Chapter 23: Chapter 22 – Titus

When Aster approached the water, his sandals crunched on the small gravel. Raviel had taken them to the bank of the Pallantin, the great river that ran right through Massallia. They had stopped at the edge of the city, a few steps from a huge aqueduct. The place was deserted, probably because the access was well concealed. Aster understood why Raviel appreciated the place. It was surprisingly hermetic to the noises of the city.

He dipped a finger in the clear water. It was cool, but not freezing. The sun's rays still warmed the shimmering surface of the river, even though the day was ending. He quickly took off his sandals so he could dip his feet in the water.

“It's nice!” He said to the young patrician, a big smile on his lips. “You should come!”

Raviel shook his head. He had leaned against one of the pillars supporting the aqueduct, a reasonable distance from the water, and had taken off his toga, which he carefully placed beside him.

“I think it would do you good,” Aster replied.

“Do not insist.”

Raviel turned his head away, and Aster looked at him in astonishment. Aster had rarely seen him so unsure of himself.

"I'm afraid of water," Raviel confessed.

He liked this place, but he never went near the river. He watched it from afar. Aster hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Is it because you can't swim?"

Raviel turned to him, startled by the question.

“No... I can swim.”

Sadness suddenly spread across his face. Aster got his feet out of the water and joined him. Raviel stared into the brown irises. One of them was illuminated by the sun, and the rays falling on it gave it golden hues.

"When I was six, my mother tried to drown me," he whispered.

Aster widened his eyes. He had absolutely not expected such a terrible revelation. He had understood that Raviel's mother was consumed by madness, but he would never have thought that she would try to kill her son.

“Sounds hard to believe, doesn't it?”

The pain in his gaze seemed so deep Aster felt his heart tighten. Still, Raviel gave him a faint smile.

“Don't worry. It doesn't matter much to me now. It's in the past.”

Aster blinked. How could Raviel tell him that his mother had tried to kill him and then tell him it was all in the past? He didn't think long before extending his hand to him. Raviel looked at him in astonishment and raised an eyebrow when he understood what he wanted.

"I'm afraid of water," he repeated.

"Do you trust me?"

“Yes.”

Aster smiled. Raviel had not hesitated for a moment. Finally, he grabbed the outstretched hand. Aster led him towards the river, which Raviel couldn't help but observe with apprehension.

“I suffer from slight vertigo,” Aster explained. “When I was younger, I fell from a tree.”

His feet brushed the water, before sinking deeper into it. Raviel took off his sandals, and Aster held out his hand again.

“After that, I couldn't climb trees anymore, until the day my father came with me.”

Raviel forced himself not to take his eyes off Aster when he felt the water caress his skin.

“And now?” The young patrician asked anxiously.

“I still have a slight apprehension. But that doesn't stop me from doing what I want.”

The water was now rippling around Raviel's ankles. A smile slowly formed on his lips.

“Thanks.”

“Raviel.”

“Yes?”

“Your sword… You used it a lot, didn't you?

Raviel leaned back a little more comfortably against the stone pillar and raised his head to observe the sky. The sun had already started its downward curve.

“It's true. But I made the choice not to touch it anymore.”

“Why?”

Raviel glanced at Aster, seated across from him.

"I'll explain it to you one day. Maybe. But these are memories that I prefer to forget,” Raviel declared with feigned indifference.

Aster didn't insist, and Raviel stood up with a grimace. His body was still sore.

"Do you really plan to return to the palace tomorrow?"

“I do not have a choice. Severus is the emperor.”

“He tortures you.”

Raviel didn't answer. It was useless.

"Let me come in with you then!"

“Out of the question.”

Aster stood up, looking deeply displeased.

“You wanted me to protect you.”

“I also warned you that you couldn't protect me from everything.”

Anyway, Raviel had bought Aster because of the vision he had seen and not out of any real desire for protection. Aster's room for maneuver was far too limited for that, and Raviel's enemies far too powerful. Both knew it.

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“Let's go back. The sun will soon set.”

Raviel took several steps, before stopping dead. Aster frowned. Something seemed to have changed.

"We're not alone," Raviel whispered.

Aster narrowed his eyes. He discerned silhouettes on the horizon. From a distance, he could see five or six of them, and they seemed to be advancing straight toward them. Raviel turned his head and looked behind them. He stiffened immediately. Aster followed his gaze and saw they were surrounded.

"What are the chances it's just a coincidence?"

"I don't believe in coincidences," Raviel replied.

Suddenly, a dull pain shot through his skull. He clapped his hands to his temples, stifling a cry.

“Raviel!”

The pain ebbed away as quickly as it had come. Raviel raised his head abruptly and gazed at Aster. He was stunned by what he saw. A nervousness tinged with fear.

“We leave. Right now!”

“What…”

“I'll explain later, but we have to go. We can't afford to be surrounding!”

Aster nodded. The vision that Raviel experienced must have announced a very bad omen.

“What do you want to do?

Raviel thought for a moment, watching the figures approaching.

“We can only try to push through on one side.”

Aster tightened his fingers around the pommel of the sword attached to his waist.

“Very well.”

They exchanged a look and darted off briskly. The group they were heading toward spread out immediately, but Raviel and Aster didn't slow down. It took them little time to close the distance between them. One of the men suddenly blocked Raviel's way to prevent him from passing them.

Aster studied them with a brief glance. They weren't wearing the Massallian armor, but everything about them suggested they knew how to fight. Their upright posture was falsely nonchalant. Their hands resting on the pommel of a sword or playing with a dagger. A few visible scars here and there. Aster was willing to bet they were mercenaries.

“Can I help you?” Raviel asked, looking affable.

But Aster could see his tense shoulders. The man who stood in front of them sneered and held out his hand. Aster reacted quickly and pulled Raviel back, drawing his sword to challenge anyone to approach.

“We were warned that the guard dog could get in the way…”

Aster's face hardened, and he instinctively placed himself in front of Raviel.

“What do you want?

Raviel risked a glance behind them. The other group was getting dangerously close.

"The patrician," one of the mercenaries answered, looking nasty.

“Watch out!” Raviel warned.

Aster narrowly parried a blow to the side. He gritted his teeth as the pain reverberated through his wrist. The angle of attack had not worked in his favor. Immediately, he bent his knees, adopting his usual combat posture.

"Make sure you stay behind me," he ordered Raviel.

The patrician nodded. It wasn't with the small dagger hidden under his tunic that he could help Aster. Especially since he had not fought for three years. He might have been gifted, but in front of trained men, he would be more of an embarrassment than anything else. He could only comply with Aster's instructions.

The gladiator gauged his adversaries. There were five of them, their feet firmly planted on the ground. Several of them had already drawn a sword, and Aster regretted for a moment his trident, with which he knew he was more skilled using. If he had to be honest, he wasn't at all sure he would win. Not without damage. Especially since the second group was not very far away.

Two of the mercenaries threw themselves on him, but Aster pushed them back with all his might. He retaliated immediately, twirling his blade skillfully. His foot flew and crashed head-on into the plexus of one of the men he was facing.

Raviel watched him, and admiration supplanted his fear. Aster moved with disconcerting ease, and his sword seemed to be just an extension of his arm. He had rarely seen such talent. However, Raviel quickly realized Aster couldn't get the upper hand. He appeared with ferocity, struck as soon as he discerned an opening. But even he had his limits, and he found himself having to restrict his movements so as not to leave Raviel exposed.

He took several steps away, making sure to stay in the axis that Aster was defending. He just wanted to give him more space. He saw him send one of the mercenaries to the ground with a powerful kick, break the nose of a second with his elbow, and violently repel a third with his sword.

Suddenly, a noise sounded behind him. The crunch of gravel. He whirled around abruptly and froze.

"It's been a long time, Raviel.”

He didn't answer, unable to move. Fear slowly crept through his veins, and his heartbeat became erratic. He risked a glance behind him. Too busy supporting the onslaught of the mercenaries, Aster hadn't noticed anything. Two of the men were lying on the ground, but Aster was starting to get tired.

Raviel once again fixed his gaze on the man in front of him. They were the same age, and he was only a few centimeters taller. But his broad and robust shoulders betrayed a developed musculature, highlighted by his light armor. He wore a smirk, but it didn't overshadow the long scar that ran across his cheek. A victorious light danced in his dark eyes. He knew he had already won. He knew he had succeeded in trapping Raviel because no one here would come to their aid. How long had he been waiting for this opportunity since the Emperor's death?

“Titus.”

Titus ​​waved his hand, and two of the men with him walked over to Raviel to grab his arms tightly.

“Raviel !”

Raviel abruptly turned his head towards Aster. Just in time to see him rush towards him.

“Be careful!”

The sword went through Aster's leg, and he collapsed with a groan of pain.

“No.”

Raviel tried to free himself with a sudden movement but was in vain. He turned his head towards Titus and glared at him.

"He won’t bother us," Titus commented.

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