Secrets and Lies

           Commoduswalkedupanddowninhisroom.Hewasaworriedman.Therewasoneotherpersonwithhim:SenatorFalco.

           "Anemperorcannotruleifheisnotloved!"CommodussaidtoFalco."AndnowtheyloveMaximusbecauseheletTigrislive.Ican’tkillhimnowortheywillhateme.ButIcan’tjustlethimcontinuelikethis-everydayheaddsanotherinsult.It’slikeabaddream."

           "Everydayhispowerisgreater,"saidFalco."Andthepeoplearegettingbraver.TheSenateseesit,too.Thisisnotsomethingthatwillgoawayinafewdaysorweeks.Romeisbeginningtomoveagainstyou.Hemustdie."

           "Thentheywilllovehimevenmore!"shoutedCommodus.Hebeganwalkingagainandsoonhewascalmer."WhenIwenttotheSenatetoday,"hesaid,"Ipurposelytoldthemaboutsellingthewheattopayforthegames.Andwhathappened?"

           "Nothing,"saidFalco.

           "Exactly!Nothing!"saidCommodus."EvenGracchuswasassilentasamouse.Why?"HestoppedandlookedouthiswindowoverRome.

           "Wemustbequietandpatient,Caesar.Wemustlettheenemycometous,"saidFalco.

           Commodusbegantorelaxalittle."Haveeverysenatorfollowed,"heordered."Iwantdailyreports."

           ***

           ItwaseasytofindLucilla,butmuchhardertospeaktoher.FortwodaysCicerostayedinthestreetsaroundthepalace.Finally,hewaslucky.Lucilla’scarriagecametowardhim,surroundedbyroyalguards.Thereweretwoothermenfollowinghercarriage-buttheywerenotinuniform.One,asmallman,wasblindinoneeye.HewasoneofFalco’ssecretpolice.