Though Tullia was spoiled, she had an innocent sweetness about her and he was glad he had been privileged by her father’s patronage. Around him, the crowd quieted in hushed anticipation. His eyes shifted over to an aide and he was able to swallow. The man held the wooden sword of valor and Giangreco knew he was going to become a freed slave and with the gold he’d accumulated over the last years, he would leave Rome and find a quiet life to live, away from the violence and death. He knew that Felix would open his home and help him get to Syria and perhaps work for Felix’s family and Dean. That wouldn’t be a bad way to go, he only knew he didn’t want to live in Rome.
“Our Drago has done us proud and it is with joy and pride that we give him our grace,” Emperor Domitian announced, his arms spread wide. The crowd dutifully cheered; they knew their obligation.
“I also have magnificent news, our Senator Marius Pansa has officially adopted young Drago!” Domitian announced.
Thad was stunned and he felt shock vibrating through his body. He knew that Marius Pansa was fond of him and the two shared an abhorrence of violence and death that permeated Rome. Both agreed that it was a rampant disease eating at the heart of Rome. With the adoption, Thad chances and options on the outside were substantially enhanced. He now had a name behind him and a name meant everything in this era. He would not see Dean as soon as he had planned, perhaps never, but he could communicate to him. He felt tears prickle and bit back on the emotion, stuffing it down hard. Romans liked gratitude but they didn’t like any show of weakness and his tears would be perceived as weakness, he was sure. Once more he wished his friends could be here and he wished that he could also see Dean again. He could have used Pansa’s influence to buy their freedom. It was a bittersweet moment for Thad.
Thad went down on his knee and bowed his head in humble acceptance and appreciation. The crowd was losing their ever-loving minds. These people, as bloodthirsty as they were, had a sentimental streak in them and loved a fairytale ending. He stood erect and looked up and realized that Tullia was stepping up beside her father. Pansa turned and lifted a hand and his daughter took it. She smiled up at Pansa and Thad saw the determined triumph in her eyes.
“Our Drago is also to marry the fair Tullia and we shall hold a glorious celebration for the ages!” Domitian announced with showmanship-like enthusiasm. The crowd became insane with glee and cheering.
Thad was stunned and he felt a hysterical laugh fighting its way up into his chest. His life that had been held captive by Rome and the Colosseum. It was now being given over to the senator and his daughter. He had not been asked, he had not been consulted. It absolutely stunned him. To refuse was to die and Thad thought it was a good thing that he cared about Tullia. If he found her repugnant, he would just be shit out of luck and would have to live with a woman he didn’t wish to be around or married to.
Θ
Senator Pansa’s eyes slid over to his daughter and sighed inwardly. He loved his child dearly and he was grateful that she at least had the sense to want a good man, for Drago, or rather Thaddeus, was a good man and was of like mind as himself. He had thought of the adoption for a very long time, almost since the first time he’d met the young man. There had been something that he deeply respected and liked. Adopting the young man was the right thing to do. He had no living sons and he needed his name and his life’s work to go on. In Thaddeus, he saw a man who could and would carry not only his name but bring him grandsons and carry on the important work in the senate.
His eyes slid over to Domitian, it was nearly impossible to keep a sneer off his lips, but Pansa did so. Emperor Domitian was a rapacious egomaniacal self-appointed demigod. But Pansa knew that the boy’s very life depended on Emperor Domitian’s good graces. Pansa knew he was a dying breed, a cry against the violence that was endemic in Rome. There were few in the senate that would ever voice their thoughts against the emperor and his slippery grip on the masses.
He saw the astonishment in Thaddeus’ eyes at the surprise announcements of the adoption and marriage. So, the boy didn’t expect any of this and that somehow pleased Pansa. It also pleased him that the crowd was enthusiastic of this outcome. The citizenry did hold sway over the emperor and if they didn’t like what they were given, they could sway the emperor in another direction.
His eyes found young Thaddeus and he felt a sense of accomplishment. He’d paid a ransom for the wooden sword of valor and Thaddeus’ freedom. He knew it was only a matter of time before Thaddeus was killed in the arena. He didn’t dare wait until the young man won or bought his freedom. No, it was smart on his part and he now had a son and a famous gladiator as a son-in-law. He had plans for the boy.
Θ
Thad shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. He was not a horseman. In fact, this was the first time he’d ever been on a horse and he was torn between fear and embarrassment. Senator Pansa had a servant holding the reins of his horse, so the
