The midday sun crept into the room through the shutters, casting its light over the peaceful darkness. An empty flagon of wine decorated the bedside table. Aurelian turned in his sleep, sweat dampening his brow. As the light continued to creep in, a beam of light shined onto his face. Aurelian scowled, his face scrunching together in a mass of wrinkles, forcing him to roll over.

  Half-awake, he groaned. "Marius... close the shutters. Marius?” He reached to his side, trying to nudge his lover awake, only to find himself alone. He grumbled as he reluctantly opened his eyes and rolled from his bed onto the floor with a thud. Was that necessary?

  “Ill-bred fool” he grumbled to himself as he rose, feeling the air blow around his bare body. Marius had complained about his lack of decorum since arriving at the villa, but Aurelian had dismissed him. What does it matter if I fail to live up to impress a horde of unwashed slaves? He stumbled to the bedside table, took it in his hands as he pushed it against his lips, only to find it empty. That explains the headache.

  “Girl. Girl!” His voice was loud enough to be heard through the building. He had taken the blond-haired slave as his servant. He wasn’t sure what she did before he arrived, but he didn’t need her for much more than fetching his wine and food. It is capable enough.

  A moment passed before he heard the sound of footsteps darting up the stairs before a knock on his door.

  “You may enter.” He said, as he stretched his arms, his back letting out a series of audible cracks and pops.

  The door opened to reveal the short blond slave girl; Aurelian didn’t know her name, nor did he care to learn it. She had been the first slave he encountered when entering the house, and that was all the qualifications needed. Her hair was wiry, though she was cleaner than most slaves on the estate since she wasn’t working in the field.

  He had come with his own small host of trained domestic slaves meant to tend to his every need, but he had avoided them as much as he could. But he couldn’t trust them, they would no doubt send word to his father in Urr, reporting his every move. This one was at least somewhat more trustworthy, outside the reach of his father, and expendable.

  “Master.” She said as she bowed, standing still awaiting his command, diverting her eyes from him.

  “In the future do not waste my time by knocking, my calling for you already means I have given you permission to enter," Aurelian said, giving her no chance to reply he continued. “Tell me, where is my guard?”

  Her words were quiet as she diverted her eyes towards the ground. "He left the estate at dawn towards the forest, he has yet to return, my master.”

  “Of course he did, no matter.” Aurelian tossed the empty flagon at the blonde slave. To his surprise, the slave caught it instinctively as her hands bolted from her sides. Swift hands, he thought, admiring the reflexes of the slave.

  “Bring me wine; and be quick about it.”

  The girl hastily bowed before leaving the room, he could hear the quick footsteps grow silent as she left.

  Aurelian sighed as he stumbled to his tunic that he had thrown off last night, expecting Marius to join him. A large patch of the white fabric had been dyed red, no doubt from him spilling wine on himself during one of his nights of drinking. One he couldn’t remember.

  He had been at the villa for what felt like years but was only a few short weeks. He had precious few comforts in this backwater, wine, isolation, and Marius. Marius had scarcely joined him in bed since they arrived, however. When they were on campaign they were bound at the hip, together on and off the battlefield. But that was a lifetime ago.

  He should return to Urr where he belongs, father would give him his own command if he asked. Wrapping a loin-cloth around his waist and pulling his tunic over his head as he dressed for the day, or what was left of it anyway.

  His sword and belt lay against the wall collecting dust. He hadn't touched it since arriving, and the blade hadn't tasted fresh air since he left Acta. A gift from his father, one of the finest made blades in Urr. The steel was patterned with ripples that glowed in the light. The handle was pure white ivory. The image of the god Maris carved onto the base, with the pommel being a golden sun. You barely know how to use it anyway, maybe if you did you could have saved them.

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  Still, he slipped it over his waist for the first time in weeks. Without Marius to protect him he would have to be ready to fight. He wasn't so ignorant to believe he wasn't a target just because he was hiding in the country. He also wasn't so foolish as not to notice the growing resentment of the slaves, most of whom already had reason to hate him. Carrying his sword might deter any would-be hero.

  The slave girl returned after a brief few minutes, wine in hand. Aurelian briskly walked towards her, taking the flagon from her hand and drank deeply from it. His headache began to fade, being replaced by a warmth spreading through his body.

  Barely able to pull himself away from the intoxicating liquid, he wiped his mouth with his wrist. This room has grown stale, he thought as he decided that today he would go on a self-guided tour of the grounds, and just maybe he would find Marius.

  "Stay close, do not let my cup run dry." Handing the flagon to her as he picked up his cup and walked downstairs, preparing to leave the house he had spent most of his time in since arriving.

  The girl nodded as she followed him like a shadow, staying close and making sure his cup never ran dry.

  As soon as he emerged from the villa, the slaves present in the courtyard turned and stared at him, including the one who used to sleep in his room. What was his name again? Ah, what does it matter

  Compared to the palaces of Acta that he had occupied after pulling the city walls down around them, his place was a significant downgrade. The flower arrangements were tacky, with only a handful of half-trodden wild-flowers covered in snails and other beasties.

  He raised his cup to the slave girl, who had diligently been filling it every time he had begun to run dry.

  He breathed deeply, trying to clear his head with the fresh air as he wandered further from the estate towards the forest. The thick jagged trees dark trees rising far above, the branches blanketing the forest in darkness. The thought occurred to him that lumber was a potential source of income for the villa. After all, Urr was in desperate need of wood for the navy to maintain naval supremacy over Acta. There were enough slaves, he could pull some off the farms. But most importantly he could be of use to Urr again. Do you really think that would alleviate you of your sins? You lead them to their deaths.

  He emptied his cup again, the blonde slave readily filling it. He began to stumble as he felt the liquor spread throughout his body, his old friend

  helped force the memories of that day out of his head. Helped to keep the darkness at bay. He continued to drink as he walked, hoping to find his lover.

  His words slurred as he spoke, "Is there- there somewhere of note in this.. forest? Some sort of lake or... clearing?" he took another gulp of the now warm wine, "Marius isn't hic... isn't much fond of... nature."

  "I do not know master, I have only been here for a short while" The blonde-haired slave replied, her voice steady.

  Aurelian frowned, you're just walking around aimlessly Aurelian, he probably went back to Urr, what does he need you for? He emptied his cup before tossing it into a bush, then pulling the jug from the slave's hands.

  Staring down into the jug, seeing that it was almost empty. Barely anything left... You're nothing but a drunk Aurelian, no wonder he left, Father was right, they're all right. Knocking his head back, he emptied the jug, savoring the crimson nectar. He felt his grip loosen and his head spin as the jug fell from his hand, breaking into a dozen shards.

  He continued his stumbling deeper into the forest, desperate to find Marius when he felt a chill. He felt something was wrong, his mind raced as the world slowed to a crawl. Years at war had taught him to listen to his body, but he couldn't think, he had drank too much too quickly. What is it, a bear? No, there aren't any bears here. Think Aurelian, Thi-

  Pain wracked his body, his left side burned with pain as the hidden blade of his assailant nested into his body. Move. Fighting through the pain, he leaped forward in a haze, struggling to draw his blade from its sheathe. Fighting the haze that had clouded his mind; and the pain spreading through his body.

  He spun around, expecting to see the gleaming scaled armour of an Actan warrior bearing down on him. However, what he saw was not the face of a ruthless Actan killer, but the short blonde slave pursuing him, pressing her advantage.

  The blood-soaked blade came towards him again and again, his legs moved as he remembered his training, but not quick enough. His body was being weighed down. His tunic was dyed red, blood trickling down from the shallow stabs and cuts from the assassin's ruthless pursuit.

  Finally finding the strength to draw his sword, he unleashed it with a scream. You will not die, Aurelian, you will not die. He swung wide, steel meeting flesh as he dug into his attacker's shoulder as his attacker screamed. End this Aurelian!

  Aurelian advanced, but his legs failed him. Drunk and injured, he fell to his knees clutching his sword. He stabbed the air in desperation, his movements sluggish and weak. The blonde assassin circled him like a wolf, clutching her own arm as it poured with blood, dripping down from her clavicle to her fingertips.

  His vision blurred as he clutched his bleeding side, blood soaking his hand. The world went quiet as a warmth spread through his body. This is fine... This is what you deserve. He found himself somehow staring up at the sky, his sword falling from his grasp.

  The grass is so soft... His assailant disappeared and the trees faded from his sight as his eyes began to close. His pain faded as he felt himself begin his journey to the eternal shriek, the sound of agony and screaming as its denizens were punished for their crimes against the gods.

  "Aurelian... Aurelian... Aurelian!" whispered the void, calling his name as he drifted away.