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to them, but she was correct in telling you that he has no money left. She has wealth in her own
right from her mother's family. She has tried to leave but he is a Senator she cannot leave
without permission, giving her back to be beaten again. He beat her the very day that she ran
away and has been hiding with me ever since. She had left the night before without trying to
entice my father into picking her as my wife. He beat her for that, not knowing that she had
caught my eye, not knowing that on accident I had seen the bruises he had given her. Not
knowing that while she was with me on a harmless evening out, my father would give me the
choice of who I wanted to marry, not knowing that I didn t even think of picking another when I
had the choice and that we would plot to see him fall, to the lions if need be?
The old man looked over at Claudius, his eyes wide.  I am glad she found you. I am too
old to see her avenged, but by the Gods, you have my help.
 Then go see my father.
 And you go home tonight and enjoy yourself.
 I always do. The old man laughed as he took his leave of Claudius. His lawyer just
looked at him oddly, as they met once more.
30
* *Chapter 7* *
Senator Gaius Quintus Gallus and his son sat on Emperor Trajanus s right hand, while
Senator Annius Livius Pollius sat on the Emperor s wife s left. Before them, an entire banquet
was laid out of the costliest foods in the Empire. The finest wines available flowed into every
cup. Dancers floated before them in an array of colors that rivaled a rainbow. It was the first
time that Annius had been invited to the Imperial palace for dinner. He was feeling quite
satisfied with himself even if his daughter had disappeared into the bowels of Rome s slums. He
grimaced when he recalled the words the old man had screamed at him. Until then it was the
first he had heard of his daughter s whereabouts, he had assumed she had left first thing for her
uncle. That had been close to five months before though, and no mention of her had grated his
ears again. No matter he had quickly arranged a marriage for himself with a very rich widow
who was more than happy to gain a senator for a husband and her fortune would keep him in the
Senate for a good long time. He should have thought of his own marriage earlier instead of all
the trouble with his daughter. The widow was pleased as could be to be sitting at his side so
close to the emperor.
 So I hear you have yet to be married or even engaged, Claudius. Annius commented
on at last. No one had said anything on the matter letting him be drawn into his own demise.
 It isn t from lack of your trying to force your daughter in his direction. What stopped
you from sending messages every week? I was beginning to have enough to keep the house
warm for the winter. Trajanus laughed at Gaius s dig; even his own fiancée Cornelia stifled a
laugh. She was a rather homely woman not like his first wife at all but he didn t notice much
with all the jewels she wore. She wore so much makeup he wasn t even really sure what she
looked like underneath it all and her hair was dyed blonde it was rumored to hide the grey.
 Yes, Annius, when am I going to meet my new daughter?
 I told you she left the city. She returned to her uncle. I don t know when she will
return. Annius felt a shadow fall over him.
 I doubt, brother, that she left the gates as you say. She would have sent word that she
was returning to her home. The last message I got from her was that she was to wed.
Annius looked up at a tall handsome man. Marius was the opposite of his brother in all
ways. At least he was now. In their earlier days, they had resembled each other a great deal.
Tall, lean, tanned, a graduate of the law school, Marius could have been the center of Roman life
had he wanted a sedate life in the city. He much preferred the life he had chosen for himself, one
of adventure and obviously better living. They were only ten months apart. It was wholly
lifestyle had caused Annius to age so drastically. Annius was almost white haired, his frame [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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