Chapter 21: Relative Truths and Understandings
Quintus followed Maximus and Commodus back into the palace. Commodus had ordered that Cicero be brought back into the palace and sent back into the infirmary right away. The two men walked into the throne room, saying nothing and looking towards the floor rather than one another. The young emperor walked over to the throne and looked at it pensively. The edict that his father had written played over and over in his mind. He felt his expression quivering with the sadness of betrayal. He touched the arm of the throne softly and cleared his throat before turning and looking at Maximus. Maximus stared back between anger and confusion. Commodus sighed and sat down on the stairs leading up to the throne itself. He looked up at the enormous warrior and frowned.
"When you refused my hand in Germania, I was furious.", he admitted sadly. "I won't deny that I acted rashly. Execution was not the best course of action. You just wanted to go home."
"Actually I wanted you dead.", Maximus said glaring unmoving at the boy in front of him.
"I gather as much from you. But why? What did I do to you aside from ordering your immediate death and the auction of your family and property?"
Maximus scoffed. "Do you think that I'm as clueless or apathetic as the senate or the rest of the legions? I know what you did to your father, you heartless little wretch.", Maximus spat. "Murder seems to be your strongsuit. Old men, women, and children; why that almost sounds like a criminal, doesn't it?"
Commodus glared at him. He stood slowly and balled his hands into fists. "Are you implying that I killed my own father!?"
"No, you fool. I'm accusing you.", Maximus said angrily. Commodus snarled and moved forward a little. "You take life when you need to, or so I hear. Tell me, when did it become a necessity for you to take the life of an innocent man, woman, and child?"
"I did not kill my father!!", Commodus yelled. "Yes, I'm glad he's dead! I have felt the sky lift from my shoulders when I realized I wouldn't ever again have to put up with his indiscriminate ridicule and endless hateful lecturing! I am absoloutely giddy at thinking that the decrepit bastard is decaying as we speak! Giddy!"
"Prove it you horrible little insect!", Maximus shouted in return moving towards the young monarch menacingly.
"I don't have to prove anything to you! I'm emperor!", Commodus said feeling all control lost. "I do not have to prove anything to anyone, ever!"
"You twisted guttersnipe! You stand there with the blood of at least three innocent people on your hands and you are indignant towards me?! You sicken me!", Maximus said raising his fists. "We're away from your public, defend yourself!"
"Fine! I'll beat you within an inch of your pathetic life, revive you, and do it again!", Commodus screamed as the two faced one another directly. The combination of ideas and accusations suddenly clicked together in the young man's head. Commodus looked up at Maximus and shock. "Three people? You think I killed your family?"
Maximus ignored this and punched the boy in the face, sending him backwards several feet. Commodus was able to stop his head from spinning in time to roll out of the way as Maximus stormed over to him and reached for him. He looked up defensively.
"I didn't kill your family!", Commodus cried. He suddenly smiled. "I can prove it!", he shouted excitedly. Maximus ignored him again punched into his abdomen. The young ruler coughed and fell forward. Maximus smiled and took a few steps back.
"Two hits. Your turn. Better hurry or I'm just going to finish you off now!", Maximus said with an evil grin. Commodus gathered himself and stood slowly. He breathed deeply and looked up at Maximus. "Go ahead, Commodus! Hit me!"
Maximus flew further than the young man had as a harsh bow landed on his jawline. Maximus skidded to a halt and watched the world around him contort and warp until it centred again. He grabbed his jaw and looked over at the smaller man in front of him in confusion. Had the tempermental little whelp just sent him hurtling him accross the room? He stayed lying on the floor in shock for a few moments as Commodus strode over him and into the hallway.
"Come on, Gladiator. I told you I had something to show you.", Commodus said casually as he walked away. Maximus climbed to his feet and staggered as he followed the emperor. He hoped that whatever the youth had to show him wasn't anything like the display earlier. The two walked down the hallway, each trying to ignore the angry wounds they had inflicted on one another. Commodus walked into Tertullian's office calmly. Maximus followed, steadying himself on the doorfacing for a moment. It wasn't necessarily that Commodus had truly done severe damage to the man, but the youth had strength and boldness that Maximus didn't expect from a emotional little boy. Tertullian nodded to the emperor and set the stack of documents that they had examined the previous night in front of him. He took the top parchment and handed it to Maximus proudly. Maximus accepted it and glared once more at the young man before reading the document. He began to shake madly. He looked up at Commodus hatefully.
"You wrote this yourself!", Maximus said throwing it back at him. Commodus caught it and growled at him.
"I most certainly did not! Ask Tertullian. He hates me a little less than you, but he is truthful.", the young emperor exclaimed.
"I find that just about as believable as that sorry excuse for evidence you're holding.", Maximus sneered.
"Uh, no, actually he's right.", Tertullian interjected. "I'm not fond of him but I don't want him dead and that handwriting is far too clear to be his. His penmanship is about as lousy and confusing as a senator trying to wield a sword."
Commodus turned and glared at him for a moment. Tertullian shrugged slightly and gave a nod to Maximus.
"That's not all.", Commodus said taking the next document and handing it to the former soldier. Maximus snatched it away and read through it as well. He sighed and threw it at the young ruler as well.
"The first part is clever on your part; but if you're going to make the rest of it official as well, then I'll just be taking the crown and ordering your execution, effective immediately.", Maximus said grabbing the emperor by the collar and readying to strike him again.
"Stop that! There will be no violence in this chamber, do you hear me?", Tertullian chastised. Maximus growled at him and dragged the young man into the hallway. He raised his hand again, only to be stopped by Quintus. Maximus looked over at the head of the guard with pure contempt.
"Don't involve yourself further in this, Quintus. It is enough that you were willing to carry out my execution.", Maximus growled angrily.
"I was carrying out orders, Maximus. There was talk that you had killed Marcus Aurelius.", Quintus replied. Maximus let go of Commodus and glared at Quintus.
"What did you say?", he asked in the lowest tone imaginable.
"I am saying that there was question about foul play surrounding Marcus's death.", Quintus replied.
"Of course there was! Even with both of those documents being truthful the fact that Commodus murdered his father is still present!", Maximus argued. "Arrest him!"
"Unfortunately, Maximus, Commodus is on the throne and holds a tad more power than you at the moment.", Quintus said. Commodus smiled triumphantly. Quintus looked at both of them reproachfully. "However, the both of you seem to be affixed on tagging the other with the death of Marcus. Just a few days ago there was another attempt on the current emperor's life. Perhaps if the two of you got to who was behind that little incident, then you might be able to quit barking at one another long enough to find out something you can prove beyond any doubt."
The two men looked at one another hatefully for a moment. Commodus breathed deeply and turned to Quintus.
"I'll be in the infirmary for a few moments.", he said.
"You're not hurt that badly, yet.", Maximus muttered, still eying the boy with disdain.
Commodus ignored this and kept his eyes on Quintus. "After that I shall retire for the evening. Maximus may stay in the servants' quarters with no less than four watchmen, preferrably more.", he instructed. "Send for Galen. I can only imagine the damage that Cicero has incurred on himself when they dragged him out of the colosseum." Quintus bowed and watched as the young monarch turned to leave. Commodus stopped after a few steps and turned back to the two. "One more thing, I will need to speak with my sister privately. Escort her to my chambers within the hour and set a close watch over Lucius."
"Yes, Caesar.", Quintus replied with another bow, clenching his fist to his chest. He turned back to Maximus as Commodus disappeared down the hallway. Tertullian appeared behind the two and stood quietly, still holding the scrolls that Commodus had asked for. Quintus cleared his throat. "Do you really think that Commodus was capable of carrying out his own father's murder and trying to disguise it with your execution?"
"More than anything.", Maximus replied. Tertullian laughed quietly and patted Maximus on the shoulder as he walked past.
"You have so much more faith in the emperor than I, Spaniard. I don't even think the whole of the senate finds him as competant as you.", Tertullian added with a chuckle. The two men watched the scholar walk down the hall as well.
"Follow me. I can show you where you'll be staying. I'll set the four men around the room, but I truly hope that we won't need them.", Quintus said. Maximus glared at him with staunch anger. "This isn't the time to try and remove the emperor, Maximus. With Commodus out of the way, Lucilla would take the throne. And if that happens,", Quintus looked directly into Maximus's face, "I will kill you."