Chapter 7: Making a Mockery of the Empire
Cicero had been able to get to the arena to watch the battle between Maximus and Tigris. He smiled brightly as he noted the tension and fear on the emperor's face. Commodus seemed very intent on the battle ending quickly. He watched every move of the champions' blades sweeping and slicing, clashing together with harsh 'clangs' that rang in the ears of every patron. Commodus, who was usually very excited at these games and stood to cheer and get different views, sat very still and very quiet. Cicero felt himself feeling a little sorry for the spoiled young Caesar. That morning, Ursa had related what had happened between herself, Falco, and the emperor the night before. If Cicero hadn't warned her about the three men that were out for Commodus's blood, then she would have been accused of highest treason and probably slain there in his quarters. Cicero had felt true rage rumble through him at hearing she was forced into chains in front of him. He knew how frightened Ursa became in tight situations and being bound would not have helped. Ursa assured him that he only did so out of protocol and was very gentle with her following releasing her. Cicero had looked deeply into her eyes. His sister may not have been falling conveniently in love with the emperor, but she was definitely feeling a form of love for him. He had to get her away from here as quickly as possible.
So, Falco was behind the machinations of the imperial wickedry. That would have to be noted from now on. Cicero pushed the conversation he had made with Ursa that morning out of his mind and tried to concentrate on the games and watching how Maximus was fairing. At the end, Maximus was able to wound Tigris significantly. Commodus rose and ceremoniously held out his hand, pointing his thumb downward. The crowd cheered madly at the thought of the fallen hero being mercilessly dispatched for their entertainment. Cicero frowned. The mob was truly a blood-thirsty beast with a bottomless stomach. Maximus simply looked up at the emperor defiantly and threw down his sword. Cicero felt an enormous swelling of pride for his master and left the colosseum to wait for the champion to exit. Any conversation he had with him would have to be brief, but he did have a small gift for him. A small, leather pouch containing precious idols that Maximus used to remind himself of his family were inside. Cicero had managed to salvage them after the campaign in Germania.
He waited outside the colosseum for Maximus to be led back to the gladitorial school. He called to the former commander excitedly and gave him the gift and the information that his men were in Ostia and ready to follow him again. Maximus told Cicero to inform the men loyal to Marcus that their general lives and makes ready to bring justice to the slain leader's memory. Cicero smiled and watched as Maximus left. He would need to speak with him at length in the morning. He could do so after conversing with his sister. He laughed silently at the thought of how furious Commodus would be with the fact that his plan to end Maximus blew up in his face. The laughter stopped. What if he decided to soothe that fury with one of his women? What if he called for Ursa again? That duplicitous little worm! How dare he after the promise he made! Cicero hurried off towards the palace. He could at least stand at the window for the good part of the night until both Ursa and the emperor were sound asleep.
Ursa had been given the task of carrying a few scrolls from the senate to the office at the other end of the palace. Tertullian, the emperor's personal scribe, used this office on a regular basis. While Ursa wasn't a servant or a messenger, Lucilla had told the imperial task-master to use her for small tasks when he needed her since she had nothing better to do at the moment. Ursa didn't mind this at all. She would be walking past the area that Falco and Commodus usually used to vent frustrations and plot. She walked past hurriedly when she heard raised voices behind her. The guards were shouting at one of the servants to leave the area at the emperor's request. Luckily, no one had seen her. She stepped behind a column as the guards escorted the servants out and left the hallway and veranda empty. A moment later, the doors burst open. In walked the emperor, fuming, accompanied by Falco, beaming. Falco almost always seemed pleased to see Commodus upsetted by something. Ursa wondered if the young ruler had noticed this, or if he was simply content to have someone listening to him and slightly sympathizing with him. Commodus began ranting about the audacity of Maximus to defy his order to send Tigris into the afterlife. He paced back and forth like an angry tiger. He turned back to Falco and shook his head as he continued to pace.
"So now they love Maximus for his mercy. That means I can't kill him lest I appear all the more unmerciful!", Commodus raved. Tears dripped from his angry eyes every now and then. He sniffed and breathed heavily. "The whole day has been one damnable nightmare!"
"You cannot allow this to continue, sire. His defiance is not simply in his actions, it is in the fact he still lives. Kill him.", Falco urged. Commodus growled and looked directly into Falco's face.
"No! I refuse to give my father's murderer the status of martyr for a fickled mob!", he shouted. "I have been informed that there is a growing group of rebels who want me dead! Have you heard of it?"
"Of course, Caesar. The whole senate speaks of it with great amusement.", Falco said. Commodus backhanded one of the nearby potted plants. The innocent ficus tumbled to the ground, spilling out the dirt in its base. Commodus snarled at it and kicked at some of the dirt. "The best thing to do would be to silence all voices against you sire. Whether they speak in the city, in the senate, in the arena, or in the palace."
Commodus turned to him in fear. "They have infiltrated the palace?", he said trembling slightly.
"There are alway lecherous servants and so on, highness. The proper thing to do is keep up your guard and weed them out. Give me an edict to destroy all those who will not bow to you as the one authority on earth, as the son of Jupiter himself!", Falco offered. Commodus stared at him. Did the old senator truly see him as that powerful and important? Perhaps Falco was jsut as misunderstood as he was, perhaps he only wanted what was best for the greater good. Notions that looked after the bigger picture were rarely understood by others. He sighed. "I would be honoured to carry out such an edict sire."
"But we already keep close watch on so many. The mathemeticians are dwindling, the scholars hide in fear, the scribes have started refusing to document what I ask, and the Christians have either gone into hiding or left the capital entirely.", Commodus said. "If we start killing too many people right and left then we will lose the whole empire."
"No, Caesar, only the traitors. Think about this sire; if you have a herd of goats and you punish a few of them for insubordination quite severely, then the others will learn to obey your voice and be docile. Do you see?", Falco added. Commodus thought about this for a moment and then nodded.
"I will confer with Tertullian about writing the edict within a week. Then you will see to its fruition personally.", Commodus said with a sigh.
Falco smiled brightly. With this edict passed, the rebels would show themselves and probably step up any plans to assassinate the little fool. He was far too easily swayed to be in power. Gracchus had told him repeatedly that he needed a wife to speak at lengths with on harsh nights. Gracchus was a firm believer that no man or woman should have power alone. If the gods created them as one being so long ago, then they would always be lacking in thought and feeling until finding their other half. Commodus groaned at the thought of a lecture on propriety and kindness from Gracchus when this edict was passed. Then again, if it was passed and became effectual, then Gracchus might just learn to shut his gob when it was prudent. He smiled at the thought of Gracchus standing silent before him in the senate.
"Very good, sire. You are proving most cunning even for your youth.", Falco said as he bowed and left. Commodus watched. He felt conflicted more than ever. He needed comfort, he needed assurance, but he would not recieve either from Falco or Lucilla at the moment. He thought for a moment. The catacombs always offered comfort. Perhaps he could summon the young girl once more. He smiled and headed towards the door of the passageway down into the oldest part of the palace. Ursa watched this. Was he really going to do something so cruel and harsh to the citizens of Rome? Her heart ached at the thought of what she herself would lose. She followed him, trembling with desperation and anxiety. She walked down into the underbelly of the palace and carefully descended the stairs. The torch he had used to light his path had once again, been set to the floor and stayed bright enough for her to make her way to a statue near him and remain hidden. He stood in front of the bust of his father. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"I don't know who you are, or if you're still here, muse of comfort, but I need you more than ever. My heart is lamenting and my mind is weary from the ideas and disappointments laid before me today. Falco has offered a solution, what do I do?", he whispered. Ursa knew that if she couldn't sway him to favour her now, then he would begin a reign of terror that would live on for a thousand years. She cleared her throat and stepped up bside him, remainin a few feet away. He turned to the other side, then around for a moment at hearing something move near him. Ursa reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. He gasped and reached for the torch. Ursa kicked it away. She couldn't allow him to see that she was the unusual candidate that had saved his life the night before. There was, after all, still questions after that incident as to where her loyalties truly were. There were always questions about the loyalty of a bodyguard unless they had actually died in the emperor's place. He gasped and froze. Darkness truly terriffied him. The thought that it was not the spirit of comfort, but a sympathizer for the failed assassins, took hold of him. He closed his eyes and coughed a little. "Do what you are planning, and do it quickly. I will not tolerate suspense."
Ursa frowned a little. He must have been very afraid. She stepped closer to him and embraced him as she stood in front of him. He jumped at first, but then recogized the scent of the girl, the feel of her hands. He relaxed and pulled her to him tightly. She smiled.
"Is the suspense removed then, highness?, she whispered.
"Who are you? What are you?", he said as he held her closer and breathed in the companionship he so craved.
Ursa thought long and hard about this for a moment. She smiled brightly and leaned up to his ear. "I was once another name, I have changed it for my stay in the palace.", she whispered. He froze. He hadn't heard of anyone coming to visit recently. Who was this girl, and why on earth had she changed her name.
"What is your purpose here?", he asked as he moved away from her a little. She continued to hold onto his arms softly.
"The Hebrews keep a collection of stories that will explain everything, sire.", she whispered. "Ask them for the story of Haddasseh.", she replied. If he was preoccupied with solving a mystery, then she would have plenty of time to tell Cicero that he could be swayed by the right person. They simply needed to figure out how to get another senator to be as close to the young man as Falco was, and to undo Falco himself. She reached up and placed a soft kiss on his jaw. He moved to try and kiss her more fully, feeling overcome with many emotions. Ursa pulled away and kicked the torch away a little more before racing over to the secret door. She opened it silently and slipped away in a blink. Commodus mustered every ounce of bravery within himself and grabbed the torch after reaching into the unkown for it. He caught his breath as he began to furiously search the room. There was no sign of anyone being there with him. The catacombs had enough light from the grating to see the basics of the room without a torch, but his fear of the darkness had hindered him from getting familiar with the secrets the room kept for only the strong of heart and mind. He sighed and went back upstairs. He began to walk to his quarters as Tertullian approached him. He jumped instinctively, then steadied himself. Tertullian bowed.
"The senate sent me four documents that I think you should take a look at, sire.", Tertullian said. Commodus nodded to the old scribe. Tertullian turned to go back to his office without another word. Commodus felt a light spring to life in his mind.
"Tertullian?", he called. The scribe turned around and bowed to the young man. Commodus thought about the question for a moment and how best to ask it. He looked inquisitively at the old man. "Do you have any of the stories of the Hebrews?"
Tertullian smiled. It was always wonderful to see a youth passionate about the study of a new subject. Perhaps Commodus would do what his father would not, study the peoples themselves and not force his drek theories about philosophy on the rest of the general populous. Commodus was thinking of neither his father, his people, or philosophy at the moment. He was thinking about how beautiful the kiss she had given was.