The Pompeiian Horse

21. XENIUM

JULY

"I didn't expect him to be able to fight like that," Lamb said three days after their last meeting at The Zoo. He sat beside Dormouse as they recounted Scando's execution.

The weather was mild for this time of the year, so they enjoyed the soft breeze and the fragrant flowers in the main courtyard of Pompo's villa.

"Yeah, we never saw him train with the Larges, but Tura was better than him. I'm not sure if he was truly keeping her at bay or if she was playing with him," Dormouse added animatedly. "She finished him with a thrust in his flank and then slashed his throat. The crowd went crazy!" He simulated the gladiatrix's movements and then the people's enthusiasm.

"What happened with Tura then?" Janus asked. Ehren had not wanted to see the executions, but Janus was eager for details. He would have been happy to finish them with his own hands. True, now he was a lover first, but he was still a Roman soldier deep inside; soldiers had to see their enemies through.

"Archers came to deal with her." Lamb took a pastry from a nearby plate. "They were four and she took two down before they could kill her." He took a bite and closed his eyes, humming in delight.

Janus caught the way Dormouse stared at Lamb's satisfied face. He knew that expression very well.

Dormouse shook his head minutely, stepping out of whatever fantasy his mind was concocting. "She was feral. I've seen gladiatrix fight before, but she was inhuman. I almost pity the Arena for losing such a great fighter."

"Greed is a bad counselor," Ehren said cryptically.

"She only wanted pretty babies," Janus joked. "In her head, killing Lion at The Zoo was no different than doing it in the Arena."

"Tiger is a very handsome man," Lamb commented. Dormouse elbowed him. "Ouch! What?" Lamb rubbed his side.

"Most people don't like when the person they're into, praises the beauty of another." Janus tried his best not to laugh but failed miserably.

Dormouse very tanned cheeks darkened a little, same as Lamb's. Luckily, they had not been part of The Zoo long enough to lose those adorable little quirks, and they were surfacing again.

Ehren squinted at Janus, one eyebrow arched and his mouth in a thin line. Then, he said, an almost shrug in his tone, "Well, Tiger is very nice-looking, and that red hair... By Jove, it's like fire." His eyebrow hiked a bit more. "If you elbow me, you'd better run for your sword."

Janus put his hands up in surrender. "If you think the man is pretty, we should consider him blessed by Apollo."

Ehren nodded, masked in fake seriousness, accepting Janus's capitulation. Their eyes lingered on each other, their surroundings slowly fading.

"Ahem," Dormouse interrupted them. Ehren and Janus moved their attention back to their guests. "We didn't come only for the pastries or to give you execution details." He took Lamb's hand and both went to their knees. "We have a boon to ask."

The Patrician in Janus did not mind the action, but he noticed Ehren's discomfort. Still, Ehren let the boys speak. He seemed to understand this was important for them, and it was their wish to do it in such fashion. "Proceed, child," Janus said.

"We want to go with you. Follow you. Learn from you. Become good men like you." With Dormouse last words, he took Janus's hand, and Lamb took Ehren's. They intoned together. "If you accept us, we pledge our lives, our honor to you." They kissed the backs of the hands they held. They kept their eyes lowered, but Janus could see they shone with restrained tears.

Ehren patted Lamb's cheek, then ruffled his hair. "Of course, you two can come with us. You didn't have to be so formal."

Janus tsked. "It was the right way to do it." He took Dormouse's chin and made the kid look him in the eye. "Where we go, nobody knows you or what you were. If your words are truthful and your honor has weight, you two would be our sons. As long as you two behave and listen, we will be good to you, and you'll be our heirs."