New Rome

8. The Heirs

Arly was sat in the headmistress's office with Agrippa in the chair beside her. She'd never been called to the office before, whilst her grades were awful – her behaviour was exemplary. Arly hated the idea of getting into trouble. She stared curiously at the sparkling algae she'd been given in a crystal glass. The headmistress beamed across at them.

"The school and myself – grieve the loss of your brother."

Agrippa didn't say anything. He was slouched in his chair and glaring moodily down at the floor. So Arly replied with a polite thank you, her voice going high and squeaky. "Humbly, I offer this office as a haven should ever troubles assuage you. I am at your service." The headmistress nudged a plate laden with little iced cakes towards them.

Sweat was gathering on Arly's clammy palms. She wasn't sure where to look. She kept getting trapped in the Head's gaze – but that felt awkward, but wasn't it also rude not to make eye contact? Arly's eyes darted between her drink, the desk and the Head in quick cyclic repetition – her cheeks flushing deeper crimson with every passing minute. It was a relief when they were allowed to go.

                   Alone in the corridor outside, Arly turned to face her younger brother.

"Do you usually get given algae, after running away from school?" She asked. Agrippa had much more experience of being called into the headmistress' office. He rolled his eyes at her.

"No, idiot. It's because Guy's dead. She's trying to sweeten us with candied words and favours."

Arly frowned, not understanding. Why would the Head want to smarmy up to them? They were school kids. "He was the heir," Agrippa explained, "now he's dead - the next Imperator is either Julia, me or you – and they passed over Julia last time."

"So, she thinks the new heir is... you or me?"

Agrippa nodded.

"And she's correct in her thinking. That's what Julia meant when she said 'he'll be watching'. Grandfather's going to be watching how we perform, before he chooses."

Arly considered this, her forehead crumpling.

"I don't want to be the heir," she exclaimed, unhappily. Agrippa snorted. He made to go left at the end of the corridor. "Errr... classes are this way." Arly pointed in the opposite direction. Agrippa didn't reply. She watched him leave, seeing the slump in his shoulders as he ambled unhurriedly towards the green lawns out back.

Arly opened her mouth. She should say something, about Guy. Tell him that she missed their older brother too, that it hurt- the idea that the adults were already scheming about a future without him. Agrippa disappeared around the corner and Arly stared stupidly after him. She'd never been good at expressing herself. Never confident with her family. Sighing, she trudged back to class – her feet feeling heavy.

**

"Arly?" Gnaeus' voice was full of concern as she looked across the lab table at Arly. "You look tired..." She mused.

"I'm fine." Arly replied, managing a close-lipped smile to reassure her friend. Gnaeus didn't look convinced.

"You miss your brother." She asserted, her tone sympathetic. Arly nodded. She missed Guy.

She hadn't seen him in over two years and he'd been living at school when she was born, so they hadn't really grown up together either. But he'd been kind. She remembered him playing with her when she was younger, letting her braid his hair and attending her pretend tea parties.