The Forgotten Roman part 4

The king ate until the sun was high in the sky and the air had begun to warm. The dew from the morning had disappeared and the grass of the garden no longer glistened from the wetness of the night air. The king ate until his belly was full then he waved his hand in the air and dismissed the slave girls. He sat there quietly for a long moment then he yelled out for his servant in the next room.

“Boy, come in here.”

The boy ran through the silk rap that hung over the doorway in the courtroom.

“Yes my king?” he said.

“Boy go and get my royal adviser and bring him to me,” ordered the king. The boy ran out on to the balcony and down to the right. A few moments later the king’s adviser appeared with the small boy trailing behind him. The man entered the room and got down on one knee and bowed his head. He was a small man with no hair on his head and almost no meat on his bones. He wore a white toga wrap down to his knees and black sandals.

“What can I do for you my king?” said the man.

The king leaned forward and addressed him, “Jurist, tell me what is my duty for Roma on this day?” asked the king. Jurist stood up straight and unrolled a paper scroll he had in his hands and looked it over. He was one of the only men besides the king himself who was educated enough to read the scrolls. 

“Well King Tarquin foremost you have a meeting with Turnus Herdonius and other members of the Latin society at the Grove of Ferentina. They are already waiting for you my king,” said the man.

“Very good Jurist you may go now.” His meeting at the Grove was to sign a treaty between the Roman land and the Latin society, but it was not in his nature to sign peaceful treaties, the king took he did not give to anyone. The king had invited the leaders of the Latin Confederation to a meeting to discuss forming a legion for their mutual defenses of their territories. The Latin Confederation was pressuring Roma into holding back their expansion into their land. The king however was not going to play with them any longer.

The king then turned to his slave and ordered for him to come to his side. The boy walked over to him and leaned into the King, he whisper something in the boy’s ear. Itticuss could not hear what was said but the boy then ran from the room. The king watched as he left the room then got out of his chair and headed out the door.

Itticuss followed the king through an entryway into the royal chambers. The king went to the far right side of the room over to his bed were his wife sat up in their bed. She was a lovely young woman with soft tanned skin and black long hair, but the king rarely touched her he preferred his saves for that. But she was not a woman that would sit ideally by as her husband slept with other women she would have to be called away on business. That is what was about to happen. The king’s servant boy was only moments away from walking into the bed chambers with a matter that needed her attention.

She sat on a laborite bed with red silk draped down over great wooden carved pillars. The bed was covered in large pillows. The rest of the room was just as lavish; mirrors made of silver and gold glimmered on every wall. Candles burned on long bronze holder as a haze floated up around the blackened, heavy stone bricks of the chamber walls.

The king pushed back a piece of the silk and leaned in to whispered something in the queens ear, she gave a node then turned to him gave him a kiss on his cheek. I watched her walk out of the room and close the silk behind her not once did she look at me then the servant boy walked up and handed her the message just as the king had instructed him to do. Itticuss felt a sense of sympathy for the woman as she hurried off to her fake crisis. 

The royal chambers seemed to be divided into three large sections, first the kings living area was a large bed and a hefty marble carved table with a bowl of water and several candles. On the far side of the room stood a large mirror in a heavy gold frame catching the glimmer of the dozens of candles that burnt throughout the room. In the center of the room the King had a long sofa were an oil lamp burned a thick haze in to the air and on the far room stood a deep bathing tub.

The dark silk that sat in the entryway suddenly flew open and the two slave girls came into the room. Itticuss could not take his eyes off of them as they entered. His heart began to race as they passed by him. The smell of lavender and scented oils struck his nose as they walked with grace and poise.

“Come over here to me girls,” said the king. The girls amble over to the king with slow soft steps. They stopped just short of the bed and presented themselves to the king as if he needed to look them over. 

The girls looked so much like one another one might think that they were sisters in fact they might have been but Fulvia’s skin was a bit darker than the other girls. They had long curly black hair and olive skin tanned back by the Italian sun. The girls both wore black and red silk draped over their naked bodies and both had no foot ware of any kind.

They then dropped the silk to the floor and the king stiffened as he watched the girls. The slaves paid Itticuss no mind as he stood silently at his post. The girls twirled then climbed into bed with their king. Itticuss could no longer hear what past from their lips. The king give a pointing hand jester to one of the girls as the king lay back onto the bed and one of the girls leaned forward and took the king in her mouth. The other, Fulvia lay across him with her breasts hanging in his face. She stared right at Itticuss in a flirting way and would not look away she wore a smile on her face. She knew her actions could get her killed, but the king was otherwise preoccupied so she took the risk. She found the kings new guard rather interesting and wished to play the dangerous game for the moment.

Itticuss turned away and did not look back for fear of what the king might do to the girl. The king went on like this with the girls for a very long time. Hours past then Itticuss finally saw the girls get up and dress each other then leave the royal chambers.

As Fulvia walked by him to leave she gave Itticuss a smile and her skin grazed his hand as she walked out of the room. The first time Itticuss saw her smile at him was the first time he really felt as if he was a man again and not some godly mistake. His heart beats still. She was the first woman that had caught his attention since his wife, Atia. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at Itticuss. Her lips parted a bit and Itticuss felt eagerness in him again. She kept her chin down and tucked into her neck in a shy manner, probably more so because of her position as a slave then out of shyness for Itticuss. Nun the less Itticuss was intrigued by her.

When Itticuss saw that the slaves were gone he stepped out from behind the wall and walked over to the king. The king laid naked face up on his bed as if he was fatigued beyond all belief. The candles around his bed had just about burnt down so it had gotten dark and a white and grey haze had begun to fill the room. One of the candles bunt out and a stream of thin smoke sat in the air, so thin that any movement would destroy its beautiful dance in the darkness.

King Tarquin was asleep from the sound of his breathing. It was hours before he roused himself out of bed and signaled for Itticuss, who had been standing silently in the dark to come to him.

Itticuss walked over to him and said, “Yes my king?” the king sat up and rubbed his eyes, as his mind had yet to wake from his state.

“What time is it soldier?” Itticuss looked out the balcony and saw that the sun was no longer overhead and had started its descent.

“Just afternoon,” he said to the king.

The king sat up and said, “let us have our lunch then.” The king dressed and Itticuss followed him into his war room. This was the room that he spent most of his time in, the room that he felt most comfortable. Shortly after the slaves arrived and began to feed him his advisor came into the room with a messenger boy trailing behind him.

“Your majesty this boy was set hear from the Grove of Ferentina to remind you of the meeting …the meeting that you are late for. He was sent to fetch you my king,” he said. The king’s eyes hardened and he jumped out of his chair knocking his slave girl to the floor and with a rumbling yell.

“I will meet with the Latin society when I am good and ready and I will need no messenger boy to tell what I need to do. Send no message back, they can and will wait on this treaty of ours. The king sat back down in his chair and he began to mumble to himself.

“Who do they think they are ordering me to the Grove and sending me a slave boy to fetch me even?” Itticuss looked at him out of the corner of his eye, He could tell by the way he sat there that he was far too full of himself. Tarquin carried very little for anyone else but himself, even the future of the city of Roma mattered very little to him. As long as the king had his power and wealth he would be content, the people of Roma however would not.

Tarquin the proud made them wait until almost mid afternoon in fact the sun had begun to set as Itticuss and the king rod out to the Grove. The grove of Ferentina is a wooded area named after the ancient Latin Water and Fertility Goddess of the spring Aqua Ferentina, located in the woods near the edge of Lake Albano in Italia.

When the king and Itticuss finally arrived, Turnus Herdonius of Africa stood there with his chest out with an angered look on his face. Meanwhile behind him the whole of the Latin society were on their knees respecting the king of Roma.

Turnus stormed forward a few steps and said, “Tarquin how dare you make us wait all day we will not bow and fear you like the people of Roma.” The King tried to give him a reason for being so late. A dispute between father and son he said attempting to convince him he had to resolve a problem in his court between two of the towns peoples. 

A fisherman and his son had a dispute and it is my duty to the people of Roma to be their mediator. The king told them but Turnus would not have it.

“There is no dispute that is more quickly settled then the one between father and son. Obey your father is all that must be said.” yelled Turnus. He then stepped up close to the King and whispered something in his ear that Itticuss could not hear.  With that parting jab Turnus turned and took his leave of the king of Roma.

The king and Itticuss rod back to the city right after that it was a quite ride back the King would not say a word about anything. When they got back the King and Itticuss walked right back into the king’s war room where the king took his seat and called for his slave boy.

“Boy bring in my adviser now,” said the king. Itticuss watched as the boy ran from the room and into the consol chambers. A few moments later the kings advisor came into the room with the boy following behind him.

“Yes my king?” he said.

“Take this message down and send it to senator Velia,” said the king. “Senator Velia I must speak with you at once, it is most important.”

The boy left and walked through the large doors that led into the courtroom and returned with the senator a moment later.

Senator Velia stood before the king and bowed his head and then said, “Yes my King what can I do for you?”

The king leaned forward out of his chair and looked at him in the eye and for a moment said nothing.

“Velia, tell me are you loyal to me as your King and only to me?”

“Yes of course I am my King,” he said.

The King stood up and addressed him, “Good then. I have a job for you. You know the Latin community better then I do and you know that curtain Latin political parties do not favor Turnus of Africa. You are to send a message to these political parties of yours as a favor to me. Have one of their slave plant weapons in the inn of Turnus and do it tonight. Send the message now. Is that clear senator?” the senators eyes darted nervously from one corner of the room to the next and then found the king again awaiting his answer.

The senator stood up and said, “Yes my king, clear.”

“You my take your leave then.” Itticuss watched as he turned and took his leave of them. The King looked over at his silent guard, “Itticuss is it? You are never to speak of what you hear is that clear? Because if you do I will have you killed.” Itticuss gave the king a node of his head.

Settling back into his chair the king sat up without saying a word for a long instance. Then he called over to his slave boy and told him that he would have his supper in two hours time and then got to his feet to leave the room.

Itticuss followed the King as he walked into his bedchambers and watched as he disrobed. Before he could even let go of his close his slave boy was there to grab his belonging, they were not allowed to touch the floor and if the boy had faltered in his duty he would be dead.

The king walked over to the bathing tub and called for his slave girls to bath him. Almost instantaneously the girls were in the room and their wet hands began to scrub him down with a bucket of water. They took trip after trip until they had filled the tub with water for the King. The King lay back in his tub and soaked his body in the water he laid without moving a muscle; one might think he just came home from a long day. Itticuss stood there at his post and watched the doorway of the royal chambers until the slave boy finally came in and said to Itticuss that the king’s supper had been prepared. Itticuss gave the boy a nod and he went over to tell the king. Itticuss approached the tub without looking at the girls and leaned down to the king’s ear. The king got up and dressed himself and Itticuss followed him into the war room where his supper awaited him.

The king had his supper and the rest of the night went very quiet and when the night guard came and replaced him Itticuss headed down stairs into his bedchambers. Itticuss entered his chambers as a father coming home from a hard day at work to his loving wife waiting patiently for his return. He slid back the piece of silk that hid his room from the hall and let out a breath of relief. He was happy to have some time away from the King.

Itticuss took his armor off and had not laid down on his bed for more than a moment when the silk of the doorway was pushed aside and the captain came in.

Itticuss jumped to his feet and stiffened his back and said, “Yes Captain Cacuss.” He put his hand up stopping Itticuss, “Please, call me Lartius.” 

“Your first name is Lartius?”

“Yes, my father’s name, Lartius Cacuss,” the captain said. “Come let us share a barrel of wine.” He walked out and singled for Itticuss to follow him. Itticuss walked with the captain down the darkened hallway until they came to a doorway and entered a room. It was a dark room lowly light by two candles on the far side of the room. The candles put of an orange glow around the room and reflected off the stone ceiling that seemed to rain little particles of sand down from the heavens.

Itticuss looked around and could see several barrels of wine, two wooden cups sat on top of a table. There were two stools one on each side of the table. The captain walked him into the room and directed Itticuss to sit down on of the stools. Itticuss took his place as the captain took up the cups and filled them both full with a good red wine.

The captain handed Itticuss his cup and asked, “So how did you like your first day with the king?”

“The king is not a moral man, he is not good for the growth of Roma. He’s an evil and a treacherous man.” The captain gave Itticuss a hard look and then a nod.

“Itticuss, you know that if the king hears you talking like that you will be executed on the spot. I do agree with you indeed he is and you are right” he said to Itticuss. 

“I like you Itticuss, you a good moral man and a strong Roman warrior.” Itticuss smiled at him and drank down the rest of his wine and set the cup back down on the wood table and said, “Thank you Lartius I appreciate that.” The captain took his cup up and filled it again with wine and handed it back to Itticuss. Itticuss thanked him with a slight nod of his head and wondered if he could really trust the captain with his true feelings of the king. Yes the captain was his grandson. But the captain didn’t know that. As far as the captain was concerned Itticuss was just a soldier of Roma and a friend. Itticuss had a good feeling about him and it came down to he just wanted to trust in him and so he did.

The captain held up his class and said, “Let us drink to your fortune, Marcus.”

Itticuss stop him with my hand and said, “Not Lartius let us drink to Roma. She has been lost for far too long. Let her find her way back to us and Lartius let us drink to your family.” The two raised their cups up high into the air and then drank the contents down.

The captain looked over at Itticuss, he admired the man he wanted to be a fine soldier like Itticuss but he was more of a politician in the city of Roma. Yes he was the captain of the guard, but if you wanted to be a soldier you would be regular army not the guard. The captain looked over as Itticuss took a drink and said, “You have a great love for this city don’t you my friend?” Itticuss smiled at him and gave him an approving nod.

“So Lartius tell me of your family.” He took a moment to refill their cups then turned to Itticuss “I have a beautiful wife at home, I built a small home just on the inside of the gates of Roma.”

“Do you have any young?” Itticuss asked him.

“Not yet, but we are trying.”

“Good have lots of strong Roman sons, make your name live on,” Itticuss said to him happy to think the name Cacuss may live on past him. Itticuss looked over at him and asked, “Are you a career man or a family man?” smiling at Itticuss he said, “Well Marcus, both I think I joined the Roman guard when I was just barley a man. I wanted to give myself a beautiful life in Rome then I came across something even more beautiful then Rome and that was my wife.”

Itticuss refilled his cup with more wine and said to him, “I’m glad Lartius there is nothing more important than keeping your family strong and healthy.”

“What about you Marcus, any children or a wife?”

Itticuss drank up his wine and bowed his head as a sadness over took him for a moment. Thoughts of his wife and children filled his mind as he sat there staring at his empty cup of wine with just a drop of red liquid at the bottom. He took a deep breath and looked up and said, “Well I was married with two kin. My oldest son died from disease and my wife killed herself out of grief. My youngest son ran away.” Itticuss then leaned forward and looked at him in the eyes and wanting not to talk of his life any longer said, “Tell me Lartius about your father?” the captain then closed his eyes for a moment and stiffened his jaw before looking up to Itticuss. His eyes opened slightly and tightened his teeth together before he answered him, “My father was murdered, and he was assassinated by the king. My father was a senator loyal to the King Servius. When King Servius died the new king killed all who was loyal to Servius. Assassins came in to his home and cut the throat of him and my mother.” Itticuss looked at him not knowing what to say. He was sad to know his son was taken in such a way but also proud that his boy grew to be a senator for the city and he wished he had known the man that he grew to be.

“Don’t you think the king will one day try and kill you too?” The captain drank up his wine and refilled their cups and said, “Oh maybe one day, if that is what will happen there is not much I can do about it. For now I have far too many senate supporters so I feel safe. The king is weakening them every day so one day perhaps.” Itticuss sat there for a moment now knowing that this king murdered his son. Knowing that his son died from the hands of the king sobered him a bit. Itticuss picked up his wooden cup filled it with wine and drank it down then placed the cup back on the wooden table before him. 

Then like a drunk grabbed the pitcher of wine with a shaky hand filled his cup and stood up to say, “Well captain let us toast the lost memories of our fathers.” The captain stood up with Itticuss and they held up their cups high in to the air and with a clank of wooden cups they drank down the contains.

Itticuss looked at him and said, “You know my father was just a farmer but he had skill and taught me all he knew.”

The captain looked at him and said, “He taught you well your one of our best.” Itticuss drank his wine and took his leave of him.

One day Itticuss was walking to the lower levels of the palace after his posting had ended. He heard a noise from a room at the end of one of the corridors, a muffled noise of a woman in pain.  Itticuss came to a doorway with a thin sheet of silk draped over the door. He pull out his sword and pushed the silk aside with the blade Itticuss could see a soldier forcing himself on a woman, she was in pain. Then she looked at Itticuss, it was Fulvia the king’s slave girl and the girl that he was beginning to fall in love with. Itticuss threw the silk open and stepped in to the room. She pleaded for him to stop. Itticuss felt anger inside of him, but he tried to control it. He wanted to kill the man for what he was doing to her, but he took a silent cleansing breath and then spoke.

“You must have a death wish, soldier for only the king himself is a loud to touch her,” Itticuss said to him as he put his blade under the man’s ear.

“Fulvia you may go and I’m sorry if he hurt you it will be the last time.” She grabbed up her silk wrap that had been pulled off of her and ran from the room. Itticuss watched her flee and his heart went out to her, then he turned his attention back to the problem at hand.

“What can you do?” he asked Itticuss with himself still exposed.

Itticuss stood behind him with his blade at the man’s throat and Itticuss said softly into his ear, “Well soldier, I may just report this to the king. I’m sure he would have an idea or two on how to handle this. Or would you prefer in I just ravage you myself I know I will give you more pain then you gave that girl. No you know what I need to send a message to all who feel it’s ok to just take what you wish,” Itticuss said as he reached down and grabbed the man’s penis in my hand and cut it from his body with his sword. Blood flowed from his groin as he slid down on to his knees. Tears fell from the man’s eyes as Itticuss held the piece of meat in his hand and shoved it in to the man’s mouth. Itticuss turned and walked out of the room as the soldier chocked on his bleeding penis in his mouth.

As Itticuss walked by the slave quarters, Fulvia stood there and said very softly so not to be heard, “Thank you.” Itticuss did not know it then but he did more damage than good to the girl. After she heard about what he did to the man she feared the king would come for her next. Did Itticuss act in the name of the king? She was sure that he had and soon the king would know she was with another man and she would be dead.

By morning word of what had happened had reached the king. Itticuss stood by his chair as the king entered the war room.

“So Marcus I have heard what happened last night, I must say you took a big risk not bringing this to me at once,” he said as he took his seat next to Itticuss. “I much like the way you handled that matter, did he die?” the king looked to Itticuss hopeful as if he was a child awaiting a gift.

“No my king he did not die. He is receiving aid.”

“Well I would much like to make an example of him as well bring him to me,” he order one of the guards. “I’m sure no one will ever touch one of my slaves again after what you did. Tell me Itticuss did you stop him before he had her?”

“Yes my king, defiantly.” Itticuss was unsure if the king had believed his words or not. Itticuss hoped that the slave girl would not be put to death after all.

That day the king had the soldier brought before him and executed him more for the satisfaction of doing it. That night Itticuss joined the captain for another drink just like before the two met at the base of the wine cellar. The light was low and the air dusty as the two sat around the wooden table and began to drink.

  The captain took his cup from Itticuss and filled it back up with another good amount of wine and after many drinks Itticuss leaned forward and addressed the captain.

“May I ask you something Lartius?”

“Of course, please do.”

“Do you ever think of revenging your father and mother?”

“Sometimes I do but then I remember something my father use to tell me.

“A man kills in battle

A man kills to protect his family

A man that kills out of vengeance is no man,” he said to Itticuss proudly saying his father’s words.

Itticuss looked at him and said, “Your father seemed to be a very smart man.”

“Yes,” he said. The two talked and drank liked that for hours until they finally agreed to retire for the night.

Fulvia had become a little scared at the violence she had witness on her behalf the night before. She started to avoid Itticuss in the lower levels of the palace. One day as Itticuss left the kings side and made his way down the stairs of the lower quarters Itticuss walked down a hallway where Fulvia was standing talking to another girl. Itticuss past her and gave her a smile, but when she saw him she avoided his look and turned and disappeared down the hallway. She wanted to run and hide herself away from the eyes of the king’s guard. Itticuss had frightened her, yes she did like him but she was cautious of opening herself to him. He might have her wellbeing in mind and then again he might not.

Itticuss didn’t mean to scare the girl so much she was scared of him. She thought Itticuss was acting for the king and not for her. Itticuss was so enamored with her and now he had frightened the poor girl the thought of such an idea weight heavy on his mind. He knew he needed to fix this.

Itticuss made his way down to see the captain. The captain and Itticuss drank and talked most of the night, which had become a custom for them at night. The two drank much that night until Itticuss took his leave of him. 

As Itticuss fell asleep on his bed he felt the drunkenness in his body. Itticuss lay there thinking about the death of his son until he finally fell asleep. When the morning came Itticuss awoke by the blurry vision of the captain standing over him.

“The king is asking for you Itticuss,” the captain said.

“Does the king usually raise this early?”

“No I fear he is up to something,” he said as Itticuss jumped up and dressed in to his armor and grabbed up his sword and shield. Itticuss followed Captain Cacuss up the stairs and in to the war room. Their steps were quick and fell heavy of the stone steps of the stairway that led to the upper floor of the palace.

When Itticuss got into the war room the king was in his chair and his night guard was posted next to him on the right side. Itticuss dismissed the guard with a nod of his head and took his post on his right. The king turned and gave the captain a welcoming nodding gesture as he came into the room with Itticuss. The captain worried what events had called them here at this hour of the night. He knew the king well and this could not be a good thing. Tarqiun the Proud was up to something, he was sure of it. 

The king turned to the captain and said, “Captain Cacuss send three soldiers over to Turnus Herdonius’s inn and arrest him on suspicion to commit treason against Roma. Search his inn for evidence.” The captain was put off by the comments of the king but reluctantly gave his agreement. The captain bowed his head and turn and left the room.

***

The captain walked down the long steps of the palace with several soldiers walking behind him and headed to the Inn that held Turnus. They headed to a small inn, on the Via Labicana called Voster'ia delle Frattochie outside of Roma. The captain walked slower than normal and with every step closer to the wooden Inn he questioned the role he was taking on.

The captain felt as if he was about to execute an innocent for nothing more than just talking back to a man that had a little power over him. His mind felt heavy as he walked through the market of the city. He did not see the beauty of the city as he walked. He walked on a busy cobblestone road of the market place full of venders and merchants each peddling their wears from all over Italia. The sun had risen high in the blue sky and the seven hills of Roma sat green with their lush long blades of grass blowing in the breeze. Dozens of trees had begun to turn their colors from green to red to brown and leaves floated in the wind, but the captain could not see any of this as he walked preoccupied. He juggled the thought of not going to the Inn, maybe he could go home and take his wife out of the city, but he knew the king would have him hunted down for his actions. He had no choice he must go to the Inn and bring the man before the King.

***

Within a few hours the captain returned to the palace with three soldiers and one man behind them. Itticuss saw Turnus Herdonius walking in to the war room his eyes were pressed tightly together it was a wonder he could see out of the small white slits of his eyes. His lips had slipped of his yellow stained teeth as he clenched them together and balled up his hands and stared at the King.

The king leaned forward, gave a small half smile and said, “Well tell me captain what did you find?” as if he did not know.

“Sir I had the soldiers’ search his inn and they discovered several weapons hidden in every corner of his inn.” The captain said the words to the King, but hated himself for them.

“I see,” said the king.

The prisoner turned red with anger. He struggled with his bounds that held his hands together and then yelled at the king, “Do you think I don’t know what is going on here Tarquin? You have set me up to take this fall! I suppose you will kill me and call it Roman Security!” then he stepped forward fast and Itticuss drew his sword fast and jabbed the point in to the flesh of his throat, then suddenly he was pulled back by one of the guards. Of course Itticuss had toyed with the idea of not drawing his sword and letting the man attack him, but no real damage could have been done to the King. Itticuss would have been most likely killed for not acting.

The king stood up and said, “Take the prisoner away.” The soldiers dragged the man out of the room.

Just as the captain was about to take his leave the king called him back, “Captain Cacuss remain here.” The captain turned around and responded, “Yes my king.” The king got out of his chair and began to walk out of the room and began to talk to the captain. “In one hour I will call the senate to convene and we will decide the fate of our prisoner. I order you to be there, captain.”

VII

An hour later the senate assembled in the courthouse, the king and Itticuss walked into the room. Itticuss walk him over to the King’s chair and took his spot by the King’s side. The king stood up tall and Itticuss looked out onto the room it was only about half full the king was well known for his execution of his senators and he would not fill the seats any time soon. The room was full of whispers and comments of the day’s events. As the king lifted his head and looked out over the people several members avoided to look upon him. The king did not like this, part of him wanted to be like but the other part cared very little for the people of Roma. He had his power and that would be enough for him.

The king raised his hand high into the air and said, “Silence.” Everybody got quiet and took their seats. A hush fell over the crowd of senators as they shifted nervously in their stone seats and looked to the king.

He stood up tall and with his arms wide he spoke aloud, “The man is charge of treason against Roma. He has been caught and is in the custody of the city. He will be brought before us.” The king paused as the room filled with murmurs. The senators could not believe what they were hearing they all knew too well why this was happening and it had nothing to do with a plot against the city.

“I will protect Roma from all enemies and especially those cloaked in friendship. Guards bring in the prisoner now.” The doors opened and three guards walked Turnus in to the senate. He walked in with chains around his arms.

The king sat back into his chair everybody suspected that our beloved king had set this man up to take a fall and it will not be the last.

“This prisoner’s had a room at the Voster'ia delle Frattochie inn was found to have many weapons hidden inside it. I sent three Roman guards to search the inn and they found this evidence. He is treacherous to Roma.”

The room stayed quiet, no one would speak out of fear. The whole room was silent. It did not take long for them to find him guilty of treason.

The king then stood up and addressed the prisoner, “Turnus Herdonius of Africa you are here by charged with the crime of treason against Roma. I order your death by drowning to be carried out immediately.” Turnus hardened his face as he looked at the King. His teeth grinded together and the whites of his eyes had turned red. The man was truly angered by the order of his death. Then he was dragged out of the room by the guards and his screams could be heard as he was dragged throughout the palace down into the holding pit outside.

The next hour he was taken out to the deepest part of the Tiber River bound with ropes and tied down with stones then he was thrown into the water and with a splash he went straight to the bottom of the river. The whole of Roma was there to see his execution and the king and Itticuss watched it from the balcony of the palace. The rest of the day was very uneventful Itticuss stood by the King’s side and tried not to think upon what had taken place.

Itticuss watched him have his meals and he watched as the King took his naps all the time wondering where the captain had gone to. Itticuss stood by as the slave girls had their nightly intercourse with the king and he stood by as the slaves bathed him and dressed him for the night.

That night the captain and Itticuss retired for another drink. They stayed up all night again and drank, as they liked to do. They talked on the evil king and his execution of Turnus.

The next morning the captain and Itticuss rose early and met the king in his war room. Itticuss walked into the war room and noticed there was a good amount of people. He took his place on the right of the king and looked over the faces of the people. Itticuss recognized a lot of the faces that stood in front of the king. They were members of the Latin community that he had seen before and he suddenly felt ashamed to be Roman. The acts of the King were an embarrassment to him. He wanted to apologies to the Latin’s for the wrongful acts created by his King, but such a statement would get him killed at once. 

The king said, “Gentlemen I congratulate you. Turnus was a traitor; he was caught and he has been punished. Now I must remind you that there is an ancient treaty between Roma and the Latium is still in existence.” The king felt that the treaty needed to be brought up to date. “You Latin’s are Alban descent and therefore bound by the terms of that treaty. However it’s my belief that it is long out of date and every bodies interest would be better served if it were brought up to date.” The new treaty would let the Latium to share the prosperity of Roma.”

The Latin’s were quick to see the force of this; in spite of the fact the treaty was more favorable to Roma. The Latin’s knew that Tarquin would probably execute all of them if they did not agree. The king walked the politicians out to the balcony were there was a table sitting in the light of the sun. The king and the politicians hunched over the table and rewrote the treaty. It was done all after the death of one innocent man.

The following night Itticuss left the king for the night and decided for once not to join the captain and just retire for the night. Itticuss was saddened on how Fulvia felt towards him now. His heart wanted to be close to the girl no matter what the king would do to him. But that seemed like a distant goal sense the girl would not speak with him or even look at him. She had seen so much violence in her life as a slave and now Itticuss showed her a bit more. That night Itticuss was walking down the corridor lit by several candles that burned bright. Fulvia walked up the hallway towards Itticuss as she carried a heavy basin of water.

Itticuss asked her, “May I help you carry that?”

“No sir, thank you , please excuse me I must go.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I just wished to help you.” She nodded to Itticuss then hurried into her bed chambers. Itticuss watched her disappear into the darkness of her chambers and wished he could turn back the time of their relationship. He took a deep breath and his eyes fell closed for a moment as his lungs filled with the stale air that occupied the dark halls of the palace. After a moment he took several depressed steps into the darkness of the hall and around the corner to his room. It went on in this fashion between them for several years. Itticuss tried to get closer to the girl but she would not risk her life for she knew only too well what would happen to her if she was caught with the soldier. Then one day Itticuss decided enough was enough he promised himself the next time he saw her, this was going to be settled, he loved her and this ordeal was killing him inside.

One day Fulvia was walking out of her bed chambers early in the morning just before most of the residents of the palace had risen. She spotted Appia, one of the oldest of the slaves making her way down a long dark hallway with an arm full of rags as a lonely dying flame of one of the torches struggled to light the hall. Suddenly the old woman tripped and fell on to her knees. She laid there for only a moment in the dark when a young handsome man ran to her side. He was dressed as one of the soldiers, this fact was shocking to Fulvia as the soldiers cared very little for the comfort of the slaves. But then she realized who it was it was Itticuss. He pulled the old woman up to her feet and gave her a kind smile as her brushed dust off of her knees.

Fulvia watched them silently from the doorway of her chambers as Itticuss leaned down and picked up the mound of rags up off the floor and carried them away for the old woman as she followed slowly behind him. Within a moment the two were gone, disappeared around the corner.

It was at that moment that she thought that she might have the wrong idea of who Itticuss Cacuss really was. He was a kind man, kind to the slaves. The thought was hard for her, she had not known kindness from anyone and she didn’t know what to do with it.

Several nights later Itticuss found himself walking down the west corridor where Fulvia walked alone, her soft footfalls could barely be heard by him as he turned the corner of the hall. He knew she was there before he even laid eyes on her. The smell of lavender and oils hung in the air tickling his nose as he walked. He closed his eyes and knew it was her at once as his heart raced under his chest. He wanted to be with her very much, but he wanted her to loss the fear she had for him even more. He hated the fact that she might be frightened of him.

Itticuss walked up to her and said, “Please can I talk with you?” she would not look at him. She kept her head down and stared at the floor with her small shoulders hunch up. She wanted to crawl into herself and hide.

“It is forbidden.”

“Please, Fulvia trust me, I don’t always serve the king. I’m a good man if you will hear my words.” She gave Itticuss a slight nod.

Itticuss looked around to see if anyone was coming, “I’m truly sorry,” Itticuss said as he lowered his voice.

“For what Marcus?”

“Please you can call me Itticuss, I’m sorry for scaring you that one night, it seems so long ago now. That was not my intent. I only wanted to protect you. Maybe I went a little over board I admit I just wanted you to be safe and I am very sorry.” She said nothing to him. Itticuss knew she was unsure if she could really trust him. “I was not acting for the king I was acting for you, Fulvia,” Itticuss said wishing he could make her believe his words. Still she said nothing and would not look at him. “Fine, Fulvia, I said my peace I will leave you now.” Itticuss began to walk down the darkened hallway dancing with bits of color as candle flames bounced back and forth.

“Itticuss,” she said softly. “Thank you.” Then she turned and ran down the hallway past the flickering of the candles and around the corner until she was gone.

Itticuss felt conflicted about this, it was a dangerous avenue for all. He needed to be here for Lartius, he’s his grandson after all and Itticuss must protect him. If Itticuss was to be put to death for betraying the king of Roma so would the captain for posting Itticuss at his side.

Itticuss was a romantic and foolishly began to think that he could do both.

As the month progress Itticuss slowly became more and more enamored with the slave girl, even though he felt as if he was betraying the memory of his late wife. Fulvia and Itticuss stole glances across crowded rooms and met in secret with no one the wiser.

She slowly and cautiously became friendlier with Itticuss in the lower levels of the palace without the king ever knowing. One night after drinking with the captain, Itticuss was walking up the wooden stair that led out of the cellar and in to a dark hallway. His mind was spinning from the effects of the drink as he climbed the wooden stairs.

Then a small voice hit his ears, “Itticuss,” said the voice and Fulvia stepped out of the shadows. “Are we alone?” Itticuss smiled and took her by the hand. He pulled her down the stairs and walked her into the darkness of the cellars.

“Yes, we are safe here,” Itticuss said.

“Are you sure? I just saw the captain.” Itticuss nodded to her and they hid themselves next to a large wooden keg of wine that stood next to a stone wall. She leaned forward and kissed him for the first time. Her lips pushed against his as Itticuss’ heart began to race. He knew for her this was very dangerous, despite this Itticuss started to let his feeling for her be known. He smiled and his eyes gazed into hers, she was lovely and Itticuss wished he could freeze that moment. Everything began to melt away for him. Why was he afraid? Why is he here? He no longer could remember he just wanted to hold this woman forever. Then Itticuss came back to his scenes and remembered his grandson and the horrible king that has them under his hand ready to smash them like bugs at any time.

“We need to be careful Fulvia.”

She looked at him and said, “You are a good man and I’m trusting you with my life. Do you ever think that one day we could be together?” He so wanted to say yes to that question, but he knew the odds of that were not very good. They could run away together but the king would kill the captain and send the Roma army after them. He looked in her eyes and could see the hope behind them.

Itticuss pulled her close to him and kissed her again.

“Every day,” he said pulling his lips from hers. 

She turned and began to walk away, “Meet me here tomorrow after the palace is asleep.” She then walked up the stairs and disappeared around a corner. Itticuss stood alone in the darkened hall with the smell of burning candles wafting around him. He wished he could bring her back. He wanted to run after her but he fought the erg and turned and made his way into the darkness.

The next night Itticuss found her tucked into their little hiding place waiting for him. She reached out and pulled him close to her and their lips met again and again. The two met in this place every night in secret.   

Then one night the captain and Itticuss ended their day with one of their drinking conversation. The two shared a barrel of red wine and we decided that this king is going to get one of them killed or maybe both. Itticuss sat there and watch as he filled their cups with the wine. The captain held the wooden cup in his strong young fingers and poured the red wine into it. Itticuss sat on the creaky wooden stool and waited patiently for his drink and remembered how he used to drink with his good friend Longus out by the well of the village. Always as the women and the young had taken to sleep and the moon was well over head the two friends would meet out by the well and share a drink. They would laugh and tell stories of their youth growing up together.

Itticuss missed the companionship of his old friend greatly and wished he could tell the captain his truth and finally hold him as he wished he could.

The captain then turned to Itticuss and spoke, “Itticuss this is our problem as I see it, we have a king that is out for as much power as possible and conquest that not only will he execute Roman politicians he will execute out of or boarders in the name of Roma.” Itticuss nodded his agreement and drank down the wine in his cup. “He has gotten rid of the senate and now is his own god and is more dangerous than any one man could hope to be,”

Itticuss looked at the captain and said, “He just might one day order your death and we need to be ready for it.” The captain drank down his wine and grabbed Itticuss’ up in his hand and filled them both with wine.

Itticuss knew that the only advantage of his posting next to the King was that any plot or order of death to be structured by the King would be known by Itticuss. If the captain’s life was to be in danger, Itticuss would know of it. they knew they must be ready to act if it came to such an event.

“I’m the King’s Royal Guard I stand by his side,” Itticuss said. “If anything were to happen I will first know of it.”

“We must agree that no one will hear a breath of this if they do we could be dead by the next day,” the captain said as he turned and looked up at Itticuss. Suddenly a small sound was heard from behind a barrel of wine and the captain met Itticuss’ eye. They looked at one another both concerned that their words were heard. The captain directed Itticuss to look behind him, someone could be hiding.

“Itticuss my good friend why don’t you come to my home sometime soon the wife would love to meet you.” The captain said trying to make it sound like they were having an innocent conversation together.