As Valka chases off the mourners, and thier noise stops she hears Gallus, vomiting from the window of the room he occupied before the melee started.
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The normally reserved Gallus eyes are alight with fury. His hands clench, and unclench reflectively, and finally after wrestling for a moment with what to say, he spits, "Ah, my "Domina" bids her dog to speak! Well "Domina", I am not sure how it is your concern who I marry or why, and I am sure I would not have any idea what to do next. Dogs are not well versed in such things. Perhaps if I was ordered to roll over, or to fetch, I could provide some entertainment for you, and the "lady of social rank"." He shakes his head and gives Cassia a very hollow look that is tough to decipher, and then turns and begins climbing the stairs.
"A better question might be one of timing. For you to be here within an hour of the demise of Paesentius and Placidius indicates more than a casual connection there." "How can you demonstrate that you are anything more than one of Placidius' goons returned for a more diplomatic approach?" "Our plan, as you ask, was ended by Placidius himself. If you have something to offer, I invite you to do it plainly. If you do not, then enjoy your wine and then leave. The Vulpes Nigra is currently closed." When Valka Spartaca suggests an owner for the Vulpes besides Agneta, he glares at her.
Gallus gives a small smile to Agneta when she arrives, but it is gone in an instant when he sees this new stranger. When Cassia intercedes and serves the wine, Gallus catches her eye and mouths the words "Thank you" discretely. "Agneta, who is this?" His eyes do not leave Aratus as he speaks.
Gallus tries to go with Cassia, and when she makes her well timed comment about betrothal, he turns and catches the looks of the others. He looks back to Cassia and she has fled into the night. Taking a deep breath and a long sigh he turns back to Valka Spartaca, Gravus, Luco, and Bjarturius. "You see why I must object if you call her "the barmaid" again, Valka Spartaca." The joke is flat. Humor never has been this ones strong suit. "Agneta wanted a solid plan in order to aid us. And she knew a woman as a second for Paesentius would not stand without a more solid backing. I will wed her, and bind myself by oath to her, and by this we have triumphed here. Imagine this night if Micon and his, and Agneta and hers were also here against us? As for Cassia,..." here his face changes and twists with an unspoken emotion. Chasing it from his face he continues, "This union shall bring many advantages, and not the least of these is that Cassia is safer now than she has been in some time." "The story is well longer than this, but suffice that the impression we made with Matilda and Agneta was very positive, and the Gods themselves showed their favor for us." "I welcome the wisdom of Agneta when she comes. She is a woman of keen insight. My immediate idea is to search the bodies for what they may have on them of value, and then call the guard and alert them to the fact that the Vulpes Inn was attacked by unknown men and that we defended the place. That Paesentius, because of the way they attacked was the assumed target, and that he had in recent days been worried about a rival named Placidius whom lays here now." "The only question is what to do about these 2 we hold in ropes. I will be no part of murder, nor stand by to watch it happen, but I am no friend of these, and would see them used for our gain if possible, and if not then they could simply be handed over to the guard." Gallus waits and takes a breath and looks to see what the others have to say. Unless someone has something to say, Gallus begins looking through the belongings of the dead, starting with Placidius. While he pulls coins and jewelry aside, he seems far more interested in keys or parchment or things of that nature.
Gallus finishes securing the prisoners. He then joins the others on the main floor. "Agneta was offered a place as a second to Paesentius, in return for her efforts. She has done as promised and so shall we. We shall uphold her claim to this place. I think I can speak for Agneta when I offer thanks for what has been done here. And because of my future I thank you as well. This is a bright day for the Vulpes Nigra. But there is still danger ahaead. While this son of a viper has plotted against us and we him, this very organization has been seen as weak and leaderless. So we can count on poaching in Vulpes territory. As I see it, our most important goals shall be to establish ourselves as Agneta's bedrock and firm her claim, and to secure ownership of this building." "Hiding Cassia? Hiding? NAY!! I have spent years on the road and would have a roof over my head. You want a place and the Gods themselves deliver it, and you hide? Which of us here does not want a place? Which of us here enjoys being cast as a tick from a dog, to go where the winds of fortune take us? To never rest? To never know the next warm meal? Or to sleep with an eye open for the next knife at our backs? Not I! This is ours! Taken, by force, and by guile and by the will of the Gods! This is ours, and I would sooner join Paesentius in slumber than to leave it!"
Gallus sees the fight is over, and lowers his bow with no more arrows fired. "Those can tell any other challengers what has happened. They will believe their mouths before they believe ours" Turning to Cassia, Gallus says sadly, "If you have their attention, even better to spurn their advances. You know the stories. When did a human ever entreat with such as those and play the victor? I shall say when! Never!" With that he turns and checks Bjarturius wounds.
Gallus looks over the rail and seeing Placidius, his eyes narrow. He growls loudly, "This ends here! Pulling back his bowstring, he releases an arrow with deadly intent!
Gallus, hearing the scream bounds forward and grabbing his scutum and spatha goes to Cassia's side.
Gallus heeds Valka's wise instruction. When he is don gearing up, he does as the others are, and begins checking doors and windows to see that they are still secure etc.
On returning to the Vulpes Gallus feels some real relief both on being there and seeing the others still in good stead. As he sees them, he gestures broadly to Cassia, and proclaims, "She was magnificent!"
Lucius Gallus looks around nervously! His excalamation, "May the Gods help us!" is an entirely genuine exclamation, and he is quite willing to run with Cassia to the Vulpes, asking her how much was real and how much was trickery just before they get there.
Gallus says goodbye to Laurentinus' family and in particular to Matilda, to whom he feels a sudden connection, considering what has happened. Hurrying after Cassia, and feeling much like a dog at her heels, wondering what she will do next, he gives her a worried look when they arrive outside Placidius' home. On her assurance, he merely nods, and takes several steps from her (3 or 4 paces) to give her room and to watch the area for danger.
Gallus blushes. He embraces Matilda briefly. Gallus sees the protective nature of this son for mother, and he steps back and lowers his eyes. "There is no charge for this boon of the Gods. This is well outside my training as a healer!" Turning from the pair before, and toward Cassia and Agneta, Gallus opens his hands and holds them empty at his side with palms out, in a gesture of nothing being hidden. With his eyes downcast and his head low in deference, he says, "Forgive my interuption Domina, but you are dwelling on the trivia of the matter before us. In truth, the only thing that matters is this. The Gods favor our side. You have heard how Viusenius was bested with his well trained men by a few outlanders. This could be coincidence to your mind, but it is not. It is given as the first sign that the Gods favor us. Then, we enter your domus, and again the Gods make manifest thier will by giving a second sign, that of the healing of your dear mother. This is done in your full sight so there can be no accusation of witchery, or a tale told too tall."
Gallus accepts the drink of water and asks if he could examine Matilda's back, though if it is that he hopes to leverage the limited medical knowledge he has, or if it is merely to distract Matilda to give these 2 powers the ability to speak freely, Cassia is sure to not know. He does not interject or say anything more except to basic social protocol in greeting and introduction. His manner is very calm, almost gentle, and he seems unruffled by the posturing of the younger women. He also seems oblivious to Agneta's charms.
Gallus nods in assent and moves as quickly and quietly as he can toward and down the right passage.
Gallus goes with the group, but leaves his weapons save a pugio and armor behind. He is ready to join Cassia on her errand.
Gallus observes, "With what coins we have, and after we have secured Agneta, or not, we might hire sell swords to help us..." His thoughts carry him, and suddenly he says, "If you want to show the bastard who should fear whom, if you want him to cower you go to him. Let us find him and do what needs to be done, instead of letting him plan this in his time, let us plan it to our advantage." Gallus seems excited at this prospect. "The mouse fears the cat, not because the cat will harm it if it gets to close, but because the cat will hunt it and kill it." "This place trapped and defended could be a redoubt if things do not go our way, but let us choose the time and place for us to do this! Paesentius, where could Placidius be found?"
Gallus does not waste time. He begins making the windows secure on the first floor, and looking for an escape route from the second. (Are there buildings close by? Anything that would cushion a fall if we jumped etc?)
Gallus walks with Gravus and Valka Spartaca and gives his own ideas about how to make the place more defensible. His thoughts are in line with the dwarves, but he suggests a defensive point at the top of the basement stairs, in case they come that way, and again on the stairs to the second level incase they use the main floor. His only disagreement is leaving more than one main door accessable. He instead suggests that they should be prepared to leave by the second floor in case of fire or a fight gone wrong. Other than this,m he keeps his thoughts to himself, though he almost did not when the black vixens were referred to as "Parvulae", though his look of distaste passes quickly and he keeps his tongue still.
"I do not intend to go armed. It seems reasonable that, as you suggest a mere show of force there will be enough to make the other actors play their part. Running afoul of the law makes the rest of this a mere mental exercise. I shall have faith, that what is needed shall be provided."
Gallus suppresses the urge to smile at Valka's "admission". Listening to them as they plan he offers, "I am willing to go hours ahead and secure a room there. I may be of use to exploit an exposed flank. On the other hand, if you think they know who I am, I may simply be an easy prisoner."
Gallus seems to be wrestling with something, and finally spits it out. "I thought this was about making you safe, Cassia, and I gladly lend my strength to such an effort, but now this, this... This sounds more like taking over a street gang. Blood for blood. This path leads to the same end as Viusenius met. How can I feel good about aiding a course that will sow yet more misery and discontent? Does that black flower not bloom brightly enough without our efforts? I say, kill Placidius, or allow him to be killed, it is the same, and then be free of this all."
Lucius Gallus seems confused by the information that Cassia is giving him. In the end, he simply asks, "Is going to this meeting going to make you safe and bring these dark days to a close?"
When Valka Spartaca mentions Valerius, he is curious to hear the story. Trying not to pry, but eager to hear something of her background. He thanks her for the training humbly. Gallus agrees to be an escort for Cassia and leaves his armor and shield and weapons save his pugio at Turia's. He wears it easily accessible, but under his shirt. As the women discuss name changes, Gallus acts several times as if he has a comment or interjection, but each time holds back and insists that he has nothing to add.
Valka Spartaca finds Lucius Gallus intense about training as he is about everything. He is prone to interupting her, and asking about the physics of much of it. And he studies her moves and tries very hard to imitate them.
Gallus tries not to smile at her. And mostly succeeds. He takes the rudi and as he does he says, "This is different now. This is 2 warriors trying to sharpen each other because they will have to rely on each other later. Let us see lioness if you are the legend you have built in your mind" Lucius says the last playfully and seems more at ease than he has since he has been with the group. He engages in mock combat (and I expect gets drubbed soundly!).
"What you are means significantly less to me than who you are. I respect your skill and your instinct Valka Spartaca." He forms a half smile which only makes him look confused and totally undermines his next statement. "When you say simple enough I know exactly what you mean." It is clear he does not.
"Indeed, Valks Spartaca, it is my intent to stay around." Gallus says cautiously. His hand slides toward his pommel, not sure what to expect, but he makes no aggresive move.
Life on the raod seems more or less to Lucius Gallus at it did before, albiet, Valeda now is well and her brother is on a mule, and Cassia is not lost in her own thoughts. Lucius Gallus energetically helps wherever he can and is very willing to take more than his share of the watch so that the injured can sleep. He is especially attentive to Cassia Aquila, his gratitude for her aid in the tomb is evident. He is also mindful to steer clear of Valka Spartaca, unsure in which way her moods and anger will boil over next. He does not seem to have a strong desire to go in any direction, except to secure the health of Cassia Aquila, Valeda and Bjarturius.
"Valka, why the urgency? None of these 3 are fit for travel and even less fit to make it through the gauntlet of goblins we encountered on the way in. We have supplies, why not give them a day or 2 to rest and recover. Is there some reason we cannot stay?"
When Cassia moves, Gallus comes quickly to her, and helps her to where she is trying to get to, and cautions her to rest and be still. He collects his bow and any other loose or dropped equipment from the group, and extiguishes the light from all but one torch, and then lights the next as it burns down to secure light for the group. His next task is to get the 3 in his care together so they are more defensible, and can rely some on each others warmth. He scoops Valeda up as he gently tells her what he is doing and then asks Cassia to come with him and lifts her also, unless she protests. Once they are secured, he sits with them.
Regaining his power of locomotion, Gallus immediately goes to Cassia's side and adminsters what aid he can to her. He gives her his blanket in an attempt to warm her. Once he has done all he can for her, he will check on Bjarturius and Valeda again.
Stepping between Cassia and the ghost of Manricus, Gallus intones loudly, In the name of Roneus, I command you, shade, to depart! His hands are wrapped tightly around his scutum and morning star and his eyes gleam with zeal.
Cassia, leave me free of your blood oaths. Lucius Gallus says softly but firmly.
Relaxing slightly, but still concerned, Lucius Gallus moves closer, to Cassia Aquila. Are these preperations that I can help with Cassia?
Fearing to know exactly what she means, but with horror etched on his face, Lucius Gallus answers Cassia Aquila No, I do not approve this course. I do not even know what it is, and am certain that blood for blood is no deal we can win in this place!
After his search of the ghoul room Gallus joins the others to discuss the next course of action. Gallus approaches them staying behind Cassia Aquila and exchanges a worried look with Valka Spartaca. Mayhaps one of these servitors would make a suitable offering, or at least should capture the attention of this priest, if any such thing is possible.
Grabbing up a torch, Lucius Gallus proceeds into the ghoul room and begins a thorough examination of it.
RIsing from Cassia Aquila's side, Gallus walks the edge of the room, seeing if any detail was missed. When he comes to the ghoul room he stops and peers inside to see what Valka Spartaca's torch has revealed.
As Gravus works on the large coruskian Gallus helps. When Gravus rests from his efforts, so does Gallus. At that point, Gallus finds Cassia Aquila and squats down beside her. Lady, are you wounded?
Gallus swings again, hoping this is near the end of this deadly combat. As soon as he can, he goes to the injured Bjarturius and tries to help him in any way he can.
Gallus holds his ground and responds to the attack with one of his own. He swings the morning star with all his might as the skeleton before him.
Seeing Gravus stir brings fresh hope to Gallus' heart. He remembers where the morning star has been left and heeds Cassia's warning. Retrieving it he closes with the creatures and hopes the gods smile on them once more this day.
Lucius Gallus feels her go limp in his arms. As soon as she does he releases his grip. His blush is deep crimson and even the flickering torches cannot hide it. I will tell you, but now is not the time. Here he gestures to the Spartaca who seems to defy all reason with her dogged refusal to be hit. She cannot keep this up, if Bjarturius fell. Let us try to save that poor girl, and he looks to Valeda by bringing her and those we can to the next room. You get her and I will get the dwarf. Grabbing up his spatha and scutum Lucius Gallus moves away from her and towards the dwarf. Gallus moves to 16,13.
When she calls him Tribune a shadow crosses his face. He seems confused but only for a moment. Holding his defense stance Gallus approaches Cassia Aquila. Apologies Lady, but I have no choice! Lucius Gallus grabs Cassia Aquila from behind and attempts to pull her from the range of threat of the skeletons. Your life has purpose yet, this I swear!
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