The Slave's Gladiator

Chapter 17: Closure

The sun had just risen when all agreed to settle down a few yards from the prison. While many of the miners stayed within their group, Gamba drifted between them with ease, fluidly changing his language to ask questions toward them before always returning to Valeria's side.

"From what I can tell there were about forty eight miners. Now there's only twenty-five." Thirty-three people. Valeria's shoulders sank. Our plan killed them all. How many had families? How many had friends or loved ones? What would-

"Don't." Gamba grabbed her shoulder. "Don't go down that path, Valeria. Spiraling isn't going to change anything." A tired sigh left his lips. "There have been plenty of times where I wished I could go back and undo the things I did, but I can't." He looked among the party again. "These people, they will thank you for the freedom you have given them. Remember that."

"Not everyone." Valeria glanced toward the makeshift cabin. A piece of scrap fabric covered the small body. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him."

"It is not your fault." He sighed. "I had hoped...." He trailed off. A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "I stumbled across him not long after arriving. Despite my short time here, I saw how he tried to stand up against the guards, and helped those that needed it." His gaze met hers. "He reminded me of you."

Valeria's heart warmed at his words but she couldn't bring herself to be comforted by him. Not yet, not when so much has happened between them. "I'm sorry." She looked up at him, really looked at him. She took in his dark eyes and sharp nose. The slight sink of his cheekbones and his small but plump lips. "I never should have run away like that."

"I should have told you." His head lowered in shame. "I'm not going to lie and say I'm a saint, Valeria. I killed people. I have their blood on my hands, some for money and some for revenge." His eyes closed. "I wish I could say I was done, but there's still one more life I have to end."

"Varinius?"

"Yes." Gamba sighed. "He took over our mercenary guild. I don't know how long he was planning this, but with him as the leader...there's going to be so much blood spilled. Our old leader wasn't perfect but he weighed orders. Varinius will just kill anyone who looks at him wrong."

Gamba ran a hand through his hair. "He turned our mercenary guild into his dictator army."

"Which is why you need to stop him."

"That," Gamba closed his eyes. "And he may have Tullia."

What? Valeria shot up. "I thought you said she was safe!"

"She was supposed to be!" Gamba countered. "But Divco just informed me that one of his ships, the one that was supposed to be taking Tullia home, had been intercepted by pirates... If Tullia was taken to be sold again then Varinius may have already bought her."

Valeria rubbed her eyes. "So, he'll use her as bait to lure you."

"You, Valeria." Gamba shook his head. "He wants to lure you because he knows I won't let you face him alone."

Tullia. Valeria squeezed her chest. Where was she now? What were they doing to her? Her stomach burned as if she had ingested nothing but vinegar. "I promised her that she would be safe, Gamba."

"I know, and we're going to go get her."

"Really?" A wave of anger flared through her. "Because you seem to have a nice way of leaving people without a goodbye."

He flinched at her words. A heavy, almost suffocating silence fell over them again. "I thought you wouldn't want to see me again. Not after knowing..." He trailed off. A shaky breath lifted his lips. Leaning forward, his hands rubbed his eyes. Suddenly, the man before her seemed to age rapidly.