by David Adkins
“I did see it. Will Amina be able to attend? There are matters I would like to discuss with her pertaining to the contest,” I replied.
“Amina suffered a slight head injury. She seems to have already fully recovered but if she wishes to rest further then she will not come. You can discuss all matters with me.”
“It is imperative that I speak with both of you, so let us hope that she is well enough to attend. This is the Emperor’s business and the Emperor is absolutely determined that the contest between these two great gladiatrices will take place. In fact he orders it.”
“We will see you at sunset then and discuss matters over a cup of wine,” said Stephanio, smiling. I stepped outside and the large doors closed behind me.
I started to walk down the slope of Mount Pion and was soon joined by Aria who fell in by my side. “How did it go?” she asked.
“I am meeting Stephanio, the owner, and Amina in that tavern at sunset.” I gestured down the hill towards the tavern by the theatre.
“It went well then,” she observed.
“I think so,” I replied.
*
I stood outside the tavern watching the sun set below the distant horizon. Aria was watching me from a safe distance and both of us waited for the appearance of Stephanio and Amina. During the day we had, countless times, gone over how we would assassinate Amina if I could get her alone and now, possibly, the time for action was imminent. I saw three figures descending the hill and walking in my direction and they were followed by two guards. Even in the fading daylight it was not difficult to recognize that one of the figures belonged to our intended victim. My heart seemed to miss a beat because now I was about to meet the famous gladiatrix and, I hoped, soon after that would be able to dispose of her.
“Greetings, Hylas,” said Stephanio. “You will see that Amina, despite her exertions in the arena yesterday, is able to join us.”
Amina smiled at me and nodded.
“Greetings, Stephanio, and what an honour it is to meet the most acclaimed gladiatrix in the eastern provinces.”
“You have another to meet who is also famous. This is Flavius Clemens, the husband of Domitian’s niece Flavia Domitilla.” I instantly recognized him as I had seen him numerous times about Domitian’s palace. “He came along too because he is most interested in your proposal.”
“It is an honour,” I said bowing my head in recognition of his rank.
“Greetings, Hylas,” he responded. “I know you. You are one of Paulinus’s Praetorian Guards. I have seen you on duty at the palace.”
“Let us go inside,” suggested Stephanio. “There is a bowl of beef stew and a cup or two of wine waiting for us.”
I followed the three of them inside while the two gladiatorial guards took up their position at the entrance. This was not proving as straightforward as I had hoped. There was an extra man at our table and two guards posted at the door. I was also perturbed by the presence of Flavius Clemens for I had no idea he was even in Ephesus or why he was currently dining with us. I sat at a private table next to Stephanio while Amina and Clemens sat opposite us. A flagon of wine was quickly placed on the table and Stephanio proceeded to pour us each a drink. “We allow Amina just one cup after a contest,” he said, laughing.
“I have what I want,” corrected Amina. Sitting at this table sipping wine it was difficult to imagine that Amina was the same person who had destroyed the German gladiatrix the day before. However, when I looked at her bulging muscles I was reminded. “They are the result of years of training.” She had seen me looking.
“I was in the arena yesterday watching your contest and I must congratulate you. I do not think I have ever seen a more impressive performance,” I said.
“You are a regular then,” she replied.
“I go to the Colosseo regularly,” I lied. “That is the reason Paulinus selected me to come to Ephesus to negotiate with you.”
“You must have seen this Corelia then?” Amina asked.
“We are getting ahead of ourselves – and look, the stew is arriving, which I am sure that my two guests from Rome will enjoy.” The stew was indeed delicious and the red wine most agreeable. “Tell us your proposal, Hylas,” suggested Stephanio after a pause.
“It is quite simple really. The Emperor is always looking to make the games in the Colosseo bigger and better. He is forever seeking innovations. That is why he has increased the use of the gladiatrices in the arena at Rome. He personally finds the battles between women to be more gripping than those between their male counterparts. He is therefore determined to bring to the Colosseo the greatest ever gladiatrix contest. His vision is a battle of east versus west, of Rome versus Ephesus, of Italy versus Egypt. It would be a battle between the two greatest women gladiators ever to grace the arena.”
“You flatter me,” smiled Amina.
“It is true that you and Corelia are without rivals. It simply remains to see which one of you is the best. That is Domitian’s desire.”
“It is most certainly agreed that such a contest is what Domitian dearly wishes to bring about. He has spoken of it often,” agreed Clemens.
“So what are you proposing, Hylas?” interjected Stephanio.
“Domitian has told Paulinus to arrange it, which is why I am here. Amina must travel to Rome in the spring and fight Corelia in the Colosseo. Her passage to Rome will be arranged as will a suitable fee.”
“Suppose I do not wish to fight Corelia,” interrupted Amina. Her intervention startled me. If she was refusing to fight Corelia then I would not have to kill her. “You have gone white, Hylas,” she said, laughing. “I intend to fight her and to kill her and to become the champion gladiatrix of the entire world.”
“This is all very interesting, but the three of us are a little puzzled, Hylas,” said Stephanio with a furrowed brow.
The conversation had taken a turn which worried me. “Really,” I replied.
“Domitian sent Flavius Clemens to Ephesus to negotiate almost the exact deal that you are now proposing to us. Flavius arrived only last week. Why would the Emperor do that?” inquired Stephanio with a hint of threat.
I was taken aback and stumbled for my next words. “Perhaps the Emperor got muddled and asked Paulinus and Flavius to do the same job.”
“Those words sound almost treasonous. Our Emperor getting in a muddle! I do not think so,” said Clemens.
“Perhaps it was an observation he made to Paulinus and Paulinus took it to be an order.” I was seeking a way out of my predicament but I knew I did not sound convincing.
“Give me your hand,” suggested Amina.
“Why?” I hesitated.
“I can tell if a man is lying,” said Amina, smiling.
Nervously, I offered my hand but she did not take it; she suddenly sprang into action.
I had hardly noticed the two men sitting at a neighbouring table. They had seemed to be eating and minding their own business. Now they were flying towards us with daggers raised. It all happened so quickly but Amina reacted with all the speed she had acquired from her time in the arena. She grabbed the arm of one and evaded his dagger, all in the same motion. She pushed him into his colleague who was just a pace behind. The collision threw them both off balance. While Amina disarmed one Stephanio had withdrawn his dagger and stabbed the other with remarkable speed.
“I was once a gladiator for a short time,” he said to me by way of explanation while Amina easily overpowered the other assailant. The two guards came over swiftly but the brief action was already over. Amina was smiling as she took my arm firmly but Flavius Clemens looked badly shaken. “One of you dispose of the body and the other take this prisoner back to the school and put him in one of the cells,” ordered Stephanio.
“I think I should be returning to my accommodation,” I said. “This has all been something of a shock.”
“We have a mystery here,” said Stephanio. “First we have two envoys from the Emperor, both making the same proposal. We can
hardly question the credentials of Flavius Clemens but you, Hylas, are a different matter. Then we are attacked by two men who are determined to assassinate us. I wonder if they could have been working for you, Hylas.”
“That is ridiculous,” I said. “I have never seen those two men before. You should think twice before you accuse me. I was sent by Paulinus, the head of the Praetorian Guard – a very powerful man in Rome.”
Stephanio stroked his chin. “Flavius does confirm that you work for Paulinus. You will be our guest until the prisoner tells us everything and believe me, Hylas, he will.” Amina tightened her grip on my arm and Stephanio still held his weapon ready in case I resisted. Her hold on my arm was extremely painful and I was feeling the full power of those muscles. I was marched back to the gladiatorial school by Amina and placed in a cell. They took away my dagger, which I suppose further incriminated me, though it could have been purely a weapon for self-defence. I did not see what they did with their other prisoner.
I was left alone to contemplate all that had gone wrong with our ill-conceived plan. How could I have been so unlucky that Flavius Clemens had arrived at the gladiatorial school just shortly before I had? I was sure that Aria must have seen me being marched back to the school as Amina’s prisoner. I just hoped that she would not do anything rash. I knew now that even if I walked out of the gladiatorial school unscathed I would be in severe trouble with Paulinus. Flavius Clemens would inform him that I had given other business precedence over the task he had entrusted to me. The only way I could possibly redeem myself would be to find Solanus and persuade him to go immediately to Rome. This seemed increasingly unlikely as I was now languishing in a cell in Ephesus.
*
It was just before midday the next morning that two guards released me from my cell and escorted me to a room where Stephanio and Amina were waiting for me.
“Welcome to my office, Hylas. This is where all the necessary work relating to the school is conducted. Did you have a restful night?” Stephanio inquired.
“I did not appreciate being locked up like a criminal,” I replied.
“You must admit it was a curious situation. We wanted to look into it, particularly as it involved attempted murder.”
I shrugged. “Have you looked into it?”
“We have, and our other prisoner was very forthcoming. It seems that the only person they were trying to murder was you, Hylas. That, I must admit, came as I surprise to us.”
“How do you know he is telling the truth?” I asked.
“Believe me, he was.”
“Can I speak to him? If he was trying to murder me then I would like to ask him a few questions.”
“That will not be possible. It took some persuasion to extract the truth from him and he was not as strong as we thought.”
“You have killed him?” I gasped.
“Yes, unfortunately he is dead, but he did attempt murder. However, he gave us quite a story before he died. Would you like to hear it?”
I nodded in shock.
“They were working for a man called Decarian. They had been following you since you arrived in Ephesus with a view to perhaps killing you when the opportunity arose. Decarian apparently arrived in Ephesus by ship before you, even though he left Brindisi shortly after you. The fools certainly picked the wrong moment last night.”
“Why were they following me?” I asked.
“It seems Decarian knew the real reason that you were in Ephesus. The thug we questioned did not know what that was except that it was to do with a man called Solanus, whom you were apparently seeking. They hoped you would lead them to this Solanus and then I think they intended to kill both of you. You came to Ephesus on a ship named the Laodike. Is that not so?”
Again I nodded. “That is true.”
“It seems that Decarian found out from one of the crew that Solanus was in Dacia, in a village called Petrila. They now knew as much as you so they did not need you anymore – and they decided the best thing would be to dispose of you.”
“Tagus,” I gasped. “He would sell his soul to the devil if the price was right.”
“It seems to me that this Decarian is still a danger both to you and to Solanus so you need to be watchful,” he suggested. “I think I have been of assistance to you, so perhaps you will tell me what this is all about. I am curious.”
“Paulinus gave me the task of bringing Solanus Fuscus back to Rome. He is a very important witness in the trial of Marcus Gracchus and his fellow conspirators. Paulinus wants them convicted.” There seemed little point in not telling him the truth.
Stephanio looked impressed. “That is one of the biggest trials in Rome for some time. We have been following it even here in Ephesus.”
“They are guilty and must be found guilty,” I stated.
“I am now wondering whether to let you go or not. You have told us a pack of lies and I do not know why.”
“You must let me go – I need to reach Solanus before Decarian does,” I replied.
“There is no must about it. Why did you tell us those lies?” he asked.
I had to think quickly to come up with a feasible explanation. I said the first possible thing that came to mind. “May I speak with Amina alone please?”
Stephanio was surprised and looked at Amina. “I will speak with him alone,” she said. Stephanio left the room and Amina crossed her arms waiting for my explanation.
“This is difficult to put into words,” I stumbled.
“You had better try,” she suggested.
“I went to see you fight in the arena against the German gladiatrix. I was very impressed. No – I was more than impressed, if you see what I mean.”
“I am not sure I do,” she said.
“You were amazing. You were so powerful and so agile. You are incredible and beautiful. I had to meet you. I knew that you must have a legion of adoring fans. They must pester you all the time. I knew that you would never consent to see me so I thought up this elaborate plan. I know I have been stupid but I could not help myself.”
“I may be all the other things you say but I am not beautiful,” she said somewhat modestly.
“You are beautiful and I am crazy,” I offered. “Let me go and I promise to never bother you again.”
“You are right that there are plenty out there that would love a little of my attention. You are also right that you would never have got to see me. Stephanio would not have allowed it. So this was nothing more than a crazed fan trying to get to meet me?”
“That is what it is, Amina,” I agreed.
“Wait here while I speak with Stephanio,” she said, and got up from her chair and left the room.
A few minutes later they both returned. “Amina has told me what this is all about,” said Stephanio, smiling. “We have decided to let you go, but I must caution you against such reckless behaviour in future. You have a task to perform for your master and you must also beware of this Decarian. Amina is dedicated to her life as a gladiatrix and has no time for frivolities.”
“I understand my stupidity,” I said humbly, and felt extremely thankful that I was getting out of the school in one piece.
“I will walk with you to the gate,” offered Amina, smiling.
Stephanio went back into his office and I headed towards the exit with Amina. “Stephanio is wrong,” said Amina in conspiratorial fashion.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I am not adverse to frivolities but Stephanio does not know it. It is better that way. There is nothing I would like better than to spend a little time with an adoring fan. Which inn are you staying at, Hylas?”
We had reached the gate and I was so dumbfounded that I told her. “I am staying at the Inn of the Falcon.”
“I know it. I will see you soon. Farewell, Hylas.”
“Farewell, Amina,” I replied.
Chapter 9
I hurried back to the inn at speed, eager to see Aria and prevent her from doing anything stupid. I ascended
rapidly up the stairs and knocked on her door.
“Who is it?”
“It is me, Hylas, let me in.” The door opened. I went inside and sat wearily down on the only chair.
“I am pleased to see you, Hylas. I was starting to get very worried. I saw you being taken back to the school last night. If you had not come back today I was going to go to the school to get myself taken on as a potential gladiatrix so I could search for you.”
“You will not go near that place, Aria. This is all so much more difficult than I first imagined.”
“Tell me what happened,” she said. I related it all to her and I left nothing out. When I reached the last part she began to grin. “So you and Amina are to be lovers.”
“Do not even joke about it, Aria. I am finished. Even if I survive Ephesus and Dacia my time as a Praetorian Guard is over when Paulinus hears what I have been doing.”
“I see your predicament, but he may forget your misdemeanours if you successfully bring Solanus back to Rome. He knows that you have had to spend time in Ephesus waiting for the spring, though he may not approve of how you have been spending that time.”
“I am a long way from completing my mission and even if I did manage it he would not forget that while in Ephesus I took risks that jeopardized it. To add to my problems I now have this Decarian to worry about.”
“If you cannot get to Dacia, Hylas, then rest assured neither can Decarian. Once we have completed our main task then I will help you find him.”
“He may find us first – and what do you mean ‘our main task’?”
“You know very well. We have to murder Amina. You have made a mess of things up to now but I for one am not giving up. I thought you agreed that we must save Corelia.”
“You are right, Aria, I have made a mess of things, but that is because I am not used to all this subterfuge. Murder and plotting is not my forte. I am a Praetorian Guard.”
“Poor Hylas is feeling sorry for himself.”
“You were not facing death in a cell last night,” I reminded her.
“I hope you’re not having second thoughts, because we must start planning again.”