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justinewt · 7 months ago

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Finis Vitae Sed Non Amoris - THOSE ABOUT TO DIE FANFICTION Chapter 10

[THOSE ABOUT TO DIE MASTERLIST]

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter (SOON)

Summary: Aldea's entire world had tumbled down, giving in on itself after her brother's death and after another tragic loss, it was as though Aldea's heart was ripped out of her chest. She felt like she had lost everything, and Tenax wasn't there. She felt completely alone, if it weren't for Elia, the only family she had left, and the son she was to have.

Words: 5.3k

Warnings: title means "the end of life but not of love" // Those about to die season 1 spoilers (episode 9 "The Die is Cast" & episode 10 "Let the Games Begin"), angst, grief, blood

Aldea hadn’t seen or spoken to Tenax in already two days, sleeping in Fonsoa’s room at the other insula, which also belonged to him. She didn’t sleep soundly, not only because she was so heavily pregnant but also because she knew Fonsoa was going to race, and so would Elia. Her thoughts were spiraling in her head. She was terrified of either of her brothers getting in a shipwreck. She couldn’t help but imagine the worst-case scenario and imagining her brothers to die as well made her feel so desperate and scared. The foundation of her whole world had been shaken and destroyed when Scorpus, a man she considered her friend, murdered her older brother for the sake of his ego and personal glory, and now she had lost her footing. It was as though a part of her had been torn off. She was anxious as she walked towards the Circus Maximus and felt as though her stomach was tied up in knots. She had no idea where Tenax was and didn’t really care at the moment, or maybe she wanted to convince herself she didn’t care, in order not to think about it. Her mind was far from the tension that had risen in their relationship. She wore her cloak over her head, passing her fingers on her necklace, a piece of Tenax’s love for her that she didn’t have the heart not to wear, despite being angry with him. She joined Gavros and Elia in the staging area of the Blue faction. Her brothers were in the very first race of the day. She breathed shakily. The stablehands were going back and forth, left and right, getting the rig ready before letting its driver and horses parade on the tracks before the race.

“Elia.” She put her hand on his arm, looking up at him, worriedly. He was softly pulling on the reins, taking deep breaths and turned his head towards his sister. He clenched his jaw nervously. She glanced over at Gavros from the corner of her eyes. He probably didn’t know that Elia wanted to avenge their brother, meaning beating Scorpus at his own game and the driver was right on the fact that it was a dangerous game. She couldn’t care less about it being dangerous for Scorpus. She wanted him to get his due and that was why she wasn’t warning Elia against going forward with whatever plan he might have to get Scorpus killed but she wasn’t stupid. She didn’t need to ask him what he was going to do. He was going to get him in a shipwreck. That would be the only way to kill him on the tracks. “Be careful, hermanito.” She breathed shakily, squeezing his arm, asking him to not get himself killed, “Por favor, no te dejes matar.”

He bent forward, putting his hand on top of hers, “It’s okay. Vengaré a nuestro hermano.” They held each other’s gaze, looking very serious and she nodded. He was going to avenge their brother. He wanted to and promised her as such, and she trusted him, but she still showed a certain apprehension about what might happen to him, or Fonsoa.

“Elia. It’s time.” Gavros walked behind Aldea, and along a couple stable hands, headed for the doors leading to the tracks. The siblings exchanged a last meaningful look, and the young woman stepped back and watched him give a shake of the reins and drive away. She took another shaky breath as she went to sit on the bench on the opposite side. The doors closed. She was left alone and waited until, caressing her stomach, staring into space until the horns sounded in the arena and she rushed to the doors, stretching her neck to look out the opening at the top, to see the race as the drivers were unleashed onto the tracks. The crowd cheered. Getting on her tip toes, Aldea tried to keep her eyes on Elia and Fonsoa. The bell dinged the end of the first round and soon after, the first shipwreck happened. She was somewhat relieved. It wasn’t her brothers that got hurt. She squinted her eyes, trying to see what was going on as she noticed Elia driving close to Scorpus and she understood he was trying to trap him. The stablehands on the tracks ran away when the drivers approached but they hadn’t had the time to move all the debris from the first accident and Elia and Scopurs were on the front line.

Elia blocked him, only pulling the reins aside at the last moment and Scorpus went flying, crashing on the ground. But the satisfaction was short-lived. Fonsoa was right behind him, and she slammed her hand on the door, crying out his name. His Andalusians jumped over the debris, but his rig flipped, and he fell over. Aldea walked away, falling on the bench and whimpered as Gavros came running, urging a stablehand to get the physician. She stood up, stepping aside and watched Elia dragging Fonsoa inside, and with Gavros, they carried him, setting him down on the bench. She kneeled down, taking Fonsoa’s hand in between hers, sobbing. His eyes were half-closed. Her voice was trembling as she begged him not to die, speaking to him in their mother tongue. He faintly squeezed her hand, swallowing harshly. Aldea looked over her shoulder when she heard hurried footsteps and someone gasping, it was Salena. She had come with her son. She let go of the child’s hand and rushed to Fonsoa’s side, already crying as well.

“Please. Don’t give up, please.” She begged him to stay with him and seeing the hurt in her eyes, and how much she must have loved her brother, Aldea’s heart shattered even more. Fonsoa’s breath was strained. It seemed as though talking was hurting him but still, he called for Elia. He slowly approached, sitting on the side of the bench and wrapping his hand around his siblings’.

“Do you remember when I broke my leg?”

“Of course. Foolish thing.”

Elia chuckled sadly, “You carried me home. Grandfather… He was gone. You held me while Andria set my leg. Aldea and you, you helf me all night long while I cried.”

“It must have hurt.”

“Not like this.” He shook his head, apologizing quietly, in between sobs and Aldea stifled a cry. Fonsoa was struggling to keep his eyes opened. His head rolled to the side, and he stopped moving. Aldea’s head fell forward, the tears washing down her face. Elia sobbed, benting over, his hand on his sister’s shoulder, her head resting against his chest, and she wailed. It wasn’t just a part of her that she had lost, it was worse than that. Her entire heart had been ripped out of her chest and she felt as though she was left bleeding out. She couldn’t stand up. She couldn’t move at all and was just sobbing hysterically in Elia’s arms. There was a part of her that longed for Tenax’s reassurand and support but the overwhelming sadness that washed over her just clouded her mind. She couldn’t think about anything else but Fonsoa’s death.

“No— No sé si valió la pena, Elia.” It really got her wondering if their whole craving for revenge had been worth it. They had avenged Andria's death, killing Scorpus, but it cost Fonsoa his life. Aldea's worst fear came true. She clinged onto Elia, tightening her grip, as if she feared he would be taken away from her too.

She followed them as they carried Fonsoa’s body to the funeral grounds. Elia refused Gavros’ help as he spent the whole afternoon digging their brother’s grave. Aldea sat to the side, her eyes were closed and red from crying and her head tilted forward. For hours she had been pressing her lips shut, frowning. She was in more discomfort than she had ever been in her whole pregnancy. She was also puzzled as to why she was feeling such strong cramps and this low, dull ache in her lower back that came in waves. The sun was setting and the pain she was in only grew stronger, but she sucked it up. She sniffed, opening her eyes and looking at her brother without moving her head as she heard him repeatedly kicking the dirt with his shovel, in frustration and throwing it away, whimpering. She followed his gaze as he looked ahead of him. Salena and her son had joined them.

“Were it not for my rage there would be no grave to dig?” he was panting, his face blackened with dirt and dust.

“Blame the Fates,” Gavros spoke. “not yourself.”

He jumped in the hole Elia had dug, picking up the shovel and handing it to him and grabbed a second one to give him a hand. They stopped again, looking up at Salena’s boy as he approached, giving a kiss to a toy he carried in his hands before crouching down and putting it in front of the candles set by the edge of the grave. Aldea blinked, unleashing tears onto her cheeks. The toy represented a charioteer on its rig. He then returned to his mother, and they left quietly. Aldea stifled a groan. A strong cramp started suddenly, lasting a few seconds before fading away. It wasn’t very different from what she had been feeling the past few hours but the next time around, she gasped and groaned loudly, and Elia widened his eyes, alerted, jumping out of the hole and rushing to his sister as she breathed sharply.

“Are you alright? Aldea, are you okay? Are you hurting?” He was anxiously shooting questions at her, but she just gritted her teeth because of the pain, unable to answer.

“Elia. Get her home quickly.” Elia looked over at Gavros and acquiesced, helping his sister up. She was had her eyes closed, her face briefly relaxing as she breathed in and out slowly and they walked away. It took twice as long as it normally would to get back to the Suburra and during the half hour it took them, Aldea was going back and forth from groaning and moaning from the pain and sighing of relief when it faded away. She had no idea what was going on. She didn’t understand why she was feeling this way. Last time this had happened was when Claudia had made her a sort of abortion tea sometime after she had first gotten to Rome. The cramps were the same, but it was so early on in the pregnancy, there had been only blood coming out of her and yet it had felt as though she was literally giving birth. She stopped in her tracks. They were halfway there. Her eyes were wide open in horror at what she had just come to realize, or at least suspect.

“What is it? Aldea? Are you okay?”

She resumed walking, gulping, “I think— I think I’m giving birth. No—no, no, no, it can’t be…” They arrived on the street to Tenax’s insula. If she was giving birth, she had to go to Claudia, and hopefully, Cala would be there too. The Numidian woman had had three children. She could help better than any midwife. Breathing in, and out, Aldea climbed one step at a time. Elia pounded on the door, urging anyone inside to open the door quickly and a second later, Cala appeared behind the door. The confusion on her face was soon replaced by fear and concern. She let him in, closing the door behind her.

“Take her to the bedroom. Quickly.” He nodded and took his sister to the bedroom while Cala turned to Claudia, standing behind her in the kitchen. “Get me the birthing chair, right now.” The old woman rushed in and out of their room, giving her the chair. “Soak some cloths in warm olive oil, and then pour it in a bladder and bring it to me.”

Elia was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding his sister’s hand, placing a kiss on her knuckles. He looked over his shoulder, watching as Cala set the chair in a corner of the room. She bent over, caressing Aldea’s face with concern. The latter was panting, clenching her jaw and wincing, moaning and groaning at the contractions, squeezing her brother’s hand hard.

“Where’s Tenax?” She asked through gritted teeth, letting out a sob. She had put her anger aside and just wanted him there with her, but he was nowhere to be seen. She needed him.

Cala sighed and spoke quietly, “He had business to attend to. He will be home before the sun comes up.”

“Will she be okay?” Elia was greatly distressed.

“She will.”

“Cala…” The middle-aged woman turned her head back to Aldea as the latter called her name. “our mother— our mother died in childbirth.” Her voice broke, “I don’t want to die...”

“You listen to me, Aldea. You will not die.” She cupped her face with her hands and caressed her cheekbone with her thumb. When Claudia came in the room, Cala told Elia to go wait outside and he was so reluctant to leave that she had to repeat herself and closed the doors behind him. Aldea’s breathing quickened and she cried out in pain. Claudia and Cala helped her get up and walk to the birthing chair. She sat down with a groan, grasping onto the armrests.

“I will go fetch the midwife.” Claudia said, standing up. There were this Greek midwife that they had found in the early months of her pregnancy. Despite being low-borns and plebeians, Tenax wanted to ensure a smooth birth for his wife, and he had the money to do so.

“Go quick. Drag her from her bed if you have to.” Claudia nodded and rushed outside, running out of the apartment. The midwife lived on the other side of the Suburra. While she was gone, Cala placed the bladder full of hot olive oil by her side and applied the warm, soaked cloths to her abdomen to help with the pain and breathed along with her to help her calm down. She squeezed her hand, talking to her softly, making her take deep breaths in, and out, until Claudia returned with the two midwives.

They joined them inside the room, conversing with each other as they took their places around the chair, checking on Aldea’s state. One of them sat opposite and below her for the delivery. The pain and discomfort she had been in the whole afternoon was actually labour pain. She was in labour, but even the midwives spoke, with a quite noticeable Greek accent, “she shouldn’t be giving birth for another two moons.”

“Well, she is, so it doesn’t matter anymore.” Cala declared. The woman gave her a sidelong glance but didn’t say anything else and did her job, while Aldea groaned and moaned continuously, crying and screaming through her teeth as she was felt the urge to push. Claudia helped by gently keeping her in place so that she wouldn’t sway with the pain. She held her breath so much that the women around her had to remind her to take breaks and breathe but even merely breathing was extremely exhausting and she thought she was dying and that her body was being torn in half. She constantly lamented, saying she couldn’t do it and sobbing and having to be encouraged and reassured by Cala but after an hour of this, Aldea felt completely out of her mind with pain and exhaustion. She was shaking from the effort and covered in sweat.

“I can’t do this—ugh, I can’t— I can’t do this." She shook her head and sobbed, crying out for Tenax. She needed him more than ever. Cala cupped her face with her hands.

“He will be home soon. Keep going. You’re doing great.” Aldea nodded, trying to catch her breath as she kept on pushing as hard as she could.

Cala turned her head upon hearing the door open and close, Elia talking to someone and hurried steps approaching the doors. Tenax came in, ignoring the disapprobating stare of the midwife as men weren’t supposed to be present at births but he didn’t care and neither Aldea nor Cala cared for that Roman convention. The Spaniard looked up and followed him with her gaze as he rushed to her side, sitting down next to her after Claudia brought a stool. He took her hand, placing a kiss on it. They locked eyes, pressing their foreheads together then she turned her head and continued to push for a while, until the midwife let her know that she could see the baby's head. She was almost there, and fortunately so, because she felt herself becoming very dizzy and light-headed. And then, finally, it was all over. Aldea let out the biggest sigh known to man and caught her breath, throwing her head back. Her tears weren’t only from the pain of the birth, she was crying because of the exhaustion and thinking about Andria and Fonsoa, her beloved brothers who she had lost in the span of a couple of days, and because she was frightened. She was scared to die after witnessing her mother literally bleed out after giving birth to Elia. Aldea was just 4 years old when that happened. But she didn’t die. She was still alive, and it took her a second to realize it was over.

After a few seconds of silence, Aldea heard a piercing cry and groaned as she straightened her neck. The midwife had stepped away with the baby and was washing it with Cala while Claudia left the room. Cala glanced over her shoulder at Aldea and Tenax, “It’s a boy.”

“He was born two moons early. He’s quite small, but if the gods will it, he will live through childhood.”

“They will.” Cala said, firmly. Claudia then returned with woollen bands and before wrapping them around the baby’s limbs, Tenax stood up and approached them to see the child. He had had many months to prepare for the fact he was going to be a father but the look on his face made him look like he couldn’t believe it, like he couldn’t believe that he was an actual father, with a child of his own. They then swaddled the infant in the wool, limb by limb and, holding him carefully in his arms, Tenax turned around and walked over to Aldea, crouching before her. Slowly, she held out her arms and he handed their child to her.

She was staring at the baby’s face and just started crying, “Amatus.” It was the name she had picked for their child, were it to be a boy. His name came from the verb amare, meaning to love, and meant beloved. Aldea couldn’t stop crying. She was a complete mess, and her emotions were all over the place, taking quivering gasps. The small baby in her hands opened his round, blue-grey eyes every now and then, looking at the tired faces of his mother leaned over him. Aldea smiled tenderly, softly caressing his cheek with the tip of her finger. She felt such a sense of happiness take over her heart and was completely overwhelmed. Tears flowed non-stop down her face. She heard the three other women in the room talk, catching a few words from the midwife telling Claudia and Cala what to do and Cala mentioning she had three children of her own and they left the room, leaving the new parents alone. Aldea lifted her head, looking up from her baby and meeting Tenax’s shiny eyes. There were so many emotiong going on on his face that she was unable to tell them apart, joy, regret, guilt, adoration and love.

“Aldea.” He spoke her name in hushed tones.

“We’ll talk later. We just had a son… our beautiful baby.” She looked back down at their child. Now was not the time to talk about all that had happened. She was way too tired to think about anything. “He has your eyes.” Tenax chuckled and acquiesced, kissing her lips.

“Aldea, give him to me.” He said softly after Aldea tried to stand up. She handed him their son and leaned on his shoulder to get up. He caught her as she stumbled, losing her balance because. She was dizzy and her whole body felt sore and bruised as she took a few steps towards the bed. Tenax called Claudia and the housekeeper came in, followed by Cala and the two women helped her lie down on the bed. Elia stood in the doorway, holding his hands in front of him, nervously. The concern on his face was almost too cute. Aldea watched through her half-opened eyes as her little brother slowly approached Tenax.

“Can I hold him?” He asked shyly. Tenax carefully handed the baby to the young Spaniard, and he took him, looking down at his nephew with a candid smile dawning on his face. Aldea grinned, amused, and closed her eyes to rest them a little and ended up falling asleep. It would have been physically impossible for her not to. For the rest of the morning, she was dozing off, coming out of sleep and falling asleep again right after. She didn’t know when, but she was woken up after a floorboard creaked under someone's foot. Her eyes were not completely open, her eyelashes blurred her vision, but she thought she recognized Cala's silhouette. Aldea mumbled her name, and the woman stopped in her tracks, turning towards her. She walked around the bed after grabbing something from the nightstand. She brought a cup to her lips. Aldea had no idea what she was drinking but it seemed to alleviate the pain. She grabbed her wrist as she went to leave.

“Where’s my— Where’s my baby?” She asked, her eyes closed. Cala caressed her hand.

“He’s with Claudia. Now, rest.” She put her hand on her chest and left the room, but Aldea was so tired she didn’t even realize it and kept on mumbling inaudibly until she fell asleep again. She came out of her slumber again when it was already dark outside. Aldea groaned as she stood up on her own, leaning on the chair by her side and on the wall as she pushed the door open ajar. She was hearing muffled voices coming from outside the bedroom. Cala was standing there with her younger daughter, Jula, and Elia. Claudia was sitting at the kitchen table, holding Amatus in her arms.

“How will you provide for her?” Cala questioned.

“I am riding for the Blues. I am their lead charioteer now.”

“Hmm. And when you are killed?”

“We drivers have a club for that. We save for, uh… well, just in case.”

Cala looked at her daughter, “Do you love him?”

“Yes. I do, mother.” She said quietly, the corners of her mouth lifting as she locked eyes with Elia.

Cala sighed, “Love, a weak basis for marriage. But it will do for now.”

“Thank you.” Jula wrapped her arms around her mother. Aldea smiled softly and walked out of the bedroom, putting a hand on her brother’s shoulder. He looked behind him, just noticing his sister.

“What are all those happy smiles for?” She asked with a smile on her face as well.

“I am getting married, sister. And I will be a father.”

“What? Really? Oh, hermanito.” She drew him into a hug. She was so proud of him and the thought of their children being so close in age meant they would be able to grow up together and be close cousins and it was such a sweet thought that warmed her broken heart. They all broke their embraces when the door opened. Rufus came in, glancing at Cala and Aldea.

“Tenax wants you to come.” Cala nodded, kissing her daughter’s cheek and hugging Elia.

“Take good care of her. Or you will answer to me.” She spoke in his ear, “And to the Gods of Numidia.”

Aldea smiled amusedly, “Don’t worry, Cala. He will take good care of your girl.” Claudia came up to her, giving her back her son, who was sleeping soundly and Aldea left the apartment with Cala. As they walked down the stairs, she refused Rufus’ help, rather letting Cala help her and the man led them all the way to the Esquiline hill. Aldea recognized Scorpus’ house. She was a little confused at first as to why they would be brought here but she figured that maybe, since the driver was dead, Tenax might have made this luxurious home his own – their own. Rufus opened the door for them and let the two women inside. Aldea looked up. The ceiling was so high, and the the entrance of the house was about as large as their apartment in the insula. Even her family home in Hispania wasn’t that big, and it was her great-grandfather that built it. Rich roman houses like Scorpus’, on the Esquiline were beautiful and grand but quite ostentous. They showed off the wealth of the people living in this neighborhood. She was brought out of her contemplation when she heard Cala's voice raised, breaking the silence of the house.

“Your new home?”

“Scorpus isn’t using it. Anyway, he hated it.” His voice echoed in the high-ceilinged room. “He preferred brothels. Domitian, our new Emperor, has made me Aedile Ludi. You know what that means? Julius Caesar, himself, served as Aedile Ludi during his rise.”

“A deserved prize. For putting our new Emperor on the throne.” Aldea frowned as she listened. She had no idea what Cala meant by that.

He chuckled, “Now we both know that, but it’s not to be said out loud. Especially to Domitian. You understand…” his voice moved through the room. “that I need to kill you, don’t you?”

“What?” Aldea asked herself, in a whisper.

“I understand… that you believe that.”

“No surprise then. I expected you to try and bargain your way out of this.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s only through dumb luck that I’m alive.” The tone of his voice grew sharper. He spoke abruptly, sounding like he was scolding Cala. “Had that scroll reached Titus, I would be dead and Domitian as well. What then of Aldea, and my son? They would have nothing.”

“Then you should thank your Roman Goddess, Fortuna.”

“I do!” He paused. “I take no pleasure in killing you. But you’ve given me no choice.”

“I betrayed you. But did I ever lie to you?” There was another silence. “You are from the gutter. Your money, your betting, your allies, all your allegiances, your very beek all reek of the sewere. But you live on the Esquiline Hill now. You need someone honest… to manage what you leave behind. Without an endless flow of money, all this will fall apart, and the senators will roar with laughter as they kick you back to the gutter. And then, Aldea and your son will, indeed, be left with nothing.”

Upon hearing Cala take a sharp breath, gasping, and Aldea approached the door, looking into the room, the flame of the candle shining in the corner of her eyes. Tenax had his hand up to Cala’s neck. She had struck a chord with those words.

“Why should I trust you?”

She slightly shook her head, “Who else?” She grabbed his hand firmly and softly pushed it away, “For my children… I will betray you in a second. But beyond that, I will never lie to you. I never have. Who else can offer you that? Aldea? Yes. Do you remember, what I asked you at Andria’s funeral?”

“You terrify me.” He was staring at her, clenching his jaw, and Cala’s eyes invited him to answer her question, out loud and it took a moment before he spoke, “That I should seek Aldea’s forgiveness, not yours.”

“And?”

“If her love for me was greater than her love for her brothers.”

“What did I say to that, before I left?”

He swallowed harshly, “That it wasn’t.”

“I still wonder whether I was right to say that, or not. But I would advise you to tread carefully. She loves you, so much, and has a son with you, but her brother Elia is already like a son to her. You better make sure nothing happens to that boy, or I might prove right.” She patted his shoulder, and walked away, “You know where to find me.”

Cala stopped by the door, glancing back at Tenax and left, walking past Aldea standing in the hallway. She caressed the young woman’s cheek, in this motherly manner she had with her. Aldea then walked through the doors with a slow step, closing them behind her and locked eyes with Tenax, standing on the other side of the grand, main room. She walked around the three couches set up at the center, looking around her. It was even bigger than the entrance.

“So, it will be our home now? How could Scorpus live in such a big house alone?”

“He was rarely alone.”

“Yes. That was a stupid question.” She stopped in front of Tenax and met his eyes again. They looked at each other’s face in silence and she was the one to break it, “I am not going to pretend that I am sad that Scorpus died.”

“I know.”

“He had it coming. But I am sad for you, he was your good friend.” She caressed his cheek softly. “His death cost me my other brother. Fonsoa died because of Scorpus too.” It didn’t matter to her that it was Elia who got Scorpus killed and indirectly led to Fonsoa’s death, but she would never place the blame on her baby brother. To her, it was all Scorpus’ fault, and the dead cannot defend themselves so, who would ever say the opposite.

“I am sorry, Aldea.” She closed her eyes for a second, turning her head to the side. Tears fell down her cheeks and she wiped them off with her thumb. She couldn’t tell him that she forgave him, because for now, she didn’t. That didn’t mean she didn’t love him but hearing what Cala mentioned earlier, whether or not her love for her brothers was greater than her love for Tenax and it got the both of them thinking and now that her brothers were gone, she couldn’t think that she could ever love someone more than them. There was going to be a lot of work to get their relationship to how it was before her brothers came to Rome that summer, but she loved Tenax and their family, as well as the family that Elia and Jula were building together, was more important than anything else to her. She couldn’t risk losing any of them.

“Scorpus’ ego killed my brothers. And it almost killed our son.” She stressed each word and stepped closer to him, their faces mere inches apart from each other. “You’re Aedile Ludi now. And Domitian is Emperor. You’re an ambitious man, Tenax, but you need to be careful, or your ambition will get us all killed. You can’t afford to make mistakes with him.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you, our son, or your brother. I promise you.”

“That’s really up to Domitian. I do not trust him.”

“Trust me.” He took her face in his hands, speaking quietly.

“Then do not betray my trust again.”

He kissed her.

The future wasn’t as bleak as it might seem, but it wasn’t going to be a nice walk in the park. The threat of Ursus had been replaced by a much worse one, Domitian as Emperor. They had the sword of Damocles dangling over their heads.

[To be continued…]

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Published (09/22/2024) by Andrea

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