Once Lucianus and Dominatus reached the table where Juliana waited, she immediately got down to business.
“The emperor has claimed that Dominatus is agitating numerous gladiators to create his own army of fighters and incite a rebellion to take over the nation,” she said.
“What nonsense. It’s all lies,” Dominatus replied.
“The showmen and the gladiators denied such a thing, but the soldiers aren’t listening. The entire gladiator school was flipped upside down and thoroughly searched.”
“Who did you hear all this from?” Lucianus asked.
“Simon,” Juliana replied.
“Simon? I thought you ended your crush on him.”
“I did, but it started up again. Love works in mysterious ways, doesn’t it?”
She didn’t seem at all apologetic as she glanced at Dominatus and Lucianus. Her gaze seemed to imply that this form of mysterious love had wormed its way between the two men as well.
“Simon said that you vanished after your battle with Grucos, Dominatus, and no one knows where you went,” Juliana continued. “I found the story amusing and decided to jokingly let Lucianus know, but I never imagined that you two had been together this entire time. I instructed your servants not to breathe a word about Dominatus staying at House Carusso or heading to the villa in Filena, but who knows where information might slip through. There’s a very good chance that the emperor would send his troops over to this villa too.”
Dominatus sat silently frowning.
“Let’s run,” Lucianus said. “We must leave this place before the soldiers arrive. If you get caught, you’ll be killed.”
“Even if I’m executed, Grucos won’t be brought back to life,” Dominatus replied.
“But what if Unafotus prophesized that the emperor’s power would be restored if you’re killed?”
“Why is that oracle being brought up now?” Juliana wondered.
Lucianus told her that Azerius believed in Unafotus’s prophecy: the emperor would lose power if Grucos was defeated.
“I see now…” Juliana nodded. “That was why the emperor favored Grucos to an almost absurd degree. I’m surprised to learn that that oracle is behind it all. But your guess might be right, Lucianus. If Dominatus is found guilty of treason, he’ll be given the death penalty.”
“He might not even have to wait that long,” Lucianus said. “The emperor might plan an assassination in prison.”
As the words escaped his lips, he felt terror growing within him. The emperor of the massive Balmain Empire wanted Dominatus dead. Was there truly a safe place for the gladiator to flee to?
“What can we do?” Lucianus mumbled. He placed a hand over his forehead, mulling over his options.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Lucianus,” Dominatus said simply. “I won’t return to Dyna, and I’ll disappear. I don’t plan on causing you any trouble.”
“What are you saying?” Lucianus cried. He couldn’t hide his shock. “I won’t abandon you!”
“But if you go against the emperor, you’ll be in danger too. As the lord of the house, you have many things that you must protect. I suggest that you forget about me.” Dominatus stood, and Lucianus followed suit. “I shall leave here immediately. Thank you for taking care of me for so long, Lucianus. I won’t forget you. I pray from the bottom of my heart that the gods will forever cast their blessings on you.”
He pulled Lucianus in for a tight embrace.
“I won’t allow it!” Lucianus shouted. “I won’t permit you to leave my side! I won’t forgive it, Dominatus!”
“This is for your own good,” Dominatus said.
The gladiator’s voice was filled with grief. Lucianus was well-aware that the gladiator had resolved to protect his beloved, but the noble wasn’t at all thrilled by this outcome. If this was Dominatus’s way of expressing his love, Lucianus couldn’t accept it. He’d made a vow that fateful night. When he was anxious and worried that he might lose Dominatus forever, the noble had sworn to offer anything and everything he had should the gladiator return alive.
“I don’t fear death,” Lucianus opined. “I’m more afraid of losing you.”
“Don’t be foolish,” Dominatus replied. “If anything happened to you because of me, I’d never be able to forgive myself. I want you to live on happily. It may not have been for long, but you’ve thought of a miserable gladiator like me so deeply. The time I spent with you will be my treasure, and I’ll live by myself.”
Dominatus used both hands to gently stroke Lucianus’s head.
“No!” Lucianus cried, looking up at his partner. “I won’t be separated from you. I don’t want to. Dominatus, I’m begging you to please stay. If you choose to flee, take me with you.”
“You can’t be so reckless. I have nowhere to go. To survive, I must journey to the lands beyond, past the tribes and barbarians, into the most remote location possible where the emperor can’t reach me. There’s no way that I can bring you to such a place. I’m begging you, please listen to my request.”
Dominatus kissed Lucianus’s damp cheek, and Lucianus felt like his heart was being torn apart.
“D’Aleppo,” Juliana muttered. She spoke softly like a priestess giving a prophecy. “Lucianus, Dominatus, you two should head for D’Aleppo.”
“The large nation in the north?” Lucianus asked.
“Yeah. It’s currently a province under the Balmain Empire, and it’s where my father governs. Rely on him and head for D’Aleppo. I’m certain that my father will protect you both.”
Valius doted on Lucianus like a son. If the noble went to his uncle for help, he wouldn’t be pushed away. However, their presence would put the governor at risk.
“I can’t do that, Juliana,” Lucianus said. “If word spreads that he’s gone against the emperor, I’m certain that he will be punished. I cannot cause trouble for your family.”
“You silly child,” Julianus sighed. She smiled at her cousin. “Just as you want to protect Dominatus, my father and I also want to protect you. There’s no need for you to worry. We’ve got numerous troops and a garrison in D’Aleppo to fight against barbarians and any rebels in the north. The soldiers see my father as the true general of the Balmain army, and they’re fiercely loyal to him. Father has the power to protect you both, and I’m certain that he’s willing to offer shelter. Go to D’Aleppo.”
Her firm words almost forced Lucianus to obey. He couldn’t think of any other path for their survival as he turned to his beloved. “Will you come with me to D’Aleppo?” he asked.
“It’s quite far from here,” Dominatus replied. “It’ll take nearly ten days on horse. I’ve no doubt that it will be a perilous trip for you.”
“I don’t mind. I’ll endure any distance if I can be with you. Please, come with me to D’Aleppo.” Lucianus gulped and nervously waited for an answer with bated breath.
Dominatus smiled. “If you’re willing to go this far for me, I suppose I have no other choice. I understand. Let’s head there together.”
Lucianus breathed a sigh of relief as the strength left his body.
Juliana turned to Kaira, who was listening to this entire exchange with worry. “Let’s head to Aunt Anela’s place for now,” she said.
“Lady Anela’s manor?” Kaira asked.
“Mhm. We should head to a safe place first as we prepare for the boys’ departure. Soldiers could barge into this place at any moment, after all. And I’m certain that Aunt Anela will help us out.”
“Who’s that?” Dominatus asked.
Lucianus explained that Anela was his paternal aunt. She’d lost her husband and had her son inherit the family estate before she moved to Croude, a land northeast of here. She’d settled in three years ago. House Carusso was a renowned noble family, but House Maragano, a family that Anela married into, enjoyed an even greater status. In fact, Empress Oltavia hailed from House Maragano.
There wasn’t a second to lose. Dominatus and Lucianus hastily made preparations and each mounted their own horse when they heard Kaira cry out.
“Over there!” the servant shouted.
He pointed to a spot at the bottom of the hill. Around ten soldiers on horseback were galloping up the only road that led to the villa. Captains of the Balmain army wore helmets adorned with a red ornament, but the captain of the Imperial Guards, under direct command of the emperor, had a blue décor on his galea. Even from afar, one could see the blue on the soldier that was at the helm—these soldiers were sent to capture Dominatus.
“Hurry, you two!” Juliana shouted.
“But what about you and Kaira?” Lucianus asked.
“I’ll stay here and buy some time. Don’t worry, I’ll follow later.”
“But—”
“I’ll be fine. I’m the wife of a senator, and the daughter of Valius Carusso Naulo. There isn’t a soldier in the world that could lay his hands on me.”
“Please hurry,” Kaira said. He turned to his hesitant master. “You swore to protect Sir Dominatus, didn’t you?”
“Kaira…” Lucianus started. But upon seeing his servant’s encouraging gaze, the noble nodded.
“Sir Dominatus, I leave Lord Lucianus in your hands,” Kaira said.
“Understood,” Dominatus replied. “Let’s go, Lucianus.”
Dominatus spurred his horse forward, and Lucianus could only shake away his feelings of reluctance. Steeling his resolve, he kicked the sides of his horse with his heels.