The Peacekeeper Read online

  “Have a seat, my dear,” Aurelia pointed to a cushioned, three-legged stool beside her. I stood to one side of Eleyne. My hand trembled as I restrained myself from touching her.

  Sabinus, his face stony, sat behind the office table and peered into her eyes. “Eleyne, I have bad news.”

  “About my father?”

  He nodded. “I’m afraid so. He’s with the gods.”

  Eleyne’s hand pressed a hand against her heart. “I knew it.” She bit her lower lip, glanced at Aurelia and, for a split second, back to me. “When did this happen, how?”

  Sabinus told her briefly of the assassination.

  Tears swelled in Eleyne’s eyes, and her face flushed. She cupped it with pale, long fingers and began to shake. Lowering her head, she softly wept.

  Aurelia reached over and placed an arm around her distraught friend. She pulled Eleyne to her. “We understand, Eleyne,” Aurelia said quietly. “I know this is terrible to hear, and we are truly sorry.”

  I wanted to reach over and touch Eleyne, but thought it better to wait until Aurelia had calmed her feelings and grief as only a woman knew how. And I didn’t want to seem too familiar in front of Sabinus.

  “My dear,” he said to Eleyne, “you are among friends, we grieve with you. Your loss is ours.”

  “What difference does it make?” she answered through tears. “My mother died of a chill in her lungs when I was five. Now, Father is dead. He was getting old, but I wanted to see him before he died.”

  “Your father,” Sabinus interjected, “was a great warrior. I assure you, dear lady, that I mourn his passing. I preferred to have him as my friend and ally than my enemy. That is why we made you a part of our family. We mourn him because your presence has touched all of us.”

  “Then why am I a hostage?” She pulled herself from Aurelia’s arm and glared at Sabinus.

  “The emperor considers you a hostage, we don’t. I took custody of you, so you wouldn’t fall into the hands of Governor-General Aulus Plautius.” Sabinus paused, taking a deep breath. “He has no love for the Britons, even one as innocent and beautiful as you, especially when Bodvac fled to Caratacus. I regret I wasn’t at liberty to tell your father why I took you hostage.”

  Sabinus had no choice. Verica was suspected of conspiring with Caratacus. Eleyne could never return to Britannia with Togidubnus ruling in place of her father, he would kill her. As a foreign princess, and daughter of a loyal ally, Eleyne could be married to anyone the emperor chose. A number of senators visited Sabinus’s home, and I had watched them as they cast their lecherous eyes upon her. News of her father’s death would encourage them to ask for her hand in marriage. Although she had no wealth or power, marrying the daughter of a barbarian king was still considered politically prestigious.

  Eleyne shook her head. Stray strands of her hair fell around her kohl-stained eyes. “I’ve brought you only grief and horror.”

  “Nonsense,” Aurelia said.

  “It’s true,” she insisted, “Karmune’s dead, and I have been nothing but trouble.”

  “That is simply not so,” Aurelia countered. “What happened was not your fault. We grieved for Karmune, but she saved your life. In her death, she saved the lives of many others, including my husband and the emperor. The gods work in strange ways, have you forgotten?”

  “No, of course not, it’s . . .” She sniffled and wiped tears from her eyes and then blew her nose in a cloth napkin Aurelia handed to her. “I miss my father. I want to go home!” She leaned over and buried her face onto her mistress’s chest.

  Eleyne raised her head for a second, and as our eyes met, I touched her arm with my fingertips, not of passion, but of support.

  “Eleyne,” I whispered, a plea from my soul to her heartache, and her name upon my lips spoke volumes of my true feelings for her.

  Eleyne’s grief overwhelmed her, but she did not respond. Yet I hoped that something deep within might remember my touch and know I loved her.

  Sabinus motioned to the door, and we departed, leaving his wife and Eleyne alone.

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 4

  After Eleyne had been told about the death of her father, King Verica, I didn’t see her for nearly a week. From then on, she hid her grief like a true princess. But she told me she no longer found any solace in praying to the old gods. I told her about Priscilla, and the loss of her daughter, and how she found comfort in the Jewish God and teachings of one Christus. A week later I took her to the home of Priscilla, who seemed to take to Eleyne as if she had been her lost daughter. Eleyne was near Rachel’s age of seventeen. Since that first visit with Pricilla, Eleyne appeared to be more at peace with herself.

  After dinner, one hot September evening, Eleyne and I sat beside the cool gushing fountain in the peristylium. The hissing fountain spray reflected the sparkling yellow-gold light of the torches surrounding the garden, giving Eleyne’s pale face a radiant glow. I was almost too entranced by her to feel the misting air. At a discreet distance stood the ever-present giant, Candra, keeping a watchful eye on his charge. She took up her lyre and played a haunting melody, its tune mixing pleasantly with the scent of roses and other flowers planted in the garden.

  When she finished, she laid her instrument on the bench beside her. She sighed and focused her dark-blue eyes on mine. “Now that father is gone, what’s to become of me? It’s been nearly two months, and I haven’t heard a word. I’m no longer useful to Rome.”

  “The emperor is leaving the details to Sabinus.”

  “Don’t I have a say?” Eleyne swung her head toward the fountain and stared at the eels swimming lazily among the lily pads.

  “It’s not so simple,” I replied calmly. “Deals must be struck and favors exchanged.”

  Frowning, she turned and glared. “With my life?”

  “Exactly, but you’ll come to no harm. Sabinus and I will protect you.” For the length of a few heartbeats, I paused, unsure how she would accept my next words. “However, the emperor has forbidden your return to Britannia.”

  Eleyne nodded, as if she had expected the inevitable. “There’s nothing left for me in Britannia now. If I returned, Togidubnus would kill me because I’m a threat to his rule. The tribal council would rebel and elect me queen.”

  I didn’t believe Rome would allow that to happen, but no doubt she would be murdered.

  A few moments of silence elapsed. She sat quietly, hands folded in her lap. “What does Lord Sabinus plan to do with me?”

  “More than likely Sabinus will arrange for your marriage to a rich nobleman.” The thought sickened me, and I was determined to prevent such a disaster. My family was wealthy, if only I could find a way to enter the Equestrian Order, my chances of marrying her would increase ten-fold.

  Eleyne bolted upright. “Married? I don’t want to be married to some fat Roman. Why can’t they leave me alone?” She looked into my eyes, pleading, and her soft hand touched my forearm. “You won’t let that happen, will you?”

  I knew what she wanted. Our feelings for one another had not diminished over these last several months, although we had learned to suppress them. No more. Determined not to lose her, I had to risk the consequences.

  Taking her smooth hands in mine, I raised them to my lips, and lightly kissed them.

  “We don’t need to hide from one another any longer, Eleyne. Do you still love me?”

  “You know I do.” She moved softly into my arms. Her hair, lightly scented with lavender, brushed against my face.

  “Become my wife, Eleyne. I’ll do anything for you and protect you always. We don’t dare to wait any longer. I don’t want Sabinus marrying you to anyone but me.”

  It came in a flash. I needed his aid in being admitted to the knighthood. Would he help me? Did he honestly want Eleyne married to some political hack?

  Her grasp tightened on my arm, as if at once elated and alarmed by my proposal. “Is it possible, darling? Will they let us marry? I’m afraid you’ll get into troub
le for asking.”

  “Let them stop us!” I boasted, more confident than I felt. “If Sabinus has the power to make the choice, he should think enough of you and me to grant our request. You are the only woman I want.” Now I silently prayed to the gods the senator would aid us.

  “I’m so happy, Marcellus. I’ve loved you for so long. Had you found another woman, I would have died. Lord Sabinus thinks highly of you—Aurelia told me.”

  She stepped forward and threw her arms tightly around me, her lips pressing mine.

  Candra winced.

  I motioned toward the stairs near the entrance to the garden, leading to my room. Without a word she followed me up the steps. At the door to my cubicle she turned to Candra who had dutifully followed. “You can go, Candra,” she commanded. “Come back for me at dawn.”

  He did not budge. His eyes flicked from hers to mine, threatening me with all warnings his lips could not utter, and for a fleeting moment my hand slipped to the hilt of my dagger.

  “Candra,” she ordered, “I said you can go!”

  He frowned, glaring at me with large, black eyes. In that moment I wondered if he, too, loved her. Perhaps he did. Finally, he trudged away. He kept peering back over his shoulder as he descended the stairs, eyes mixed with hate, loyalty, and uncertainty. I knew then he did love her, but she was mine alone.

  *

  The next morning, after breakfast, I encountered a grave Sabinus in the atrium. His mood put a damper on my high spirits, but no matter what his decision, I was determined to have Eleyne as my wife, claiming her by force if necessary.

  “You look as if you’ve seen old Charon the boatman, sir,” I said. “Is there something wrong?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.” His hands gripped my shoulder. “Marcellus, Senator Vitellius received permission from the emperor to marry Eleyne.”

  I froze in my boots. I remembered the first day in Rome when that fat, pompous excuse for a senator welcomed Sabinus at the docks. Vitellius expressed interest in Eleyne, but I thought it was windblown rhetoric.

  “But, why?” I stammered, twisting from his grip.

  “Why not? She’s beautiful and no longer valuable as a hostage.”

  “Can’t you stop it?”

  Squinting his forehead, he eyed me quizzically. “Why should I? After all, she’s Rome’s hostage. Although I admit being fond of her, my responsibility was to keep her out of mischief.”

  “If she’s no longer a hostage, isn’t she free to do as she pleases?”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  I hesitated. My heart pounded, and a feeling of desperation swept over me. My mind raced. I considered taking her away this very moment, even if I had to slay Sabinus.

  “I realize I’m being presumptuous, sir, and were it not for Senator Vitellius, I wouldn’t ask so soon. The hourglass is running out. I’m asking permission to marry Eleyne.”

  For a fleeting few seconds, Sabinus’s face darkened.

  “You are bold, aren’t you? The emperor can marry her to anyone he wishes.”

  “Yes, sir, but if he doesn’t make the right choice, she’ll be miserable.”

  He waved the remark away. “Emotions have no place in marriage arrangements. What makes you think she wants you for a husband?”

  “I asked her, and she accepted.”

  “You took it upon yourself, did you?” he said sternly. “That reminds me of when you disobeyed orders in Britannia and attacked the Druid temple. You always were impulsive.”

  “No one said I couldn’t ask her, so I did.”

  A grin crossed Sabinus’s face. “You know, Marcellus, Aurelia told me months ago about you and Eleyne. Neither one of you have hidden your fondness for one another. I’m not blind to the looks you two have exchanged.”

  “Lady Aurelia said the same thing.”

  He nodded. “So she told me. To be honest, Eleyne will be a fine wife. It’s time you settled down.”

  Instantly, I was ashamed of my thoughts of violence towards him, and relief brought me near tears. “Then you approve?”

  “I do, but it will take some effort to change the emperor’s mind. I may have to reward Claudius’s secretary, Narcissus, to help me in the process.” He spat.

  “Can it be done?”

  He explained his plan.

  Later, I broke the news to Eleyne about Vitellius’s intentions.

  “I would rather be eaten by a lion in the arena than marry that bloated ox!”

  I took her hand, lightly stroked her face, and managed to calm her down while I explained Sabinus’s plan.

  “It had better work,” she answered. “Oh, Marcellus, I’ll die if I can’t marry you.”

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 5

  The plan, involving Vitellius’s dull-minded, soon-to-be-divorced wife, Lollia Appolonia, nearly failed.

  A week later, I was summoned by Lady Aurelia Severa to meet her in the library. She directed me to a chair across the desk from her. Nearing forty, light wrinkles circled intelligent eyes in her plump but still attractive face. Specks of gray mixed with her jet hair, which was wrapped in circular tresses on top of her head. “My husband will fill you in on the details later, but I have news directly affecting Eleyne’s fate.”

  My body tightened at the thought of losing her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing so far,” Aurelia answered calmly. She tugged at the sleeve of her white stola girded beneath her bosom. “But I finished speaking to Lollia Appolonia less than an hour ago, and we have a problem.”

  I pitied Vitellius’s frumpy wife. Aurelia said the woman had been treated shabbily by her husband for many years.

  “The day after my husband revealed his plan,” Aurelia continued, “I approached the senator’s wife. Poor dear, she was beside herself, can you blame her?” She stared through me with her wide, walnut eyes as if I weren’t there.

  I started sweating, my shoulders tensed. Her piercing look unnerved me. “She must be at a loss to prevent the divorce,” I said.

  “Yes,” Aurelia said, “that is why I suggested she demand the return of her dowry and all interest accumulated in the savings banks.” Aurelia lowered her head and pulled a metal stylus from an open compartment, part of the wax tablet on the desk, and examined it. Then she returned it to the same place. She studied me again with the same intensity. “As you can imagine, Senator Vitellius’s wife agreed instantly.”

  “That’s encouraging,” I said in a guarded voice, suspecting she wasn’t finished.

  Aurelia sighed and silently slid two gold bracelets on her left arm up and down between the wrist and elbow a couple of times before she stopped and dropped her hands upon the desk. “When I saw her the following afternoon, she said Vitellius had remained adamant about the divorce. Earlier, Lollia thought she had won.”

  My chest tightened. “What changed Vitellius’s mind?”

  “That evening at dinner, after our first conversation, Lollia confronted her husband.” Aurelia licked her full lips. “She demanded the return of her dowry if he insisted on a divorce.”

  Aurelia continued to tell me that Vitellius was initially shocked and dismayed, obviously never thinking his wife would make any demands. He vacillated at the last moment. Deciding to think the matter over, Vitellius left Lollia reclining on the dining couch, her fat bulk in tears.

  “In other words, the situation got worse,” I said and clenched a hand into a fist, wishing I could have smashed it into Vitellius’s bloated face.

  “It did,” Aurelia said. “The next morning, Vitellius informed Lollia that after the bankers drew up all the necessary papers for transfer, he would return the dowry.”

  “You mean, despite his greed, he’d still give up a fortune to marry Eleyne?” I asked. My throat muscles tightened, the vocal cords seemed to scratch as the words poured out.

  Aurelia raised her hand. “Calm yourself, Marcellus, I’m not finished. To say the least, Lollia was stunned. Her husband had capitulated too easily, a
nd she suspected he was receiving financial support from someone else. He had to, else he would be penniless.”

  Aurelia explained that Lollia Appolonia had discussed the situation with her loyal house steward, a Persian freedman. I had heard he was devious by nature and had ways of getting to the bottom of the matter. The steward, who Aurelia believed was Lollia’s lover, had contacts with slaves in many of Rome’s wealthiest households, including that of Gallus. Not surprisingly, he learned Vitellius had made several late-night visits to the Gallus home. By means of bribery, the steward ascertained from slaves within Gallus’s house that he was financing Vitellius. Aurelia finished by saying, “Lollia couldn’t understand why.”

  I knew the answer. I realized I gripped the handle of the dagger, hanging from my belt so tightly my fingers grew sore.

  “But I correctly guessed the reason,” Aurelia continued. “Gallus knew that upon the death of his father, Vitellius became one of the most influential members in the Senate and considered a Friend of Caesar. Using his power, he could subtly enhance and advance the restoration of Gallus’s family name to good standing, which he did. Why do you think he inherited his late father’s seat in the Senate so quickly? It matters not that he has to wait until he is thirty years old before he can participate in their proceedings,” Aurelia added in a disgusted voice.

  “What else, Lady?” I asked, puzzled by her abrupt stop.

  “Gallus learned of your intentions to marry Eleyne. Out of spite, he is helping Vitellius to take her from you.”

  “What can we do to stop him?” It was all I could do to control my anger and fear. This monster, who had been hand-in-glove in the murder of Kyar, now attempted to destroy my marriage with the only other love of my life, Eleyne.

  “Tomorrow, my husband meets with Gallus. Sabinus summoned that insufferable young man after I informed him of Vitellius’s betrayal.”

  “What’s to stop him from ignoring Lord Sabinus’s request?”

  Aurelia smiled. “My dear Marcellus, it isn’t wise to refuse an invitation from a senator.”