‘It is only the Emperor who has the power to order your arrest.’
‘Don’t pretend to be more stupid than you really are; we both know how things work. What is the charge?’
‘Treason,’ Crispinus replied in a low voice.
‘Speak up, Crispinus, so that my guests can all hear why I’m being dragged from my dinner table.’
‘Treason!’
‘Treason? Then I shall argue my case before the Senate and the Emperor, as is my right.’
‘There will be no trial before the Senate; you will appear before the Emperor in the morning.’
‘I’m to be disposed of in secret; very well, upon what ground is the charge based?’
‘You will find out when you-’
Asiaticus threw his head back and cut Crispinus off with a slow, false laugh. ‘You don’t know, do you, message boy? You don’t know because a beast like you just does what it’s told.’ He stepped forward. ‘Come, beast, take me to your handler.’
*
‘I can’t say that I was thrilled at being present at Asiaticus’ arrest,’ Gaius muttered as he and Vespasian made their way down through the torch-strewn gardens. ‘I’m sure Crispinus saw my face even though I tried to keep it in my neighbour’s shadow.’
‘That’s the least of our problems at the moment, Uncle,’ Vespasian replied, keeping his voice below the chatter of the senators around them. ‘The question is, will Narcissus or Pallas want to defy Messalina by denying her Asiaticus?’
Gaius stopped momentarily, putting his hand to his mouth. ‘Oh! I see; I hadn’t looked at it that way. I just thought that Callistus wouldn’t reveal Sabinus’ name because he would have no interest in proving Asiaticus’ innocence.’
‘And I don’t think that Pallas would because of the longstanding relationship with our family.’
‘You’d have hoped so; but political expediency often outweighs loyalty.’
‘I don’t think he’d sacrifice Sabinus for this; but Narcissus?’
‘Narcissus? Narcissus is capable of anything, especially when it comes to fighting Messalina.’
‘But would he sacrifice his nomination as suffect-consul?’
‘There’re plenty more like Sabinus and if he’s finally exposed then that could put us both in great danger.’
‘So what do we do, Uncle?’
‘The only thing we can do: we have to see Narcissus — now.’
‘That was sooner than I expected,’ Narcissus crooned from behind his desk as Vespasian and Gaius were shown into his chamber; he did not get up. ‘When I heard that you two were amongst Asiaticus’ guests I knew that you would come to me but I confess I didn’t expect you to see the danger that you’re in quite so quickly. I congratulate you both as I only realised that possible course was open to me a short while ago.’
‘It was good of you to receive us at this late hour, imperial secretary,’ Gaius said, hiding any irritation that he might have felt at being kept waiting for two hours.
‘Had my secretary not been still here then I might not have seen you at all, but Caenis is very persuasive on behalf of her very good friends. I imagine she’s gone home to warm up the bed, Vespasian.’
Vespasian gave a weak smile; his meeting with Caenis had been brief and tempting but he knew where honour dictated he would have to spend the night now that he was in the palace and so close to Flavia.
‘Anyway, it’s only halfway through the third hour of the night; the Emperor’s affairs keep me up late and this business with Asiaticus is most taxing.’ Narcissus indicated to the two hard wooden chairs opposite him. ‘So, please be seated, gentlemen.’
Vespasian glanced around the room, predominantly decorated in shades of red and lit by four identical ten-armed candelabras each placed in front of a bronze mirror, and he shivered internally despite the warmth and beautiful light. The last time he had been in this room, six years before, had been to plead for Sabinus’ life and now it seemed that he was about to do the same thing; but this time his own life might also be in the balance. ‘Thank you, imperial secretary.’
‘Welcome back, Vespasian; although not covered in glory, it would seem that you did adequately. The Emperor has read all Plautius’ rather feeble excuses in his despatches as to why more of that sodden, cold island is not feeling the warm and kindly hand of Rome, but he has decided to award him an Ovation anyway, as you know. Can you tell me why?’
Vespasian knew from past experience that with Narcissus straight-talking was appreciated. ‘Because it wouldn’t do to have the people think that anything other than constant glorious conquest was happening in Britannia; giving Plautius the first Ovation for decades awarded to someone who is not a member of the imperial family confirms that must be so. Also the Emperor will share Plautius’ moment of glory and bring the attention back onto himself.’
Narcissus twitched an eyebrow in appreciation of the assessment as he toyed with his neat, pointed black beard; two weighty gold earrings glinted on either side of it. ‘Very good, Vespasian; indeed, Claudius will hijack the whole affair so he can celebrate his glorious conquest twice without the people noticing.’
‘But Plautius will; as will the Senate.’
Narcissus slowly hunched his shoulders and opened his arms, half closing his eyes. ‘And how do you think I consider that?’
‘As an irrelevance barely worth mentioning, imperial secretary?’
‘Please, we’re all old friends here, Vespasian; you may be familiar.’
‘That’s good of you, Narcissus, I’m honoured.’
Narcissus acknowledged the compliment with a dismissive wave. ‘That is most gratifying but hardly of concern to me at the moment. So, gentlemen, to business.’ He picked up a scroll from the desk and turned it over in his hands. ‘How do I counter Sosibius’ sworn claim that Asiaticus boasted of being the unidentified man who took part in Caligula’s murder without revealing the truth and condemning Sabinus in his place?’
‘Do you need to counter it?’ Gaius asked, wiping a bead of nervous sweat from his brow.
‘A very good question, Gaius, but one that shouldn’t be asked in isolation.’
Vespasian’s heart sank as he realised what Narcissus was driving at: as he had foreseen he was, once again, being drawn into the tangled world of imperial politics. ‘Do you need to counter it, and if you don’t what can we do to help you?’
Narcissus steepled his hands and pressed them to his lips whilst regarding Vespasian with ice-blue eyes. ‘What indeed?’
Narcissus let the question hang and Vespasian knew that this master of Rome’s politics already knew the answer; he waited with a quickening pulse to hear it. An abrupt knock at the door almost made him jump.
‘Ah! At last,’ Narcissus exclaimed as if he had been awaiting the interruption. ‘Enter!’
Pallas arrived, followed by Sabinus. Convenient, Vespasian thought: Narcissus must indeed have been expecting them. A slave followed them in with two chairs.
‘Good evening, secretary to the Treasury,’ Narcissus enthused with hollow enthusiasm, ‘and our consul-designate, Titus Flavius Sabinus, the man behind the mask. We all know each other so let’s dispense with the formalities; please be seated.’
As the slave placed the chairs for the new arrivals and then retreated, Vespasian tried to read Pallas’ face, but, as always, it was expressionless, if somewhat more lined than when he had last seen it four years previously. His wavy black hair and full beard were now flecked with grey in accordance with his forty-seven years but his bearing was still that of a younger man. His dark eyes betrayed no weariness, in fact they betrayed nothing at all; whereas Sabinus’ eyes darted around the occupants of the room with barely concealed unease.
‘I take it by Sabinus’ demeanour that you have apprised him of the delicacy of his present situation, esteemed colleague?’ Narcissus asked, unnecessarily in Vespasian’s opinion.