The End of a Dynasty

by David Adkins

  Chapter 7

  Rome - Early Summer AD90

  On my return to the palace I decided that it would be most sensible to see Domitian first, and so I sought an audience with our most esteemed Emperor. It was granted immediately and in less than an hour after my return I was seated opposite Domitian.

  He got straight to the point. “Did you speak with Aria?”

  “I did and I outlined your plan to her.”

  “Well, did she agree?” he was strangely enthusiastic.

  I wondered why a gladiatrix contest meant so much to him. It was rumoured that contests between women were his favourite entertainment in the Colosseo and it was he who had introduced gladiatrices in greater numbers into the arena. “She did. She was a little reluctant at first but when I informed her of the danger to her husband that refusing would entail she agreed. She would do anything to save Hylas.”

  He grinned. “I will remember that. I assume you told her to say nothing of my threat to either Corelia or Hylas. I would not wish Corelia to hear of it for she would then be on at me to ditch the idea.”

  “I did and she will simply say that she wishes to fight in the arena because she misses the thrill of it all.”

  “You have done well, Parthenian; so well that I have another job for you.”

  I groaned inwardly at his words. “Yes, your majesty?”

  “Aria will now be spending much more time at the gladiatorial school in Rome and she will not just go there to avoid seeing me. She will wish to train hard. You will go regularly to the school and be my representative there.”

  “What do you wish me to do?” I asked anxiously.

  “You will liaise with Corelia’s father, Petronius, who runs the school. You will make sure that he provides a worthwhile opponent for Aria. I do not want the result to be a foregone conclusion. You will also make sure that Aria gets a huge build up so that the contest will have mass appeal and you will recruit the aid of Petronius to do so for he is experienced in such things. She will be the heir to Corelia and will be the great protégé. Do you understand?”

  I did not like what I was hearing but I had to agree. “Yes, your majesty, I will do that.”

  “Excellent, then you are dismissed and, Parthenian, keep me informed.”

  I bowed and left. Hylas had saved me from Tero and his two thugs and so I really did not want to be doing this to his wife.

  Next I sought an audience with the Empress and that also was granted immediately. I bowed low on entering her chamber and knelt at her feet. I knew what was expected of me. She smiled benevolently. “It is good to see you back, Parthenian. When Domitian returned without you and said you were unwell I was concerned.”

  “I was unwell because Tero and two of his guards gave me a beating. It was a reminder to forget what I had seen in the gardens.”

  “I wonder if that was on the orders of Domitian or just Casperius,” she mused. “You look as if you have fully recovered.”

  “I have and Domitian has given me fresh orders to arrange a gladiatrix contest at the Jupiter games.”

  “I thought that Corelia had refused to fight,” said Domitia Longina.

  “She has refused. This is a contest for her protégé, Aria.”

  “That is a pity. Did you find out about the ambitions of Corelia?”

  “She has no ambition to be Empress, of that I am certain. I raised the subject with Hylas and spoke to her friend, Aria, and even asked Corelia herself. I am certain you have nothing to fear from the gladiatrix.”

  “It is good that she has no desire to wield the power that she undoubtedly has. There have been no recent visits to the Emperor from any of the senators’ wives. It seems that the only woman I have to worry about is Julia, particularly as she is already a member of our royal family. He no longer invites Corelia to the palace but sees her at Tibur. It is Julia I must worry about and now that her husband has been conveniently murdered she has become an even greater threat. She shares his bed and could provide him with an heir which is something I have never been able to do except for my poor little son who died when just a baby. You will watch Julia and find out what you can from her maid, Petronilla, who can be a silly little thing, and keep me informed. Now I will rest and I hope your bruises do not hurt you too much. I should have been more considerate and not have left you on your knees, nephew.” She waved me to my feet.

  “I am your servant, aunt,” I said, standing up. “The bruises no longer hurt and I am fit for anything you may require.”

  She laughed. “Begone, nephew.”

  As I left I almost bumped into Drucilla in the corridor. “I heard you were back,” she said.

  “I returned just a few hours ago. How have things been at the palace while I have been away?”

  “Everything has worked well despite your absence,” she smiled. “It is always easier when the Emperor is not here.”

  “I am not really needed,” I offered.

  She did not refute my statement. “There is one thing that worried me a little.”

  “What was that?” I asked, intrigued that the efficient Drucilla might have a problem.

  “You know you thought that Stephanus was being followed by the Praetorian Guard and I laughed and said it was your imagination.”

  “I remember, it was in the gardens,” I said.

  “I think you were right. While you were in Tibur I saw him leaving the palace and once again he was followed by two guards.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am fairly certain,” she confirmed.

  “Then let us both keep an eye on Stephanus. If he is under suspicion for something then I am very interested to know what it is. If Casperius and Tero are watching him then I am on his side.”

  She nodded her agreement and continued on her way while I returned to my room.

  The next morning I was up early and sitting on my seat in the garden hoping that Marcella might show up as she had done twice before. She did not appear but much to my revulsion the only person who passed by was Tero. He stopped and considered me. “Where did you say you worked before you came to the palace, chamberlain?”

  “I did not say.”

  “We like to have the background of everyone in the palace. It is for the Emperor’s safety. Where did you work?”

  “It is none of your business,” I retorted, feeling fairly safe as the Emperor had given me further work to do.

  “When the order comes, and it will come, then I will kill you personally, chamberlain.” He strode away.

  “The smell in the garden is not quite so pleasant this morning.” My words were spoken at his retreating back but I was sure they were heard.

  There was still no sign of Marcella and so I decided to return to the palace. She would wish to know what I had found out for her regarding Hylas and so I was certain that she would come to me. I was not disappointed.

  *

  I leaned over and kissed her on the lips. It was a hot summer’s evening and my body was covered in sweat from my exertions. I had just given into lust and deposited my seed within her and the pleasurable aftermath of my orgasm still reverberated in my manhood. She kissed me back with passion and I nibbled at her ear and neck. She was my first woman since I had started work at the palace and she was amazing.

  “Parthenian,” she stopped me. “Is it not time that you told me about Tibur and Hylas?”

  “Do we have to move on to business so soon, Marcella?” I asked.

  “You have had your pleasure,” she chuckled. “I hope you do have something to tell me.”

  “I did what you asked,” I said.

  “And you have had your reward,” she purred.

  “You wanted to know about the present circumstances of Hylas.”

  She nodded.

  “He is Head Guard at Corelia’a villa and seems to be a man of few habits. I think that he still adores Corelia but he also loves his wife, Aria. He hates Domitian and does not seem to care for your superior, Casperius.”

&
nbsp; “Casperius is not my superior,” she retorted.

  “I am pleased to hear it. He rarely leaves the villa but when he does it is to visit his local taverna. Why do you wish to know this, Marcella?”

  “I will tell you but for now just continue.”

  “Is it your conundrum?” I asked.

  “Would you please just continue, Parthenian? Does he visit the taverna on a regular basis?”

  “Domitian lusts after Aria as well as Corelia, and they keep Aria out of his way in Rome and so he visits the taverna often when the Emperor comes to Tibur. Aria goes to Rome and I get the impression that Hylas also cannot bear to think of Corelia being with Domitian and so that is another reason why he heads for the taverna.”

  “Is there anything else?” she asked. “Is he happy?”

  “I think so but Domitian intends Aria to fight in the arena and that will make him most unhappy. In fact I have to regularly visit Aria at the gladiatorial school to make sure that all is going according to the Emperor’s plan. Are you sure you are not working for Casperius, Marcella?”

  “I work with Casperius, sometimes. Do you think that Domitian will take you with him on his next trip to Tibur? When is that likely to be?”

  I considered. “He does seem to like to have me around for some reason and he has asked me to act as a go-between with Aria. I think he will, and as he no longer invites Corelia to the palace I think it may be soon.”

  “Good and I will need your assistance again but first I want you to consider what I am doing for you.”

  “I know what you are doing for me.” I kissed her again.

  “Not that, something more vital. I am keeping you alive.”

  Her words made me very interested for I was wondering about my protector, but how could it be Marcella? “What do you mean?”

  “If it were not for me, Parthenian, you would have been murdered at Tibur because of what you saw that day in the gardens.”

  “You saw it too but you do not seem to be in danger. How could you have so much influence?” I asked. It was a question I had asked her before. “Domitian told me that he had saved me from Casperius and Tero. Do you claim it was you?”

  “Domitian,” she laughed. “You are a servant. Domitian does not care whether you live or die. If Tero had killed you at Tibur he would have forgotten it by now. Casperius told Tero not to kill you and it was I who instructed Casperius to tell Tero just that.”

  “You give Casperius orders. He is the Praetorian Prefect.” I was flabbergasted.

  “Like all men he has an Achilles heel; some men have a weakness for wine and for others it is women, while some are just over ambitious, but all have a weakness.”

  “What is his particular weakness?” I asked, believing that she would say it was her.

  “He is very superstitious,” she smiled.

  “So what does that mean?” I gasped.

  “It means I have a hold over him and can keep you safe. In fact if I told him to murder you he would happily oblige.”

  I thought she had threatened me once before and now I felt she was doing so again. “How do you exert your hold?” I asked tentatively.

  “I am a sorceress and he knows my powers.”

  Now I laughed. “What powers do you have?”

  “I have the powers of life and death, Parthenian.” She held out her hand palm upwards. “What can you see?” she asked.

  “An empty hand,” I retorted.

  “I can see you. You are there resting on my empty hand but you cannot see yourself. I can let you fly away free or I can close my fist and crush you.” She began to close her fist to emphasize her words and then she laughed.

  It was absurd but I felt intimidated. “Is Casperius in the palm of your hand too?”

  “He is because he knows that I am a sorceress and have powers.”

  “Why does he not just kill you and release himself?” I asked.

  “He believes that if he were to kill me it would start a chain of events that would result in his own imminent death. He therefore cannot kill me and so he would rather have me as a powerful ally.” She laughed and kissed me passionately on the lips. “Do you not sense my powers, Parthenian?”

  “I do,” I replied and returned her passion. If she were a sorceress she was also a temptress and I desired her with a passion.

  “Are you in love with me?” she asked.

  “No, but I desire you very much,” I replied.

  “You will soon be very much in love with me.” She pointed at the wine bottle on the table. “It was a love potion.”

  I stared at the bottle and something that had been hovering just outside my reach came into focus. “You poisoned Titus Sabinus.”

  She did not deny my accusation but instead she kissed me again. “Now, Parthenian, I have a task for you and if you do not perform it you are a dead man. You have a choice between Hades and Paradise.”

  I still felt desire and a need to kiss her beguiling lips. Had the wine really contained a love potion? I remembered that she had not drunk any. She was playing with my mind. “Is it about the conundrum and the deed you were considering?” I gasped.

  “It is indeed. I once worked for the senator Marcus Gracchus.”

  “He was the most powerful man in Rome for a while,” I interrupted.

  “He was also the wealthiest man in Rome but because of ambition he played a dangerous game and lost, thanks to two men. These two men not only thwarted his ultimate ambition but probably killed him. He knew that his life was constantly in danger and he gave a vast sum of money to me and Casperius to take revenge on these men if he ever were to be murdered. He made us promise to do the deed. One of those men was Hylas.”

  “So even now Gracchus is still a power to be reckoned with,” I whistled.

  “Casperius is not interested. He would keep the money and do nothing. I have more honour than that and so I am forcing the issue.”

  “It seems to me that you should follow Casperius on this,” I suggested.

  “I was going to but I find I cannot. I have history with Hylas, and Gracchus calls from his grave. I have to act and you will help me, Parthenian, and so will Casperius.”

  “What do you want me to do?” I was intrigued.

  “Next time you are in Tibur you will persuade Hylas to accompany you once again to the taverna. You will make sure that the two of you go alone. You will stay late until it is very dark. You will get word to me or Casperius as to which day you intend to go. Hylas will meet with an accident on his way back to the villa.”

  “I will not do it. Hylas has become a friend,” I tried to sound firm.

  “You will do it. If you do not then I will remove my protection and Casperius will have you killed. He will release Tero on you.”

  I remembered the words of Tero in the garden. “The Emperor would not allow it. I am working for the Emperor.” I sounded desperate.

  “Domitian would not care for one minute and anyway he would never know what happened to you. You must regularly go to the gladiatorial school and on one occasion you will never return.” She kissed my lips passionately. “You can have all of this or death. It is up to you, Parthenian.”

  At that moment I knew that her threat was very real, and that not to do as she required was to court certain death. I never considered myself a coward but I was not prepared to die at the hands of the vicious deputy head of the Praetorian Guard. I would concede to her demands, but at the same time try to think of a way to save Hylas. “I will do it, Marcella,” I said.

  “And I will continue to keep you safe and there will be rewards,” she replied and kissed me again. “I will come tomorrow evening and once again we can enjoy each other. That is what you want, is it not, Parthenian?”

  “It is,” I responded, stroking her thigh. I was amazed that I could still feel such passion for this woman despite her odious demands. Had the wine really contained a love potion?

  “Of course it did, I am a sorceress,” she read my mind and I s
hivered slightly.

  “I think you really are,” I conceded.

  “I will see you tomorrow evening, Parthenian. Get used to what I have told you and do not have second thoughts. I do not want to tell Casperius to dispose of you. It would be such a shame, for we can continue to have so much fun.”

  “I will see you tomorrow, Marcella,” I replied.

  She left and that night I had lots of second thoughts, but if she had provided the poison for Titus Sabinus then I knew how truly dangerous she was.

  *

  The next morning I paid Petronilla a visit. She had just dressed her mistress, Julia, and returned to her own apartment. She was a maid but in many ways she was on a par with Stephanus and myself in the royal household. Each of us personally served members of the royal family though the fact that I ostensibly served the Emperor gave me a degree of seniority. Petronilla, in fact, was just a maid but one that was extremely close to her royal mistress.

  “I have just come to enquire how your mistress is coping after the unfortunate death of her husband,” I asked sympathetically.

  “She is doing quite well.” Petronilla seemed very far away.

  “Are you well, Petronilla?” I asked. She stared vacantly across the room and did not answer me. “Petronilla, what is the matter?”

  “I have some news and I am not sure if it is good news or bad news.” She returned to our conversation.

  “What is this news?” I asked.

  “I should not say.” Her demeanour belied her words. She obviously wished to share this news.

  I was not even certain that I wanted to know, for I had had enough of palace secrets. However, I had always believed that knowledge was preferable to lack of knowledge. “I insist you tell me for I am chamberlain and all the servants in the palace, even you Petronilla, ultimately answer to me. I serve the Emperor and the Empress directly.”