Kalliasspentthenightdozing in a chair outside Drusilla’s room. It was, of course, unnecessary, but he’d promised Gaius that he’d watch over her, and he didn’t want to give the emperor any excuse to be displeased with him. Besides, he doubted he would have been able to get any sleep even in his own bed, as his mind was full of guilt and worry over Lea.
In the morning, Kallias found that Drusilla’s symptoms had vanished overnight as expected. Even so, there were shadows beneath her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept, and she waved away one of her maids who approached with a dress for her to wear.
“Is anything else amiss, my lady?” Kallias asked. “Did something disturb your sleep?”
Drusilla lay back against her pillows with a sigh. “I’m perfectly fine. It’s only…I worry about my brother.” Her delicate brow furrowed. “I thought he’d improve once we were, well…here.”
Kallias knew she was speaking of the change in their circumstances from a few months ago, when they were effectively the old emperor’s hostages, to now. He might have expected the same thing: that Gaius’s paranoia would have eased once his position was secure. But no such change seemed to be occurring.
“I don’t suppose there’s anything in that bag of yours that can make him better?” she asked.
Kallias shook his head regretfully. “I’m afraid my skills are limited to ailments of the body, my lady.”
“I see,” Drusilla murmured, then waved a hand. “You can go.”
Kallias retreated to his office. Soon, Sextus arrived.
“How is Julia Drusilla?” Sextus asked straightaway.
“She’s well. Only a trifle tired.”
A knock came at the door, and Kallias opened it to see one of Drusilla’s maids.What is itnow?
Despite his exasperation, he summoned a polite smile. “Yes?”
“Julia Drusilla is about to have breakfast, sir, and Gaius Caesar has requested that you verify her food does not contain walnuts,” the maid said. “The kitchen has sworn it doesn’t, of course, but I’m afraid he doesn’t trust them.”
Kallias suppressed a sigh. “Of course. I’ll be there directly.” He beckoned to Sextus, who fell into step just behind him, and they made their way to Drusilla’s bedroom.
He instructed Sextus to wait outside and entered the bedroom. Drusilla, still in bed, surveyed her brother with the resigned, weary expression she most often wore when dealing with hismoods. An empty tray rested on her lap.
Gaius clutched a bowl of porridge, as if he’d seized it from the tray before she could eat it, and thrust it at Kallias. “I must besurethis has no walnuts in it!” Gaius demanded.
With a deferential nod, Kallias took the bowl, made of fine ceramic, and brought it to a small table in the corner of the room. Dutifully, he used the slender silver spoon to poke through the barley porridge, searching for any trace of walnuts. He knew there would be none to be found; after yesterday’s incident, the staff would have purged every trace of walnuts from the kitchens.
Still, he made a show of careful inspection before returning the bowl to Drusilla. “It’s perfectly safe, sir,” he said to the emperor.
Some of the tension in the emperor’s frame receded at Kallias’s assurance, but he pointed to the bowl. “I want you to stay while she eats it. If there’s any sign that she may become ill again, you must be here to mend her.”
Kallias refrained from pointing out that Drusilla had required nothing in the way of mending last night except a salve for her skin. “Of course,” he replied. “Though I’m certain she’ll be well.”
“Good. Now, I must prepare for the games.” Gaius turned toward the door.
Kallias took a reflexive step forward. “Shall I prepare to accompany you? After Drusilla has eaten her breakfast, of course.”
Gaius glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow. “I thought I just informed you that you were to stay with my sister.”
“Yes, of course,” Kallias stammered. “I thought—after she has eaten—” He cursed himself for faltering. His key to dealing with the emperor relied on a smooth combination of obsequiousness and confidence—not tripping over his words like a frightened servant. “It’s bound to be an exciting day,” he finished lamely.
Gaius cocked his head. “I don’t believe you’ve ever shown such enthusiasm for the games before, Kallias.”
A sense of danger prickled over Kallias, but he kept his answer as close to the truth as possible. “I wished to check on that gladiator you asked me to tend. I thought it prudent to make sure she’s fit to fight, with her prior injury.”
Gaius narrowed his eyes. “The gladiator is not your concern. You aremyphysician.”
“I know that, sir, of course,” Kallias said hastily.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed your little absences lately, medicus,” Gaius said. “You’ve been spending far too much time away from the palace.”
