by Lance Wilson
“Where are you camped?” Nagamasa says smiling at the sight of his old servant.
“Ostia!” Cicero says happy that plans might finally be moving
“Tell the men the general lives. Find me, find me!” Shouts to his servant as the guards pull him away.
As the guards pull Nagamasa away from Cicero, Cicero manages to give Nagamasa the pouch he was carrying. Nagamasa hides it inside his palms. Later, in his cell, Nagamasa opens the leather pouch handed to him by Cicero, inside he finds a coin, turned into a necklace, the coin on both sides has the crest for the hitori clan. He kisses it tenderly, looking at the it and remembering the times with his family. As he does that Juba slowly comes up from behind him.
“Can they hear you?” Juba asks calmly looking at the coin he knows Nagamasa has lost much
“Who?” Nagamasa asks turning his head to Juba his eyes moist with the reunion of his coin.
“Your family, in the after life?” Juba asks looking over at the coin watching Nagamasa flip it in his hands.
“Oh, yes.” Nagamasa says smiling at him.
“What do you say to them?” Juba asks calmly hoping to learn more about this great general.
“To my boy, I tell him I will see him again soon, and to keep his heels down when he’s riding his horse. To my wife… that is not your business.” he says and smiles with a slight chuckle.
The two laugh together and Nagamasa hold tight his belongings, sending a look of victory to Juba. A look of peace on his face as he clutches the coin then drapes it around his neck.
Back in the palace Commodus is walking around like a sulking child. Many of his soldiers have seen this and have lost respect for him. But the senators know that many of those lords that came before him (with the exception of his own father) were much like this and treat it as they always have. They let him sulk and make sure to get on his good side.
“And now they love Nagamasa for his mercy, so I can’t kill him or it makes him even more merciful. The whole thing is like a great… nightmare,” he says like a pouting child throwing a fit
“He is defying you. His every victory is an act of defiance, the mob sees this, and so do the Senate. Every day he lives they grow bolder. Kill him!” Falco a senator says smiling at him. It is easy enough to let his plans get laid when the lord is like this. He shall tell the lord what he wants to hear and become his best friend. Then when all is finished he shall be in the lord’s favor.
“No! I will not make a martyr of him.” Commodus says snarling at him. He can’t let Nagamasa
“I have been told of a certain sea snake which has a very unusual method of attracting its prey. It will lie at the bottom of the ocean as if wounded, then its enemies will approach and yet it will lie quite still and then its enemies will take little bites of it and yet it remains still.” Falco says leading him in a way that might solve his problems.
“So, we will lie still and let our enemies come to us and nibble… . have every senator followed.” Commodus says now with a smile.
The Senator is right if he just lays there and lets Nagamasa make his play for power then he can see exactly what they play is and can find the proper counter. To try and counter it without knowing his exact plans is a fool’s errand. And by having the senators followed he will know which ones he can trust and which ones are his enemies. Nagamasa will have to use a senator in order to have his voice heard in the nobility of Highover.
The following day the gladiators are training inside the gladiator school. Nagamasa walks through the camp, making his way to a gate where the crowds watch the gladiators on display. Nagamasa passes a guard who calls him by name. Nagamasa nods in recognition of the guard. All, even those who watch guard over him, now admires Nagamasa. When Nagamasa reaches the gate he finds Cicero is waiting. Once he is close enough he reaches through the gate and places his hand behind Cicero’s head, and pulls him close. But this is not a gesture of anger but a gesture of friendship. For as he does this he lowers his head, if not for the gate their two foreheads would be touching.
“Cicero, my old friend! I thought I had seen you for the last time.” he says enjoying the company of his old servant and best friend.
“We thought you were dead!” Cicero says his voice cracking a little with the relief that his master is not dead.
“Close. How long have the men been in Ostia?” Nagamasa says his plans slowly moving piece by piece in his head.
“All winter.” He says and watches the look of shock on Nagamasa’s face.
Has it really been so long since his last battle? Is it spring already. How much time has he lost in this life as some slave to fight for others amusement. No matter the time for reflection on that loose will come later, he must focus on the here and now.
“How do they look?” he asks knowing that those kind of months without action can wear on a soldier.
“Fat and bored.” Cicero says with a chuckle.
“Who is in command?” Nagamasa asks calmly hoping it is someone he knows and trusts.
“Some fool from Rome” he says with a wave of his hand, who leads them shouldn’t be a concern to him. The men will follow him regardless of who the lord has put in charge. They will handle it if need be
“How soon do you think they could be ready to fight?” Nagamasa continues with a smile at his gesture. So the men are still loyal to him, him and no one else.
“For you, tomorrow.” Cicero says with pride in his voice. They are some of the most skilled warriors from the remains of the old Oda army. With the discipline of the hitori clan. With word that there true general is alive they will drop everything and fall into there old ways.
“I need you to do something for me.” Nagamasa says and leans closer to his old servant.
The guard takes his leave seeing this. With respect to Nagamasa he will allow this. They have seen the new lord Oda, and they know that Nagamasa wishes his downfall. The guard was a true and loyal subject the old Oda lord and after long thought would rather have this Usurper on the thrown then some child that pouts and wines when things do not go his way.
Nagamasa’s plans go in to affect almost immediately. That vary afternoon in the city at the bazaar, Cicero waits, anxiously looking about the street, a children’s play is underway A Cassius impersonator entertains the crowd,
“Come! Be seated. If you haven’t been in the arena, you can see it from here. The Giant Nagamasa is defeating our Emperor Commodus. What are we do
To?” he says behind the curtains as puppet with the likeness of Commodus and Nagamasa play out his words to the laughter of the crowd.
Cicero watches only for a small moment before suddenly his eyes catch the sight of Maeraer as she is carried on her litter through the crowd. He runs to meet them.
“Milady! I served your father at Vindebona!” He says but the hoping to get her attention but gets nothing
“Back!” A guard snarls at him with a fierce gleam in his eye
“Milady, I served your father at Vindebona.” He repeats, she must listen, without her his master’s plan cannot come to flourishing.
“Back!” The same guard says one more time but this time he fingers his dagger just so to let him know this will be the last warning.
“And then served the General Nagamasa. I serve him still!” Cicero says playing his trump card hoping it will have the affect desired.
“Stop! Stop! Stand back!” Maeraer says to her coachmen, Cicero has finally gotten her attention.
“The General sends word, he will meet your politician.” Cicero says kneeling beside the coach and whispering so no one but her can hear.
“For your loyalty, soldier.” Maeraer says a sparkle now in her eyes. Finally things are beginning to change for her benefit.
“Thank you Milady.” Cicero says with a polite bow and then dashes off, his job do
ne.
Maeraer watches him go and smiles at the sun. It has begun. Commodus has underestimated his enemy and in that she can find his undoing. She can only hope that she can play this right and that her dear brother remains blind to her doings.
It is not tell the following day that Maeraer can arrange the meeting between Nagamasa and Gracchus. She knows that time is of the essence but she also knows that more important then time is secrecy. It is the following day around midday when she has Proximo bring Nagamasa into a central room where she is waiting. Nagamasa smiles at the sight of her. She is dressed in fine clothing with a dark purple almost black hooded cloak around herself. As he walks in she turns her head from him, she cannot look him in the eyes. To look into those eyes is to know that she is doing harm to him. He was once a great general and now looks at him, a gladiator, and a killer for the mob.
“Leave us. Senator Gracchus.” Maeraer says and gesturers to a door where Gracchus enters.
“General. I hope my coming here today is enough evidence that you can trust me.” Gracchus says extending his hands to show that he is unarmed and of no threat.
“The Senate is with you?” Nagamasa says getting right down to business, like them, he understands that they are out of time.
“The senate? Yes I can speak for them.” Gracchus asks cocking his head in confusion.
“You can buy my freedom and smuggle me out of Highover?” Nagamasa asks turning his back and beginning to pace back and forth.
“To what end?” Knowing that he could easily buy his freedom, but he doesn’t see how that will help Highover if he leaves.
“Get me outside the city. Have fresh horses ready to take me to Ostia. My army is encamped there. By nightfall of the second day I shall return at the head of 5,000 men.” Nagamasa says and smiles at them. He shall take Highover by force of arms. It is the way of the hitori clan, the way Musashi taught him.
“But the legion is under new commanders, Loyal to Commodus.” Maeraer says pointing out the flaw in his plan.
“When my men see me alive you shall see where their loyalties lies.” Nagamasa says knowing his men; they will follow him, to the ends of the earth and beyond.
“This is madness. No army has entered Highover for 100 years. I will not trade one dictatorship for another.” Gracchus says outraged that he would dare march on Highover and take it by force.
“Time for half measures and talk is over. Senator… .” Nagamasa says growling at the senator.
“So, after your glorious coup, what then? You will take your 5,000 warriors and leave?” Gracchus says crossing his arms in front of him in disbelief.
“I will leave. The soldiers will stay for your protection, under the command of the senate.” Nagamasa says knowing that they will not believe him, but he doesn’t care, he never wanted leadership. Not of Highover, not of the Oda clan.
“So, once all of Highover is yours, you’ll just give it back to the people. Tell me why?” Gracchus says amazed at the idea that a man can just give that up. What kind of elf is this man?
“Because that was the last wish of a dying man. I will kill Commodus, the fate of Rome, I leave to you.” Nagamasa says and turns tenderly to Maeraer.
It is odd to see her like this, such a strong and cunning woman. When they were younger and he had just begun his service to her father she was just a young girl. Scared of soldiers, sweet and innocent. Not a dark or treacherous thought in her heart. But time has changed them, time has changed them both.
“The lord Oda trusted you. His daughter trusts you. I will trust you. But we have little time. Give me two days and I will buy your freedom. And you, you stay alive. Or I will be dead. Now I must go.” Gracchus says and walks away.
Maeraer smiles, but it is a nervous smile. And then she too leaves the room. Nagamasa is then taken back to his fellows but not for long. He still has much planning to do. He talks to the guard that is outside the rooms and soon the guard takes him to Proximo as he asked. Once inside the office he tells Proximo the plan that he and the senator have come up with. Proximo listens intently pacing back and forth. Finally when Nagamasa is finished he turns and stares at him.
“This won’t work. The emperor knows too much. And as for me, it’s becoming dangerous.” Proximo says and looks outside to see a guard attempting to overhear their talk.
“You will be paid on my return. I give you my word.” Nagamasa says sure that is all that matters to Proximo.
“Your word! What if you don’t return?” Proximo says looking hard at him.
“Do you remember what it was to have trust, Proximo?” Nagamasa says now looking just as hard at the hardened old warrior.
“Who am I to trust?” Proximo says smiling at him
“I will kill Commodus.” Nagamasa says snarling at him. Why must he be so stubborn?
“Why do I want that? He makes me rich. I know, Nagamasa, that you are a man of your word, General. I know that you would die for honor. You would die for Highover. You would die for the memory of your ancestors. But I, on the other hand, am an entertainer. Guard!” Proximo says lowering his head telling him the truth, he is a coward and this whole thing now scares the hell out of him.
“He killed the man who set you free.” Nagamasa says as the guard walks in and puts a hand on his shoulder.
Proximo says nothing and Nagamasa is lead back to the other gladiators.
It is late in the night and Maeraer walks the palace. Her thoughts are on the plan and on Nagamasa, they were lovers once. Before she had found her husband. But her husband is long since dead and she has longed for the company of a man in her life for too long. Nagamasa was a good man, if he could trust her again, she might help him find the love they once shared. She knows that within herself the fire had never left. As all these thoughts race through her mind she finds herself walking into a room where Commodus awaits her. She smiles at him and bows slightly. Then as a gesture that she did not with to interrupt him she turns and begins to leave.
“Where have you been? I sent for you.” Commodus says his voice light and airy
“Please, brother. What troubles you?” She asks turning once again and faces him with a smile on her face with a slight undertone of concern for him. Her mother Noe taught her this game well.
“Does Gracchus have a new lover?” Commodus says, his words are a simple question but they both know the meaning. He has found out about their plan and knows that Gracchus is a key part. He is telling her this to watch her squirm, to see her reaction, to see how well she can play this game.
“I don’t know.” Maeraer says a look of airs on her face now. The questions are simple and unimportant, but there meanings cannot be misunderstood. He knows.
“I thought you had seen him. He infects everyone like a putrid fever. For the health of Highover, the Senate must be bled and he will be bled too, very soon.” Commodus says smiling at her. How clever is she, how far will she go for this.
“But not tonight.” Maeraer says cocking her head at him. So that is it, she has one night to make this work. He is giving her this one chance, much like the hunters give a fox a head start.
“Do you remember what our father once said? It’s a dream, a frightful dream… life is. Do you think that is true?” he asks lowering his head.
This simple act confuses her, she knew Commodus always to be confused but now she is beginning to think that perhaps he is a bit unbalanced.
“I don’t know.” Maeraer says not sure if this is still part of the test or perhaps he has changed and they are on a new field.
“I think it is. And I have only you to share it with.” he says and walks up to her laying his head on her shoulder now, wrapping his arms around her.
With terror in her eyes, she leads him to his bed at the other side of the room. Slowly she lays him down but gently he pulls her down on top of him. A
t first she lays still, fearful of what might happen. Commodus gently puts his finger to her mouth and tells her “open your mouth”. Hesitantly she opens her mouth slightly as he places his finger to her lips and then to his. Tenderly he presses his head to her shoulder, pulling her closer, a tear in his eye.
“You know I love you.” Commodus says a sad child like quality in his voice now.
“And I love you.” She replies, fear mounting at the thought of what may occur
She is lucky though and Commodus soon lays his head down and falls asleep. Maeraer gently and quietly gets up and leaves.
It is in the middle of the night and Proximo’s quickly brings Maeraer to Nagamasa’s cell. He cannot believe that he is doing this. But Maeraer has told him the score of things and with confirmation that it was Commodus that killed the lord Oda, the man he admired so much. How could he not help Nagamasa in his destruction?
“Congratulations, General. You have very persuasive friends”, Proximo calls to Nagamasa.
Once the door is unlocked Proximo barks orders to the other gladiators to leave. They look to Nagamasa for approval and he gives it to them with a nod of the head.
“My brother has had Gracchus arrested. We dared not wait any longer. You must leave tonight. At midnight Proximo will come and release you, your servant Cicero will be waiting with horses.” Maeraer says looking hopeful at him. Please let his work.
“You have done all this?” Nagamasa says in shock.
“Yes.” Maeraer says a tear starting to form
“You risk too much.” Nagamasa says and gently wipes the tear away with his thumb
“I have much to pay for.” She says and looks down in shame.
“You have nothing to pay for. You love your son. You are strong for him.” Nagamasa says smiling at her lifting he head to look into his face.
I am tired of being strong. My brother hates all the world. And you, most of all.” She says another tear now running down her cheek.