Chapter 29 Trajan
XXIX
TRAJAN
“I wish we could’ve had more time with her before we left.” Lela stood next to me on the Mercury’s deck, both of us watching the lights of Rome growing closer and bigger as we sailed up the Tiber.
We had only been able to rest in Britannia for one day before we had to leave.
Lela and Malina had spent the entirety of that day in each other’s company.
They walked with the sheep out into the field, played with Stefanos and his dog Amica, laughed in a corner while helping Kara with the evening meal.
I’d never seen Lela look so incredibly happy.
I’d even begged her one last time to remain with her sister. But she had stubbornly refused.
“You’ll be with her again. I promise.” If I had to die to keep that promise, I would.
We could hear the city’s revels as we entered the harbor, the Mercury sliding silently along the Tiber’s surface. High above us, there were at least a dozen deathriders circling the moonlit night sky.
It wasn’t surprising that we’d found the Mercury docked on the northern shores of Italia where we’d last left it. They’d dumped their cargo and were restocking for the return to Rome. It took no convincing at all to get them to smuggle us back into the city.
We’d sailed nonstop, arriving right after dusk. Dressed in the clothes of plebs and hooded cloaks, we decided it would be easier to blend in commoner garb.
“Hoods up,” said Lela, flipping hers far over her head, shadowing her face within.
The ship neared the dock in the harbor.
“Hoods up,” I agreed, flipping mine to cover my head as well.
We waited for the crew to tie the ship to the dock and release the gangway, then we were gone.
The streets were empty near the docks as was expected.
The city would be celebrating toward the center, in the forum and taverns surrounding.
Those who joined in. Many families would be sequestered behind locked doors.
Once alcohol began to flow heavily and the night wore on, it could become dangerous.
I led the way to Koska’s apartment first. The crowds thickened as we walked deeper into the Aventine.
No one even gave us a second glance, the people spilling out of the taverns too deep in their cups.
As expected, we passed several people—couples and trios—fucking in alleys or up against the sides of a shops.
While winding through the drunken crowds, a half-naked woman streaked through squealing with laughter, a man wearing only goatskin pants chasing after her.
I gripped Lela’s hand and pulled her behind me to shield her from the wild throng. Taking the lead once we were deep in the Aventine, I sped faster through the narrow streets toward Koska’s apartment.
Guiding her up the stairs, there were two men fucking in the corner of the balcony where Lela and I had watched the triumph in the forum. That day felt like a lifetime ago.
Entering the corridor, which was empty, we stopped at the third door, and I knocked hard. No one answered. I knocked again, this time speaking toward the door.
“Koska. It’s me.”
Instantly, it jerked open, Koska greeting me with a smile and opening the door wide. “Hurry, hurry.”
We rushed inside, pushing off our hoods.
Koska’s eyes widened at seeing Lela, but he didn’t comment, instead bolting the door before he turned to us.
“It’s so good to see you. Caesar has lost his mind ever since you left.”
“Since when did he ever have it?” I muttered.
Koska shook his head. “It’s worse. The praeco announced that you, your grandfather, and the slave woman known as Lela”—he glanced at her beside me—“are enemies of the state. Anyone hiding you in their homes would be executed immediately and he gave the praetorians full rein to use whatever force they deem necessary to search homes.”
“And they’ve been using that force indiscriminately, I imagine,” I added.
“Not only that,” said Koska. “Since Legatus Drussus isn’t on campaign, he’s using his officers and soldiers to search the entire city.
They were even here in the Aventine yesterday.
They’ve been turning the city upside down, trying to find you.
Several people have died during these so-called searches. ”
“Fear is his best tool to control others,” I added. “It always has been.”
“There were reports of praetorians patrolling the docks as well. I’ve been lying low here, hoping they didn’t come knock on my door to ask me questions.” He blew out a breath. “Indeed, I thought you were them when you came knocking.”
“We didn’t see anyone on the docks when we arrived,” said Lela.
Koska shrugged. “Fortunately, as soon as the Luperci priests began the rites of the festival, the searches stopped. Most are celebrating the festival, though some are still patrolling the streets. You must be careful.”
“Don’t worry, Koska,” said Lela. “We know the danger. We plan to get in and out of the dungeon as quickly as possible.”
He gave a stiff nod then turned back to me. “There are rumors that Caesar plans to make a spectacle of the Visigoth’s death at the end of the festival. A public burning by dragon fire in the arena.”
“Gods above,” whispered Lela.
“That would be a spectacle,” I said, “if it were actually going to happen. Koska, pack your bag and report to the Mercury on the docks. We will be back on board within the hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
With that, Lela and I donned our hoods then left. The couple on the balcony had gone as well, and there was no one along the back alley I led her down, the same way I guided Lela the last time we’d gone to Mamertine Prison.
While the entire city was drunk off wine and desire, we slipped quickly through, just as I’d planned. It seemed to be going too smoothly, which had me on full alert. It couldn’t be this easy.
Once we climbed Capitoline Hill in the shadows along the walls, I sensed the presence of many dragons before I saw them.
I stopped before we rounded the final corner where the prison would come into view and pressed my back to the wall, as did Lela.
Peering around the corner, I saw what I’d been smelling and hearing.
I whispered back to her, “Ten centurion guards out front.”
Apparently, Caesar had added more guards everywhere. They weren’t only patrolling the streets and terrorizing people in their homes.
While I was thinking the best way to approach, she tugged on my sleeve. I leaned down for her and she whispered, “All I need you to do is cut one or two of them for me.”
“Just follow my lead.”
She looped her arm through mine, and we strode out onto the street toward the small square in front of the building. She pretended to stumble, and we weaved together. Then she tossed her head back with a loud laugh as we crossed the square.
“I might do that for you,” she said in a loud, coquettish voice, “but I’ve never done that before. Not even with my husband.”
I whispered in her ear, “They’re watching.”
She threw her head back with another loud laugh.
The guards didn’t move, but they watched us meander along the cobblestoned street in front of the prison.
She leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Get rough.”
Not hesitating, I jerked her close and pretended to bite her neck, letting my dragon rumble to the surface.
“No!” She beat me with her fist. “Please stop!”
I let her go and she jumped backward while I snapped my jaws at her.
“Please don’t hurt me!”
She stumbled away and ran toward the line of guards at the edge of the road.
There were four of them at the street level of the prison and four more up the stepped terrace close to the entrance.
Two more stood on the side of the building that led around the back where we had entered our first time here.
“Officer,” she begged as she approached the closest one, with me quickly on her heels. “Can you tell this man I want to be left alone?”
“Lady, you need to move along home,” he said gruffly, though he was already hypnotized by her beauty. Not surprising.
I unsheathed my short sword and swung high, knowing the officer’s instincts would force him to defend. He instantly withdrew his gladius and lunged at me. Our swords clanged, then I spun and sliced across his bare calf, ducking away toward Lela.
“Ahh!” he cried out, falling back as another guard rushed toward us.
I lifted the blade and Lela swiped a finger along the flat of it, touched her tongue, and then shouted, “Stop him!”
She’d pointed to the one charging toward us. The first guard swung at him, cutting through his tunic at his shoulder.
“What the hell are you doing, Felix!” he yelled as he ducked another blow.
The other guards sprinted toward us, drawing their swords.
I readied to engage with the closest, also trying to figure out how to help Lela get to their blood without getting slashed by their swords, when an eerie chill trickled down my spine.
Otherworldly energy filled the square. Rather than the jarring and sharp sting I felt when I shifted, this energy swept over me like a ghostly caress.
When I glanced to my side, Lela held out her hands, palms up, and I saw a stream of blood fly from the shoulder of the newly injured soldier directly into Lela’s upright palm. She licked her palm then said, “Fight the guards. Protect me!”
His face contorted into rage as he swung against another soldier barreling toward us. Without thinking, I attacked the next and cut him near the knee then set about finding a way to wound them. That was all that Lela needed.
Each time, she simply summoned their blood silently, and it flew to her. Each drop she tasted gave her the power over another guard, until all ten were swinging swords with all their might, doing her bidding.
Suddenly, she shouted, “Stop fighting!”
All at once, they froze where they were, panting with exertion.
“Now lie down and go to sleep,” she told them. “You need a long night’s rest.”
They obeyed her instantly, curling up on the road or the steps and closing their eyes, falling asleep at her command.