by David Adkins
“Not yet.” I smiled. I looked at the man. Up close he was just of average size and appearance and quite young, and sitting on the floor helpless he was looking very scared. He did not seem much of a threat but appearances could be deceptive. “She is a gladiatrix so she is well used to killing people,” I explained. “Do you know who I am?”
He nodded nervously. “I suppose there is no point in denying it.”
“Why are you watching me?”
“We were paid to do so,” he replied.
“Then what did you intend to do?” I asked.
“We were paid to kill you but we had just decided not to.”
“Tell me everything and if I believe you then I might tell her not to kill you after all,” I said, fondling my own dagger.
“We are just two Ephesus thieves – we’re not killers. However, a man hired us to kill you.”
What was his name?”
“He was called Decarian.”
“Describe Decarian to me.”
“He was a tall man and quite thin, but the most striking thing about him was that he had a lot of fair hair, which is unusual in this part of the world.”
“Where is Decarian now?”
“He is on his way overland to Byzantium.”
“Why has he gone to Byzantium?”
“I believe that from there he intends to make his way to somewhere in Dacia.”
“Do you know why?”
“He never said. It is the truth, he never said.” There was fear in his voice. “Before he left just a couple of days ago he paid us to murder you. He did not pay much and so with him gone we decided to keep the money but not go through with the job. He had let slip that a previous attempt on your life had resulted in two other hired thugs dying. We decided not to try to kill you. You have to believe me.” His words were pouring out as his terror increased due to Aria stroking his neck with her sharp blade.
“What do you think? Is he telling the truth?” I asked Aria.
“I am not sure,” she replied. “Perhaps we should just kill him anyway.”
“I am, I am.” He was begging for his life. He fell to the ground sobbing.
“Maybe he speaks the truth,” I said.
“I do not think so.” Aria’s knife had drawn blood.
“Please, I give you my word that you will never see me or my friend again,” he pleaded.
“Is his word worth anything?” she asked.
“I don’t know but I think he tells the truth,” I said thoughtfully. I turned to the groveling rogue. “If we ever set eyes on you and your colleague again we will kill you both, just as we killed the other two that Decarian sent after us. Do you understand?”
“I do understand. You will never see either of us again. I will make sure of it. I promise.”
“Come, Aria,” I said. I began to walk away from the distraught thug and she followed. We looked back and saw him collapse on the cobbles with relief that he still had his worthless life.
“I hope that is the last we see of them,” she said.
“I am sure it is and I believe he spoke the truth. That Decarian is on his way to Byzantium is logical.”
“That was fun,” she said.
“You are unbelievable. I reckon you have a sadistic streak,” I observed.
“Thanks for the compliment, big brother,” she replied.
*
I found it very relaxing submerging myself in the warm, refreshing waters of Ephesus public baths. I was fortunate that the baths were opposite my inn and I had taken to visiting daily to unwind after recent events. It had been two weeks since our apprehension of the ruffians who had been following us and we had seen no more of them. I was confident that they had heeded our warnings. Neither had we seen nor heard from Amina. I was now starting to think that she too was letting matters rest. I was becoming impatient because I felt there was nothing to keep me in Ephesus; I did not think any further attempts to kill Amina were feasible. I needed to break the news to Aria that I was leaving Ephesus but I knew that she would not be happy with my decision.
I left the baths and crossed the road to the inn, deep in thought. I was still thinking about how to tell her as I ascended the stairs and entered my room. To my horror Aria was lying face down on the floor with her arms tied behind her back and a gag in her mouth. I rushed to her, hoping that she was not hurt, and felt a blow to the back of my head. I felt myself falling and the sensation of hitting the floor but then I must have drifted out of consciousness. I came round as some cold water was splashed on my face. I was face down on the ground next to Aria and I realized that my arms were also tied behind my back. Pain seared across my head but I managed to look up and saw Amina sitting on my bed looking down on us. “Welcome back, Hylas. Does your head hurt?”
“It does,” I said, realizing that unlike Aria I was not gagged.
“Do not call out for help, Hylas, because if you do I will slit the throat of your friend before I leave. Is she your lover?” Aria was trying to make sounds through her gag. Amina looked at her with contempt and placed her foot hard down on Aria’s head.
“She is not my lover. She is my sister,” I lied, thinking it better not to let Amina believe she was a lover.
“Your sister!” Amina expressed surprise.
“When I told her that I was travelling to the east to find Solanus Fuscus she wanted to go with me because she thought it would be an adventure.”
“She is getting her adventure,” Amina said as she pressed her foot down even harder to stifle Aria’s attempted bluster. “I told you, Hylas, that I was not finished with you. Now you owe me an explanation. Why did you wish to kill me?”
“I did not want you to meet Corelia in the arena. I did not want you to kill her.” I decided I may as well tell the truth.
“Why would you be so concerned about Corelia?” A look of realization crossed her face. “You are in love with Corelia?”
“She comes to the palace regularly to see Domitian and we take advantage of that situation.” I tried to make it all sound credible.
“That is a dangerous game you both play,” she observed.
“We love each other. I worship the ground she walks upon and I would do just about anything to stop her coming to harm. She is the most beautiful and wonderful woman in Rome. I watched you in the Ephesus arena and I thought you were formidable. I thought you would probably defeat her and kill her. I could not let that happen. I had to stop you. I had to murder you. However my fear clouded my judgement. I now realize that Corelia will defeat you.”
There had been passion in my words which made Amina study me intently. “I actually think that you are telling me the truth, Hylas.”
“I thought there was no point in lying,” I replied.
“For the love of one woman you would try to take the life of another,” she observed. “But you could not go through with it. I opened my eyes and saw you poised to strike with the dagger raised and ready. You had hesitated and you gave me time to stop you.”
“I love Corelia with all my heart but I am not a murderer.”
“Tell your sister to be quiet and I shall remove my foot, or else I shall crush her head like a squashed lemon,” she said.
“Aria will you be quiet,” I said. Amina removed her foot from Aria’s head and for once she did as she was told.
“You could not kill me, Hylas,” she said with a bitter smile on her face.
“As I said, I am not a murderer and in truth I have nothing against you, Amina. In fact you did me a kindness.”
“I did,” she said softly. “It is shame that you do not love me as you love Corelia. I would have enjoyed your love. If I let you both live will you give me your word that neither you nor your noisy sister will make another attempt on my life?”
I did not have to think about it. “I give you my word, Amina.”
“I trust you to keep your word.” She stood up and then bent down to cut the ropes that bound my wrists together. I managed to raise mysel
f into a sitting position. “Stay as you are, Hylas, and look up at me.” I did as she commanded. “What do you see?”
“I see a gladiatrix,” I answered.
“You see a gladiatrix and a woman,” she corrected me. “I do not seek revenge but I will have my revenge on you anyway, Hylas, when I will kill Corelia in the arena at the Colosseo in Rome next spring. ” She walked out of the door.
I released Aria and removed the gag from her mouth. I realized that she was in distress from a bad bruise on her side and pain in her neck. I was not much better off than her for my head throbbed from the blow I had taken. We both struggled to our feet and then sat, relieved, on my bed, each waiting for the other to say something.
*
It was Aria who eventually broke the silence. “I will kill her.”
“You will not,” I corrected her.
“You do not think that I am bound by the same craven oath that you have given, do you?”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
“If you are not careful I will put that gag back on you,” I threatened.
She threw herself at me. “Let’s see you try.”
I pushed her off. “My head hurts at the moment. We will fight later.”
“Actually my side is rather painful too,” she winced and withdrew.
“What happened to your side?” I asked.
“She crept up behind me and pushed me to the floor and then she kicked me. She got on top of me and bound my arms. She is lucky she was able to take me by surprise.”
I laughed. “I told you she kicked like a mule.”
“What do we do now?” she asked.
“We forget about Amina for now. I gave her my word that we would not try to kill her again. She could have killed both of us, me three times over. You mocked me but in truth neither of us are a match for her. We will not get the opportunity anyway. She told me that she rarely leaves the gladiatorial school to walk about the city because of her celebrity status. She attracts attention and she doesn’t like it. Inside the school she is safe because it is protected by high walls and she is surrounded by fellow gladiators. It would be suicidal for us to try again.”
“What do you propose?” she asked.
“I propose that you go back to Rome by the first available ship to Brindisi. I will leave as soon as possible for Byzantuim. I am already behind Decarian though the winter will stop his progress.”
“I will go with you,” she suggested.
“No. Your job is to go back to Corelia and convince her that she must not fight Amina. Tell her she must do everything to ensure that she never enters the arena with Amina. You are two resourceful women so I am sure you will think of something. If you came with me then neither of us might get back to Rome in time to stop the contest.”
“What if she will not listen?” she asked.
“She will listen, Aria, because she is already unhappy about the contest and when you describe Amina’s prowess it can only further convince her of the folly of fighting her.”
“How will you manage without me to look after you, Hylas?”
“I will have to do the best I can,” I smiled.
“I suppose you are right,” she conceded. I do not think that she really relished the idea of confronting Amina again though she would have liked revenge for the indignities that she had suffered.
“We will go down to the port tomorrow and book your passage back to Italy. After I have found Solanus I will return to Rome.”
“It looks like I may not be getting a foot massage for some time.” She gave me a sad face.
I smiled and lifted her feet onto my lap. “One more before you go.”
Byzantium – Winter AD87
Chapter 11
Three days later, soon after sunrise, Aria was about to step on to the ship that would take her back to Italy. I was sad to see her go for I had surprisingly got used to having her as a companion. I had paid for her passage and made it the captain’s responsibility that she came to no harm. If she had known she would, of course, have told me that she was well able to take care of herself.
“Look after yourself, sister, and look after Corelia’s interests,” I said, and kissed her on the forehead. “Have a safe voyage and I will see you in Rome in the spring.”
“You look after yourself too, brother, and be careful. Take no chances with Decarian and kill him at the first opportunity so he doesn’t get the chance to kill you. Understand, Hylas?”
“I understand, Aria. He will not be as dangerous as Amina.”
She laughed and planted a long, lingering kiss on my lips, then went racing up the gangplank onto her vessel which was about to leave port. I was at first shocked but then I laughed as I realized she was teasing me to the end. I stood watching and waving until the vessel disappeared into the distance. I walked away from the port and back to the inn, suffering a feeling of great loss; I would not see my good friend again for some time. Later that same day I paid the innkeeper what I owed him and made ready to leave Ephesus myself. I still had two horses I had previously purchased when we had intended to leave the city in a hurry after killing Amina. One I saddled and the other was laden with supplies and I rode out of Ephesus in the late afternoon. The journey to Byzantiun would take less than a week.
Five days later I was standing at the shore of the great inlet that led into the waters of Pontus Euxinus. These were the waters that divided Europe from Asia, the west from the east. On the other side of the inlet, which was called the Bosporus, I could see the city of Byzantium. From where I stood it was very easy to see the strategic importance of this large trading centre. The city was set in a very spectacular location and it was a city that had only recently come under direct Roman rule.
There were many ferries crossing back and forth between Europe and Asia so it was not difficult to find one to take me across. It was a large vessel for the short crossing and it was able to accommodate both me and my horses and all my supplies. I managed with some difficulty to get my menagerie aboard ship and an hour later I was once again standing on firm ground in Byzantium. It was only a very short ride from the port into the city. It was an intriguing metropolis; I do not think I have ever seen so many people of different races all in one place. It was, however, much smaller than the vast city of Ephesus.
I found an inn that looked better than most and tied my horses outside. I went in and booked a room and then stabled my mounts at the rear of the establishment. My room was on the ground floor and was more comfortable than I had expected – an improvement on the one in Ephesus. I unpacked my bags keeping anything valuable, including my money, about my person. It was a precaution that it was always wise to adhere to whatever the circumstances. I sat down on the comfortable bed and decided to rest before dinner. It was then that I began to realize how much I missed Aria and her amusing ways and her teasing. We had been together for a long time but now she was on her way to Rome. I thought also of Corelia and wished that I too was on my way back to Rome. How I longed to see Corelia once again.
*
The next day I decided to go to the record office to see if they had maps of Dacia. I needed another look at a map to confirm which way I would travel from Byzantium to Dacia when the time came. I wondered if Decarian was also in Byzantium and, if he were, what dangers I might face. The record office was much smaller than the one in Ephesus which had also housed a famous library. I was greeted on arrival by an enthusiastic clerk. “May I help you, citizen?” he inquired.
“I am seeking a map of Dacia and perhaps Thrace,” I stated.
He looked at me with some surprise. “Certainly, I know we have such a map.”
He left me for a few minutes and then came back clutching a large rolled-up scroll. “This is an excellent map,” he enthused as he spread it out on a table for my perusal.
“Why did you look so surprised when I asked to see a map of Dacia?” I inquired.
“I have worked here for five years and nobody has ever
asked to see a map of Dacia and then two weeks ago I was asked for such a map and now you are asking for one. It is a coincidence.”
“It is not a coincidence. The man who asked you for the map two weeks ago – what did he look like?”
“He was tall with fair hair. I remember that as we spread out the map he was missing the small finger on his left hand. I think it was his left hand,” he mused.
“Did he tell you his name?” I asked.
“No, but he said he was a Roman citizen. I think he might have been of Greek origin.”
“What was he looking for on the map?”
“It was a small village but I cannot remember the name.”
“Was it this one?” I asked, pointing at Petrila on the map.
“Ah yes Petrila! That was it.”
I thought I had better explain my interest. “His name is Decarian and he is a friend. Did he say when he intended to travel to Petrila? I am wondering if he is still in Byzantium.”
“He seemed very eager to get there but I warned him that travelling to Dacia was not very wise at this time of year. They have a lot of snow, particularly in the mountains.”
“Good advice,” I muttered.
He continued. “I did advise him to go to the carriage makers on the road into town from the port. It is a large business.”
“I saw it on my way into the city,” I said, interrupting him.
“Yes, it sells carriages, wagons and horses, and travelling equipment. They even provide guides. I told him that they would be better able than me to advise him on taking a trip into Dacia at this time of year. It is also, of course, a dangerous place because of the continual wars with Decabulus and his hordes. Not a safe place to travel at all.”
“I will go to the carriage makers myself and make similar inquiries. I am very grateful for your help. You have been of great assistance. I just need to study the map for a while before I leave.”
He walked away leaving me to my research. There were a number of ways to reach Petrila from Byzantium but all involved crossing mountains. I tried to commit the two main routes to memory. I then rolled up the map, handed it back to the clerk, and left the record office. With the routes firmly in my mind I then headed for the carriage makers.