Pax Trimuverate
Breul and Darius rode their horses until they were exhausted to the north on the best roads leading to Rome. Few citizens rode horseback, most walked the roads or in wagons and litters. They passed many and even some legionnaires here and there going both directions.
They rode over hilly country and then into large open expanses and by nightfall they stopped for the night a couple hundred gradus off the road. They ate and then went to sleep on the horse’s blankets.
It was two more days before they stood on a rise overlooking the villa of Julius Galbinian This was a quite large villa with orchards to the sides and rear with a large retinue of either servants or slaves to tend to daily tasks.
“Breul this is a large villa, may I ask how we are going to do what you wish to this man?” Darius asked.
“Well surely it must be at night, but for now we watch and see what we may have for an opportunity that arises. I am more concerned that we are not seen before, during or after than anything right now or all will have been for naught.” Breul told his friend
“Rather reminds me of the time we were scouting the Pict village some years back in Britannia but much more open this time.” Darius commented.
“I remember well, but I think we can use the orchards to either side or maybe that creek at the rear for cover in approach and escape. I am more interested in observing the comings and goings of those there right now plus our being assured that he is there at all and not already left to some other location.” Breul said flatly.
“Those things could make our reconnaissance lengthy, but necessary if we are to be both successful and totally undetected.” Darius observed as much to himself as a statement to Breul.
Later that afternoon as Breul was resting and Darius was on watch, Darius touched his shoulder.
“Breul something is happening, come take a look.” He said.
Breul turned and looked over the rise, after watching a few seconds he said. “Darius that looks the wife is leaving for at least overnight. Look at the bundles and baskets they are loading onto that wagon and she is getting in the coach with what appears to be a maid servant. This could be just what I need for tonight.”
“I agree Breul it does begin to look promising, that’s why I asked you to take a look.” Darius replied.
After they had watched for about an hour they also saw who appeared to be Julius Galbinian come out and see her off as the entourage started to pull away from the villa in the direction of Rome.
“There that is most likely him, look at his toga that is not a mere servant or slave. He seems to be staying while she is leaving for at least the night.” Breul vocalized as if for them both to hear. “So now let us look more intently at the surroundings and form a plan as to what we will do tonight when all are asleep.”
As they continued to watch the villa Breul and Darius formulated their plan. Most important was to keep vigilant and; one make sure no one came and stayed that they did not know about and two later try to pick the earliest time when all appeared to be asleep for the night that alone was tantamount to their plan.
After discussing their plans completely they began to take watches so both could get plenty of rest yet not miss anything going on that day below at the villa. This night they both needed to be fresh and ready for any possibility it would be arduous and there was little room for error from lack of rest.
At about midnight after every oil lamp in the villa seemed extinguished and no one had been seen moving about. Breul and Darius started their descent down the slope on foot toward the orchards to their side of the villa.
They came up to villa from the rear where there was a large outside area for entertaining guests. Once inside it was even darker with not a lamp glowing. Slowly they went from doorway to door peering inside and seeing nothing that resembled the main bedroom chamber. Finally as they neared the one they sought they heard foot falls from back down the corridor, they both immediately blended into the shadows.
It was a very young woman and she passed into the room where they had been about to enter. As she neared the bed the man laying there rose up onto one arm and stared at her, he told her she was late in an impatient tone. He watched as she undid the clasps holding her Peplos at the shoulder and let it drop to the floor leaving her completely undressed before him.
From Breul and Darius’s vantage point and both their eyes accustomed to the darkness they could see that she had many bruises all of which had been hidden by her garments as she turned and sat to get into the bed the man pulled a cover back for her to do just that. he left the cover where he had dropped it to the bed as he grabbed at her in the dark. His hands were rough in their squeezing and they could see her wince at the callousness of their touch, this only seemed to bring a smirk of enjoyment to his face as he continued to grope and rub different parts of her body as if more punishing her than trying to give or receive pleasure form the encounter. Finally he rose to his knees and thrust her over and took her not as a woman at all. He was like a bull in heat and pushed her head into the bed, both Breul and Darius could hear sobs from her muffled by her face being buried into the bed as she was being brutalized. It was evident that was a scene that had occurred to her many times before.
Darius was furious in his stance and Breul had both fists clenched knuckle white his eyes glazed with pure hatred. He knew he could do nothing for her right then but promised himself she nor any woman would suffer from this demon again.
In a short time it was certain that the man had reached his urges when he back away and slapped the young woman from the bed onto the floor, where she promptly grabbed for her peplos and moved quickly from the room not seeing either Breul or Darius as she passed by them on her way quickly back down the corridor from where she had come before, crying as she sped her way there.
Breul and Darius waited longer until they could hear the man’s snoring from inside the room. Then they crept in stealthily inching their way to the side of his bed. Then quickly and in unison Breul clouted the man on the head with a blow he was sure put him unconscious and Darius then moved to stuff a stick in his mouth and gag him tightly so he could not make a sound if he came to.
They bound his hands and feet then Darius lifted the man over his shoulder to carry him out of the villa to a location they had previously discussed. Breul took a flask of wine he found at the bedside as they headed out the door.
They were not discovered as they went across the open area and then down to a stream at the edge of the property and followed it further downstream. Here Darius roughly dropped Julius Galbinian onto the rocky banks.
“There is no punishment cruel enough for this so called citizen.” Darius said to Breul
“We are going to try right now my friend. Leave the gag and bindings on for now but start to shred his tunic as if an animal had clawed at it make sure it looks believable. I am going to do the same here I want this to look like he was bitten and these eaten not a planned castration by men.” Breul told him as he took the herders knife and just made and insertion in his scrotum and then more tore at the skin rather than cut it.
Julius Galbinian did attempt to come to probably due to the intense pain at his groin but Darius immediately clubbed him again in a different part of his head sending him into unconsciousness again . Between the two men working in total concert the deed was accomplished rather quickly. Then each of them took a foot apiece in their hands and drug him very roughly down the rough rocky embankment and on down the streams rocky bed several hundred passus.
Both men back tracked to where they had stared dragging him and while Breul poured the wine from the flask into and over Julius Galbinian as if he had maybe first stumbled drunk into the creek. Darius erased any evidence of their presence but at the same time made it appear as if the man had walked to the creek alone and stumbled down the bank. Now they took off his bindings and gag making sure he was probably unconscious throughout the rest of the night.
Breul and Darius now rapidly moved back to the crest of the slope where they had previously been the day before and got out of sight before the first grey started to lighten the eastern sky. They had all the bindings, knife and evidence with them. They gathered up anything that showed they had even been here and made ready to leave. During their packing at this hour they did hear a pack of wolves or some canines of some type very excited and or agitated near the creek where they had left Julius Galbinian laying. But the noise subsided before anyone at the villa could be seen stirring about.
As the first now pink rays of dawn were flushing away the grey of predawn Breul and Darius were mounted and had started riding back toward Pompeii but skirting the outskirts of Rome itself. In the evening they camped for the night, tomorrow they would be in Pompeii.
“I wonder how long it took them to find him this morning.” Darius asked as he took a sip of wine from his drinking skin.
“We may never know for sure, but I think you will hear of it in rumors in the same places where you got the information on him for me originally. There is a chance that is happened better than we thought though.” Breul said as he leaned back looking at the stars overhead.
“How do you mean, Breul?” Darius asked him.
“Did you not hear the wolves from the direction where we left him as we were preparing to leave the ridge? It could be they found him before any of his slaves or workers.” Breul answered.
“Yes I did, but I did not think much of it at the time since we were busy getting ready and they were too far away to be an effect on us. You could be right, he would deserve it, that is for sure.” Darius added.
“We agree on that and an added bonus would be it would make our disguises more believable and we could honestly say we did not kill him if it ever came up that we were suspected of anything.” Breul added.
“Yes both of these are true . Well either way, he will never abuse any woman ever again.” Darius said as he lay back and got ready for sleep as Breul appeared to do the same.
The next day they made it back to Pompeii in time for Breul to visit with Selina and her children before it was time for bed. Both boys and jenette were very happy to see him and monopolized most of his time until Atia put them to bed. Then Selina and he sat and talked before they kissed a long goodnight kiss and Breul went to his house for the night.
Over the next week everything appeared to return to what had previously become normal. Work at the villa was going very well and it showed not a delay as if anyone had ever been gone a day even. Breul came to the baker’s every day to walk Selina home, they held hands as they walked, sometimes stopped to chat with those they saw most days and Breul would put his arm around Selina’s waist as they did. They would talk smile and laugh as they walked. Once to Selina’s the boys would run to them, hug their mother and then grab Breul for some game or wrestle or something they wanted him to do, if little Jennet was out she would want to be picked up and kissed then put in her mother’s arms. They would have cena and then sit like a family and play or talk or Breul would be coerced into a story or tale. Atia would come take the children to bed and then more than once comment that Breul should not need to leave every night and this would always make Selina blush when Atia did.
Finally one evening Breul turned to Selina and told her again that he wanted to marry her.
“Breul, you know I want this as well, but I cannot by law I am married, even though he thinks I and the children are drowned. I cannot it is not how I was raised, I so wish…” she told him again.
“Selina my dear while Darius and I were in Rome a while back I learned that Julius Galbinian is already remarried and has been since shortly after he thought you drowned. Also it is said you were his second wife to die.” Breul told her.
“Oh, I had not heard this. But still it would be me he would blame if it was ever found out that I am not dead. Does it mean that since he is remarried that I am free of the bond to him as if he or I ended our marriage bonds?” She said and asked.
“Selina my love you know enough about our law to know anyone can only be married to one person at a time regardless of them being a man or woman. I would also think you know that either you or him could divorce the other at any time. If either of you no longer consents to the marriage you can divorce the other even if they do not wish it and it is private, divorces are not recorded, it is not a matter of the law.” Breul told her in a very loving manner almost a plea.
“Are you sure Breul, what if he came looking for me, you would defend me and you could be hurt or do something to be in trouble.” She said.
“He will not believe me, he would be in more trouble than you since he is married to another woman.” He said not adding any personally known information.
“Breul are you sure?” she said with a tear forming at the corner of her eye as she looked deeply into his.
“I am sure I want you to be my wife and I am also sure I will never allow anyone to hurt you ever again Selina you know that in your heart.” He said after he took her face in his hands.
Selina then took his face in hers and stared deeply into his eyes as she said. “Yes man of mine, oh yes I want to be your wife and I will whenever you say.” Then she parted her lips as Breul bent to kiss her long and tenderly taking her in his arms as she put her arms around his neck.
“Then there is only one more thing to do.” He said turning toward the door and calling for Atia.
“Yes, Breul what can I do for you?” she said.
“Are the children still awake?” he asked.
“Yes they have not fallen into sleep when I last looked.” Atia replied.
“Would you please bring them to us then for a brief moment?” Breul asked her.
“Of course, I will come too.” She said with a small chuckle in her voice.
“Breul what are you going to do?” Selina asked him rather giggling herself.
“I need to know the children are in favor of this as we are.” He answered watching the door as Atia came out holding Jennet with Julian and Justinian at her side. Breul took Jennet in his arms and motioned for the boys to sit between him and their mother.
Breul asked the boys what they would think about their mother and he marrying he becoming their father with all of them living together as a family from then on, Jennet was just playing with his wavy hair as he asked.
Julian and Justinian jumped up and down asking if it was real and looked at Jennet saying Pater, Pater and she just smiled and continued playing with Breul’s hair. The boys ran to Selina who just blushed and shook her head up and down. When Selina and Breul turned to Atia she just said it was about time and then after a while took the children inside to go back to sleep.
“When do you want to have the ceremony my love?” Breul asked Selina.
“Now, well as soon as you are ready Breul.” She said her face beaming brighter than the moon above them in the night sky.
“We have already consented, and we have been holding hands in public for some time so two of the required customs are already done. So very soon my darling, I don’t want to seem impatient but like you just said, now, as soon as we can arrange it.”
“I think the boys will too now and so do I man of mine.” Selina said with a small smile on her face.
During the next week all customs and preparations were handled and followed. Work went well at the site for Breul and he went back to his house every night even though Atia made little gestures of humor at their propriety.
The day before the ceremony Darius came to the work site and told Breul and Jovian he had heard rumors the night before in a wine house where he was drinking Mulsum with some acquaintances. It seemed there was a rumor about Julius Galbinian in Rome making its way to Pompeii now; seems that sometime back he had been out at night and drinking and probably tripped near a stream or somehow and while hurt been killed by a pack of wolves. His wife was in mourning and his business contacts were searching for new opportunities to replace his.
That night even though they were going to a dinner with Breul’s men he had to tell Selina of the news.
“Do you mean he is really dead Breul, how did you hear this?” She asked him.
“Darius heard the news last night and told Jovian and I this morning at the villa.” Breul told her in an unemotional voice.
“Free, I am actually free to be your wife. Breul you did you have anything to do with this, I have to ask?” she looked him squarely in his eyes she would know if he was lying to her.
“I did not kill him Selina, I would have liked to but I did not kill him.” He said.
Selina stood there a few seconds and then said. “I accept that my tomorrow husband, you are not lying I can tell. However you are not surprised at the news either and I think neither was Darius. Thank you for not being the one to kill him. Thank you for making sure he could never hurt me or the children again.”
The next day was Nuptiae and filled with ceremony of the legal requirements and the social obligations of sharing fire and water culminating in Selinas statement of “Ubi tu gaius ego gaia” and then their kiss to seal the ceremony bargain. Then the feast and finally the procession to the new home(which they had decided for now was Selina’s until Breul made final repairs to one they had picked out. Then Selina lit the home fire with her torch Breul; blowing it out and the torch then being thrown to the wedding guests. That night Atia had the children at a friend’s a few doors down.
For the first time Breul and Selina stood face to face as man and wife. Their kiss was more than passionate Breul untied the knot of Hercules in the wool belt that bound her Tunica Recta then unpinning the tunic at the shoulders so it could fall to the tile floor as she slipped his of as well. They walked to their bed and embraced for long minutes then Breul looked at her solemnly as he said.
“We have but one more thing to do before we consummate our marriage my wife, I believe it will let you know that I am with you in all things forever.”
“What Breul, that I do not know this already?” she asked.
“I have talked with Atia. She should be back here and outside by now with the children asleep. We need to redress. She has made arrangements for our marriage to be blessed by those of your faith in the one God.” He told her.
“Husband you would do this, it might be dangerous for you some day later.” Selina said with nervousness in her voice.
“Yes but if it is it will be anyway my wife.” He said and at that moment Atia came to the door.
The three of them walked down a few streets and around several corners passing only a few as they went, then finally they followed Atiia into a door like any other to a nondescript house. Inside were a few men and women, the oldest of which asked if they truly wished to be united in the new faith. Both Selina and Breul said they did and a simple ceremony was preformed. All there gave their congratulations and then the three of them retraced their steps back to Selina’s house. Here Atia left them and went back to the house the children were in.
A few weeks later Breul, Selina, the children and Atia all moved to the house Breul had purchased for them it seemed rather odd now though that Darius seemed to be visiting more often and spent much time talking and becoming friends with Atia.
Breul had asked Selina and then the boys if they would all allow him to file formal adoption of the three children, the boys jumped, ran and held onto him and their mother on that day. But the day it became granted they held a small celebration for themselves and all their friends. Selina had by now become close friends with Jovian and Bracius wives: Claudia (Jovian’s wife) and Padilla (Bracius wife), the boys had also become fast comrades with Philo, Jovians son. Breul announced that as of that day Julian, Justinian and Jennet were the children of his heart and his legal hiers in everything. Selina had almost cried as he talked of his love for all three as the boys stood beside him and Jennet was held in his arms; again playing with his hair.
Two weeks later as Breul came home from work at the villa and Selina was preparing their Cena she turned to him and told him he should start thinking about some names for another child.
“Do you mean that we…..” He had almost stammered with a bright gleam in his eyes.
“Yes my husband we are going to have another child.” She said a pink blush on her cheeks.
“Oh my darling sweet wife, you must rest and be more careful, here let me help.” Breul came close to where she was getting the Lucina ready for cena.
“Breul sit and rest, this is not my first and I am fine. Now my husband you sit and relax you have worked all day.” Selina playfully scolded Breul over to where he could rest, but keep her company.
Before she could walk back to where she was cooking, Breul took her in his arms gently and leaned to give his wife a very long very warm kiss of love.
