Season of the Gladiatrix Read online

  He pointed at the three accused senators. “I will tell you why – because of the outrageous ambitions of these three men who must be found guilty.” He spat out his final words in disgust and sat down.

  Bradua stood once again. “Now I call upon Marcus Cocceius Nerva.”

  Nerva stood, smiling serenely as if he did not have a care in the world. “I must congratulate my esteemed colleague on an admirable piece of theatre. I should however point out that like all theatre it bears no resemblance to fact. I will now demonstrate to senators and citizens and to the judges the injustice and dishonesty of the claims against these unfortunate men – men who for many years have served their country well.

  “First of all let us take Antonius Sabinus, who my respected colleague describes as living proof that these men are guilty. Where is this living proof? This ‘living proof’ is dead so he is hardly that. We are told by the noble Paulinus that he committed suicide while in custody. I consider that it is very careless of the famously efficient head of our Praetorian Guard to let a valuable prisoner die in custody. I say valuable, because if alive he could have given us proof that this conspiracy simply did not exist. His testament would have shown us that this conspiracy was invented to rid certain people of opposition.”

  He stared accusingly for a long time at Paulinus. “How convenient it was that he should die in custody.”

  Paulinus angrily thumped his fist on the table and Pedius stood up. “It was illegal for him to be in Italy.”

  Bradua gestured to Nerva to continue. “Indeed it was. The poor man’s sister was sick and he returned to Italy to see her. He was very devoted to his sister. Unfortunately she died and before he returned to Asia he was simply paying a social call on an old friend.”

  Once again Pedia stood. “Your proof is not living, either.”

  “Sit down Pedia, you have had your chance. Do not interrupt again,” shouted a frustrated Bradua.

  “No, but my proof died of disease,” replied Nerva. “Now, let us take a look at their prime witness Solanus Fuscus, the notorious professional assassin, who is no more here than Sabinus. Did he also disappear? No, it seems he escaped. He murdered a prominent senator, told Paulinus about a conspiracy, and then he escaped.”

  He started laughing. “Excuse me a minute while I chuckle. He escaped. The able Paulinus becomes less efficient by the minute – or does he? So we will examine what we have here. A conspiracy is supposed to have taken place at the home of Marcus Gracchus in his villa at Surrentum. There were five conspirators. Three are here and they adamantly deny the claims against them. The other two are dead and therefore cannot give evidence. They are accused by one man who seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. We have only the word of the ambitious head of the Praetorian Guard that he was told of a conspiracy by a man who has since disappeared. We have the word of one man who wasn’t there against the word of three men who were. Without the presence of Solanus Fuscus this trial is a farce. There is no proof. There is no evidence. These honourable men should never have been brought to trial. We have laws in our great city and those laws tell us that no man can be convicted without adequate proof that he is guilty. I repeat there is no proof. The judices can only find these men not guilty.”

  *

  I watched in disbelief as the great lawyer sat down. I knew these men were guilty but he had destroyed the case against them. I shook my head as Bradua stood to call upon the judges to reach their verdict. I knew that they would be found not guilty. Then I watched as Paulinus frantically said something to Pedius.

  Pedius rose to his feet while still in discussion with Paulinus.

  “You have presented your evidence,” Bradua reminded him.

  “That is the point – we have not been able to. Nerva is right that without the presence of Solanus Fuscus the trial is a farce. We will find Solanus and bring him here to give his evidence but we need time to locate him. We are in agreement with my honourable colleague that Solanus is needed here. We need a suspension and time in which to find him.”

  Nerva was shaking his head and Bradua put his head in his hands as he thought about the request. “You have six months. The accused will return to their homes and live normal lives. The only restriction I put upon them is that they should not leave Rome. Are the judges in agreement that if this Solanus Fuscus is not in Rome within six months then all charges will be dropped and it is an end to the matter?”

  All the members of the judices nodded in agreement. Paulinus had delayed what would have been an inevitable verdict of not guilty and I had an inkling of what my special job may be. Bradua continued. “Very well. We will convene again as soon as possible after Solanus returns to Rome and if he is not in Rome within six months the charges will be dropped. The trial is ended for now.”

  I had sensed throughout the proceedings that the majority of people in the forum had wanted a conviction. I did not know whether it was because they thought the senators guilty, or because they disliked the aristocracy, or they simply wanted the entertainment of some executions. The Roman populace were definitely with Paulinus but I could not see that as an important factor.

  “That was an almighty load of rubbish,” said a familiar voice. There was Macro facing me. “Gracchus is as guilty as sin and yet not convicted and probably never will be. I told him at the time that he should never have let Solanus go.” He spat out the words angrily.

  “They were so obviously guilty that I suppose he thought he could afford to let Solanus go,” I offered.

  “Well, then, he was wrong. I suppose you now have some idea of the task awaiting you,” he said. “So it all rather depends on you now. You had better find him because I recommended you. Paulinus wants to see you in the morning when he will tell you himself, but for now you had better just return to the palace.”

  “I am on my way,” I said, pondering on the words of Macro. I looked over my shoulder as I walked back towards the Via Sacra and saw Macro returning to a no doubt despondent Paulinus. The head of the Praetorian Guard had taken a battering from Rome’s most accomplished lawyer.

  Chapter 3

  I was still mulling over the mission that seemed to await me when I saw the blonde hair of Corelia blowing in the stiff breeze that had suddenly descended upon the city. She must, like me, have been in the forum for the duration of the trial. I fought my way through the crowd of people returning to their homes to get close to her. She was talking to a tall man with a narrow face and a scar upon his cheek. I wondered who he might be. Corelia then caught sight of me and left her companion to head in my direction. Within a few paces she was alongside me.

  “Greetings, Hylas, are you still following me?”

  “Greetings, Corelia. I’m not following you.” Perhaps I did not sound convincing enough.

  “You were here for the trial then. That is disappointing.”

  I realized that she was flirting with me. “I guess you were too,” I replied.

  “So was much of Rome. That was my father I was talking to. He is politically minded so I said I would meet him here and keep him company.”

  “If you managed to get away from the Emperor in time,” I tried to keep the bitterness hidden.

  “Are you jealous, Hylas?” She reached out and gently stroked my cheek.

  Her touch was exhilarating and I felt weak at the knees. I stammered out a reply. “A little, I suppose.” She smiled serenely at my fumbled words and I could not help myself. I was completely under her spell.

  “You will have to continue to be jealous, because the Emperor wishes my visits to the palace to continue, although I’m sure that one day he will tire of me.”

  “Do you love him?” I asked, and realized how naive my words probably sounded.

  “Of course not, but he is the Emperor and so I have no choice but to answer his calls. It does mean that for the immediate future you can still spy on me in the palace gardens, but that is all you can do, Hylas.”

  It sounded like a rejection. “I w
ill not even be able to do that, Corelia,” I replied sadly.

  “Why is that?”

  “It seems I will shortly be leaving Rome.”

  “I thought you were a palace guard,” she said curiously. “Palace guards work at the palace.”

  “Paulinus has another job for me,” I responded anxiously, and then realized that perhaps I should not be discussing what Paulinus had in mind for me.

  She studied me intently and then understanding cleared her perfect features. “He is sending you to search for Solanus Fuscus.”

  “I don’t think I should be discussing this,” I said, knowing that I was a little late with this response.

  “When do you leave?” she asked.

  “I do not know, but I will find out tomorrow morning.”

  “Then meet me during the afternoon about an hour before dusk. Can you get away?”

  “I can, but why do you want to meet me?”

  “I can give you information that will help you find Solanus.”

  “What information could you give me?” I was disbelieving.

  “There is a grassy bank by the Tiber close to the Dionysus tavern. We can meet there and talk in private. Do not tell anyone of our meeting. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, but I’m not sure this is a good idea...”

  She reached out and touched my face again. She smiled, for she knew I could not refuse her. “I will see you tomorrow, Hylas, but now I must rejoin my father because he’s getting curious.” She strolled nonchalantly away.

  I watched as she disappeared with her father into the vast crowds that were still gathered in the Via Sacra. There was an air of great disappointment because the good people of Rome had expected a conviction followed by executions, but they still had Domitian’s games to look forward to. I hardly noticed all this, however, because my mind was elsewhere.

  My mind remained in turmoil throughout that evening and the next morning. Was Paulinus indeed going to present me with the task of finding Solanus Fuscus? Was the mission going to be dangerous? There were powerful people who would not wish Solanus to testify, so danger did seem inherent in what looked like my probable undertaking. What was the involvement of Corelia? What could she possibly know of Solanus Fuscus or his whereabouts? Was it safe to take her into my confidence? However, perhaps the biggest question in my mind was one that should not have been there – did she have feelings for me? Had wishful thinking blinded me? The meeting with Paulinus would answer the first set of questions and perhaps the meeting with Corelia might provide answers to the second set of questions.

  *

  “Take a seat, Hylas, and you too, Macro.” Paulinus ushered us both into his office and beckoned us to sit. “Hylas, you will now know what task I am going to present you with. Listen to what I am going to say and then ask questions afterwards. I need those wretched senators to be found guilty, especially Marcus Gracchus who is the ringleader. For six months he will be under public scrutiny and will be less dangerous because of it. Then if he is found not guilty he will be able to return to his plotting. He is very rich man, perhaps the richest in Rome, and belongs to a powerful and influential family. In short he is an aristocrat and therefore has the support of many of the aristocrats in the senate. He is also very ambitious and this makes him dangerous. I will be in immediate and grave danger if they find him innocent for he sees me as the main person frustrating his schemes and ambitions. The Emperor’s life will also be in danger. I cannot emphasize too highly the threat he poses to us.”

  “I see,” I said gasping at the enormity of the threat that Gracchus represented.

  “We need Solanus Fuscus in Rome and at the trial as soon as possible. His evidence and his description of events on that fateful day may just sway the verdict our way. You will find him and bring him back to Rome. Do you remember Solanus? You spoke to him once when he was our prisoner and you saw him at the villa of Marcus Gracchus.”

  “I remember him well,” I replied.

  “Good, and that is why I have chosen you. Macro tells me that you are both capable and resourceful. I know that the task I am sending you on will not be easy. Solanus may well not wish to return to Rome, particularly as dangers will await him here, and so it will be up to you to persuade him using all the arguments I have presented you with. He hates Gracchus so it may be possible that he will agree – and you should also tell him that I sent you and he owes me. I realize that you may not be able to find him or that it may take longer than the six months allotted to us, for our Empire is large and he could be anywhere. Keep me in touch with your progress and if necessary I will try to delay things at this end. Do you understand?”

  “I understand.”

  “Of course you will have to be careful, so do not divulge your mission to anyone. There will be those here in Rome who will be watching us as best they can. It is in the interests of the conspirators that you fail. If they learn of your identity then you could be in great peril and because of this you will travel alone and not draw any attention to yourself.”

  I swallowed, knowing that there was already a person who knew of my mission. “I will be careful.”

  “I will give you a good sum of money that will allow you easy progress from place to place and enable you to make bribes if necessary. Are there any questions before I continue?”

  “Where do I start?” I inquired.

  “I was coming to that. I do not have much but here it is. We were having him followed and, at the time of the arrest of the senators, he was staying at the residence of a man called Lucher. I will give you his address. He also seemed to be on friendly terms with the gardener at his father’s residence so it might be worth interviewing him, though in this instance you will have to be discreet. Enemy territory, you understand. There was also a woman called Kotys who I think might well have travelled out of Italy with him, probably from Brindisi if they went by ship. Ask around at the port. It will be a difficult trail to follow.” He sighed and shook his head wearily.

  “Is that all we have, sir?” I asked incredulously.

  “It is, and if you have no luck then you may never leave Italy. However I have a hunch that he was heading to the east – let us hope that you might yet learn his destination. Are there any more questions?”

  “Just one question – you asked me to mingle with the crowds in the forum and gauge their feelings with regard to the conspirators and the trial. Why was that?”

  “I know that your chances of finding Solanus and persuading him to return to Rome are slim. Worth a try, but slim nevertheless. I wondered if the populace were generally with me or against me. I wondered, if all else fails, if I might use the power of the people of Rome to force a conviction. It is not a power I wish to try and harness but it may be a possibility as a last resort.”

  “I believe that the populace were against the senators. They are garishly rich and condescending aristocrats and their executions would have been accepted gleefully as grand entertainment. However, I have to be honest, I do not think that they were particularly on your side either.”

  “They are on the side of whoever provides them with grain and games and that is the Emperor. They don’t realize that I support the Emperor and keep him in power. Is there anything else, Hylas, before you start your mission?”

  “No, sir. I will begin immediately and keep you informed of progress as best as I can.”

  “Then you are dismissed, Hylas. Be careful and I wish you the very best of luck.”

  “And from me, too,” added Macro.

  *

  It was late afternoon when I reached the grassy banks of the river Tiber for my rendezvous with the gladiatrix, Corelia. She had not yet arrived and I sat down on the long grass in the warm, autumn sunshine and mulled over, yet again, the words of Paulinus. I did not see or hear her approach as I was so occupied with my thoughts.

  “You should be more alert, Hylas. There are those who would not want you to bring Solanus back to Rome,” she warned as she sat down next to me
.

  Her smile was radiant and her long blonde hair seemed to shine like gold in the afternoon sun. She seemed to me like a goddess, but a goddess I needed to be wary of for she already knew too much. “Greetings, Corelia,” I said, and returned her smile.

  “I’m sorry I am a little late but it was difficult to get away from the school. My father was curious to know where I was going. How are you, Hylas? You seemed very deep in thought.”

  “I was, for it is as you say, Corelia. There are people who would not wish me to bring Solanus Fuscus back to Rome.”

  “Paulinus has given you the job of bringing him back then?”

  “He has, and I am aware of how difficult and dangerous it might be,” I said, sighing.

  She clasped her hands together. “Do you know where to look for him?”

  Again I sighed. “I have very little to go on.”

  She smiled in sympathy. “I might be able to help you – I have information that may aid you in your search.”

  “What do you know of Solanus?” I inquired.

  “One thing at a time. In return for the information I want you to do something for me. Your travels will take you to the east and it is in the city of Ephesus that you can do me a service.”

  “What service?” I asked with a little trepidation.

  “Have you heard of the gladiatrix, Amina?”

  “Yes, I have heard of her invincibility and that like you I believe she has a large following.”

  “She has beaten all comers, Hylas, and she is known as the champion of Asia or the Queen of the Nile. She is from Upper Egypt but she is now based in Ephesus.”

  “What has this to do with Solanus Fuscus?” I asked.

  “Hear me out, Hylas. Her fame has spread to Rome and to the ear of Domitian. He has formed a grand plan in his head that the champion gladiatrix of the west will meet the champion gladiatrix of the east sometime next year, here in Rome at the Colosseo. Nothing will deter him from this objective and he is determined to make this grand contest happen. I am to fight Amina.”