Page 110
‘Women from other nations are defending their fortresses and commanding battles, and they are winning,’ said Claudia, as the crowd murmured. ‘The empire is quickly falling behind. Our goddesses are warriors, yet the women of Rome are kept apart from power.’
She could hear the generals grumbling inaudibly behind her, as her confidence began to falter.
‘Why should women be denied the opportunity to rise above their current ranks?’ said Claudia. ‘Why should only men sit upon the highest stratus of our society? We women are being denied our swords, our titles and our crowns.’
The audience murmured again as the heckler bellowed across the crowd once more, something like ‘Mort’, or ‘mare’?
‘For too long, we have stood at the sidelines, with no control over our own destinies. That will change today.’
She felt Prince Darius stirring beside her, turning towards her, though she couldn’t make out his expression.
‘That is why, from this day forward, women will be permitted to enlist in the army and navy.’
The crowd silenced, burbling softly for a moment before a light scattering of shocked applause resounded. Waves of shock moved in ripples, people turning to each other in disbelief.
‘Those who are interested should report to the civic hall, or to their nearest fort for training,’ she said.
‘Murderer!’
That was the word the heckler was shouting.
Claudia became aware of the growing noise in the stadium, but she carried on speaking, raising her voice each time the heckler interrupted.
‘Beginning next year, a limited number of women will also be appointed by the Consul to serve in the Senate.’
The cheering morphed into a roar, the sound becoming spikier.
Damocles shifted uncomfortably, mopping his sweaty bald dome as the noise trebled, a battle of cheers and boos that bled together to create a cacophony.
‘Why doesn’t she join up to fight herself if she’s so keen?’
‘Has she ever even seen a battlefield?’
‘They won’t take our daughters as well as our sons.’
Claudia cleared her throat, trying to blot out the sound.
‘We must take the example of the goddesses whose statues are installed around our city.’
Her support was increasing along with her opposition, led by the Cult of Diana. Many women hung on her words, their eyes glazed with visions of what they might be, if they could be anything.
‘We must don armour, like them, and bear arms, like them, to stand alongside the men, and take our rightful place in history.’
When Claudia looked to Athena, she was gazing at her in awe.
It was all worth it, she reminded herself. Even if she died. Even if she lost everything. It would all be worth it, for girls like her.
‘For I am not just the empress of men,’ she said, turning back to face the crowd. ‘I am the empress of your daughters, of your sisters and mothers and grandmothers… I am the empress of all women.’
Many in the crowd cheered, until a lone voice cut through.
‘Murderer! She’s a murderer!’
Claudia scanned the crowd again, closing in on the objector causing a ruckus. It was her former advisor Hieronymus, being escorted out by four armed guards.
‘Claudia Caesaria killed her father, and her brother too!’ he said. ‘We know the truth!’
The audience oohed, scandalized.
