by T. A. Uner
Chaerea smiled respectfully at his Emperor, but Caligula could tell his Praetorian Prefect wasn’t happy being ridiculed.
Perhaps I shall have him killed as well. Like Macro.
The guests continued to pour in thru the doors of his throne room. People gathered around large tables filled with food.
They should eat well, Caligula thought. A god’s friends should eat what is put in front of them. This is, after all, my court. And If they don’t like it I can have them killed.
Claudius was planted in a corner of the throne room. Scribbling. That fat fool was always scribbling something. If I had a wife as desirable as Messalina, I wouldn’t be writing tomes. I’d be fucking her instead.
When his throne room had filled with enough people, Caligula clapped his hands and climbed the dais to his throne. “Dear friends, family, senators and of course, all my lovers!” he said. The crowd laughed.
Were they laughing at me? Hmmmm. They better not be. I might have to kill them. But first they must see what I have planed.
Caligula picked up where he left off. “As I was saying,” he said before clearing his throat. “Today is a special day. A day to rejoice! For today, a great creature, my own beloved friend, shall be appointed Consul!”
Drusilla broke away from her husband and whispered into Caligula’s ear. “Brother, what is this about?”
Caligula shot her a stern look and she backed off, slowly.
“Cassius Chaerea!” Caligula said. “Have Incitatus brought in!”
Chaerea nodded to a Cornicen who blew his horn. The doors to the throne room opened. Two servants unrolled a long, maroon carpet with gold trim and a stable boy dressed in a lavish white toga led a tall, muscular, white stallion into the throne room. Incitatus had a purple, silken blanket draped over his back, upon it was his name etched in golden letters. He whickered loudly as Drusilla stared at him disbelievingly.
Caligula rushed over toward the horse and smiled. He kissed its nose.
I am a genius. I should’ve done this months ago.
“You are all probably wondering what my stallion is doing here! Well, I am appointing Incitatus as our new Consul!”
Drusilla whispered into Caligula’s ear, “You cannot make a horse Consul.” He ignored her. There was a loud peal of applause as everyone welcomed the new Consul to office.
Caligula raised his hands and the applause ceased.
“I have already ordered a special stable to be built where our new Consul and his mare, Penelope, will be living.”
The people applauded again.
Caligula smiled. A god’s life is never easy.
{V}
Cassius Chaerea stared at the foolery before him. The people applauded Caligula’s latest display of madness as if it was an act decreed by the gods. This man, or “god” as he called himself, had nearly bankrupted the empire’s royal treasury after only a few months as Emperor. Tiberius had taken his entire rule to build up a treasury surplus that had been the largest in the history of the Rome. Yet now, Caligula spent the empire’s money on useless endeavors, one of which was hunting the Dryads, a peaceful race who posed no threat to the empire’s stability. And now this, appointing a horse Consul.
Claudius had finished his writing and walked up to Chaerea.
“Well, well, another spectacle organized by my nephew for our enjoyment.”
Chaerea shook his head. “Our enjoyment…or his?”
“You’ve no doubt heard of the brothel he has built next to the palace?”
“Yes,” Chaerea said as he took a cup of wine offered to him by a slave. “More wasteful spending. The Praetorian guard is not happy with these acts.”
Chaerea liked Claudius. Everyone called him a fool, but Chaerea saw no stupidity in the man. Perhaps Claudius was putting on an act, to make himself appear he posed no threat. Not the actions of a fool, but an intelligent man who wanted to live.
“He loves to tease me and once, when I still lived in the palace, he wanted me to clean up Incitatus’ feces with my hands,” Claudius said
Chaerea nodded. “My voice is his source of mirth these days. I lost a testicle serving his Father Germanicus. He could show more compassion.”
“That is a trait my nephew lacks, my dear Prefect.”
“This Palace,” Chaerea said ruefully, “was once a place of honor, dignity, and power. Now, he uses it like a brothel. Employing the Senators’ wives as prostitutes.”
“Yes,” Claudius replied, “a tragedy. And I thought Tiberius’ rule was dour.”
“I will wait,” Chaerea said. “The Guard will wait. We shall wait and see if this madness continues.”
“What if it doesn’t?”
Chaerea cast an eye at his surroundings while listening to the presumptuous laughter of the guests. The harps played merrily in the background, yet he felt as if he had swallowed a rock.
Penelope, Incitatus’ mate, was brought in, a pink blanket draped over her back. Caligula’s laughter resonated in Chaerea’s ears. It was the laughter that made his brain churn out seditious thoughts.
He would end this madness.
The only question that remained was how.
Eleven/Undecim
It had taken a few days but the troupe arrived in Rome. Artia was glad to have the company of the three men. She sat behind Vulcan atop Patchwind while Masego and Gansu brought up the rear. “Where is this merchant, Yeshiva, located?” Artia asked Vulcan.
“His warehouse is situated inside Ostia Antica. That is where Tullus hid the Door.”
Artia couldn’t help but recall what she had read in her tomes. Her father had given it to her shortly before he’d been taken away by the Romans. She knew the spell was written in archaic Latin, a language she was not wholly fluent in, and would work hard to decipher it if the Door was to be destroyed.
They passed through the main street of Ostia, the Decumanus Maximus, until they arrived at the warehouse. It was a square, wooden structure with a sloping roof. Vulcan and the others hobbled their horses and they walked up to the door. After knocking, the door opened. A young man with olive skin and a straight nose answered.
“Vulcan?”
“Hello, Ashi,” Vulcan said. “Could we please speak with Yeshiva?”
Ashi’s face looked dour.
What was wrong with him? Artia thought.
“He’s been ill, Vulcan,” Ashi replied sadly.
Gansu said, “Maybe I should have a look at him.”
Ashi invited them in. When he noticed Artia his eyes widened. “Anna?”
Artia smiled. “No, my friend, I am her twin, Artia.”
Still looking dazed, Ashi nodded and led them to Yeshiva’s study where the merchant was resting on a pallet. The room was humid and smelled musty. Everyone gathered around Yeshiva. The merchant was murmuring in his sleep while drops of sweat dotted his face. Gansu leaned in closer and placed one hand on Yeshiva’s forehead.
“He doesn’t have a fever,” Gansu said.
Artia leaned over and opened Yeshiva’s right eye. It was completely red except for the pupil. “It’s worse than I feared.”
“I don’t understand,” Ashi said.
“The Door,” Artia said. “Its evil essence has infected him.”
Without warning, Yeshiva rose from the pallet his eyes flickered open. “I saw my father! I saw my father!”
“Be calm, Yeshiva,” Vulcan said before turning to Artia. “Can you help him?” he asked her.
“If I cannot help him, then no one can,” Gansu said.
“With all due respect to your medical acumen, Gansu,” Artia began, “this is not a conventional illness. Only the knowledge of the Elders can save him…I only hope it is not too late.”
“His wife is scared,” Ashi said, “and I am too.”
“Can I see the Door?” Artia asked.
Ashi’s eyes widened again. “Why would you wish to view that evil thing? That’s how this problem began in the first place.”
“Please
, Ashi” Artia insisted.
Ashi nodded and led her downstairs while Vulcan and Masego followed. Gansu remained behind to monitor Yeshiva. In the basement Artia felt the cold air filter through her bones. Ashi pointed to a large wooden Door sealed with a lock.
“Unlock the Door,” Artia said.
Ashi reached for a key on his belt. His hand shook as he tried to stick the key inside the lock, before the doors to the closet blew open, knocking both Ashi and Artia to the ground.
Masego drew his dirks. “There is great depravity here…I can feel it.”
“Took you long enough to notice it,” Vulcan replied before he helped Artia up. Ashi scurried away like a squirrel. “Where are you going?” Vulcan asked.
“Away from here!” Ashi replied as he ran up the steps.
“Let him, go,” Artia said, “we don’t need him exposed.”
“Woman, we are all now exposed!” Masego said. He stared frightfully at the dark closet.
Artia reached inside her cloak. She pulled out a vial containing one of her potions and undid the stopper. The blue liquid within bubbled and a thin mist rose from it, casting light inside the dark closet.
Masego had moved away from the closet, and closer to the staircase. “What do you see?”
“Nothing, yet.” Artia replied. Inside the closet, the large pieces of the Door were stacked like cubes, wrapped in wool and tied with hempen rope. A feeling of dread came over Artia and she saw images from her past. Her father’s arrest, her kicking the soldiers as they tore him away from her.
Father! Father!
“Artia are you alright?” Vulcan asked.
Artia rubbed her eyes. “Yes,” she replied. “It’s the Door. It made me recall a painful memory from my past.”
Vulcan nodded. “For a moment I saw my dead wife standing before me.”
“You did?”
“Yes,” the German said, “then I remembered how good her cooking was and she disappeared.”
“Interesting. It appears that the Door makes you remember people from your past.”
“Or painful memories.”
Artia approached the pieces of the Door and shone her light upon them.
If the Door gives off this much negative energy unassembled, I hate to think what it could do fully assembled, she thought.
“Tullus said it was a gateway to another world.”
“Yes. A demon realm…Kaotika.”
“Never heard of it,” Vulcan said.
“Be glad that you haven’t,” Artia replied. “It is an evil place, devoid of any positive thoughts or emotion. And there are no women there.”
“No women?” Vulcan said. “Now I’m glad I haven’t heard of it.”
They closed the closet door and walked toward Masego. The African still gripped his dirks and there was a fierce look in his eye.
“Masego? Are you alright?” Vulcan asked.
The African pointed his dirks at Artia and Vulcan. “Get away from me! Demons! Murderers!”
“Masego,” Vulcan said softly, “it’s me, Vulcan, and this is Artia…we’re your friends!”
Artia pulled out another potion and held it up to Masego’s face. “Breath this, Masego!”A thin white mist rose from the vial and surrounded Masego. He slashed his dirks at it but the mist wrapped itself around him. He sneezed twice, dropped his weapons and collapsed.
“What’s wrong with him?” Vulcan said after Artia had slipped the vial back inside her cloak.
Artia carried a dour expression on her face. “He’s been infected.”
{II}
“I say Eliana is behind this betrayal,” Arsis Proudfeather said.
“Nonsense,” Lorien replied, “I have complete faith in Eliana’s loyalty.”
“As do I,” Myrrdin added.
They had retreated to the cavern underneath the Palantine hill where the Lupercal cave was located. Its dark interior was kept in check by Arsis Proudfeather’s torch. His stern features were fully focused on Eliana.
“Arsis,” Eliana began, “I swear by the Gods I had nothing to do with what happened! I was also taken aback.”
Arsis didn’t look convinced. He turned to face Lorien and Myrrdin. “If you give me a few moments with her, I’ll get a confession.” He moved his hand toward his sword.
Myrrdin and Lorien shook their heads. “Arsis,” Lorien said sternly, “If Eliana betrayed us why would she still be here with us? Wouldn’t she have stayed back at the Paladus?”
Proudfeather did not look convinced. “To gather more information. I say we interrogate her now!”
“You’d torture a defenseless woman?” Myrrdin said.
“If she betrayed us, then yes!”
“This bickering is foolery,” Eliana interjected. “We have to come up with a plan to stop what is happening!”
“What do you propose Eliana?” Lorien asked.
“Perhaps Claudius would be willing to help us.”
Arsis exhaled. He looked frustrated. Eliana felt compassion for him despite his obvious distrust of her.
“Why would Claudius help us?” Arsis asked. “He’s Caligula’s uncle! He’d probably turn us in!”
“No,” Myrrdin said. “Rumor has it that Caligula abuses Claudius like an unwanted house pet. What is your plan Eliana?”
“This is madness!” Arsis interrupted. “What happened to the Air Paladins is repeating itself! In the end the Romans wiped them out! Now they mean to eliminate the Dryads!” He dropped his torch and buried his hands in his face.
Lorien moved toward him to comfort him while Myrrdin picked up the torch. She rubbed his back. “There, There, Arsis! It will be alright!”
“Let us hear the plan,” Myrrdin repeated.
“We need to locate Claudius first, and let him know of our situation.”
Arsis Proudfeather collected his composure and looked up at Eliana. Lorien smiled at him and patted his back. “I’ll go with Eliana,” she said. “We both met Claudius the other day at the market. We’ll go to him and see how he can help our cause.”
“Doesn’t Claudius live in the Palace?” Arsis Proudfeather asked.
“No,” Lorien said. “He lives in the Aventine district with his wife Messalina .”
Myrrdin nodded. “Then you must go there.”
Arsis said. “I’ll accompany them.”
“Only a few moments ago you didn’t trust Eliana,” Myrrdin said. “Now you wish to accompany her?”
“They’ll need protection. It’s not safe traveling alone at night in Rome. If they run into trouble, they’ll stand a better chance if I go along.”
“You’d better take off that tunic of yours, then,” Myrrdin said. “If Caligula’s troops see that Combat Griffin sewn on your chest they’ll execute you on the spot.” Arsis grumbled before he removed his incriminating tunic.
Eliana was grateful for Arsis’ help. Perhaps he realized her plan was the best possible option for their salvation. He eyed her intently, but this time she didn’t read distrust in his eyes, only hope.
“Then it’s decided,” Eliana said. “We leave for Claudius’ house.”
After leaving the cave, they quietly made their way toward Claudius’ house. Despite her privileged patrician background, Eliana was familiar with the streets of Rome.
“You know your way around the city well, lady Eliana.” Arsis said.
Eliana smiled. It was the first time since the Paladus incident she had felt like doing so. “Thank you, Arsis.”
Up ahead they heard the sound of men. They carried torches and were approaching them.
“Vigiles!” Arsis said. They found an alley and ducked inside it. Arsis put out the torchlight. “We can’t afford to be detected!” The Vigiles marched by them, unaware of their presence, until they disappeared into the darkness.
“Let’s go!” Eliana said.
“What about the torchlight?” Arsis said.
“Forget it. I know the way.”
They followed Eliana until they entered a
neighborhood. Before them stood a row of modest looking houses clustered together. An alley cat strolled by them and hissed at Arsis.
“If I had a Combat Griffin, I’d feed it that cat,” Arsis said.
“This is it!” Eliana said.
Eliana walked up the steps to the door. Her heart beat like a hammer against her chest.
What if we’ve been followed, she thought. I will have led my friends to their deaths.
She pushed the disturbing thought from her mind and knocked on the door. No answer.
“What if Messalina answers?” Lorien asked.
“We’ll make up a story that we must speak with Claudius,” Eliana said.
“At this time of night?” Arsis said.
“Do you have a better idea?”
Arsis was silent.
This time, Eliana banged on the door.
“You’ll wake the whole neighborhood, Lady Eliana,” Arsis said.
Eliana heard footsteps coming from the other side of the door. She held her breath and felt her heart stop in her chest. The door opened.
It was Claudius, he stood in the doorway holding a lantern.
He rubbed his eyes and looked at them sleepily. “Can I help you?”
“Claudius it’s me, Eliana.”
Claudius’ eyes peered at her through the dim lantern light. Eliana wondered if he had forgotten them. Then Claudius smiled. “Eliana and Lorien!” he said happily. “But who is this fellow?” he asked, shining the lantern on Arsis.
“He’s…our Steward, Coleus,” Lorien said.
Arsis grumbled again.
“Can we come in Claudius?” Eliana asked. “We must speak with you.”
Claudius stepped back and invited them in. When they were all in his house he closed the door and led them into his living room.
“Now, what is this all about?”
“We need your help,” Eliana said.
Claudius yawned. “With what, child?”
“The Dryads were attacked tonight by Roman soldiers inside the Paladus.”
Claudius shook his head. A dour look crossed his face before he sat down. Was he angry about being awakened? Or upset at what she had told him. There was only one way to find out.