Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Atia's cook tastes the poisoned stew before serving it and dies in front of the household. Duro tries to escape but is caught, tortured and made to identify Servilia as his employer. Atia promises him mercy to obtain the confession, then has him killed. Her retaliation turns on Servilia, whom Timon and his men abduct and abuse. Timon's willingness to carry out Atia's orders finally breaks. He frees the injured woman rather than continuing the torture, rejects Atia's claim over him and leaves her house. The failed poisoning has spared Atia while exposing how far both rivals will go to destroy each other.
Pullo searches the aftermath of the battle between Octavian and Antony for Vorenus. Octavian helps direct him towards Antony's retreating force, where he finds his friend and tells him the children are alive. Antony releases Vorenus from immediate duty so the two can recover them. On the journey Pullo denies sleeping with Niobe and urges Vorenus to think about the children rather than his wounded honour. At the slave camp, they use Octavian's name to gain entry. Vorenus first approaches Niobe's young son in anger, then embraces him. Discovering what has been done to his eldest daughter ends any attempt at a quiet transaction. The soldiers kill the camp owner and leave with all three children.