The Pompeiian Horse

15. PENALTY

JUNE

"You sure we can trust these mercenaries?"

"Baby cousin, these men have done countless 'jobs' for me before," Pompo said, squeezing Janus with the arm around his shoulders. "You both will be far from here in no time."

"Thank you. I'll find a way to repay you soon."

"Don't be silly. We're family. Who can we count on if not each other?" Pompo released Janus. "All you need to do it wait by the pass, and they will bring him to you. There'll be no trail to follow by the time the guards realize what happened."

"And you're sure they understood they could not tell him who's behind his rescue?" Janus asked. One thing was to plan an attack on an enemy and accomplish your goal, and another to wait for others to do the job and not be worried about it.

"Yes, yes. They have clear instructions. Equus won't know you organized it until he's in front of you. I told them to knock him out if necessary."

"Why would you do that?"

"Are you serious? I need those men alive in the future. An uncooperative gladiator is not an easy thing to handle."

"All right," Janus said. "I'm going to organize my things." He put one hand on each of Pompo's shoulders. "You're the best, cousin. I love you, and I'll never forget this."

"Aww, you're just a big softy." Pompo grabbed Janus in one of his demolishing bear hugs and shook him like a sack of grain. "Now, go and get ready, night approaches fast."

"Say goodbye to Thalia for me."

"I'll let her know once you and Equus are far from Pompeii. Nobody needs to know about this, and that woman is far too smart for her own good."

"Thanks again." Janus gave one last smile to his cousin and walked down the sumptuous corridor to find his room.

Janus had not brought many things to Pompeii, but he needed to pack enough clothes to disguise Ehren as a Patrician. His Latin was flawless; Ehren had been speaking the language of Rome for so long he did not even have the accent of his tribe anymore.

The next hours, waiting for Ehren, would be the longest of Janus's life.

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Nocturnal creatures chittered, calling each other. Janus never dismounted, ready to bolt with Ehren as soon as the men bringing him arrived. He chewed a green straw, and the bitter taste kept him from letting his thoughts wander toward disastrous scenarios.

The neighing of horses alerted Janus of a group's approach. This pass on the way to Nocera was a practically unused road and most people did not travel at night— at least those with good intentions. Still, Janus stayed hidden until he could have a better look.

Those bringing Ehren had instructions to meet Janus by a very distinctive holm tree. Janus waited to see if the group would stop at the appropriate place. They did, but the group was incomplete. According to the information Pompo had given Janus, the party should have been eight, including Ehren. There were only three men. Something had gone wrong.

One of the riders made the prearranged bird call.

Janus showed himself after the third call as agreed, his heart in his throat—Ehren was not among these men. They did not know Janus or his name; they only knew a man on a black horse would be waiting for them to take their charge. That way, if something went wrong (like apparently did) they could not implicate him. He stopped Nebulus by the one that looked in charge. "What happened?"

"They were waitinq for us, boss." The man had the harsh, deep intonation of the Syrians.

"What do you mean? Who was waiting for you? Explain yourself!"

"Takinq Equus out of jail was easy do. We no kill no one, and he come willinq when we explain we friends of city," the Syrian mercenary said. "Jail was three-man job. Others wait with horses outside to run for city walls. Quick, we leave through Sarno Gate to follow river. Gate guards no look at us twice."

"Where were you ambushed then?"

"They wait on second bridge like someone told escape route. When we see way block, we try turn around, but another group blockinq rear too."

"We try fight our way out," said one of the other two. This had a nasty scar crossing the middle of his bronze face. "They seem to have orders to kill us no matter what 'cause they aim to finish us. Equus cloak fall off head when he fight, and soldier commander stop skirmish."

"Why?" Janus asked. If the battle had been interrupted there was hope Ehren remained alive.

"He say somethinq about debt of city to Equus. He say he Pompeii-man first, soldier second. He no goinq to have good man blood in his hand and anger gods. Even if man convicted of murder," the chief mercenary explained.

"I no think soldiers happy 'cause we kill bunch of them," added the third man of the mercenary group. "We lose two but they no care that."

"How the three of you were free to go? What did you do?" Something in their story wasn't completely logical.

"When they try restrain us, we fight again, aim to free Equus. They circle him and fight back like demons. Syrian always have trick under sleeves, but breakinq free man surround three-to-one plenty difficult." The chief mercenary shrugged. "We ride all way to tell you 'cause we want keep doinq Pompo business."

"Very well. I appreciate your effort. Do what you need to do. I'm going back to Pompeii." Janus spurred Nebulus, leaving the mercenaries behind at a hard gallop.

Janus did not know what god to thank for saving Ehren's life during the ambush. The day after tomorrow Ehren would be fighting for his life one last time in the Arena. Janus was not sure if the gods would be as benevolent with them in that moment.

The road near the military garrison outside the city was the best kept. Janus took it and stopped to spend the night with his former comrades. He needed a new plan. Beside the mercenaries, Pompo was the only person aware of the rescue mission.

Apparently, Janus could not trust his own blood.

Saving Ehren was in his sole hands.