The Slave's Gladiator

Chapter 10: The Port

"Wake up." Valeia's eyes fluttered open. As the light of early morning filled the room, Gamba's figure stood over her. "We're heading to Sicilia." Sicilia? Sleep held her thoughts in a tight grip.

Valeria pushed herself up. "Now?"

"Yes." He started to pack up their stuff. "Someone I know just pulled into port. We're going to catch a ride with them." Kneeling down, he started to pack his stuff. Watching him for a few seconds, the last of the sleepiness left as she followed.

Even in the early morning, the city bursted with life, including stalls filled forums, ready to sell their newest shipments. Passing a large stand, her eyes trailed along a few gold necklaces and bracelets. Big beautiful jewels of ruby, emerald, sapphire, and more sat in the middle.

"See anything you like?" The older man, closer to Gamba's age, flashed a smile at her. His dark eyes scanned her over. "All my goods are from the heart of East itself." Valeria let her eyes scan the jewels again. Some of these...don't look real.

"Valeria, there you-" Gamba paused. His eyes widened at the man behind the stall. "Divco? What are you doing here? I thought you would be at the port."

"Gamba." The man countered. Unlike the last few reunions, this one was less hostile. In fact, Divco pulled him into a hug like an old friend. "What are you doing here?" His gaze looked over him. "Last I heard, you were in Rome fighting as a famous gladiator."

Those blue eyes regard Valeria warmly. "And now you're here with a beautiful woman."

Beautiful? Her face warmed.

"I was just-" Gamba blocked his view slightly- "on my way to see you."

Valeria raised an eyebrow at that. Was Gamba feeling a little jealous?

He tilted his head. "I heard you were coming to port. Valeria and I need a way to Sicilia."

"Ah, well you're out of luck." Divco picked up a sapphire jewel. "I just got back from Sicilia." He gestured to his stall. "Ready to sell all these priceless jewels to the highest bidder."

"Come on, Divco." Gamba frowned. "You know I wouldn't trust anyone else but you for a favor this big. I already ran into one of our old mercenary buddies. There's no telling how many more are out there."

Wait, so Divco was a mercenary? Valeria looked over the merchant. Unlike Laelius, his body carried no marks or bruises. Divco shook his head. "You should have known this would happen when you left." He turned to lay out a few more jewels. "You didn't think a few enemies would put a target on your back?" He sighed. "Besides, I'm a merchant now, Gamba." He gestured to his stall. "And I need to make a living."

"Some of those jewels are fake," Valeria spoke up. "That sapphire for one."

Divco's eyes flickered to her with a hint of annoyance. "If you think lying about my jewels is going to make me help you then you have another thing coming."

Valeria frowned. "I'm not lying." She nodded to him. "They're fake." And I'll prove it.

"How do you know?"

"I just do." She met his gaze. "And if I can prove it to you then you owe us a ride to Sicilia."

I may not be able to fight or hold my own against mercenaries but I know merchants. Divco's eyebrow rose. And they can't resist a good challenge.

"Fair enough." He nodded to her. "Prove it."

Valeria took the sapphire one from his hands. Natural jewels had chips and imperfections from years of hardening. They were also known to have different hue colors depending on where the light hit them. She held it up to the sun. While she had to give this jeweler credit for the "imperfections", the color reflection was rainbow, not dark blue.