Rome 64 AD
Rubria staggered to her feet, having dropped twice her own height into a pool of filthy water no more than four feet deep. She staggered and fell again as one ankle gave way and a searing pain shot up her leg. Her head dipped below the water and her mouth filled with filth as she cried out in pain. Over and over again she tried to stand, each time falling back under until her outstretched arm found a solid wall and she leaned against the slimy surface, sobbing in the darkness. Her head and shoulders were above the water line but the foul stench made it almost impossible to breath. After a few moments, she realised the water was moving gently in one direction so she started to limp slowly along the wall edge, following the flow of sewage, and, within a few minutes she realised the darkness was easing and she could actually see the surface of the water. Something gently bumped against her head and she lashed out in fright, expecting to feel the soft body of a rat but her hand hit something hard. Before she could identify what it was, it floated away into the gloom and she stayed rigid in fright as she gathered her strength.
She moved further forward, eager to reach the source of the light but the way was soon obstructed by something below the water line. She pushed it away with her foot but it only went so far due it being tethered to the wall by a chain. Her hand reached down and grasped what she thought was some sort of spear haft, but what she pulled to the surface finally sent her over the edge. Held in her own hand was the rotting remains of a human arm.
Rubria screamed and span away, only to bump into a floating corpse and suddenly she realised the many shapes now visible in the gloom were the rotting remains of human bodies. Over and over again she screamed and forced her way through the filth towards the light, sobbing as she pushed the remains out of her way. Finally, she fell against an iron grill set into the wall, and grasped two of the bars as she gulped in the fresh air.
‘Please,’ she whimpered, ‘Somebody help me.’
‘It’s okay, Miss,’ said a familiar voice. ‘I am here.’
Centurion Dragus was in the barracks, when the alarm came. He and his men were taking a meal and some hard earned rest after two full days fighting fires around the city.
‘Stand to!’ came the shout, echoing through the corridors of the barracks. ‘Everyone to their posts.’
‘Fuck,’ said Dragus and stood up, leaving the stew where it was but grabbing some of the rolls from the centre of the table as he went. All around him, legionaries were grabbing their equipment and strapping on their sword belts.
‘Optio!’ he shouted, ‘Get the rest of the Century and form up outside. I’ll find out what is going on.’ He ran out and met Septimus, the duty Centurion in charge of the palace guard. ‘What’s the situation?’ asked Dragus.
‘The overseer has been found dead in the Emperor’s quarters,’ said Septimus. ‘Killed with a Gladius.’
‘Another slave?’ suggested Dragus.
‘Possibly,’ said Septimus, ‘But it’s more likely Nero’s pet Priestess wielded the blade. The overseer was found in her cell and she is missing.’
‘Wait,’ interrupted Dragus. ‘Who has disappeared? What the fuck are you talking about?’
‘You know,’ said Septimus, ‘The Vestal Virgin Nero has been screwing for the past three days.’ He looked at Dragus’s blank face. ‘Don’t tell me you didn’t know,’ said Septimus, ‘It’s been the talk of the palace.’
‘I’ve been on patrol to Ostia for the last week,’ he said, ‘And the last two days I have been fighting fires in the city.’
‘It matters not,’ said Septimus. ‘All you need to know is the bitch has killed the slave overseer and fled the palace with an accomplice. How they did that, I don’t know as all exits are guarded, but that’s where we come in. Take your men down to the Temple and see if she fled there. We will search the palace grounds. They can’t have gone far.’
‘What was her name?’ asked Dragus, already dreading the answer.
‘Who do you think?’ said Septimus, ‘The prettiest one, Rubria. Say what you want about our glorious Emperor, but you can’t fault his taste in women.’ He pushed past Dragus and joined his own unit to organise the response.
Dragus stared at the wall for a few moments gathering his thoughts before doing the same. He ran outside as the last of his men were lining up.
‘Optio,’ he shouted, ‘I am going down the Palatine. When the men are ready, follow me down, form a cordon around the Forum and wait for my orders. No one goes in until I say so. Do you understand?’
‘Yes sir,’ answered his second in command, and re-entered the barracks to organise the century.
Dragus jogged across the barrack square and towards the Palace gates.
Rubria sat in a side alley, shivering in the darkness, Rose was busy ferrying water back and fore from a drinking fountain in one of the many squares in the city. She kneeled alongside Rubria, sponging the filth from her face and hair.
‘Miss, you’re shivering,’ she said, ‘We have to get you moving. I have a friend who serves a landlord near here, she will give us shelter.’
‘No,’ said Rubria, ‘But you are right, we cannot stay here. I have to get to the Temple. Can you lend me your cape?’
‘But, miss…’
‘I promise I will replace it, Rose,’ she said.
‘It’s not that, Miss,’ said the slave, ‘My cape is yours, but surely you are too holy for a rag such as this.’
Rubria grabbed the girl’s hand.
‘If I am captured then I cannot warn the sisters. Your cape will ensure I am not recognised. I promise I will have it replaced.’
‘I care not about the cape, Miss,’ said Rose. ‘I will do anything in my power to serve the Great Mother. You are welcome to the last thread of clothing on my back if it helps.
Rubria smiled.
‘There will be no need for that, Rose,’ she said, ‘Just lend me the cape and go back to the palace before you’re missed.’
‘I’m coming with you,’ said the girl.
‘Don’t be silly, Rose,’ answered Rubria, ‘There is no need for you to get involved, No one knows about the overseer except you and me, If I am caught, I swear I will take our secret to the grave. With all this confusion about the fires and with the blessing of the Goddess, you may just get back without anyone even noticing you have even been away.’
‘It’s too late for that, Miss,’ said Rose, glumly.
‘Why? What’s happened?’
‘I was seen removing the keys from the overseer’s body,’ she said. ‘The girl enjoyed his favour and when she saw me crouched over him swore she would report me to the guard. I couldn’t let her do that.’
‘Rose, you didn’t…’
‘Oh, she’s not hurt, Miss. Well, not much, though I have locked her in the cell. I don’t know how long it will be before she comes around but with her mouth it will be only minutes before she summons the guard. So you see, I cannot go back, and I have nowhere to go. If I can come with you, at least my last few hours of this life will be in the service of the Goddess. Please don’t deny me this.’
Rubria stared at Rose for a long time before answering.
‘Rose, by the time this night is over I will probably be dead. At the very least I will be in custody and facing death at the hands of Nero. If you are caught in my company then you will face the same fate. You should take advantage of the fires and head for the outskirts of the city. If you can get outside the walls unnoticed they may think you perished in the fires. Take this chance, slim as it is, and try to gain your freedom. With the help of the Goddess you may just get lucky and escape this life of servitude.’
‘I appreciate your concern, Miss,’ she said, ‘But I want this more than anything. All my life I have been worshipping the Goddess secretly. This is my chance to openly embrace her glory. I have a chance to serve her and those who serve her, and, if I should die in the process than I would die the happiest person in the world. I knew there was a reason why the Goddess saw fit to make me live a life as a slave. This is it, Miss. This is my fate.’
‘If I smelled any sweeter, I would embrace you,’ said Rubria.
Rose stepped forward and threw her arms around the priestess.
‘I smell nothing, Miss,’ she said, ‘All my senses are blinded by your holiness.’ They embraced for a few seconds before disengaging.
‘Okay,’ said Rubria. ‘We have to go. It’s just as well you are coming for I have no idea where we are.’
‘No problem,’ said Rose. ‘Just follow me. Oh, one more thing, Miss,’ she said lifting the hood over Rubria’s head. ‘When you walk, could you crouch a bit? Try not to look so regal’.
Rubria bent over and walked up and down a few paces.
‘Like this?’ she asked.
Rose’s hand flew to her mouth and stifled a giggle.
‘I suppose so,’ she said. ‘Just stay in the shadows and hope all prying eyes are focussed on the fires.’
Rubria smiled and the two made their way out of the side alley, a murdering slave leading a Priestess smelling of sewage on a journey that would probably end in both their deaths.
The streets were more crowded the nearer they got to the Forum and human chains passed water buckets from hand to hand as they fought in vain to fight the fires. The sounds of shouting filled the air as people searched for their loved ones, and tempers became frayed in the confusion. Squads of soldiers tried to calm the situation though were often the brunt of the anger due to their reluctance to get involved in the fire fighting. Rubria kept her head down and followed Rose through the throng towards the Temple. They stopped in a dark corner to catch their breath, coughing the smoke from their lungs.
‘How far now?’ asked Rubria.
‘Five minutes,’ said Rose, ‘The maintenance shaft in the sewer was on the opposite side of the Palatine. We have had to come the long way around to avoid the patrols going back and fore to the Palace. Miss, can I ask you a question?’
‘Of course,’ said Rubria.
‘Why are you risking your life going back to the Temple?' Even if you are successful, there can be no future for you there. If what you say is correct, then the Pontifex Maximus will have no option but to denounce you. Whether he forced you or not, just the fact that the Emperor had sex with you, condemns you to a horrible death. The Senate will always support the Emperor, whether they believe him or not.’
‘Do you believe me?’ asked Rubria.
Rose hesitated.
‘It is not my place to judge,’ Miss,’ she said. You are a Priestess of the great mother, and, as far as I am concerned, no matter what he has done to you, you will always be of Vesta.’
‘And that,’ said Rubria, ‘Is exactly why I am going back. When he was doing those things to me I thought only of the Great Mother. When I was down amongst the Phasmas, her spirit outshone those of the dead. My fate was sealed in the tower of the palace, but the aura of Vesta remained, sustaining me so I could carry out one more task. The Pontifex Maximus may reject me. The people may doubt my purity. Even my Sisters can forsake me. But not the Great Mother. No matter what happens, Vesta will always be there. Even to the end.’
Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out above the noise of the crowd.
‘Mother help us,’ it screamed, ‘The Temple is on fire!’
The two young women ran through the smoke filled streets and within minutes, stood amongst a huge crowd before the Forum. Rubria forced her way to the front and could see flames through the shutters of one of the rooms at the far end of the courtyard. Two of the Eunuch guards stood at the entrance, fidgeting nervously.
‘Where are the Priestesses?’ shouted Rubria.
‘Still in there. I think,’ answered one of the guards.
‘Why aren’t you helping them?’ she screamed, ‘Somebody, in the name of all that is holy, we have to help!
For hundreds of years, access to the Vestal Temple had been denied to the common man on pain of death, and, despite the urgency of the situation, the risk of being condemned to death was too deeply ingrained into the psyche of the people. No one moved.
‘They may be trapped!’ screamed Rose.
‘Who are we to interfere with the will of the Gods?’ asked the eunuch.
‘It is not the Gods who have caused this,’ snarled Rubria, ‘But the hand of a madman.’
Rubria indicated for Rose to step to one side so they could talk without being heard.
‘How on earth did it start in there?’ asked Rose, ‘There are no flames anywhere near.’
‘I think I know,’ said Rubria, ‘I’ll explain later. I have to get in there, Rose, and I need you to do something.’
‘Anything,’ she answered.
‘I need to get passed the guards,’ she said, ‘Do you have any ideas?’
‘Leave it to me,’ she said,’ Just be ready.’ They returned to the archway and made their way to the front of the growing crowd.
‘Ready?’ asked Rose.
‘Yes,’ said Rubria.
Without another word, Rose ran forward and drove her shoulder into one of the guard’s midriffs, driving him to the floor. Immediately, the second guard ran over to grab her, and, in the confusion, Rubria ran through the smoke filled courtyard and into the Temple.
The smoke filled her lungs and she tried to call out but her attempts only ended up in coughing fits. She looked around frantically, desperate to find any sign of her fellow priestesses. Up on the surrounding balcony she could see all the doors to the cells swinging outwards, the glow of flames visible even from the floor below and Rubria feared the worst. Suddenly her eyes returned to the one cell that was not open. In fact, the door was wedged closed by a table leaning against it. Rubria ran up the stairs and towards the cell.
‘Hello!’ she screamed, over the noise of the flames, Is there anyone in there?’
‘Rubria?’ came a muffled reply, ‘Is that you?’
Rubria grabbed the table leg and heaved with all her strength until it moved slightly. She pushed again, until, finally the table fell away and the door sprang open. Over twenty people came stumbling out of the cells, including several terrified young girls. The high Priestess was amongst them. She threw her arms around Rubria.
‘Oh thank the gods,’ she said, ‘Where have you been?’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ said Rubria, ‘We have to get the Sisters out of here.’ The two of them ushered the Priestesses along the balcony and down the stairs. They managed to cross the courtyard towards the archway. The chief Priestess stopped short gathering her breath.
‘You go on,’ she said, ‘There is something I must do.’
‘What?’ asked Rubria. ‘All the Sisters are safe.’
‘The treasures!’ said the high Priestess, ‘I can’t stand by and watch the artefacts of the great mother destroyed.’
‘But it is too late,’ shouted Rubria, ‘The flames are out of control.’
‘My life has been dedicated to the Goddess,’ said the head Priestess, ‘She has given me my whole reason for living. I cannot forsake her now.’
Rubria stared at her.
‘You are right,’ she said. ‘I am ashamed.’ She reached out and took the hand of the high Priestess before adding, ‘We will go together.’
Despite the pleading of everyone around them, they turned around and ran back into the temple.
Flames were roaring from the windows on the upper levels of the Temple and forcing their way out between the red clay tiles of the roof. People shielded their faces from the heat as they peered into the inferno for any sign of the two Priestesses. Suddenly a figure forced himself to the front of the crowd.
‘What’s happened?’ he shouted above the noise.
‘Two of our Sisters ran back in to save the treasures,’ said a coughing Priestess.
‘Who? asked Dragus, ‘Who went back in?’
‘The High Priestess and Rubria,’ she said.
‘How long ago?’ he demanded.
‘No more than a few moments,’ she said.
He looked around and focussed on a bystander holding a redundant bucket of water, his mind racing furiously.
‘Give me that,’ he said and started to remove his cloak.
‘It’s no good,’ said the onlooker, ‘This is the last. One bucket won’t make any difference to that lot.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said the Centurion, ‘I won’t be wasting it on the flames.’ He shoved the cape into the bucket until most of the water had been soaked up into the fabric, and poured what was left over his head. He wrapped the cape around him, and after taking a few deep breaths, held one edge to cover his face before running through the smoke and into the courtyard.