EMBERS (Marcus Acacius) [WEEKLY UPDATES]

XXVII | Beneath the Cloak of Night

"Thank you," I said tiredly as I took the horse's reins from the servant. She stood at the bottom of the impressive marble steps, watching me as I descended from the front door. It was very late now—dinner with Lucilla and Acacius had been contentious at best. None of us had been willing to instigate an argument, which just led to many awkward silences.

The servant nodded, bowing her head and stepping away from the horse, who pawed at the cobblestone impatiently. She had been confined to a stall for the past few hours and was clearly itching to stretch her legs. I couldn't help but relate.

"Livius is waiting by the gate to escort you home." The servant gestured down the dark road, where the single flame of a torch was barely visible in the distance. "Have a good evening, Lady Adriana."

"You too," I replied, squeezing the supple leather of the horse's reins between my fingers, as I led her towards the gate. A horse whinnied from ahead and I could see the swish of its tail in the dark, accompanied by another figure in the distance. "Hello... Livius?"

"Are you ready to leave, Lady Adriana?" I recognised the voice. It was the same man who had escorted me all the way from the city earlier tonight. He seemed less-than-pleased to be making the journey all over again in the same day. I felt bad, but I knew I couldn't ride home by myself; not at this hour.

"Yes," I replied, as he lifted the torch in his hand, illuminating the shiny metal of the gate. "I apologise for any inconveniences. It's a long trip—I know."

Livius let out an audible sigh and rapped three times on the iron bars. The sound echoed into the night and—moments later—the gate swung open. "It's no trouble, my lady." The tone of his voice said otherwise."I only pray we don't encounter any unsavoury night-goers."

His tone was grave and it sent a shiver down my spine. "Gods be good—"

"—Wait!"

I turned to look over my shoulder as a dark silhouette raced towards us, footsteps clicking on the road. The torch in their hand flickered due to the wind—and the speed with which they was moving. When he skidded to a stop beside me, I immediately recognised him. "What are you—"

"—You may return to your quarters, Livius." Acacius' voice was commanding and Livius nodded immediately. He placed the horse's reins into his master's outstretched palm and disappeared into the night, without so much as another word. I leaned against my horse's shoulder as Acacius turned to me and tossed the reins over his mount's head. "Ready to go?"

I did the same and slid my right foot into the stirrup, pushing myself up into the saddle. "The guard would've sufficed." My voice was low as I spoke, but Acacius chuckled nonetheless, as he mounted his steed in one fluid motion. "We really shouldn't be alone together..."

"It's late, Adriana. Livius is loyal to Lucilla, but if trouble should've found you, he would have felt no obligation to protect you." I was about to protest, but he didn't let me, nudging his horse forward and passing through the open gate. "Rome isn't kind to those who travel alone at night."

"Rome isn't kind—period." I let out an indignant huff, squeezing my knees against the mare's flank and urging her into a slow trot. We quickly caught up to Acacius and fell into step beside him. "Does Lucilla know you're here?"

Acacius' bitter laugh echoed through the silent night, as the horses' hooves clip-clopped on the cobblestone street. "Lucilla may be my wife, but she is not my keeper."

His aggrieved words hung in the air, but I didn't respond. I just kept my eyes fixated ahead. Acacius wasn't nearly as cautious or bothered by Lucilla's presence, nor his public-facing relationship with her as he should have been. Every time I spoke to him, guilt flooded my chest—guilt at disrespecting her, but also guilt for ignoring her advice.