The doorman's approach was simple. He picked up two of the soldiers and cracked their heads together. Dropping the limp bodies like sacks of grain, Macro turned to face the men's companions, who rapidly sat down before suffering the same fate. Disturbance over, any customers watching took an immediate interest in the bottom of their wooden beakers. Macro waved a fist at the group and lumbered back to the door.
Gradually the noise level increased.
Romulus giggled, amused at how the quarrel had been settled and its effect on other drinkers. After three cups, the smooth red Falernian was beginning to taste like nectar. Reaching for the amphora again, he was shocked when Brennus' hand closed over his wrist.
'That's enough.'
'Why?' he asked truculently.
'You're drunk. And we're supposed to be avoiding trouble.'
'I can hold my drink.' Romulus was vaguely aware he was slurring.
'Really?' The Gaul's tone was stern. 'Where did you get the experience?'
There was no reply to the rebuke and Romulus fell into a sulky silence.
Gladiators were only allowed small quantities of wine with their food; served in the Roman tradition, it was heavily watered down. Brennus was used to quaffing the powerful beverage neat, but it was going straight to Romulus' head.
They stood without speaking for some time. Brennus drank more wine, keeping an eye out for trouble. Romulus took surreptitious peeps at Julia. To his embarrassment, the voluptuous slave caught him on several occasions.
Eventually she approached.
Romulus stared at her dumbly, lacking the courage to break the ice.
'What age are you?' Julia's manner was direct.
'Seventeen.' From the corner of his eye he saw Brennus glance over, but thankfully the Gaul did not give away the truth. 'Nearly.'
'So young for a gladiator. Only a year older than me.' Julia sighed. 'How did you end up in the Ludus Magnus?'
'Got sold after my master heard about me training with a sword.' A wave of guilt washed over Romulus, and he clenched his jaw. 'That wasn't so bad. I always wanted to learn how to fight. But the bastard said he would sell Fabiola as well. To a whorehouse.' He spat the last words.
'Fabiola?'
'My twin sister.'
'All that for using a weapon?' Julia clicked her tongue with sympathy. 'Must have been more to it.'
Suddenly Romulus remembered Gemellus' tantrums in the days leading up to his sale, the response when he had read Crassus' reply. Could Julia have a point? Perhaps it wasn't all his fault. The guilt eased slightly and he smiled.
'What about you?'
'Me?' Julia seemed surprised he should ask. 'Born a slave. Sold at twelve for my looks.' She shrugged. 'Should be grateful I wasn't sold to a brothel like your sister.'
'I'm very glad,' Romulus blurted.
'How sweet.' Julia smiled. 'Most men who come in here are only interested in one thing.'
Romulus swallowed hard, trying to stifle the lustful thoughts filling his mind.
'Where is she now?' Julia asked.
'Don't know. Haven't seen her or Mother since.'
'I've heard nothing about my family either.' Julia's face grew sad. 'Perhaps one day Publius will grant me manumission and I can find them.'
'Doesn't sound as if that's likely.'
'No,' she admitted. 'Publius is not a generous man. I need more money than I could ever save. Customers as generous as Brennus are rare.'
'I would buy your freedom,' he said on impulse. 'We get well paid in the ludus. Brennus makes a fortune!'
'Why do that?'
Romulus ignored the question. 'You shouldn't be a slave!'
'Neither should the thousands in the houses and workshops of Rome.'
'I like you,' risked Romulus.
'Thank you.' Julia reached out to touch his cheek. 'But save to buy your own freedom.'
Tentatively Romulus raised a hand to hers. It felt warm. To his delight, Julia did not stop him. He guided it down to the bar top and squeezed her palm. They stared at each other, the attraction immediate, strong.
'Don't want to interrupt,' muttered Brennus. 'But Macro has seen what you're up to.'
Romulus released his grip and spun to see the man mountain approaching fast. Julia moved off, responding to the call of a customer. She left a faint whiff of perfume behind.
'No touching the slave girl.' There was no mistaking the threat. The doorman's hand was already on his dagger hilt. 'Do it again and Brennus will be carrying you home in little pieces. Clear?'
Romulus nodded silently, unperturbed. He was too elated at Julia's response.
'She is off limits!' Macro poked a thick forefinger into his chest for emphasis. 'Remember that, boy.'
'What are all the soldiers doing here?' With a smoothness Romulus had never seen before, the Gaul intervened. 'Don't normally see them in the city.'
'Crassus' men.'
'Shouldn't they be in camp outside the walls?' To prevent attempts at seizing power, legionaries were still not allowed into the capital in large numbers.
'Senate granted a special dispensation. The general has raised an army. They're on leave till the morning and Publius promised cheap wine in here.' Macro jerked a thumb at the nearest group. 'Tomorrow they march for Brundisium, to take ship for Asia Minor.'
'Why go there?'
'What do you care?' The doorman seemed to have calmed down. He rubbed his shaven head idly, scanning the room for trouble. Finding none, Macro turned back to the Gaul. 'Heard some saying it will begin with an attack on Jerusalem.'
'Jerusalem!' Brennus' eyes lit up. 'Its temples have doors of beaten gold.' There was a Judaean retiarius in the ludus who told fantastic stories about his homeland.
Romulus wasn't really listening. He glanced towards Julia, who smiled radiantly. His mouth went dry with tension.
'Eh, Romulus?'
'What?' With a guilty start, he gaped at Brennus. 'What did you say?'
'Plundering Jerusalem doesn't sound like a bad idea.' The Gaul elbowed him none too gently.
'Can't hold his wine!' Macro had not noticed what had gone on. 'Keep him in line, Brennus.' With a deep belly laugh, the huge slave stalked back to the door.
'What are you doing?' hissed Brennus as soon as he was out of earshot. 'Staring like that? If that ox sees you again, you will regret it.'
'I want to get to know her,' Romulus protested. 'She 's lovely.'
'Macro kills men who don't do what he says.'
Romulus was not going to be put off. 'What would you do if Memor took Astoria?'
Brennus was nonplussed. 'Not the same thing.'
'Why?' challenged Romulus. 'What if she had been Memor's bed companion before you saw her?'
'She wasn't. Good point, though.' Brennus grinned. 'Got something in mind?'
'I need to talk to her.' The barmaid had set Romulus' heart racing.
'Forgetting the slight problem of Macro?'
'That's where you come in.'
The Gaul raised an eyebrow.
'Just keep him occupied for a few moments,' pleaded Romulus, forgetting their decision to have a quiet night.
'I'm not fighting that monster,' laughed Brennus. 'I want to keep all my teeth.'
'So pick a fight with someone else.' Romulus indicated the room full of legionaries. 'I don't need long.'
'Your first time, then?'
He poked the Gaul in the ribs. 'Can you do it or not?'
Brennus smiled. 'I never say no to a good brawl. Beats killing men for a change. But make it quick. You saw Macro in action earlier.'
'Thank you.'
Romulus watched with fascination as Brennus decided whom to quarrel with. The big gladiator didn't take long to make up his mind. He winked at Romulus before sauntering over to a group of soldiers arguing loudly about a game of knucklebones.
'Can't agree, boys?' Brennus pointed amiably at the worn pieces of sheep tailbone lying on the tabletop.
'Piss off, barbarian!'
&
nbsp; 'Who asked you anyway?'
All four legionaries glared at him belligerently.
'Got two fives, a three and a one there.'
'Deaf too, scumbag?'
'Don't be like that,' said Brennus. 'Only being friendly.'
'We don't need any friends.' The biggest soldier, a stocky barrel of a man with a broken nose, pushed back his stool, screeching it off the stone floor. 'Dirty Gaulish bastard.'
'That's not very nice.'
'Oh no?' sneered the legionary.
His friends began to stand up.
'No.' With a heave, Brennus lifted the end of the table, sending everything flying. Bone playing pieces, wooden beakers and an amphora of wine flew up and two soldiers fell cursing to the floor.
Romulus didn't wait to see what happened next. Macro had noticed the brawl and his attention would be taken up until it was settled. He darted to where Julia was standing, lips pursed, her arms folded in clear disapproval.
'Brennus is only doing it to give us a moment.'
'What?' She looked embarrassed. 'Why do that?'
'I like you. Wanted another chance to talk.'
'You don't even know me, Romulus,' she said, flushing. It made her even more attractive. 'I'm not worth anything.'
'Don't say that. You are beautiful.'
'Nobody could want me after what Publius has done.' Julia's chin trembled and she rubbed at a red mark on her neck. It resembled an old burn.
Determination and a surging anger filled Romulus. 'I do,' he said urgently.
'Go, before Brennus gets hurt.'
Romulus risked a glance over his shoulder. The fight was far from over. Two soldiers lay unconscious on the floor, but Brennus was taking plenty of time with the others, keeping them between him and the circling doorman.
'He's fine,' Romulus said cheekily. 'When can I see you?'
At last she smiled, shyly. 'Only time would be when Macro is asleep.'
'When's that?'
'The tavern closes at dawn. Once he has thrown the last customer out and we've cleaned up, Macro goes upstairs for a few hours. I might be able to sneak out then.'
'How about tomorrow morning?' There was one rest day left at the ludus. Romulus knew the lanista would presume he was still lying low. 'I'll buy you breakfast in the market.'
Romulus had only been to the Forum Olitorium once or twice before, but his memories of cooking meat and exotic fruits there were still vivid. With the winnings from the fight, he could buy Julia anything she wanted. Astoria could give him some good advice before he left. Romulus was desperate to show the barmaid he was not a dull-witted fool like the men who frequented the inn.
Julia seemed scared for a moment. Then her face changed. 'Why not?' she said confidently. 'Sounds lovely!'
'See you in the alley at dawn!' Romulus leaned over the bar and kissed her. Instead of avoiding the contact, Julia moved closer, lips softly parting before his. They stayed locked together, eyes closed, oblivious.
Then the crash of breaking furniture reached their ears.
Romulus pulled away reluctantly.
'The last soldier is down. Go, or Macro will tear Brennus apart!'
'Till dawn!' Romulus skipped from the bar with exhilaration. The four legionaries lay senseless nearby, surrounded by broken remnants of the stools and table. The Gaul was holding a wooden bench at arm's length, while his huge opponent swung violently at it with a spiked club. A circle of customers had formed around the fight. Men egged the pair on with cheers of encouragement.
'Get him, Macro!'
'Kill the dumb brute!'
'Show the Gaul who's in charge here!'
Romulus tore past. He could tell his friend was starting to enjoy himself.
'Let's go!'
Brennus came to his senses. He flung the long seat at the doorman and bolted for the exit. 'See you another time, Macro!'
Romulus had pushed his way through the jostling onlookers and was already pulling back iron bolts on the door. He took one last glance at Julia, who was watching him anxiously. Then he shot out into the street, the Gaul hot on his heels.
'That got the blood flowing, by Belenus!' Brennus yelled with sheer exuberance. 'How did you get on?'
'We kissed!' Romulus smiled in the darkness, the smell of Julia's perfume strong in his nostrils. 'And I'm meeting her tomorrow.'
'Glad to hear it.' Brennus peered over his shoulder. 'Keep going for a bit. Macro can't run too far.'
'Thank the gods!' said Romulus. 'I trod in some shit in the alleyway.'
'Smells like it!' Chuckling, the Gaul came to a halt. Light flickered from torches on the wall of a building nearby. 'That's about half a mile. Should be enough.'
'You've run from Macro before?' asked Romulus with surprise.
'Many times!'
Shaking his head, Romulus put a hand on Brennus' shoulder. 'So why does he keep letting you in?' he said, inspecting the soles of both sandals.
'I slip him a few sestertii now and then. Don't usually start the fights either.' Brennus' voice took on an injured tone. 'I'm a good customer!'
They both laughed, relieved at escaping unscathed. As the adrenalin rush subsided, Romulus took more notice of the nearby arched doorway. Torchlight profiled a giant painted penis jutting either side, clear evidence of what was on offer within. A small hooded and cloaked figure sat in the shadows some feet from the entrance. Romulus presumed it to be a cripple waiting for alms.
'That a whorehouse?'
'Lupanar, they call it,' said Brennus. 'One of the best in Rome.'
'Tried it?'
'When I was feeling rich.'
A chill ran down Romulus' spine at the thought of Fabiola. 'Ever seen a girl similar to me?'
'Don't think so.' Brennus shrugged. 'But I was very drunk both times. Want to try it?'
'No!' Romulus felt sick. 'My sister could be in there!'
'She 's not,' said Brennus reassuringly. 'Would have remembered a young girl with your looks.'
'I've had enough,' muttered Romulus. 'Let's go home.'