Asterius Page 6

  Dreams of the others were similar, but always slightly different. Not the content, that remained much the same, but the essence that was the man was different. Each kissed me in a way that seemed unique to him. Yet, if I had to explain how they differed, I could not have said.

  Once dressed and wearing my wig, I hurried off to join my new mother and sisters for our evening meal. It was the part of the day I dreaded most. An hour or more of torture.

  “There she is. I went to your rooms and you were not there!” Camellia said petulantly as soon as I entered the triclinium.

  “I have been in the bathing room. Was there a reason you sought me out?” I asked, trying not to show my panic.

  “Ah, that explains it then. I could not imagine where you could have taken yourself off to,” she smiled at me with false affection. “I wanted to tell you the good news. I received a missive from Prince Arsaces’ envoy. He will be here in the next few days. The prince is impatient to have this settled so you can journey to his side.

  “I have told him of your youth and beauty, not to mention your pater’s connections. The prince is interested in our gladiatorial contests and would like to introduce them to his people. Corvus may find himself a very lucrative avenue into which he can expand. What with the emperor tightening up on privately owned gladiators, so many of his usual buyers, the senators in Rome for instance, are falling away. The Shah’s son, Arsaces, will provide a perfect entrance to that market!”

  “But we are at war with Parthia! Pater cannot send warriors he trained to our enemies. They might use them against our army. And I cannot marry someone we are at war with,” I argued in panic.

  “Nonsense. It is just a little disagreement over Armenia. The Shah is said to be very fond of our Nero. It is just a bit of pushing and shoving, so to speak, over contested territory. It will be resolved in no time.”

  My mouth dropped open. Surely, she could not be serious. Pater would not do business with an enemy of Rome. He would certainly not marry his daughter to an enemy of Rome.

  “Pater will never approve this plan of yours. And you cannot marry me without his consent,” I said, my voice little more than a strangled croak.

  “My dear, your Pater will be only too glad I resolved this issue for him while he was gone. He has far too many important matters to concern himself with to worry about his daughter’s marriage. Now if you were a son, as he wanted, it would be different. But let us face it, you have been a disappointment to him since birth. And now with three daughters to find husbands for... No, he will be glad I took this responsibility from him. After all, that is one of the reasons he married me.”

  Staring at her in amazement, I wondered how she could twist my relationship with Pater like that. I had never been a disappointment to him. Not that he had ever said. Certainly, he had grieved the death of his wife and unborn son, but that had never reflected on me. Had it?

  No! He had remained at home with me for two years after Mater died. He would not have done that, spent all that time with me, preparing me to assist him with his breeding and training program, if I was a disappointment. Or if he wanted rid of me.

  I drew in several deep, cleansing breathes. Arguing with this viper would solve nothing. I needed to withdraw and plan my next move. If this envoy would be here in a few days, I needed to know my next step. Could I present myself poorly, as I had suggested to my pack?

  But if the real reason this Prince Arsaces was interested in this marriage was to get access to Pater’s gladiators, then I could be the ugliest, vilest creature in the world and it would not matter.

  “I can see you are considering my words. Good. I think it might be wise if you stayed in your rooms until the envoy has been and gone. It would be too sad if you were hurt wandering around the woods and could not meet him.”

  My gaze jerked up to meet her snake-like gaze. Gods, she knew about my weekly trips into the woods. Did she also know about my pack? And if she knew about that pursuit, did she also know about my work as Cassius?

  How? Not from any of our slaves. They were all loyal to me, I knew that much. One of the handmaidens they brought with them? Might they do more for their mistresses than just their hair and clothes?

  An insidious thought pushed its way into my mind. The regular slave who acted as messenger was young and lusty. If one of the handmaidens seduced him to get her hands on my missives... He might not even know. I had been so careful to give him those messages by my own hand, and he had assured me the leather packet would never leave his hand until it was delivered to the first available courier in town. But if a girl waylaid him long enough to remove my missives, he might never even know they were gone.

  So simple, so easy. I needed to use someone else. There was a farm labourer who could do the job if I gave the message to Minerva to deliver. I had not even considered that I did not have to hand the missive to the messenger myself. Just as long as someone I trusted did it for me. And I trusted Minerva with my life.

  “I like to walk. It helps me sleep. The stoic philosophers believe exercise is good for your health. I walk in the woods whenever possible.”

  “And meet up with four lusty youths? That is even better exercise. But unfortunately, for an honourable noblewoman that form of exercise is forbidden. If your pater knew he would lock you in a cell and throw away the key. And kill those four for defiling his blood.”

  Panic threatened to overwhelm me. She knew about my pack and would tell Pater. It would not matter that we were just friends. My reputation would be ruined. And in his rage, he may very well put my pack to death. A protective father might do anything. He had crucified Typhon’s father for what would be considered a much lesser crime.

  “And if I allow you to have your way on this, you will keep silent about my activities?” I asked carefully, my voice remarkably steady.

  “Ah, now see, this is a side of you I had not guessed existed. You have a quick mind. Excellent. Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. The prince would not want used goods, so it would not be in our best interest for him to know about your proclivities. It will remain our little secret. As will your reprehensible dabbling in medical practices. This is what happens when you leave a child unattended for long periods of time. They get up to mischief of the worst kind. What would your pater do to that old physician if he knew? Hmm? Subjecting his innocent daughter to the vulgarities of his trade? Unacceptable. Truly unacceptable.”

  So, it was not just my pack who were in danger. My master was too. Gods, how had I let this happen? It was my fault. I should never have thought to continue my activities under this viper’s nose. I should have known she would be looking for something to use against me.

  “Very well, if you guarantee my secrets remain mine, I will do as you ask.”

  Camellia smiled triumphantly and looked from one to the other of her daughters, as if sharing this success with them. “Your secrets will remain yours. You have my word.”

  “And that of your daughters and handmaidens?” I pushed, looking for any loophole the viper might use to get around breaking her oath.

  She laughed then, a harsh and brittle sound. “My word is good for all those under my control. As I said, having your reputation sullied does not serve me. I am going to make your pater the wealthiest man in Latium. He has an amazing resource here, but he has limited its scope. I plan to change that.”

  I cringed inwardly. Now I understood why this vixen had married Pater. It was not just for the minor step up in her social standing, and a chance to move from the far distant provinces to the heart of the empire. It was to make the most out of his gladiators. His reputation for producing the best gladiators in the Roman Empire.

  Nero would kill Pater in a heartbeat if he thought he was raising elite fighters for the enemy. It had been a fine line he and his father had walked, breeding and training gladiators without making it appear as if he was growing his own army that could threaten the Praetorian Guard. The fact that he was not of the senatorial class and held n
o political agenda went a long way in keeping him safe. He even enrolled his gladiators in the imperial ludii, so they were not under his direct control.

  When he sold his gladiators, he had to make sure he did so in small numbers. And depending on how the political landscape lay at any given time, his business could either thrive or suffer. And he let it suffer if it kept him in favour with whatever Imperator was in power. And none of his men were ever embroiled in subversive activities. None. They gave an oath to that end that not even a new master could break. Did Camellia know about that? It would certainly cause issues if this prince sought to use Pater’s men against Rome.

  This woman was about to ruin everything Pater had built up in her efforts to make more money. How short-sighted and stupid of her. Did she not understand the fragile nature of Pater’s position?

  “Has Pater explained his reasoning to you on this? How the very nature of his work could turn a threatened emperor against us? It would take nothing for Nero to have Pater put to death and everything he owns confiscated. This is no ordinary business venture!” I cried, desperate to make her see sense. Not for myself. Not even for my pack. But for Pater and all he had dedicated his life to.

  Camellia laughed a sharp short bark. “My dear, I am no innocent when it comes to business. I understand better than your pater does how to manoeuvre us into a position of power where the emperor becomes clay in our hands. And supplying the Parthians... Well, that can remain a secret. There are many in the empire who supply resources to the enemy for a price. It is common practice on the edges of the empire where I come from.”

  My head ached and my stomach roiled. This was so much worse than I had ever dreamed. And I had allowed myself to be the cause of my pater’s downfall. If I married this Prince Arsaces I would be laying the foundation of Pater’s destruction. How could I have been so stupid and self-centred? How could I have let my own needs and desires outweigh that of family duty?

  My shoulders slumped in defeat. For now, I had no other choice but to agree. But it was not over. Not yet.

  Chapter Six

  ASTERIUS

  It was a chilly morning, for all it was the beginning of summer. My hot breath became mist with each exhalation. And I was exhaling a lot as I waited impatiently for Cassius to arrive. I knew she’d come to say goodbye. She had to.

  When a large matronly woman I didn’t recognise lumbered down the road from the villa, every instinct told me something was wrong. I looked to my pack-mates and saw they were watching the woman just as avidly I was. Their barely contained tension was every bit as extreme as mine.

  She hustled over to ask our senior doctores if she could have a word with us. Bemused, he nodded, and the four of us stepped away from the wagon to talk to the woman.

  “I’m Tallia, Jabir’s wife. You remember Jabir?” she asked, looking from one to the other of us, her eyes intense.

  She was reminding us that Jabir had once helped Accalia come to our aid and could be trusted.

  We nodded. I clenched my fists so tightly I knew my short nails were biting into my skin.

  “That witch has forced our Little Missy to do her bidding. She’s threatened to tell the Master about you boys and her healing work. The Little Mistress has agreed to stay in her rooms until she meets with this Parthian envoy in return for the viper’s silence. And that woman sent Minerva away to the quarters, so Minerva wouldn’t help the Little Missy. She’s gonna marry our girl off to this foreigner so she can sell gladiators to him. She wants to make big money from your kind. And she don’t care that they’re the enemy.”

  “How do you know all this?” Orion demanded tersely.

  Tallia lifted one brow. “There ain’t nothin’ that goes on up there at the villa that I don’t know about. And I was listenin’ at meal time last night. Made my blood run cold, it did. She’s set to destroy everything the Master’s built. Greedy, traitorous witch!”

  Orion nodded. “Thank you for coming down to tell us this news. You might need to tell Ariaratus.”

  The woman nodded, waiting for more. But what more could we give her? Any moment now we were getting on a wagon and starting our journey. It was like Lucullus all over again. But this time it wouldn’t be Accalia who’d be racing to our rescue. She was the one trapped and afraid. Not for her own safety but for ours and Ariaratus’. She would also be torturing herself over what would become of her father’s legacy. Her own future would be the least of her concerns.

  “Marcus!” Orion said suddenly, looking from one to the other of us. “I don’t know what he can do, but if someone can help here it’s him.”

  Marcus Valerius Natalinus was the son of a local patrician. At ten years of age his father had sent him to our barracks in an effort to make a man of him. Marcus had survived a year of the Spartan lifestyle, but only because the Wolf Pack had taken him under our protection. Although not before he was badly bullied and abused.

  From Accalia we knew Marcus still remembered us fondly, and he was a good friend to our she-wolf. If anyone could help her, he could. Marcus had an excellent, if eccentric mind. It was what got him into so much trouble.

  “You must get a message to Natalinus’ eldest son Marcus. He will be able to help,” Orion told the matron.

  She looked momentarily surprised and then nodded sagely. “That boy likes our Little Missy. Maybe he can help.”

  Orion nodded. “And we’ll try to get word to the Master. Or Marcus might be able to do it. I don’t know. The more options we take up the more chance we have of stopping this woman.”

  Tallia nodded again and the doctores called us back into line. My heart ached to be leaving when Accalia was in so much trouble, but there was nothing we could do for her right now. Even if we managed to escape and get back here, what could we do for our girl? Only someone with true power could intercede. That meant her pater or Marcus.

  I had never hated my lot in life more than I did in that moment. I was a man without power. I couldn’t even save the woman I loved. What good did all my years of training matter when I couldn’t use them when it mattered?

  “Marcus was a good idea,” Typhon said as we sat facing each other in the wagon. Our guards and companions for our journey sat up the front. There was no need to chain us or in any way constrain us. If we were going to escape we’d do it at the edge of the empire. That was the whole point. Our Master wanted us to prove that all the values he’d instilled in us had taken root.

  We were the embodiment of the traditional Roman values of discipline and training, courage and tenacity, strength and stamina, fearlessness in the face of death, the will to win, and the desire for glory. And by undertaking this initiation, this trial, we would prove we had what it took to be the best gladiators in the empire.

  “We are still going ahead with our original plan, though, aren’t we?” I asked, knowing I was going to do it if I was the one lucky enough to find myself near Pannonia in the next weeks. I didn’t need my pack’s approval.

  But they all nodded at me with determined gazes. I knew that one or the other of us would make the journey to wherever our master could be found, to let him know what was happening to his daughter. It might reveal our relationship with her, but we feared for her more than we feared for ourselves. And surely we could word it so the Master didn’t guess just how much we loved his daughter and how close we’d come to her over the years.

  From Accalia’s information, we estimated that his stop at Aquincum was our best chance of meeting up with him. Aquincum was a relatively new military settlement established less than ten years ago as part of the limes that protected the border. It was at the far reaches of Pannonia and a rich source of Celtic and Illyrian warriors, who were captured and enslaved after battles and skirmishes there. From them the Master could choose the best for his breeding program.

  I understood that it was also a common practice for him to pit his bodyguards against these warriors for the enjoyment of the troops. In this way he was able to assess the capabilities of poss
ible breeders and also build his reputation. These demonstration munii would not result in serious injury, for obvious reasons, but would certainly give Corvus an idea of a man’s abilities and spirit. And it was the latter that mattered more to him than his skills.

  Once we reached Rome we left the wagon at the north gate, as such vehicles couldn’t enter the city in daylight hours. With our few possessions under our arms, we were hustled into the heart of the city.

  Rome surprised me. I had expected streets paved with gold. It was the centre of the most powerful empire in the world, after all. As we’d grown up, we’d heard so many stories about its many wonders. But instead of wonders I saw grand temples and government buildings buried beneath the worst excrement humanity could produce.

  Shambling dwellings clung to the inner walls of the city, and the narrow streets were all overshadowed by multi-storied wooden insulae, or apartment buildings, that looked ready to topple down on unsuspecting passers-by at any moment. On every corner urine receptacles stood. And from the smell, I’d guess more piss was spilled around them, than in those containers. But the piss pots were the least of the problem, as decaying garbage littered the streets, making my eyes water. A few times I’d literally had to step over rats feasting on the refuse.

  The ancient streets themselves, many deeply grooved by thousands of wagons having passed over them, made walking a treacherous activity. Both the lads not part of our pack tripped and almost fell. One or other of us saved them that embarrassment, even though we were not thanked for it.

  Worst of all was the stench of unwashed bodies, smoke and noise. So much noise. It made my stomach heave!

  I looked at my pack-mates, wondering what they saw when they looked at this supposedly grand city. Most had wide eyes and open mouths. Were we such country fools that such a place could leave us agape in amazement? Or were they feeling as lost and adrift in the sea of humanity as I was in that moment?