Athenian Slave (Book 2)

Chapter 46

AN - I am so sorry this one took so long to write, it has taken a lot out of me to write this, and i have not written at all in the last week because of work. So i hope you enjoy the chapter, and that it was worth the wait! Az x

Chapter 46

Alexios swayed with the horse beneath him. His mind not on the scenery around him, as beautiful as it was, but on the fragile but strong woman currently collapsed in exhaustion in the wagon slowly following behind him. He had been reluctant to set her down, practically swinging her up in front of him early that morn as they set out for Athens, and setting a punishing pace that meant the wagon had fallen behind slightly. That was until Charmion had started to droop where she say securely before him. When she had finally sunk back against him he could not do anything but tighten his hold and let his heart thud a gently rhythm with how right it was for her to be there. Only this was put asunder by the glares of Hagne and Iason’s quiet words that he could not defend her if they were attacked if she slept in his arms.

Loathe to wake her he had paused them all and gently laid her beside Hagne and with a few essentials from the Villa and now made sure they all travelled in time with the wagon, for he would not let it fall behind with the cargo it now carried. Hagne had wanted to pack the majority of the house to bring with them, but Charmion had put pains to that endeavour, not allowing the woman to pack the ‘comforts’ she did not need or want. He smiled at the memory of her standing up for herself so wonderfully. She may not realise it, but she was growing slowly into her new role and she would make a fine lady for the empire he planned to build. In the business world of course. He did not plan on going to war again, not in this life time. His memories were enough for him to live through at this time.

The look upon her face as she had frozen upon him was stuck in his mind, meaning he could not see anything else before him in that moment, as he could not keep the fear of that happening again from his mind. He turned over idea after idea, the identity of her assailant still a mystery to him, but he would ferret him out and find who he was, and would not stop till he had found retribution for her.

She may never want to talk through what happened to her, and he could understand her need to hold something so painful to herself. But the fact she kept a name from him meant he would hunt for it himself, and make sure she never had to fear entering her own home. She was not a slave anymore, and he wanted to make damn sure that she was going to have a smooth transition into the new role he had thrust her into. The least he could do was take old fears from her life, especially now he had given her a basket full of new ones to juggle with as it was.

Blowing out a rough breath, his cheeks puffing out as he did so, he took a glance around once more, trying to spot anything different or out of place in his surroundings. But while the part of his mind that always looked for such took on that task, the rest of his mind was still set to wander on the conundrum of how to protect his wife, even from herself if that is what is necessary. He just hoped it would not come to that.

The horse jumped a little over a small dip in the road, bringing his full attention momentarily back to the road in front of him. Shaking his head a little, he settled back into the saddle and back into the natural rhythm of the horse beneath him. The sun had been punishing a few hours before, now it was gentle as it gave its farewell display to the world around beneath her. The entire sky was lit up with a placid display of colour, bidding a simple cooling breeze to come upon them as the night crept upon the land. They needed to stop soon otherwise they would come into more issues in the darkness than they could in the day.