The next day, Lucianus felt a lot better. He still had a slight fever, but he was more energetic than the day before. The pair had an early breakfast and set off. Dominatus was as cold as usual, but every now and then, he expressed his concern for Lucianus’s condition. When Lucianus spoke to him, he responded as well. For now, that was enough for Lucianus. He suppressed his sadness and tried to act as calm as he could.
They arrived at the town at the foot of Mount Toquila at around sundown. It was a small town, nestled in between mountains, and Mount Toquila towered behind them, its cap white with snow. Dyed red by the sunset, the mountain’s rugged terrain was breathtakingly beautiful.
The pair found an inn by the town square. Due to the lack of any other eateries, many locals treated the first-floor dining area of the inn as a tavern, and it was extremely crowded. Lucianus and Dominatus didn’t want to stand out, so they found a table in the corner to eat their dinner.
“I didn’t think they wouldn’t have wine,” Dominatus grumbled.
It was a rare sight to see him voice a complaint as he took a swig of beer. He frowned, possibly displeased by the taste. “I suppose it’s only natural for a place with no grapes to only have beer,” Dominatus said.
Beer was seen as an inferior beverage, often drunk by slaves. It was cheaper than wine, and the people of Dyna viewed it as a drink reserved for the barbarians of the north. Lucianus was fond of sweet drinks, and he had a mug of mead.
“Hey, lady! Bring us another pint, will ya?” a man shouted.
Five ruffians were seated at a table in the middle of the floor. They clearly looked like they were up to no good, and they’d been loudly making a fuss this entire time. They were a sore sight, but the innkeeper’s daughter appeared with a pitcher of beer.
“You’re as ugly as ever!” one of the men taunted.
It only infuriated Lucianus further. He finished his meal and stood up with Dominatus to leave, when a fat man suddenly grabbed his hand.
“You’re a pretty lady,” the man said. “Can’t you pour me a mug? This cheap liquor will taste a lot better if a beauty like you is serving. Come on, do it.”
The man reeked of liquor and Lucianus’s face stiffened with disgust, but he didn’t want to cause a scene. Just as Lucianus reached to pour a mug of liquor, Dominatus grabbed the drunken man’s arm.
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on my wife,” Dominatus growled.
“Ooo scary! My bad, my bad. Don’t look so angry,” the man replied.
The fat drunkard apologized flippantly, but the other guests glared at Dominatus, who glowered back at the other men to keep them in check. One of the men was infuriated by the look that he received. He stood up, boasting an impressive size and a scar on his cheek. The man towered over even Dominatus.
“An outsider like you shouldn’t be acting so cheeky,” the large man said.
“He shouldn’t have laid a finger on another man’s woman,” Dominatus replied. “If you want to fight, let’s take it outside. I bet you’re all bark and no bite. I don’t think a giant like you will pose any sort of threat to me, but I’ll entertain you if you wish.”
Dominatus was clearly provoking the other man, and Lucianus grabbed his partner’s arm. Causing a scene here was unwise. But Dominatus shook himself free of Lucianus’s grip, and marched outside with the large man. Dominatus had left his weapon in his room, but the man also had nothing to defend himself with—they’d be fighting using their bare fists.
The man’s friends and the other guests all stood outside, hoping for a show. They crowded around the two men as they started to holler and goad them into fighting. Lucianus stood by the door and watched over Dominatus.
The large man was smiling at Dominatus, confident in his strength. The gladiator, on the other hand, stared back expressionless.
“He’s so scared that he’s pissing his pants, I bet!” one of the man’s friends shouted.
The crowd erupted into laughter, but this guffawing stopped in an instant. Dominatus had swiftly punched the man in the face. His fist landed squarely in the center, and the man was blown back before he sank to the stone tile. Blood spewed from his nose as the man lay there, completely unconscious.
Everyone froze in shock as Dominatus rubbed his fist and returned to Lucianus’s side.
“Let’s go,” Dominatus said. He placed an arm around Lucianus’s shoulder, went back inside, and the two men retired to their room.
“What’s gotten into you? You picked a fight with that man,” Lucianus said. “We should avoid standing out.”
“A man touched you and asked you to pour him liquor,” Dominatus replied.
“I don’t mind doing that. It’s far better than creating a fuss.”
“It’s not at all. I can’t allow you to feel so wretched.”
Lucianus didn’t feel that way one bit. In fact, he felt more wretched when Dominatus was so cold to him. The gladiator usually wasn’t one to get angered so easily. Why was he unable to suppress his rage tonight? Was that his way of relieving stress that he feels toward me on a daily basis? If Dominatus had fought to release some of his pent-up frustration, his puzzling actions made sense.
Dominatus went to bed early, still looking a bit upset, and Lucianus decided to do the same, as he was still recovering from his fever. The wind began to blow strongly, and the windows rattled. The noise was unbearable, and Lucianus couldn’t sleep despite his exhaustion. It was a cold night, and he felt chilly even though he was curled up in blankets. His toes were so cold that he wished to be huddled up with Dominatus’s warmth.
The two hadn’t been intimate since they started this trip. Lucianus could think of several reasons for Dominatus’s reluctance. The walls of cheap inns were thin, Lucianus had been tired, and they were on the run, so they couldn’t get in the mood. But another reason could’ve been because Dominatus’s love for Lucianus had waned. No. That can’t be it. His deep love for me wouldn’t disappear so easily. Lucianus desperately tried to rid his mind of such thoughts as he tossed and turned in bed during his sleepless night. It was then that he heard the voice of his beloved.
“Havilah… Havilah…” Dominatus muttered in his sleep.
He sounded pained as he cried out for his past lover. He must be dreaming about her. Maybe he’s sleeping with her in his dreams. The moment the thought flashed across Lucianus’s mind, it was as though a dam had burst. His body trembled and tears streamed down his face as his mind was filled with awful visions. What use was there to wake Dominatus up and question him? Dreams couldn’t be controlled. Even if Dominatus had feelings for Havilah, Lucianus couldn’t restrict another’s thoughts.
Overwhelmed with sorrow and grief, Lucianus felt like his chest had been gouged out. He loved Dominatus deeply, but his feelings were so suffocating and painful that he didn’t know what to do. He clapped his hands over his mouth to stifle his sobs and continued to quietly weep in bed.