Domina Victrix

Chapter 18: 22 AD, Antioch and Rome

Julius Antonius left the dining area of Antonia's home. After his father's death, he had spent a great deal of time at his aunt's house and his own wedding banquet had been held there. He found a chamber pot and used it, then stepped into a courtyard for some fresh air. He could hear voices, his cousin Livilla and Prefect Sejanus. It was the worst kept secret in Rome and everyone knew it. He walked to a fountain and sat down, listening to the water and night sounds. Agrippina came outside and Julius gritted his teeth. If she discovered Sejanus and Livilla she would blab to the four winds and make both Tiberius and Sejanus more edgy with their family than they already were.

"There you are," Agrippina said.

He motioned to the bench beside him.

"Have a seat."

"You're not very cordial," she said.

"What do you want, Agrippina?" he asked. "Your son is almost certain to inherit the diadem one day. Your dower is paid. Piso is dead. Victoria is now Juba of Mauretania's problem. What else?"

"Nero needs a wife," she said.

"Well, I'll get right on that," he said.

She left in a huff and he breathed a sigh of relief. Antonia approached him and sat down next to him as they heard Livilla's laughter. He pointed to the hedgerow.

"You do know? About them?"

"I got the surprise tonight," she said and let out a disgusted sigh. "I raised her better than that. Adultery is death."

He put his finger on his lips.

"So is snooping into Sejanus' business."

"But-!" she started to say.

He took her hand and led her back into the house.

"Trust me, Aunt. This is none of our nevermind."

....

Victoria dropped a spoon into an empty serving dish as the organ music bored into her head.

"It's not usually that loud," Juba said.

"They always bring a smaller tabletop organ," she said. "But the one that's playing now sounds like the one they use for the games."

She heard Tryphaena scream, then Old Marcus and Gaius shouting. More screams arose with the sound of clattering and breaking dishes. The organ kept on blaring, its pace becoming more frantic.

"What's going on?" she asked.

They could hear General Marcus, shouting for guards. Juba dressed and found his sword.

"Stay here till I come for you," he said. "Lock the door and let no one in."

Victoria locked the sitting-room door behind him as the shouting and grating music kept up in the main rooms of the house. She heard the rushing tramp of running caligae on the garden path outside. The organ stopped.

"Fire!" several voices cried out. "We need water!"

Her knees knocking, Victoria went to her dressing room and found underwear and a short tunic. She put on her hunting bracaes and her own caligae.

"Going somewhere?" a man's voice asked her.

She turned to face a stranger standing in the sitting room near the dining table. He was wearing a civilian tunic, Parthian-style breeches and sandals. He was as tall as Juba and with a powerful build like Cornelius. She had an idea who he was.

"Militus Paulus, I am a married woman," she said. "You will remove yourself from my apartments."

He laughed and stepped closer to her.