“Wonderful. Until tonight,” Antony turned and quickly rejoined his father as they exited the Senate, along with a dozen other men behind them.
“Until tonight,” Gaius replied with a soft voice. He took a deep breath, already birds began to swirl in his stomach at the thought of seeing Julia again. Ideas to find excuses to escape the dinner ran through his mind. Regardless, however, he knew he wanted to see her, despite his fears, so he would do what was asked of him and man-up. What was the worst that could happen — she’d grown fat?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The night air was cool and had a pleasant aroma of fresh rainfall, which for the time had washed the filth from the city, at least on the surface; in the morning, the smell of trash and excrement would return.
Gaius walked down one of the countless mazes that made up the streets of Rome. The night was dark, which made every step a careful one. A few torches lit his path, but they did not help his journey much. While he was a stranger to these streets, he did not have much trouble finding his destination. Varro’ estate stood along a stretch of road that was dominated by numerous wealthy homes and businesses. Currently, he was less than two blocks from the gates.
He did not entirely feel comfortable about being out alone. While the streets of Rome were relatively safe during the day, at night, it was a different story. These narrow corridors were famous for hunters who emerged after dawn. Muggers and rape gangs preyed on the unsuspecting. A few hurried footsteps and peering eyes from within the surrounding darkness would from time to time catch Gaius’ attention. Most of them were harmless, but every few blocks, or so he could hear ominous whispers from the shadows.
He wore no armor of any kind but only a long red cloak, which signaled him to be a soldier. This, for the most part, was what kept those prying eyes away from him, if any of the men behind those stares had other intentions, and if there was trouble, Gaius kept his right hand firmly on the hilt of his sword, which hung loosely down beside his hip. A small dagger also was kept behind his back, both of which he was more than comfortable using if he needed them.
There was a part of him, as he neared the estate of Senator Varro that wanted to be attacked. He was young and had trained for years in the art of warfare and single combat. However, Gaius had never had the opportunity to test his abilities outside of training, nor had he killed a man since joining the Sixth. However, that didn’t mean that Gaius was a stranger to death. In ten years since joining the legion, he had witnessed a number of accidence and fights that ended in one or more men dead. He, himself had been cut a number of times that if not attended to by the camp doctor, he would have bled to death.
As it would stand, no one dared challenge him this night as the gates to Varro’ home came in sight.
After Gaius knocked on the hard wooden gate, a small hinged door opened and allowed an old man’s eyes to peer out.
“Announce yourself, stranger,” the man demanded.
“I am Centurion Lucius Gaius,” a sense of pride filled his words. “I am here by invitation from Antony, son of this manor and senator of Rome.”
When he finished his address, the small door closed with a hard
Standing behind the gate was a short man who bowed his head slightly as Gaius stepped inside.
“Greetings, and welcome Master Gaius; Master Antony is expecting you. If you would please follow me, I will take you to him with haste,” the old servant now said with the utmost respect.
Gaius followed the slave through the courtyard. To his right, he noticed several stables that currently held four horses of expensive breeding. Two boys tended to the animals, taking the moment to glance behind them and stare at the soldier who walked through the yard.
Slave living quarters were set to the far left of the high stone wall that surrounded the whole property. The estate, like many in the city was built like a small fortress, meant to keep people in as much as out.
Six guards patrolled the grounds. One man, whom had a long scar running across his face, kept his eyes on Gaius as he stood in front of the main entrance. The men were big and burly, meant to intimidate on sight. Gaius noted that the man by the door had a brand on his inner right arm, indicating that he once was a gladiator; a normal practice by Rome’s wealthy elite to hire the famed champions of the arena as bodyguards.
The slave then turned before leading Gaius further inside, and held out his hands, palms up. “I will require you to relinquish your weapons, sir.”
Gaius was hesitant for a moment, but the slave’s old eyes were firm as he did not budge from his posture.
Gaius did as he was asked, first removing his sword from his waste, and then pulling his dagger out from behind his belt before handing each over to the slave carefully.
The man’s expression returned to his normal cheerful demeanor as he turned and handed the weapons over to a female slave who stood by the doorway.
“Thank you, sir. You are free to enter. Master Antony is expecting you and should greet you shortly.”
“What of the lady of the house?” Gaius asked.
The old man smiled oddly, as if he was in on some privet joke.
“Lady Julia is present.”
Gaius nodded as he stepped over the threshold, glancing behind him for a moment as the slave went back outside to his post, probably waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive.
The air was warm and comfortable contrary to the stiff breeze outside, and while Gaius had been in the house once before, ten years ago he was still easily impressed with the elaborate and tasteful decor of the interior, which seemed to have been remodeled, perhaps several times over since he last walked through these halls.
Gold-capped columns were placed throughout the large interior that received all guests. The cleanliness was heavenly as the stone marble floor gleamed brilliantly from the numerous torches that cast their flickering light across the open spaces. Opulent furniture, tables and statues were scattered throughout the front room, while a low-lying marble pool, touched with floating flower peddles center the floor.
Along the far wall, leading into another set of rooms were the death masks of generations past, decadents of Antony and Julia’s family. Gold and copper bowls of fresh fruit, and scented oils filled the room with a sweet aroma that swirled around Gaius, begging him to enter further.
“Gaius!” Antony called out as he turned the corner, where a cheerful chorus of voices could be heard behind him. A big smile quickly formed on his face as he raced over towards his waiting guest.
“It does my heart wonders to see my brother back in Rome,” Antony exclaimed with a beaming smile as he embraced Gaius; a full cup of wine in one hand, which he was careful to hold away from Gaius’ fine red cloak.
“It is good to see you as well, my brother,” Gaius replied. Antony stood back and shook his head, amused as he looked Gaius over, taking in every detail as if his eyes could barely believe what he was seeing.
“I still cannot get over seeing you like this. How can this be the boy whom I beat at every turn with our wooden swords?” Antony laughed with a delightful grin.
“Oh, your memory is deluded with fantasy, my friend. I do recall that I won more than my share of engagements,” Gaius smiled.
Antony laughed again as he clapped his arms around Gaius once more, unable to hold back his excitement to see his friend finally after ten years apart.
“I think that military stew has clouded your mind,” Antony added.
“Then perhaps we can test our skills again and renew our contest.”
“I would welcome the challenge. Come, you must regale me with the many marvelous adventures you’ve been on since last we saw one another,” Antony said as he escorted Gaius further into the house, leading him to where the other party-goers were gathered.
“There isn’t much to tell, I’m afraid. I eat. I sleep. I train, and then I repeat it all the next morning.”
