by David Adkins
*
The school was built like a fortress and the entrance door was bulky and felt very solid as I banged my fist upon it. The door creaked open and I was confronted by a man whose frame was almost as bulky as the door. “I am here to see Castor.” He looked at me with some indecision on his scraggy face. “I bear a message from Petronius,” I added to give authority to my request.
“Come inside and wait here,” he gruffly responded. He closed the door behind me and went off to find Castor.
I waited a few minutes and then the guard returned with another burly individual “How can I help you?” he inquired.
“You must be Castor,” I said.
“That’s me,” he replied.
“My name is Hylas and I am a member of the Praetorian Guard. Before I say any more I think I had better give you this.” I handed him the letter from Petronius.
He broke the seal and opened it. As he read it a grim smile crossed his face. “Our Corelia does pick them. First she brings me an on-the-run assassin. Now she sends me an on-the-run Praetorian Guard to look after.”
“Solanus was here?” I asked.
“For a short time, but I prefer not to speak about that man because he was nothing but trouble. I hope you are going to be no trouble to me, Hylas.”
“I hope not,” I agreed.
He slapped me across the back with a heavy hand. “Then you will be a welcome guest. Petronius has told me briefly in his letter what has been going on in Rome. I am sure that Marcus Gracchus will not search for you here. Are you hungry?”
“I am,” I agreed.
“It is a better day today so take a seat at that table over there and I will arrange for some fruit and cheese and some ale. We’ll eat in the open and then I will show you to your quarters.”
I did as I was instructed. I did not have to wait long; Castor soon returned with the promised food and drink. He sat down opposite me. “Are you and Corelia lovers?” he asked me frankly.
“We are,” I replied truthfully.
“I suppose you are marginally preferable to the last one. She has so many attributes but she is not good at picking her lovers,” he said, laughing. “No offence, Hylas, but you must see what I mean – another man running from the law.”
“If you call Marcus Gracchus the law,” I corrected him.
“He is for the time being. I assume you saw Corelia in the Colosseo.”
“I did,” I replied.
“She was magnificent and that African was some gladiatrix. I think only Corelia with her wonderful strategy could have pulled off such a victory.”
“She is certainly magnificent,” I agreed, while enjoying the food and drink that was on offer.
“Hylas, you will stay here until Corelia comes to see you or gets word to you. I do not know how long that will be but remain here, do not leave the school, keep a low profile, and do not gossip with any of my gladiators. I am sure they can all be trusted but we do not need to tempt fate. I hear there was a spy within your Praetorian Guard.”
I took his point. “I will discuss with no one the reason I am here.”
“Good. Have you eaten your fill?”
I nodded.
“Then follow me and I will take you to your room for the coming days or weeks.” I followed him across the courtyard, past the barracks, and into a small complex of corridors and rooms. “This is it. It is the room Corelia sleeps in when she stays here.”
He opened the door for me to look inside. It was quite adequate and comfortable and I looked at the bed and pictured Corelia upon it. “It is excellent.” I thanked him.
“That door at the end of the corridor is my room. If you need anything just knock or find me. You can get food and drink from the barracks when you need it but I suggest that you keep yourself to yourself and there will be no problems.”
“I will do that and I appreciate your help.”
“You have Corelia and Petronius to thank for that,” he replied and left, closing the door behind him. I lay down on the bed and once again I imagined that Corelia was on the bed too. She was lying next to me and she was naked.
*
I spent two weeks at the large complex without word from Corelia but it was a strangely peaceful and restful two weeks. I kept myself to myself and any initial curiosity about my presence was soon dispersed as the gladiators quickly got used to having me around. I passed my time watching them train and marvelling at the skills they were learning under the stewardship of Castor. There were a few gladiatrices there and when I watched them train they reminded me of Corelia and my fear for her when I had watched her in the Colosseo. She was never far from my thoughts, and nor was Aria – and the untimely death of Paulinus.
I was on my bunk late one afternoon when there was a knock at the door. “Enter,” I called, and the door opened.
Castor stepped into the room. “There is someone to see you,” he said.
I could tell from the smile on his face who my unexpected visitor must be. My heart leapt and excitement welled up within me. “Who is it?” I gasped.
“It is just me,” she said as she stepped into view.
“Corelia, it is so good to see you,” I gasped. “Are you well? You were wounded.”
“This one loves you, not like the last one.” Castor winked at Corelia. “I will leave you two to catch up.” Corelia entered the room and Castor left, closing the door behind him.
Corelia walked over and sat on the bed next to me. I tried to kiss her but she shook her head. “I am well. It was only a flesh wound and healed quickly. Hylas, I cannot stay long and we have much to discuss.”
I could not hide my disappointment. “Corelia, I love you.”
“I do not love you, Hylas. Not in that way.” Her words fell on me like the blows of a hammer.
I stuttered in disbelief. “What do you mean?”
“I am sorry, Hylas, but the only way was to come straight out and say it.”
I gripped her hands tightly. “You don’t mean it, Corelia. What about the night before the contest? And why else would you have done all this for me?” I gestured around me.
“You are my dearest friend, Hylas. Next to Aria and my father I love you more than anybody, but not in the way that you want.”
“Is this to do with Aria?” I asked desperately.
“It is not really about Aria,” she replied.
“I was so scared when you were in the Colosseo. I thought I was going to lose you. Then you won and my prayers to the gods were answered and I thought it would be me and you forever. Where did I go wrong?”
“You and Aria helped me win and for that I am truly grateful – and you did not go wrong.”
“You wanted me the night before the contest,” I reminded her.
“I wanted a man because it was possibly my last night on earth. Not just any man, Hylas. I wanted you because you were my dearest friend and I knew you loved me and I wanted a man who loved me. I wanted to be loved on that last night. I am sorry, Hylas. I used you once again but I thought you wanted it too.”
“I did, I did, more than anything, and I still do.” I was distraught.
“I am just a few years older than you, Hylas, but I feel a lot more than that,” she said, sighing. “So much has happened to me. My body belongs to the Emperor and my heart belongs to Solanus. There is nothing left for you except my friendship. That is the way it is and I cannot change that. If Domitian found out I had slept with you or were sleeping with you then you would be a dead man. Nothing could save you.”
“Then you are casting me aside to protect me,” I said hopefully.
“I am not casting you aside but I am pointing out the danger you would be in. I love Solanus and probably will always love Solanus and nothing can change that. When I saw him again at the palace all my old feelings were revived with a vengeance. It is ironic that they say the great and beautiful gladiatrix could have any man she wanted but in reality she cannot have the man she really wants. He loves another.”
I put
my head in my hands. “I had such dreams.”
“And those dreams can be realized, but not with me.”
I looked at her. I knew she meant Aria and she knew that I knew. “I love you,” I said.
“Remember what I told you before my battle with Amina in the arena.”
“You said if you were to die then I was to be with Aria.” I remembered. “You wanted me to love her as I love you.”
“I did not die but I still want that. I want Aria to be happy and that means she has the man she loves. I want her to have what has been denied to me.”
“And me, Corelia?” I asked. “I do not get the woman I love.”
“Because she does not love you and even if she did then it would be impossible. In fact she would cause your death.”
“I think my death is quite likely anyway. Once again it seems that Marcus Gracchus has put a price on my head.”
“When I get that price removed, then you must go to Aria.”
“How will you do that?”
“Surely you have learnt by now not to underestimate me, Hylas. I am working on it. When it is achieved, then, I repeat, you must go to Aria. I want you to love her and be faithful to her in all things. Together we will make sure she never fights in the arena again. I want you to return her love.”
“What about you, Corelia? Will you fight in the arena again?”
“Never. I have Domitian’s word on it. I will soon have my villa in Tibur that he promised me and the pension which will make me rich. The villa is empty and I will move in next week. I will entertain the Emperor there for that is one of his conditions. He will not release me from that other commitment and I am resigned to that.”
“I could kill him.”
She laughed. “Is there nothing you would not do for me, Hylas?”
I smiled back. “There is nothing.”
“Then do as I ask. As I said before, it is hardly a hardship I am asking of you. Aria is beautiful, eloquent, clever, and funny. She deserves your love. Do it for me.”
I could never refuse her anything, not even this. I knew I did have strong feelings for Aria. I knew that when I was not with her I missed her.
“How will this all come about? I am on the run,” I asked.
“I will arrange it. I have an audience with Marcus Gracchus tomorrow night. I will get him to remove the price from your head.”
“How will you do that?” I felt alarmed.
“I will tell him what great influence I have with the Emperor and how one good deed deserves another.”
I shook my head in disbelief at how resourceful she was. “Then I will be free to go to Aria.”
“I promise you that you will not regret it,” she replied. “Do we have an agreement?”
“It is the strangest agreement I have ever heard of. Why are you doing this?”
“You are both my dearest friends and I want you both to be happy. It is the only way that you will both be happy. I can make you happy for one night, Hylas, but in doing so I endanger you, and I cannot make you happy in the long term because I don’t love you in the way you need. Aria does. Do we have an agreement?”
“Yes, we have an agreement, Corelia.”
“Good. Now I must return to Rome. I will get a message to you to let you know how things are proceeding and what arrangements I have made. You will stay here, where you are safe, until you receive instructions from me. Get used to what I have told you. Farewell, Hylas.” She kissed me on the forehead. She paused. “You did not tell Aria what happened the night before the contest?”
“No, it did not seem right,” I replied.
“Good, it is better that she never knows.”
I grabbed her hand. “One last kiss on the lips,” I pleaded.
She smiled. It was a long lingering kiss. “Farewell, Corelia.” I watched breathlessly as she slipped out of the door and I knew I had lost her.
*
The weeks passed by and I settled back into my routine. It was a lazy time for me but a time full of impatience as I waited for the communication from Corelia that would fashion my future. I missed Corelia during this time but strangely now I found myself missing Aria more. I had not seen her since I had pushed her aside in the Colosseo to go after Marcus Gracchus and I had so much to explain to her. Again I was doing what Corelia had told me to do; I was getting used to the idea of being with Aria and I was thinking more and more of Aria as time went by, but Corelia was also always on my mind.
I was eating breakfast in the barracks room when Castor came in and sat down opposite me. “You are popular, Hylas.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He lifted his hand and clenched in his huge fist were three scrolls. “Not one letter for you but three,” he said, smiling.
I was amazed. “Are they all for me?”
“They are. One is from Corelia and the other two seem to have been forwarded on to you by Corelia. I have to go – I have a training session to supervise.” He handed the letters to me.
I opened the one that appeared to be from Corelia.
Greetings to my dear friend Hylas.
I hope that you have been able to curb your frustration at your recent inactivity. A communication for you arrived at the gladiatorial school from Solanus which I have forwarded. He writes to you but he does not write to me.
I could almost feel her bitterness and her curiosity.
The other is a letter from Aria who is missing you greatly. I have told her nothing of our conversation, only that I am hiding you from the assassins of Marcus Gracchus and that she will see you soon. I have been working hard on your behalf and I have had two meetings with Gracchus. He has at last agreed to let you live providing I keep you out of his way. I have told him you were merely following orders and pose no threat to him. He has said that if you ever cross his path again he will not be so generous, so this is what I proposed and he has agreed to it.
I have moved into my new villa at Tibur. It is huge and truly wonderful and even better than I imagined. Aria has moved in with me and neither of us will ever fight in the arena again. Domitian has agreed to that. I propose, and Gracchus has agreed, that you will come to live at Tibur where you will be safe. I will employ you as head of security for the villa and you and Aria can be happy here. She knows nothing about my scheming to bring this about and it is better that way. I will entertain Domitian at Tibur as well as at the palace and you must accept that. I have agreed with Gracchus that I will support him as far as my influence with the Emperor is concerned. The price tag has been removed from your head so you can leave Aqueem Tuticum as soon as you are ready and come to your new home at Tibur. When you reach Tibur it is the largest villa in this small town and therefore easy to find. Be careful at all times and I will see you soon at Tibur.
Your dear friend Corelia.
I put down the letter feeling slightly agitated. Corelia had planned out my life for me. Who I should love, where I should live, and what my job will be. I pushed such thoughts aside because I knew I should be profoundly grateful to her. Without her aid I would surely be dead. The tentacles of Marcus Gracchus had spread far and wide and he was now the most powerful man in Rome next to the Emperor. I owed her everything. I would leave for Tibur and begin my new life and it would be so good to see Aria again. I opened the second letter, not knowing if it was from Aria or Solanus. It was from Solanus Fuscus.
Greetings Hylas from Solanus Fuscus.
I hope you are safe. I heard about the coup funded by Gracchus that brought about the murder of Paulinus and the capture of Macro. It was sad news for me because I considered Paulinus a friend. I know there is a price on your head but I also know that you have a resourceful ally and, like me, you seem to be a survivor.
You are probably curious as to why I am writing to you. I felt I had betrayed you and Paulinus at the trial but I had no choice. Glyca described my room in Singidunum in great detail which meant that she had definitely been there. She told me she was holding Kotys and that
if I gave evidence against Marcus Gracchus then Kotys would suffer a terrible death. I had no choice but to believe her – I could not take the chance. Kotys came before everything else and I think you will understand that. I needed to explain this to you though you may well have worked it out for yourself.
You can imagine my anger and relief when I returned to Singidunum to find that Kotys was fine and that she had never been in any danger. The words of Glyca had been lies and I immediately vowed revenge on Marcus Gracchus. Together with my deceased father he had already murdered Bendis, the sister of Kotys. Now he had duped me in the matter of the trial and got away free, despite all his crimes. To make matters worse I now hear that he has murdered Paulinus, who I considered to be a friend.
As he has also tried to murder you, Hylas, on a number of occasions, and with everything that has passed I felt you must harbour a similar desire for revenge. I am now trying to snatch some happiness with Kotys but I know that at some stage I will return to Rome and have my revenge on Gracchus. You will be aware of my former profession and so you will know that this is no idle threat. However, I may need help, and I wondered if when the time comes I can count on your aid. Simply send me a one word reply, yes or no, and send it to Mannox my banker at Singidunum who will make sure I receive it.
Farewell Hylas, and stay safe, Solanus.
I was stunned by the letter. I was aware of much of it because of what Corelia had told me regarding Kotys, but it was still shocking to read of it. I was upset to hear that Macro had been captured and realized that of the four Gracchus had decreed must die I was the only one left thanks to Corelia. I would not reply to Solanus immediately because I needed time to think about it, but I suspected that when I did the answer would be yes. I opened the remaining letter.
My dear brother.
My shoulder is still sore from when you pushed me out of the way at the Colosseo and I require to see you very soon so I can exact revenge.
I laughed out loud. That was my Aria.
Why did you dash off like that? I think I know. You and your guards went after Marcus Gracchus and you killed the wrong man. You messed up again, Hylas. You need me to look after you.