Descendants of Rome (#3 in Gladiator Series)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

 

Leonidas prodded at the dying flames with a branch.

At one point this fire had been roaring with life, youth and exuberance, intent on burning everything in its path.

As time drew on, the flames grew less angry, they lessened in their intensity and vengeance but they still burnt with determination. They fought.

But as Leonidas was quickly coming to realise, everything had its time and as the darkness faded and dawn approached, the fire was no different.

These once glorious flames had receded to mere embers, a poor portrait for something which had once been dangerous and fearful, before they turned to nothing but ash.

Leonidas was quickly realising how much this fire resembled their own paths; each of them had been glorious in their youth, fighting upon the sands, before they battled the Empire and won.

But time had wearied them until they came to this day, a day where they were merely embers.

Soon they were about to head into another battle and he was quickly coming to the inevitable conclusion that it would be their last.

Because surely after they became embers they quickly turned to ashes.

Leonidas was trapped by his thoughts so intently that he did not hear Cato’s warm voice until his hand rested upon his shoulder with concern.

“Are you this eager to get to Gaul that you do not sleep?” Cato joked half-heartedly as he still tried to awake from his dreams.

Leonidas reached up and caught Cato’s hand in his own, he had touched this man too many times to remember and yet each time he could still feel his stomach tighten with joy and apprehension.

“Let me leave,” Leonidas muttered as the others slept.

“What?” Cato frowned as he rubbed his eyes, “What do you mean?”

“Let me go, I can ride to Gallia and warn Argyle by the weeks end.” Leonidas dropped the branch and turned to face Cato full on, his rich chocolate eyes watching Leonidas with confusion, “There is no need for all of us to get caught.”

“But you think you can get caught and that will be okay?” Cato frowned.

“Gallia is my home,” Leonidas closed his eyes, “I will not be the reason that I get my friends killed.”

Cato stared at Leonidas with disconcertion, “I belong with you. Gallia is your home so that makes it my home too.”

“Cato . . .”

“No, Leo,” Cato pulled his hand away, “We’ve been together too long now for you to start saying these things. I am going with you and that is the end of it.”

Leonidas reached up and cupped Cato’s face, relieved to hear such words of love leave his lips but it did nothing to calm the fear in his heart that he was sending them to their deaths.

Leaning forward, Leonidas pressed his lips against Cato’s, their breathing mingling together as he savoured the sweet taste of their lips joint together.

When he pulled back, Leonidas became aware of the others watching them with warm smiles on their lips.

Sitting up straight, his hands falling from Cato’s face, he began to speak when Artorius interrupted him.

“Before you speak,” He got to his feet, “Just know that you cannot say anything to stop us coming. Cato’s right, we’ve been together too long to leave now.”