XXI
Lucius burst through the front doors of the family villa and bellowed Julia’s name. The staff in and around the entrance hall scurried to get out of his way as he ran down the corridor yelling. “Sir, the mistress is taking her morning bath and wishes not to be disturbed.” Before the head servant had finished his sentence, Lucius was out of earshot and bounding up the stairs. Without a knock he threw open the door to Julia’s private toilet. The sudden intrusion startled her as she reclined in her large marble tub, her maids gently massaging her shoulders and feet. She dropped her legs into the tub with a splash as her attendants naïvely used a large towel to shield her from Lucius’s view.
“What is it, Quintus? What’s wrong?” Julia asked, panic growing in her voice.
He remained in the doorway, smiling. Slowly, he slid his right hand from behind his back until the scroll it held was in clear view. He watched Julia’s eyes widen as she gazed on the Imperial seal that held the parchment closed.
“Leave us!” she said to her maids. The young girls hesitantly dropped the towel and left the room. “Close the door!” she shouted to the last girl, her eyes never leaving the scroll in Lucius’s hand.
“This came this morning with the new legionary recruits sent up from Rome,” Lucius said as he slowly approached the tub. “Do you recognize this seal?”
Julia nodded as she sat up straight, the water running down her back and breasts. “Well, are you going to open it or are you going to let me die of anxiety?”
Lucius slowly ran his finger along the scroll, breaking the wax seal. He wasn’t sure what fascinated him more, the contents of the scroll or watching Julia’s anticipation as she licked her lips and began to tremble ever so slightly.
“Oh, hurry up, will you!” she yelled, stifling a giggle.
With deliberate delay, Lucius slowly unfurled the document, paused again for dramatic effect, then began to read aloud.
“‘To Quintus Honorius Romanus, magistrate of Aquae Sulis and servant of Rome. The Emperor Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus congratulates you on your recent success in quelling the barbarian uprising in your district.’” Julia squealed and clapped her hands like a child as she squirmed in the tub. She leaned closer as Lucius continued reading. “ ‘Doing so without the loss of a single life, either military or civilian, is most admirable. You are hereby summoned to Rome to receive a commendation to be presented by the Emperor Nero and to partake in a banquet to be given at the Emperor’s Golden House in your honor. May the gods be with you on your journey.’”
Lucius’s voice had slowed to a monotone crawl as he read the last few lines, unable to believe the words he was reciting. He sank to the edge of the tub and sat staring at the Imperial proclamation. A giggle rose in Julia, then grew to a loud laugh. The sound was infectious. The smile on Lucius’s face also swelled to laughter.
“Put the scroll down for a minute, dear,” Julia said as her tittering subsided.
In his fit of rapture Lucius tossed the scroll across the room and raised his arms to the muraled ceiling in victory. Without warning, Julia grabbed him by the white toga and pulled him over the side and into the tub with her. Waves splashed across the floral patterns of the tiled floor. Lucius came up spitting water and laughing hysterically.
“I’m returning to Rome ... banquet in my honor ... commendation from Nero...” He was unable to make complete sentences as his heart pounded. Julia reached for him, quickly untangling the mass of wet material that floated in the bath water.
“I think you mean we’re going to Rome, Master Quintus,” she corrected. Her hands worked briskly underwater until she found the body parts she was looking for. “You’re not thinking of leaving your Aunt Julia out of this celebration, are you?” Her voice was deliberately pouty and childlike as she began to pump his cock with both hands. “Aunt Julia wants to have a good time in Rome, too.” Her left hand moved to his scrotum as her right hand continued stroking faster and faster. “Besides, who would you have to play with if I didn’t come along?” The intense pumping of her hand splashed more water across the floor. “Don’t you want to make love in the shadow of the Forum?” Her words were working magic on them both and Lucius watched as she repositioned her left hand between her own legs. “Don’t you want me at the banquet, which will surely turn into one of Nero’s famous orgies?” Both hands were now pumping furiously underwater. “Don’t you want to watch all the Senators and their ladies running their hands all over me? Kissing my breasts? Groping at my ass? Pouring wine across my vagina and licking it off?” Lucius moaned loudly. He looked down at the white sperm shooting into the bath water between his legs. The sight also pushed Julia over the edge and she climaxed with a series of convulsions that poured more water over the sides of the tub.
They both laid back in the spacious reservoir, reveling in this success that was beyond their wildest imaginations. Lucius opened his eyes and looked at Julia, who had never taken her eyes off him.
“How can I refuse such an offer?” he said with a smile. “Let’s get packed for Rome.”
Within seven weeks Lucius and Julia had reached the new harbor at Portus just outside Rome. The sea journey had made Lucius tense. After the events aboard the Vesta three years earlier, he would probably never be comfortable on a ship again. He was relieved to be on firm ground. This, combined with the beautiful Italian spring weather, raised his spirits.
The two sat facing each other on satin seats as they rode along the Via Portuensis in one of Nero’s State coaches. He watched Julia’s contented face as she stared out the window surveying the green countryside, which gradually transformed to congested urban development as they approached the walls of Rome.
They entered the city from the west, crossed the Tiber over the Pons Aemilius, and made their way along the Vicus Iugarius past the Forum toward the new imperial palace known as the Domus Aurea, the Golden House. Their progress was hindered only by foot traffic, since State coaches were the only vehicles allowed on the roads of Rome during the day.
“I don’t even recognize the city anymore,” Julia said as they passed the massive marble temples and the labyrinth of insulae tenements and domus houses. “And I forgot about the smells. There are areas of this city that rival the stench of our horse stables at the villa.”
“It looks like the fire leveled most of the older buildings,” Lucius said. “Look there. Some of the gutted buildings are still standing.” They turned onto the Via Sacra and approached the Palatine Hill.
“Where was your home?” Julia asked.
“Right there, where that open field now sits on the hillside. I knew our area was affected by the fire, but I didn’t realize the entire neighborhood was leveled.” Lucius tried to seem despondent over the loss, but inside he gloated. There was now no physical reminder of the years he had spent catering to the needs of the Romanus family.
“So how was it serving the Romanus family? Did they treat you well?” Julia asked with nonchalance.
“They were...” Lucius stopped. Had he heard her correctly? Had she read his mind? His head snapped around. She was staring at him with eyes two shades darker than before. The smug expression on her face told him that his game was up. How should he react? Should he deny it? He was speechless.
“Surprised?” she asked, the word passing across an evil smile. “Oh, I’ve been suspicious of your story all along. A crafty mind like yours should know you can’t swindle a swindler. You just confirmed my suspicion ... Lucius.” The sound of his own real name coming from her lips sent a shock up his spine. “Besides, you don’t really think I’d fuck my own nephew, do you?”
Why was she doing this? Why wait until now, his moment of glory, to spring this on him? He could not sit there deaf, dumb, and blind. He had to say something.
“Alright. So now what? You’re going to destroy everything we’ve worked for?”
Julia glanced back out the window and appeared to casually resume her inspection of the cityscape. “Don’t worry, nephew.” The last word was enunciated with deliberate exaggeration. “Your secret’s safe with me—so long as I’m kept a part of your new lifestyle. I’ve been looking to harness someone with a political appetite for some time now. We both know that isn’t Sextus. But my dear husband made us enough money to put me in the right circles to find someone else.” She looked back at him with a sly smile. “Who would have thought he would come in the shape of a shipwrecked slave boy?”
Lucius was reeling. He knew Julia to be manipulative, but he had never imagined her capable of this level of deception. As of this moment, he realized she was a woman to be watched carefully and not to be trusted.
“By Jupiter, look at that!” He heard her excited voice, but it still took a moment to snap out of his mental trauma. He followed her gaze out the window. There, in the middle of a large public square, stood the most majestic statue Lucius had ever seen. It was a mammoth icon, a single male figure atop a square pedestal. The base alone was the size of a large house. Wooden scaffolding still covered the figure below the knees as artists put the finishing touches on the massive pedestal. The coach driver’s face suddenly appeared upside-down at the top of the window.
“It is the Colossus Neronis, madam. The Emperor’s likeness in a 120-foot-high bronze figure. They say it is larger than the Colossus of Rhodes.”
“Well, could it be our good Emperor is compensating for his short comings?” Julia whispered to Lucius with a smile. He was not sure how to respond. Was she now looking to trap him into saying something treasonous? His trust in her was shattered and he no longer knew how to react to her. He began to realize how different their relationship would now be.
The coach drew to a stop at the end of the Via Sacra, which wound up the Esquiline Hill to the palace entrance. A slave opened the door and assisted Julia out of the carriage. She stood at the base of a small mountain of marble steps waiting for Lucius, looking elegant in a gold satin palla and matching stola.
“Are you coming, dear? We don’t want to keep the Emperor waiting.”
Lucius took a moment to breathe deeply and get his emotions under control. He stepped from the coach and looked up at an extraordinary complex of buildings that were, quite literally, dazzling. Surrounded by an artificial countryside setting, the gilded buildings radiated a blinding reflection of sunlight from their white surfaces and golden trim. The marble steps climbed directly into an arched tunnel that penetrated the base of the main domed building. Unfurling on either side of the central edifice were two colonnaded wings that spread for a half mile each into the exquisite gardens.
They looked up the stairs to where four members of the elite Praetorian Guard flanked the tunnel entrance. An Imperial staff member stepped through the portal and motioned them forward.
“This is it, Quintus,” Julia said quietly as they climbed the stairs. “This is what we’ve worked so long for.” It put Lucius at ease to hear Julia use his assumed name once again.
They stepped through the arched portal into another world. Four officials waited to greet them in the cavernous octagonal central hall. The towering domed ceiling, decorated along its edge with colorful murals of an African animal hunt, was open at the apex, allowing both the sun and a cool breeze access to the hall. The sheer scale of the room certainly had the desired effect: making the visitor feel small and insignificant. As they approached the line of officials they could see the opposite side of the octagonal room was open to the main gardens, which contained a vast artificial lake. In the distance, Lucius was sure he saw two giraffes stroll past a waterfall.
The visitors from Britannia were welcomed warmly by the praetor and three other State officials. They were ushered into a large vestibule, equally impressive with its white and gold walls and elaborate murals. Polite applause rose from the dozen or so staff members who were already waiting in the room. The praetor approached Lucius. His lictor, one of his six personal assistants and bodyguards, carried a small oak box.
“Quintus Honorius Romanus, magistrate of Aquae Sulis and faithful servant of Rome—and the lady Julia Melita—we bid you both welcome,” he began formally. He opened the box and withdrew a large medallion hanging from a bright red ribbon. “For your dedicated service to Rome in the quelling of the tribal revolt in Britannia, on behalf of our esteemed Emperor Nero, I bestow upon you—”
The pompous praetor’s face registered indignation as he turned to the source of the interruption.
“I’m sorry, but this ceremony seems a bit rushed,” Julia said. “And I don’t see the Emperor. The proclamation we received stated that Nero, himself, would present the award to my nephew.”
There was silence in the ornate hall as the imperial staffers recovered from the woman’s audacity. “I’m sorry, madam,” said the praetor in a haughty tone, “but the Emperor is not available at the moment. He will greet both of you at this evening’s banquet. Now may we resume?”
“No, you may not,” Julia said, raising her voice. There was an audible gasp from the lictors and attendants. Lucius felt uneasy, concerned that their first high-level meeting in the Roman political arena would turn disastrous.
“Julia, perhaps you should allow the praetor to resume,” Lucius said quietly.
“I will not!” she snapped. “We’ve traveled for weeks for this presentation. We’re not about to be shoved off to a staff member for a paltry ceremony like this. After what this man has accomplished in Britannia, we deserve the attention of the Emperor!”
“And you’ve got it.” The words echoed from the octagonal hall just outside the vestibule. Every head turned as one toward the voice, then bowed toward the marble floor. In the doorway stood the Emperor Nero, his portly body draped with an elaborate purple and gold toga. Behind him hovered a small entourage of guards and assistants, floating like a flock of sparrows matching every move of the lead bird. “I could not help overhearing your disappointment. I was on my way to a meeting with the King of Judea in the dining hall. But you are correct. The affairs of State can certainly wait a while.”
Julia was stunned. The volatile temperament of this Emperor was well known throughout his Empire. It flashed through her mind that instead of accolades they might well receive a severe lashing, or worse. She needed to retreat a few steps. “I meant no disrespect, your grace. We were just so disappointed not to be in your noble presence after our prolonged anticipation. I beg your forgiveness.” On her last words, she bent far enough forward to offer the plump monarch an ample view down her low-cut gold stola.
Nero’s face lit up as he scratched at the sparse beard that wrapped under his many chins. “How can I refuse the appeal of such a persuasive woman who dresses in my favorite color? You remind me of my dear departed Agrippina. She, too, had ways of getting what she wanted.”
Julia flushed with excitement at the comparison. “If it pleases your grace, allow me to introduce my nephew, Quintus Honorius Romanus, magistrate of Aquae Sulis. It was he who thwarted the massive rebellion in Britannia.”
“Yes, and without the loss of a single Roman legionary,” continued Nero, studying Lucius as he spoke. “I’ve heard the story.” He brusquely waved for the award. The praetor grabbed the oak box from his lictor and approached the Emperor. Nero removed the award and laid the red ribbon and medallion around Lucius’s neck. “For a job well done, I present you this token of my appreciation.”
“Thank you, your grace,” Lucius said. “I am here only to serve you and Rome.”
Nero smiled and tapped Lucius on the cheek. “You’re a good man.” The Emperor turned abruptly and walked toward the door, his entourage scurrying close behind.
Julia was suddenly concerned that this would be the only opportunity to make her pitch. They were to be guests at the Imperial banquet that evening, but having never attended such a function, she was unsure of her access to the Emperor. She could not risk losing what might be her only opportunity to address the issue directly with Nero himself.
“Your grace?” Julia called out to his back. Once again the staff members were astonished at her boldness. She dared not make eye contact with the praetor, but felt his enraged stare upon her. Nero stopped in his tracks. She wondered how far she could push her luck.
“I fear the King of Judea has traveled all this way for nothing,” he joked to his personal assistant, loud enough for all to hear. “Yes, my dear? What else can the benevolent Emperor do for you?”
“Your grace, based on recent developments, it appears that Rome would do well to have an informed advisor, knowledgeable about the state of affairs in western Britannia.”
Lucius jumped in, just as they had rehearsed so many times during the journey to Rome. “The area remains an unsettled province, your grace. As both Julius Caesar and your own step-father, Claudius, learned, the Britons are not an easy people to conquer and rule. As we’ve just seen, it doesn’t take much provocation for the local tribes to threaten revolt. Rome could use someone like myself, with an excellent network of contacts, both Roman and Briton. My advice and recommendations to your senior staff could avert future problems in Britannia and save countless Roman lives.”
Nero looked at Lucius for a moment, then waved over the praetor. They huddled for a few minutes, their mumbles echoing off the walls of the vestibule. Julia glanced at Lucius. She saw the lump in his throat as he swallowed, telling her that he, too, was wondering if they had gone too far. The Emperor’s voice became louder as he turned and resumed his walk to the dining hall.
“See to it,” were his last words before disappearing around a gigantic column. The praetor returned to where Lucius and Julia stood. Julia could tell by his expression that he had not yet recovered from her interruption of the ceremony.
“The Senate and many senior staff have been discussing the issue of the rebellious Britons ever since the Boudicca uprising, which we do not want to see repeated. We must keep our finger on the pulse of Britannia and act quickly to avert any further problems. The Emperor feels you may be of assistance in this matter. He has authorized me to secure your appointment as the Imperial Advisor for Britannia Affairs.”
Julia was stunned at the quick decision. A glance at Lucius told her he was equally astounded. They had been prepared for this to be a drawn-out process. But it seemed there were benefits to the impulsiveness of the mad Emperors of Rome. While Lucius stood in bewildered silence, Julia immediately began financial negotiations with the praetor. By the end of their five-minute discussion, she had secured Lucius a salary that was triple his earnings as magistrate, a State apartment overlooking the Forum, and a direct line of access to Nero’s senior staff.
As the praetor and his entourage turned to leave, Julia reached for Lucius’s hand. She felt it trembling inside hers. She was light-headed but had the presence of mind to realize that, in the span of a few minutes, her life had just changed forever.
The full moon blanketed the white marble of the Roman Forum in a beautiful blue glow. Two stories above the temples and triumphal arches, squeals of passion flowed from the open balcony doors of one of the State apartments. Julia was in ecstasy. The wine from the imperial banquet had helped her lose the few inhibitions she possessed. Atop the overstuffed four-poster bed, Lucius pumped hard against her sweating body. She no longer felt the need to stifle her screams as she had in their midnight rendezvous at the Aquae Sulis villa. Here, there was no husband in the next room, no gossiping servants around the corner. Her cries of passion came faster and louder, until the two fell together in an exhausted heap.
After a few minutes, Julia rose and slipped into a short silk tunic. She stood in the balcony doorway for a moment before stepping out into the night air. The cool breeze was exhilarating against her damp skin. Lucius put his white woolen tunic back on and followed her onto the balcony.
“Well, as disappointing as the award ceremony was, they sure made up for it with the banquet,” Julia said, the effect of the wine still causing her words to slur slightly.
“Could you have imagined just a few months ago that one night you would be introduced to Rome’s social elite by no less than the Emperor himself?” Lucius asked.
“Imagined it? Yes. Thought it would actually happen so soon? No.” She stretched her arms over her head, embracing the night and thinking how right everything had suddenly become in her world. “I don’t know who fawned over us more, the Senators, the rich merchants, or those odd and beautiful little sex toys Nero let loose. It’s a wonderful feeling being a hero.”
Lucius released his gaze from the Temple of Saturn and glanced at her with a curious expression.
She pretended she had misspoken. “I’m sorry. I meant being related to a hero.” She thumped her finger against his chest. “You, dear nephew, are the true hero.” She gave him a smile then quickly changed the subject. “Do you like the way I charmed our Emperor into one of his ‘impromptu’ lute performances? I did my homework. He loves to be goaded into a performance.”
“He seemed very appreciative,” Lucius said with a chuckle. “There aren’t many who could say they had their breasts groped by the Emperor of Rome on his own banquet couch.”
She giggled at the thought. “Oh, probably many more than you think. It did seem to heat up the crowd, didn’t it?”
“I think you single-handedly launched tonight’s Imperial orgy.” Julia let out a provocative laugh. “I know the two dancers who jumped me seemed grateful,” Lucius continued through a wide grin. “I think I was their assigned target for the evening. A little bonus from Nero.”
“I doubt the Senator and his wife who ended up on top of me were part of a preassigned plan,” Julia slurred. “He was certainly no prize package.” She paused for a moment, then looked at Lucius with a mischievous spark in her eye. “His wife had a very skilled tongue, though.”
The sound of their laughter resonated off the marble walls of the temples. They leaned on the balcony railing and absorbed their spectacular view of the moonlit Forum.
“Imperial Advisor for Britannia Affairs,” Lucius said contentedly after a few minutes. He began to mimic the affected speech of the praetor. “ ‘You are to advise the Emperor and his staff on policy and affairs north of the channel—nothing more, nothing less.’ What a pompous ass that praetor is.”
Julia giggled. She knew she was drunk, but felt it was time to begin giving Lucius some lessons in the politics of Rome. “He’s just laying the ground rules early on. Everybody’s looking to protect their coveted positions at the palace. Paranoia runs rampant through the Imperial staff. It was like that even with your small staff in Aquae Sulis.”
“I can see here it will be ten times worse.”
“You need to learn to use that paranoia to your advantage. We must learn quickly who truly has the Emperor’s ear and who are the rats that simply scurry in his shadow. You’ll need to make a name for yourself—and not just at the Imperial palace. You need to play the mob, just as you did with our little Briton revolt. Those who have the support of the people have the lasting power.”
Julia looked back across the beauty of the Forum, but her mind was already pondering the many ways to gain favor with the populace in the political quagmire that was Rome.