Galba's Men by L. J. Trafford

Author:L. J. Trafford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AEON Books

TWENTY-NINE

Mina ran through the subterranean tunnel that linked the stadium to the palace complex. A necessity for the emperor's safety. The plebs hated to see a favourite gladiator dispatched and were apt to blame the top man for his demise. She ran with speed, imagining the empress’ displeasure if she were left chilled for too long.

“Mina!” The call froze her. She turned to see Alex, all smiles, heading towards her.

“How are the games going? Theseus has a hundred sesterces bet on that gladiator Pyrrus. He's gutted he can't watch it. Has he been on yet? Pyrrus?”

“They are still on the wild beast hunt,” she told him coldly.

Catching her tone he asked, “Mina, what's up?”

She'd avoided Alex for the past few days. Unsure what to say to him. Not sure what she felt about him. She still harboured a little hope that Alex was innocent, that her friend hadn't so cruelly deceived her. It was a hope lost as soon as she told him, “I've been to see Sporus.”

The colour faded noticeably from his face and the smile drooped.

“How could you?” she demanded.

“Whatever he said, it's rubbish. I saved him. I vouched for him. Honoratus was going to have him killed.”

“Honoratus?”

“The Praetorian tribune.”

“So you are in league with the Guard,” she stated calmly.

“No. Yes. I helped make Galba emperor.”

“You say that as if it is something to be proud of.”

“It is. It is, Mina. Galba is a great emperor, miles better than Nero.”

“How would you know? Did you ever meet Nero? No. Have you ever met Galba? No.”

“Nero was corrupt, depraved. An invert.”

“And Sporus? What is he?”

“He has a chance of a better life now. He doesn't have to be a catamite any more. Galba doesn't like catamites.”

“Sporus loved Nero.”

“Nonsense. Nero corrupted Sporus,” said Alex stoically. “I freed him from that. He has a chance to better himself now.”

Mina closed her eyes. She saw Juba once again before he raped her. Two Praetorians dragging Erotica away by her hair. Daphne with growing belly. Sporus terrified and shaking as the soldiers closed in on Nero. Epaphroditus faking his own death. Sabinus struck down by his own troops. Teretia's father flattened by a horse. The empress held against her will. And that moment, that heart-freezing moment, when the guards sealed off the slave complex. Remembering the fear and the terror she'd experienced.

Opening her eyes she glared at him. “You shit! You absolute shit! How could you? How could you do this to us all?”

She flew at him, slapping and hitting. Alex tried to grab hold of her wrists to subdue her but she was too mad, too angry for control.

“I did it for you,” he said in-between stinging slaps to his arms and back.

“For me? For me?” she screamed, clawing at him. “How in great Minerva's name was this mess for me?”

“Listen to me. Listen to me,” he said, grabbing her arm tight. “Listen to me.”

She ceased her attack. “Go on then. Do tell. I can't wait to hear how betraying your friends and engaging in treason was all for me!”

He let go of her arm.

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