna’s eyebrows lifted.

“It’s the Emperor’s birthday in three days, and, as you know, there will be a holiday throughout the Empire.”

“Yes,” Chayna said. “It’ll be a day of great celebration, and trade will be good.”

Guntram seemed to catch his breath. She shuffled her feet, a little nervous.

“The
ludus
is granting us a day free from training, and I wondered if you would like to spend that day with me? We could leave the city for a while.”

“You mean just the two of us?” she asked in disbelief.

“Yes.”

“Are...are you sure?”

“The choice is yours,” Guntram said, looking uncomfortable. “You don’t have to say yes...I would not want that.”

“I never thought you would ask such a thing.” Chayna’s teeth flashed into a smile. “It would be my first whole day away from the inn, and it would be so strange!”

“If your answer is no, out with it,” Guntram pressed. “I’ve no hold over you.”

“No! I, I mean yes! It would please me very much to spend a day with you, but surely Fagus wouldn’t allow it?”

“If it could be arranged?”

“Oh yes! Yes! You’re not teasing me are you?”

“No, I’m not,” he said. “And don’t worry about Fagus -

I’ll make it worth his while.”

Chayna’s smile spread even wider, her eyes glinting like a child’s on getting a new toy. She rose swiftly and moved around the table, close to him. One hand placed firmly at the back of his neck and coaxing his face towards her, she kissed him softly on the lips.

“So, we’ll meet in three days time beyond the Vesuvius Gate, where the aqueduct enters the town, near the necropolis.” Red-faced, Guntram managed to blurt out. “Do you know it?”

“I know it well. And I’ll wear my new dress, and bring a basket of food and something to drink.” She could hardly contain her joy. “It’ll be wonderful!”

“Fagus will speak with the guards at the gate,” Guntram said, “so you won’t have any trouble leaving the city.” Seemingly lost for further words, he drained his cup and stood up. Bidding her a quick good-night, he made his way to the entrance.

Chayna watched him turn around at the street and she waved. He half-raised his hand in return. Then he was gone.

She continued to wave, not sure if she was dreaming. With her heart still racing, she touched her fingers to her lips, to the place where the taste of the kiss still lingered.

* * *

Chapter XXI

REDEMPTION

“Love is the breath that sustains us.”

Publius Syrus

She headed northwards from the city’s main crossroads, hurrying past places she’d known since a child. Thrilled, Chayna barely noticed the brightly coloured walls of familiar shops with their food stalls and fabric displays, the quaint flower gardens, splendid temples and busy bath houses. The day was bright but cool, and people were already beginning to fill their pots and jars at the city’s water fountains, and all around her the first pillars of cooking smoke drifted upwards above the rooftops into a clear sky.

Chayna approached the Vesuvius Gate, noting the slight ground swell where the great aqueduct passed under the city wall. Entering the gate-way, she identified herself to the guards on duty, and unhindered, she passed through into a sacred area free from the clutter of buildings in respect to the numerous stone deities located there. She proceeded into the Necropolis, weaving her way through the tombs, where parcels of food and bunches of wild flowers littered many of the graves, and statues shaped from white marble followed her with dead eyes. A warm gust of wind sent a squall of leaves dancing around her, prickling the bare bottoms of her legs. She pictured a waiting Guntram, smiled, and then quickened her pace.

There were few travellers on the dirt road she followed north from the Necropolis. It ran straight towards the great mountain, through fields and olive groves separated by a network of irrigation ditches and low stone walls. Directly ahead of her a distinctive figure rose to his feet and waved from under the shade of a plane tree.

“We’ve picked a good day to get out of the city,” Guntram greeted as she approached.

“It’s a beautiful day, and I’ve brought some food and something to drink,” she began. “Fagus won’t miss it, and if he does, I don’t think he’ll grumble. You’ve made quite an impression on him.” Grinning wickedly, she indicated the large straw basket cradled under one arm.

Guntram responded with a smile, and then added after a moment. “The dress is...” He appeared to tussle with the words. “A good choice.”

Her raven hair was tied back with a ribbon the same blood-red colour as the dress, and the compliment reminded her of what her mother used to say – that the colour favoured the complexion of her people.

“Thank you, I bought it with the money you gave-”

“Shall we follow the road to the mountain?” Guntram cut in.

“Yes,” she said, knowing how he felt about her master.

“The view is good, and there will be more shade,” he told her. “And we’ll catch the sea-breeze if the day turns hot.”

She fell into step at his side, quickening her small stride to match his own.

An hour’s steady walk brought them onto the mid-slopes of the mountain, where lush vegetation was replaced by a cover of cypress and pine. Silent, they sat down beneath the trees’ cool shade, enjoying the magnificent view. The ascent had been tough, without any stops, and Chayna breathed hard, licking the beads of sweat from her top lip.

Without a word Guntram left her side to forage around in the nearby undergrowth. He returned shortly afterwards with two handfuls of berries, which they eagerly consumed.

“The climb is not as hard as people think,” Guntram teased.

“Not for you maybe!” Chayna said brightly. “But the view is worth it.”

She suddenly pointed. “There! See the path of the great aqueduct!” Her outstretched arm traced the thread of the water-channel as it left the town, fleeing the city walls to move underground in long branching channels. “It’s said to be the longest aqueduct in the Empire, greater than the one that serves the city of Rome itself!” she exclaimed, excited. “My mother told me that it spans the plains of Campania, supplying fresh water to all the towns on the bay. Isn’t it wonderful Guntram?”

Guntram slowly nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Chayna switched her attention to the wide arc of the bay.

After a moment, she identified the Misenum headland with its scatter of small islands, and in the near distance the Island of Capri. Rumour had it that the island was a retreat for emperors, as well as a more permanent home for those incurring the Emperor’s wrath. She spotted small fishing boats plying their trade on the plane of the bay, and further out, broad bellied grain ships from Egypt making headway for southern ports. Out beyond it all, spanning the far horizon, was a fine line where the sea’s deep blue met the paler shade of the sky.

A breeze was picking up from the north–west, and its coolness brushed her cheek. She looked at Pompeii far below, imagining the wind funnelling through its narrow streets, stirring the canopies of shops and bars and ruffling the leaves of the tall plane trees near the amphitheatre. She turned to Guntram, smiling. His face was very grave and she asked, “You look so serious. What are you thinking?”

“Has there been a man in your life?” He fired the question at her.

Surprised by his sudden frankness, she enquired, “Why do you ask such a thing?”

“I see you’re unhappy to speak of it, then.”

Chayna paused, recognising his wounded look, and then replied, “I’ve not given my heart to any man.” Her face flushed hotly, and she delved into her basket, eager to elude the scrutiny of his gaze. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “I’ve brought fresh bread, olives and some cheese. I’m afraid there’s only water to drink.”

“A gladiator is always hungry,” replied Guntram, smiling again.

The simple meal was consumed in silence before Chayna spoke. “I’ve always enjoyed learning about the lives of people in other lands.” Her eyes sparkled as she summoned the courage to ask, “Would you tell me about your people Guntram?”

Guntram scratched his cheek, as if weighing up her request.

“My people are warriors, born of warriors.” His eyes assumed a distant aspect as he spoke. “Our enemies say we are a people who love the way of the sword. Perhaps the many wars fought amongst ourselves and against outsiders have made us this way? Maybe it’s because we value our freedom above all else?”