Pilate's Wife: A Novel of the Roman Empire Read Online Free PDF

combat had been designated a sine missione . The life of each would depend on killing his comrades before the sun set.
    The first part of the show was given over to animal-baiting. Never having seen an elephant, I was thrilled by their size, power, and cunning. Surely that lordly trumpeting could be heard beyond the city gates. My excitement dissolved as I watched trainers pierce the beasts with fire darts until, driven mad by pain and anger, they turned on one another, goring and stamping. The butchery was like nothing I had seen anywhere or could ever have imagined. The dust was impossible to block even in our place of honor and the smell...Blood, entrails, excrement steamed in the August heat. I held my ears, hoping to block the angry bellows, the agonized squeals. I couldn't; they were deafening. At last one animal remained, standing alone amid the carnage. A herd of possibly fifty elephants had been massacred. While enormous oxcarts carried off the slain beasts, the victorious elephant knelt before the imperial box as he had been trained to do.
    The slaughter of jungle cats was to me even more terrible. I had to bite my lips to keep from crying out as torch-bearing beaters forced the creatures into the arena. Scorched by flames, goaded by sharp swords, the exotic felines snarled furiously, swiping at one another with their fearful claws. Despite their agility and defiant courage, in the end it was hopeless. The black panthers reminded me of Hecate. I couldn't bear it and turned away to wipe away the tears that streamed from my eyes. I am a soldier's daughter, I must be strong, I reminded myself and turned back.

     

    F ROM TIME TO TIME I STOLE GLANCES AT T IBERIUS, SPRAWLED BACK IN his seat under a purple canopy. The emperor's body was well formed, his shoulders particularly impressive. I thought his features attractive. What would it be like to know one's face was recognized on coins and monuments throughout the world? Yet, despite the power and privilege that clung to Tiberius, I saw sadness. He's never been happy. His life is a tragedy . Why I should know this, I couldn't imagine any more than I could fathom why one so powerful should not have everything he desired.
    Tiberius looked up, our eyes locking as he coolly returned my gaze. I felt as though I had glimpsed him naked and been caught staring. Blushing to the roots of my hair, I looked away only to catch a glimpse of Caligula's hands, following the folds of my sister's chiton . Startled, I wondered why Marcella didn't box his ears.
    A fanfare of trumpets announced the gladiators. Fleetingly regal, they marched forward to stand before the imperial box. Eyes on Tiberius, they spoke as one: "We who are about to die, salute you." Father and Germanicus exchanged glances. "One rarely hears that," Tata said. "It's to be a fight to the finish," Uncle reminded him. The emperor nodded indifferently, sunlight flashing from his ringed fingers as he idly drummed the arms of his chair. The gladiators broke into pairs and positioned themselves to fight.
    Wax tablets were passed from hand to hand as spectators scribbled the names of their favorites and the sums they staked. Everyone was taking part--not only the common people but also senators and knights, even Vestal Virgins.
    "Did you know we have a prophet among us?" Germanicus asked Tiberius. "When we hold our regimental games, Claudia invariably picks winners."
    "Indeed! That little mouse?" The empress looked up from her tablet. Until now she had managed to ignore my entire family. Why does she dislike us so? Livia's green eyes were disdainful. "Isn't this your first circus?"
    "I venture she will know a winner when she sees one," Germanicus assured her.
    "And who will win this time, Madam Oracle?" Tiberius leaned forward, a spark of interest lighting a face that had remained impassive throughout the preliminary events
    "I--I--can't do it that way," I struggled to explain. "I don't know something because I want to."
    "Then