FORTY-NINE: ALLIANCES

  “You smell foul,” Vira said as Cassius trudged out of the small area that Invictam had managed to isolate. The noblewoman looked clean herself, hair braided and tied into elaborate coils, her dress fell to her knees was white and clean, her skin pink from the effects of scrubbing.

  “I have not had the pleasure of a bath,” Cassius complained as he held his two swords under his arm.

  “Then come with me. My family is preparing for the dungeon and our baths are free. Mother brought forth nearly a dozen tubs. To the Wilds!” Vira said, shaking her head furiously as Cassius followed behind her, growing acutely aware of his stripped down nature next to her. Especially as more than one lewd comment was thrown at the duo as they walked toward the strata camp.

  “Do they truly have nothing better to do?” Vira muttered, a slight blush hinting at her features as she ducked her head.

  “You must ignore them or they only grow worse,” Cassius said from the comfort of [Unyielding Spirit].

  “Easy enough for you. May I lean upon you for a moment? My sisters, I worry for them,” Vira confided, not having waited for Cassius to say anything. He hummed loudly enough for her to hear as she continued on as they worked their way through the legionnaires section of the camp.

  “They are both skilled warriors and the pinnacle of their tier, but so were Leto and Titus. Without you there and your sight skill we would have all died. I warned them and they have found someone to take with them who has a similar skill and they have found others to support them, but still.” Vira trailed off as her brow furrowed worriedly.

  “It is easy for us to risk ourselves rather than watch one who is dear go out and do so,” Cassius said.

  “Do you have anyone who is dear to you? I know so little of you even after our time in the dungeon,” Vira said, turning the subject with the grace of a grain barge.

  “Not truly. When I was in the orphanage there were other children close in age to myself but afterward we all broke apart. It was not until I arrived here that I found others to care for,” Cassius admitted as they reached the wide, colorful tents of the nobles. The area was nearly equal in size to the legionnaire section of the camp even as the nobles had well less than a third of their number. Agricola and Equites had split their quadrant in half perfectly but Cassius could see no difference between the tents.

  Their owners sat and boasted in front of them, calling to each other as they strutted like rutting bulls before one another. No steel was drawn but there was an edge of tension as the two groups looked at one another.

  “I have always had a large family, sisters and brothers all around me. Though most of my brothers have been sent off to marry into other houses and my younger sisters often spend time with different branches of the families. Mother wanted her first three daughters close to her though,” Vira explained as she led him through the nobles camp.

  None of the strata were so crude as to yell the same suggestions that his fellow legionnaires had, but the looks and snide comments were far worse. More than one of the Equites made crude gestures, only partially hidden behind their bodies as they laughed raucously at each other. The scent of wine already heralded a day of revelry and celebration.

  “How is it that they drink already? They act as if it is a festival,” Cassius asked as Vira threw back a tent flap near the edge of the strata quarter. Steam wafted out as moist heat rolled around Cassius, embraced him like an old friend.

  “Quickly, before all the heat is lost,” Vira ordered and Cassius leapt to obey, following her into the dimly lit tent.

  Metal tubs were lined up with lacquered wooden dividers breaking them up. Servants in short shifts with muscular arms walked around with sloshing buckets of water and soap. Muted voices were heard along with the sound of scrubbing and curses on occasion.

  “Some privacy, but not as much as I would have thought,” Vira complained as she led him to the far side of the tent away from the thickest contingent of bathing Agricola family members.

  “Strip, I will hold the swords and send a runner for fresh clothes,” Vira said, pointing to a tub and snapping her fingers loudly to draw attention from the servants. Within moments buckets of steaming water were sloshed into the tub and Cassius was handed a long handled stiff brush along with a bar of grainy soap. He stopped one of the servants as the man tried to toss scented oils into the water.

  “Pius would never let me down if I come back smelling like one of the Blood,” Cassius explained as he drew the divider apart and stripped quickly before lowering himself into the hot water. A groan slipped from his lips as the heat began to work as the tired muscles in his body began to un-tighten as the heat worked its magic.

  “This feels better than I could have dreamed,” Cassius said, eyes already beginning to droop as he slid down so the water would lap around his chin.

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  “I sent a runner for breakfast and water,” Vira said, walking around the divider with a stool and plopping herself down right next to his head.

  Cassius turned and looked at her, blinked slowly twice, and then looked back at his barely concealed nudity.

  “I had thought we would have seen enough of each other at the dungeon?” Cassius said calmly even as his heart beat a bit faster.

  “I told you I wished for a private conversation. Would be impossible yelling over that divider,” Vira said, though there was a hint of that earlier blush as she folded her hands in her lap.

  “Private conversation I am sure. Then my lady, what is it that you wished to talk to me about?” Cassius asked.

  “I have told you more than once, my name is Vira. If I wished for you to call me my lady I would have sent a messenger to you and had you report to me, not taken you to my family's private baths, fed you, and clothed you,” Vira snapped, a bit of anger in her voice.

  “Peace, I meant no insult. If any of your kin were to find us like this, I fear they would not take kindly to it,” Cassius said. Vira laughed, a loud boisterous sound that seemed to take her by surprise, quickly covering her mouth as her body still shook.

  “I am a third daughter, Cassius. I will never lead my bloodline aside from on the battlefield. If I take a paramour or five none will say anything. Mother has other daughters and sons to marry and bind the outer houses to us. Any child I add to the family will just be another blade for Silvia to wield in the future, loved and cherished to be sure, but none will care of the father’s bloodline.”

  “A relief that I will not find my drink or food poisoned by an irate member of your family. Or challenged to a duel,” Cassius said.

  “What fool would challenge you? By now the entire camp will know that we crossed into tier two. Silvia and Aurora will both attempt it today, but I worry about them going together. If they would fall,” Vira leaned back on her stool and her foot bounced in her anxiety. Cassius also noted she did not deny an attempted poisoning.

  “If they are as skilled as you are they will be fine. Now, pass me that brush,” Cassius said.

  “So quickly I go from my lady to your maid,” Vira said with another bark of laughter as she passed him the bar of soap and brush. Cassius tried his best to ignore her as he scrubbed the dirt and sweat off of himself. They had bathed downstream in the treasure room, but cold water and sand had not been as effective as a strong brush with soap.

  Quickly the waters dirtied, darkening and giving Cassius some protection from prying eyes. A servant arrived with a wooden platter with bread, dried meat, fruit and a pitcher of water. They set it down, only once glancing at Vira sitting silently, before departing quickly.

  “What is it you wished to speak to me about? I doubt it was only the worry for you sisters,” Cassius asked as he ripped the bread apart, eating it quickly as he relaxed in the waters.

  “I will warn you this comes not just from me, but that my mother whispered it as well. I should say she suggested it,” Vira admitted as she shuffled on her stool. Cassius just waited, continuing to pull apart the half loaf of bread and gnaw on the meat, enjoying the smoky, flavored taste to it. Even the strata’s traveling rations were better than his normal rations.

  “We had both noticed the general’s attention to you and obviously you have pushed through into the second tier. Mother suggested to me, and I wholeheartedly agree with her, about tying you closer to the family,” Vira said. Cassius froze in mid bite and looked up at Vira and saw her blush was back and had escalated.

  “What do you mean by that?” Cassius asked slowly, caution warning him that he was treading upon dangerous ground.

  “I do not know the full extent of what Invictam has offered you, but my mother has allowed me to offer a limited patronage,” Vira said rapidly.

  “Why me? There will be many tier twos here shortly as more dungeons are found and run. Your own sisters will soon join you. I am nothing but an orphan. No family backs me, no wealth to lean upon, there is nothing for your family to gain by this,” Cassius said.

  “Cassius Null, are you daft?” Vira asked, eyes narrowed at him, anger stirring across her features.

  “What?” Cassius asked.

  “In less than a month you have gone from a freshly minted legionnaire into a second tier warrior. You have fought and won multiple battles against foes that should leave you dead. You have managed to attract the attention of a man who earned the title Imperator who I found you training with this morning. A plethora of wealth now adorns your hips, trophies from victories that should have been beyond you,”

  Vira said, voice rising as she pointed at his two swords.

  “The skills you have acquired are powerful and rare. You are a star ascending, regardless of your background or lack of wealth. My mother is not a fool. She wishes to ensure she can bathe in your light.” Vira had started to lean forward during her tirade, ending peering down at him and seemed to notice her awkward position.

  “Do you need an answer now?” Cassius asked as he tried to think of what it was that had just been laid before him. She was right in the facts, but it was not like he stood supreme as some god of war. It had been luck and grit for the most part that he was still on his feet while other more experienced and skilled soldiers were buried in mother earth.

  “Of course. The offer stands for as long I breathe. I…I wanted this as well, Cassius. You have the makings of a good man and fortune has shown you her wealth, it is true. But regardless of that, I enjoy your company, as quiet and sullen as you can be,” Vira finished in a rush, rising from the stool and departing from the bathing area before Cassius could say anything.

  Clothes were draped across it a moment later with a towel. A servant came around, a tall man who held a bucket in his hand and a bored look to his eyes. Cassius rose with a sigh of reluctance to leave the cooling but still warm waters. His sigh became a hiss as cold water rushed over his head and stripped him of the lather and dirty water. Cassius grumbled as he got out of the tub, wide awake now as he dried himself off and pulled his fresh clean clothes on.