Trix rose early before dawn. Her meal was already waiting at the table and her maids were running around her chambers to prepare what she was to wear.
She struggled to get out of bed. She wasn't used to getting up this early.
She ate, got dressed, and headed out the door with her maids and guards in tow.
The training grounds were behind the palace. It was a wide open space which allowed the soldiers ample space to practice combat and archery. A small building was on the side where they could practice fighting within tight spaces.
As Trix and her companions entered the grounds the soldiers formed into their ranks and fell to their knees. At the front was Hector and General Cato.
She gestured them to rise and Hector offered his arm to her.
They walked side by side with General Cato who then instructed them on their routine.
"Every morning, at the break of dawn you will first run around the palace. The emperor was strict about you
They had arrived at the home of Senator Marcius and his wife, lady Livia, for the celebration of he birth of their son Regulus.The party was a great affair. Wine flowed freely and the food was rich and bountiful. The Lady Livia was a distant cousin of the royal family and with the birth of her son, Regulus, presented a contender to the throne.The Senator, his wife, and his aging father had come out of their villa to meet the royal family. To their surprise a young man accompanied the royals. Hector was introduced to them as Senator Julian's grandson and heir.Hector was amazed with the attention given to him despite the royal family's presence. Men and women came up to offer their condolences on his mother's death.As per tradition the men were served wine and the women grape juice. Rich food was served. Pork and beef with fruits and bread. No expense was spared at the birth of the Senator's first son.Hector sat with some young men who had welco
Trix was in her room waiting for the doctors. As soon as she recalled everything she told Hector and her parents. But there was still a part of her memory missing. She couldn't remember the day she was kidnapped. Everything about it was a blur. They had returned to the palace and the memory of Juliana's death lingered still fresh in her memory. They had only returned home moments ago. After Juliana's body was retrieved the procession continued out of the city to a large and extravagant burial grounds. It had been owned by the family of Julian for generations and was practically habitable. There were dining areas and stables. There was even a summer home at the edge of the grounds. Juliana's body was cremated at the ustrinae and later on placed in an urn. After prayers were said and offerings made she was interned next to her mother who had died ten years before.The ride back was silent
Trix continued to evaluate her surroundings. She looked up through the opening of the well. It must have been at least fifteen feet above her. It was dark and all she could see was the stars in the heavens above. Suddenly she noticed a faint glow. It must have been a fire. She was about to call out when she realized that it was quite possible that her captors had not left and was guarding against the possibility of her escape. She felt like breaking down into tears. Why would anyone want to capture her? She could think of three obvious reasons. The first was they were after her father and his position as emperor. The second could be to hold her for ransom. The wealth of her family was no secret. If anyone was desperate enough it would be a logical choice to kidnap her. And the third was they wanted to compromise the emperor's lineage.
As they arrived in the Villa they spotted the Emperor and Empress awaiting their return. They had sent a messenger ahead to tell them that their daughter was safe.The walk back to the Villa was uneventful and peaceful. Especially compared to the past few days. Hector had only lost his mother a week before and he was worried that he would also lose his best friend to the same sinister men that deprived him of a mother. He would avenge her someday, he promised. And when he did he will find everyone responsible. Trix was his only family left and he would not ever lose her to those people again.As they arrived Trix was still weak. A servant came up and offered them some drink. Trix gladly accepted it and drank everything up. Hector refused the drink as he was still holding Trix in his arms. The emperor would not trust anyone with his daug
She looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. The room was elegant and the bed was large. It seemed to be a room that belonged to some noble woman of some sort. As she sat up two strange women approached to help her. The called hermy lady.She was no lady. She was the orphan of Clusium. One of the two women stepped out while the other offered her a drink and some food. She was thirsty and starving. She accepted it. A while later a familiar figure approached. A dashing young man she had always found attractive. Except this time instead of his simple clothing he wore what seemed to be the most extravagant day attire she had ever seen. Hector called her name. "Hector where are we? Who are these people?" Trix asked. A look of shock came over Hector's face.
Trix was in her room waiting for the doctors. As soon as she recalled everything she told Hector and her parents. But there was still a part of her memory missing. She couldn't remember the day she was kidnapped. Everything about it was a blur. They had returned to the palace and the memory of Juliana's death lingered still fresh in her memory. They had only returned home moments ago. After Juliana's body was retrieved the procession continued out of the city to a large and extravagant burial grounds. It had been owned by the family of Julian for generations and was practically habitable. There were dining areas and stables. There was even a summer home at the edge of the grounds. Juliana's body was cremated at the ustrinae and later on placed in an urn. After prayers were said and offerings made she was interned next to her mother who had died ten years before.The ride back was silent
At their evening meal Hector announced that the slave that offered them their drink had been apprehended. The members of Trix's guard had taken the woman into their custody. They learned that she had been a slave in the senator's villa since the senator was a young boy. She was one of the most trusted slaves. She had chosen to serve the family over freedom and had been justly marked.The men who had carried Trix's litter back to the palace had been hand picked by the emperor prior to their arrival and had passed the most rigorous tests of loyalty in the past. Hector believed that there was no need to investigate them but the emperor insisted.The interrogation of both the slave and the guards were to be done by general Cato and his men in a couple of weeks. The slave would be locked up in the palace for the mean time.
"Now all we need to know is who could have made the poison." Hector whispered as they made their way to their morning training.Trix had come to hate this part of the day the most since she would often come out exhausted. Although several noblemen who had witnessed one of their sessions had commented on how well she could fight. Trix felt quite the contrary. She often lost to her male opponents and she feared having to face Hector. But today she was excited. It would be the first time she would see her maids fight. They had once been gladiators alongside mistress Maxima. They had chosen to serve the emperor as protectors of his daughter."Lady Vitatrix, Lord Hector." One of the men bowed as they entered the courtyard. Trix smiled and nodded to the man before making her way to the group of men to accompany her on her run. General Cato ha