‘Excellent! You see, Gaius, another move in the game is upon us. Fifty of my men are with me in my home. Unless Sulla has spies on every gate, he will not know they have entered the city. If he guesses my intentions, there will be a century from his legion waiting outside at daybreak, but all life is a gamble, yes?’
He addressed the guard.
‘We will leave at dawn. Make sure my slaves look after the men. I will come along in a while.’
The soldier saluted again and left.
‘What are you going to do?’ Marcus asked, feeling completely out of his depth.
Marius rose and flexed his shoulders. He called a slave over and told him to prepare his uniform, ready for dawn.
‘Have you ever seen a Triumph?’
‘No. I don’t think there has been one for a few years,’ Gaius replied.
‘It is the right of every general who has captured new lands: to march his legion through the streets of his beloved capital city and receive the love of the crowd and the thanks of the Senate.
‘I have captured vast tracts of lush farming land in northern Africa, like Scipio before me. Yet a Triumph has been denied me by Sulla, who has the Senate under his thumb at the moment. He says the city has seen too much upheaval, but that is not the reason. What is his reason?’
‘He does not want your men in the city, under any pretext,’ Gaius said quickly.
‘Good, so what must I do?’
‘Bring them in anyway?’ Gaius hazarded.
Marius froze. ‘No. This is my beloved capital city. It has never had a hostile force enter its gates. I will not be the first. That is blind force, which is always chancy. No, I am going to ask! Dawn is in six hours. I suggest you get a little sleep, gentlemen. Just let one of the slaves know when you want to be taken to your rooms. Good night.’ He chuckled and strode off, leaving the four of them alone.
‘He …’ Cabera began, but Tubruk held up a warning finger, motioning with his eyes at the slaves who stood by so unobtrusively.
‘Life will not be dull here,’ he said quietly.
Both Marcus and Gaius nodded and grinned at each other.
‘I’d like to see him “ask”,’ Marcus said.
Tubruk shook his head quickly. ‘Too dangerous. There will certainly be bloodshed, and I have not brought you to Rome to see you killed the first day! If I had known Marius planned something of this sort, I would have delayed.’
Gaius put a hand on the man’s arm. ‘You have been a good protector, Tubruk, but I too want to see this. We will not be refused in this.’
His voice was quiet, but Tubruk stared as if Gaius had shouted. Then he relaxed.
‘Your father was never this foolhardy, but if you are set, and Marius agrees, I will come along to watch your back, as I have always done. Cabera?’
‘Where else would I go? I still wander the same path as you.’
Tubruk nodded. ‘Dawn then. I suggest you rise at least an hour or two before daybreak, for stretching exercises and a light breakfast.’ He rose and bowed to Gaius. ‘Sir?’
‘You may leave, Tubruk,’ Gaius said, his face straight.
Tubruk left.
Marcus raised an eyebrow, but Gaius ignored him. They were not in private and could not enjoy the casual relationship of the estate. Kin or not, Marius’ house was not a place to relax. Tubruk had reminded them of this in his formal style.
Marcus and Cabera departed soon after, leaving Gaius to his thoughts. He lay back on a couch and stared at the night stars over the open garden.
He felt his eyes fill. His father was gone and he was stuck with strangers. Everything was new and different and overwhelming. Every word had to be considered before it left his mouth, every decision had to be judged. It was exhausting and, not for the first time, he wished he were a child again, without responsibility. He had always been able to turn to others when he made mistakes, but who could he turn to now? He wondered if his father or Tubruk had ever felt as lost as he did. It didn’t seem possible that they knew the same fears. Perhaps everyone had them, but hid their worries from others.
When he was calm again, he rose in the darkness and walked silently out of the room, barely admitting his destination to himself. The corridors were silent and seemed deserted, but he had walked only a few paces before a guard stepped towards him and spoke.
‘Can I help you, sir?’
Gaius started. Of course Marius would have guards around his house and gardens.
‘I brought a slave in with me today. I would like to check on her before I sleep.’
‘I understand, sir,’ the guard replied, with a small smile. ‘I’ll show you the way to the slave quarters.’
Gaius gritted his teeth. He knew what the man was thinking, but speaking again would only worsen his suspicions. He followed in silence until they came to a heavy door at the end of the passage. The soldier knocked quietly and they waited for only a few moments before it opened.
A senior female glared at the guard. Her hair was greying and her face quickly set into disapproving lines, clearly a common expression with her.
‘What do you want, Thomas? Lucy is asleep and I’ve told you before …’
‘It’s not for me. This young man is Marius’ nephew. He brought a girl in with him today?’
The woman’s manner changed as she perceived Gaius, who was shaking his head in painful silence, wondering how public things were going to get.
‘Alexandria, wasn’t it? Beautiful girl. My name is Carla. I’ll show you to her room. Most of the slaves are asleep by now, so tread quietly, if you please.’ She beckoned for Gaius to follow and he did so, neck and back stiff with embarrassment. He could feel Thomas’ eyes on his back before the door closed gently behind him.
This part of Marius’ house was plain but clean. A long corridor was lined with closed doors and there were small candles in holders along the walls at intervals. Only a few were lit, but enough light was shed for Gaius to see where they were going.
Carla’s voice was lowered to a harsh whisper as she turned to him.
‘Most of the slaves sleep in a few large rooms, but your girl was put in one of her own, that we keep for favoured ones. You said to treat her kindly, is that true?’
Gaius blushed. He had forgotten the interest that Marius’ slaves would take in Alexandria and himself. It would be all over the house by the morning that he had visited her in the night.
They turned a final corner and Gaius froze in astonishment. The final door of the corridor was open and, against the low light from within, he could see Alexandria standing there, beautiful in the flickering candlelight. She alone would have caused him to take a quick breath, but there was someone with her, leaning against the wall in the shadows.
Carla darted forward and they both recognised Marcus at the same time. For his part, he seemed just as surprised to see them.
‘How did you get in here?’ Carla asked, her voice strained.
Marcus blinked.
‘I crept about the place. I didn’t want to wake everyone up,’ he answered.
Gaius looked at Alexandria and his chest tightened with jealousy. She looked annoyed, but the glint in her eyes only heightened her tousled appearance. Her voice was curt.
‘As you can both see, I am fine and quite comfortable. Slaves have to be up before dawn, so I would like to go to sleep, unless you want to bring Cabera or Tubruk along as well?’