Only the Nubian’s great height allowed him to keep the Spaniard in sight till he caught up. Otho remained fifty paces ahead with Onomastus and two of his lictors as they passed the House of the Vestals and the Regia. ‘If we end up in the open, drop back,’ the gladiator muttered from the side of his mouth. ‘You’re a bit too conspicuous for this kind of work. Following people is an art.’ Juva shrugged. ‘I thought I might be some help if you got into trouble, old man.’ ‘If I wasn’t on business, I’d cut your balls off and make you eat them for saying that. Maybe later.’ ‘You could try,’ Juva growled. The big man continued to watch Otho’s progress. ‘He’s turned left. Do you think he’s going to the rostrum?’ Serpentius glanced up at the black man. ‘Maybe you are good for something after all.’ He increased his pace. They were in the very heart of the Forum, in the shadow of the Capitoline Hill, with the great bulk of the tabularium off to their right and the Rostrum Julium with its captured ships’ beaks to their left.
