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Sophia Wildwood
As Gaius led the way along the
docks bordering the Tiber, Arsinoe caught a glimpse of a small silver chain
wrapped around his wrist. That’s strange, she
thought. Most young men don’t wear such simple adornments.
“What
is that bracelet you are wearing?” She was surprised by her own voice. She had
not meant to ask him such a question – in his position he could easily have her
beaten for it.
“It
is a memento.” He said dismissively.
“Of
what?” Arsinoe pressed in spite of herself. Giving her a somewhat wary sidelong
glance, Gaius kept walking, this time increasing the pace until Arsinoe was
winded from the heat. Thinking that he was refusing to answer, she was caught
of guard when he responded.
“Do
remember the festival Caesar held when he came home from fighting the last of
the Pompeians?”
“Yes.”
She replied. How could she forget, her master had been in a rage for weeks
after it had occurred and it still remained a sore spot for the household.
“Well
during that festival Caesar paraded the head of a man who he perceived to have
been victorious over, but had, in fact, committed suicide.” Ah, yes. She remembered well.
“Cato,
wasn’t it?’
“Yes,
that was his name.” He paused and Arsinoe gave him a sharp look, perhaps one
too sharp for a slave to give a senator, but she was curious. Prompted, Gaius
continued. “Well Cato was a good man, perhaps the best of any man I have ever
known, and he died for the freedom of this city, for his beliefs, and with
honor. And that’s why I wear this bracelet, to remember him and what he stood
for and how power is easily corrupted… and easily lost.” He finished with a
relieved expression and it seemed to Arsinoe that he had said this many times,
for it was spoken with such conviction that it was clearly rehearsed.
“But
what does that have to do with the bracelet?’ Arsinoe did not know why she was
pressing this, yet she could see in his face that this went beyond political
admiration.
“He
gave this to me when I was very young.”
“Who?’
“Cato.”
Gaius said quietly. “He was my uncle.”
