Alexandria sighed with relief. “Thank you,” she said again.

They both turned their heads as quick footsteps approached from outside. Octavian came running in, his face flushed and excited.

“There are horses in the stables!” he announced, making them both smile.

“It's been a long time since there were boys in this old place. It will be good to have him here.”

Octavian looked from one to another, shifting his feet nervously. “I'm staying, then?” he asked quietly.

Tubruk nodded. “Lots of hard work waiting for you, lad.”

The little boy leapt in pleasure. “It's beautiful here!” he said.

“He hasn't been outside the city since he was a baby,” Alexandria said, embarrassed. She took Octavian's hands in hers and held him still, her expression serious.

“Now, you do as you're told. Your mother will come out to see you as soon as you're settled. Work hard here and learn all the skills you can. Understand?”

Octavian nodded, beaming at her. She let him go.

“Thank you, Tubruk. I can't tell you how much this means to me.”

“Look, lass,” he said gruffly. “You are a freewoman now. You've walked the same path that I have. Even if you hadn't fought in the riot, I'd help if I could. We look out for each other now and then.”

She looked at him with sudden understanding. For most of her young life, he had been the estate manager. She had forgotten he knew as much about slavery as she did, that they shared a bond she had never realized. She walked with him to the gate, the tension vanishing from her.

Brutus and Renius were there, leading two young mares and talking in low tones. Brutus looked sharply at Alexandria as he caught sight of her. Without a word, he handed the reins to Renius and rushed over to her, lifting her off the ground in a great hug.

“Gods, girl, it's been years since I saw you last.”

“Put me down,” she replied furiously, and Brutus almost dropped her at the icy tone.

“What's wrong? I thought you'd be pleased to see me after-”

“I won't be handled like one of your slave girls,” she snapped. Her cheeks burned. Part of her wanted to laugh at her sudden attack of dignity, but everything was happening too quickly. Mute with embarrassment, she held up her hand, bare of the iron finger ring that marked a slave.

Brutus laughed at her. “I didn't mean to offend, mistress,” he said, bowing low.

She was tempted to kick him, but with Octavian and Tubruk looking on, she had to bear his cheerful mockery. Insufferable, as he always had been. A memory of something Julius had said flashed into her mind, and as Brutus rose she swung to slap his face.

He began to move to hold her wrist, then clearly thought better of it and let her connect. His smile never faded.

“Whatever that was for, I hope it's over now,” he said. “I-”

“Julius told me what you boasted about me,” she broke in. This was all wrong. She wanted to sit and laugh with this young wolf of a man that she'd known, but every expression and word he spoke seemed to enrage her.

Brutus's face cleared in sudden understanding, “He said I boasted…? Oh. The clever bastard. No, I never did. He thinks ahead, does Julius. When we see him, I'll have to let him know how well it came out. He'll love this. Slapping me in front of Renius! Beautiful.”

Renius cleared his throat. “I'll take your horse to the stables until you've finished playing,” he muttered, leading the mares away into the gathering gloom.

Alexandria frowned after him, noting the way he wrapped both sets of reins around his wrist with the ease of practice. No welcome from him.

Without warning, tears pricked into her eyes. Except for Octavian, nothing seemed to have changed since the night of the attack on the estate. They were all there and she was the only one who seemed to feel the years behind them.

Tubruk shifted from one foot to the other, looking down at Octavian's fascinated expression.

“Close your mouth, boy. There's work to be done before you sleep tonight.” He nodded to Alexandria. “I'll leave you two alone to talk while I show Octavian his duties.” He shook his head at Brutus, then led Octavian away with a firm grip.

Left alone in the darkening courtyard, Brutus and Alexandria spoke at the same time, broke off, and started to speak again.

“Sorry,” Brutus tried again.

“No, I acted a fool. It's been such a long time since I was here and with Tubruk and you… and Renius; it all came back.”

“I never told Julius we'd slept together,” he continued, stepping closer. She was very beautiful, he noted, one of those women who looked best in the twilight. Her eyes were large and dark and the way her head tilted up at him made him want to kiss her. He remembered how they had, once, before Marius had given him his papers for the legion post in Greece.

“Tubruk didn't say Julius was here,” she said.

He shook his head. “We're still waiting for news. He was ransomed in Africa, but he should be on his way back by now. Nothing is really the same as it was, you know. You're a freewoman, I've been a centurion, and Renius has lost the ability to juggle.”

She giggled suddenly at the image and he took the moment to gather her in once more. This time, she returned the embrace, though when he tried to kiss her, she turned her head slightly away.

“I can't even give you a proper welcome?” he said in astonishment.

“You are a terrible man, Marcus Brutus. I haven't been pining away waiting for you, you know,” she replied.

“I have. I'm half the man I used to be,” he replied with a sad shake of his head. “I want your permission to see you, and if I don't get it, I may waste away altogether.”

He sighed like a broken bellows and they laughed together easily, without embarrassment.

Before she could answer, a call sounded from the lookout on the gate, making Alexandria jump.

“Riders and cart approaching,” the slave called down.

“How many?” Brutus responded, stepping away from her. All trace of his flirtation vanished, and if anything, Alexandria preferred his new manner to the old.

“Three men on horses-one cart pulled by oxen. The men are armed.”

“Tubruk! Renius! Primigenia to the gate,” Brutus ordered. Soldiers came out of the estate buildings, a file of twenty men in armor that made Alexandria gasp.

“So Marius's old legion is with you now,” she said, wonderingly.

Brutus flashed a glance at her. “Those who survived. Julius will need a general when he returns,” he said. “Best if you don't go near the gate until we know what this is about, all right?”

As she nodded he left her, and away from him, she felt suddenly alone. Memories of blood came back to her and she shuddered delicately, moving toward the light of the buildings.

Tubruk came out from the stables with Octavian beside him, forgotten. Leaving the boy to wander around the stone courtyard, the estate manager climbed the gate steps and looked down at the clatter of arriving soldiers.

“Late for a visit, isn't it?” he called down. “What is your business here?”

“We come from Cato to see Marcus Brutus and the gladiator Renius,” a deep voice rumbled back.

Tubruk looked down, nodding in satisfaction as he saw his archers were in position around the courtyard. They were well drilled and anyone who tried to assault the house would be destroyed in seconds. Brutus had his soldiers in a defensive ring as Tubruk signaled to him to open the gate.

“Move slowly now, if you value life and health,” he warned Cato's men.

The gate opened and closed quickly as the cart and riders came in. Covered by drawn bows, the riders dismounted slowly, tension showing. Renius and Brutus approached them, and the leader nodded as he recognized the one-armed gladiator.

“My master, Cato, believes a mistake has been made. His son was wrongly sworn to Primigenia when in fact he was promised to another legion. My master understands how youthful enthusiasm could have carried him away in the Campus Martius, but regrets that he cannot serve with you. The cart is full of gold in compensation for the loss.”