A Charioteer's Promise

by Tanya Bird

  As she went to step past Claudius, he caught her hand.

  ‘Do not let Livia scare you off, my dear.’

  Dulcia looked down at the hand wrapping her wrist. ‘I am not afraid of your wife. I am afraid of what I will say if I stay. The slave half of me will tolerate her insults, like every slave in this household. But the Papias half will not sit quietly forever.’

  Claudius let go of her. Junia smiled into her drink.

  ‘Always the quiet ones who surprise you,’ the senator’s wife said.

  Everyone laughed except for Livia. Manius stood, but instead of defending her, he said, ‘I will have the litter take you home.’

  Whenever he touched her, she always had the same instinct—to pull away. It was a reaction she could no longer afford. She let him guide her from the room and out into the atrium where the air was not stifled by the scent of cured meats and snobbery.

  ‘What is the matter with you?’ Manius asked once they were alone. ‘You do not normally let my mother get to you.’

  Dulcia drew a breath. ‘To be clear, she always gets to me. There are only so many evenings in a row that I can bow my head and take her insults.’ Dulcia stared up at him, her frustration building. ‘And you let her speak to me however she pleases.’

  ‘What would you have me say?’

  ‘I should not have to ask you to say anything. Is it wrong to assume you might speak up without being prompted?’ When he did not reply, she added, ‘Unless you are enjoying the ridicule as much as she is. Is this your way of punishing me?’

  He looked around, visibly agitated. ‘It is difficult to defend your honour given recent events.’

  She could not bring herself to regret the night she had spent with Nero. On the contrary, she found herself playing it over and over in her mind, terrified she might forget some of the details. Shame made her look down.

  ‘Come with me,’ Manius said, reaching for her hand and leading her away.

  She glanced in the direction of the garden. ‘Where are we going?’

  He did not reply, instead ushering her through a door at the far end of the room.

  Dulcia looked around at the table scattered with parchment and scrolls. ‘What are we doing in here?’

  He tugged her around the corner and pushed her against the wall. Before she could say anything, he was pressed against her, kissing her, one hand pinning her shoulder, the other gripping her ribcage. It was an entirely new level of kissing for them, one where his tongue probed forcefully. She wanted to pull away, but the wall was behind her, and she could go no farther. His hand went to her thigh, pulling up her skirt. She pushed against his chest with both hands and turned her head to the side.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Her attempts to separate their bodies were futile, the weight of him making the task impossible.

  ‘You can skip the act now. We both know you are not the virtuous maiden you painted at the beginning of all this.’ He moved to kiss her again, and she ducked under his arm and slipped out of the tight gap.

  ‘Have you lost your mind?’ she asked, wiping at her painted mouth. ‘What if your father walks in?’

  He exhaled, regaining control of himself. ‘My father is not a shy man. He will likely just carry on with whatever it is he came in for.’

  She knew that was probably true. He was the sort of man who would take a seat and watch with interest. ‘I… I am not comfortable here.’

  ‘Fine.’ The patience was gone from his voice. ‘Let us go somewhere else.’

  She swallowed down the word no, which threatened to come out as a scream. ‘We… we should wait.’

  He turned, leaning on one foot, and regarded her for the longest time. ‘With me you wish to wait? The man you are to wed?’

  She knew it made no sense, but she felt a deep sense of betrayal to Nero with every kiss, every touch. The night she had gone to him, she had bared every inch of herself, and he had claimed every part of her. There was nothing left for Manius. ‘I might have made mistakes in the past, but I can make better choices now.’

  Running his hands down his face, Manius stepped back. ‘But he did not have to wait, did he?’

  Nero had waited three years—they both had. ‘I thought we were never to mention him again?’

  ‘Difficult when he remains between us.’

  She hugged herself. ‘I have agreed to everything you have asked of me. Must I give you this too?’

  He walked over and sat on the edge of the table. ‘Fine. Leave.’ He waved his hand, unable to even look at her. ‘Take the litter and go.’

  She turned for the door.

  ‘But Dulcia.’ She stilled, waiting. ‘Once we are wed, you will have to let me in. I expect to visit your bed, and I expect an enthusiastic partner with children to show for it. These are not unreasonable requests of a wife.’

  She nodded. ‘I understand.’

  He ran a finger along one of the scrolls as he considered his words. ‘The incident at the forum, with your friend.’

  Licinia. He could not even say her name.

  ‘I did what I had to do.’ Looking up, he added, ‘You will thank me one day.’

  She frowned, searching for signs of remorse. ‘If I had refused to go with you that morning, if I had said no, would Licinia have been buried alive?’

  ‘Yes.’ He answered without hesitation.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, unable to continue looking at him. ‘I find that difficult to swallow, that you would do that to an innocent person.’

  ‘It was not just my reputation I was protecting, but yours and your father’s. You really should be thanking me.’ He drew a breath. ‘I want a place in the senate. Your father wants my support, my money, and wants you to marry well. Everyone wins.’

  Everyone except for her. ‘I should go.’

  ‘I have not finished.’

  His tone stopped her more than his words. ‘All right.’

  He cleared his throat. ‘If you had refused, I would have named the man she fornicated with.’

  She looked at him tiredly. ‘There is no man. The entire thing was fabricated.’

  ‘I would have named him nonetheless.’ His jaw ticked. ‘Do you know what would have happened to that man?’

  A nod. ‘He would have been buried alive with her.’

  ‘Yes.’

  She realised at that moment who he would have named. ‘Do you really hate him that much?’

  He thought for a moment. ‘It would have been so easy. He loiters around that temple like a bad smell, waiting for you.’

  She tilted her head. ‘Why would you tell me such a thing?’

  ‘So you understand.’ Walking over, he cupped her face and kissed her gently. ‘Look at the life I am offering you. All you have to do is take it and not look back.’ When she stiffened beneath his touch, he added, ‘Do not be naive. I did what any man would do in that situation.’

  She stepped away, reaching behind her for the doorframe. ‘You are wrong. Not every man would do such a thing.’

  He rubbed at his jaw. ‘Let me tell you something about your orphan rat. He is just like me. We all want what we want, and we all fight dirty to get it—even him.’

  ‘Good evening, Manius.’ With that, she left the room.

  Chapter 26

  The water ran red beneath Nero’s hands as he rubbed them together. Blood stained his cuticles and fingernails, a constant reminder of who he had become.

  ‘It seems to be all here,’ Gallus called.

  Nero shook the water from his hands. ‘Of course it’s all there.’ He turned. ‘I’m no thief.’

  Gallus walked over and clapped him on the back. ‘Of course not.’

  He was many other things, but not a thief.

  Coins jingled in the sponsor’s hand. ‘Payment.’ He dropped them into Nero’s open palm. ‘Best take the evening off.’

  Nero shook his head. ‘I want to fight.’

  Gallus’s eyebrows rose. ‘Fight?’ He nodded towards Nero’s s
wollen hand. ‘Can you even hold a sword?’

  Nero stretched his fingers out and winced. ‘Sure.’

  ‘You must really love this girl,’ Gallus laughed.

  He really did. And now he had a plan—a very expensive plan. He was going to get Dulcia out of the city. It was not going to be easy with Manius’s men watching her, plus many of the city guards were paid directly from the man’s deep pockets. Yes, he had learned a thing or two about the charioteer over the previous few days, and he knew the only way he stood a chance of getting Dulcia away from that man was to bribe their way out.

  Gallus had been more than happy to oblige with additional work. Unfortunately, that additional work involved collecting unpaid gambling debts. While he was not expected to kill outside the arena, he did inflict pain on men who stood no chance against him. Violence off the sand was something else entirely. The sound of bone breaking and the screams of desperate men were not easy to wash away.

  ‘The price is still fifteen hundred denarii?’ Nero asked.

  Gallus was not only funding the plan, but helping him to execute it. He too had contacts and deep pockets, and he would pay off all the necessary people when the time came. Nero was painfully aware that time was running out. The wedding date had been set. But he wanted to wait until Remus, Mila, and the rest of them were on board that ship in case Manius decided to play dirty.

  ‘Fifteen hundred due in full before you depart.’ Gallus tucked his coin pouch away in a hidden pocket.

  Nero was still two hundred short.

  ‘I cannot help you once you leave the city walls.’

  Nero shook his head. ‘I’ll manage.’

  Gallus crossed his arms. ‘Where will you go?’

  Nero was hesitant to share all the details, because information could be bought, and men like Gallus always had a price. But he also needed him to take care of some of the arrangements on his behalf. ‘Egypt.’ He stretched his neck to one side. ‘I’ll have the money to you by the end of the night.’

  Gallus scoffed. ‘Optimistic. Do not forget, I am the man who pays you.’

  ‘We both know the fans pay better than you do.’

  A laugh from the sponsor. ‘If you are expecting it to rain coin this evening, then you better bring the fight of your life.’

  A familiar sinking feeling came over Nero. He knew what he had to do, and he did not like it. But he did not have time for a crisis of conscience. It was time to pay the sponsor and take Dulcia somewhere she would be free.

  The walk home was not pleasant. Nero’s arm throbbed where it had been sliced open by a supposedly blunt sword. Then it had been hastily patched up by one of Gallus’s physicians before he was ushered back onto the sand for the next fight. Now he moved with a limp, annoyed at himself for getting injured.

  When he finally arrived at his apartment, he found the door wide open and heard noise coming from inside. He was too tired and sore to fight off intruders, had nothing left for them. Stepping up to the door, he peered inside, finding two men rifling through his belongings.

  ‘There’s little of value in there,’ he called to them.

  The men looked up from their rummaging, seemingly unaffected by his arrival. They did not look like thieves—too well dressed, and too well fed. They were looking for something, or perhaps someone.

  Nero narrowed his gaze. ‘What is it you’re hoping to find?’

  The men glanced at each other before speaking, one slipping his hand into his pocket. There was likely a dagger in there.

  ‘Where is she?’

  Nero did not have to ask who. They were looking for Dulcia. ‘She’s not in that cupboard.’ He nodded towards the messed-up linen. ‘I thought Manius had her under lock and key.’

  They did not reply, just walked over to the door where he stood. Nero braced, ready for a fist or knife. He would find the energy if the alternative was to be beaten or stabbed.

  ‘Wouldn’t bother locking your door,’ one said. He looked around, clicking his tongue.

  The corner of Nero’s mouth twitched. ‘Why’s that?’

  The man sniffed and stepped past him, the other following closely. ‘Because if we don’t find her soon, we’ll be back.’

  Nero turned to watch them leave, knowing they would not go far.

  So, Dulcia had given Manius’s men the slip. The question was why? She would be alone somewhere, not wanting to put anyone else at risk. He thought for a moment, then realised he knew where she was.

  He left the apartment, aware they would probably follow out of sight. A few minutes earlier, he had been ready to fall down; now, at the prospect of seeing Dulcia, his energy had renewed, his limp less obvious. He went straight to the tavern, checking if Albaus and Felix were there.

  ‘Hello, handsome,’ Cassia said, walking up with a jug in each hand. ‘If you’re looking for the others, they already left.’

  Nero gave her a tight smile. ’Actually, I need a favour.’

  A sly smile spread across her face. ‘Oh?’

  ‘Will you take me out back?’

  Her grin widened. ‘It’s been a long time since you asked me to go anywhere with you. I thought you had a woman.’

  He resisted the temptation to glance at the window, see if he were being watched. ‘Some men followed me here.’ He kept his voice low. ‘I need them to see me go out back with you.’

  Some men shouted for their drinks, and Cassia silenced them with a glare before looking back at Nero. ‘What mess have you gotten yourself into now?’ She sighed. ‘I heard you were mixed up with Gallus Minidius. You owe him coin?’

  He shook his head. ‘No. Nothing like that.’

  Another sigh. ‘I go out back with you, and then what?’

  ‘You wait a while, then return inside and get back to work.’

  Disappointment settled on her face. ‘So there is a woman, then?’

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. ‘Yes, there’s a woman.’

  ‘I hope she’s worth all this trouble.’ Cassia stared at him for a moment. ‘Let me put these down, and then I’ll be back.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  No reply. She walked over to a table of waiting men and placed the jugs down while swatting away drunk hands. When she returned to Nero, she took his hand and looked up at him. ‘Follow me.’ She led him through a door into the kitchen where the owner, Copa, stood stirring a pot of stew, sweating and red-faced.

  ‘And where do you think you’re going?’ she called, a fist perched on one hip.

  ‘I’ll be back in a moment,’ Cassia replied, waving her off.

  Copa narrowed her eyes on Nero, who smiled back at her before disappearing through the next door. It opened into a small alleyway that reeked of garbage and urine.

  He glanced both ways, then turned to Cassia. ‘I owe you.’

  Cassia crossed her arms, looking less than impressed. ‘Go on, then.’

  He kissed her cheek and jogged off.

  The streets were quiet aside from a few rowdy drunks, likely expelled from their drinking holes. He kept up a decent pace all the way to the river, stopping only to catch his breath and check his surroundings. When he was certain he had not been followed, he headed to the path that led down to the water. He walked beneath the tall trees until he arrived at the one they had claimed as their own, then glanced in both directions before looking up and searching the branches. He narrowed his gaze on what appeared to be a swinging foot.

  Grabbing hold of the branch above, he began to climb. She was humming, a song he had heard a thousand times before. It was the same song Mila always hummed when she was cooking. He knew the moment she heard him because she fell silent and her leg stopped swinging.

  ‘It’s just me,’ he said, not wanting her to be afraid.

  Leaves rustled, and then she peered over her knees, a wary expression on her face. ‘Nero?’

  He continued to climb, but before he could reach her, she pushed off the branch and landed on top of him. She hugged him,
tightly.

  ‘We’ll fall,’ he laughed, knowing he would never let such a thing happen. He held on to the branch above with one hand while the other went around her. She shook against him, already crying.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I’m so very sorry.’

  ‘Stop.’ He could not listen to her apologise.

  ‘Please forgive me,’ she continued. ‘Tell me you understand.’

  He would tell her whatever she needed to hear. ‘I understand.’

  ‘And you forgive me?’

  He drew her closer, cradling her head. ‘There’s nothing to forgive. I know why you did it.’

  That only made her cry more. He gave up on words and just held her while her pain bled out all over him. After a while, the crying stopped and her shoulders stilled. She pulled away to look at him properly, taking in the bruises, bandaged arm and unshaven face. Her brow creased in the middle, the same way Asha’s did when she was suspicious.

  ‘How did you know I was here?’

  He ran his hand through her hair. Gods, he had missed her. ‘Manius’s men came looking for you.’

  Her eyes closed momentarily. ‘They must think me a fool if they believe I would go to you at a time like this.’

  ‘A tree is much safer.’

  She almost smiled, then teared up again. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be sorry.’ He wiped her wet cheek with his thumb. ‘I’ve been going out of my mind not knowing if you’re all right.’

  She leaned forwards, kissing his face over and over until he could do nothing but drag her onto his lap and kiss her back.

  ‘Tell me you’re all right,’ he whispered into her mouth.

  She settled herself on his lap, burying her face in his neck for a moment. ‘I am fine. I do not want to talk about me. Tell me about you. Why are you covered in bruises and bandages?’

  ‘I’ve been working.’

  She was quiet a moment. ‘What sort of work?’

  He would not lie to her. ‘Whatever Gallus needs to me to do.’