Idris laughed softly as not to disturb Hermes. “Yes, indeed. I’ve been around a bit”, he said with a vague gesture by the way of explanation. “You looked so cute sleeping; I just didn’t have the heart to wake you.” This was accompanied by a loving kiss that made Sextus on one side wish Hermes wasn’t around, but didn’t distract him from the fact that the small leather pouch at his lover’s belt looked considerably heavier than the day before. Idris, noticing the Roman’s expression, chuckled softly and demanded another kiss. “Don’t worry, love, I’m the best of them all”, he whispered just before their lips touched.

After a quick breakfast of bread, olives and a quite spicy moretum, washed down with clear water, the three of them set out for the baths. Hermes, who’d woken up stiff like a board, had been cranky since he’d tried to get up and realised what the Silure had meant with his prediction the night before. He brightened up considerably when Sextus ordered the slaves at the baths to give Hermes a thorough massage. After leaving the baths, clean shaven, scrubbed-down and groomed, they headed to the market to buy a few things Hermes would need on the way, like a decent bedroll and a spare tunic.

It was about the fourth hour of the day when they retrieved their horses and left Nuceria Alfaterna behind, heading towards Salernum.