The Chariots Slave (11 page)

Relief flooded over Sellah, and the tension in her body
melted away. He had given her another chance. Strong arms
gripped her shoulders and pulled her up off the ground. His
eyes met hers and searched for understanding. All traces of
anger had disappeared, and in his eyes she saw genuine
concern.

“You must learn to properly address me in front of the
men,” he said. His words meant more than they offered. He
was trying to tell her that before others he must be respected
as Dominus. But when alone with her, he was an equal. He
was just Thaddius.

He placed a finger to her lips to silence her. “I do not need
to hear more apologies. Tell me why you have returned
before you are fully healed?” His eyes surveyed her body,
taking extra pause upon each faded bruise.

“Please tell me you have not made wager with
Barachius?” she said, finding the resolve to approach the
topic.

“How could you have heard of such things? You have just
returned.”
“Then it is true, you have. You have wagered us all to
certain death!” She cast her eyes from his and studied the
ground.
“Your confidence in me is astounding,” he replied bitterly.
But there was more in his words than sarcasm. There was
also hurt.

“This has nothing to do with how I feel about you,” she
said as she looked down at the ground. “When I was at the
baths, I overheard Barachius and another man talking about
the wager.”

He put his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently,
forcing her to look upon him. “What did you hear Sellah?”
Her eyes gave him all the answer, but he needed to hear her
speak the words.

“Sellah, tell me what you heard!”
“He fixed the wager. He told the man that he had hired ten
of the very best drivers to compete for the greens, including a
well-known charioteer from the Republic of Seres.” Her
words came in a rush and then she collapsed into his arms,
tears now streaming down her face.

His body shook as he held her and worked over what she
had confessed. If it was true, then he had made the most
foolish wager any man could. He had let his pride blind him
to the risk.

“Jupiter’s cock, I should have known he would not play
fair. What do we do now?” he asked, not expecting an
answer. Truthfully, he had forgotten Sellah was there. She
had melted so perfectly into his arms, it was as though she
were an extension of his body.



But now, Barachius stood to win the Grande Maximus.
And that would mean everything that was Thaddius’s by right
would become his enemy’s. Everything.

find Vettius and Simeon and have them meet me in my
quarters?” It was not Dominus who had asked her, it was
Thaddius. She could tell the difference in the kindness of the
request.

After wiping her tears she nodded in confirmation. The
look on his face held so much care and concern for her that
she could not stand looking upon him. Just a few days ago he
had become her savior, then a man who condemned her to the
cruelest of beatings. She wasn’t sure what she thought or felt
for him. But being there, in his arms and seeing his care for
her, that baffled her even more.

“Thank you, please go now,” he said as he offered one last
smile before turning toward the stables in pursuit of
something.

She watched him for a few moments before heading off to
see to his request. Find Vettius and Simeon. But where could
they be?

After wandering aimlessly for far too long, she finally
came upon a familiar face.
“Accalia!” she yelled as she ran toward her friend.
“Sellah?” Accalia turned to the familiar voice as she saw a
streak of red rush toward her.
Accalia dropped the bucket of water she was carrying and
threw her arms around her friend nearly soaking Sellah in the
process. The girls laughed at the awkward exchange as they
pulled back from their embrace.
When Accalia’s eyes came upon the fading bruises that
still covered Sellah’s arms and legs, a frown made its way to
her face. “You are better are you not?” she asked.
“I feel much better, do not worry about me. Listen, I need
your help. Do you know where Vettius and Simeon are?”

“Why have you returned so soon?” Despite the smile on
Sellah’s face, Accalia began to piece together that something
was not right.

“I will explain everything this evening, I promise. But I
must find Vettius and Simeon. Please, do you know where
they are?”

“Simeon is still in the medicos tent. I am sure Vettius will
be near to him. Sellah, what is going on?”
“I must go. I will explain later.” She took off in a sprint
toward the medicos.
Accalia stood frozen in confusion with her bucket
dangling limply at her side. She had not even registered
Sellah’s goodbye. Instead, she wondered what on earth was
happening. She couldn’t help but feeling that something was



very wrong. And the ferocity with which Sellah ran toward
Vettius and Simeon only acted to confirm her fears.

When Sellah made it to the top of the hill, she saw Vettius
exiting the tent.
“Vettius, Oh Vettius thank the gods I found you!” She put
her hands on her knees and waited to regain her breath.
“Sellah? What are you doing back? I checked on you
yesterday, and Orla said you still had another week’s worth
of recovery.”
“There is trouble afoot, and Dominus has requested that
you and Simeon meet him in his quarters. All will be
explained.”
His eyes worked over her face and searched for
understanding.
“All right, I will get Simeon and meet you there. Please do
not push yourself; you are still not fully recovered.”
She smiled at him before turning and heading toward the
main domus. Even though she had only been there once
before, she had no trouble finding Thaddius’s chamber.
Her sweaty hands smoothed out her stola, and she adjusted
the satchel that she still carried before reaching up and
knocking on his door.
“Enter,” a low voice commanded.
Sellah pushed open the door and entered his room. It was
exactly how she had remembered it, yet this time was it was
lacking all the empty wine vessels.
“Vettius, Simeon?” he asked, when he saw her enter alone.



“They are on their way,” she said as she took a seat across
from him. She brushed her hair out of her face and found the
courage to look up into Thaddius’s eyes. They were filled
with pain and fear. She wished she could do something to
comfort him.
His eyes met hers and instantly she looked away. Warmth
spread to her cheeks and tinted them with a rosy hue,
betraying her feeling of embarrassment.

Thaddius couldn’t help smiling at the change in her state.
He opened his mouth to tease her about it but was interrupted
with a knock at the door.

Vettius bowed his head in respect as he came into the
room. Once through, he closed the door and turned to
Thaddius.

“Where is Simeon?” Thaddius asked.
Vettius lowered his eyes. “He refuses to come.”
Thaddius clenched his jaw, grit his teeth, and nodded his

head in understanding. Although he was frustrated with
Simeon, it still hurt that they had fallen out of good graces
with each other. He could use a friend right now.

Thaddius pointed to the empty space next to Sellah. He
was afraid to speak, afraid of his voice cracking or the wrong
words escaping, not having Simeon beside him had hurt more
than he had anticipated.

Vettius took the cue and made his way to Sellah’s side.
Shortly after, the door opened and in walked Acestes.
Snapping his attention to Sellah, Thaddius watched as her

Of course, how foolish of him. He should have known she
would be uncomfortable in the same room as the man who
had beaten her. He was surprised she could stand being
around her Dominus as he was the one who had permitted it.

Maybe Simeon was right; maybe he had taken matters too
far. As soon as they were done here, he was going to go
apologize to Simeon and then to Sellah.

The relief that washed over her was evident, and it brought
a smile to Thaddius. He would do right by her, one little thing
at a time. He would.

Sellah stood and lowered her head. She was
procrastinating leaving the room, and Thaddius wondered
why.

He could tell by the extra time she took in each of her
movements and by the way she shifted her weight on her feet.
He looked to Vettius for understanding and was met with a
slight head tilt in the direction of Acestes, who was standing
in the doorway, blocking her exit.
“Acestes please take a seat.” Thaddius motioned to the end
of the bed. Acestes did as instructed, and his absence in the
doorway allowed Sellah to leave without having to pass by
the man she feared.
“What is all this about?” Vettius asked, no longer able to
contain his curiosity.
Thaddius rubbed his head and paced back and forth in
front of the men. After a few awkward moments he stopped
and turned to them. “I have it on good authority that
Barachius has rigged our wager.”



“Whose authority?” Acestes demanded as he rose to his
feet.
“That is not of importance. What is, however, is that we
need to think of something and quickly or we all stand to
lose.” Thaddius continued his pacing, not even bothering to
note the reaction the men were having to his news.
“What are we up against?” Vettius asked, calming the
other two men by redirecting their focus to the problem.
“Barachius has hired ten of the world’s best drivers to
compete in the Grande Maximus. That is ten against our one
incompetent driver. Unless.…”
“No, I know what you are thinking,” Acestes interrupted.
“It is not an option. Your father’s dying request was that you
give up your foolish fantasy of charioteering.” His nostrils
flared and spit flew out of his mouth as he scolded Thaddius.
“You must focus on being the Paterfamilias and Dominus to
this domus. It has only been four months, and you already fill
your head with the notion of racing. Do you wish to say you
will deny your father his dying wish? Do you wish to put end
to the Gracchus name?” Acestes stood as he scolded
Thaddius. With each of his words he took a step forward,
driving Thaddius back.
“Enough!” Vettius commanded as he stepped between
them. “We must work together and find another option.”
“We will have to purchase and train new drivers. There is
no other option.” Acestes spoke with confidence.
Thaddius and Vettius looked at each other, surprised that it
was Acestes who had had proposed a possible solution.
“Yes, tomorrow you and Vettius will go to town and buy
as many drivers as we can afford. We have one month before
the tournament, and we must begin training now! Acestes,



see to it that my driver understands what will now be required
of him. Have him do a few more laps tonight and see if he
can increase his record. He is not to eat or sleep until he does
so. And Vettius, I want you to find Sellah and tell her to
come to me. For now we sleep. Come tomorrow, we cannot
afford such a luxury!”