by T. A. Uner
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lorien replied, taking Eliana’s hand and leading her away from the stall. “Perhaps I can lighten your mood.”
“You already have.”
They wandered around the Forum, browsing the various stalls and products on display. It was too cold to remain outside, so they decided to head to a bath to wash and warm themselves. Before they left, Lorien wanted to visit one, last stall where various reed and animal skin parchments were on sale. A man with a sorrowful look on his face was rummaging through the various stylus’ for sale while the merchant was trying to convince him to buy one.
Eliana immediately recognized the man as Caligula’s uncle, Claudius.
Most of the rumors about Claudius were that he was a bumbling idiot, unable to put together coherent sentences, or control his feral, young wife, Messalina. Eliana didn’t put much stock in rumors, in her experience most of them were often exaggerated.
“Do you know who that man is?” Eliana whispered into Lorien’s ear.
Lorien replied that she didn’t.
“That is emperor Caligula’s uncle, Claudius.”
Lorien didn’t look impressed. “I hear he’s mentally incompetent.”
“That’s a nasty rumor,” Eliana said. “Would an idiot waste time trying to purchase a stylus and rolls to write on?”
“I wouldn’t know Eliana, and frankly it doesn’t concern me.”
Eliana had an idea. “I think I’ll go talk to him. Find out what type of a man he really is.”
Despite Lorien’s pleas to stay with her, Eliana walked up to Claudius and smiled. “Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus?” Eliana said respectfully, using Claudius’ full name. “It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Eliana Clodia.”
Claudius stared at her suspiciously, as if he had been accused of stealing something.
He was a nervy man with rheumy eyes and a fleshy nose. He smiled at Eliana nervously and straightened himself. “Ahh..err…yes…Eliana Clodia…Eliana Clodia…yes, I believe you’re the daughter of the esteemed senator Remus Clodius.”
“That very one,” Eliana said before Lorien appeared behind her, nodding politely at Claudius who looked at her in awe.
“You wouldn’t happen to be one of those Dryads?” Claudius said excitedly to Lorien, who looked as if someone had called her out for something she had done wrong.
His revelation caught Eliana off guard. These days it was dangerous to be accused of being a Dryad.
Lorien was about to reply when Claudius shook her hand fervently and smiled. “No need to worry, my dear! I am not in agreement with my nephew’s racial policies. You can rest assured that your secret is safe with me.”
“But how did you know?” Lorien whispered.
Claudius grinned. “Your manner of dress, not that of a normal Roman woman. The colors are Earthy. I have been doing much research on your people and have found them to be a most interesting culture.”
After some pleasant conversation, Claudius paid the merchant and took hold of his purchases. “I am actually a historian of sorts,” he said proudly while beaming at the two women, “I would be honored to have the chance to speak with you again. Perhaps discuss your people and learn more about them.”
“Is that wise?” Lorien replied. “Your nephew is bent on eliminating my people.”
“I’m sure we can find a nice, comfortable inn that is out of the way. Besides, my nephew doesn’t consider me a threat to his rule. I’m more of the court fool.”
“How are things in the emperor’s court these days?” Eliana asked.
Claudius looked crestfallen. “My nephew’s behavior is becoming more erratic with each passing day. After recovering from his most recent illness, he now considers himself a god. Even sister Drusilla cannot control his actions these days…and she is his most trusted advisor.”
Eliana felt this meeting had been productive, but she saw two Praetorian Guardsmen approaching them, and decided it was best they cut the conversation short. Claudius, noticing the Praetorians, bid the women farewell and told them where he could be found if they wished to speak with him.
As they left the Forum an idea formed in Eliana’s head.
“You know, Lorien,” Eliana began, “I think that meeting went well.”
“Well he surely isn’t an idiot, far from it, he’s quite intelligent.”
“I mean, I have an idea that might work.”
“What type of idea?”
Eliana smiled and whispered it into Lorien’s ear.
{IV}
Claudius ambled away from the Forum carrying his newly-purchased goods. He made his way back to his modest home in the Aventine district and his servant allowed him inside.
“Messalina! Messalina!” Claudius called out.
“The Lady Messalina is out,” Claudius’ servant said.
How typical, Claudius thought, probably drinking herself into a stupor in my nephew’s court again. Claudius sighed and went upstairs to his study. After dumping his purchases onto his desk he sat down in a chair and contemplated his future. He thought of the Dryadess Lorien he had met earlier today. Why was his nephew bent on eliminating these people? Surely they didn’t pose a threat to his rule? It reminded Claudius of the Leopard King incident, when Caligula wasted precious time and effort in stamping out the upstart rebel and his group. In the end Caligula had been proven wrong. Word had spread of the Leopard King’s war against Camus Scorpio and his subsequent victory. It was rumored The Leopard King now controlled the underworld Collegium.
But Claudius had his own life to live, complete with its own set of problems. His nephew, in one of his mad frenzies, had cast him out from the palace and seized most of his assets, leaving Claudius to make do with whatever he could scrap together. So with his remaining funds, Claudius had bought this modest house, away from the intrigue of his nephew’s court. And then there was his capricious young wife, Messalina who was either out shopping, drinking, fucking or whatever struck her fancy. Sometimes Claudius couldn’t even focus on his writings. At first he had been grateful when Caligula had evicted him from the palace. At least he wouldn’t be subject to his nephew’s constant demands for him to play the court buffoon. It was tiresome really, but his act kept Claudius alive. He thought of how easily Macro had been disposed of, and knew as long as he acted the fool he would pose no threat to his nephew’s paranoia.
Downstairs he heard a peal of laughter; his wife had arrived and was calling out to him.
Claudius scurried behind his desk and started scribbling on one of his rolls. If Messalina saw him busy with his work perhaps she wouldn’t bother him.
Messalina poked her head through the doorway of Claudius’ study. “There you are! I should’ve known you would be here,” she said mockingly.
“Yes, what is it?” Claudius replied.
Messalina scoffed. “Is that anyway to greet your wife?” she stumbled into his study and stretched out on his couch. “Why don’t you come over here and fuck me, Claudius,” she said in a husky voice.
“You’ve been drinking again, haven’t you?”
“What if I have?” she quipped. “Can I not enjoy myself?”
“That’s the problem,” Claudius said calmly.“You are a slave to your impulses.”
Messalina lifted up the skirts of her stolla to offer Claudius a glimpse of her privates. It was a randy game she played. Not wearing any underwear was one of her perversions. Claudius found it quite tasteless.
“What has been going on in my nephew’s court?” Claudius asked, trying to steer the conversation away from her carnality.
Messalina let out a quiet belch and sighed. “Ohh, you know Claudius,” she said, running a finger down her bare leg, “it’s all the same nonsense really, Caligula is obsessed with rooting out these Dryadic folk. Now, how about that fuck?”
“Really woman,” Claudius said, “I’m right in the middle of writing a…”
Messalina pounced from the couch like a tigress and grabbed a
t Claudius’s crotch, squeezing his manhood. Claudius hated her when she was like this, it was unbecoming of a lady, and she always wanted to copulate when he was busy behind his desk. But Messalina was persistent. She grabbed the front of his toga and tried tearing it off of him like some crazed madwoman. He grabbed her wrists and tried pushing her away, but that only made him lose his balance. He fell on top of her and his manhood betrayed him as it hardened between his legs. Messalina must have felt it as she became even more animated.
After a few moments of struggling, she finally ceased with her struggles and slid out from under him. “I guess I’ll have to find my fuck elsewhere,” she said as she gathered herself. “Once Caligula has ridden the empire of the Dryads, perhaps he could also find me a proper husband as well.”
After she had left the room, Claudius shook his head, and returned to his work.
Ten/Decem
When Eliana returned to Sylvia’s villa, she found an unwanted surprise waiting for her.
Senator Remus sat in the atrium, a slave was serving him calda. At first Eliana felt a rush of apprehension surge through her but she calmed herself and approached Remus. “Hello, father.”
Remus smiled. To Eliana it almost appeared as if their past spat was an unwanted afterthought which her fast had put to rest. He stood and softly grasped her shoulders before kissing her cheek.
What does he want? Eliana thought, he isn’t here to pay me a social visit.
“My beauty,” he began, “how I have missed you. Your mother sends her love and inquires about your return.”
“I believe I made my intentions quite clear, Father,” Eliana said as she gently broke from his grip. She decided to change the topic. “Where is Sylvia?” She looked around, but her older sister was nowhere in sight.
“She is resting.” Remus reseated himself and swallowed a sip of calda. “But I didn’t come here to talk about Sylvia.”
“Then why have you come, Father?” Eliana was almost afraid of his answer, but she asked anyway.
“To convince you to end this foolishness and return home.”
Eliana chuckled and Remus looked at her like a cat would look at a mouse before swallowing it. “But Father, I am home.”
“Really, Eliana, I think this foolishness has gone on long enough. But I am prepared to make your return worthwhile. I will reinstate your allowance if you return to our villa.”
Eliana couldn’t believe her ears. Did her father believe a bribe would be able to bait her into returning? When would he realize that she could not be bought or sold? She shook her head ruefully and exhaled. “After all these years you still do not know me Father,” she said. “Your actions only prove that my leaving was the right thing to do.”
Remus looked unfazed by her speech. “I warn you Eliana, your next words could have dire effects for your future!”
“My future? What about your future, Father?” she exclaimed. “Now that you are the emperor’s favorite son, your star rising, you cannot tell me what I can or cannot say!”
Remus stood up. “I can tell coming here was a grave mistake,” he said. “You know where to find me if you change your mind. Until then I shall be waiting for your response.”
It appears you shall be waiting for a long time, Father.
After Remus left Eliana shook her head and buried her face in her palms.
{II}
The Dryads’ existence in Rome was growing dire with each passing day. Urban cohorts and vigiles had been instructed to raid homes rumored to be occupied by individuals who were suspected of harboring Dryads or containing individuals rumored to be Dryads. It was repetition of Augustus’ actions against magic users. Lorien had kept a low profile; Eliana hadn’t heard from her since the day they had both met Claudius at the Forum’s marketplace. Eliana was worried about her friend, and hoped that no harm had come to her. Then, one night, a messenger arrived at Sylvia’s villa. He brought a message from Lorien. In it, she instructed Eliana to come to the Paladus’ ruins on the first of February at sunset.
Eliana snuck out of Sylvia’s villa and headed toward the ruins. It was dangerous for a woman to travel alone on the streets of Rome at night. Both thieves and rapists roamed freely at night, but this couldn’t be helped, she had to find out what was going on with Lorien. Armed with her dagger, she set off for the Paladus. Under a granite sky, a quarterium moon shone down on Rome and guided her to the steps leading up Paladin hill. She watched her step to avoid slipping on cracked steps that had fallen into ruin from years of neglect. Eliana thought about the Air Paladins and realized that she knew little of these people who were once hailed as heroes, only to be condemned and eliminated by Augustus’ policies. What she knew was from what Sacrus had told her when she was a child, and even then he urged her to keep the stories to herself, as speaking of magic was forbidden within the empire.
She reached the top of the steps and shivered. The night had grown colder and she hurried toward the Paladus where she would hopefully find Lorien.
“Eliana?”
Eliana stopped and turned around. Her heart contracted in her chest like a harp string. She grasped her dagger and looked around to see who was calling her name.
“Eliana!”
Eliana eyed a dark figure emerge from behind a large chunk of one of the ruins surrounding the grounds of the Paladus. She rushed at the figure and thrust the dagger into the stranger’s face.
“Eliana?” the voice sounded familiar and Eliana realized it was Lorien. The moonlight framed her friend’s face, making it appear angelic. Eliana relaxed her grip and exhaled in relief.
“Lorien?” she said excitedly, “what are you doing hiding here?”
“Waiting for you.” Lorien looked at Eliana’s dagger nervously. “But I wasn’t expecting this type of a reception. I trust you got the message?”
Eliana sheathed her dagger and smiled. “I did, but what is going on here? This isn’t exactly the ideal place to summon someone.”
Lorien took Eliana’s arm and led her toward the Paladus. “There’s a meeting taking place tonight. I couldn’t write it down for fear that the message might be intercepted. This is a dark time for our people. The Paladus is an ideal place to hold the meeting as rarely anyone ventures here.”
They crossed the bridge. The moat had dried up and moonlight reflected off the Paladus’ mortar. Eliana could she her shadow in its reflection. Looking up at the façade of this once-great fortress, Eliana saw the pockmarks marring the Paladus’ surface. Yet despite these blemishes, the Paladus still stood resolutely, giving outsiders a glimpse of its once-glorious past. They left the bridge and walked by the shattered remains of the main gate. Thick shards of rotting wood and splinters littered the ground where ice caked their surfaces. Inside the great structure, Eliana eyed the ramparts above her. Despite the damage they’d sustained, they had held up well over the years. Sacrus had told her that a great battle had occurred here between Augustus’ forces and the leader of the Air Paladins, Zedion Firmitas, who had mysteriously fled the battle, leaving the Paladins to fend for themselves.
Large stone buildings dotted the interior of the keep. Their roofs had caved in, leaving large gaping holes. Lorien led her across the keep’s main courtyard and behind a stone fountain that had been reduced to rubble. It was there Eliana saw a broken statue wing, resembling that of an eagle, while the other pieces reminded her of a mythical beast Sacrus had once told her about. She stared at it intently, trying to recall the name of the creatures.
“It’s called a Griffin,” a proud voice said.
Both Lorien and Eliana stopped. An old man appeared from behind a column that supported the portico they were under. In his hand he carried a flickering oil lamp.
Lorien smiled. “It’s alright,” she said to Eliana, “he’s a friend.”
The old man ambled up to them. He wore an old tunic that Eliana hadn’t seen before. Sewn upon his chest was the emblem of a strange winged creature. It reminded her of the broken statue she had see
n earlier.
“Arsis,” Lorien said, “how many of the others are here?
“Almost all, mistress Lorien,” Arsis replied. “Is this Senator Remus’ daughter?”
Lorien nodded.
Arsis made his disappointment apparent. “I do not understand why you have brought her. If she tells her father of this meeting it could put the whole movement in jeopardy.”
Lorien shook her head. “Eliana is not like her father,” Lorien retorted. “I trust her with all my heart.”
Arsis grumbled. “Pardon my insolence, mistress, but you are too trusting.”
“Then her actions shall fall under my responsibility.”
Eliana listened to their exchange without interrupting, but the old man shot her a sour look. “I shall be watching you, young lady,” he said suspiciously.
“Take us to the others,” Lorien said to Arsis, who nodded and led the way. They walked under the portico and passed through a doorway that had been shattered, much like Griffin gate. Arsis’s oil lamp gave off an extraordinary amount of light for such a small flame, and projected their jagged shadows upon the walls of the adjoining corridor, giving their surroundings an eerie feel. It was here she saw busts of helmeted men on pedestals. On the walls were mosaics of similar men riding the griffins Arsis had mentioned earlier. They entered a large room and Eliana noticed it had been ransacked. Most of the murals had been vandalized with profane graffiti written in Latin while some of the busts had been knocked over and damaged. There was a painful history written here, and one day she wished to learn it. Arsis led them to the far corner of the room where a chunk of the wall had collapsed. They skirted around the rubble and saw another stone wall facing them. Arsis laid his hand on the surface of the wall and a small door opened before her eyes.
They passed through the secret door which closed behind them with a soft click behind Eliana. After descending a flight of stone steps they came to another door where a large, stone head of a griffin stood watch over the lintel. Arsis whispered a few words at the door and it slid open, ushering in a bright light. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw hundreds of Dryads and Dryadesses waiting inside, while dozens of elongated oil lamps had been placed throughout the room. Amongst the Dryads was Anise who smiled warmly at Eliana and Lorien. At the far end of the basement room a large stone dais stood. After Arsis had led them closer to the dais he disappeared into the shadows, but the thin flame in his oil lamp flickered and highlighted his solemn face which continued to study Eliana with distrust.
