‘What is it now, Tarquinius?’
‘Livia?’
She jerked her chin up and then froze, wondering if it were a trick of the light or whether she were imagining things. It looked like Mari
us, standing between the pillars on the opposite side of the courtyard, dressed in military attire, though his head was bare. His face was leaner and gaunter than she remembered, but the features were unmistakably his, as stern as ever, though his eyes were bright with emotion, shining with what looked like hope and something like yearning, though surely she was mistaken about that.
‘Marius?’ She hardly dared say his name out loud in case he denied it. ‘Is it you?’
‘It’s me.’ He hesitated, the look of hope in his eyes fading when she didn’t say anything else. ‘It’s good to see you again, Livia.’
‘It’s good to see you again, too.’ She hated how paltry those words sounded. Good. As if her heart weren’t trying to beat its way out of her chest! As if she weren’t tensing every muscle in her body in an effort to stop herself from running to him! He was alive!
‘You thought I was your brother?’ He was back to frowning again.
‘Yes, he came to visit me, but it’s all right. He’s gone and I doubt he’ll be back.’
‘Good.’ The frown deepened, the air of tension between them palpable now. ‘You look well.’
‘Thank you.’ She clasped her hands in front of her, hoping she looked more composed than her palpitating heartbeat was making her feel. ‘We heard about Cilurnum. What happened?’
‘We had to abandon it in the end. There was no point in losing men to a lost cause.’
‘That sounds familiar.’
‘It does.’ He gave an ironic smile. ‘I think I understand my father even better now.’
‘I’m glad.’ She tried not to think about how handsome he looked. Despite everything, his smile still had the power to take her breath away. ‘I still have his—your—gladius. It was in the bag you sent back with me.’
‘I know. I put it there.’
‘You did?’ She’d thought that she must have picked it up in her semi-delirious state.
‘Yes. I wanted you to have it in case I didn’t make it.’
‘Oh... I can go and fetch it if you want it back?’
‘No. I can’t fight for a while anyway.’ He pushed his cloak back and she had to dig her toes into the ground to stop herself from rushing forward. His whole left arm was wrapped in a tattered white bandage.
‘You’re injured!’
‘It’s only a break. The surgeon tells me it’ll be as good as new in a few months, but Nerva said it was about time I took some leave.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s been twelve years, after all.’
‘I see.’ She didn’t know how else to respond. What was he saying, that he’d come to spend it with her? The idea was exciting, insulting and unlikely all at the same time.
‘How is everyone else? Trenus? Ario?’
‘Both alive, only a little the worse for wear. They both send their respects.’ He paused momentarily. ‘I travelled here with another old friend.’
‘Oh?’
‘Scaevola, only not quite the man you might remember. It seems that war changes some people after all. He got more than he bargained for coming here, but it might be the making of him. He’s actually proved a competent soldier. His father’s found a reason to summon him back to Rome, but he wished us both well.’
‘Scaevola wished us well?’
‘Yes.’ His brow furrowed again. ‘Although it might be risky for him if your brother’s here.’
‘I doubt it. Tarquinius is probably on the road south already.’