Season of the Gladiatrix

by David Adkins

“We will, you know we will,” said Aria, and I nodded agreement though I wondered if I could bear to see her fighting the Queen of the Nile.

  “Say your goodbyes until then and do not to be too long. Hylas, you have to get back to the palace and we have to resume our training.”

  I nodded again and followed Aria into Corelia’a office. We both sat down and looked at each other. “Why are you looking so flustered,” asked Aria.

  “I have just come close to death,” I replied without conviction.

  “What shall we do now?” she searched my face.

  “It seems we have no time for anything because I have to return to the palace.”

  “We are foiled again,” she said. “I was going to practise some gladiatorial moves on you.”

  “Not now. I told you we do not have time,” I said, smiling. “Be serious for a minute, Aria, I must ask you something.”

  “Go ahead.” She put on her most serious expression.

  “Are you aware that Corelia and Glyca visited the palace?”

  “I am,” she replied cautiously.

  “Did Corelia confide in you why, and what was said?”

  “As it happens she did,” she answered. “If you want to know why did you not ask Corelia?”

  “She had just saved my life. I felt I did not have a right to question her.”

  “I saved your life too but you are questioning me,” she replied.

  “You are my little sister. We talk about everything.” I offered by way of unconvincing explanation.

  She screwed up her nose. “She did confide in me. They went to tell Solanus that Kotys was the prisoner of Glyca and hence Gracchus. Glyca told him that if he testified against Gracchus then Kotys would suffer a terrible and painful death and at the end of it he would receive her head.”

  “Did Corelia believe this?”

  “I don’t know what she believed, but she was protecting her father,” replied Aria.

  “How did Glyca convince Solanus that she spoke the truth?”

  “She described in detail the place where Kotys was staying in Singidunum and the place from which she was taken. I guess, Hylas, that it was enough to convince Solanus.”

  “I suppose it must have been,” I mused.

  “Anyway he was not willing to take the chance with the life of the woman he loved. Glyca said he must still attend the trial and in his evidence he must deny any real knowledge of the plot. That way the judges would be convinced and Gracchus would be found not guilty.”

  “That is exactly what happened.” I shook my head in disbelief. “He said that he could not be bought by money. They found the only way they could buy him. It was all a bluff, Aria. They had not taken Kotys as he will find out when he returns to Singidunum.”

  “Are you sure of that?” she asked.

  “I am as sure as I can be.” I paused to take it all in.

  “It is all over now, Hylas. We have other matters to worry about.”

  “I suppose we have given up any attempts on Amina’s life,” I said.

  “You heard what Corelia said. As much as I would like to eliminate that monster I do not think we should disobey Corelia.”

  “You are right but I do not like it,” I agreed.

  “Corelia has a chance. Her training is going well,” she said.

  “I don’t know what I will do if Amina prevails.”

  “If Amina prevails and Corelia is not killed outright then it could be down to the Emperor as to whether she lives or dies,” she replied.

  “Surely he would allow for mercy,” I gasped.

  “He never does, but, in these circumstances … it is Corelia, his…” her words faded away.

  “I will get word to you before the contest so we can meet up,” I said, and hugged her. She responded by kissing me fully on the lips with passion. I did not pull away but returned her kiss. Once again I was confused, just as I had been at the port of Ephesus when she had given me a long and lingering kiss.

  “Remember to be careful, Hylas,” she advised. I still felt confused as I left the gladiatorial school to make my way back to the palace. However, the streets may still have held dangers for me and so I tried to shrug off my perplexity and concentrate on being alert to any possible threat.

  Chapter 23

  I returned to the palace without incident and knew that I had to report back to Paulinus but I could hardly remember what orders he had given me. I decided to go straight to see him and get it over with. I resolved to tell him very little of what I had discovered because if I had to choose between loyalty to Corelia and loyalty to Paulinus then the gladiatrix would always be an easy winner.

  I knocked on the door of his office. “Enter,” a voice called from within.

  I opened the door and went in. “Take a seat, Hylas,” beckoned Paulinus. “Macro has also just returned and was about to give me his report.”

  Macro shook his head. “Unfortunately there is very little to report. I have spent all day asking questions. I have spoken with contacts and people in the know but all to no avail. Solanus Fuscus seems to have disappeared into thin air.”

  “He is good at that,” said Paulinus.

  “He is no doubt already on his way back to Singidunum,” I offered.

  They both nodded agreement. “It seems we will have to forget about Solanus and concentrate on Gracchus,” said Paulinus.

  “I did find out one thing though,” said Macro. “It seems that the word on the street is that there is a price on the head of a certain guardsman.” He looked straight at me.

  “How dare that bastard put a price on one of my men,” stormed Paulinus. “I am going to bring Gracchus down and I do not care how I do it.”

  “We could assassinate him,” suggested Macro.

  “That would not be easy, but I am willing to contemplate it as a last resort,” replied Paulinus. “We will talk on how that might be achieved later, Macro. Now, Hylas, have you had any success at the school?”

  “I have had no more success than Macro,” I said. “Aria is very willing to talk but she knows nothing about Petronius and Corelia being agents of Marcus Gracchus. If they are then they have not confided that information to Aria.”

  “Did you see Petronius or Corelia?” asked Paulinus.

  “I saw both of them. Petronius treats me with hostility but Corelia is always friendly. Aria is special to Corelia and is probably her greatest friend and therefore she is willing to indulge Aria. They train together all the time as Corelia has this contest coming up. Corelia allows me access to the school because she is willing to spoil Aria who likes to have me around, though she has told me not to return until after the contest.”

  “Perhaps the champion of Asia will dispose of the meddlesome gladiatrix and do us all a favour. I have heard this Amina will be a very worthy opponent.”

  “Aria asked me if I could join her in the seats reserved for Petronius. Corelia said she would arrange it with her father.”

  “Macro and I will of course be there and the guard will be there in force offering protection for the Emperor. I have an idea forming. Marcus Gracchus will also be there. I am sure of that. I could bring extra guards ostensibly for the protection of Domitian. At the end of proceedings I could split our forces. Some guards will still be the bodyguard for the Emperor and the rest could assassinate Gracchus as he returns to his villa. It is the perfect opportunity. I will discuss this plan with you later, Macro. We will consider how best to make it work and how we will explain his death afterwards. If I cannot bring him down by due process of the law then I will resort to other means. Now, coming back to you, Hylas, I would have had you in the Emperor’s guard but that is by no means essential, so yes, you can join Aria and Petronius. Watch the contest while keeping your ears and eyes open. If you are close enough to Petronius you never know what you might hear that will be valuable to us, though by then we may be just hours away from the fall of Gracchus.”

  My mind was racing at his words. “I will get word to Aria
that I will join her at the Colosseo.”

  “Do not go yourself. It is best you stay at the palace as it seems there is a price on your head. Send a messenger. If we can successfully get rid of Gracchus then you will no longer have to fear for your life.”

  “That is very good news. I was attacked on my way to the school so it does not surprise me to hear there is a price on my head.”

  “You were attacked!” exclaimed Macro.

  “I didn’t get a chance to tell you with all this business about disposing of Gracchus. I was attacked by a group of ruffians but after killing one I was able to make it safely to the school. I was very cautious on my return to the palace.”

  “That confirms the word on the street,” said Macro.

  “It is him or us,” muttered Paulinus. “Hylas, say nothing to anybody about what you have just heard. Is that clear?”

  “It is crystal clear,” I replied.

  “I will make my plans with Macro and we will brief you later. I think we have to act before he moves against us. For now, Hylas, you are dismissed.”

  *

  My mind was reeling as I left the office of the Praetorian Prefect. It seems I was to be part of an assassination attempt on the life of one of the most powerful men in Rome. Amazingly it would happen on the streets of the capital in broad daylight. The next day I went back to the mundane business of patrolling the palace grounds, during which I had plenty of time to mull over the frightening agenda for the coming weeks. Despite the worry surrounding the assassination attempt my major concern was still the contest that would soon be taking place in the Colosseo. I could not bear to lose Corelia and I was aghast at the mere thought of it. I was at the rear of the gardens near the fountain when Vinicius found me, still in deep thought and staring at the cascading water. “There is someone at the gate asking for you,” he said with a great smirk on his face.

  I knew from his lewd expression that it was a woman and felt a wave of excitement engulf me. Could it be Corelia? “Who is it?” I asked.

  “I believe it is a gladiatrix,” he said, still grinning.

  I rushed to the gate expecting to see Corelia or maybe Aria standing there but it was neither. “Amina,” I gasped.

  “Hello Hylas. Are you well?” she inquired.

  “I am, but why are you here?” I must have sounded slightly dumbfounded.

  I then realized that Stephanio was standing a short distance away. I nodded to him and he returned my greeting. “Stephanio will go for a short walk and I thought we might do the same, Hylas, if you can get away from your guard duties.”

  “I can, but the streets of Rome are dangerous for me so I do not wish to stray far from the palace.”

  “I will look after you. I think you know I am well able to do that,” she said, smiling.

  I nodded agreement to her statement and the walk. If we were both attacked and injured or killed at least she would not be able to fight Corelia in the Colosseo. “What did you wish to talk about?” I asked as we left the palace behind us.

  “I have just been to the school and while I was there I saw your friend, Aria, and she told me that you were alive and well and at the palace. I decided to come and see you.”

  “Why were you at the school?” I asked with surprise.

  “I train hard for six days and then rest for a day. It is a schedule that works well for me. This was my day off and I make it a habit if possible to visit an opponent a week or two before a contest. It is a sort of ritual in which I wish them well, though of course I do not really mean it. In truth it also serves as a spying trip and perhaps my presence also intimidates my opponents and causes them concern, which is good for me.”

  “You will not intimidate Corelia.”

  “I think you are right, Hylas.”

  “Did you find anything out, Amina?” I asked.

  “Nothing that I did not already know. Corelia is a formidable and capable opponent and she obviously has great speed so I will have to slow her down. How about you, Hylas? I did not go to the great trial but I heard that you had a bad experience. Is that why you now fear for your life?”

  “There is apparently a price on my head.”

  “You do get yourself into trouble. I think that is why I like you. Are you coming to the Colosseo?”

  “I will be there,” I said.

  “Supporting Corelia, no doubt,” she said, smiling.

  “Indeed, but I have nothing against you, Amina. I pray to the gods that Corelia wins but also that you survive.”

  She shook her head. “I have to win to survive. The Emperor would never show me mercy.”

  I knew she was right. “Have you fought again since I watched you beat the German at Ephesus?”

  “I had one more contest before I left for Rome. I have spent all spring and summer in Rome waiting for Corelia to be fit enough for our contest and the wait is at last nearly over.”

  “Obviously then it was another victory. I wish this contest did not have to take place.”

  She laughed. “Look, we are almost back at the palace, Hylas. I am a gladiatrix and so is Corelia and that is our job. We have no choice and I consider it my destiny.”

  “Corelia said much the same thing.”

  “Hylas, what I really came to tell you is this. I know little about politics but Stephanio tells me that, apart from the Emperor, Marcus Gracchus is the most powerful man in Rome now and I know, after the evidence you gave against him at the trial, that it is too dangerous for you to stay in Rome. If I win then come to Ephesus for you will be safe there. You could return there with Stephanio and me. Think about it, Hylas.”

  “You know of my feelings for Corelia,” I said.

  “If I do win you should not hold that against me. It is my job and I have nothing against Corelia – in fact after talking with her I respect her.”

  “I will remember your offer,” I replied. I did not know what else to say.

  “We are here and there is Stephanio. Farewell, Hylas.”

  “Farewell, Amina,” I replied pensively. How absurd it was that these two women had to fight, probably to the death, for the gratification of a mad Emperor.

  The gates opened and I was met by a grinning Vinicius and a thoughtful Macro. “Vinicius tells me you have just been for a walk with Corelia’s opponent. She looked very formidable. I would not mind recruiting her for the Praetorian Guard,” he laughed.

  “Yes, she wanted to speak with me.”

  “You are full of surprises, Hylas. How on earth do you know her and what did she wish to speak to you about?”

  I thought quickly. “I met her in a tavern in Ephesus. She was celebrating after a victory in the theatre there and she joined me at a table. We struck up a conversation and I met up with her a couple of times more before I left for Philippopolis. I had told her I was in the Praetorian Guard. She came to look me up before her contest.”

  Macro looked at me suspiciously. “You are definitely full of surprises, Hylas. It is not a good idea for you to be leaving the palace and going for walks. Remember there may be a price on your head.”

  “How could I forget?” I replied.

  *

  The days passed slowly as the date of the contest approached. I waited eagerly for a summons from Corelia but none came. I was also waiting to be called to a briefing by Paulinus and Macro on the proposed assassination of Gracchus but they too were notably silent. Perhaps the murder had been called off. I would be relieved if it had for there was so much running around in my over-active mind. Then I was called by Macro to attend a private discussion. It was with Paulinus and Macro behind closed doors. Paulinus indicated for us both to sit. “Hylas, we have a plan, but you are only on the fringe of it.” That was a statement that I welcomed.

  “What is my part?” I asked.

  “Let us consider one thing at a time, Hylas. The villa of Marcus Gracchus is on the Palatine Hill and we must launch our attack somewhere on the route between the Colosseo and the Palatine. The distance is not great
so Macro will use his initiative as to what is the best moment. If that moment does not present itself then Macro has full authority to abort the attack.”

  “I see,” I said. It seemed unlikely to me that Macro would abort the attack, knowing him as I did.

  Paulinus continued. “We will have many guards positioned all round the arena as well as guarding the Emperor. A dozen men have been selected to abandon their positions early to meet outside the Colosseo at the main exit. It is really the only exit by which Gracchus can leave. They will wait for Gracchus and his entourage to depart and then follow them. Macro will of course be one of them and he will then take charge of the operation. You, Hylas, will be another. As the entertainment draws to an end you will make your excuses to Petronius that you have to rejoin the guards. If you hear anything of importance while you are with Petronius that could have a bearing on the success of our operation then you will get word of it to me. Do you understand?”

  “I do,” I nodded.

  “Gracchus usually has a bodyguard of about ten men. He will not expect an attack after an event in honour of Jupiter and an event which is such an auspicious occasion on the calendar of our Emperor. His men will be no match for my well-trained guards. Your job is to kill Gracchus and my job will be to deal with the aftermath. Have you any questions?”

  “What if Gracchus decides to leave early?” I asked.

  “He would not dare. It would be considered an insult to the Emperor. If there are no more questions, Hylas, you are dismissed.”

  I got up and walked out, leaving Paulinus and Macro to further deliberations. I had not got very far when I bumped into Cyprian. “Are you one of the chosen twelve?” he asked.

  “I am. Are you?”

  “Yes I am, but I do not like it.” The concern contorted his face.

  “What do you mean? Do you not think it’s a workable plan?” I inquired.

  “The plan is good enough but something is not right.”

  “What is it?” I said, now sharing his concern but not understanding why.

  “You know you say that I always know what is going on. Your judgement has been correct on this until now, but now there is something going on that I do not know about.”