Nero softened a little.“You brought in anarchitectusto study my work?”
“We came to find Severus Tullius,” I said.
Nero’s brows went up.“And who is he?”
“One of your Praetorian Guards.I wish to speak to him.”
Nero continued staring at me like a basilisk.Cassia’s whisper came around me.
“It is very important, sir.”
Nero flicked his gaze to her, then he snapped his fingers.
Three servants materialized out of the darkness behind him.“Fetch a Praetorian Guard called Severus Tullius.Tell him to come alone.Be quick.”
The servants faded.Nero spoked to Cassia directly.“What is this about?”
Cassia lifted her bag and withdrew a handful of scrolls.“I have evidence here of crimes committed against a murdered freedwoman called Floriana.”
Interest flickered in Nero’s dark eyes.“Why not take this evidence to the captain of the urban cohorts?”
“Because it involves an assassination plot against you,” Cassia said, her voice unwavering.“One that involves an attempt against the life of Decimus Laelius Priscus and his household, including arranging his son to be kidnapped for a large ransom.The freedwoman was killed for knowing the plot and for a failed attempt to murder Leonidas.”
Nero listened, a twitch pulling at his lower lip.“What has this to do with one of my guards?”
Before Cassia could answer, the servants returned with Severus Tullius himself, who looked astonished to see us.
“Sir.”Tullius, in a tunic and toga, bowed then gazed in wonder at me.He glanced at Gallus and became more baffled.
Gallus, on the other hand, regarded Tullius with startled recognition.“I know you, don’t I?”
Tullius studied him more closely.“No—who are you?”
“Yes, yes—I did see you.At the house I was hired to evaluate.On the Subura.You were there when I first arrived, going through the rooms and taking things out.Very thorough, you were.”
Tullius’s jaw went slack.He clearly did not remember Gallus, had likely dismissed the man as no threat and forgot about him.
“I suggest you were there taking away things that would incriminate you,” Cassia said.“Perhaps a note sent to Floriana, or money paid to her.”
Tullius focused on Cassia, while Nero looked on, his ennui changing to fascination.
Then Tullius turned a deep shade of red.He produced a sword from the folds of his toga, and ran at Cassia, a killing rage in his eyes.
As soon as the blade flashed, guards appeared from the corners.Nero held up a hand.“No.”
I leapt after Tullius and grabbed him by his toga, using the smothering folds to throw him off balance.Cassia scrambled aside, gathering her scrolls to her, wasting a precious moment to snatch up one that had fallen to the floor.
Tullius fought free of me and again went after Cassia.
I tackled him from behind.As we struggled, Cassia skittered aside, and Gallus, finally coming out of his stupefied stance, pulled her to safety.
Tullius twisted out of my grip and spun to face me, the toga falling.Tullius stepped quickly free of it, and whipped the cloth around my feet.
As asecutor, I often fought theretiarius, who went at his opponent with a trident and weighted net.I easily kicked aside the tangling folds, Tullius’s eyes widening as I came at him.
My intention was to knock Tullius down, take his sword from him, and deliver a blow that would stun him senseless.His fellow guardsmen would take him away and lock him up, and Cassia could hand over her evidence.Tullius would be Nero’s problem, and I could go home and sleep.
Tullius evaded me, and I heard Nero laugh as I chased him across the floor.Guards filled the entrances to the room, blocking Tullius’s way out.
