The Palatine Hill, Roma Mater
Two Praetorians, bulky in their red cloaks and plumed helmets, closed the heavy door behind Aurelian. It made a solid sound, sliding closed, and the acting Emperor sighed in relief. It was late at night, near the midnight hour, and he had just finished the day's business. Rubbing tired eyes with the heel of his right hand, Aurelian tugged his cloak off and threw it on a backless chair by the door. The dark-purple garment joined a haphazard pile of shirts, tunics, and other cloaks. The rest of the outer chamber was littered with dirty plates and moldy half-eaten fruit.
Aurelian snorted at the sight but ignored it. At home, on his estate northeast of the city, his wife and her legion of servants would have dealt with all of his mess much more effectively. Here, in the city, in the palace, however, he had banned everyone from his rooms, for they were his one small refuge of peace and quiet amid the chaos of the Imperial Court. Even his bath slaves waited outside the door until he was ready to go to the Baths.
As he did nearly every night, he thought of calling for one of his brother's concubines to soothe him to sleep with gentle hands and a soft, warm body. As he did every night, he shook the thought away. He was too tired to consider anything but the rumpled sanctuary of his bed. He kicked his sandals off, bending the copper clasps that held them closed, and sat down on the side of the large, elevated bed that dominated the inner chamber.
"Hello, brother."
Aurelian jumped at the soft voice and half turned, his right hand holding a bare dagger, reflexively pulled from its sheath at his belt. Maxian sat in a low chair by the window, a dark-gray cloak draped around his thin shoulders.
Aurelian raised one bushy red eyebrow-his delinquent brother looked even more exhausted and worn down than he did. "Are you all right?"
Maxian raised an eyebrow of his own. He had been thinking the same thing about his older brother.
"Yes," the youngest Atrean Prince said. "Do I look like you do?"
Aurelian gave a weak laugh and fell backward into the thick cotton and wool blankets on the bed.
"Gods," he said, rubbing his eyes again. "Galen makes this look so easy! I thought I was helping him before, but there are daily crises that I've never even heard of before. No wonder they divided the old Empire-I cannot conceive of trying to run a state twice the size of ours."
"I am sorry," Maxian said, guilt plain on his face. "I am supposed to be helping you."
Aurelian raised his head up enough to give his little brother a good glare, then fell back again, groaning. "No matter, piglet. Even I can tell that something serious is bothering you. What is it?"
Maxian stood slowly and limped to the door of the outer chamber. He ran his hands over the join at the center of the panels and along the sides. Then he returned to the chair and closed the window shutter, making the same motion over its surface. This done, he settled in the chair, uncorked a heavy wine bottle, and drank a long draft.
"Give here," Aurelian said, rolling over on the bed and taking the amphora from his brother. "You don't drink much, and never bring your own, so it must be very serious. Who is she?"
"Huh!" Maxian laughed, while his brother took a long swallow. "Not a woman like that. A friend died and I took it harder than I should have. It has taken me awhile to shake it off-I must apologize again-you needed my help and I didn't give it."
"Oh, I'll live." Aurelian smiled, his cheerful disposition beginning to show through the weariness. "I'll occupy my spare hours thinking of ways for you to pay me back."
Maxian nodded ruefully; he was sure that Aurelian would devise some particularly fitting revenge for this dereliction of duty. He scratched his forehead.
"I have work to do," Maxian said, meeting his brother's eye with equanimity, though his stomach was fluttering. "Galen's work. This business with the Duchess… do you remember?"
Aurelian nodded, putting his hands behind his head.
"Oh, yes," he said, "I see her every day-every day, my brother-and she scares me and impresses me at the same time. She seems to know everything that goes on. Never once have I put a question to her that she could not answer."
Aurelian got up, rubbing his nose and taking another swallow from the amphora. "I have no idea whether she tells me the truth or not, piglet. She could be concealing anything behind those dusky violet eyes. Each day I have to rely on her more, and that makes me very nervous. I know… I know-that Father trusted her implicitly. She and Mother were close… but, by the gods, I cannot bring myself to do the same."
Aurelian stopped, looking a little surprised at the depths of his feeling. Maxian nodded and took the amphora back, popping the cork back into the spout.
"I'll have to disappear for a while," he said, stowing the jug. "I'm watched all the time now, you know, just like you are. A month or two should do it-when I resurface, I should have some alternative sources of information for you and Galen."
The acting Emperor looked up at his younger brother, a half smile on his broad, bearded face. Maxian drew his cloak on and stepped to the window.
"I know," Aurelian said. "You've always made us very proud."
Maxian stopped, his hand on the shutter.
"Max, the day you came home from school with that caduceus on your cloak, that was about the happiest day of Mother's life. Pater was fit to bust too. I'm sorry Galen and I have to ask this of you now, but-well, you know how it is."
"I know, Ars," Maxian said, still looking away. "I hope you'll be proud of this too."
The shutter clattered on the frame and the young Prince was gone.