"Foreman says get him to the barracks and fix the bone," said one of
those who upbore him. "Best we go."
Phryne stamped her foot. At once she realized that she had driven her
small shoe into the mud. She saw the Cimbrian's eyes slide down, and a
grin went like a ghost over his mouth. He looked back at her and nodded
wryly. He knew.
She blurted in confusion: "Certainly not! I know what you would do,
have that fool of a blacksmith splint it--and he will limp for the rest
of his life. Up to the villa!"
They followed her, bashfully. No, not the Cimbrian--he jumped
one-footed--but, when they entered the kitchen and put him in a chair,
he sprawled as if he owned it. He was caked with mud, he had on only a
sleazy gray tunic, there were shackle scars on his wrists and ankles,
but he said, "Give me some wine," and the chief cook himself poured a
full stoup. The Cimbrian emptied it in three long gulps, sighed, and
held it out again.
Phryne went off after the house physician. He was Greek like herself,
all the most valuable slaves were Greek, even as the only valuable
free folk had once been--an aging man, with a knowledge of herbs and
poultices to ease Cordelia, who suffered loudly and would not be
without him. He came readily enough, looked at the wound, called for
water and began sponging it.
"A clean break," he said. "The muscle was little torn. Stay on a crutch
for a few weeks and it should heal as good as new. But first we'll
hear some of those famous Cimbrian howls, for I must set it."
"Do you take me for a Southlander?" snorted the hurt man. "I am a son
of Boierik."
"There are philosophers in _my_ family," said the physician, with an
edge in his voice. "Very well, then."
Phryne could not look at the leg, nor could she look away from the
barbarian's face. It was a good face, she thought, it would be handsome
in a wild fashion if some god would smooth off the slave-gauntness. She
saw how sweat spurted out on the skin, when his bones grated, and how
he bit his lip till the blood trickled.
The physician splinted and bound the leg. "I will see about a crutch,"
he said. "It might also be well to speak to the major-domo, or the
mistress. Otherwise, if I know the chief field overseer, they'll put
this man back at work before he is properly healed."
Phryne nodded. "You may go," she said to the gaping sowers. The cook
bustled off on some errand. Phryne found herself alone with the
barbarian.
"Rest a while," she said. She noticed his cup was empty for the second
time; she risked the steward's wrath and poured him a third.
"Thank you." He nodded curtly.
"It was heroic of you," she said, more clumsy with words than she was
wont.
He spat an obscenity. "The bull was something to fight."
"I see." She found a chair and sat down, elbows on knees, looking at
her folded hands.
"What is your name?" he asked.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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