Chapter Text
"It's good to see you Marcus."
At first Marcus stood paralyzed not speaking nor moving from where he stood. It was not that Marcus was not happy to see Esca; actually… Marcus did not know how he felt about seeing Esca again. There was a part of him that felt a deep heaviness descend upon his soul on seeing his friend and this confused Marcus. Had he not prayed to every god he thought might feel compassion toward his plight for this exact moment? But now that the moment was here, and Esca stood before him, even more handsome than he remembered him, grinning wide, eyes smiling… Marcus did not know what to feel.
"It is good to see you as well Esca." Marcus finally answered.
Noting Marcus did not seem ready to move from where he stood Esca took the few steps toward him and shook his hand warmly and with great strength. Esca wanted Marcus to know how very much it meant to see him again. But Marcus’ reaction confused Esca as much as Esca’s presence confused Marcus. Esca had longed for the moment he once again stood before Marcus and now that Marcus was within reach, Esca did not know what to think. He did not wish to admit it to himself, for it was far too painful, but Marcus did not seem pleased to see him in the least.
"Esca here has come from Eburacum at his uncle's behest for two of your horses Marcus." Uncle Aquila noting his nephew’s unexpected cold reaction to Esca broke the silence.
Marcus, who had not even blinked since laying eyes on his friend, nodded. Once again, the elder Aquila took charge of the moment, cleared his throat and nudged his nephew’s arm, "Should you not introduce Esca to good Lurorius, nephew?"
Marcus snapped out of the involuntary paralysis that had befallen him at the sight of Esca and apologized, "Lutorius Esca MacCunoval."
Lurorius extended his forearm to Esca for a Roman handshake which Esca accepted, "This is indeed an honor."
Esca smiled but not overly so. He knew who Lutorius was and his connection to Marcus via the latter's short command of the fort at Isca Dumnoniorum. Marcus had told him of the fort, the men he commanded, and about his ill-fated friendship with the horse merchant Cradoc, during the journey back south. More than that Esca had never met Lutorius and could not have cared less if the opportunity had never arose. For good or bad, Lutorius was a Roman, and no matter the honors paid him by the Senate, or the citizenship granted him by the emperor, Esca still hated Romans and what they stood for. That had not changed and most likely never would; Marcus and Uncle Aquila being the only exceptions.
"Have you boys had your evening meal of yet?" Uncle Aquila looked from Marcus to Lutorius and back. "Cena is about to be served."
"We have not, Uncle." Marcus answered more for Lutorius' sake than his own for any trace of hunger he may have had disappeared the moment he heard Esca's voice. But Marcus was certain his former second-in-command was famished. It had been some hours since the noonday meal, despite its leisurely consummation, the ride from Calleva to the villa had been long and tiring.
"Very well then.”
Stephanos approached the door and bowed his head in a silent signal to his master that the evening meal was awaiting them in the triclinium. Uncle Aquila invited Marcus, Lutorius, and Esca to follow him to where cena awaited them. “You will forgive the simplicity of the meal, boiled eggs and fish, but I was not expecting guests. Had I known the both of you would be gracing our home this evening I would have had a banquet prepared in your honor.”
“The meal before us is just as sumptuous as any banquet Master Aquila.” Esca countered with a grateful smile and Lutorius agreed.
Throughout the meal Marcus made it a point to keep his eyes on any point in the room other than Esca for he was still conflicted over his friend’s unexpected presence. Besides… it was not as though Esca had traveled to Calleva for Marcus. According to Uncle Aquila Esca’s uncle had sent him to buy a couple of horses from the Aquila Stables, and that was perhaps the only reason Esca had come. Perhaps Esca was even anxious to do his uncle’s bidding and get back to the girl his uncle was arranging for him to marry. Perhaps he had already married her and fathered a whelp or two and could not wait to return to them.
Marcus ate the meal in relative silence answering questions only if they were directed to him. Thankfully Uncle Aquila made certain to engage his guests in conversation on all subjects he thought entertaining hoping to make the meal less uncomfortable and awkward. And then Marcus finally opened his mouth to speak to Esca: “How exactly did your uncle come to hear of the Aquila Stables Esca?”
Esca finished swallowing a tasty mouthful of fried fish smothered in garlic before answering Marcus. “A few of my uncle’s clients are also clients of yours, Marcus, or know clients of yours, and recommended not only the beasts, but the prices to my uncle. You are known to be a very fair merchant, indeed.” Esca offered Marcus a wide toothy grin, perhaps believing Marcus would offer one of his own in return.
He did not.
“And the fact that you and I are friends is of no never mind to your uncle?” Marcus blurted out before thinking it over, but his thoughts were less than rational at the moment. He kept picturing Esca, his presumed wife and children, and Marcus could barely contain his anger.
Esca raised his eyes from the boiled egg he was about to salt and dip into the small bowl of olive oil next to his plate. “What is your meaning Marcus?”
“I am certain aside from the fair prices your uncle is pursuing, he may also think I will practically give the horses away due to our friendship.” Marcus had gone too far, and he knew it, but what had been said could not be unsaid.
It was Esca’s turn to freeze at Marcus’ words for not only were they humiliating, but disrespectful not only toward his uncle, but to him, as well. Lutorius’ hand stopped midway from his mouth to the plate and Uncle Aquila’s eyes widened at Marcus’ callousness toward a man he had thought Marcus held great affection toward, or at least a great amount of gratitude for his aid in the rescue of the Eagle and Marcus’ safe return home.
“Marcus!”
Esca scowled at Marcus’ unexpected words and locked burning eyes with the Roman, “I did not come here for favors, from you nor from anyone else, Marcus!” The fiery red color of Esca’s face betrayed the wiry Brigantes’ fury. “I have good money to pay whatever price you ask, Marcus, and I am not expecting, nor would I now accept, even a bargain from you were you to offer.”
Marcus could feel deep in the pit of his stomach that he had deeply offended Esca, but there was a part of him that was glad; even if it pained him to admit it. Still, his reaction had caught him off guard. What on Gaia’s green earth had possessed Marcus to lash out at Esca in such an ugly way, but the answer did not need such deep consideration: Marcus had been struck by one of the god Phthonous’ arrows tinged with envy and jealousy and this was the result. Marcus had to begrudgingly admit he was jealous of the woman who might be sharing Esca’s bed, and angry at Esca for having allowed himself a woman to share that bed with.
Lutorius felt awkward and out of place, as though he were witnessing something intimate. Private. Marcus’ former second-in-command found himself wishing he had stayed behind at the inn and not allowed his one-time commander to talk him into following him back to the Aquila villa as his guest.
Uncle Aquila sat speechless for a few minutes longer wondering what he could say to smooth the matter. He did not wish to go against his own flesh and blood, but he also did not wish to offend the gods by allowing Marcus to continue disrespecting Esca under his own roof. But… what could he say?
Lutorius tried to normalize things by conversing with Marcus about how the fortifications Marcus had initiated at Isca Dumnoniorum had been implemented at other forts, and with great success. Marcus asked after Galba and some of the other legionnaires he had commanded while at the fort. Esca, on the other hand, sat quiet eating a few morsels more and then settled on just drinking the cool wine and nibbling on a piece of honeyed cake Uncle Aquila had pushed his way. It was obvious to all, Esca was furious beyond the telling and had not taken his leave only for the sake of the elder Aquila. But he did not linger past the serving of sweets before excusing himself saying he was expected at the inn before the ninth hour.
Marcus’ eyes shot up from the plate of honeyed melon he had just served himself. Esca was “expected” at the inn. Marcus could feel his stomach churning and his blood begin to boil forcing him to push the plate brusquely away and glare at his one-time friend. Marcus’ reaction did not escape Uncle Aquila’s sight, and if Lutorius noted it he pretended not to choosing instead to keep his gaze on the plate of sweets set before him.
“But what about the horses your uncle sent you to buy, my boy?”
“I shall pass this way tomorrow before heading back to Eburacum.” He answered Uncle Aquila and then turned to Marcus to add the following, eyes burning, “Or I shall send someone in my stead.” He bowed his head respectfully at the elder Aquila and turned to leave.
“Then you should choose which ones you wish to purchase now instead of letting someone do it for you tomorrow.” Marcus blurted out. “I, for one, would not presume lest I sell you an animal that is not to your liking and give you reason for complaint.” Marcus sarcastically retorted hoping he had hit his mark for his anger at the thought Esca was rushing back to the inn because his woman awaited him was more than Marcus could take.
“The person I send has my full confidence. My cousin is as well acquainted with our taste as my uncle or I. We shall be well satisfied with any animal of his choosing. Now, if you shall excuse me, I bid you good night.” A smug Esca turned and walked toward the atrium and out the villa’s double doors into the night.
Uncle Aquila tried to keep his opinion of Marcus’ rude and uncalled for behavior for another time; I time that did not find a guest still sitting at his table, but the older man was fuming at his nephew’s treatment of Esca. Thankfully, a tired Lutorius claimed to be exhausted from the day’s travel and retired to his bedchamber not long after Esca’s departure. Uncle Aquila was no fool. He knew the man could feel the tension in the air and the need for its clarification and decided to allow the opportunity minus his presence.
As soon as the elder Aquila saw Lutorius close the doors to his bedchamber, he turned to Marcus; eyes glaring. Marcus inwardly admitted to himself never having seen his uncle in such a state and he regretted having been the cause of it.
“Now, Marcus… would you like to explain what makes you think you can disrespect a guest under my roof as you did Esca this evening?”
The problem was that Marcus could not offer his uncle any such explanation. Marcus had acted out of pure unadulterated jealousy; a feeling no decent Roman had any business feeling toward another man, much less a free man and a citizen of Rome. A feeling his uncle would not have understood, accepted, nor appreciated. A Roman lusting after a handsome young body slave was of no accord, but once that body slave was free he was off limits to his master. Or should be unless the master was soft, effeminate, in other words, a catamite. All qualities not befitting a Roman; especially not the hero of the Eagle of the Ninth.
No, there was no logical excuse Marcus could offer his uncle that would render his treatment of Esca reasonable. “I do not know, Uncle. Perhaps I am tired, as well. It is not as though I expected to find Esca here upon my return from town.” A poor excuse even in the telling of it.
“And because you are tired, and you did not expect his visit you act like a spoiled child? Marcus… I am proud of your achievements, of the man you are, and of what you have accomplished, but this night I find little to be proud of… I am humiliated.” Uncle Aquila did not wait for Marcus to utter another word in his defense, instead he turned away from his nephew and left Marcus standing in the middle of the triclinium alone.
Marcus suddenly felt the weight of his uncle’s words; the selfishness of his behavior. Not only had he mistreated Esca under his uncle’s roof, but he had disrespected not only Uncle Aquila, but Lutorius, as well. Both of whom were undeserving of such a thing, as was Esca.
Standing in the dim light of the rectangular room, with its painted hunting scenes decorating its walls, Marcus covered his face and shook his head. He had allowed his anger to get the better of him and there was no excuse for it. If Esca had found a woman of his own, what was that to Marcus. Loving him or not, Marcus no longer owned Esca, and what Esca did with his life was his own affair. The fact that Marcus had been unable to find his other half, or another love to take their place until his soulmate finally appeared, was not any fault of Esca’s. And the fact that he had caused his uncle to feel humiliated, as well as his disrespect of Lutorius, made Marcus ill.
“I must make amends to Esca, but not tomorrow… I must do so now! Even if it takes me searching every inn in Calleva until I find him. I cannot let him return to Eburacum without my apology, and without him knowing how I feel since I can offer no better reason for my behavior, even if it makes him hate and revile me until his dying day.”
Marcus made his way to the stables where he found his trusty Vipsania with eyes wide open as though she had been expecting him. “Apologies girl.” Marcus took hold of her reigns and walked the mare until out and onto the villa’s private road until they reached the main stone gate. Marcus then mounted her and off they went to Calleva, and his final meeting with Esca.