"I see," the woman said with complete composure. "This is an interrogation? I doubt I can be of much assistance to you but, well then, take your dictation."
"For our record, name who you are and under whose household do you receive protection or patronage? State your origins, age, and personal details."
"Me? I see. Well sirs, I am known as Anna Perenna, the priestess of the cult of Anna Perenna at Alexandria. I am a freeborn Roman citizen and have been trained in our arts since childhood at our ancient foundation at Rome.
I was assigned to Egypt three years ago as the cult's representative under the protection of the Prefect Governor, Flavius Titianus. I live as a member the governor's clientela, but am sustained by an endowment independently afforded by my foundation at Rome. I also receive fees and gifts as a priestess to adherents of my cult. My age? I am told I was born in the first year of Caesar Trajan, which makes me thirty-two years of age. I do not know which month, but I celebrate my birth on Anna Perenna's traditional date."
Suetonius thought that an odd uncertainty in someone of the patrician class, but many people are uncertain of their exact age regardless of class.
"So you are a citizen of Rome, madam?" Suetonius enquired out of heightened curiosity, recognizing how interrogation-by-torture would not be a legal option.
"We priestesses of one of the most ancient consecrated orders of Roman tradition are citizens by definition," she replied confidently. "But we're a permissive cult unlike, say, the Vestals who are committed to absolute chastity on pain of death. For many centuries we've been known for our merry ways and we live to our liking.
We especially serve women with the medicaments, herbs, and practices necessary for controlling fertility. We also provide all manner of charms and potions to assist in love making or romance and dealing in matters of sex, childbearing, or attracting a partner. The services of Anna Perenna are highly sought after."
"I'm sure you are, madam. You are aware of the young man Antinous's death, my lady?" Clarus asked plainly.
Perenna considered her response thoughtfully.
"Why, gentlemen, should I know anything about the young man's death?"
"It is known to us, madam, how you have shared the company and conversation of the youth on occasions over recent times," Suetonius proposed. "We seek your views on the matter."
"So? I share the company of many members of the Court, gentlemen. I offer advice on matters of a personal nature to quite a few of the Household. This has included the youth Antinous in recent times. It is my duty and my vocation as a priestess of my cult. It also enhances my income."
"I return to our original question, madam. What is your knowledge of the death of the Bithynian? Please remember, madam, we are recording your words in due legal process," Suetonius stated purposefully as Strabon's stylus fluttered over a wax tablet.
"Nothing, gentlemen. I know absolutely nothing of the Bithynian's death," she declared conclusively, "though I was saddened to hear of it. I've included the shade of the dead lad in my daily prayers and offerings. I will pray for him through the nine days of his shade's progress through the Underworld to assist in his resolve."
"His resolve, did you say Madam?" Suetonius queried.
Perenna baulked for a moment before such an ignorant query.
"The newly-deceased need all the prayers that may be offering, gentlemen," she confirmed. "His journey through the Underworld deserves our support, don't you think?"
"In your past conversations with him did you detect any issues which could lead to such an unexpected outcome? We are led to believe he discussed matters with you on occasion, possibly of a personal nature?" the biographer asked.
"I do not share the confidences of my clients with others, gentlemen, as you would expect. But the fellow is dead and it's true he was unhappy about many things, to my view. As many at Court were aware, his relationship with Great Caesar had expired. Yes, he did seek advice from me on certain matters, and I offered my assistance as best I could."
"What was the advice he sought and the manner of your assistance?" Clarus forwarded.
"Some things remain confidential, gentlemen. Yet I suggested to Antinous I would prepare a suitable potion and advise him of an appropriate ritual which might fulfill his needs. This appeared to address his motives," she offered quietly. "He was a willing supplicant."
"Was your potion for Antinous, or for Caesar, priestess?" Suetonius asked with just the barest hint of skepticism. "And did your rituals achieve their desired effects?".
The eyes of the woman with the painted, scarred features flashed intently from behind their ashen pallor for a moment, but then resumed their unwavering gaze.
"The potion was only for the youth. I would not dare prescribe an elixir for Great Caesar unless requested personally by our Princeps or his physicians."
"What were the lad's motives precisely then, madam?" Suetonius continued. Perenna hesitated.
"The Bithynian wished a magical substitution, a special mystical substitution. My potion and ritual was created to give Antinous solace in this matter. The ritual was to affect a transfer of energies, once a traditional specialty of my cult. Whether it has achieved its goals is yet to be seen, my lords," the priestess uttered, somewhat ambiguously.
"Yet to be seen?" Clarus barked. "The boy is dead, madam! What is there to see?"
"So you have told me, gentlemen," she replied simply.
"Do you expect the lad to revive from his fate, Priestess?!" Clarus continued.
"People reach from beyond the grave in differing ways, gentlemen," Perenna replied enigmatically. "I am not denying or confirming such possibilities."
She uttered this with the confidence of either the true believer or an utter confabulator.
Suetonius decided to take a different path.
"My lady, we are told you possess remarkable skills. It's said you commune with the dead. Is this true?" the Special Inspector asked. The priestess shifted bolt upright.
"Where did you learn this notion?" she asked.
"From several sources, madam," Suetonius replied, "including the Prefect Governor."
"I am the priestess of my tradition at Alexandria, sir. From our inception at Rome in the time of the Etrurian kings we have engaged in wonders. Originally we were simple celebrants of the seasons and the annual harvest at Rome, but over the ages we've become mistresses of Cyclical Time itself. This, as well too as fertility, childbirth, or spiritual healing," the calm figure before the group expounded without diffidence.
"From time to time as the Grandmother of Time we are called upon to make contact with the deceased. We look deeply into Time and search out the shades of the dead. In this art we explore ways to heal the living or put the dead to rest. Or, we utilize Time itself to exchange a devotee's fate with another's to affect enhanced life. We attend the infirm and the hale alike. There is much in our tradition which challenges the notions of the mundane world, yet we bring comfort or reassurance to our devotees."
"Are you able to make contact with our deceased, Antinous, to enquire his view of his passing from his own lips, woman?" Clarus interposed provocatively.
"Not at this time, my lord," was the shrewd reply. "His shade is on its long journey to its final rest. Even nine days barely begins the adventure."
"Then can you look into Time, madam, and see what occurred to the boy two days ago?" Suetonius added even more provocatively.
"Not without his shade's cooperation," was the plausible if eluding reply. Suetonius had again heard a fortunate omission from a professed seer.
"Yet you believe he will reach from the grave, milady?"