I did not emerge from the shadow state until we were back in my rooms. Valerius would have men in the city, and though they would be able to track a man I doubted they could track a shadow.

Antonius collapsed to the floor gasping and gagging when I released him from the shadow. I simply walked from the room and called for a slave to assist me; it had been a long journey back. Once I had fed, I returned to see Antonius’ progress. The shadow state was meant only for one, there was no air to breathe and no way to move; Antonius had been trapped.

He was sitting on the floor breathing deeply when I entered the room. His lip curled at my arrival. “That was completely unnecessary, Dio. There were only 20 men in the place, and perhaps two servanti. I could have easily taken them and then we would have destroyed the threat. Now he will have time to strengthen himself.”

I had not taken a count of those in the room, my focus had been on the Roman. “You believe you could take 20 men yourself, and two servanti, without assistance?”

Antonius shrugged, “Why not? Theophilus wasn’t that hard, and he was older and wiser than any of them.” His tone dripped contempt.

“And how do you know that?” I asked.

Antonius looked disgusted at the question. “Sicily’s been around forever, just like Umbrae. Rome is new. And that Senator-in-training was even newer. He tried to control me; he couldn’t.”

I didn’t keep the surprise from my face, and Antonius grinned. “When he praised you,” I replied.

Antonius nodded. “I felt him pushing into my mind but he had no finesse, no style. So I just stared blankly ahead until he thought he had me.”

I smiled. “It appears all those practise sessions were not in vain.” I pondered Antonius’ notion of taking out Valerius and his slaves; it would send a powerful message. I needed Rome to respect us if we were to retain power once they conquered. But slaughter was more likely to illicit retaliation than respect. “We will wait to respond to his trickery. First we must know who he is, and then we will know what Rome will do.”

Antonius refrained from snorting, merely rolling his eyes. I ignored him. “Tomorrow we meet with Signore Agapios. If Astyanax is correct, Agapios may know more about Valerius; then we will have a place to begin our plans.” At this Antonius grinned.

The rest of our night passed in training; having once been taken by surprise, I did not wish to repeat the experience. Antonius had improved greatly since we last sparred. I would need to test him more often, not to improve his performance, but so that I knew his abilities. I would not rely on the power of my blood to contain Antonius.

When I arose the next evening, Nikolaos and Antonious were standing at the foot of my bed. Nikolaos twisted his hands in front of him, chewing his lip and glancing toward were a window might have been, if there had been any windows. I sat up.

“What has happened?” I asked.

Nikolaos squeaked, and Antonius looked at him, disgusted. “They have been searching for you; for us,” Antonius said. “Nikolaos heard them when he went out to obtain supplies for our landlord. And I saw them as they canvassed the street. Valerius’ men.”

I rose and donned my tunic. “Are they still outside?”

“No,” Nikolaos muttered. “The landlord sent them off.”

I raised a brow, looking from Nikolaos to Antonious. Antonius nodded. “A smarter man than he would appear, and exceptionally adept at lying.”

I had barely spoken to the inn’s master, this landlord Antonius spoke of. That would have to be remedied. If Umbrae favoured him, perhaps he was more than simply a discreet businessman. Especially if Antonius praised his skills.

When entered the dining hall, small that was, the master of the inn was waiting. He rose, bowing slightly as I entered the room. I noted that Antonius simply sauntered past me to a waiting tray of food that smelt remarkably bloody, while Nikolaos hovered. “Go, eat,” I said, gesturing Nikolaos toward the tables, “we have much to talk about.”

Smiling, the landlord lead me to a small room off the dining hall. There was a window with salty breeze flowing through, a desk, assorted scrolls, and a chest I assumed to contain the inn's resources. He moved to the side of the room, squeezed against the wall, and gestured to me that I might take the chair behind the desk. I smiled and shook my head. He moved behind his desk but remained standing, his hands holding the back of the chair.

I studied him for a long minute, his dark hair, pale eyes, the calm manner in which he held himself. "You protected us," I said finally.

He nodded.

"Why?"

He spoke slowly. "My name is Timotheus Procurius, and I am a friend of the Umbrae."

My brow rose.

"Signuri Umbrae, and those born of his line," he continued. I stared at him, but he simply smiled. "I know you are of his line, Signuri Decentius, because of when you arrived and who came with you. Though you have show it since, as well."

This was true. I had fed from his readily provided slaves, and coast into the inn as nothing more than shadow.

"And why are you our friend?" I asked. And was he truly our friend, or merely the friend of Umbrae himself?

Procurius chin rose. "Because you protect us. Because he cured me, and my wife. Because you need friends in the daylight."

A great chuckle erupted from my chest causing Procurius to lose his hold upon the chair and stumble backwards. "Very true, my friend," I replied, "very true indeed."