Pello Island: Cassia (14 page)

Flavius asked one of the servants to prepare a bath and then went back to the shop.  Cassia and Novia would be back from the market shortly, and Flavius steeled himself for the trial that lay ahead.  He knew Cassia was totally enamored of Darius, and she would not take this news well.  But Flavius owed Quintus, and he had always taken care of Quintus’ women.

Flavius had met Quintus 20 years earlier, when Quintus had been a cart merchant and had traveled all over Italy.  Flavius was a soldier and had suffered a wound that wouldn’t heal.  Quintus had herbs from the East, and when he visited the town where Flavius was stationed, the men in Flavius’ troop came to Quintus and asked if he had any medicine that would help their wounded comrade.

Quintus took his herbs to Flavius’ tent.  The wound was deep and infected, and Flavius was covered in perspiration.  The pain from the wound was horrific.  Fortunately, Flavius would drift in and out of consciousness.  Quintus mixed a poultice with the herbs and placed it on the wound.  As he left the tent, he instructed the soldiers to leave the poultice in place until he returned.

Several days went by, and the poultice began to stink.  The soldiers thought Quintus had hoodwinked them, so they went looking for him in town.  Quintus was selling his wares on the main thoroughfare.  The soldiers grabbed him and demanded their money back.  Quintus begged them to let him see Flavius, and they relented, dragging him back to the camp.

As he entered the tent, the smell overpowered him.  Quintus approached Flavius and removed the poultice, which had turned brown. The wound underneath looked pink and the skin clear.  The poultice had drawn out the poisons, allowing the wound to heal.  The soldiers were astounded. Still, Flavius had been asleep for days, and didn’t wake up when Quintus removed the poultice.

“Why does he sleep so much?” one of them asked Quintus.  “Is he dying?”

“His body is healing.  Make him eat and drink, though, or he will die.”

A week passed, and Quintus was curious about how the young soldier was doing.  At the end of the day, he packed up his cart and went to the camp.  He was overjoyed to see Flavius up and about, and walking toward him.  Flavius came over to Quintus and embraced him.

“They tell me you’re the man who mixed the poultice that saved my life, sir.  I’ll never be able to repay you.”

Flavius smiled and put his hands on Quintus’ arms and shook them and Quintus smiled and shook his in return.

“I’m just glad to see you looking so well.  Do you still have pain?”

“Just a little, it’s nothing to worry about.  I’ll repay you someday, I promise.”

Shortly afterward, Quintus left the area and went on with his journeys.  His natural talent for conversation and persuasion earned him a great deal of money.  One day in early spring, he entered the city of Florentia and was immediately assailed by a bunch of four hooligans who demanded money.  They required a tribute, or Quintus would have to move on.  Quintus told them he would leave, but then they wouldn’t let him go unless he paid.  When his charm failed to move them, he paid, and set up his cart at the end of the road to try and earn back his money.

Each day they showed up and demanded tribute.  Quintus felt like a slave.  He was unable to leave as his money was dwindling and they asked for more every day.  They were big and ugly, and he knew they could hurt him badly if he gave them an opportunity.

One day as Quintus was selling items from his cart, the four hooligans approached him.  It hadn’t been a good day, and they weren’t satisfied with the tribute he gave them.  They began to pull on his clothes and mock him.  Fear overtook him as their mocking grew more and more violent.  These men were going to kill him and he could do nothing to stop them.  As the largest grabbed Quintus’ tunic, he suddenly let go and fell backwards.  Flavius stood behind him with a bloody sword.  The other hooligans moved away.

“The three of us can take him,” one of the men shouted.

Flavius thrust his sword into the man’s belly and the other two men ran for their lives.  Flavius helped Quintus pack up his cart and together they quickly walked out of town.

“My time was up and I decided to come and find you,” Flavius said as they pushed the cart down the road.   “You’d do better with a horse to pull this cart.”

“I can’t afford a horse.  I’m saving for a shop in Rome.”

“A shop in Rome, eh?  Then I suggest you stay away from hooligans,” Flavius said.  “I know my way around Italy.  I can steer you away from them.”

“I suppose I’d have to pay you,”  Quintus said with a sigh.

“No, just feed me and give me somewhere to sleep,’ Flavius said.  “I owe you my life.  I want to work for you, to repay you.”

“Very well, I could use the company.  The roads can get lonely.”

Flavius had worked for Quintus ever since.  He’d been with him when he married Agatha and when Cassia was born.  He’d helped him through the disappointment of so many lost sons and through his trials with Agatha’s drinking.  He’d planned on staying with Quintus forever, but now he wanted a life with Novia and would have to tell Quintus soon, and that’s why telling Cassia was his duty, his one last payment on an old debt.

Heartbroken

When the women returned from the market, they found the shop locked.  They knocked on the door until Flavius answered.  After he let them in, he relocked the door.

“Why is the shop closed, Flavius?” Cassia asked.

“It’s mealtime.”  As Flavius walked past them and went to his room, Novia handed Cassia her basket.

“Take the baskets inside, Cassia,” Novia said.  She waited until Cassia had gone inside before going to Flavius’ room, where she found him at the table with his hands clasped and his head bent low.

“What is it, Flavius?  What’s happened?  Have you told Quintus we’re leaving?”

Flavius looked up as Novia sat down on the bed.

“I was going to talk to him today and then we had… a visitor.  Darius and his brother came to see him.  They practically ran out the door, and then I heard him wailing.”

“What happened?” Novia asked, suddenly feeling anxious.

“Darius said he no longer needed to wed Cassia.”

“Oh, dear,” Novia said.  “Cassia will be…”

“Yes, she’ll be devastated,” he said, “and I’m to tell her.”

“Why you?  Why not that coward of a father?  He’s made such a mess of things already.”

“Because I owe him this one, last thing.”

“You owe him nothing.  You’ve served him well for 20 years.  He has no right to expect you…”

Flavius stood up and slammed his hand on the table.

“I owe him this and I will pay.  Then I can leave with a clear conscience.”  Novia again began to protest.  “Woman, enough!”

Flavius walked out of the room and toward the main house, looking for Cassia, with Novia close behind.  Cassia would need her when Flavius gave her the news.

Cassia put the baskets in the kitchen where the servants were busy preparing the day’s meals.  She was just entering the atrium when Flavius and Novia walked in.  She smiled at them, but her smile soon faded as she looked at the expressions on their faces.

“What is it?  You both look so serious,” she said.

Flavius walked over, put his arm around Cassia and guided her to the couch.  “I have to talk to you, Cassia.”

They both sat down as Novia hovered over them.

“This is not good, is it?”  Cassia asked.  Flavius shook his head.

“Darius came this morning.  He told your father there was no need for him to wed you now that his debts are paid.”  Flavius stopped, watching for her reaction.

“I don’t believe you,” Cassia said.  “I saw him two days ago and I know he loves me.  I just don’t believe you.”  Cassia tried to get up off the couch but Flavius held her down.

“Now you listen to me, Cassia.  You’ve known me all your life and I’ve never lied to you.  Why would I start now?”

Cassia looked into Flavius’ eyes and knew he was telling the truth.  She looked at Novia, who confirmed it by nodding her head.  That’s when the tears began to fall.

“I must find my father,” Cassia said as she rose from the couch and ran to the back of the domus.  Novia wanted to follow her, but Flavius stopped her.

“He needs to deal with this alone,” Flavius told her.

Cassia found her father as he was being dressed, and he smiled when he saw her.  He then noticed the tears and knew that Flavius had spoken with her.  He dismissed his servant and went to his daughter.

“Oh, my dear, my dear, I’m so sorry.  If I’d known what a bounder he was, I would never have brought him home.”  He wrapped his arms around her and Cassia buried her head in his chest.  She was sobbing so hard that her body shook violently.  Quintus was becoming more and more uncomfortable, so he patted her head, and after what he deemed a suitable amount of time, gently pushed her away.

“Dry your tears, Cassia, this is the last time I’ll subject you to this.  If you want to marry a commoner, so be it.  If the man is of good character and has a thriving business, then I will give my blessing and a hefty dowry.  Now, does that make you feel better?”

Cassia looked up at her father.  She could see that he had no understanding of the way she felt about Darius, that she could never marry anyone else, not ever.  She couldn’t think of what to say, so she simply nodded and accepted her father’s bear hug.

“That’s my precious one.  Why don’t you go now and take a bath.  I find it always lifts my spirits.”

Quintus passed Cassia as he walked to the dining table.  She stood in his room for several minutes as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.  She seemed to be in a fugue state, as if all noise and senses had been obliterated, leaving her numb.  Novia found her there and put her arm around Cassia’s shoulders.  She took the brokenhearted girl to her room and laid her on her bed, then stroked Cassia’s hair and told her to rest, that sleep would set things right.

It was dark when Cassia woke up.  She had no idea how long she’d slept.  She felt her stomach growl and remembered that she hadn’t eaten since just after dawn.  Then she remembered that Darius didn’t want to marry her anymore, and the pain stabbed her heart anew.  She tried to stop it like she had stopped other uncomfortable emotions, but it wouldn’t go away.  She willed herself not to cry, got up and went looking for Novia.

She found her in Flavius’ room, making plans to leave Rome.  Novia got up from the little table and went to her, hugging her tightly.  Flavius got up and walked out the door, heading for the main house.

“I’m so glad you woke up.  I wanted to wake you earlier, but you looked so serene I didn’t want to bother you.  We have news for you,” Novia said.

“I don’t think I can handle any more news, Novia,” Cassia said.  Her voice was devoid of emotion.

“Flavius is going to speak to your father tonight.  He is going to ask if you can accompany us to Florentia.”

“But why would I want to go to Florentia?”  Cassia asked, genuinely perplexed.

“Because you could start your life over and help us with the vineyard.  Florentia is a city, not as big as Rome, but there are many eligible men there looking for a good woman.  It would be good for you.”

“No, Novia, it wouldn’t.  I have no need for another man.  I love Darius.”

“But Darius doesn’t love you.”

“YES HE DOES!”  Cassia shouted as she shook Novia’s hands off her shoulders.  “I’m not leaving Rome, Novia.  I’ll win Darius back.  I’m not giving up on him yet.”  Cassia ran from the room and Novia followed her.

“You must eat something, Cassia.  You’re not thinking right.  You have such childish ideas about love.”  Novia was still talking when she noticed Cassia watching Flavius and Quintus quarreling.

“No, Flavius, you can’t leave me now.  I need you to run the shops when I’m out of town,” Quintus said.  “And you promised me you would stay until the debt was paid.”

“That debt was paid a long time ago, Quintus.  I stayed because I wanted to stay; I stayed because you needed me.  But I’ve done my last favor for you, Quintus.  I want a life of my own, with Novia.”

“So that’s how it is, eh?  That conniving woman has manipulated you and now you want to leave me.”  The veins on Quintus’ forehead were sticking out.  “I refuse to release her to you.  She’s my slave…,” Quintus lied.

“You selfish, arrogant, self-centered idiot, I’ve done everything you’ve asked for 20 years.  I cleaned up your drunken wife, I took care of her body after you had killed her, I watch over your daughter like a father should because you’re too self-absorbed to do it yourself.  I built your shops up while you traipsed all over the world.  And as for Novia being a slave,” Flavius took his money pouch off his belt and threw it at Quintus’ feet.  “That should cover the price.”

Quintus was shaking all over, trying not to strike Flavius.  He knew Flavius could hurt him much more than he could hurt Flavius.  Then he looked over and saw Novia.  He didn’t seem to notice Cassia standing next to her as he ran over to her and grabbed her by the neck.

“It’s you that put these ideas in his head,” he said as he squeezed her neck.  Novia was scratching at his hands, trying to get him to stop.  Quintus had a stranglehold on Novia and wouldn’t let go.  Flavius ran over and tried to pry him off Novia, while Cassia pulled on Quintus’ arm.  Finally, Flavius put all his weight behind pulling Quintus off, and as he did, Novia fell, hitting her head on a statue of Bacchus near the Atrium pool.  The marble opened her skull, and blood began to ooze on the floor, running into the pool.  Cassia went to her.