'Let's hope not.' Cato turned away and quickly helped himself to some chunks of spiced horsemeat in a rich sauce before Macro could offer him another eye.
The king stirred and shifted himself to face his Roman guests. 'You're a lucky man, ambassador.'
'How so,Your Majesty?'
'You have a fine daughter. A loyal daughter no doubt.'
'I like to think so.' Sempronius smiled and patted Julia on the arm.
'Quite,' the king continued.'Sometimes I wish that I had had daughters, and not two younger sons who fight like wolves in a pit. They always have. And when they have not been fighting each other, they have been defying me. As for Amethus – well, at least he has a good heart, even if he has no brains.'
Cato was astonished that the old man had spoken so openly before his sons. Behind Vabathus' back Cato saw Balthus staring rigidly ahead as he ate with a leaden lack of enthusiasm. On hearing the king's words Amethus had turned to stare at his father. Gradually his blank expression turned into an angry frown.
Vabathus continued in a weary tone. 'Such has been my burden, and the burden of my people. For who shall inherit the throne after I am gone? The most able and cherished of the three has proved to be a traitor, the oldest changes his mind more often than the wind changes direction, and Balthus pursues his pleasures to the exclusion of all else. What chance of survival has my kingdom if I choose one of them to succeed me?'
Prince Balthus set his cup down with a sharp rap. 'Enough! You do me wrong, Father! All I have ever tried to do is please you.'
Although the guests stirred and the conversation died at once, King Vabathus' tired expression did not flicker, as if he had not heard a thing, or had simply heard it too often.
'If you find fault in us,' Balthus continued, 'then I say it is your fault that you have not settled the matter of succession. Even though I am not your firstborn, I am the natural choice as your heir. If you had only confirmed me as your successor from the outset none of this would have happened. But no, you had to put it off.Year after year, and this is the result.Why do you think Artaxes is out there with his rebels? You dangled the prospect of the throne in front of his eyes for too long.You tempted him until his patience snapped. If you had only chosen me then Artaxes would have known his place, and he would not be out there with an army and we would not be caught in this trap…' Balthus shut his eyes and clenched his fists, trying to control his anger.
Vabathus sighed. 'Have you finished, my son?' When there was no reply, the king gestured towards Sempronius. 'You see? What hope is there for Palmyra?'
'There is always hope,Your Majesty,' Sempronius replied smoothly. 'I am certain that whoever succeeds you will be able to count on the friendship and support of Rome. Rome never abandons her allies.'
Prince Balthus laughed at that, and turned to face the ambassador. 'It's funny how today's ally so often turns out to be tomorrow's imperial province.' He gestured towards his older brother. 'If this fool does succeed the king, then we might as well hand Palmyra over to Roman tax farmers and the Roman legions right now.'
Amethus scrambled off his couch and glared down at his father. 'No brains… That's what you said. No brains. No mind of my own. Well, let me tell you… I've had enough of it. I'm not an idiot. I may not have the intell…' He paused and his brow twisted in concentration. 'Intelli…'
'Intellect?' Balthus suggested. 'Intelligence?'
Amethus nodded vigorously. 'Yes! That's the word.'
'Which one?'
'Both. Either. Anyway, the point is I still have a good heart. I know right from wrong and I would be a good king. That's what Krathos says. So I've had enough of being called a fool!'
Amethus turned and strode across the roof garden and disappeared through the formal doorway, leaving the other guests shocked by the openness of the rift between him, his father and Prince Balthus.
Vabathus shook his head sadly. 'You see what I have to put up with. You see my dilemma? I could weep for my people.'
Cato and Macro had been startled by the previous outbursts and an embarrassed silence hung over those seated around the banquet tables. At length Sempronius cleared his throat and spoke in as reasonable a tone as he could manage. 'It has been a long day, Your Majesty. I expect everyone is exhausted.'
'Yes.' The king smiled. 'Too tired to tame their tongues.'
'Then perhaps we should all retire for the evening. I am sure that Centurion Macro and Prefect Cato are most grateful for the honour you have shown them tonight and would not object to an early end to the banquet, to allow tempers to cool.'
'You are right,' the king conceded. 'It would be for the best.'
The guests began to rise from their couches to take their leave of the king. Balthus went with them. Macro glanced round and then pulled a bread basket towards him and started loading it with the food spread out on the other platters. 'Here, Cato, lend a hand.'
Cato frowned.'I'm not sure if this is the time or place for foraging.'
'Well, if it isn't, when is? Suit yourself.' Macro cleared a few more platters and then grasped the handles of the basket and turned towards the king.
'Er, thanks once again, your majesty.'
Vabathus acknowledged the remark with a lift of his fingers and continued chewing slowly. The Romans were almost the last to leave, and as they reached the entrance to the roof garden Cato looked back and saw the lonely figure of the king sitting at the abandoned banquet, with only his chamberlain still standing before him to keep him company. Night had fallen and the velvet heavens were sprinkled with stars. Low on the horizon a nearly full moon was rising over the desert, bathing it in a faint ethereal blue glow.
Cato fell in alongside the others.'Even if we do hold out until Longinus arrives, what will become of Palmyra?'
Sempronius shook his head. 'I don't know. Unless Vabathus chooses an heir we can work with, Rome will have to intervene.'
'Intervene?'
Sempronius glanced round hurriedly and lowered his voice. 'Annex the kingdom, turn it into a province. What else could we do?'
Macro nodded. 'With those two sons of his, there is nothing else.'
As they headed down the corridor to leave the royal quarters Cato found himself walking alongside Julia. Her scent came to him again and as a warm rush of longing swept through his body he felt his heart beating against his chest. More than anything in the world he wanted to ask her to come to the signal tower again and gaze out over the city and the surrounding landscape. This time he would not be surprised by her presence, and it would go far better. He had sensed some kindred feeling in her and the desperation to know if he was right gnawed at him.
They reached the end of the corridor, and the arch that gave out on to the paved area between the buildings and the gate. The ambassador's quarters were one way, and Macro and Cato's the other.
Sempronius paused and clasped each officer's arm in turn. 'Fine work this morning. When I get back to Rome I will be sure to inform the Emperor.'
'Thank you, sir,' Macro replied.
Cato nodded.
'Well, then, good night. Come on, my dear.' The ambassador and his daughter took a step away.
'Julia,' Cato blurted out. They paused.
'Yes?'
'I wondered… I wonder if you would do me the honour of walking with me.' Cato winced at the awkwardness of his words.
'Walking with you?' Julia arched one of her fine eyebrows. 'Where?'
'Ah! The, er, same place as last night, I was thinking.'
Sempronius turned to her and smiled as he patted her cheek. 'There, I told you the prefect was interested in you. Go, my child. Walk, talk, but nothing else, mind. Cato, I trust you are an honourable man.'
'Yes, sir.'
Sempronius stared at him for a moment, and a flicker of anxiety crossed his face before he smiled. 'Good night to you all, then.'