EMBERS (Marcus Acacius)

XV | The Road to Ostia

I followed Lucilla through the crowd, my mind blank of all thoughts and emotions. I felt tlike a hollow shell of myself, until—

"Adriana Valeria!"

I felt myself freeze as the unfamiliar voice addressed me so formally. Lucilla's eyes widened as they locked with mine and we both turned around to face the speaker. A man stood up from his magnificent, ornate chair, arms outstretched invitingly. I knew who he was immediately. Septimius Severus—Caesar.

"You are Adriana Valeria, are you not?"

I glanced over at Lucilla, who nodded ever-so-slightly. It was barely visible, but I saw it.

"Yes, Your Grace." I linked my hands behind my back respectfully, as the party-goers began to fall into an inquisitive silence. I felt so awkward, standing here, being addressed by the emperor himself, with an audience. "I am."

Severus eyed me up and down, before beckoning me over. i wasn't sure what to do, but Lucilla's firm hand on my shoulder pushed me in the emperor's direction. "Go," she hissed, giving me a gentle shove. I obliged.

"I heard you bested a Praetorian guard in the arena recently?"

I nodded, not quite meeting his intense gaze. "Yes, Your Grace."

Severus gestured for me to sit at his table and gasps of shock could be heard all around. A common girl being invited to sit with the emperor? It was unheard of. Two slaves placed dishes of canapés in between us, but I touched none of them. Severus seemed to study me, as if he was waiting for me to say something, but I dared not speak without his explicit request.

"I advised Marcus Aurelius not to free you from the Colosseum, but he did so regardless." He sounded bitter. He picked up a grape from the platter and crunched it in half, his eyes never leaving my face. But, his gaze was uncomfortable, nothing like Acacius', which made me feel safe and content. Speaking of Acacius, I could see him in my periphery, watching from beside Lucilla, with immense concern etched onto his features. I wanted to turn to him, but I held the emperor's gaze. "After your recent successes, I would like to reinstate you as a gladiator. It's a great honour to be appointed by the emperor and into my own stable."

I nodded, tentatively chancing a look at Lucilla, who was watching with wide eyes and a pale face. Tiberius was now beside her, whispering urgently in her ear. I returned my attention to the emperor. "That is an incredibly generous offer, Your Grace." I paused, trying to think of a way to deny his offer, without being disrespectful. "But, I think my skills are much better suited to healing than fighting."

Severus did not look deterred; he just hummed in consideration. "We have plenty of healers, but we don't have any fighters quite like you."

I took the empty compliment with as much grace as I could muster, but I was beginning to feel desperate. Hurry up, Lucilla... "I really appreciate the offer, but..." Someone moved in my periphery. "I'm afraid I cannot accept it, Your Grace."

Severus opened his mouth to respond, but a loud crash diverted his attention. "What was that?" I glanced over to see that a serving girl had dropped a tray of glass goblets, filled with red wine. I winced in embarrassment for her, as she trembled in the sights of the emperor. "Come here, girl."

I ducked my head as the girl timidly approached, her gaze rooted to the ground. Tiberius stepped over the shattered glass and tapped an older man on the shoulder. "Why did you knock the tray out of her hands?"

The man whipped around, outraged. "I did no such thing!"

"Well, someone did." Tiberius spun in a circle, everyone watching him now, including Severus and the terrified servant girl. "I saw it fly out of her hands. One of you knocked the tray—for some juvenile attempt at humour, I presume."