Julius suddenly swore in violent rage, clenching his fists, his face flushing further in uncontrolled emotion. Tubruk almost took a step away from him and wondered at himself. The young man paced back and forth, his fury making his hands grasp the air for something to hold and kill. His eyes fixed on the estate manager and it took all of Tubruk’s will to return the gaze.

“You told me you would protect her,” Julius snarled at him, taking a step toward Tubruk that brought him only inches from the older man’s face. “I trusted you to keep her safe!”

Julius raised his fist in sudden spasm and Tubruk held still, accepting the blow to come. Instead, Julius snorted and whirled away.

Tubruk spoke quietly, knowing something of the surging emotions that had stolen Julius’s control.

“When Clodia told me, I acted,” he said.

Julius didn’t seem to hear him. “That bastard Sulla terrified her, Tubruk. He put his filthy hands on her,” Julius said, and broke into sobs. He went slowly down onto his knees in the scrub grass, one hand covering his eyes. Tubruk crouched and put his arms around the young man, pulling him into his chest with a great heave of strength. Julius didn’t resist, his voice a muffled croak.

“She thought I would hate her, Tubruk, can you believe that?”

Tubruk held him tightly, letting the sorrow work its way through. When Julius quieted at last, Tubruk let him go and looked into his face, pale with grief.

“I killed him, Julius. I killed Sulla when I heard,” he said. Julius opened his eyes wide in shock and Tubruk continued, relieved to be able to say it at last, “I took a post as a slave in his kitchens and dressed his food with aconite.”

Julius unfroze as he realized the danger they faced. He grabbed Tubruk’s arms in a powerful grip. “Who else knows?”

“Only Clodia. I didn’t tell Cornelia, to protect her,” Tubruk replied, resisting the urge to break the hold on him.

“No one else? Are you certain? Could you be recognized?”

Finally angry, Tubruk reached up with his hands and removed Julius’s stiff fingers with a grunt. “Everyone who could mark me is dead. My friend of thirty years who sold me into Sulla’s household died under torture without giving me up. Except for Clodia and us, there is no one else to make the link, I swear it.” He looked into Julius’s hard eyes and spoke slowly and with force through his teeth, guessing at his thoughts. “You will not touch Clodia, Julius. Do not think of it.”

“While she lives, my wife and daughter are in danger,” Julius replied, unabashed.

“While I live as well. Will you kill me too? You will have to if you hurt Clodia, on my word you will, or I will come for you myself.”