Enemy of Rome

LIII

‘You should not have come here.’

The bitterness in Valerius’s voice was like a knife through Domitia’s heart, but to betray it would only have increased the pain for them both. Somehow, she managed to remain composed and apparently unmoved. ‘Do not judge me, Valerius. I did what had to be done.’

‘Your duty?’ He spat the word as if it were a curse. She had arrived at the room where he had stayed before his capture as he was packing a leather bag for a journey that did not yet have a destination. Curtains covered the windows and the darkness was like a cloak between them, which was a blessing because it meant they did not have to look into each other’s eyes.

‘Not my duty,’ she said without bitterness. ‘What was right. Would you deny me the right to make a sacrifice to save the man I loved?’

Now it was his turn to feel the sting of the blade and she heard the agony of it in his voice. ‘I would rather have died.’

‘Yes,’ she said carefully. ‘I understand that, but ask yourself how Domitia Longina Corbulo could have lived if she had left you to your fate when she had the means to alter it.’

‘I should kill him.’

‘And have my sacrifice mean nothing?’ She shook her head at his naivety. When she had made her decision it had felt like a death sentence, but once it was taken she realized she had the capacity to live with it. How many women of her class had the luxury of choice? ‘Have I misjudged you so, Valerius? The man I love is brave and honourable and kind. He is not a fool who voluntarily throws himself to the wolf for no purpose. It is what Domitianus wants you to do, and you would die for nothing. I have given him my vow, and I will not break my word. You have often said I am my father’s daughter. Would you expect me to dishonour his shade?’

Valerius fought for words, but he knew nothing he said would change what was. When the silence became unbearable, it was Domitia who spoke.

‘Where will you go?’

‘I don’t …’ He swallowed. ‘To Titus, I think, if he will have me. If he does not want me, or if my presence threatens his position, then east; a sword for hire.’

‘Better with Titus,’ she nodded. ‘I will send Serpentius after you when he has recovered.’

At first he thought he’d misheard her. ‘Serpentius?’

‘He was hit by a club from behind as he tried to save little Lucius.’ Her eyes misted over as she remembered the moment, her heart in her mouth for Serpentius, the awful flood of blood from the pale flesh of the child’s throat. His mother’s screams. ‘Serpentius is not invincible after all, Valerius. Neither are you. You may find him …’ she searched for the proper word, ‘changed. Since he woke it is as if he sees the world differently.’

Valerius sighed. Of course, the boy’s fate had been certain from the moment Vitellius had named him his heir. But Serpentius? ‘I thought he was dead.’ His voice sounded very tired. ‘Better then to send him back to his homeland. The gods know there is no more honour in riding with Gaius Valerius Verrens, enemy of Rome. If you could find a way to …’

‘Of course,’ she said. ‘I will ensure he has the means, and more. It is the least I owe him.’ Valerius finished packing the bag and straightened, meeting her eyes for the first time. She realized that Serpentius was not the only one who had changed. ‘I will try to make sure that your property passes to Olivia,’ she continued, ‘and that the villa is rebuilt.’ She saw his bemusement. ‘It was burned. Deserters from one army or the other. She is safe, but a few of your people were killed.’

A bell tolled somewhere nearby.

‘I will …’

‘You should …’

Their words emerged simultaneously and faded in the same instant. She stepped forward into his arms and he held her, breathing in the fresh sweetness of her hair, trying to imprint every nuance of it on his memory. He felt dampness on his unshaven cheek and tasted salt on his lips. For a time it seemed neither could find the will to break the embrace, but eventually Domitia pushed herself away.

‘You must go.’ She turned away to the window.

He nodded. What else was there to say? He picked up the bag and walked to the doorway, hesitating as she spoke again. ‘He has pledged to leave you in peace, but he will send them after you.’

Them. Assassins: backstabbers and poisoners.

‘I will be ready for them.’

A soft current of air brushed the back of her neck.

‘Valerius …’ She turned back, not ready to let him go despite her entreaty. But where he’d stood was only darkness.