"Possibly, when he is ready. I will await the signals," she offered generously.
The group of four looked upon the haughty figure with wavering confidence.
"Where were you, madam, on the day of the boy's death?" Suetonius proceeded.
"I have barely departed the precincts of The Alexandros since the barque's assembly here on the day of our arrival last week. There is nothing in this remote place to interest me."
"Do you realize, madam, how many of the natives of this part of Egypt are claiming the death of Antinous will induce a miracle?" Suetonius stated. "They say he's a sacrifice to their gods, and that the river flowing beneath us here will flood to its desired height next season because of his death?"
"I too have heard that said," she responded.
"Some say the priests of Amun may have engineered this event? Do you believe these Egyptian wizards are capable of such a crime?" Clarus probed. "In fact, we've been told the priest known as Pachrates of Memphis may have had a role in such a conspiracy."
Perenna remained seated in a pensive mood for some moments.
"I am not aware of such a conspiracy, sirs," she replied, "and I do not know the gifts of this priest Pachrates. But I've come to learn how in this odd land conspiracy abounds and deceit is commonplace. It is true the priests of the Old Religion here are eager to regain their influence with Pharaoh and have their temple lands restored to them. I'm sure they'll stop at nothing to achieve their goals."
"But would killing Great Caesar's consort be a suitable gesture? Surely this would seem a risky enterprise likely to deeply offend their Pharaoh, not appease him?" Suetonius asked.
"Only, gentlemen, if the crime was ascribed to them," the woman with the white painted features assured. "Perhaps the perpetrators, if this indeed is what has occurred, have performed some masterly magic in covering their tracks?"
"What advantage would provoke them to such daring?" Clarus interjected. "Cui bono, who benefits?"
Perenna smiled limply.
"Perhaps the drowning sacrifice of such a lofty yet disposable member of the Court would give Great Caesar reason to declare this place the appropriate site for Hadrianopolis, his new city in Middle Egypt? I am sure you have heard of this project?" Perenna proposed. "Such a sacrifice sanctifies this place in the eyes of the natives, which gives it enhanced value." She continued in a conspiratorial vein.
"And if Hadrianopolis was established here at the east bank opposite the stamping ground of Amun's opponent sects at Hermopolis, then the priests of Amun here would greatly benefit from Caesar's new city. Pachrates has been at Caesar's side on the planning of the project for months. He may have recommended the efficacy of such an sacrifice?"
"Do you suggest Hadrian was party to a conspiracy to kill the Bithynian?! Do you accuse Caesar of murder?!" Clarus uttered with a rising flush.
"Indeed no. Great Caesar need have no knowledge of such a plot," she offered calmly.
Both Suetonius and Clarus sensed this unconventional woman was toying with them.
"Once again, where were you at the time of the boy's death?" Clarus demanded.
"As I have said, gentlemen, on the night of the young man's death I was secure in my chamber here at The Alexandros performing preliminary rites for the Festival of Isis. Isis is celebrated at Rome too. Isis has become a feature of our cult as much as it has with all women of the Empire," she replied. "We too honor Isis and the resurrection of Osiris. Our rites are lengthy."
"Do you have witnesses to this, my lady?" Suetonius enquired. "We've been told your protector, the Prefect Governor, was enjoying his pleasures elsewhere that night."
Anna Perenna thoughtfully considered her response.
"Indeed, gentlemen, I possess witnesses. My assigned bodyguard was on my watch at The Alexandros throughout the night," she offered.
"And those officers were…?" Clarus asked.
"The captain of my guard can vouchsafe for me, gentlemen. He is known to you. The Alexandrian Praetorian, Centurion Quintus Urbicus of Numidia," she responded. "I am told he and his patrol have since been allocated to your service?"
"They have indeed, madam," Clarus confirmed.
"Then you will know he is a witness of the highest credibility."
Suetonius offered a new thought.
"Madam, you say Antinous was a lofty yet disposable member of the Court. In what way was the young man disposable?" the Special Inspector asked.
"Why, as charming as the lad may have been, his usefulness to Caesar had expired. He knew this himself, too. He was no longer Caesar's closest intimate. At least, this is what he told me," Perenna confided. "It was one of the issues for him seeking my services."
"He told you this? What other issues were there?" Suetonius queried.
"Well, his future was one. There was his other relationship. And Caesar's health too. There were several things of great concern to him," she revealed.
The group of four were startled.
"His other relationship?! We are under the impression the boy was utterly faithful to his long-term erastes?"
"Gentlemen, since Caesar put the fellow aside at Alexandria many weeks ago the lad has found solace in another's bosom. Surely you appreciate he was attractive to many at Court? There is no shortage of suitors," she responded breezily.
"Who? Who?" Clarus demanded.
"I'm afraid he didn't reveal a name to me, sirs," she said. "But I can imagine it would be easily expected of so appealing a fellow."
"What too do you mean by Caesar's health?" Suetonius queried.
"There are many at Court who express concern about Hadrian's coughing bouts. They are no longer a mere nuisance to him. They are known to draw blood from his chest," Perenna stated confidently. "His young consort was troubled by this circumstance and hoped someone such as I would have a herb or decoction to treat such ailments. But this is a physician's art, not a priestess of Anna Perenna. We concentrate on fertility, romance, beauty, and divination, not sickness."
"Tell me, madam, you use your name objectively in the third person? Why is this so?" Suetonius queried.
The tall woman faced him blankly for a few moments. She cleared her throat before responding while Suetonius looked intently at the brightly colored gem upon a finger of her right hand. He felt the gemstone reminded him of something or someone. It was familiar.
"The name Anna Perenna, good sirs, is as much a title as a personal name. All senior priestesses of the cult of Anna Perenna are named Anna Perenna. I am Anna Perenna at Alexandria. My teacher and leader at Rome is Anna Perenna at Rome. Two others are elsewhere in the Empire," the pockmarked matron clarified pertly. "But each of us is guided by the invocation 'for leave to live in and through the year to our liking'. It is our motto."
She returned to silence.
"Then you have a previous name and family after all? Before you became Anna Perenna, that is?"
"No that I recall, sir. Since childhood I have always been Anna to my priestly community at Rome. I have been raised to receive and enact the hallowed duties of an Anna Perenna," she explained. "The priestesses adopt orphans and out-of-wedlock infants of good family to train them in this manner, unless they prove unsuitable to the task. I was eminently suitable."
"Then you cannot throw any light at all on the death of the Bithynian, madam?" Suetonius now finalized his line of questioning.
"Not I, Inspector. Perhaps the wizard Pachrates can cast such light as you may require," she offered. A sense of remoteness appeared in her eyes. She continued.
"I am told we have been instructed by Caesar to attend the reception platform before his chambers an hour ahead of dawn on tomorrow's Third Day?
The third day of The Isia begins the days of celebration, the day when Osiris is restored to life in Isis's arms after his journey in the Underworld. Seth and evil are defeated. Life is restored to this land and its Pharaoh. It is an apotheosis. Caesar is assembling his key advisors and colleagues for this dawn's arrival."