We Shall All Burn Together

Chapter 5

Chapter 5
“To the left!” Caius called as he carelessly tossed the grapes into the woven basket in Marcus’ hands. Marcus made no sign of hearing Caius. His eyes were glazed in that way that only those that are preoccupied do.
“You could at least pretend to pay attention.” Caius remarked, stepping down from the small stool he was stood upon to pick the fruits.
The day was warm and it was nearing noon. The sun burned even when one stood in the shadow that the mountain cast, which was of rather considerable size from where the two gladiators were standing; they were only meters from its side.
“Will she come, do you think?” Marcus asked, his eyes wistful. Caius laughed heartily.
“Ay, it is a funny thing to see a gladiator in love!” His gaze softened as he looked upon his friend. “I do think there is every chance she will visit you today.”
Marcus grinned and tossed a grape into his mouth. Caius slapped him on the shoulder.
“Those are for the wine and for wine only!!”

Livia strolled up the mountain path, pausing to pick the berries as she went. As it reached midday, she stopped a moment to drink from the canteen filled with cold water, and once again she thought she felt the mountain rumble. She paused, but when nothing happened, she stood up and carried on her journey. When she reached the reservoir, she saw the two gladiators lounging in the shade.
“I came to bring refreshment to a pair of hard workers, but they appear to be lost. Have you seen them?” She said as she neared them. Marcus rose to meet her, but Caius remained sitting and smiled up at her from his place on the floor.
“It has been a long morning!” He said, reclining even further back onto the grass. “And besides, I cannot continue picking the grapes, because for every one I pick, Marcus eats two!”
“I have eaten three grapes all morning.” Marcus said to Livia. She laughed as Caius scoffed behind him.
“I am going to get back to work and leave you two alone.” Caius said, standing up and stretching his arms. Livia could have sworn she saw him wink at Marcus, but before she could be sure, the moment had passed. Marcus smiled slightly at his friend, and then motioned to the ground.
“Sit. I am sorry we don’t have anything more comfortable.”
“Why would you have anything more comfortable? We are half way up a mountain!” She laughed.
“Indeed we are, but I had heard that you are used to the finer things in life.” He raised one eyebrow at her, and appeared to be studying the way her face changed in response to his statement.
“It is true my father is wealthy. But it has never been something that I found I could not live without. Money does not bother me too much.” She said with a shrug.
“It is easy for one with money to say that.” Marcus said, a hint of bitterness leaking into his tone.
“Can I ask how you became a gladiator? You are not the colouring or nationality of a slave…”
“I got into debt. I bet too much on the games in Rome and lost.” He shook his head and laughed. “I was convinced that next time,  next time my guy would win, that next time the guy I placed my bets on wouldn’t end up with his throat slit.”
“You were indebted to Tetraites?”
“Yes. I suppose he could have just had me killed and I should be thankful for him allowing me to pay him back this way.”
“I have known him a long time. He is a fair man.” Livia reasoned. It was true, her father had known Tetraites a long time and so Livia had known him all of her life. He was always fair and reasonable, and never put a gladiator to death if he could avoid it.
“He is kinder than any other gladiator master, or so Caius says. I suppose I got off lightly, then.” He said with a sigh. “And besides, if it were any other man, I would not have ended up in Pompeii.”
“I thought Romans hated Pompeii?” Livia said with a smirk.
“You certainly do things differently here. But had I not come here, I would never have met you, would I?” He asked softly.
“No. No you would not.” She replied, a smile forming at the corners of her lips.
Marcus placed his hand over hers cautiously, waiting to see if she would pull it away hastily. She did not. He marvelled at how smooth her skin was under his calloused palms. He was shocked at how dainty her hands were.
He was about to comment on this, when the ground beneath them began to shake.
Livia was sure that this time she was not imagining it. The small stones on the ground bounced and moved, the trees shook and the heavier fruits fell from the branches to the ground. Caius stood down from the stool immediately, looking fearfully up at the mountain. The mountain itself appeared to be shaking. Rocks and small stones tumbled down its sides and the water in the reservoir began to bubble.
Marcus helped Livia stand upright, and kept a tight grip on her upper arm. Caius was untying the donkey and putting the grapes into sacks.
“Caius we need to leave quickly!” Marcus said, heading for the path they had arrived by.
“No, it’s too steep! If it carries on shaking like this we won’t be able to get down, we had better go the long way around, the path there should be flatter!” He called over the noise of the wind and the rumbling of the mountain.
Marcus nodded, half running towards the other path. Livia held tightly onto his hand, praying silently that they reached the bottom safely.
The donkey Caius was leading was terrified, and tried to bolt at every opportunity it got. It took Caius great skill and patience to calm the animal down, and coax it into walking slowly down the shaking pathways.
When they were halfway down, the shaking stopped.
Livia glanced up at the mountain, now just a dark shadow looming above them. Her own fear was reflected in Caius’ eyes. He was a god fearing man, just like any other.
“The gods must be angry.” He whispered.
Marcus was not used to seeing his friend so shaken. The brief earthquake two days before had scared him, but that was over within a matter of moments. This had lasted longer and was clearly more dangerous for those in Pompeii.
“Bad things are coming, Marcus. Bad things.” Caius said, his eyes wide with apprehension. Marcus  looked into those eyes and saw nothing but dread and the dark figure of the mountain reflected back in them.