The Parthian Shot by Nath Fredrik

Author:Nath, Fredrik [Nath, Fredrik]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: FIC014000 Historical Fiction
Publisher: Fredrik Nath Books
Published: 2015-12-09T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter XVIII

“Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth.” – Socrates.

It took two months before I could walk without a limp. The wound in my left thigh became infected and was still discharging but it was becoming less painful by the day. A hard rain fell for much of the time in anticipation of winter and the leaves were turning and beginning to fall. In my convalescent state I sat often when the rain did not fall, watching as they drifted here and there in the autumn breeze. Quintus swept the leaves to keep busy between rain showers as he had not yet returned to school. Neither of us was able to talk about what had happened. The wound was too raw; too painful, like the one I bore on my leg. Aemilia was still with us and she was welcome company; I had no one else to talk to about what we all had experienced.

She sold the tavern to Titus. He said he had been reluctant to buy it but I knew him well enough to realise his entrepreneurial nature would never allow him to turn down a profitable venture. He kept the name of the tavern. He even set up a memorial shrine in one corner to Junius whom we all missed.

I lay on a divan in the triclinium and pushed my food around the plate in front of me. Rain still fell outside and I could hear the sounds of it pattering on the roof. I looked around the paintings on the wall. Quintus Cerialis had been so proud of them when he had them restored. The house now belonged to me since Quintus Cerialis had left it to Aripele in his will and it reverted to me on her death. Aemilia sat next to me. She looked at me.

‘Where is Marcus?’

‘I don’t know,’ I said, ‘Abrucius has been enquiring but there is no sign of him. Titus wondered whether he might have fled back to Gaul and rejoined Caesar.’

‘He won’t be able to use the forged deeds and if he has any sense he will have had them appraised.’

‘If he tried to use them we would hear of it. It would be quite a scandal,’ I said. ‘How’s your mother?’

‘She is a strong woman. I never see her shed a tear.’

‘Maybe, but she also keeps threatening suicide.’

‘I know. She can’t get over what they did to her. She wants to die. She regards herself as unclean, violated.’

‘Maybe,’ I said. ‘We could encourage her to witness my revenge and maybe it will delay her intentions.’

‘Perhaps. She refuses to budge from Ostia.’

‘Maybe you should take Quintus and Livia and go there. When I am mended I have a mind to find Marcus wherever he is and kill him.’

‘You can’t just leave the lad to me. You’re his father.’

‘Yes,’ I said. I looked at the mosaic on the floor and wondered how much she knew.

‘I know all about it you know.’

‘What?’

‘I know whose flesh and blood he is.

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