by Tanya Bird
‘I am not sure that is a good idea.’
He propped himself up on one elbow. ‘I can’t hide away while you suffer alone. I won’t do it.’
‘You want to suffer alongside me, is that it?’
He pressed a hand to her belly. ‘Haven’t you figured out by now that your suffering is my suffering?’
She reached up, holding his stubbly cheeks. ‘I love you.’
His grin widened. ‘Show me.’
Chapter 22
A fist pounded on the door. Dulcia’s eyes snapped open at the same time Nero leapt from the bed and threw on his tunic.
Bang, bang, bang.
‘What if it is Manius?’ Dulcia asked, reaching for her clothes. ‘He knows about this place.’ Seeing his confused expression, she added, ‘He had me followed yesterday.’
Nero’s face hardened. ‘Of course he did. Stay here.’
Light poured through the window. They had carelessly fallen asleep.
Bang, bang, bang.
‘It’s Mila. Open up.’
Dulcia exhaled with relief, and Nero threw her a smile.
‘Only slightly less threatening,’ he whispered. The moment he opened the door, Mila burst through it.
‘Is my sister here?’
The urgency in her voice made Dulcia freeze momentarily before hurrying into the room. ‘I am here.’
Mila took in her dishevelled appearance but said nothing of it. ‘I have news of Licinia.’
Dulcia frowned. ‘Licinia?’ She knew it was not good news by the look on her sister’s face. Nero must have known it too, because he took her hand. ‘What news?’
Mila swallowed. ‘She has been found guilty of fornication and sentenced.’
Dulcia shook her head. That made no sense. ‘What?’ Perhaps she had not heard right. Nero’s hand tightened around hers.
‘They are marching her through the city as we speak,’ Mila continued.
Dulcia pulled her hand free and pressed it to her breastbone. ‘Fornication? Licinia is the most chaste woman I know. She would never…’
Mila stepped forwards and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her through the door. ‘They are going to bury her alive.’
A cold sensation filled Dulcia’s belly as she was led out onto the street. Buried alive? It had to be a misunderstanding, one Dulcia would set straight.
She glanced over her shoulder to ensure Nero was following. He caught up and gave her a reassuring smile. ‘It’s just a mistake.’
Dulcia nodded. Yes, a mistake. They would not bury a priestess alive without adequate proof. ‘I will speak on her behalf, clear her name.’
Mila let go of her arm and broke into a run. ‘If that is your plan, you better hurry.’
The three of them ran through the streets and alleyways, making their way towards the forum. She was not there, but it did not take them long to spot the party as they marched towards Colline Gate. People were lining the streets, some sombre and silent, others spitting on the road where Licinia walked, her hands bound in front of her.
‘Whore!’ shouted one man.
Dulcia took in the sight before her: the raised fists, the tears, the shaking heads. All that anger, heartbreak and disappointment aimed at her friend, who kept her eyes ahead and chin raised. But her tear-streaked face gave her away.
‘Mila!’
The sound of Remus’s voice pulled her from her trance. He pushed through the growing crowd to get to them. ‘They are saying there is a witness.’
‘That is not possible,’ Dulcia said. ‘She is innocent. I know she is.’
Remus and Mila exchanged a look.
‘Someone claims they caught her with a man,’ Remus said.
Dulcia shook her head, rejecting the words, then tried to move closer to the road. ‘Licinia!’ Her voice only added to the noise.
‘Dulcia, wait,’ Nero said, catching her hand.
She pulled free of his grip and slipped between two men. ‘There is no time.’ Stepping around a crying woman, she heard Nero curse behind her. He was too big to fit through the gaps.
The guards either side of Licinia looked at each other in surprise when Dulcia stepped out in front of them.
Licinia’s eyes widened, then teared up. ‘I didn’t do it.’
Dulcia reached out and took hold of her bound hands. They were freezing despite the heat. ‘I know.’
‘Out of the way!’ one of the men said.
Dulcia turned to him. ‘She is innocent.’
The guard rolled his eyes and waved her on. ‘Save your breath. She was caught spread-legged with a man.’
‘What man?’
‘He wasn’t caught, and the girl refuses to give his name.’
Tears welled in Licinia’s eyes. ‘Because I have no name to give. There is no man. I was caught with no one.’
Dulcia stepped between them, her body like a shield. ‘I am telling you there has been a mistake, and I am not moving until I have spoken with the emperor.’
Both men laughed.
‘Oh, she wants to speak with the emperor,’ one said.
The other shook his head. ‘You go do that. In the meantime, move before we have you thrown into Mamertine.’
Nero had finally broken through the crowd and came to stand beside her, his eyes fixed on the men. Remus walked up beside him. Dulcia tried to think. Her best chance of success was to find Nerva. He would get her in front of the right people, but by the time someone agreed to an audience, it would be too late. ‘If you carry on, you will be burying an innocent woman. All I ask is that you delay a while. Please.’
‘I said move.’
Nero and Remus both took a step in his direction, and the man’s feet shuffled back a little.
‘My father is Senator Rufus Papias, my brother General Nerva Papias.’ It was not something she usually did, but she was desperate enough to throw their names out and see what happened. ‘If you refuse to listen, I will make sure they hear about it.’
The guards paused and looked her up and down. She could not have appeared less like a Papias in that moment if she had tried.
‘Rufus Papias doesn’t have a daughter,’ one said, his expression hardening. ‘Now get.’
One of the guards went to grab her, but Nero intercepted and knocked his hand away. ‘Touch her and see what happens.’
Visibly fed up, the other guard stepped forwards and grabbed her by the arm. She instinctively kicked out, striking his shin, hurting her toe more than she probably hurt him. He cursed and flung her aside. She landed on the road on her hands and knees. Ignoring the sting of grazed flesh, she pushed herself up onto her feet. As she turned, she heard the sickening sound of a fist hitting a face. She watched as the guard was knocked backwards onto the road, his hands going over his nose and blood seeping through his fingers.
Nero.
The other guard drew his sword, but before he had a chance to use it, Remus jumped between them, swiftly disarming the man.
‘Let’s everyone calm down,’ he said, holding the weapon upside down between two fingers to show he meant no threat.
The guard with the bloody nose stood and drew his sword. He swung it angrily at Nero, who ducked, then knocked the blade from the guard’s hand. It landed with a clang next to Dulcia. Without hesitating, she snatched it up and went to stand in front of Licinia.
‘Show me who accused this woman, and I will show you a liar.’ Her hands shook as adrenaline coursed through her.
‘Dulcia,’ Licinia said, fear in her voice. ‘Move aside.’
‘I will not step aside while you are wrongfully put to death.
Nero took a step towards her. ‘Give me the sword.’
She ignored him, her gaze moving between the guards, daring them to come for her friend.
‘Dulcia,’ Nero said, firmer that time.
She finally looked at him.
‘Listen.’ His eyes pleaded with her. ‘There are more guards on their way. You need to leave.’
Leave?
She shook her head. Even the sound of footsteps approaching did not soften her resolve, not when her friend was about to be buried alive. But then Mila appeared out of nowhere, knocking the sword from her hand before grabbing hold of her arm and pulling her off the road.
‘We need to go.’
Dulcia’s feet grew roots. ‘No. Mila, please. They are going to kill her.’
Her sister spun around to face her. ‘And you with her if you do not get out of here.’ She pulled her, harder that time, but it was too late. A ring of guards appeared around them.
Remus and Mila exchanged a glance as the soldiers took the men into custody.
‘And the women too,’ the guard with the bloody nose called. ‘Troublemakers, the lot of them.’
‘No.’ Nero tried to pull free of the two men either side of him.
Remus was only slightly calmer. ‘Let the women leave.’
The guards ignored him.
‘Please,’ Dulcia pleaded with the guard closest her, ‘do not let them bury her. She is innocent, and you will anger Vesta if you contribute to her death.’
At that moment, a tall body pushed through the gathered crowd and took one of the guards by the throat, lifting him off the ground. Albaus. Three guards went for him just as Felix arrived, struggling to break free of the crowd. He turned to glare at them.
‘Would it kill you to look down once in a while?’ He straightened his tunic, then took in the scene in front of him. ‘Oh for the love of…’ He shook his head at Albaus, who was using the soldier like a shield against the guards closing in on him, waiting for their opportunity. ‘If I had known you were going to throw yourself into this mess, I would have waited at the back.’
Nero managed to get an arm free, punching the guard to his left and shoving the other sideways in an attempt to get to Dulcia. But two fresh soldiers tackled him to the ground before he reached her.
She flinched at the sound of his body slamming against stone.
Felix put his hands up in an attempt to calm everyone. ‘Might I suggest a civil conversation before this takes a serious turn?’
Nero had a knee on his neck and the full weight of a man on his back.
‘You are hurting him,’ Dulcia said, trying to pull free. The guard yanked her arm, and she winced.
‘For goodness’ sake,’ Felix said to Albaus, ‘put the man down before someone opens you up on the street.’
Albaus grunted before releasing the man. He landed on his knees, coughing and clutching his throat. The guards surrounding Albaus kept their weapons pointed at him, but none were brave enough to attempt an arrest.
‘What in heaven’s name is going on here?’
The sound of Manius’s voice made Dulcia turn. He stepped through the circle of guards and came to stand in the middle, looking around before his gaze settled on her.
One of the original guards spoke up. ‘All under control.’
Manius’s brow creased with scepticism. ‘Really?’ He walked over to the man. ‘Then why is my betrothed being restrained by your men?’
The man paled at the revelation. ‘Your betrothed?’ He shared a surprised look with one of his comrades before continuing. ‘She was the cause of the disruption.’
Manius glanced across at Nero, whose wild eyes were fixed on him. ‘Release her.’
The guard hesitated before letting go of her. She ran straight to Manius and fell at his feet. ‘Please, tell them Licinia is innocent.’
She was met with a cold stare and clenched jaw, but she was not beyond begging in order to save Licinia’s life.
Instead of pulling Dulcia to her feet, Manius crouched down, an arm resting on one knee to balance himself.
‘What is it you want me to do?’
‘Defend her.’
He glanced at the priestess, who was as pale as her robes. ‘They have an eyewitness.’
Dulcia shook her head. ‘What witness? Who?’
‘A woman.’
‘That is a lie,’ Licinia said, struggling to bring volume to her voice. ‘I lay with no one. Vesta’s home is as pure as the day I arrived.’
Manius glanced in her direction. ‘Am I to trust the word of one convicted?’
‘Trust my judgement,’ Dulcia said, her desperation growing. ‘I know she is innocent. I ask only that you delay her sentence until I can gather proof.’ Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Nero growing restless beneath his captors.
Manius narrowed his eyes. ‘Trust your judgment?’ He leaned closer, as though inspecting her face.
‘Dulcia,’ Nero called, struggling once more.
She did not dare look in his direction.
Leaning close to her ear, Manius whispered, ‘I trust your judgement least of all. You are as big a whore as she.’
A shiver ran down Dulcia’s spine.
Nero arched his back, struggling. ‘Get away from her—’ He was silenced with a fist to his face.
Dulcia stared boldly back at Manius. ‘My sins are mine alone. Please help her.’
His eyes seemed to darken a few shades. ‘If only there was something I could do.’ He paused. ‘A mutually beneficial outcome.’
Nero worked an elbow free and threw it into the guard’s leg. The man cried out before digging his knee harder into Nero’s neck.
‘Not helping,’ Felix hissed in his direction.
Manius waited for Nero to still before continuing. ‘What say you, wife? Shall we go figure a way out of this mess together?’
‘Dulcia, don’t.’
She looked over at Nero. His face was pressed against the scorching road, every muscle in his body straining against the weight of the men. They were not going to just let him walk away.
Her gaze went to her sister, who needed to go home to her children, her safe life, the one she and Remus had worked so hard to build. Dulcia was jeopardising everything. This was not their fight.
‘Please—’ Her throat closed, and she swallowed against the sensation. She turned to Manius. ‘Please ask them to let everyone go. This has nothing to do with any of them.’
Manius nodded as though agreeing with her assessment, then cleared his throat. ‘If you come with me now, I will make sure everyone here walks free.’ He paused. ‘I will even speak up on Licinia’s behalf.’
‘Dulcia.’ There was a plea, a warning in Nero’s voice, but then his words were strangled once more.
She closed her eyes for a moment, unable to stomach it. ‘You know I love him. You know where I was last night. Why would you help me?’ She kept her voice low so only Manius could hear her.
He brought his lips to her ear. ‘I will not be made a fool of. Look around you. How do you think this will end?’
‘Don’t listen…’ Nero was struggling again.
Her eyes snapped open as she fought the urge to crawl to him.
Manius’s hand landed on her shoulder, his grip firm. ‘You go to him, and I will make sure that when he is locked up, the key disappears.’
She felt like her heart was lodged in her throat.
‘Licinia will be buried in a chamber, never to be seen again by the Roman people,’ Manius continued. ‘Given the circumstances, we both know your father is going to take my word over yours. And it will not stop there.’ He paused. ‘I will come after your sister if I have to. A mother separated from her children is a terrible thing.’
She looked at Nero’s red face, listened to his laboured breath. It was clear she did not have a choice, that she never had. Like Manius said, he would not be made a fool of.
‘And you will ensure they all walk away? Every one of them?’
Manius took hold of her arms and pulled her to her feet. ‘I have enough money to make any problem disappear.’
So much power—none of it hers. She could not tear her eyes away from Nero. ‘But we had a plan,’ she breathed.
Manius took a step back from her, his patience gone. ‘Take the priestess to the Campus Sceleratus. Imprison the others.’
The moment t
he words left Manius’s mouth, Remus tore free from his captors and ran towards Mila. But she did not need his help—she already had the soldier on his knees and the sword she had stolen from him pressed to his throat. Albaus produced a knife from gods knew where and was crouched down, ready to fight his way out. Felix was turning in circles, no doubt realising he could not talk his way out of the mess. They dragged Nero to his feet and turned Licinia away, preparing to march her off in the other direction.
This is not happening. Dulcia’s entire world was coming undone in front of her. She struggled to draw breath, a feeling that brought back memories of the fire.
‘I will go with you,’ she said, reaching for Manius’s arm. ‘Whatever you want or need from me, you have it. Please, just let them go.’
‘Dulcia no!’ Nero threw off one of the guards, but two more were immediately upon him.
Manius watched her for a moment. ‘I need to know you come of your own free will.’
Was he insane? Of course she had to agree. He had left with her no choice.
‘Dulcia, no,’ Nero called again.
Felix stepped in front of him, blocking his view. ‘I will hang you myself if you do not shut up.’
‘Yes.’ Dulcia gripped Manius’s arm like it was the only thing holding her up. ‘Of course. We are betrothed, after all.’ She swallowed down the rising bile. ‘My place is at your side.’
Nero threw his body sideways, sending two men flying. ‘Dulcia, stop.’
Manius threaded her hand through his arm. ‘So we have an understanding?’
She would have agreed to anything in that moment. ‘Yes. I… I was confused, but everything is clear to me now.’
She felt the muscles in his arm relax slightly, and then he brought his mouth to her ear once more.
‘If there is ever a repeat of last night, I will rain fire down on everyone you love until there is nothing left but ashes.’ He pulled away slightly so he could look at her. ‘Understand?’
She could not stop her body from trembling. ‘Yes.’
He patted her hand and turned back to the guards. ‘Detain the vestal until we get to the bottom of this. The others can be released when they are calm. First sniff of trouble, lock them up.’