A Noble Captive (21 page)

This time, Jupiter and Hercules were with him. He had
arrived before the investiture started, and therefore he had a chance of saving Helena.

His fingers dug into the soft red dirt, failed to get a good grip and he slid back a few feet.

‘Do you really think we are going to be able to climb that?’ Rufus asked, giving a low whistle.

‘I don’t think. I know.’ Tullio pulled his body over the narrow ledge. The muscles in his shoulders protested as he started reaching for the next hand grip. He came face to face with a lizard and watched it scuttle away. Then he saw the track he had seen that day on the turret, faint but there. Enough for one man.

He turned back and saw the last rays of the sun hitting the sea.

Helena advanced slowly to the sound of the drum. One step for every beat, just as she had practised countless times before.

The temple was full to overflowing. At the front were the different heads of the seafaring houses. Twenty in all. Behind each ranged their captains, pilots and seamen. Further back still were the ordinary villagers. Helena saw Niobe’s wide eyes as she clutched Pius’s hand. Helena’s step faltered. She wanted to stop and explain, but the drumbeat urged her on.

She reached the altar where Flavia and Zenobia stood and mounted the short flight of steps. The drum fell silent. In a high-pitched nasal whine, Zenobia intoned a long piece about why they needed to change sibyls and how Flavia had brought Kybele’s wrath on the entire population of the island.

Helena listened in growing disbelief. She saw Aunt Flavia stand rigidly to attention.

Zenobia ended her piece, allowing her hands to drop to her sides.

The drum boomed again three more times.

Helena’s hand brushed Tullio’s medal. Her back straightened. She would do this. It was her last chance. She had to trust her heart.

She made the ritual supplication to the goddess and turned to face the sea of upturned faces. She removed the bronze hands, and took the gold mask from her face. The crowd gasped.

‘My friends, we are gathered here today to make me the new sibyl. People have spoken about Kybele’s desertion.’

A swell of murmuring started to gather, a ripple, but gathering pace. Helena held up her hands, motioning for quiet.

‘Kybele is not angry with the old sibyl but with what has been happening. What we have allowed to happen. The sibyl forbade raiding, but there are some who have not listened.’

‘She lies!’ Kimon jumped to his feet. ‘She consorts with Romans and lies!’

‘Here before you is one such man.’ Helena forced her voice to remain steady. ‘He and his father murdered in cold blood and gave the temple tainted goods.’

‘Strong words, Helena.’ Androceles rose to stand with his son. She heard the whisper of his sword being taken out of its sheath. ‘I hope you are able to prove them.’

She tried to speak, but the lump in her throat was too big.

‘We’re waiting, Helena. Prove to us that it was not the sibyl’s fault. Show us that Kybele guides you.’

The doors of the temple clanged open. Zenobia screamed. A figure with a drawn sword stood in the doorway.

‘I have returned. I kept my promise.’

Helena’s knees sagged with relief as she heard Tullio’s voice boom out.

He had come. Tullio had arrived.

‘You dare much, Roman.’ Androceles sneered. ‘Is it for the tribute you come?’

‘No.’ Tullio’s black gaze met hers. ‘I come for another reason. Something infinitely more precious than gold or silver.’

‘Let the Roman speak.’ A small voice echoed through the chamber.

Everyone fell silent. Then Pius yelled. ‘My sister, my sister speaks.’

Helena recovered first. ‘Kybele has performed a miracle. We should heed her words. She has shown us a sign. Ill will come to any who do not obey her.’

The mass of people parted and allowed Tullio to walk to the altar. He kept his eyes straight ahead. What he was about to say was bigger than Rome. Rome’s interests were secondary to his. He hoped Helena understood that.

When he reached the foot of the altar, he stopped and turned.

‘My friends, Rome does not have a quarrel with the vast majority of you. Only those who rape and plunder. To any man who lays down his arms, I promise to resettle you on my lands in North Africa as I would settle any of my veterans. A colony with land to farm, and no need to rob or plunder.’

He waited, hearing the collective indrawn breath. Would it all be over simply?

‘Pretty words, but is this truly what the gods want us to do?’ Androceles stepped forward, curved sword in his hand. ‘Neptune has blessed my every venture.’

‘Shall we settle this man to man, Androceles?’ Tullio asked between gritted teeth. ‘Then we shall see whom the gods favour.’

‘Let me fight him, Father,’ Kimon said. ‘I have seen Romans fight. This one will be no match for me.’

‘I am not so old that my son must fight for me. I too have seen this Roman fight.’ Androceles made a mocking bow. ‘Very well. I accept your challenge.’

Helena stuffed her hand in her mouth. She wanted to cry
out and stop this madness, but it was impossible. The seafarers were urging the fight on, making a ring. Tullio advanced forward and saluted her.

‘May the gods favour the brave,’ Helena said.

Androceles crouched, tossing his sword from hand to hand. A maniacal gleam was in his eyes. ‘I have waited a long time for this, Roman. When you are dead, know that I will take the temple and use it. The gods will favour me.’

The swords clashed. Metal against metal. Tullio blocked the first blow, felt the jar go up his arm. He prayed his sword would hold. Androceles’s sneer deepened.

‘You will have to do better than that, Roman.’

‘I intend to.’

Tullio pressed forward, stabbing rather than slashing.

They circled each other. Tullio watched Androceles’s movements and waited. He saw an opening and took it. This time Androceles brought down the hilt of his sword on Tullio’s wrist, nearly knocking the sword from his hand.

Tullio retreated, the old injury to his shoulder aching. He glanced upwards and saw Helena’s white face.

He would do this. He had to do this. For Helena.

Helena watched, unable to look away as the two combatants circled each other. Surely the gods could not be so cruel to allow him to die before her eyes. Around and around they circled. First Tullio had the advantage and then Androceles. Then Tullio again.

Androceles pressed forward. Tullio stumbled and half-fell to his knees.

‘Blow the horn, Helena. Call for aid!’

Helena looked at him, not understanding. Tullio knew that it was just a relic, a superstition. She started to move towards it.

‘Now, Helena, blow it now!’

She did not believe Neptune would send aid, but perhaps the sound would distract Androceles for that slightest of breaths and allow Tullio to escape. She filled her lungs with air. A long low sound filled the temple, echoing and reverberating off the walls. Everything went still.

Then nothing. No parting of the seas. No destruction of the temple. Nothing. It was simply a device. She had failed.

‘You see who the gods favour, Roman.’ Androceles stood poised over him, sword gleaming.

Tullio waited, then thrust upwards with his legs, throwing Androceles backwards. The pirate flew through the air and landed at the base of the statue of Kybele. The statue rocked and then crashed down on top of Androceles and he lay still.

Everyone froze.

‘Kybele has spoken,’ Flavia’s commanding voice said. ‘Let no man doubt that.’

‘My father is dead? I will avenge my father’s death.’ Kimon advanced with his sword drawn. He motioned to his men. ‘We will take this temple by force.’

Tullio crouched low. If he took Kimon, he could at least prevent Helena’s death, hold off the pirates until reinforcements came. If they came. He wiped a hand across his mouth.

The doors of the temple were flung open. Quintus stood at the entrance with his soldiers ranged behind him.

‘You called, Tullio?’

‘You might say that.’ Tullio brought his fist back and connected with the open-mouthed jaw of Kimon, who crumpled to the ground. ‘Neptune sends his regards, but is a bit busy. He sent the Roman legion instead.’

The soldiers streamed in, swords drawn and beating against their oblong shields. Tullio held the sword over his head.

‘You see how the gods favour me and punish those who would commit sacrilege in this temple.’

At that, the pirates laid down their arms. Tullio turned towards the centurion.

‘For once, Quintus, your timing is impeccable.’

‘I do but try, Livius Tullio.’ Quintus’s face wore a broad smile as he gave a smart salute.

‘Shall we round these miscreants up and return the temple to the sibyl?’

‘You’re the tribune.’

Lichas stood up and motioned for quiet. The entire hall fell silent.

‘Once again, sister, I appear to have underestimated you,’ Lichas said. ‘We will abide by the goddess’s decision and take the Roman’s offer of lands.’

‘But, but—’ Zenobia protested.

‘Be silent, woman!’ Lichas roared. ‘If I hadn’t listened to you in the first place, the gods would not have turned against us. I will not fight the will of Neptune and Kybele. The gods’ will be done.’

A general cheering broke out.

Tears pricked Helena’s eyes and she turned her head. Aunt Flavia stood at the edge of the altar, hands held high in the traditional gesture of a blessing. Tullio and the rest of the Roman legion knelt down. Without hesitation, Helena handed the gold mask to Aunt Flavia.

‘Your time as sibyl is not finished, Aunt.’

‘Do you know what you are doing, niece?’ Flavia’s fingers closed around the mask.

‘I do. I renounce my claim as sibyl. My destiny lies along another path. All I want is to spend the rest of my life with Tullio.’ Helena went and knelt by Tullio. ‘If he will have me.’

‘With the utmost pleasure.’ Tullio’s fingers curled around hers. ‘I came back for you. I love you, Helena and I mean to have you for my own.’

‘And I love you,’ she whispered. ‘But how did you get the soldiers to arrive like that? How did Quintus know?’

‘There are some things that should not be left to the gods.’ Tullio placed a finger on her lips to silence any more questions.

‘The senate and people of Rome will be proud of what you accomplished today, Livius Tullio,’ Quintus said, coming up to him and laying the pirates’ swords at Tullio’s feet. ‘The gods were with you.’

Tullio look down on the pile and over at the prone figure of Androceles. Both Kimon and Zenobia were in custody. The legate would decide what to do with them, how best to make an example. It was a good day’s work. But his life meant more than battle honours.

‘Rome can go to Hades as long as Helena is safe. She is the only thing in my life who matters.’

In the warm circle of Tullio’s arms, Helena watched Aunt Flavia go to Niobe and speak to her. She knew that she was no longer alone. She had found her home.

Eighteen months later—Near Cyrene in North Africa

H
elena stood on the terrace of the villa she shared with Tullio and looked down at the farms dotted about the countryside. The remaining seafarers and villagers had taken to farming with great vigour. Where there was once untilled land, vines and olive trees grew.

Aunt Flavia had even engineered a move of the temple away from the island and now presided over the thriving community with Niobe at her side. After her outburst at the temple, Niobe had regained her power of speech. It was Helena’s belief that in due course Niobe would become the next sibyl.

‘You are looking very pensive, Helena.’ Tullio mounted the steps to join her. ‘Is something wrong with one of the children?’

‘Both are doing fine. Asleep.’ Helena nodded towards the twin cradles where their three-month-old daughters slept.

‘They are beautiful like their mother.’

‘You are an idle flatterer. I am sure you did not break off from your work just to tell me that.’

‘I have had a message from Quintus. He is enjoying being
the first centurion of the legion. Galla is very happy as well. Pirates have started raiding again. He believes Kimon is among them. It was an evil day when that tribune allowed him to escape.’

‘Rome will catch him.’

‘In good time. Quintus assures me that he will not need help from Neptune this time.’

‘And when he is captured, what will Rome do?’

‘Execute him, I hope, but Quintus favours making him a gladiator—to pay him back.’

‘Yes, a gladiator would be better.’ Helena looked out over the peaceful land. ‘There has been enough bloodshed. Let the gods decide if he lives. I hold no feelings of revenge towards him or any of the seafarers. That is a matter for Rome to sort out. The past is done with and there is a bright future to look forward to.’

‘Whatever my sibyl desires,’ Tullio whispered in her ear, his hand going about her waist.

‘A sibyl no longer, but your wife.’ She glanced over at the cradles. ‘I do believe our girls will be asleep for a while longer.’

‘My very beloved wife who offers wise counsel.’

Helena laughed, and gave herself up to his kiss.

The kidnapping of Julius Caesar in 73 BC and the destruction of Delos and the Sanctuary of Apollo in 88 BC inspired this book. After Carthage fell in 140 BC, in the absence of a Roman navy, piracy grew. Once the Ptolemy dynasty effectively turned over the eastern shipping lanes to the Cicilian pirates in 96 BC, the pirate problem spiralled out of control, menacing shipping and capturing Roman citizens for ransom or, in some cases, slavery.

Delos, a major trading port, was raided and destroyed by Archelaus, an ally of Mithridates. A small group of Italian militia organised resistance, but ultimately the increased threat led to the abandonment of a thriving port.

As a young man on his way back from North Africa in approximately 73 BC, pirates captured Julius Caesar’s trireme and Caesar endured several weeks of captivity. Once ransomed for a large sum, Caesar returned with a massive force and killed the pirates who had captured him. However, despite the success of this and other minor battles against the pirates, piracy continued and it was left to Pompey to solve the problem in 67 BC.

After assembling one of the largest fleets in ancient times, winning a battle or two, Pompey promised the remaining pirates land and resettlement. The pirates accepted the offer. The largely intractable problem that had plagued Rome since 139 BC was solved in forty-five days.

For anyone wishing to read more about the period, I found the following books useful. Tom Holland’s book is perhaps the most readable, but I did enjoy making some of the recipes from Grant’s book on Roman cookery and can wholeheartedly recommend the pyramid cakes!