by Tanya Bird
Nerva filled it to the brim. ‘Good.’ Handing the cup to Marcus, he picked up his own and raised it.
‘All right. What are we drinking to?’
Nerva thought for a moment. ‘To General Paulus Cordius.’
Lifting his cup, Marcus added, ‘And the wig-wearing ladies of Rome.’
Chapter 19
Despite Nerva’s reluctance to recommit himself to a political career, it was not long before he was pulled back in. He did not know whether his father actually needed his help campaigning or if he was just trying to awaken his son’s political interests. Either way, Nerva was grateful for the distraction. He attended all the meetings his father did not have the time or stomach for, dinners with business owners, senators, patricians, investors, and anyone prepared to support his agenda.
There was one benefit of being busy: it meant his personal life suffered. He could no longer be dragged around the city by his mother, wasting hours eating and drinking with daughters of various acquaintances. Not one to be beaten, Aquila asked Rufus to keep her informed of Nerva’s schedule and found ways around it. One woman in particular kept popping up all over the place. Camilla Bavius was the niece of Senator Florus Bavius. She was entirely appropriate, but the only thing Nerva felt in her presence was painfully bored. He spent much of their conversations asking her to repeat herself, because despite his best efforts, his mind always wandered when she spoke. She was attractive, he could not take that away from her, and yet whenever she found a way to accidentally touch him, he felt only indifference.
Nerva was on his way home from a meeting when he spotted a woman standing out front of his house. As he drew closer, he noticed something familiar about her. The moment she turned and looked in his direction, a grin spread across his face. It was Mila. She immediately broke into a run towards him, and he could not hold in the laughter as she flung herself at him. Lifting her off the ground, he hugged her so tight that he felt her ribs bend. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’ He placed her back on the ground and held her at arm’s length to look at her properly.
‘I had originally planned on visiting your grave, but now I find you alive.’
‘I wrote to tell you I was fine.’
‘And I came to see it for myself.’
He let go of her, still in shock that she was standing before him. He had not seen her in almost three years. ‘Please tell me you did not travel all the way from Giza to prove me wrong.’
Mila made a face at him. ‘The letter my mother wrote made your death sound imminent.’
‘A clever tactic to ensure a visit from her daughter.’
‘I suspect you might be right.’ Mila glanced back at the house. ‘Aquila claims my mother is far too busy for social calls, so I have yet to see her.’
Nerva winced. ‘She is picking up right where you two left off.’
‘I think my sudden return has her reeling.’ Mila looked quite pleased by that. ‘So, if not dead, how have you been?’
‘Bored.’
‘Then go back to Britannia.’
He shook his head. ‘I will take boredom over the highlands any day. It was always going to be my last campaign.’ Nerva let out a breath. ‘You know I hate to admit it, but it really is good to see you.’
‘I was always good for boredom.’
‘You were.’ Reaching up, he gave her braid a tug. ‘Did Remus travel with you?’
‘The whole family.’
‘Everyone?’
‘Except Dulcia. She remains in Giza with Nero and the children.’
Nerva folded his arms. ‘I still cannot believe she convinced you all to move there.’
‘She is rather persuasive for one so quiet. Did you receive her letter?’
Nerva nodded. ‘What was Nero’s reaction to another daughter?’
Mila let out a noisy breath. ‘The man is completely besotted.’ She watched him for a moment. ‘They both wanted to come and see you, but with a new baby…’
‘A sensible decision given my recent experience of travelling on a ship.’
Mila’s expression turned serious. ‘So many dead.’
Nerva nodded as Brei popped into his head. She always did whenever he spoke of that journey. ‘I look forward to seeing the children, but it might have to wait until tomorrow. I am attending a dinner tonight with some wealthy businessmen visiting from the south.’
Mila waved him off. ‘The boys barely remember you, and Asha has waited years to see you—what is one more night?’ She studied him for a moment. ‘You despise such dinner parties. Why attend at all?’
‘Obligation.’
‘Ah.’
‘The guest of honour is a little… unrefined. Father is under the impression that I am better suited to this particular gathering.’
Mila pulled a distasteful face. ‘Is that his way of saying you are a bit of a pleb?’
‘Have you not heard? The common folk love me. Anyway, there are worse things that could be said about me.’
‘Much worse,’ Mila agreed.
‘You have not changed one bit.’ His face turned serious. ‘Why not come with me tonight?’
Mila’s eyes widened slightly. ‘To your tedious dinner party? Do you not have a wife to drag along to those things yet?’
Again, Brei popped into his mind. At some point he needed her out of his head. ‘Believe me when I say Mother is working on it.’
Mila’s expression softened. ‘Oh, dear. Your wife will be absolute perfection.’
‘Exactly.’
‘You are bored already and you are not even wed yet.’
He had forgotten how well his sister knew him. ‘How would you like to meet the frontrunner?’
‘Did your mother choose this frontrunner?’
He gave her a look that said she should know the answer to that.
‘I see,’ Mila said. ‘I will not pretend I am not intrigued.’
‘Then come tonight.’
She took a step back. ‘Nice try.’
‘What if I told you there was going to be a gladiator demonstration?’ He knew by her expression that it was the right hook.
‘Actually, I saw one just this morning.’ Seeing his confusion, she added, ‘The twins were arguing.’
He stepped closer. ‘How would you like to see actual gladiators fighting this evening while you are stuffing your face with fantastic food?’
‘What sort of gladiators?’
He almost had her. Two more words would seal the deal. ‘Female gladiators.’
She sucked in a breath, feigning shock. ‘How very scandalous. I am coming.’ She smiled. ‘Will you be travelling by litter, or shall we use our legs like regular people?’
‘When have I ever travelled by litter?’
She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. ‘I do not know what sort of impression you are trying to make on your new lady friend. Perhaps you can come and collect me on your way there? That way you can see Remus and the children.’
‘By children, I assume you are referring to Asha, the twins, and Felix and Albaus.’
Another smile from her. ‘I gave the address to Nona in hope that it reaches my mother.’
‘I shall see that it does.’ He gave Mila’s shoulder a squeeze. ‘I do not think I said it before, but thank you.’
‘It is just dinner.’ Her tone was playful.
‘For dragging your family back to Rome for my funeral.’
She shook her head, dismissing his gratitude. ‘They will be so disappointed. All this way for nothing.’
He gave her a gentle push. ‘Go on. Back to the slums where you belong.’
‘Actually, we rented a house.’
Nerva raised his eyebrows. ‘The spice trade is good, then?’
‘Very good.’
‘How long are you planning on staying?’
She threw her hands up. ‘No idea. Maybe a few months, if we can keep out of trouble for that long.’
‘If your past record is anything to go on—’
He turned and climbed the steps to the front door, looking up to gauge the time. He had a few hours at best to organise a gladiator demonstration before Mila realised he was an enormous liar.
Brei stood over Otho, panting. A single drop of blood fell from her lip, and she wiped at it before stepping back. She offered him her hand, but his pride prevented him from taking it.
‘Suit yourself,’ she said as he slowly got to his feet and brushed sand off his backside.
‘You’re actually mad. Has anyone ever told you that?’ His expression was deadly serious.
Brei rolled her eyes. ‘You tell me all the time.’ She looked over to where Gallus stood talking with a man she did not recognise. They had been speaking the entire time she had been training, their gazes drifting in her direction every so often. Seeing he had her attention, Gallus gestured for her to join them. She exchanged a look with Otho.
‘Do you think I’m in trouble for going too soft on you?’ she asked.
Otho shook his head and bent to collect his weapon. ‘Better give me your sword. Gallus won’t take kindly to you approaching him armed.’
Handing over her weapon, she wiped her hands on her loincloth before wandering over to Gallus. Her eyes moved over the other man who was well presented. A businessman, perhaps.
‘That looks nasty,’ Gallus said when she came to a stop in front of them. He gestured to the large bruise on her thigh.
She shrugged. ‘Nothing broken.’
Gallus looked like a proud father whenever she said things like that. ‘I told you she was a force to be reckoned with, did I not?’ he said to the man.
The stranger nodded, his gaze sweeping the length of her. ‘She is most impressive. I look forward to this evening.’ He offered his arm to Gallus, who took hold of it, then left them.
Brei watched him walk away before speaking. ‘Who was that?’
‘A new client,’ Gallus replied, turning back to her. ‘Take the rest of the afternoon off. Go do something fun.’ He thought for a moment. ‘Though nothing too fun. We do not want you worn out before this evening’s performance.’
‘Rather short notice.’
‘For whom?’ He tutted. ‘I can be very accommodating for the right sum.’
That was very true of Gallus. ‘And who will I be fighting?’
The sponsor clapped his hands like an excited boy. ‘A legend. This woman will make every match prior to today seem like child’s play.’
Brei took in his rather gleeful expression. ‘To be fair, many of the previous matches have been child’s play.’ She could afford to be cocky because she was undefeated.
Gallus chuckled and gestured to the bag containing her clothes and shoes, and they strolled towards it. ‘This one has come out of retirement just for the occasion.’
‘She’s out of shape, then?’
‘Even if she were, she might still win. She was Rome’s best female gladiator in the years leading up to the ban.’
The ban. In 200 AD, the emperor had issued a decree banning single combat by women in the arena. It had only forced them underground.
Brei snatched up the bag and pulled out her tunic. ‘So she’s Roman?’
‘In every sense of the word.’ Gallus was grinning. ‘Remember everything Otho has taught you and you will be fine.’
Brei looked in the direction of the weapons room as she slipped on the tunic. ‘The only things he has taught me are the rules.’
‘Well, you can forget those.’ Another chuckle, his eyes shining. ‘Fausta seldom plays by the rules.’
When Nerva arrived to collect Mila from their house near the river, he was met at the door by a very excited Asha and two curious little brothers.
‘Goodness. You are not still growing, are you?’ he asked as he bent to kiss her cheek. ‘You will catch up to me soon.’
The girl blushed and pushed her brothers forwards. ‘Say hello to your uncle.’
Nerva bent and offered his arm to the five-year-olds. ‘You must forgive me for stealing your mother away for the evening.’
Caius wore a sheepish grin as he greeted his uncle. Atilius was sizing him up.
‘Father says Mother is not allowed near a weapon tonight,’ he said.
Nerva’s mouth twitched. ‘Your father is a very wise man.’
As if on cue, Remus appeared behind the boys, reaching over them to take Nerva’s arm and clapping him on the shoulder as he did so. ‘Good to see you looking so well. You had us worried.’ He glanced back. ‘Mila will never admit it to your face, but she was a mess when she got the news.’
‘The fact that you are here in Rome is testament to the fact.’ He looked past Remus. ‘Where are Felix and Albaus?’
‘Probably waiting outside,’ Mila said, appearing from another room and grabbing her palla from a hook on the wall. She pushed herself up onto her toes and kissed Remus as she wrapped it around herself, then bent down to the children. ‘Be good for your father.’
‘Ah, what do you mean, waiting outside?’ Nerva asked, already disapproving of her answer.
Remus cleared his throat. ‘It seems they are going with you.’
That was exactly what Nerva had been afraid of. ‘Why?’ He directed the question at his sister.
‘Albaus is my bodyguard,’ Mila replied, rising.
Nerva tilted his head. ‘What is it you think you need protecting from?’
Mila tried to come up with an answer. ‘Snobbery?’
‘It is not that kind of gathering.’
She moved closer and spoke in a quieter voice. ‘Albaus knows a man who knows a man—’
‘Of course he does.’
‘And he discovered that Fausta is fighting at a gathering tonight.’
Nerva crossed his arms. ‘She is the best female fighter in Rome, so I suggested her.’
Mila appeared offended by that statement. ‘The best is probably a stretch. You might remember, I beat her once.’
‘During training,’ Remus said with an amused expression.
‘It does not matter when, only that I won.’
At that moment, Felix and Albaus walked up behind Nerva.
‘All right,’ Felix said, hands raised in an exasperated gesture, ‘who got her started this time?’
Remus and the children pointed at Nerva.
‘I know, I know,’ Nerva said. ‘You think I would know better.’ He extended an arm to the tall mute, then to the dwarf. ‘If Albaus is playing bodyguard to Mila, what is your excuse for being there?’ he asked Felix.
‘For Albaus’s protection, of course.’
The children laughed, and Nerva shook his head.
‘Of course. Everyone ready to go, then?’
Remus rested his hands on his daughter’s shoulders. ‘Please keep my wife out of trouble.’ When Mila turned to glare at him, he winked at her.
As the four of them stepped down onto the street, Nerva felt a hum of contentment. Realising how much he had missed them all, he threw an arm around his sister.
‘All right,’ Mila said. ‘You have until we get there to catch me up on the last two years. I want to hear everything.’
His arm fell away. ‘No you do not.’
She cast a stern look at him. ‘Yes I do. Something is different about you, and I want to know what has you so… defeated.’ She glanced over her shoulder to ensure Felix and Albaus were not listening in before continuing. ‘What happened in Britannia?’
Nerva watched the road in front of them. ‘A lot. I would not even know where to begin.’
‘I see.’ She drew a long breath and released it. ‘Just start at the beginning.’
Chapter 20
The two women prepared in the laundry of the grand house, neither speaking but occasionally catching the other glancing in their direction. Brei’s opponent appeared to be around thirty. She was blonde, bleached judging by her roots, and had more muscle on her than the average m
an walking the streets of Rome.
The small party of fifteen or so were dining in the garden. An area had been cleared for the performance, but the hosts wanted everyone nice and full first. The scent of baked fish and lemon wafted through the house, making Brei’s stomach growl. She would eat after the fight.
Otho appeared in the doorway. He had been assigned the role of supervising her. ‘I think they’re finally ready for you.’ He waited for Fausta to stand before continuing. ‘You wait for the drums to speed up. Understand?’
Fausta’s response came in the form of an eye roll before she pushed past him, her shoulder clipping his. She had arrived alone and was not interested in being managed by a man five years her junior with half her skill. Brei smiled to herself. In another life, they might have been friends.
‘Follow me,’ Otho said, leading Brei outside.
The women waited in the shadows of the garden, six feet between them. Brei took a few calming breaths, smelling rosemary and a flower she could not place. She could hear the seated guests talking, tinkers of laughter drifting through the potted plants and trees.
‘I’m not going to go easy on you just because you’re smaller than me,’ Fausta said, her voice a whisper. It was the first time she had spoken since they had been thrown into a room together.
Brei looked at her in the dark while adjusting her grip on her shield, the one Gallus had made just for her. It was an exact replica of something she would have used back home. ‘And I'm not going to go easy on you just because you’re Roman.’
Fausta shifted her weight from one foot to the other, eyes on the light peeking through the trees. A drum began beating slowly behind them, and they both fell silent. The beat was steady, building tension that was palpable. Neither of them moved. Then the drums stopped. The only sound was their breathing and the distant murmurs of their audience.
Boom, boom, boom.
The drum was faster this time, and the women turned to face one another. Fausta jumped up and down on the spot a few times, warming her muscles and stretching her neck from side to side. The sword twisted in Brei’s hand, and she slowed her breathing. She was ready.