by David Adkins
She stroked my face and I was hers. “We need to be careful. Domitian’s spies are everywhere. He has spies spying on spies.”
“His obsessions get even worse then,” I replied.
“They certainly do,” she said, sighing.
“I assume your situation as his concubine has not altered while I have been away.”
“I thought his passions were waning at one point and that he might be tiring of me but now he is more possessive than ever. I think it’s because of the coming contest with Amina, which has captured his imagination. His desire and his lust are working overtime. I am the great Amazon and she is the ultimate opponent. He likes me to pin him down and ride him while he imagines he is the defeated Amina.”
I shook my head. “I cannot bear to think of you with Domitian. But it is Amina I wish to talk with you about.”
“I think I know what you are going to say.” She sighed.
“I will say it anyway. You must not fight Amina.”
“Hylas, I intend to fight Amina. You cannot tell me what to do.” She looked at me sternly. “I do as I wish.”
“I will not be able to bear it if you are defeated and killed,” I groaned. “She is so formidable and you have never fought anyone like her before.”
She smiled and kissed my forehead. “I know you would be devastated if I was to lose but it is something I have to do. I intend to win.”
“I saw her defeat a gladiatrix from Germania,” I said.
“I know Amina was impressive and I also know that she dealt with you and Aria rather comfortably but remember, Hylas, she is only human.”
“I failed you,” I moaned.
“You tried, both of you, and I could ask no more than that. I did not intend to enter the arena with her after what Aria told me and I continually got my father to put off the contest. Then I realized that I was simply putting off the inevitable and that it was my destiny to fight her in the Colosseo in front of the biggest audience ever.”
“She said that it was her destiny too.”
“Did you enjoy making love to her?” she grinned.
“I closed my eyes and pretended it was you, though we didn’t actually get quite that far.”
“I will win,” she said firmly. “I am already training like I have never trained before. She will not be as fit as I am.”
“How do you know that?” I asked.
“Petronius has denied her access to train at the school on the excuse that it would not be wise if we trained in the same facilities. We have kept her waiting for months while I have trained hard.”
“Where is she now?” I asked.
“She is staying as a guest at the house of Flavius Clemens and his wife Domitilla, the Emperor’s niece, with her manager, a man named Stephanio.”
“I have met him,” I nodded.
“I believe that she trains hard with him but it is not the same as training in a school with numerous available opponents.”
“You do not have to fight her, Corelia. We could leave Rome together.”
She laughed. “No, we can’t, Hylas.” She changed the subject. “The trial comes first. Are you going to attend?”
“I am and I may be called as a witness.”
“Solanus Fuscus is the main witness for the prosecutor.” She looked a little sad.
“Have you seen him? I know he is staying at the palace.”
“No, I have not. They have him well hidden away for his own safety, though knowing him as I do I doubt he is happy with that.”
“Do you still love him?” I asked, fearing what her answer may be.
“You worked that out then, Hylas. It does not matter whether I do or I do not. He has made his choice and I have Domitian to keep entertained.” I was about to protest that it did not have to be that way when she continued. “You do not look very well, Hylas.”
“I was poisoned by an assassin who did not want me to persuade Solanus to return to Rome. You should have seen me then – I had one foot in Hades – but now I get better with every passing day and though I still may look a little rough I have returned to full health.”
“That is terrible, but I am glad that you have recovered,” she said.
“It is in the past now, just as Solanus must be in your past.” My words were uttered with hope rather than with conviction.
“I must return to the school to get back to my training. I have dallied the past few days with Domitian and I must return to my strict schedule if I am to defeat Amina.”
“May I walk with you, Corelia? I wish to speak with Aria.”
We walked towards the Aemilian Bridge and then we turned down the Vicus Tuscus to make our way to the gladiatorial school. “Did you enjoy your time with my Aria?” she asked.
“I did. She makes an entertaining travelling companion.”
“She has a pleasing sense of humour.”
“Indeed she has,” I agreed with feeling.
Corelia laughed. “She is also very astute. She studied Amina closely when you both attended the arena in Ephesus. There was much she learnt and passed on to me. Aria means a lot to me.”
“As you do to her,” I replied, but I knew it was an understatement.
“We are here, Hylas.” I had hardly noticed we had reached the school, such had been the pleasure of walking with Corelia. We passed through the entrance gate and into the courtyard where training exercises involving numerous gladiators and gladiatrices were in progress. “Take a seat and watch while I get Aria for you,” she said, indicating a bench.
“When will I see you again?”
She looked at me sympathetically. “I will see you soon, Hylas, but for now I must resume my training. The only thing important to me at the moment is my training and my coming battle. I have no life until that is over and I am victorious. If I am not victorious I have no life anyway. That is how it must be. I have even said the same to Domitian, though I cannot be sure that he will respect my wishes.”
She walked away and I sadly muttered, “Farewell for now, Corelia.”
*
I was soon smiling again as I saw Aria striding across the courtyard towards me. “Hylas, I am ready for action,” she exclaimed.
“I need your brain first,” I replied.
“Really Hylas, what man tells the woman he adores that he needs her brain?”
“You think I adore you?”
“Of course, you adore both Corelia and me but you just have not realized you adore me yet.” She sat down next to me. “Now that you have rejected my body how can my brain assist you?”
I laughed. “By Jupiter, I have missed you, Aria. I have spoken at length with Paulinus and told him about my mission to find Solanus, leaving out, of course, the bits regarding you and Amina. He has put Solanus under the protection of the Praetorian Guard and he has given me the task of finding Glyca and taking her alive. I thought you might like to help me.”
“I would indeed, but do we have to take her alive?” she asked.
“Yes, he wants her as a possible witness at the trial. We have to put ourselves into the position of Glyca and think how she might yet go about the task of eliminating Solanus.”
“Is she attractive?” she asked.
“She is attractive. She has dark hair and dark eyes like you and a pretty face.”
“Are you saying that I lack a pretty face?” she asked.
“You are much prettier than her, Aria.”
“You have saved yourself, Hylas, for now. I was about to practise some of my gladiatorial moves on you. She will need to get into the palace.”
“I think we are having the same thoughts,” I mused. “Macro suggested that she must be nearby but even if she were how would she gain entrance to the palace? It would not be possible unless she had assistance.”
“She would use her feminine wiles to gain assistance. I am sure many of your palace guards would smuggle in a pretty woman for a night of passion. Have you ever done that, Hylas?”
“No, I have not, but
I have dreamt about asking Corelia to my quarters many times and in fact I did so today.”
“What did she say?”
“She said no.”
“Poor Hylas, your timing is not good. She has other things on her mind at the moment.”
“Where were we? So, we believe that the only way that Glyca can gain access to the palace is by beguiling one of the guards with her feminine charms. There is no doubt that the way she fooled me proves that is well within her capabilities.”
“I will make no comment on that. Are you sure she is attractive enough?”
“There is no doubt about that either,” I replied.
“Was there anything between you during all that time and all those cold nights you spent together?”
“There was not,” I retorted.
“I forgot that you belong to Corelia.”
“As do you,” I countered.
“There is a chance that she is already in the palace. Is it possible to get me in?”
“I will tell Paulinus that you are helping me. I am sure he will agree. We had better waste no time because, as you say, she could already have gained access.”
“Such haste, I was going to insist that we have a little sparring session to settle a few issues.”
I smiled. “That will have to wait, like the foot massage.”
“All these unfulfilled promises.” She laughed.
It was mid-afternoon and the late summer sun was once again beating down out of a clear blue sky. The streets of the great city were heaving with humanity and the air was heavy with the accompanying scents and odours. “Do many of the guards bring in women for nights of passion?” she asked.
“Some, but I am not sure how many.”
“If there are a lot and they are unwilling to admit to it then it might be difficult to find Glyca.”
“I know someone who will know all the comings and goings. He probably arranges many of them,” I assured her.
We arrived at the palace gates and Cyprian was still on duty. “He leaves with the famous Corelia and returns with a dark-haired beauty.” He nodded at Aria. “How do you do it, Hylas?”
“Some of us have it and some do not,” I responded and Aria spluttered. “She will come with me to my quarters.”
“Is that wise?” he asked. “It is broad daylight.”
“I will tell Paulinus that she is here.”
“You really think he will agree?”
“I think so.”
“I hope so,” said Aria as we left the gate.
We crossed the palace gardens and entered a section of the palace building that was obviously not for royalty. We made our way down a short corridor past a large barracks room and I opened a door on our left. “This is it,” I said.
“You have a room of your own!” She seemed surprised.
“It is only small but I have had it since my last promotion.”
“I am impressed, Hylas.”
“You make yourself at home while I go and speak to Paulinus and when I return we can begin our enquiries.”
“Will he not ask why you need a female assistant?”
“I have been wondering that myself.”
She kicked my leg. “It’s to stop you messing up again, though you had better not say that.”
*
It was a short walk down two corridors and then I was standing outside the office of the Praetorian Prefect. I knocked on the door and waited but there was no answer. I knocked again harder but there was still no answer.
“He is with the Emperor.” I turned around to see the large figure of Macro watching me.
“I wanted his permission for something,” I explained.
“You can ask me then.”
I took a deep breath. “I have brought a young woman called Aria into the palace to assist me with my enquiries.”
“Is that so?” There was a grin on his huge face.
“She really is here to help me with my enquiries,” I reiterated.
“I saw you bring her in. We all need a bit of fun now and then, Hylas. Keep her out of sight and it will not be a problem and then send her on her way. If you wish to bring her back for further amusement then do not tell anyone about it, least of all Paulinus or myself.”
“She has knowledge of Glyca and can help me.” I persisted.
He sighed. “We both know that is nonsense but if this Aria can help you get over your obsession with the gladiatrix, Corelia, then I approve of her making fleeting visits to your quarters but do not let her stay too long. Do you understand?”
“How do you know about Corelia?” I asked.
“I have seen you looking at Corelia. This other woman is a good idea – she will take your mind off the unattainable and dangerous gladiatrix. I wish, however, that you had not told me you’d brought her into the palace for now I must instruct you not to parade her around too much and to send her on her way as soon as possible. I do understand that the men need the occasional diversion but for the sake of discipline I have to also be strict on this matter. I repeat, do you understand, Hylas?”
There was no point pursuing the course of argument that Aria could be of assistance to me. Indeed, when I thought about it more rationally I could see that she would probably be of little help within the palace. “Yes, I understand. I will be discreet. Have you needed a bit of fun now and then, Macro?”
“Is that really any of your business?”
“I am beginning my enquiries. That is the task Paulinus set me.”
He smiled. “Yes, I have needed a bit of fun from time to time.”
“What is the name of the latest fun?” I asked.
“It is not Glyca.”
“Has she long dark hair and dark eyes?”
“Yes, she has but she has been visiting me for over a month now and that is before Glyca arrived in Rome, but I like your line of enquiry.”
“Then I will continue with it,” I said, and raised my arm in salute. I walked down the corridor away from the watching Macro.
Chapter 19
I returned to my room and the waiting Aria. I quickly told her of the conversation I’d had with Macro. “So I am to be your bit of fun,” she said, grinning.
“No, you are still my companion with regard to conducting enquiries.”
She pulled a disappointed face. “I can see Macro’s point. Perhaps we were too enthusiastic about working together again. We did not think it through sufficiently. We should have known how he would see it, particularly as there is little I can do in the palace because I can’t question your guards with you. Do we still have two missions?”
“What do you mean, Aria?”
“We have to find Glyca before she gets to Solanus and also watch out for any other assassins that Gracchus may have hired. Are we still going to murder Amina while she resides at the residence of Flavius Clemens?”
I thought about her question. “I would like to protect Corelia from her own reckless ambition to fight Amina in the arena but have we the right to do that? She is now determined that the contest should go ahead and I am not sure that we should go against her wishes. However, I still cannot bear to think of her defeated and dying in the Colosseo.”
“That is exactly how I see it,” agreed Aria. “I suggest that as the trial comes first we concentrate on Glyca. Once Solanus has testified and Glyca, hopefully, has been forced to testify and admit to her connection with Gracchus, our job there will be done. Then we will have time to think about the threat posed by Amina.”
“I agree,” I said, happy to put off the Amina question for now. We had failed to murder her in Ephesus and I had a feeling we would probably meet with no more success in Rome because I was no assassin.
“I must insist on one thing, Hylas. If we manage to capture Glyca alive then I get the job of persuading her to admit to being hired by Gracchus to assassinate Solanus.”
“Macro is also very willing to do that and I feel that he is perhaps best qualified.”
“You are und
erestimating me again, Hylas.”
“Let us capture her first,” I suggested. “Now you must return to the school and I will start asking questions. Perhaps you could return here each evening at dusk, because if Glyca is in the palace already or planning to use her charms to get in then that is the time of day when she will probably be active, and murders, I imagine, are best carried out at night. I will tell the guards on duty to expect you – I believe there is a lot of this sort of thing going on,” I said, smiling.
She laughed. “You once told me that such things did not happen at the palace but it seems it is almost as bad as the gladiatorial school. You are hopeless, Hylas.”
“Thanks as always for that, Aria.”
“Ask all the men even if they seem unlikely candidates for midnight liaisons,” she suggested.
“I do not think I will need to. There is a guard called Cyprian, the one who was on duty at the gate, who makes it his business to know everything that goes on within the palace walls.”
“Then he is a good starting point. I will return at dusk to see how you have got on.”
“Farewell for now, Aria.”
“Are we going to have that fun when I return?” she asked.
I pulled a face. “I missed your teasing when I was in Thrace and Dacia.”
“Farewell, Hylas.”
*
I found Cyprian resting in the barracks after his long spell on duty. “Greetings Cyprian,” I hailed him as I approached. He took no notice of me so I sat down next to his bunk. “Are you alive, Cyprian?” I asked.
He opened his eyes. “No I am not, Hylas, so go away.”
“I need to ask you some questions,” I persisted.
“If I answer them will you then leave me to get some well-earned rest and sleep?”
“I will,” I agreed and then continued. “A woman called Glyca, though she is probably not using that name, may well have tried to gain access to the palace by befriending one of the guards. She has quite long dark hair and dark eyes. She is of medium height for a woman and pale of skin. She has a Roman accent and for most of the time she has a serious disposition. She is attractive and may well have used her charms to induce one of our men to bring her into the palace. This would have been in the last week or so but any longer term girlfriends could not be Glyca.”