Гладиатор
Secrets and Lies
Hehadbeenverygoodatwatchingsenators,butnowhehadbeengivenadifferentjob.HewaswatchingLucilla.
Asthecarriagepassed,Cicerocalledout,"Mylady!IservedyourfatheratVindobona!"Lucillaheardbutdidnotpayhimmuchattention.Theguardspushedhimaway,andheranaroundtotheothersideofthecarriage."AndIservedGeneralMaximus!"hesaid,whenhegotcloseenough.
Lucillacalledforhercarriagetostop.SheaskedherservantforacoinandhelditouttoCicero."AndIservehimstill,"hesaid,ashecameclosertotakeit.
Lucillaunderstoodatoncethathewasamessenger.Shetoldherguardstostepback."Thisisforyourloyalty,soldier,"shesaid.
Cicerotookthecoinandkissedherhand.Hewhispered,"AmessagefromtheGeneral.He’llmeetyourpolitician."
Itwasenough.Cicerosteppedbackintothecrowd,andLucilla’scarriagemovedon.
***
Proximo’sschoolwasdarkandquiet.Themenwereallasleep,exceptone.ProximowentquietlytowakeMaximusandthentookhimtohisownrooms.
LucillaandGracchuswerethere,waitingforMaximus.
Proximoturnedandleftimmediately.LucillaintroducedGracchustoMaximus.
"TheSenateiswithyou?"askedMaximus.
"TheSenate?Yes,Icanspeakforthem,"Gracchusreplied.
"CanyoubuymyfreedomandgetmeoutofRome?"askedMaximus,wastingnotime.
"WhywouldIdothat?"
"Getmeoutofthecity.HavefreshhorsesreadytotakemetoOstia.Myarmyiscampedthere.Bythesecondnight,I’llbebackwith5,000men,"saidMaximus.
"Buttherearenewcommanders,"saidLucilla.
