I, Claudia

by Charity Bishop

  I, CLAUDIA

  By Charity Bishop

  © Charity Bishop 2013

  Smashwords Edition

  For anyone who has ever wondered,

  “What happened to Pilate?”

  Chapter One

  Mother takes a longer time with her seer than usual.

  Normally, she spends less than half an hour in his stinking hovel. She pays him coins, he throws ash onto the fire, tells her what she wants to hear, and we go home.

  Today, it is different. I stand at the tent entrance with the late afternoon sun beating on my neck and glance at our Jewish servant girl, Libi. “Go inside,” I say.

  She shakes her head. “I can’t. Father forbids me. You know that.”

  I push aside the thin curtain and duck inside. The walls teem with jars and shelves; entrails float in green liquid. The hovel smells like death. Our seer sits over glowing embers in a pit with Mother opposite, a stark contrast in her rich tunic from his poor homespun rags. He starts from his trance but as his one good eye falls on me, the half-spoken curse halts on his lips.

  “You ask for truth, mistress?” he rasps. Pointing to me with a bony finger, he says, “Here’s a true teller of fortunes. Through her lips pours wisdom unrivaled yet it goes unheeded. She’ll bear a man to greatness and see him destroyed.”

  Cold races up my spine and my mother laughs bitterly. “Claudia is of no importance. Your runes lie.”

  “Belittle her gifts at your peril,” he answers, indicating the door. “I’ll speak no further to one who doubts my runes. Get out, and never return.”

  Anger fills her face and she throws her coins at him. He tosses them back at her and shoves us out into the street. His beady eyes follow us down the road. Once out of sight, Mother slaps Libi. “You’re supposed to keep Claudia outside!” she snaps.

  Libi shuffles her armload of silks and perfumes and whispers, “I’m sorry, Mistress.” She shoots me a glance and I shrug apologetically. Her beauty increases by the day and despite her simple garments and head covering, she still draws attention. Male eyes drift over me and linger on her with open interest.

  We pass through the gates of Rome and walk toward the vineyards outside the city. My father’s is the largest and the light beats off its high white walls as we approach. Catching sight of us from the gates, a servant runs to meet us. Panting, he cries out, “Mistress, the Fifth Legion nears Rome!”

  “Quintus will be with them!” Mother’s face brightens. “The gods bless us at last! Your brother returns home!” She hurries inside with Libi on her heels. Rather than accompany them, I walk to the stables. As I enter, I breathe deeply the scent of new hay and horses. Our servant Jacob pitches straw into the stalls.

  I lean against the door and watch him, admiring the fervor he puts into it. “Jacob, you needn’t work so hard.”

  A shock of dark hair falls over his forehead as he shoots me a glance. His stern countenance softens slightly at my appearance. “I want to finish before the Sabbath. Is my sister in the house?”

  “Yes, but I’m sure she’ll be out again before Sabbath begins. Have you heard the news of the legion’s return?”

  “I did, yes.” He scowls and throws another forkful of straw. The horses watch, their ears swiveling forward, snatching mouthfuls.

  Stroking my father’s stallion, I quip, “You don’t sound very happy about it.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Don’t you want Quintus home again?”

  Jacob pauses to look at me, swiping his hand across his brow. “He returns from Judea, the land of my forefathers, where my people live in slavery to Rome. Should I rejoice in his return?”

  Dust sifts down from the loft above. I perch on the nearest barrel, concerned at his frown. He stabs the hay viciously and my tone darkens as I remind him, “As a centurion, Quintus must obey orders.”

  A snort of disapproval accompanies another thrust of his fork. “He obeys Pilate’s orders, you mean.”

  “Pilate is his commanding officer.”

  Light dances through the stable slats. Jacob snorts. “You think too highly of Pilate and your brother. You are too young to know what goes on in Rome whenever the legion returns. There will be feasts, wine, pagan sacrifices, and revelry in the streets. It will start as a celebration and turn into an orgy. I suppose you don’t know what that is, either!”

  My face heats up. “I’m nearly seventeen and I do know of such things!”

  He raises his brow. “But you don’t disapprove of them?”

  “Yes, I disapprove, but Quintus isn’t like that.”

  Leaning on his pitchfork, Jacob studies me with intent, dark eyes. “You don’t know your brother. You only see what he wants you to see when he’s at home.”

  At the mare’s nudge, I offer her a handful of grain. “I thought you liked Quintus!”

  “I did, before he joined the legion and fell in with Pilate. His father, Senator Fidelus, is responsible for the decree over Judea that lets Jews be beaten into submission if the Romans fear an uprising, did you know that?”

  Shock catches me off guard but I recover quickly. “Pilate isn’t his father!”

  “No, he’s worse! The Fifth has been in Judea the last nine months! I know all too well what he’s done to my people.”

  Crossing my arms, I say, “You sound more like an insurgent than an aspiring priest.”

  “Maybe I’ve learned that actions speak louder than words.” He glances at me and his eyes soften. “Priesthood was a childish ambition, Claudia… a dream shared when we were young and believed ourselves equal to one another.”

  I step closer to him and touch his arm. “We are equal. We’re both citizens of Rome.”

  “We’re not equal! I am a Jew and you are a Gentile. The Romans will crush the Jews under their heel, until we rise up and strike it out from under them.”

  Dust rises on the road and my heart quickens at the sight of my brother. “Avram won’t like you saying such things.”

  “My father must grow used to it, whether or not he likes it.” Shouldering his pitchfork, Jacob leaves without a second glance. I rub Father’s horse, bury my face in his mane and breathe in his scent, my heart heavy. Hooves clatter on the road outside and I dash into the courtyard as my brother arrives. With him are a dozen legionaries, most unfamiliar to me.

  Dismounting, Quintus catches me in his arms. “Claudia! How you have grown! Where is the child I left behind?”

  He smoothes the hair back from my face and I flush with pleasure. “You’ve been gone three years, brother! You can’t expect me to stay a child forever!”

  “I can’t expect it, but I’d like it! I want this cheerful face never to change!” He kisses me, smelling of dust and sweat, as the others emerge from the house, my sisters frantically straightening their tunics. They eye the soldiers in our yard with approval. Before going to them, he asks softly, “Have the dreams stopped?”

  Dread fills me and I shake my head. “You haven’t told anyone, have you?”

  “No.” His hand squeezes mine and he goes to embrace our father.

  Pulling back from him, Father says, “We didn’t expect you until late! Has the Legion already entered Rome?”

  “She has, and Pilate let us disperse. I’ve even brought him with me!”

  My sisters crane their necks to make him out among the others. I saw him the minute he rode into the courtyard. He dismounts, as tall and commanding as ever. Lucilla eyes him appreciatively as he moves forward, but instead he stops beside me and tugs a lock of my hair. “And how are you, little one?” he inquires playfully. He is unchanged, his sharp features still striking, his eyes piercing and blue. His nearness quickens my heart.

  “Please tell me you don’t still see me as a child, Lucius.”


  Wonderful, sensual eyes tease me, as they always have. “No, you’re a woman now.”

  Others move around us as Quintus introduces his friends to our father. I walk forward with Pilate. “Have you defended the emperor in all the far reaches of the empire?”

  “Yes, although it was never under threat in the first place, Tiberius’ throne is safe again.” He winks at me.

  Father invites him inside. “You honor our house with your presence, Commander.”

  “Call me Pilate, for a commander shouldn’t consort with his legionaries’ families.” Pilate enters and I wait, allowing the men to precede me indoors.

  Mother falls into step with him. “We’re glad you make an exception for us.”

  “How could I not, when I’ve known such happiness in this house?”

  Quintus puts his arm around me and takes me inside. We pass Libi in the hall and she glances at us. His head turns to acknowledge her and a knowing smile touches my lips. “Your taste in women hasn’t changed,” I remark as we enter the banquet hall.

  “You see too much, little sister,” he answers, tapping the tip of my nose.

  We settle around the low table and a gentle breeze flows through the curtains. Servants bring in the dishes and retreat to a polite distance, ready if needed. Father invites us to eat and his admiring gaze falls on Quintus. “Tell us of your victories, my son.”

  “Do you want to hear of our adventures in Gaul or in Judea?”

  My other sister, Thais, holds up her cup for a refill. Light trickles down her slender throat and shimmers in the gems woven through her hair. “Did you kill all the enemies of the empire?”

  “Not all of them, but there’s fewer than before! The sand ran red with the blood of our enemies, in spite of warnings to the contrary. Our augurs were in a constant state of anxiety. Some thought us destined for defeat, but we made it as far as the Roman outskirts and the emperor was so pleased with Pilate’s legion, he sent us to Judea!”

  Servants slip in and out, filling cups. Mother leans back on her chaise and says, “There were many bad omens at first. Even the emperor’s augurs feared the legion might be wiped out.”

  “There was no fear in our house,” Thais says. “We had Claudia to reassure us.”

  Curious eyes swivel toward me and she grins behind a handful of grapes. Irritation burns through me. “I thought we weren’t going to speak of that in front of others, Thais,” I say sweetly. Her nasty little smirk makes me want to throttle her.

  Pilate asks, “What do you mean?”

  “My little sister has dreams that foretell the future. She dreamt of your victory in Gaul before it happened.”

  Heat rises in my face and I sip my wine, pretending not to care. Pilate stares at me intently, his expression unreadable. “Dream seers are rare.”

  “I don’t claim to be one,” I answer.

  “But if your dreams come true, it makes you one.” His eyes linger on mine.

  One of Quintus’ friends asks, “Have you dreamed lately?”

  Memories enter my head of Pilate’s hands on me, the touch of his lips on mine. I turn to him and say, “Yes, but not about the legion!” Looking at Pilate, I sip my wine and his expression changes into curious amusement. We flirt across the table.

  Father lifts his cup for a refill. “Fidelus ordered wine yesterday for a banquet honoring your return, Lucius. He must be proud.”

  Pilate shifts his attention to my father and his eyes harden. “I doubt that.”

  “Tell us of Judea,” Mother encourages. “Is it true, what they say about it? Is it hot and full of heathens?”

  Stabbing a piece of meat with his knife, Quintus laughs. “Heathens are what they call us! I have not seen all of it. We spent most of our time in Jerusalem.”

  “Is it beautiful?” I ask.

  Wind stirs the draperies and Pilate shakes his head. “It’s a lawless city full of renegades and insurgents. Our governor faces daily riots in the streets over taxes, and the Jews speak often of a new ‘messiah’ to liberate them from Rome.”

  Everyone laughs except me. I wait until it dies down and say, “They’d crave no messiah if Rome wasn’t so hard on them.”

  Mother stares at me in horror, her cup halfway to her mouth. Pilate leans back on his cushion. “Is that your opinion?”

  “That depends… do I speak before the Commander of the Fifth Legion or a friend?”

  His eyes darken, sending shivers down my spine. “Both share the same views, regardless of which sits before you.”

  “Yes, it is my opinion that Rome is harsh on the Judeans.”

  Concerned, Father starts to reprimand me but Pilate lifts his hand. “No, let her speak. You assume, Claudia, that kindness toward them would make a difference. It will not. You have not seen the streets of Jerusalem, the land of Judea, or their blatant hatred of our ‘pagan’ civilization. They scorn our gods, refuse to submit to Caesar, and preach that their ways alone are right.”

  “Not all of them feel that way.”

  Smiling, he answers, “Not all of them are like your father’s servants.”

  My face burns and I tighten my grip on my wine cup.

  “Pilate is right,” Quintus says. “That Rome could change the mind of the Judeans isn’t possible. There is only one way to govern Judea—with force. Gratus is a fool and does nothing to command their respect. He constantly submits to the authority of the high priest.”

  “I’ve never known you to be so cynical of the Jews before,” Father says, disappointment in his tone.

  Quintus swirls his wine and smiles ruefully. “Nine months in Judea has changed my views.”

  Unease quiets the table and after a beat Lucilla asks, “Have you heard of the new Praetorian Guard?”

  “The legionaries speak of little else!” Pilate lets a servant pour him more wine. “Half my men want to be part of the Emperor’s Guard!”

  Catching his eye, Mother asks, “Will you try for a position, Quintus?”

  “They’re only interested in the best soldiers. That means Pilate.”

  Father lowers his cup. “Yes, I did hear rumors about that. Sejanus is impressed with your military success.”

  “Wouldn’t Lucius be of better use to Rome as a general than an emperor’s guard?” I ask.

  Laughing, Pilate asks, “Don’t you want me in Rome, Claudia?”

  “I want you wherever you’re happiest; is that in Rome?”

  His eyes dance at me and with a smile, I turn to the guest next to me. After supper, Pilate wanders into the courtyard. Leaving my sisters behind, I follow him. Wind teases my tunic and hair as I approach.

  “Your opinions have grown bold since last we met,” he remarks, glancing at me.

  Gloom closes in around us as we walk together. “Do you want me to be demure and withdrawn?”

  “No, I much prefer it when a woman shares her opinion.” Pilate smiles and looks toward the distant, rising city, ablaze in the darkness. Hundreds of lights glow against the sky, torches blazing atop the walls. “I’d forgotten how magnificent she is at night.”

  We enter the shadows under the verandah and I lean against a column. “Will you stay the night?”

  “I’d like that, anything to avoid returning home.” Pilate steps nearer and my heart quickens. He pushes a strand of hair behind my ear and leans toward me. Footsteps sound on the verandah above and he hesitates, his lips above mine.

  Quintus’ voice drifts to us through the vines. “I know you’re disappointed in me, Father.”

  My hand rests against Pilate’s chest, my body straining toward his as we listen. Every muscle in my body tenses with excitement.

  “Why do you think that?”

  Leaves rustle. “I saw your face, though you tried to hide it. You aren’t pleased with my opinion of the Jews.”

  Father sounds tired. “Not all Jews are the same.”

  “And not all of them are like Avram! Judea is a pit of vipers!”

  Pilate’s forehead nearly touches
mine, his hand against my throat.

  “Is that your opinion or Pilate’s?”

  His face moves away from mine as he looks up into the darkness. My fingers curl around the nape of his tunic.

  Quintus’ voice sharpens. “What do you mean by that?”

  “He is his father’s son and you know what Fidelus is like.”

  Light spills behind us as a door opens. Pilate swiftly pulls away from me and vanishes into the darkness. I feel cold without him and rub my arms as Lucilla appears. Taking in my expression, she asks, “Were you with Pilate?”

  “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Ducking around her, I enter the house.

  She hurries to catch up with me, her face alight with curiosity. “Did he try anything?”

  “No!” I quicken my pace and she catches my arm, jerking me to a stop.

  Her green eyes search my face. “I don’t believe you.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  Following me down the hall, she says, “Don’t pretend to be so virtuous. You would have him in a minute! I do not blame you! He’s the most powerful young man in Rome!”

  My dream swirls through my head. I feel his lips at my throat, his hands at my waist. Heat rushes into my cheeks. “Pilate has been around this house since he was old enough to walk. He looks on me as a sister, that’s all.”

  “If he looks at you like he looks at his sister, I’d be concerned about incest. I saw him eyeing you at dinner. You should accept him, if he asks you. It would help Father.”

  I turn on her. “How would being Pilate’s mistress help Father?”

  “You know how people look at him since he left the senate. They no longer remember him much less respect him. If you belonged to Pilate, that would change. It would be advantageous for all of us.” Her hand squeezes mine and she rejoins the others.

  Footsteps approach and Pilate enters through the garden. “I’ve had my horse brought up. I should return home.”

  Disappointed, I tease, “You aren’t going to an orgy, I hope.”

  “Orgies are for legionaries and senators, not commanders.” He smiles at me but sadness lurks in his eyes.