"In charge of crops since time began?"
"Since Romulus ploughed the city boundary."
I glanced down at Julia, but she was contentedly examining one of her own tiny sandals. She had gripped her little fat ankle and pulled up her toes, with an interested expression that meant she was thinking about eating her own foot. I decided to let her learn from empirical research.
Decimus continued his tale: "The first day of the rites takes place in Rome at the house of the Master of the Arvals-the chief Brother for that year. They offer fruits, wine, and incense at sunrise to the Dea Dia, anoint her statue, then hold a formal feast at which further offerings are made and the Brothers receive gifts in return for attending."
Travel and subsistence, eh? A nice clique to join.
"The most important rites-today's-see the election of the next Master in the Sacred Grove of the Dea Dia. I am hoping this will be the cue for them to hint at whether Aulus has been successful. I expect that the newly elected Master has some say in who will be taken on under his leadership."
"I wish you well. It would be a great coup. Being an Arval Brother is one of the honors given to the highest in society."
I did not exaggerate. Young males in the imperial family, for instance, would expect automatic co-option to the Arvals as super-numeraries. Probably our current princes, Titus and Domitian, had joined already. Normal membership totaled twelve only. Vacancies must be keenly sought after. I reckoned the Camilli were probably overstretching when they put up Aelianus for this, but it was not the moment to criticize.
Mildly affected by the wine, even the senator seemed ready to admit the real situation. "We don't stand much chance, Marcus. Bloody snobs!"
"Have they actually voted?" I asked carefully.
"No. That takes place in the Temple of Concord in the Forum and seems to be kept separate."
We perused our cups and thought about the inequalities of life.
It was at this point that, against expectations, the young man under discussion appeared in the study doorway. His white festival outfit was badly crumpled, and he looked flushed. He was probably tipsy, but his face never gave away much.
Aelianus was more sturdily built and less fine featured than his sister and younger brother. A good chunk of Roman manhood, in his way: athletic and possessing good reflexes. He left his sister to be the reader in the family, while his brother was the linguist. Straight sprouting hair, cut rather longer than suited him; dark eyes; a sallow complexion at present: too many nights out with the boys. I would have envied him his lifestyle, but even though he was given too much freedom, he was plainly not happy.
"Yes, I'm here! Still, cheer up, Aulus." He hated his sister living with an informer. Now Helena and I had made it permanent, I enjoyed teasing him.
Aelianus just stood there, neither coming in to join us nor storming off in annoyance. His father demanded to know any news about his co-option.
"I didn't get in." He could hardly bear to say it.
Decimus asked who was elected. His son forced out a name I did not know; Decimus exclaimed in disgust.
"Oh, he's a good fellow," Aelianus managed to mutter, surprisingly mildly.
I murmured sympathy. "Helena will be very sorry to hear this." She would realize that it was one more slapdown for a brother who might be spoiled for good unless he soon bagged some public achievements.
More than his failure with the Arvals was bothering him. Both his father and I belatedly stared harder at Aelianus. He looked as if he was going to throw up. "Buried your face in too many goblets?" He shook his head. I grabbed a tasteful ceramic from a shelf with a vase collection and proffered it anyway. Just in time.
It was an Athenian cup, featuring a boy with his tutor, a nice didactic subject for one who seemed to have overindulged himself. The vessel had decent proportions for a sick bowl, and two handles to grip. Wonderful antique art.
After he stopped retching, Aelianus made an effort to apologize.
"Don't worry; we've all done it."
"I'm not drunk."
His father hauled him to a couch. "And we have all produced that finely honed poetic line as well!"
Aelianus stayed lost in a heavy silence. While Decimus fielded the Athenianware and shunted it elsewhere for some poor slave to find tomorrow, his son sat, oddly hunched. Experience told me he had passed the risk of being ill again.
"What's up, Aulus?"
His voice was strained. "Something you know all about, Marcus Didius." Decimus moved abruptly. I lifted an eyebrow, signaling that we should let the lad take his time. "I found something." Aelianus now looked up and wanted to talk. "I stumbled over something horrible."
He closed his eyes. His face told me the worst. In the grim business of informing, I had seen more than enough people wearing this expression. "There has been an accident?" I was being optimistic.
Aelianus braced himself. "Not exactly. I fell over a corpse. But whoever it is, it's very clear he did not die by accident."
VIII
"All right, take your time, son." The senator had found a jug of water and a beaker. Aelianus rinsed his teeth and spat into the beaker. Patiently I emptied it into the Athenianware he had already used, rinsed the beaker, then poured fresh water, which I made him drink.
"So," I said firmly. "Your father told me you went to partake in the main day of worship amid the corn wreaths and dinner napkins. Stuffing your face in the cause of new growth at the Arval Brothers' Sacred Grove-was that where this happened?"
Aelianus sat up straighter and nodded. I chivvied him, brisk as a legionary commander taking details from a scout: "The Grove is where?"
"Five miles outside the city on the Via Portuensis." He had served in the army and civil government. He could give a reliable report when he chose.
"Are we talking about some verdant circle of venerable trees?"
"No. It is more like a forum complex. It has a circus, several temples, and a Caesarium for the deified emperors."
"How modern! Silly me, I had expected some rustic haven."
"The Emperor Augustus brought the rites up to date. The cult had fallen into abeyance rather-"
"Of course! He interfered in everything. So just set the scene for me."
"There has been a day of worship, followed by games and races."
"Members of the public?"
"Yes."
"All men?"
"No."
"Is the revelry over?"
"People are hanging on. Most of the Brothers have returned to Rome for another feast at the house of the current Master." He paused. "Well, except for one of them." I noted that remark, but let him carry on. "I came home early. People who had been at the Games were still enjoying themselves in the Grove."
"What made you leave early?"
Aelianus sighed. "One of the Brothers had taken me aside and warned me that they felt I was not quite ready for the burdens of election to such a demanding cult. He obviously meant I was not important enough." Aelianus dropped his gaze; his father compressed his mouth. "I felt low. I tried to continue with a brave face, but I kept hearing the snide bastard saying what a good impression I had made, and how sincerely the Brothers hoped I would find some other way to apply my supposed talents… I could not bear the way people looked at me. I know I should have braved it out…"
He paused for a moment, leaning on his elbow with one palm covering his mouth. The splayed fingers had bitten nails. I put a hand on his shoulder. Where my thumb touched skin under the edge of his tunic it felt cold. He was in shock.
Aelianus continued in a quiet voice, "My horse was just outside the Grove, where they had set up a picket line. To get back there I had to walk past a pavilion for the Master, a big temporary tent. I heard a group of people coming out, so I dodged quickly around the back to avoid them. I stumbled over one of the guy ropes; then I literally fell onto the body."