The plan was in motion. At nightfall, Lucius Scribonius Dulcitius and Faustius Aemilus Galeo along with the Gallic slaves Celsus and Varias would attack their captors and escape to the Capitoline Hill. Lucius and Celsus as well as Faustius and Varias would then wait until morning to return to their families.
Quietly, Lucius, Faustius, Celsus, and Varias and a few other captives surrounded the tents of the slave traders. Celsus and Varias slit the throats of the guards and led the dogs astray. Faustius led a few of the other captives to attack them all at once. The fighting and bloodshed brought back what Faustius felt were the days of glory. That night reminded him of the battlefields of Gaul in 50 BCE and Spain in 45 BCE. Lucius also felt it too. The planning and, now, execution of the attack against his captors reminded him of the days he and the other centurions met to discuss the upcoming battle, march against the enemy, and then get drunk with victory. He had never fallen…until now.
Faustius fought his way over to Lucius and dragged his body out of the action. As the Celsus, Varias, and the other captives secured the victory, Faustius encouraged Lucius to hold on. “Be sure to give these to Marcus,” Lucius whispered in his dying breaths as he gave Faustius a small wooded statue that resembled a little boys and sword. Lucius’ eyes deadened.
Before returning, Faustius made sure he provided Lucius all of his proper burial rites. He clothed the body in this centurion’s attire, put a coin in the mouth, and set up the pyre. Faustius and the others waited as for the fire to go out before collecting the ashes. Setting out to the Palatine Hill, Faustius remembered all the conversations he and Lucius had while scouting. As much as he loved his family, Faustius thought Lucius to be more of a father to him during times of war talking about how it felt to kill a man and get the images of dead bodies out of his mind. Lucius often told him to think of home and the life he wanted – which to Lucius was one with Aurelia and Marcus.
Marcus had a feeling that someone was returning. He ran out of the house and saw a soldier on horseback. But, it was not his father; it was Faustius. Aurelia stepped outside to see Faustius give Marcus the toy and sword. Her solemness then turned to relief, however. She knew the gods gave her comfort when Faustius and Marcus rode off to go hunting and tell stories of Lucius.
-Jordanne Pascual
