News of decision spread through ludus with speed surprising.
Even before reaching quarters, could feel gazes curious following.
Some envious.
Others speculative.
Few openly hostile.
Drusus was first to approach directly.
Meeting in corridor near lodgings.
"So rumors are true," commented veteran without preamble. "Chose daughter of Senator over Tribune."
"News travels quickly," I responded, studying reaction of gladiator other.
"Quintus can barely contain himself," explained Drusus with smile slightly ironic. "Practically announced to all that 'investment exceptional' was selected personally by notorious Livia Cassia for service in Rome. With details additional that probably should have remained discrete."
"Naturally." Was not particularly surprised by indiscretion of Quintus.
Behavior predictable for man whose validation self derived primarily from status reflexive through associations.
"Choice interesting," continued Drusus, tone deliberately neutral. "Particularly considering arrangement established previously with Tribune."
"Circumstances evolve. Opportunities must be evaluated as they present themselves."
"No doubt." Drusus studied for moment prolonged. "Just observation based on experience - patrons military often demonstrate loyalty consistent proportional to utility demonstrated. Patrons based on... interest personal often exhibit enthusiasm intense but temporary."
"Observation valid," I agreed. "However, documentation formal with terms specific provides protection some against volatility emotional."
This clearly surprised Drusus.
"Obtained terms written? Including clause manumission?"
"Being finalized today, with seal of Senator own."
Drusus whistled softly.
Genuinely impressed.
"Rare extraordinarily. Livia must be truly enchanted to agree to guarantees formal."
He shook head slightly.
"More shrewd are you than appear, Lucius Mordus."
"Merely cautious where necessary."
"Apparently." Drusus seemed about to say more when interrupted by arrival of Atticus.
Trainer veteran approached silently.
Expression unreadable as always.
However, something in posture communicated tension subtle normally absent from behavior meticulously controlled.
"Drusus," he greeted with nod brief. "If may have moment private with Lucius."
"Of course." Drusus stepped back, casting glance final. "Fortune in Rome. Keep eyes open and guard up - in arena and especially outside it."
When alone we stood, Atticus remained silent for moment measured.
Clearly considering words carefully.
"Tribune Cornelius has requested meeting final before departure," he finally said. "Privately, tonight."
Not exactly what expected.
"Thought arrangements had already been formalized through Senator."
"Compensation financial, yes. However, certain... considerations additional apparently warrant discussion direct."
Atticus studied attentively.
"Strongly advise accepting invitation."
Recommendation clear suggested implications significant beyond farewell formal simple.
I nodded, understanding gravity underlying.
"Of course. When and where?"
"Second hour after sunset. Location same as before."
Atticus paused briefly.
"Discretion absolute recommended. Parties certain would potentially consider meeting... problematic."
Warning was obvious.
Livia should not know about meeting.
Interesting that Atticus considered this important enough to risk conflict potential of loyalty.
"Understanding is held," I assured. "Will arrange presence discretely."
Atticus nodded, apparently satisfied.
"Decision yours has caused... reactions diverse. Metilius particularly seems to consider development fascinating, though for reasons not entirely clear to me."
"And assessment own?" I asked, curious genuinely about opinion of veteran normally reserved.
Atticus considered question for moment prolonged.
"Strategy potentially effective, though with balance risk-reward significantly altered. Path steeper with view potentially superior at top."
Assessment surprisingly direct and accurate.
Revealing understanding deeper than had initially presumed.
"Precisely," I confirmed simply.
"Observation additional, if may," continued Atticus. "Rivers that run fast often conceal undercurrents dangerous. Those who navigate waters unknown benefit from maps reliable."
With statement enigmatic that, he withdrew silently.
Leaving me contemplating implications of metaphor.
Hours following were occupied with preparations practical for departure imminent.
Had few belongings personal to organize.
But devoted time considerable to conversations strategic with figures various from ludus.
Establishing connections potentially useful for future.
Collecting information that might provide advantages in environment new.
Servius provided recommendations detailed for continuing treatments medicinal.
Accompanied by observations seemingly casual about physicians specific in Rome who "maintained minds appropriately open to approaches unconventional."
Even Quintus, normally focused exclusively on gain personal immediate, offered advice surprisingly practical about navigating complexities social of capital.
Though clearly motivated primarily by desire to maintain connection favorable with asset valuable transferred to influence external.
When evening finally came, had compiled map mental detailed of relationships, rivalries, and opportunities potential awaiting in Rome.
Each conversation, each fragment of information carefully categorized and stored for use future.
After meal evening, ostensibly retired for rest final before day busy of preparations tomorrow.
However, when ludus gradually quieted and darkness appropriate descended, silently slipped from lodging.
Using routes secondary had mapped mentally during weeks of observation methodical.
Meeting nocturnal with Tribune promised to be significant.
Potentially providing information valuable or connections regardless of change formal in patronage.
In game complex was constructing, lines multiple of influence often proved more valuable than loyalty singular.
Regardless of appearances external.
As navigated silently through shadows, reflected on irony of situation.
Less than day since decision calculated to use Livia as tool for advancement personal, already establishing contingencies and connections secondary.
Adaptation constant, I thought as approached location designated.
Only constant is goal ultimate.
City had quieted down.
Only sounds occasional from taverns distant and rounds guard breaking silence.
I moved through streets like shadow.
Avoiding patrols and groups of owls night.
Quarters private of Tribune were illuminated by lamp small single visible through window narrow.
Signal discrete that meeting was confirmed.
And that discretion maximum was expected.
Approached through entrance back, as instructed by Atticus.
Where guard silent awaited.
Man did not speak.
Just nodded in recognition before leading down corridor dark to room inner that had not seen during visit previous.
Space was small and austere.
Table simple and seats few.
Clearly designed for conversations requiring privacy absolute.
Tribune Cornelius was already waiting.
Dressed in tunic simple without insignia official.
At side, surprisingly, was Metilius.
With expression characteristically unreadable.
"Punctual," commented Tribune when guard exited silently, closing door. "Quality still appreciate, despite... changes recent in circumstances."
"Qualities some remain important, regardless of arrangements formal," I responded, maintaining tone respectful but not servile.
"And that is exactly what want to discuss." Tribune indicated seat. "Considerations certain that go beyond who patron official is."
I took place offered.
Observing carefully men two.
Atmosphere carried tension underlying, but not hostility.
Seemed more reassessment strategic than retaliation.
"Decision yours to accept offer of daughter Senator did not surprise me," continued Tribune. "Frankly, presented advantages clear - payment better, promise of freedom eventual, access direct to circles highest Rome."
"Assessment accurate," I agreed.
"Of course." Tribune exchanged look brief with Metilius. "However, certain... abilities specific you recently demonstrated suggest potential beyond being gladiator merely. Potential that remains relevant to interests certain, regardless of who patron official is."
Statement was surprisingly direct.
Acknowledgment explicit of interest continued despite rejection of offer original.
I considered response carefully.
"Interests of nature particular, I imagine."
"Exactly," intervened Metilius, voice calm. "Organizations certain evaluate people by criteria that go beyond affiliations official. Abilities specific often justify... arrangements unconventional."
"Am listening," I responded, intrigued genuinely.
Tribune leaned forward.
"Will be direct - propose relationship secondary discrete that would function parallel to arrangement official. Services occasional in exchange for payment adequate and... protection related to aspects unusual certain of abilities yours."
Implication was clear.
Offer to work as agent or operative.
Independent of position official as gladiator under patronage Cassius.
More significantly, suggested protection against questioning about origins of techniques anomalous had demonstrated during combat.
"And what kind of services would these be?" I asked.
"Varied, depending on circumstances," replied Tribune. "Primarily collection and transmission of information. Occasionally, more... interventions direct when methods conventional prove inadequate."
"Espionage and assassination," I translated directly, testing limits of frankness available.
Rather than being offended by characterization explicit, Tribune smiled slightly.
"Frankness refreshing. Yes, essentially. Though with sophistication and discretion appropriate to situation each."
"And payment?"
"Substantial, naturally. Both in coin and in form of influence in circles relevant."
Tribune made pause significant.
"Additionally, information specific about... methodologies unusual similar to those demonstrated. Context historical and technical that could help understand better memories fragmented certain."
Offer last genuinely captured attention.
Suggestion that organization represented by Metilius possessed knowledge related to techniques combat modern had inadvertently demonstrated was intriguing.
And potentially valuable.
"Proposal interesting," I commented, maintaining tone neutral while evaluating implications. "But naturally concerned about conflicts possible with obligations main."
"Understandable," agreed Metilius. "However, skill demonstrated in keeping... aspects different of yourself separate suggests could manage loyalties parallel without problems."
Observation astutely calibrated.
Recognition implicit of nature fundamentally pragmatic, regardless of affiliations external.
"How would communication work?" I asked, implicitly signaling interest conditional.
Tribune seemed satisfied with response.
"System simple of intermediaries that will establish before departure. Atticus will provide details operational specific tomorrow, during session training final."
"And when would begin?"
"After period adequate of adaptation in Rome," responded Metilius. "Approximately month one for you to establish yourself in position new. After that, contact initial will be made through channels designated."
I considered proposal carefully.
Risks were obvious.
If Livia or Senator discovered, consequences would be severe.
However, benefits potential were equally significant.
Connection secondary that would provide information valuable, resources additional, and security against investigation excessive into origins of abilities unusual.
More importantly, aligned perfectly with strategy fundamental of maintaining lines multiple of influence rather than depending on patron single.
"Accept proposal, in principle," I finally responded. "Provided details operational are secure and there are guarantees adequate against exposure untimely."
"Naturally," agreed Tribune, with satisfaction evident despite expression controlled. "Atticus will provide specifications complete tomorrow. For now, agreement preliminary this is sufficient."
Metilius continued studying with intensity characteristic.
"Observation, if may. People capable of maintaining perspective fundamentally pragmatic generally thrive in environments where others succumb to limitations emotional or moral. Quality rare and... potentially valuable beyond applications immediate we have discussed."
Comment carried implications disturbing.
Suggestion that Metilius had identified something fundamentally different in nature.
Something that went beyond abilities technical unusual.
More concerning, suggested evaluation ongoing for purposes not fully revealed.
"Capacity for adaptation has advantages many," I responded, maintaining expression neutral while internally recalculating assessment risk.
"Without doubt." Tribune rose, signaling end formal of meeting. "Then consider agreement preliminary this established. Atticus will provide details operational tomorrow, and implementation will occur after period initial of adaptation in Rome."
I rose as well.
Inclining head in acknowledgment formal.
"Will be waiting."
Before leaving, Tribune added observation final:
"Piece of advice based on experience much with... patterns certain of behavior. Livia Cassia, while undoubtedly fascinating, has habit of demonstrating attention intensely focused followed by... changes abrupt of interest when something new attracts her. Recommend maintaining contingencies prudent, regardless of documentation formal."
"Advice valuable," I responded sincerely. "Will maintain caution appropriate."
When finally left quarters, escorted discretely to point safe for return independent, allowed myself moment of satisfaction calculated.
Meeting had provided exactly type of arrangement secondary that would complement perfectly strategy main.
Livia offered path to freedom eventual and access immediate to circles social elevated.
Tribune and Metilius would now provide connection secondary clandestine with organization mysterious operating in shadows of power Roman.
Significantly expanding network of influence potential while providing security additional against investigation excessive of origins true.
Freedom was within reach.
Now came test true.
To seize it without losing soul in bargain.