The Leopard Vanguard (Leopard King Saga Book 1) Read online

  When he returned to Rome well-wishers flocked the streets and called him ‘Our Baby’ and ‘Our Star’ and others even addressed him by his childhood nickname ‘Little boots.’ Gemellus, Tiberius’ grandson, was adopted by Caligula and named his direct heir. Caligula also annulled the marriage of Lucius Cassius Longinus to his sister, Julia Drusilla, so that she could serve him undistracted as chief advisor. After the fanfare surrounding Caligula’s assent to the throne, the senate refused to vote divine honors to the deceased Tiberius–the old Emperor’s unpopularity with the masses contributing to the senate’s decision.

  Tullus figured the disdain shown by the people was a result of the current state of the Empire. Tiberius’ failure to govern from Rome had left the Empire stagnant. He knew the people hoped young Caligula would be their shining beacon of hope, dedicated to leading them to better days. Tullus should’ve been happy, but he wasn’t. Although Caligula had generously granted bonuses to all members of the Praetorian Guard Tullus still had doubts about the new Emperor. He also wondered how he would get out of his current position. Would he be allowed to return to the 3rd Legion? Tullus stared at the fat pouch of gold Norbanus had given him–his bonus for loyal service in the guard. The reward was generous, fifty gold aurei coins, freshly minted with Caligula’s head on them. He placed the pouch on his desk and dressed for another day of duty.

  After breakfast Tullus wandered the corridors of the palace until he found himself sitting on the steps under the palace’s colonnades. From where Tullus sat, overlooking the palace courtyard, the morning air was crisp as a light breeze carried the sweet smell of flowers towards him, while the powder blue sky was flecked with billowing clouds jockeying for position within the heavens.

  “Hello Tullus.”

  Tullus turned his head and found Decimus standing behind him.

  “You snuck up on me like a cat.”

  Decimus smiled sheepishly. “Perhaps your hearing isn’t that sharp anymore.”

  “My mind was someplace else; did you get your bonus?”

  Decimus stretched out his palm where ten shiny aurei coins glistened under the sunlight. “Going to find me a whore tonight, maybe two. Care to join me?”

  Tullus turned away and stared at the courtyard. There, Norbanus strolled alongside an old man and a young girl upon a path sprawling through the lush courtyard. The girl looked somewhat familiar, but at this distance Tullus could not confirm her identity.

  “What’s the matter Tullus? You look like you’ve lost your cock at the gambling tables.”

  “I fear I’ve lost a lot more than that, Decimus.”

  “What’s the matter?” Decimus said. He clapped Tullus on the back. “Did they give you a shit bonus?”

  “No, it was quiet generous–fifty aurei.”

  Decimus’ eyes widened like medallions. “Orcus take me, you can buy all the whores in Rome with that amount of currency; Norbanus aims to make you a wealthy man.”

  “Aye, he does.”

  “Then why in Jupiter’s name are you so glum?”

  At that moment Norbanus was making his way toward the colonnade. As Norbanus drew closer Tullus recognized the old man next to his Tribune, it was Senator Remus, and the young lady next to him was Eliana. A smile formed on Tullus’ lips as he recalled the conversation he had had at the banquet with Eliana inside her villa, and Tullus was eager to renew his acquaintance with this remarkable young woman.

  “See what I told you Senator? My Guardsmen are ever vigilant: standing guard at the Emperor’s palace to insure no trespassers encroach upon its sanctuary,” Norbanus said as he led his guests toward the steps where Tullus and Decimus now stood.

  “I believe I had the honor of attending the Senator’s banquet a few weeks ago,” Tullus said. He bowed his head respectfully at the Senator who acknowledged him with a curt nod.

  He caught a glimpse at Eliana who smiled back at him. Tullus hoped to get a private moment with her so they could talk.

  “I also had the honor of attending the banquet,” Decimus added.

  Tullus noticed his friend’s face flush currant, and figured it was due to Decimus’ recollection of his drunken episode at the banquet.

  “I had no idea you were entertaining such esteemed guests Tribune,” Tullus said. He

  glanced at Eliana. She noticed his glance and smiled shyly.

  Norbanus grinned. “In addition to my military duties I sometimes have the pleasure of hosting dignified guests within the confines of the Emperor’s palace,” he said haughtily. “Though I’m afraid we must be leaving now.”

  Tullus’ heart sank. There would be no private chat with Eliana.

  “It was good seeing you again Centurion Tullus,” Eliana said.

  Senator Remus said farewell and took Eliana by the arm.

  They watched Norbanus and his two guests disappear past the colonnade. “I think the lady Eliana fancies you Centurion.”

  Tullus smiled. “Wouldn’t that be a blessing.”

  {V}

  “I saw him again yesterday and he looked good enough to eat.”

  “Tell me more about your Centurion little sister,” Sylvia said excitedly.

  “Father and I were touring the Emperor’s palace earlier today with Tribune Norbanus and Tullus was standing under the colonnade with that friend of his–you know the drunken one at our banquet?”

  Sylvia said: “There were many drunken men at our banquet little sister; you cannot expect me to remember every one.”

  Eliana playfully slapped her older sister on the arm and giggled.

  “Well, what did you two talk about?”

  Eliana was embarrassed by her sister’s question but reluctantly she said: “Nothing.” Sylvia shot Eliana an anxious gaze and chided her. “Dear child, I must educate you in proper courting skills so you can snare a mate.”

  “What was I supposed to do? Father was there, and so was Tribune Norbanus.”

  Sylvia licked her lips. “Tribune Norbanus, mmmmm, I’ve had my eye on him for quite some time.”

  “Sister, you are married!” Eliana said.

  “I can still fantasize… can’t I? Now, back to your mysterious Centurion.”

  “Yes, he is a mystery, is he not? I barely know anything about him other than the fact that he’s incredibly handsome and the finest of all the Praetorian Guardsmen.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Tribune Norbanus, he thinks highly of Tullus.”

  A slave brought a platter of grapes and both girls took turn nibbling on fruit before continuing their gossip.

  “If you want my opinion Eliana, I think you should fuck Tribune Norbanus: he’s young, handsome, ambitious, and his family is powerful.”

  Eliana’s shook her head ruefully. “Dear sister sometimes I find your language quite crude. Besides, I prefer older men: they’re mature and know how to treat a lady.”

  “Fine, then I’ll fuck Norbanus. But you know I’m right. What do you know about this Centurion anyways? Other than he’s a handsome, capable officer?”

  “Nothing. That’s what makes him so interesting.”

  Sylvia shook her head in dismay. “Little sister when are you going to learn that infatuation is only for fools and children? The man you marry must be able to support you and give you the life you deserve. Norbanus would make an excellent mate.”

  “But I don’t like Norbanus,” Eliana pouted.

  Sylvia looked shocked. “And why not?”

  “He’s too arrogant. When father and I were touring the Emperor’s palace all he did was talk about himself, his horses, his family, his villa. When I first met Tullus at the banquet he was always polite and humble around me. That’s when I knew I liked him.”

  “Where does he come from? What is his favorite dish? What is his favorite color?”

  “I don’t know but I plan on finding out.”

  “How?” Sylvia asked. A slave brought her a goblet of wine.

  “I will ask around. That’s why we have Sacrus w
orking for us.”

  Sylvia frowned at Eliana and downed her wine with one quick motion.

  “I wonder how big Norbanus’ cock is?”

  {VI}

  Beneath a sky devoid of clouds, Eliana’s sedan plodded through the streets flanked by her family’s slaves. She was headed to the market to purchase fabrics for a new dress she was going to have made. Images of Tullus occupied her thoughts as Sacrus stared at her intently inside the sedan.

  “Something troubles you my dear?”

  Eliana smiled and looked away; Sacrus was a wizened old slave who was her father’s closest servant.

  “Nothing on a day this beautiful could possibly trouble me Sacrus, except for the condition of these poor souls at the foot of our Esquiline hill,” Eliana said. Bars of sunlight peeked through the curtains of the sedan. Pushing the curtain aside she noticed plebeians watching her sedan move through the unkempt streets. Children pointed out her sedan with excited looks on their faces before she tossed a handful of silver denarii at a group of street urchins who pounced on the money like alley cats. It was the least she could do to ease their suffering. She felt guilty that she lived in luxury and traveled in exquisite comfort while these poor souls endured a miserable existence. Eliana disliked traveling in the sedan. She saw it as an ostentatious display of her family’s wealth and a superfluous status symbol. She remembered her childhood when she and Sylvia often spent time playing with plebian children. When her old governess had found out she had forbid Eliana to do so. However, that edict didn’t keep her from sneaking out of the family’s villa to find her playmates.

  “My dear, these clever old eyes of mine can see through you. You cannot fool old Sacrus,” the old man said, wagging a wrinkled finger at her.

  “I know that, but for now silence guards my tongue.”

  Sacrus smiled. “Very well, my dear, but I shall have your secret.”

  “Sacrus, sometimes you are worse than my old governess.”

  The sedan stopped and was lowered: indicating their arrival at the Forum’s market. Sacrus helped Eliana out while the other slaves flocked around her to create a protective shield.

  Two slaves remained behind to guard the sedan. “I assure you all this protection is unnecessary,” Eliana said as Sacrus took her hand and led her through the throngs of market- goers. They passed a spice trader’s stall where Eliana recognized the scents of various spices: saffron, ginger, cardamom, silphium, and costus; to name a few, all brought from the far corners of the Empire.

  “Your father’s orders, dear girl,” Sacrus replied. They stopped in front of a market stall to inspect the fabrics for sale. A few caught her fancy but they weren’t the colors she was looking for so she headed over to another stall while her slaves continued to guard her diligently.

  “My father is quite protective of me, especially now that Sylvia’s married and living with her husband.”

  Sacrus looked apologetic. “You must forgive your father, to him you are still a child and he fears for your safety.”

  “But I am no longer a child, isn’t that obvious?”

  They passed a stall selling various types of seafood. The fisherman behind the stall presented a large, pungent fish toward Eliana who politely waved it away.

  “Are you enjoying your stroll so far?” Sacrus asked smugly.

  Eliana knew how he felt wandering amongst the common folk. Even though Sacrus was a slave he still was in the service of a powerful patrician family and was prone to vanity.

  “That all depends on if I find what I’m looking for.”

  They wandered around until Eliana caught a glimpse of a familiar sight in front of a blacksmith’s shop. She pushed her way through her slaves who yelped like frightened puppies. “Where are you going?” Sacrus cried.

  “To say hello to a friend.” Eliana lifted up the skirts of her toga and walked briskly toward the blacksmith’s shop where Tullus was inspecting some of the weapons. He looked up from a spear he was holding and smiled at her.

  “I never figured you for the type of girl that enjoys handling dangerous objects,” Tullus said.

  “Mind your manners sir, you are speaking to a Senator’s daughter,” Eliana replied playfully. When Sacrus finally caught up with her he was breathless, red face lined with sweat; his tangled white hair resembled a bird’s nest. Close behind him were the other slaves.

  “It is good to see you again Eliana.” Tullus handed the spear to back to the blacksmith who nodded respectfully at Eliana. “Especially during these troubled times.”

  “My father says that better days await the Empire under Caligula. What do you think Tullus?”

  Before Tullus could answer, Eliana heard noises coming from the marketplace. The screams of an old woman rang through the air: “My money purse! My money purse! Thief! Thief! Someone help me!”

  “My dear, we best be leaving, we can send one of the other slaves to purchase your fabrics,” Sacrus said nervously as he urged Eliana back toward the sedan.

  A mangy-looking man with long matted hair emerged from the crowd carrying a large wool sack while the screams of frightened plebeians resonated through the air. “He’s stolen my coin! Gods curse him!” another woman said.

  Before Eliana knew what was happening the thief ran toward them. Tullus stuck his foot out, causing the thief to trip over it; he fell to the ground and dropped his sack.

  “Your days of robbery are over,” Tullus said, hovering over the fallen thief, “now surrender yourself.”

  The man growled at Tullus like a rabid dog– revealing a set of rotted yellow teeth. “You fucking shit.” He drew a long dagger from inside his tattered tunic. Eliana could smell the man’s foul body odor from where she stood. Sacrus held her tightly while her slaves and market goers watched in horror.

  “Put down that dagger,” Tullus ordered. The thief hissed at Tullus like a serpent while spittle dripped from his scarred lips.

  “I’m going to kill you in front of all these people.”

  Tullus smiled. “You’d dare kill a member of the Praetorian Guard?” He lifted his up his arms to indicate he was unarmed.

  “Die,” the thief said. He lunged at Tullus with the dagger. Eliana felt her heart leap in her chest. She grasped at Sacrus’ tunic nervously while Tullus stepped aside, easily dodging the thief’s knife.

  “It’s still not too late to put down the weapon; you’d get a fair trial,” Tullus added.

  The man lunged at Tullus again but this time Tullus caught the man’s wrist and twisted it until the thief howled in pain, dropping the dagger. Tullus head-butted the thief in the nose, sending the wretch sprawling to the ground. Blood dripped from his chin, staining the front of his filthy tunic. He looked up at Tullus vengefully.

  “Rome has hundred of baths, and yet you stink worse than an oxen’s arse,” Tullus said.

  The thief rose to his feet and charged Tullus in a blind rage. Tullus grabbed the man’s wrist again and flung him over his shoulder, hurling the thief at the ground again. Picking up the dagger, Tullus grabbed the thief’s wrist and held out the man’s hand in front of him.

  “This is for stealing from the people,” Tullus said as he sliced off the man’s thumb. The man cried out in pain as his thumb fell to ground, blood boiled from the stump; “this is for attacking a member of the Praetorian Guard.” Next, the thief’s index finger came off; “and this is for calling me a ‘fucking shit.’” Tullus sliced off the thief’s middle finger. The crowd cheered as street justice was served before two city guards approached Tullus and took the thief into custody while blood continued to drip from the thief’s maimed hand. Tullus gathered up the bag filled with stolen purses and coin and handed it to one of the guards. “This money was stolen from the good citizens of Rome, see to it that its contents are returned to their rightful owners. Tullus straightened his tunic before Eliana ran up to him, threw her arms around his neck, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

  “Tullus you were wonderful,” Eliana said. Sacrus looked
at her displeasingly.

  “My dear, this behavior is not befitting the daughter of a Senator…and in public.”

  Eliana paid no attention to Sacrus. “Are you hurt?” she asked Tullus.

  “Only my pride.”

  “Come back to my villa, my slaves will give you a nice hot bath and we’ll get you into

  clean clothes.”

  Tullus gently separated himself from Eliana’s adoring hold and placed her hands in his palms. “Please Eliana, I only did what was right. I couldn’t stand there while that insolent brute went unpunished; Honos* would’ve chastised me till my dying days.”

  Eliana kissed him again–this time on the lips. “A hero and a philosopher as well. But

  you must be rewarded for your gallantry.” She stopped to think. “You must allow me to host you at my villa, I’m sure father wouldn’t mind….would he Sacrus?”

  Sacrus’ face turned crimson, and, he looked as if he was choking, before he collected his composure and nodded. “I’m sure we could make the necessary arrangements.”

  “Wonderful. Then it’s settled, I’ll start immediately with the guest list upon our return home.”

  Tullus nodded. “I’d be honored to attend.”

  Eliana smiled. “Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll have an invitation sent to you.”

  *-Honos is the Roman God of chivalry, honor and military justice

  {VII}

  Tullus looked through his closet and couldn’t find anything appropriate to wear to Eliana’s villa. He couldn’t wear his Guardsman tunic–he had already worn it once to her villa. Besides, that would appear too formal and he wanted to appear stylish in the company of esteemed guests. He had learned that many other high-ranking officials in the new government had been invited as well. Tullus was hoping for more intimate surroundings, but he was resigned to share Eliana’s company. The night of the banquet finally arrived and Tullus donned his custom-tailored opal tunic. It had cost him a small fortune—since the fabrics were of the highest quality—but easily affordable with the generous bonus he’d received from Norbanus. In the villa’s anteroom Tullus was greeted by a house slave and welcomed inside. He marveled at the sumptuous floor mosaics he’d failed to notice during his first visit. One mosaic caught his eye: it depicted a warrior on a chariot, warhorses carrying him into battle. When he looked up he noticed Eliana talking to a throng of guests in the atrium. She saw him, and after excusing herself, hurried over toward where he stood.