“Is he awake?” Julius asked. The room stank of sickness and Tubruk lay sprawled on a bed that showed rusty stains from his bleeding. Before he entered, Julius had waited out his daughter’s tears and gently taken her fingers from around his neck. She had cried again then, but he would not take her into another death room and Clodia had found a young female slave to take care of her. From the way the little girl went into her arms, it was clear the woman had comforted her before over the last, terrible days.

“He may wake if you speak to him, but he hasn’t long now,” Clodia said, looking into the room. Her face told him more than he wanted to know, and he closed his eyes for a moment before entering.

Tubruk lay awkwardly, fresh stitches showing on his chest and disappearing under the blankets. Though he seemed to sleep, he shivered and Julius tugged the blanket up to cover him. There was a trace of blood around his mouth, fresh and red. Clodia brought a bowl of crimson water from the floor and dabbed at the smear as Julius watched in despair. Too many things had changed for him to take in, and he stood frozen as Clodia cleaned the lips and weeping stitches with tender care.

Tubruk groaned and opened his eyes at her touch. He couldn’t seem to focus properly.

“You still here, old woman?” he whispered, a faint smile pulling at his mouth.

“As long as you need me, love,” she replied. She glanced up at Julius and back to the man on the bed.

“Julius is here,” she said.

Tubruk turned his head. “Come where I can see you,” he said.

Clodia stood back and Julius came and looked into his eyes. Tubruk took a deep breath and his whole body shivered again with the release.

“I couldn’t stop them, Julius. I tried, but . . . I couldn’t reach her.”

Julius began to sob softly as he looked down at his old friend.

“It isn’t your fault,” he whispered.

“I killed them all. I killed him to save her,” Tubruk said, his eyes blank. His breathing was ragged and Julius despaired of the gods. They had given too much pain to ones he loved.

“Call Cabera in here. He’s a healer,” he said to Clodia.

She beckoned him away from the tortured figure on the bed, and he bent his head to hear.

“Don’t let him be troubled. There’s nothing to do but wait now. There’s no blood left in him.”

“Fetch Cabera,” Julius replied, his eyes fierce. He thought for a moment that she would refuse again, but then she left and he could hear her voice calling out in the courtyard.

“Cabera’s here, Tubruk. He’ll make you better,” Julius said, the soft sobbing starting again in his throat.