Mars

Chapter 10: Leaving

He awoke in a cold sweat - Maximus? It was a name and a face he had erased from his memory a long time ago and had not heard of since. Maximus? He was puzzled as to why the Spaniard would enter his dreams without permission, it was no secret he was not fond of him, but he did try to befriend him, countless times; if not for the peace then at least to please his father.

It was barely light, the moon remained in the sky and the air was cool, obviously overpowering the sun to take it's place as the ruler of Autumn and Winter. It was then he remembered he had to leave at dawn, which could not be far away.

The first thing he did was to wash himself in a bath his sister ordered to be drawn in time for his awakening. The water was chilly but he managed to cleanse anyway. All the while his dream repeated itself in his mind. "Maximus?" He whispered.

"Sorry, sire?" Asked the young girl who washed his back, snapping him out of his trance.

"Nothing." He shook his head and gripped her wrist. "I'm clean."

She nodded and left him to his hypnosis. "Maximus?" He repeated the name, completely at a loss as to where he had popped up from. "Of course!" The recognition swept in; he was commanding the battle in Germania. It was obviously his subconscious telling him he would be seeing him, but the dagger - where did that come from?

He felt shaken, almost scared that perhaps he would be assassinated. Was that why his father had sent for him? Because he wanted to name him successor and would this displease Maximus, pushing him to the edge to slay the new emperor? Not a chance, he felt confident he could conquer Maximus. He understood he had not had a lot of practise in battle, but the soldiers he would hire to protect him would. But what if they were loyal to the general and the senate was backing him? He shuddered to think of what could happen to him.

He stepped out of the water and wrapped cloth around his naked torso in a lazy attempt to dry himself, and when he was satisfied he was dry enough, he clothed himself.

Maximus would not dare to kill the emperors son, it was absurd surely? He needed to set his mind at rest so told himself time after time that he would be safe. As for the black blood? He did not have a clue where that came from either.

The field was obviously a shroud of mystery that would be surrounding Maximus' motives, so he felt confident that he understood that aspect. He shook off the doubt like a dog shaking off water and exited the room, Lucilla would have prepared everything they needed for the journey.

Two weeks on the road? What was he to do, to talk about? He hated the fact he would be travelling as he detested travelling itself. Two weeks? It takes an awfully long time to get to this country.

He decided that as he neared the end of the road he would inform Lucilla of his plans for the empire if she agreed that he was truly dying and naming Commodus his successor. She would be thrilled, she loved the testosterone and blood that filled her senses during the games. At least he thought she did.

"Ah, Lucius." He kneeled in front of his nephew to say his goodbyes.

"I wish I could go - I would very much like to see the world." He frowned. Commodus lifted his chin and stared him in the eyes.

"You will get your chance." he embraced him and left him with his mother so she might weep her goodbyes; she hated being separated from him.

They were on the road before the day had officially begun and no people loitered around on the street. Lucilla looked beautiful in her ice-blue coat and ice-white skin. Commodus felt proud she was his sister.

"Two weeks. Do you think we'll stop at any time?" He asked her.

"Of course, unless you can survive two weeks without food, water and waste." She enlightened him.

"Of course." He felt stupid for even asking. "What do you think he wants?"

"He probably wants us to witness the victories of Rome." She yawned, still tired.

"Victories. The greatness of Rome." Now he was speaking in riddles, which annoyed Lucilla - he was so cynical and pessimistic.

"Yes." She snapped him out of his mumbled ravings. "I am more concerned with what we will do to occupy ourselves."

"I know." He replied. "Perhaps we could play a game? When we were young we played the guessing game."

"The guessing game..." She remembered it. She invented it to keep her and her brother from boredom when they were ignored for greater matters. "Alright. I am thinking of something beginning with H. Guess what it is."

"A Home? A head? A heart?" He spitted them all out quicker than he breathed. Lucilla shook her head. "A harp? A herald? A horse?"

"Yes." She smiled, he was never any good at the game, but it amused him and returned his happiness. He was still a boy at heart.

"Which one?" He furrowed his brow.

"A horse." She told him. "Your turn."

"Alright." He was always slow to think of things. "I'm thinking of a person beginning with M. Guess who it is."

"Marcus Aurelius." She guessed.

"No." He felt cunning and superior.

"Maria?" She guessed again. Maria was a servant girl who attended to Lucilla's chores.

"Nope. Better than that. I'll give you a clue." Clues were not part of the game, but he often gave them when he was winning. "It is a he, who we have not seen for a good long while.

She began to think. Then it dawned on her, but it could not be him? Why was Commodus thinking of him? "Maximus."

"Correct!" He grinned.

"This is getting boring, Commodus." She warned him.

"But we are just getting started." He retorted.

FIN