Amata: The First Vestals of Rome Trilogy, #3 by Debra May Macleod

Author:Debra May Macleod
Format: epub

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Theo had been holding his breath for most of the day, and it wasn’t only because of the sewage. Mostly, it was because the man he had openly mocked in the Forum only days earlier was now the king of Rome. Even worse, the king had decided to live in a hut that was within a stone’s throw of where Theo was still toiling to clear the sewer. And if that weren’t stressful enough, there was also the constant parade of important people that now filed past his formerly anonymous work station, all of them on their way to meet with the king. Priestess Amata had been the first, followed by a number of senators. Most recently, General Proculus and his son Gaius had arrived. Even from a distance, Theo could hear the general’s stern words for the king as they stood outside his home.

“Dismissing the celeres? In the middle of a bloody riot?”

“I didn’t dismiss them, General. I disbanded them.”

Proculus scoffed derisively, and Gaius stepped between his father and the king.

“Your Highness,” he said, “we are only thinking of your safety.”

“I am safe enough. I have been going about my business all day and not a single sword is sticking out of my back.”

“You may make light of your own safety,” said Proculus, “but what about the safety of your people? How can they feel secure, knowing that at any moment some pissed-off merchant or sewer slave can just walk up to their king and open his neck? Then where will they be? I’ll tell you. Back hiding in their homes with the doors barricaded, praying the Senate gets it shit together and elects a new king so the streets can be safe again.”

“If someone is determined to kill me, they will find a way through a thousand bodyguards,” said Numa. “I put my faith in the gods. You should do the same, Proculus. You will find life much more tolerable.”

“I’ll be sure to do just that,” replied the general.

Numa ignored the caustic tone. “Anyway, I have other uses for those men. You can take half of them for the army. Choose the men you like. I will use the rest according to their talents. I need to staff the new workers’ guilds I’m creating—blacksmiths, bakers, leatherworkers, potters, and so on. The city is too tribal, General. Etruscans monopolize the building projects, and the Sabines squander the vendors market. Each guild will therefore include men of all tribes. They will find brotherhood that way, and pride in the work they do together.”

Gaius was impressed. “And they will see themselves only as Romans.”

“That’s right,” replied Numa. “The idea came to me the first time I visited Rome, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I believe the guilds will make the streets safer than a fleet of soldiers bashing in heads every time an Etruscan and a Sabine throw insults at each other.” He looked at Proculus, and saw the general’s grizzled face working it over.

“Could work,” Proculus admitted.

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