chapter 20 : Meet Gannicus and leave

The next day, Orion and Salma set off for Naples by the southern route . They bought horses and were heading out of the city when they were intercepted by Roman soldiers.

 The guards asked Orion to follow them, to a certain place. When he arrived at his destination, he saw familiar people waiting there!

 They were precisely Sextus, Seppia and a young man whom he did not know but who shared some traits with Seppia.

 Sextus: You left yesterday without saying goodbye, some ladies were very unhappy with your action.

 Orion: Whatever you want to tell me, say it quickly, we're in a hurry!

 ??? : Do you even know who you are talking to?!

 Sextus: Seppius Shut up!

 Sextus looked at Orion in silence before smiling calmly. He moved closer to speak.

 Sextus: Then I'll get straight to the point. My cousin here is in love with you Orion. When she realized you were leaving, she begged me to keep you and make you an offer.

 Seppius: In love ! She is in love with this…HE'S NOT EVEN ROMAN OR NOBLE !!

 Seppia: It's none of your business! Orion is a living god!!

 Orion: Yet he is right, I am neither Roman nor noble and I have no desire for either. Whatever proposal you want to make, I'm not interested. Thank you for your consideration, goodbye! (He turned to leave)

 Seppia: ORION!!

 Seppius: GUARDS, HOLD HIM Back. 

 Roman soldiers blocked the way to Orion who looked at them coldly

"Move or die, it's up to you!" he said calmly.

 Salma: A word from you and I'll go down and take care of them.

 Sextus: Let him pass! You are no match for him!

 Seppia began to cry and Seppius was literally burning with jealousy towards Orion, he was his sister's lover until she fell in love with Orion.

 Seppius: I hope for your sake that you never return to Capua because that day I will have you killed. 

 Orion who was walking quietly stopped suddenly he looked back and asked coldly,

 "Are you threatening me ?" 

 Just as Seppius wanted to respond, he was knocked by Sextus to ask him to keep quiet. Orion resumed his journey with Salma, leaving two men and a crying girl behind.

 Once outside the city and as they walked away from the city, Salma looked at Orion with a smile and began to speak.

 Salma: Looks like you left a lot of broken hearts there! All these beautiful noble women in love with you. Don't you think that's a shame?!

 Orion: If you want I can go back there to satisfy them all. 

 Salma: NEVER ! Plus, I know that you prefer girls from modest backgrounds or even slaves. Why actually ?

 Orion: Not wrong, all these rich women think that everything should belong to them, they look down on all other humans lower than their ranks. All these people who treat other humans like objects or property disgust me.

 Salma: What about the slave girls ? What do you think ?

 Orion: I don't know any slave girls, just women whose freedom has been taken away. The lack of choice available to them has made them women with simple tastes, they have a charm that others do not have and eyes full of dreams, dreams of freedom and promises.

 Salma, listening to this speech, had completely wet eyes.

 Salma: Sura, the others and me, you saved us all. You could save so many others like us and free them from the yoke of Rome, just one word from you and we will follow you in this quest.

 Orion: I thought about it but we are still too few and weak. In addition, many slaves will not necessarily want to leave their masters' house. It's not up to me to save them.

 Salma: So ? What are you going to do about it ?

 Orion: Me ? Nothing ! I'm not a savior Salma, just a guy who was bored and found a just cause to fight for. These people must first have the desire to seize freedom for their own good.

 Salma: What are you going to do now ? Become richer and stronger ?

 Orion: That's right! I want to travel the world and meet people or recruit interesting ones for my project.

 Salma: What project ? Where do you want to go ?!

 Orion smiled as he replied, "I already have my own idea for that. We'll need a reason to move around all the time, a fairly useful and lucrative activity which will at the same time allow us to travel almost everywhere."

 Salma: I want to be by your side for this, I will become stronger to be useful to you! In combat I can hold my own against a few average soldiers but that's it. I want to become someone exceptional, someone you can count on.

 Orion kept his smile and they continued on their way! They arrived in Naples after a several hours and went straight to the port where they met the others who were looking after the boats.

 Orion had given a list of things to buy to Apollos who was surprised to see him.

 Apollos: You said we should see each other again in three days! You are ahead !

 Orion: Yeah I know, I preferred to shorten my stay there! At first I wanted to say a few words to some people but I preferred to leave the same way I came into their lives, like a passing wind .

 Ajax: So poetic! Did you take the time to say a few words to Sura ?

 Salma: And why would he say anything to this ungrateful girl ? She seemed to regret her action but nothing can erase that, I would have killed her if she had dared to approach him again.

 Vayline: I would have done the same.

 Demiclas: Are women this hard on each other ?! 

 Salma + Vayline: You can't even imagine how much. 

 Orion: Sura is happy with her husband, that's what she wanted, she was quite clear on the subject and it's legitimate. We shouldn't blame her, she's a free woman.

 Stratos: By tomorrow, everything will be ready and we can leave. By the way, where are we going ?

 Orion smirked and replied amusedly, "We're going home, heading to Greece! We will leave for Sparta" 

 Apollos: This is all well and good, but how do we do it ? We don't know how to sail, well not me anyway!

 Orion: I learned!

 Ajax: My father was a fisherman, I know how to sail.

 Theokoles: I was part of a Silician pirate crew.

 Stratos: I know too!

 Apollos + Demiclas: YOU?!!

 " Of course !!" he replied with pride while the other two strangely wanted to hit him.

 Orion: I'll see if we can hire a few more people with experience in the field. Just in case !

 Apollos: I'm coming with you!

 Salma: I'm coming too!

 He shrugged as he left with them, they knew that if his men wanted to follow him, trying to stop them was a lost cause.

 They arrived at the biggest tavern around, it was the kind of place that was busiest and convenient for finding people. When they entered, all eyes were on them and especially on Orion who ignored them all.

 Orion: We are looking to hire the services of people who know how to navigate for a trip to Greece. The salary will be 20 denarius per person.

 At the end of the announcement, they all fell silent for a few seconds before several people gave their applications in a cacophony that would put a henhouse to shame in the face of a hungry fox.

 As expected, Orion recruited 7 people who were registered by Apollos and Salma. While he was satisfied with his accomplished goal he noticed something that captured his attention.

 Orion noticed a long-haired man with the mark of Batiatus' ludus on his arm and went to find him.

 Orion: I didn't really expect to meet the ancient mythical champion of Batiatus here!! Gannicus, the god of the arena!

 Orion knew that there was only one gladiator from House Batiatus to have won his freedom thus far.

The veterans had told him about the champions who had come before him and Gannicus was the one who was mentioned the most.

 Gannicus, surprised looked at Orion but still remained calm. " We know each other ?!" he asked Orion who showed him his tattoo. He was surprised and began to question Orion.

 Gannicus: Are you really from House Batiatus? Did he also emancipate you ?!

 Orion: Yes, I fought for this ludus but I've always been a free man. My time there was purely recreational.

 Gannicus: Récréation al ?! Always been free ?

 He started laughing thinking about everything this stranger had just said to him before realizing something that stopped his laughter immediately.

 Gannicus: Are you Orion?! The new champion ?

 "The former champion, I retired very recently! The new champion has already been decided" Orion said nonchalantly.

 Gannicus: So you killed Crixus huh ? He had a glorious death ?

 Orion: He made the missio sign as I was about to finish him off in the arena.

 Gannicus: Crixus ?! Give up a fight ?! I really can't believe it... 

 Orion: There are terrors so strong that even the toughest pride can crumble in seconds before them.

Crixus couldn't do anything against me in the arena, he had been too arrogant so I brought despair to him.

 Gannicus stood looking at him for a few seconds before speaking again.

 Gannicus: Then the rumors may be true, your strength is as unfathomable as your beauty. I almost mistook you for a woman myself (he continued to laugh before continuing)

 "Quickly, tell me how our Doctore is doing... " 

 Orion: Oenomaus died a few months ago, a darkest secret was revealed to him and he jumped off the cliff.

 When Gannicus heard this, his smile froze. He turned completely towards Orion with moist eyes and as he wanted to speak,

 "I'm kidding, Oenomaus is doing well " Orion said with a teasing smile.

 "Do you think this is funny ? Do you think it's a game ? He's my brother..." Gannicus started to raise his voice trying to grab Orion but he didn't know who he was dealing with.

 Orion avoided Gannicus' attempt and slammed his head on the table he was sitting near.

Gannicus, was surprised, shocked by Orion's speed but the moment he tried to react, Orion let go of him.

 Orion: Try to attack me again and I will kill you, I'll have no hesitation against someone who betrayed their brother like you did you Bastard. 

 Gannicus was mentally shaken by what Orion had just said he wanted to speak but couldn't say anything until Orion continued.

 "You're probably wondering how I know about this matter! A few weeks ago Lucretia this slut begged me to give her a massage, tired of her insistence, I decided to accept and gave her an appointment the next day for the massage session.

 Out of pure curiosity, I wanted to try something with her. It was a medical serum based on a concentrate of mandrake and other herbs mixed with wine which would be used for relaxation. I needed a guinea pig and since she was available then it was good"

 "WTF!" » Gannicus thought as he looked at the psychopath in front of him.

 "Lucretia drank the wine that I said I gave her, after having assured her that it was a rather special wine that I also pretended to taste in front of her. The beautiful lady trusted me and the effects of my drink were almost immediate.

 She lay completely relaxed in a daydream and I began to do my massage, after all that was the purpose of our date. »

 Gannicus: You drugged Batiatus' wife?!

 Orion: A problem with that?!

 Gannicus:…

" So, to make a little conversation during this massage, I started to ask her questions about ludus and this woman started to tell me without restraint . You have no idea how big and pleasant the surprise was for me, I had just created something great!

 Anyway, let's continue. Lucretia under my questions continued to tell me things until she told me about a rather interesting matter concerning Melitta the deceased wife of Oenomaus and his best friend Gannicus. »

 Gannicus: Wait! You don't…(Interrupted)

 "Please let me finish. She told me how to satisfy Varus and gain his favor you had to fuck Melitta. No one could blame you because you were slaves and had no choice.

 However, it's after that that it gets interesting! The day Melitta died, poisoned by wine, it was in your cell that she passed away. You slept together or were about to, she was your best friend's wife , your brother but you didn't mind.

 I was even told you were entitled to wine and several female slaves or prostitutes to satisfy you but you greedily desired your best friend's wife. You have no shame ?!" Orion said looking into his eyes.

 Gannicus: WHAT WE FELT ABOUT EACH OTHER WAS NOT Wanted. YOU THINK I WANTED THAT ? YOU THINK I WANTED TO BETRAY MY BROTHER?!

 Orion : Please lower your tone, traitors. Falling in love is not something that can be controlled, it's true and I understand that.

 However, it's who you fall in love with that counts. It didn't even bother you and the worst thing is that it was mutual.

 Oenomaus deserved to know, it was not my place to inform him because I am not concerned.

 However, in your treachery you left without talking to him about it and being real with your brother so I had to leave a little clue hidden in his room to clue him in. 

 Gannicus: You...what did you do ? 

 Orion: Inform an honorable man of what his less honorable friend did to him with the complicity of his even more dishonorable wife. You know, I'm not an angel and I've even slept with married women but never with a friend's partner, it's inconceivable and unforgivable.

 Gannicus:…

 "Oenomaus is an honorable man who deserves better than what you did to him. I would have liked to stay here and continue talking with you but I have to leave. Goodbye false brother" he got up and left.

 Gannicus watched him leave, with complicated emotions. This secret had no connection with Orion and he was not obliged to inform Oenomaus of it.

However, one detail that Orion did not want to tell Gannicus but that he mentioned in the letter to Oenomaus is that the poison that killed Melitta did not come from a certain Tulius that they killed but from Lucretia herself.

 This detail was important because the purpose of this letter was not to make Oenomaus hate Gannicus but to sow the seed of revolt in his heart. It was a necessary evil.

 The next morning, Orion and the others sailed for Greece in his ship. Apollos and the others were each at their post for the crossing, Zena came near Orion and asked him what they were going to do next and Orion and Salma looked at each other smiling.

 "Do what we want as free people"

 Stratos: You talk like you've been a slave for a long time boss! Marius told us that you were only there for a few weeks. Stop talking like you've suffered as much as everyone else.

 Orion: Shut up. Did you have to break the mood of my scène ?

 Ajax: Boss, can we go to Gaul afterwards?!

 Orion: Gaul, Asia, Egypt we will travel a lot over the next few years. Discover new things and create new things or meet new people and become stronger.

 Each of his men had a smile while listening to Orion, they were even eager to start their adventures with him and discover new things.

 [Part 1 : End ]