Unconditionally (Spartacus FANFIC -- Gannicus/Caesar/OC)

Chapter XLIV

Not but a few days later after the decision was made to attack and gain control of a Roman city, I found myself yet again searching for Gannicus among the tent city below our own tent. He had been vanishing more and more often since we built up our army, when I would finally find him he would make claims that I was toting around my status as a leader and that it bothered him. Yet he declined every time he was offered to take my place.

I gave up once the sky grew darker making my way back to the tent where Crixus and Spartacus were planning our next move. Agron was supposed to be among them though depending on where Nasir was that would be up for debate. Entering the tent I made my way over to the two men, leaning against the table.

"Still no luck of finding Gannicus?" Crixus asked me, as I had a duel purpose for my search, they had wanted to propose to him yet again the offer to take position as a leader.

"None, it's only been a day since we last saw each other. He's likely drinking himself to death." I commented knowing there were many other plausible things he could be doing, and a great deal more I hoped to the gods that he wasn't up to.

"Are you alright?" Spartacus asked me as I just shrugged, "Does not matter, what does matter is that we find safe lodging for the winter months. Many of us will not survive the colds this close to the mountains without ample cover." I told him as the men nodded.

"The southern coast?" Crixus asked as we watched Spartacus move a figure across the map. I looked over at Crixus, "We would have advantage of the water, a port." I commented, "Depending on the city would could have farms and a port."

"No, we would need a place with high walls that has high walls and can be defended. Farm lands would leave us open to attacks." Crixus added as I nodded, he wasn't wrong.

"The southern coast would force Crassus' army to march much greater distance to meet us, sapping strength and supplies." Spartacus told us as I looked over to Crixus. "But will we not stand as drained at journey's end?" He asked him.

"We are already failing to feed many of our people, I've heard rumors of a man selling horse meat below in the tent city." I told them as Crixus shot his face towards me. "There is a man selling the meat of dead horses, he wishes only to feed those of us that are going hungry." Spartacus spoke as Crixus furrowed his brow. "With dead meat. May as well serve up the Roman corpses."

"Too salty, and likely foul before they even hit the ground." I remarked as Crixus smirked.

"Back to the task at hand." Spartacus sighed, "The comfort of city walls will see us revived. A thing denied Crassus."

"Diotimus." Spartacus then spoke as I turned to see my brother bringing in a man by the arm. "We would have your counsel."

"Apologies... I am absent knowledge concerning strategies of war." The man spoke as he shakily walked towards us, Agron soon taking his place next to me as Gannicus walked into the tent slowly sitting behind us all, refusing to look at me. A dead change from the day before.