Emericus sneaked into the garden through the back door. He moved his wet hair out of his eyes and saltwater tripped down on the gravel path. The thought of Bion's embrace as they parted hadn't been swapped completely with dread. Everything would be fine. He would pull up as much weed he could before Gaia came out to get him and no one would know he had ever left. He hadn't been gone for that long, right?

Out of the shadow of the house came Gaia, stomping towards him as if to run him over. "Where have you been?!"

Emericus fought the urge to jump aside. She didn't stop until he could see the pores in her wrinkled face. "Sorry, I was just - I didn't go far. I-"

"Do not lie to me."

Emericus couldn't meet Gaia's blazing gaze. "I went to see a-a friend. I'm sorry. I didn't think I'd be away for as long as I was."

"I can see when I've been used. Inside. Now."

Emericus did as told. Gaia's stare burned at the back of his head and the walk to the kitchen stretched into miles.

The stone floor was colder than usual and the blanket more coarse. Sleep didn't offer any comfort until the sun neared the horizon. By then, the clatter of plates and bowls woke him.

Emericus sat up and tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. "Good morning, Gaia."

She grunted a response.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, I really am," he said. "I'll make it up to you." Emericus started with wiping all the surfaces clean, continued with washing the utensils and knives used for the preparation of breakfast, and did anything to lighten the morning shores from Gaia's shoulders. She barely had the opportunity to ask for things she needed before they stood in front of her as if summoned by the Gods.

Emericus brushed away a light sweat from his forehead and lifted a tray with salted bread and eggs to the dining room. Lysandra, her twin brothers, and their mother were seated on the soft benches surrounding the low, rectangular table. When her mother noticed him, her expression turned dark. "Did you pick the hyacinths? I don't see them anywhere in the house, so where are they?"

Emericus froze in terror with the tray still in his hands. His eyes flickered to Lysandra, begging for help.

"I'm sure he just made a mistake," Lysandra said.

Lysandra's mother ignored her daughter and took Emericus' shock as a confession. "How dare you steal from us. They were Lysandra's favorites."

"Mother, it doesn't matter. There are lots of flowers in the garden."

"Don't defend him! I think a day without food will prevent him from repeating his "mistake". And you will clean this floor until it's spotless, at a safe distance from the garden."

Emericus placed the tray on the table and bowed. "Yes, Madame Cassia. I'm sorry." He hurried back to the kitchen to bring out the watered-down wine with honey, his throat coarse as if coated with sand.

While the family ate their breakfast, Emericus kept himself busy in the kitchen, determined to show Gaia his regret by removing every stain and patch of dust. Still, she didn't speak to him.

After clearing the table he moved on to the dining room floor. The paintings of Master Hadrianus and Madame Cassia stared down at him from the walls as he scrubbed the black and white tiles. Music from Lysandra's room held him company. It was the same cheerful melody she had practiced a few days earlier. By now she knew it by heart and Emericus hummed along to drown out the growl in his stomach. When the floor shone, Emericus continued by wiping the walls. He might as well keep busy. Surely Master Hadrianus would notice if he left the room.

Lysandra entered from the atrium. "When you are done here I want you to clean my room." She held her voice stern, but her eyes smiled.

"Of course. I'm nearly done here," Emericus panted. He sloppily wiped the last wall and held his head low as he passed Master Hadrianus in the atrium to knock on Lysandra's door. She let him in with a big smile.

Emericus looked around at the neat room. "I don't think I can make much difference here."

"I just wanted a chance to talk to you. Here, sit. And eat, obviously." She gestured at a plate of bread and an orange next to a pillow on the floor. She sat down next to him and took a piece of bread. "So, who were the flowers for?"

Emericus choked on the bread and coughed.

"I'm guessing Bion?" Lysandra said with a smug smile.

Emericus nodded and tried to breathe again. "Please don't tell your father."

"Have I ever?" She faked a hurt look. "So, how did you spend your evening? Tell me everything!"

"We ate at a tavern and I told him the story of Hyacinthus." He held up a coin with a proud grin. "Look, I got this from an old man. Then we just walked around the city, talking nonsense before taking a swim in the ocean."

"More details would have been great, but it sounds romantic." Lysandra leaned against the wall.

"If that is what it feels like to be free..." Emericus cleared his throat, remembering who he talked to. "But that'll never happen. I know that. I just..."

"It's alright. No one can take away your right to dream. One day you might be able to buy your freedom. My father isn't that unreasonable."

"I've never thought about freedom as much as after I met Bion. I'd sell my soul if it could buy me time with him. Hell, I think I'd even enjoy his company if it was on his boat."

Lysandra smiled. "I wish I had felt that with Marcellus." She lowered her voice. "May the Gods not judge me too harshly, but I'm grateful that horse kicked his skull in. Now I have another chance to find love. I can only hope it'll be as true as the love you have for Bion. Does he feel the same way?"

Emericus blushed. "I'm not sure if it's love, I haven't known him for as long as it feels like I have. But I think he feels the same, or at least I hope so. He did ask me to sail away with him- But I won't! That'd be crazy." He let out a nervous laugh.

Lysandra's tone was serious. "Maybe you should? I'd miss you, but you deserve to be with the one you love." She thought for a moment. "Would you like to go see him tomorrow? I can say I need your help carrying something. I'd love to meet Bion. He seems very interesting."

Emericus's face lit up. "Yes! I'd love that!"

So the next day, Lysandra did as promised and Emericus gladly followed her down the streets towards the port. The call of seagulls increased and as they turned a corner, the sea came into view. It was sprinkled with ships and boats working to pull up the bounty the sea had to offer.

Aquila was one of few boats by the dock. Bion was wiping the floor with a grey rug with his back against them but looked up at the sound of their footsteps. He waved.

"So, you must be Bion," Lysandra said with a smug smile. "Emericus won't stop talking about you."

Emericus stuttered defensively.

"And you must be Lysandra," Bion answered. "I think Emericus mentioned you once or twice. It's nice to meet you."

Lysandra smiled and nudged Emericus. "I can see how he was worth the fake farts."

Bion laughed, his eyebrows by his hairline. "The what?"

Emericus turned scarlet. "I had to do something to see you." He threw a glance at Lysandra. "You knew?"

"Oh, I saw the rotten egg in your pocket when you lied to my father. You're lucky he was too occupied with his robes to notice." She turned to Bion. "I'm surprised you didn't notice the smell."

Bion shrugged. "How could I when he masked it with those wonderful flowers."

Emericus took Bion's hand. "I'll do it again if I get the chance. Talking nonsense with you will always be better than pouring wine."

"I wish yesterday could have gone on forever," Bion said.

"Aww, look at you two!" Lysandra squealed. "Feel free to keep that up, but we'll have to be somewhat productive." She turned to Emericus. "I wasn't lying about needing your help. I actually want a big clay pot with a little fig tree in my room. It'll probably be really hard to find though."

"Yeah, if we're lucky it could take us all day." Emericus grinned. "I hope you don't have anything planned, Bion."

Bion squeezed Emericus's hand. "Oh no, what a nightmare to spend a whole day with you. I can clean Aquila tomorrow." He threw the rug over his back into the boat.

Side by side, the trio walked back and forth between shops selling pots and those selling trees. The conversation drifted from flowers to travel and all the way to world domination at one point.

By noon they ate grilled vegetables and lentils at the tavern Emericus and Bion had spent an evening at. Encouraged by his friends, Emericus told the story of Hercules's fight against the giants of Vesuvius. When heads were turned towards him, he mustered the courage to raise his voice. A cluster gathered around him, boosting his confidence which gave the story more flare. When done, a handful of copper coins were tossed his way to the sound of applause.

"Have you thought about what I said before, Emericus?" Bion asked. "I think you could actually make some coin from telling stories if you put your mind to it."

"So he could buy himself? I've talked about that with him too." Lysandra turned expectantly to Emericus.

"Listen, I've thought a lot about freedom recently. I haven't decided anything yet, but I will not run away. If anything, I'd like to try to buy myself."

"That sounds like you have decided. I'm not complaining though. Do you know how much you'd have to pay?"

"No... I don't know how to bring it up."

"Give my father a cup of that wine he likes and just ask him," Lysandra said. "You know he's reasonable. Most of the time."

Emericus raised an eyebrow at her.

"Okay. Some of the time. If he's in a good mood. That's where the wine comes into play."

Emericus sighed. "I guess that's a decent plan. I'll try."

<<>>

They rounded the day off by revisiting the shop with the best pots and brought their favorite to the merchant selling fig trees. Together Emericus and Bion carried it back home.

"I can take it alone from here," Emericus told Bion by the last crossroads before the house. "If you walk inside there'll be lots of questions."

They stopped and put the giant pot down between them.

"Thank you for the help, Bion," Lysandra said and gave him a hug.

"It was my pleasure. I'd gladly spend my days carrying trees with you two." Bion said. "But then I wouldn't get any work done."

"I could help you if you need to catch up on something," Emericus said. "Not to brag, but I have a lot of experience with cleaning."

Bion leaned his shoulder against his. "That's really sweet of you. Are you sure you have the time?"

Emericus shrugged. If he'd been able to sneak out of the house once, he sure could do it again. The trick would be to not let it go out over Gaia. But, that was a problem for another day.

"Anyways," Bion continued, "to clean the boat you'd have to be on the boat."

"I know. I'll try." Emericus wiped the sweat off his palms. "It might be easier if you're there."

"Of course, I'll be right by your side. I don't want you to sail away without me."

Emericus laughed nervously. "I couldn't even if I wanted to."