Crispina pressed a hand to her mouth. Rufus’s face reddened. He got an arm up and landed a punch to Aelius’s jaw. The crowd roared in delight. Aelius released Rufus and stumbled back. Crispina sent up a brief, desperate prayer that this scuffle would be the end of it, but a moment later, the men dove for each other. They dragged each other down the steps off the platform. The crowd surged to surround the fight.
Crispina took an anxious step forward, but forced herself to stop. She was of no use here. Her chest tightened in helpless anxiety. Aelius was taller, but Rufus was quick and vicious. Both men had served in the army, as military service was required before running for office; both knew how to fight, and likely how to kill.
The crowd egged them on, some shouting Aelius’s name, others encouraging Rufus. If there was one thing Romans loved, it was a good brawl.
Finally, some more level-headed members of the audience intervened to separate the men. Over the heads of the crowd, Crispina caught a glimpse of the two, bloodied but both upright, white togas dirty and dangling from their shoulders in disarray.Praise Juno, he’s not badly injured.
Rufus spat in Aelius’s direction and made a rude hand gesture. Aelius lunged for him once more, but someone held him back. The crowd filtered between them as a barrier. Rufus moved to leave, and Aelius did the same. It seemed to be over.
Crispina turned and ran. She had to get home before Aelius did. Firstly, to conceal where she’d been, and secondly, so she could prepare hot water and bandages to tend his injuries.
She paused in an alley across from their house to rip off her priestess disguise, then shoved the fabric into her basket. She left the basket in the alley—she could come back for it later—and ran to the house. She banged on the front door, and when it opened, burst inside. “Gaia!” she called.
Gaia emerged into the atrium. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
Crispina tried to catch her breath. “Don’t ask me how I know this, but Aelius was just involved in a brawl. He should be home shortly. He’ll need looking after.”
Some women would have shrieked at the thought of their son being injured. Others, like Crispina’s mother, would have demanded to know how she knew that and wouldn’t have done anything useful until she gave an answer. But Gaia merely nodded. “I see.” She summoned Malchio, issued a quick order, and Malchio hurried to the kitchen to prepare hot water and bandages.
Gaia turned back to Crispina. “How did you come to know this?”
Crispina hesitated. “I was returning from Horatia’s house…a brawl broke out at Aelius’s debate in the Forum.”
“I didn’t realize Horatia lived near the Forum.”
“Er, I took a detour, as it was such a nice day.”
“And you were not able to find Aelius and bring him home yourself?”
Crispina winced. Now Gaia thought she had abandoned Aelius to a street fight. “I was frightened to get caught up in it.”
“Was he badly hurt?”
“I don’t think so.”
Gaia let out a sigh. “Well, I suppose all that matters is that he’s safe and will be home soon.”
The front door opened, and a moment later Aelius emerged into the atrium. He was limping, and blood splattered his face, arms, and toga, crimson against the white fabric. Gaia gasped and ran to him.
He raised a hand. “I’m fine, Mama.”
“You are clearly not.” She glared at him. “By the gods, what happened to you?”
“Some remarks were made. It escalated to violence.”
“Remarks? About what?”
“Nothing of consequence.” Aelius dabbed the side of his hand beneath his bleeding nose.
“It must have been of consequence to provoke violence,” Gaia said. “You’re not given to brawling in the streets.”
“It was the usual,” Aelius said. “Disparaging my birth, that sort of thing.”
Crispina swallowed, trying to keep her face neutral. She knew exactly what had provoked Aelius. He had been defending her, not himself.
Gaia grabbed his arm and pulled him toward his bedroom, where the slaves had filled a metal tub with water. A smaller vat of steaming water rested next to it, and a pile of bandages sat on the dressing table.
Crispina followed. She lingered on the threshold, not sure what to do. She had no experience caring for a battered and bloodied husband, and she hoped Gaia would take charge of the situation.
