Bolt woke as dawn sunlight lit the waters of the bay below the cliffs. He wanted to think he had dreamt the snake in the bed. The bloody towel and the stench in the room let him know that it had been real. An usher knocked on the door.
"Lord Gaius will be hosting an informal breakfast for his cousins," he said. "Garrison dress for officers."
The man moved on to Beaky's door and repeated his message as Bolt washed, clipped his mustache and beard, found a tunic, leather overtunic, and a custom belt with his smaller cypress-wood dagger for a sidearm. Canidius poked his head in the door and took a whiff.
"Not shit or body odor, but what is that smell?"
"Some joker thought to slip a snake in my bed last night," Bolt said. "We found it, killed it, and burned it."
"Are you sure you're related to these people?" he asked. "You don't strike me as their type and they really want to get rid of you."
"The unfortunate truth is yes," Bolt said. "And I'll be gone soon enough. Six more days, unless we can escape."
They followed the usher to an outdoor patio overlooking the bay. Caligula entered, wearing a light linen tunic. A young man of the same age followed him. Caligula saw Bolt and his self-satisfied smirk changed to a scowl. He jerked his thumb to the other teenager.
"Our cousin, Claudillus," he said.
Claudillus said hello to Beaky, whom he knew, and gazed at Bolt.
"You're the Eagle," he said.
"That's the rumor," Bolt said. "My real friends call me Bolt or even Marcus."
"How did you take that Aquila?" Claudillus asked.
"I had a lot of help," Bolt said and introduced Canidius.
"Tell us the story," Claudillus said.
"I would, but something more interestimg happened recently," Bolt said. "I got a snake in my bed last night."
"A snake?" Claudillus asked.
"Yes," Bolt said.
As he told the story, Beaky watched Caligula, who kept glowering at Bolt.
"Personally, I think it rather silly to leave a snake in the bed, when one can just dip somebody's hand in warn water and make them piss themselves," Bolt said.
"There are snakes on the island," Caligula said.
The usher came in.
"The August One wishes to see Prefectus Antonius," he said. "It's related to news from Judea."
Bolt rose to follow him and as he passed behind Caligula, leaned down to whisper in his ear.
"Try, try again, Cousin."
The usher led him to Tiberius' private office where the Emperor sat with his secretary. Bolt came to attention and waited. Tiberius held out some letters. Bolt took them and read through Sejanus' memo covering Gaius' message. His heart skipped as he saw the post-script about the baby. Then, he turned to Cornelius' letter.
"Ye gods, I hope he didn't," he said.
"Why?" Tiberius asked.
"The Jews find our honors to be idols and thus an offense, especially so close to the Temple. Passover is their most sacred holiday and the city is full of travelers at that time. If they see the honors, they will riot and the results would be catastrophic."
"You're his Prefect, what would you have advised?" Tiberius asked.
"That he follow what is always done, leave the honors in Caesarea, retrieve them on the way back."
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Domina Victrix
Historical FictionDescendants of Triumvir Mark Antony through his little-known first wife, young cousins, Victoria and Marcus, have always known they were heirs to a mixed-blessing heritage. Roman men were expected to brutally dominate their families and the world a...
