Domina Triumphans

Chapter 9: Rome, Antioch, Lugdunum, and Bodona

Lady Terentia stood at the foot of her son's bed as a doctor looked over the larger gash on the top of his head. When Antonillus brained him with the torch, Otho fell backward unconscious and cracked his head again on the side of a planter box behind him. Now, with two serious injuries, he was not coming around. His father, Senator Salvius Otho, strode into the room.

"Now Rufius is hot, wants to charge Junior with adultery. What in Styx happened over there besides a crazy Gaul with a torch?"

"I wasn't there, so I don't know," Terentia said.

Salvius confronted Otho's body servant.

"Start talking!"

"The Young Master was drinking and he took Senator Rufius' wife on a couch at the party," the servant said.

Salvius threw up his hands.

"Wait! They had sex? He and Sabina's daughter?"

"Yes?"

"And the Gaul took offense why?"

"Lady Aemelia ran toward him and he threw his crown at her. Then Young Master charged at him and the Gaul smacked him with the torch."

Salvius' head swam. His son was likely guilty of adultery. The time was when that would have carried a death sentence for both Junior and Ollia. Rufius was right to resent Junior's intrusion on his wife. Why Junior ran at Antonillus of Gaul was still unclear, but the Prince obviously knew how to defend himself. Salvius began a placating letter to Rufius, and made plans to send Junior back to Tarracona once he was able to travel.

...

Claudius fumed. Iolarix' visit to Rome had become a shitshow. Rome depended on its client rulers to anchor key pieces of the Empire, Alexion of Emessa, Agrippa II of Judea, Italicus of the Cherusci, and Iolarix of Gaul were the four main ones, and now one of them would be pissed. Like everyone, he had questioned Artos' decision to bring his sons, but he knew that the King would want his aging father to meet his two eldest grandchildren. Claudius sent messengers, reassuring Iolarix that his son was not in harm's way and could return to Lady Claudia's residence. He commanded Lepidus to restore Antonillus to his father, then to pick up Aemilia at the palace, take her to their mother's estate outside Rome, and keep her there. His minister Pallas entered the room.

"Have all the slaves been transferred?"

"The last group just left for Ostia, Divinity," the Greek freedman said.

"How much longer is Iolarix here?"

"He has a final round of meetings tomorrow, a day with his family on Friday, and departs Saturday, Divinity."

"Has guardianship of the Vinicius boy been transferred?"

"It will be finalized tomorrow, as well."

Claudius dismissed him as an usher from Valeria's household waited to be acknowledged.

"Yes?" Claudius snapped.

"The Augusta wishes an audience, Divinity."

"Bring her," Claudius said. "I will see Diva Agrippina, as well."

He knew damn well that Valeria had poisoned the tarts, and why. He also knew why she had arranged for Antonillus to appear nude at the party. Again, he wondered why Iolarix had allowed it since he was so deadset against it. The Gaulish king had gambled that something might happen to Antonillus, but had also factored in the fact that he could turn it to his advantage, which he no doubt would. Valeria and Agrippina appeared, looking as though nothing had happened. Claudius was not about to be fooled.