by David Adkins
The rest of the day I remained in bed, sometimes awake and sometimes asleep, but always aching. Eventually I saw through my small window that night was again approaching. I pictured Corelia in my mind, walking confidently across the palace grounds as I watched her from my vantage point behind the tree. I longed to return to Rome and see her once again; then I thought of Aria and her teasing. She had asked me how I would manage without her and the answer to that question was not very well. I smiled through the pain as I imagined her scolding me for not being careful enough and then telling me I had messed up, in her own inimitable way. I then fell asleep and once again it was morning and I had slept well.
I felt better. I still felt ill but I definitely felt slightly better. I said a few words and they came out of my mouth in a sorry croak, which was an improvement. I could move my legs and arms in the direction I intended, which was also an improvement. The big test was getting out of bed and though it was very difficult I managed it, and also managed a standing position. I walked sluggishly and gingerly around my room. It was slow progress but I managed not to fall over though I still had to lean against my table a couple of times. I took some food from the cupboard and managed to eat a little. It was still painful to eat but this time I kept it down. I sat down on my chair and rested after my efforts. I was still in a bad way but I felt encouraged by my improvement.
I was sitting there feeling weak from my efforts when the door burst open. I knew who it was immediately; the distinctive fair hair gave him away. He was brandishing a long dagger and I tried to rise to defend myself. It was hopeless; my reactions were far too lethargic. It was as if I was moving in slow motion through a thick fog. He sensed my inadequacies and instead of stabbing me simply pushed me to the floor and I fell heavily. I tried to shout for help but all I could manage was a pathetic little croak, “Decarian.”
“Greetings, Hylas, it is about time we met. Has something happened to your voice?”
“I can only speak in a whisper.”
“That is not the only thing wrong with you,” he observed.
“I am ill.”
“Very ill by the look of it, but do not worry. I am soon going to put you out of your misery.” He fondled the blade of his long dagger and sat down. “Sit down, Hylas.” He looked on, amused, as I struggled to get up, every movement causing pain, and eventually managed to sit down opposite him.
“I want to know what has happened to Glyca,” he said.
“I will tell you if you tell me about Sotan and how you came to Singidunum,” I whispered.
“You are in no position to bargain, but then I am going to kill you so I might just indulge you first. If you try anything or shout for help I will kill you immediately.” He chuckled because he knew both were beyond me.
I nodded; it was easier than speaking.
“Glyca, like me, is an assassin and a very good one. We were hired by Marcus Gracchus to track down Solanus Fuscus and assassinate him. We had information that Paulinus had sent you to find him so we hoped you might lead us to him. Sotan was our agent in Asia who was assigned to help us when we arrived there but he was too soft.”
“Glyca is not the wife of Sotan?” I gasped.
He laughed. “Sotan would not let us kill you, and we needed him, so we went along with his little charade, even to the extent of your dinner parties where Glyca played the dutiful wife. Sotan had to come with me to Dacia because he knew the mountain passes, which meant Glyca had to stay behind to look after you. It was a condition that Sotan made us agree to in return for his help. It was inconvenient to us that you had saved his life and that he felt himself to be in your debt. What surprises me is that you still live, just about that is, and Glyca did not kill you soon after we left for Dacia. Anyway, to cut a long story short we found out that Solanus was on his way to Sarmizegatusa and we followed him there. It was bad timing though, because it seemed that Solanus had already left and Decabulus and his warriors were in revolt against Rome. In escaping from Sarmizegatusa Sotan was killed and I was wounded. I was lucky enough to find a peasant who took me in and hid me for a price. I stayed with him and his wife until I had fully recovered and then I made my way to Petrila. You and Glyca had already been in Petrila only two days before and had left for Singidunum. I followed you here to complete my job.”
“Glyca did not kill me because she thought I might be useful to her,” I croaked.
“She was always the pragmatist. Now you will tell me what has happened to Glyca and where Solanus Fuscus is to be found.”
“My throat is burning and it is difficult to speak. There is some wine and cups in the cupboard over there. We can share a drink and the wine may help my vocal chords.” He nodded and got up and went to the cupboard. He removed the flagon and two cups and put them on the table. “Could you pour, please? I am hardly strong enough to do even that.”
“It will be act of mercy to kill you,” he remarked as he poured out two cups of wine.
I raised the cup to my lips and pretended to drink and he did the same, except that he did not pretend to drink. I looked at his cup as he put it back on the table. He had drunk half of it. I only needed to keep him talking for a few minutes and I would be safe.
I put my cup back on the table. He did not notice that I had not partaken. I sighed. “That is a little better. Glyca said she wanted nothing else but to find her husband and that was all she was now interested in. She released me because I was going to search for Solanus and that would inevitably help her to find Sotan.” I paused and pretended to wait for my voice to recover.
“I have not got all day,” he urged.
“I think she needed me because she didn’t trust the two rogues you had hired.”
“That was very wise of her,” he agreed.
“We followed Solanus here to Singidunum.” I looked at Decarian and I could see that the poison was having its lethal effect. His eyes were staring and his hands had fallen to his sides. His dagger dropped noisily to the floor. He was tottering on the chair and about to fall off. “I am not ill. Glyca tried to poison me with a flagon of wine.” His eyes widened and I could almost smell his fear as the realization of his fate hit him like a hammer. For several seconds he stared at me in horror and then fell off his chair, hitting the floor with a resounding bang. He was completely paralysed, just as I had been, but for him there would be no remission. He was doomed and he knew it for he had drunk far more than me. I was taking no chances and so with my remaining strength I poured the rest of the contents of the flagon down his throat. Within minutes he was dead. I was not strong enough yet to leave my room so I went back to my bunk to rest and sleep, with the corpse of Decarian on the floor of my room. Eventually I fell fast asleep.
*
I woke early the next morning and, to my relief, felt much better and considerably stronger. I found I could walk round the room though the lifeless eyes of the deceased Decarian were disconcerting. I collected what I needed and was glad to leave the room where so much had happened. I had to depart as quickly as possible because I could not continue to share a room with a corpse. I hoped he would not be found for some time, which would provide me with the time I needed. They may not even come after me, for there was not a mark on the body and it looked as if the unfortunate soul had simply had a heart attack. The trouble was that his corpse would be found in the room I had been renting. The effort of my quick departure from the room made me feel weak but that was to be expected.
There was no bill to settle because I had been forced to pay in advance so I went to the stables at the rear. Much to my relief two of our horses were still there. Obviously Glyca had taken the other two but had not bothered with these. I was hardly likely to be following her, or so she would have thought. I unsteadily mounted one horse and drew the other along behind me. I held on tight for fear of falling off but my strength was returning surprisingly quickly. I made for the other side of town, pleased to be putting some distance between me and the Grand Inn. My destination was another
inn called the Bear and Fox. It was not difficult to find and I was soon facing the innkeeper. “You want a room?” he asked.
“I would like some information please,” I replied.
“I will help you if I can.” The elderly man seemed pleasant.
“I am looking for Solanus Fuscus and his wife Kotys who I believe are renting a room here.”
“You are the second in a few days.”
“The first I assume was a dark-haired woman,” I replied.
“That is correct, and she spoke with Kotys for a short while and left.”
“Only with Kotys?” I inquired.
“Solanus left the inn over a week ago and Kotys remained here alone. She is waiting for the return of her husband and seeking accommodation in Aquileia for them while he is away.”
“That must be the business Mannox is helping them with,” I mused.
He shrugged. “I know nothing of that.”
“I wish to see her,” I said.
“What is your name and business? I have to ask,” he said, smiling.
“My name is Hylas and I am a Roman Praetorian. I am here on behalf of Paulinus the Praetorian Prefect and I have news to deliver to her.”
He looked impressed. “I will convey your message to her.” I watched him ascend the stairs to the second floor of his establishment. A few minutes later he returned. “She will see you. It is the first door on the right at the top of the stairs.”
I went up the noisy staircase and stood in front of the door. I composed myself; I was still weak and probably looked dreadful. I knocked gently on the door. “Come in,” a female voice invited.
“Greetings, Kotys,” I said, looking intently at the woman I had heard so much about. This was the woman that Solanus had preferred to Corelia. She had long, dark hair, a pretty face and a slim body, and she was very beautiful. As stunning as she was she was still no match for the incomparable Corelia.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asked.
“I have heard much of your story and the story of Solanus Fuscus since you first left Dacia together and came to Rome, and then returned to Dacia. It is a remarkable story and I was intrigued to see the woman behind it.”
“You have seen her – so how can I help you?” she inquired.
“I am really here to see Solanus and try to persuade him to return to Rome and give evidence against Marcus Gracchus and the other senators. It is the only way they will be convicted for their crimes.”
“That is strange. A woman named Glyca came to see me just a couple of days ago and said almost the same thing.”
I pondered over whether to tell Kotys of the threat posed by Glyca, but there seemed no point in causing her worry that she could not remedy. “I know Glyca, she is an associate.”
“I will tell you what I told her. Over a week ago Solanus heard some news from Rome from a traveller. It was that the trial had been suspended and that there was every chance that Marcus Gracchus would use his wealth to buy the verdict in his favour. The lack of a certain witness was making that seem very possible. He gave the matter a great deal of thought and decided to leave for Rome to offer his assistance to Paulinus. He simply could not countenance that the man he hated so much would walk away a free man. I tried to persuade him not to go because of the dangers but he had made up his mind. I wished to go with him but he wanted me to be safe here in Singidunum and purchase a property for him to come home to and, reluctantly, I conceded to his wishes. He must be well on the way to Rome by now.”
I was staggered. I had pursued Solanus across the Roman world to advise him of the situation in Rome and to convince him to return. He had heard the news from a random traveller and decided to return anyway. I had wasted my time and put myself in grave danger and it seemed all for nothing. I shook myself out of my trance. “That is very good news, Kotys. When exactly did he leave?”
She thought for a moment. “It was nine days ago.”
He had a six day start on Glyca so she would never catch up with him before he reached Rome, particularly as Solanus would be in great haste himself. “I hope he gets there before the trial is abandoned,” I said.
“Indeed, or he will have wasted his time,” she agreed.
“Solanus will be placed under the protection of the Praetorian Guard. I will go straight to Rome now and I promise you, Kotys, that I will do my utmost to protect Solanus and make sure he returns to you safely,” I assured her.
“You will know that Solanus can well look after himself, but your words offer me extra comfort and I thank you for that,” she replied.
“Farewell, Kotys.”
“Farewell, Hylas.”
I left her room lost in my thoughts. I hoped to catch up with Glyca and eliminate the threat that she posed. I wanted to get back to Rome quickly for a variety of reasons, and I also needed to get away from Singidunum as soon as possible because I had left a corpse in my room.
I estimated that the journey back to Rome would take about three weeks if my vigour and stamina held firm; I could still feel the effects of the poison. I swiftly purchased provisions and within an hour I was riding out of the fortress city. It would be a long overland journey down the spine of Italy, but not a difficult one except for the fact that I was not yet back to full strength. With the passing of each day my strength did seem to be returning and I was thankful that this was not tested as the journey was uneventful. The roads through Italy were excellent and well made and offered little strain on my admirable horses. I passed through the fine city of Aquileia and numerous villages until I once again stood on the threshold of the greatest city in the world. I could see it in the distance and I felt the excitement begin to overwhelm me. I had, over the weeks, regained most of my strength and I was ready to tackle all the problems I would soon have to encounter. I would once again see the wonderful Corelia, whom I loved so much, and my good friend Aria whom I dearly missed. This joy was tempered by the fact that two other women may also be in the city: Glyca and Amina. I had to decide where to go first – the palace or the gladiatorial school.
Rome – Summer AD88
Chapter 17
I made the decision to go first to the gladiatorial school because I could not wait to see Corelia. I made my way into the city by way of the Via Cassia and through the Porta Mugonia, the gate on the north side of the city. The Via Cassia bustled with people going about their business and stalls with salesmen selling a wide variety of wares. From the Via Cassia I turned towards the Capitoline Hill and made my way down towards the forum where the trial of Marcus Gracchus had first concluded almost a year ago. I passed numerous temples along the way and many of the most famous buildings in the great city. From the forum I turned into the Via Sacra and that most famous structure came into sight, the mighty Colosseo that now seemed to dominate the entire city.
I was weary from the long journey but I was determined that before I did anything else I would go to the school to see the woman I loved. My excitement grew as I approached those high walls for at the back of the Colosseo was the gladiatorial school where I hoped to find Corelia. I remembered our conversation on the grassy banks of the River Tiber when she had encouraged me to dream of the day we would be reunited. I remembered also how she had said that she would be forever in my debt. The problem was that I had not been able to fulfil her wish that Amina would never come to Rome. I had done my utmost but would that be enough? Failure is rarely rewarded in this world. I pictured her sitting on the grass, a blonde-haired goddess, and I prayed that this time might be an exception and that she had real feelings for me.
The Colosseo gladiatorial school was situated at the south side of the great amphitheatre and it, too, was a surprisingly large complex which went largely unnoticed, lodged adjacent to but independent from the massive amphitheatre. It was built like a fortress with high brick-built walls and a very large iron gate at the entrance. The gladiators were mainly prisoners and slaves, so I supposed the large walls were to stop residents from getting out rather
than to stop uninvited guests from entering. I approached the gate and saw a guard leaning against the gate post on the inside. “I am Hylas, a Praetorian Guard, and I am here to see Corelia, the gladiatrix,” I announced.
He barely looked interested. “She is not here but she would not see you anyway.”
I did not trust his words. “She would most certainly wish to see me and she would not look kindly on a very foolish guard who delayed proceedings.”
He was clearly angry but he was also unsure of himself; he suppressed the anger. “I have told you that she is not here and that is the truth.”
“I have important news. Is the gladiatrix, Aria, here?”
“She is, but how do I know she will wish to see you?” he demanded.
“Just tell her that Hylas is here and she will see me.”
“I will tell her,” he conceded, and hurried off. Another guard ambled over to the gate, looked me up and down, and wandered away uninterested.
Within a few minutes the first guard returned and opened the large iron entrance gate. “She is waiting for you at the far side of the courtyard,” he indicated.
*
I walked across the courtyard and saw her standing by a pillar, her dark hair blowing in the breeze. She was dressed in gladiatorial combat gear and was looking fit and healthy, which I feared was more than could be said for me. As I drew close she ran to me and put her arms around my neck. I used what strength I had to swing her around in celebration of our reunion. “It is good to see you, brother,” she shouted, and the two guards looked across at us.
“It is good to see you, Aria,” I agreed wholeheartedly.