Vespasian shrugged. ‘I don’t think so, but we told Marius to trail behind us and keep an eye on our backs.’ He turned to see Marius making his way up the hill. ‘Here he is. Well, Marius?’
Marius wiped the sweat from his brow, looking puzzled. ‘No one followed you from Paetus’ house back to Sabinus’, but then when you left that to come here I kept on getting glimpses of two men in deep-hooded cloaks taking it in turns to keep about thirty paces behind you.’
‘Did you see their faces?’
‘No, all that was visible under the hoods were beards.’
‘Eastern?’
‘No, more like German beards.’
‘What else were they wearing?’
‘Normal stuff, tunics and sandals.’
‘What happened to them?’
‘That was strange as well. Having followed you half the way here they suddenly veered off and disappeared.’
Vespasian looked at Sabinus. ‘What do you make of that?’
‘Someone knows where I live but wasn’t so interested in knowing where I was going?’
‘Or they were scared off by someone,’ Magnus suggested. ‘Did you notice anyone else, Marius?’
‘No, brother; they was clean the rest of the way here.’
‘All right, then; you hang about out here and keep an eye out for anyone you might recognise.’
‘Right you are, Magnus.’
Magnus indicated with a jerk of the head to the brothers. ‘He’s inside.’
They followed Magnus past the altar to the Crossroads’ lares set into the wall of the building and on into the fuggy, raucous interior of the tavern. It was crowded with drinkers and a few whores who all made way for Magnus as he steered a straight course for a door at the far end of the room, next to the amphora-lined bar. The noise dipped as Vespasian and Sabinus passed and then resumed as they followed Magnus through the door and then right, along a short corridor and on into another room, dimly lit by shuttered windows and with the cloying blend of lamp fumes, damp wood and stale wine in the air.
‘Thank you for coming, gentlemen,’ a voice said as they stepped inside.
‘Pallas!’ Vespasian exclaimed. ‘Why so mysterious? Why go to all these lengths to have a conversation that we could have anywhere?’
Pallas rose from his seat and grasped their forearms in turn. ‘Because I can no longer trust anywhere in the palace: there are too many spies about; so I came here taking care not to be followed as I wouldn’t want to be seen going to either of your houses. My people have reported that Sabinus’ house is being watched and we must assume that yours is too, Vespasian.’
‘By Messalina?’
‘I would think so but I don’t know for sure; what I do know is that my people have reported undue interest in Sabinus in the last couple of days.’
‘That would explain the two bearded men, brother,’ Sabinus said as they each took a seat.
Magnus poured cups of wine from a pitcher on a table in the corner. ‘I’ll have my lads take a look at them, see if we can invite them here for a quiet drink and a hearth-side chat, if you take my meaning?’
Vespasian shook his head as he accepted his cup. ‘I think we’ll find out more by following them and seeing whom they report to.’
‘Fair point; I’ll go and get that organised.’
As Magnus left, Pallas turned his attention to Sabinus. ‘I need to call in the favour that you owe me for getting you cleared of all involvement in Caligula’s death.’
Sabinus inclined his head a fraction. ‘I acknowledge that I am in your debt for that, Pallas.’
Pallas’ semi-shadowed face betrayed no emotion. ‘I’m pleased that you accept the fact.’ He paused and collected his thoughts. ‘I have it within my grasp to supplant Narcissus, get rid of Callistus and become the most powerful man in the Empire, which, I think you’ll both agree, considering our past relationship, will benefit your family considerably. The key to it all is to set in train a series of events that move rapidly, so my opponents have no time to think how they are going to react. Firstly, I need to force Messalina’s hand by providing an impetus for her to bring her wedding plans forward to the first day of Silius’ consulship, rather than wait and react to her move. Vespasian, Flavia can do that for me and in return I’ll make good Narcissus’ undertaking to persuade Claudius to allow you to move her out of the palace. He won’t be able to, seeing as he will not be in a position of favour.’
Vespasian attempted to match Pallas in the neutrality of his expression. ‘What do you want her to do?’
‘Tell Messalina that she overheard you and Sabinus talking about plans for Claudius to marry again. She must tell Messalina that, according to you, Callistus supports the idea of Claudius marrying Caligula’s third wife, Lollia Paulina, while Narcissus and I want him to remarry his second wife, Aelia Paetina. You know, the one with whom he had a daughter before his mother forced him to divorce her because she was the half-sister of Sejanus.’
‘Thereby convincing her that a plot to remove her is far advanced?’
‘Precisely, and she’ll believe it because when she thinks about it she will see that those positions make perfect sense for us in protecting our own interests: Callistus trying to get the wife of his former patron into power and Narcissus and I trying to ensure that power stays in the hands of a woman already known to us. And those are our positions at the moment — outwardly at least.
‘To panic Messalina into action, Flavia is to tell her that she heard you saying that the whole matter will be decided very quickly, as the most auspicious day for the wedding has been given as the Ides of October at the festival of the October Horse.’
‘That will concentrate her mind.’
‘That will indeed. It’ll force her to declare her intentions publicly; she’ll marry Silius as soon as he becomes consul.’
‘But then how do you remove him?’
‘I’ve a way to deal with that. I’ll need to keep Claudius out of the city by delaying his return from the visit he’s making to the building project at Ostia — he’s leaving tomorrow. That’ll mean he misses Silius’ inauguration … but let me worry about those things. I need you to bring a couple of the wedding guests, using force if necessary, down to Ostia as quickly as possible after the ceremony so that they can confirm the marriage to Narcissus. But on no account must you keep your promise to Narcissus and warn him in advance of this.’
‘But Flavia-’
‘Flavia will be fine, I’ll see to that. I must have Narcissus taken by surprise; it’s my only chance to outmanoeuvre him. Once he hears the marriage has taken place without his knowledge the consequences will be inevitable and it will be just a matter of time and timing for me to achieve my aim. And this, Sabinus, is how you can repay your debt to me: I need to have a decree ratified in the House the morning following the wedding and then a law changed the moment Messalina crosses the Styx. With your consular status, your right to wear Triumphal Regalia won in Britannia and the fact that you go to Moesia as governor next year should give you the authority that you need to muster enough support to do that for me in the Senate.’
‘Which law?’
‘The law against incest between an uncle and his niece.’
The brothers simultaneously sucked their breath through their teeth.
Vespasian recovered first. ‘That’s one of the oldest and most sacred laws there is, Pallas.’
‘Which makes it perfect for my purpose because no one will foresee the move.’
‘You intend for Claudius to marry Agrippina.’
Pallas twitched an eyebrow in appreciation of the insight. ‘It’s the only thing that makes sense. Consider this: we rid ourselves of Claudius’ wife but his son must be allowed to live — for the time being, at least. Now, should he reach manhood and inherit the Purple one of his first duties should be to avenge his mother and I will be a dead man, as, indeed, will be Narcissus and you, Vespasian, despite your son’s friendship with Britannicus, because your part in this cannot be kept secret. Narcissus believes that by promoting a marriage between Claudius and Aelia Paetina and then supporting Britannicus as Claudius’ heir he can avert this, for he will have put the boy deep in his debt. Perhaps that would work, who knows? However, for once he has missed something. If I get Agrippina into Claudius’ bed, she will never forgive Narcissus and Callistus for supporting different candidates even though she technically wasn’t eligible at the time.’ For once Pallas allowed himself a self-satisfied smile. ‘After the Asiaticus affair that would spell at least banishment for Callistus — but hopefully worse — and a massive loss of influence for Narcissus. It will also guarantee my safety from future vengeance by Britannicus — and yours incidentally, Vespasian — by providing a more suitable heir in Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, whom Claudius will adopt without too much persuasion because Agrippina will insist on it. And there we have it.’