Chapter 30

A red dawn greeted Pompeia as she stood on her balcony and looked out over the city she now ruled single-handedly.

No longer would she be the subject of her brother’s pity, doomed to be forgotten under the expanse of his shadow.

Pompeia now had her own chapter in the history books, but it was not for the reason she had dreamed.

A slave rebellion against Rome now tainted her name, and future generations would either condemn her or congratulate her on how she now dealt with the situation.

Kneeling on the ground, Pompeia wrapped her fingers around the thick Persian curtains that were now torn in two.

The rich threads had become frayed and ripped from where a dagger had sliced it down the middle in Krista and Artorius's escape.

Pompeia squeezed her fingers around the fabric, imaging that it was Krista’s neck in her grasp.

Krista was quickly becoming the bane of Pompeia’s existence.

Pompeia could hardly imagine that a few weeks prior she was hoping to appoint Krista as the head of her new army, before her brother had gone and changed her plans drastically.

And now, rather than celebrating her new position with wine and festivities, she was facing a crisis which would determine the aftermath of her rule. 

Thousands of people were looking to Pompeia, and amongst them were the many slave masters who turned to her for answers. They blamed her for their slaves escaping, for not having control over her own Gladiator Schools.

Throwing the curtain to the ground, Pompeia stormed over to her desk to where a map of her empire rested.

Small wooden figures littered the map indicating where her armies were positioned, but there was only one army that was close enough to reach Rome within a matter of days.

The legion that had been sent south to conquer the uprisings that her brother had been meaning to leave for could be in Rome within a week.

It seemed only right that they should return to conquer the rebellion that now shook the foundations of Rome itself.

Resting her hands against the table, Pompeia scanned the many statues that covered the map when a weak voice squealed from her doorway.

“Empress,” the voice called. 

Pompeia found her jaw setting in place as she looked up and cast her gaze upon the barbaric creature that would slit her throat the moment her back was turned; her slave.

“What is it?” Pompeia hissed but before the girl could speak another figure moved forward from behind her.

“Consul Germanus,” Pompeia lowered her voice in greeting before she glared at the slave until she left.

Turning back to the Consul as he strode through her chamber, his hands clasped behind his back, Pompeia placed a smile upon her lips.

“Empress,” Germanus bowed as propriety dictated but the action was a mocking one as a small smirk spread across his lips, “The Senate grows uneasy with news of the rebellion.”

“There is no news of the rebellion,” Pompeia frowned. Her army had not been able to locate the traitors for almost a week now.

“Precisely,” Consul Germanus spun on the heels of his sandals, his white hair framing his rigid face, “The public grows anxious. They want answers.”

“They shall get answers in time,” Pompeia growled as she grabbed the wine and poured herself a drink, “But first, I have matters to attend to with these gladiators.”

“Remember,” Germanus tilted his head in warning, “As Empress you are honour bound to serve the public, as are we,”

“As Empress,” Pompeia turned from Germanus as she reshuffled the statues on her map, calling the legions back to Rome, “I am honour bound to serve Rome.”

Germanus seemed unable to establish a difference between the two but Pompeia had always had Rome in her heart rather than its people.

People were greedy, jealous and brute creatures that would kill their friend over a slice of bread.

But Rome was magnificent with her vast empire and beautiful creations; Rome would survive, Pompeia knew it in the depth of her soul.

People died every day but Rome would prosper for centuries to come.

“Anyone would think that your plight with this rebellion was personal,” Germanus stepped forward.

“They killed my brother! Your Emperor!” Pompeia shouted.

“That was one gladiator, this is a hundred of them,” Germanus cast his gaze across the map, his eyes flashing towards Pompeia in shock at what he saw.

Germanus took a hesitant step back, his thoughts trying to wrap around Pompeia's motives.

The figurines marking Rome's presence in the outer regions of the empire had been moved, dragged across the map and settled back on Italy.

Germanus could not believe what he was seeing. Rome's colonies in the far reaches of the empire were soon to be defenceless as Pompeia called her army back to Rome.

Germanus could not understand such a rash decision. A simple Centuria would be enough to eradicate these usurpers but calling in the entire military force of Rome?

It was as if she was preparing for a war, Germanus thought, lifting his head in shock to gaze at her with absurdity.

“We must not leave Rome defenceless to her enemies,” Germanus advised her, “You will lose land and people by doing this. Rome will be set back for years.”

But Pompeia simply gazed down at the map with a smile, “Rome has many people and lands that a loss to both would not be a hindrance.” 

“You cannot do this!” Germanus exclaimed, trying to make her understand but his outburst only caused the Empress to turn on him with outrage.

“Consul,” Pompeia straightened her back and gritted her teeth in anger, “You and your senate may govern the people but remember that the vast majority of the militia is mine to command. Not yours.”

Germanus bit down on his tongue.

“You may have many powers,” Pompeia nodded her head slowly, “but the power to declare war is, and always will be, the divine right of the Emperor, not the Senate,”

Pompeia stood her ground as she and Germanus stared at each other in a battle of wills.

The air was heavy between them when the sound of dull hammer thuds in the distant ran through their bodies repetitively, like bangs of a gong.

Germanus’s brows drew together in confusion as he turned and rushed to the balcony, leaning over the edge to see what was making the noise but Pompeia already knew what it was.

Stepping up beside him into the morning sun, she watched his expression carefully, gauging his response.

His lips were parted and his eyes were frozen in shock as he turned his head and looked at her in shock.

“They’re building crosses!” Germanus exclaimed.

“Of course,” Pompeia smiled, leaning against the balcony and letting her hair blow in the wind, “You cannot have a crucifixion without crosses, Germanus.”

“Who,” Germanus gritted his teeth, “are we crucifying?”

“All of the slaves who attempted to escape and failed,” Pompeia sent him a wide grin, “That should send a message.”

Looking up at the sun, Pompeia thought about how she and Krista were both currently bathing in the same light and warmth that it offered.

Pompeia found herself wondering how the Gladiatrix was spending her freedom.

Pompeia hoped it was fun because she would not be free for much longer.

* * *

Artorius sat upon a log beside the burnout fire and gazed up at the tree canopy above him.

The leaves barely rustled in the soft wind but he knew that a creature was now concealed within those hidden shadows.

Even in daylight, the expanse of the growth hid her expertly from view but he could somehow sense where she was.

And, as if she was watching him watch her, the branch gave a slight dip and Krista darted from his gaze.

Artorius found himself shaking his head in soft laughter before he went back to skinning the recent influx of rabbits and birds that had been caught for that evening’s supper.

They needed almost thirty rabbits to make enough food for everyone to eat.

In the matter of a week the camp had almost tripled in size of people and they were feeling the strain of it as they were forced to hunt further away for resources.

Soon they would no longer be able to hide themselves in the forest but whilst Artorius was not in any hurry to leave, Krista was almost ripping at her hair to escape.

Her daily flights to the trees helped but Artorius could feel the tension in her muscles every night as they slept side by side.

The smile was gone from Artorius’s lips when a sudden great weight was thrown onto his lap, startling him out of his reverie.

“Artorius!” Leonidas spread his arms wide in greeting as the dead weight of a deer rolled off Artorius’s leg and crashed to the ground, “I bring food!” Leonidas reached forward and slapped him on the shoulder in joy.

Leonidas could find humour in anything and it was infectious as Artorius found himself laughing even as deer blood dried on his bare chest.

“I thought you were meant to be scouting ahead for Romans?” Artorius asked as Leonidas began to drag the deer to the other side of the fire and got to work on the skin.

“Aye, I was scouting,” Leonidas chuckled, “And found no more of those awful roman rabbits,” Leonidas nodded to the rabbit in Artorius's lap.

“Where is your warrior woman?” Leonidas laughed, knowing that Krista hated being called Artorius’s woman.

Artorius nodded to the trees, “Where do you think?”

Artorius and Leonidas shared a smile as they fell into silence, only the sound of squelching filling the air as they made quick work of the meat.

Secretly Artorius was overjoyed at Leonidas’s unscheduled find. Krista would not be pleased to hear he had diverted from security but Artorius was sick of eating rabbit. They had had better food at the arena.

“You have returned,” A new voice called and Artorius lifted his gaze to see the bronzed Cato smiling softly at Leonidas, the rest of the world dimming from view.

Leonidas jumped to his feet, his bloodied hands dropping the knife as he cupped Cato’s face and pressed their lips together in a fierce kiss of reunion.

Artorius raised an eyebrow at the affection shared between the two.

“I have returned,” Leonidas broke the kiss, “And I bring food. Come, join us,” Leonidas dragged Cato down onto the log beside him.

Cato looked entirely out of place as Leonidas turned back to the deer and everyone around them had a job to do except for him.

“Here,” Artorius grabbed a rabbit from the pile and threw it across at the man from Ludus Dacicus, along with a knife.

Cato sent him a grateful smile before they all fell into silence, the three of them easily becoming surrounded by the masses and Artorius, for the first time since he had left home, felt a resemblance of peace.

* * *

There was only so much one woman could take and for Krista this was the limit.

Perching on a branch nearly a mile from camp, Krista had been taking a moment’s rest and looking out across the water when she heard noises below her.  

“No, not like that!” A boy with dark hair complained at his friend who was wielding a stick, “You’re meant to stand like this!”

The dark haired boy stood to his side, picking up his own stick from the ground as they pretended they were holding swords.

“Now,” The boy shuffled on his feet, nervous about his friend, “Attack me.”

Krista narrowed her eyes at the way the boy moved straight for the obvious attack, his feet were slow and his entire body was wrong for a sword fight.

Krista looked behind her, debating whether she should leave but the boys were too far from camp, it was too dangerous to leave them.

And despite the way she hated the people who had descended upon her, Krista could not have their deaths on her conscience.

She had enough on her mind to be dealing with angry parents as well.

Letting out a sigh, Krista jumped from the tree and landed beside the two boys who let out screams of terror at her sudden arrival.

Krista watched the dark haired boy carefully. He looked to be nearly fifteen with his friend a little younger, but now she was closer she could tell that they were brothers.

They had the same bright green eyes that reminded her of the commander. Krista had to remember that he was dead and could not harm any longer.

“You’re- You’re Krista, aren’t you?” The older boy whispered, his eyes growing wide with excitement.

“Krista?” The younger brother joined in, staring at his brother in surprise.

“You shouldn’t be out here” Krista told them, hating the way people looked upon her, “Go back to camp.”

“But we’re learning to fight, to help you,” The older boy let out a squeal of happiness as he showed her his stick, that they were pretending were swords, “And we can’t do that in camp.”

“What are your names?” Krista frowned.

“I’m Valerius,” The dark haired boy told her proudly, “This my brother, Maximus,” He nodded to the younger boy that still looked at Krista in shock.

“You don’t need to fight, That’s what we’re here for. ” Krista watched them carefully, “Why would you want to fight anyway?”

“We want to become a gladiator, like you!” Maximus shouted in innocence but his words struck Krista’s heart like a knife.

Krista watched them carefully, her eyes taking in their small figures and the innocence in their hearts. She had been like that once, before her world crashed around her.

Stepping forward, Krista yanked the branches from their grasp and threw them away, her breathing coming hard as she tried to control herself.

She could not believe that these boys would want to throw their lives away because of her.

“Nothing about being a gladiator is fun,” Krista gripped Valerius's shoulders, his eyes filling with tears as he looked up at her, “Promise me that you will never go near a sword.”

The boys remained frozen, staring up at her in shock.

"Promise me!” She shouted at him.

“We promise,” Valrius whimpered and as Maximus’s cries filled her ears Krista realised what she had done.

They were children, Krista thought in anger as she stumbled away from them, afraid of what she might do.

“Go,” she spoke softly.

But the brothers remained frozen to the spot in fear.

Krista was about to shout at them to leave when she heard it.

Her ear twitched and something in her body went cold as she heard the arrow.

It was slicing through the air, right towards the boys.

The arrow had slowed in its descent, only slightly, but enough for Krista to reach out and grab the arrow out of mid-air, the tip barely inches from Maximus’s eye.

“Go!” Krista shouted as she spun and saw a five-strong Roman scouting party heading straight for her.

Krista’s heart started to beat faster as she was faced with her first real fight since the Commander.

Trying to keep as much distance between them and the boys as possible, Krista gripped the arrow tightly in her grasp and ran straight at the Roman’s.