He grinned at the senator, nodding his head at the other man’s sudden consternation.
‘I made sure that the little clues he left were subtle, nothing that would stand out to a cursory inspection, of course, but enough to see you condemned as a thief on a grand scale if ever a hint of your sordid little embezzlement were to reach the wrong ears and prompt a proper review of the paperwork. I’d imagine that it wouldn’t take very much to work out how much gold you kept back for yourself by comparison with the original documentation I can provide to the Chamberlain if the need arises. Speaking of whom …’
Cleander had appeared at the head of the stone stairs, and stood looking at them quizzically for a moment before stepping lightly down to join them, leaving a pair of spear-armed praetorians staring down at them disapprovingly.
‘You seem a little perturbed, Senator? Have the events of the evening not played out to your expectations? I have to say that I’m very content with life now that my only rival for control of the palace has been dealt with so harshly. I know this emperor well enough to be sure that he’ll be turning to me for guidance in Perennis’s absence, guidance I’ll be more than happy to turn into the exercise of imperial power once our new relationship has settled down. He does so love to spend his energies on the seduction of maidens and practice with his sword, fondly imagining himself as a notorious gladiator rather than the ruler of the civilised world. By simply being reluctantly willing to shoulder my Caesar’s unbearable burden I’ll achieve just as much control of the empire as that fool Perennis expected to achieve with all of his manoeuvring and plotting.’
He smiled beatifically down at them.
‘And now I think it’s time for you to take yourself off home, Senator, secure in the knowledge that you’ve done your duty to your emperor and averted the threat that was hanging over him as long as the previous praetorian prefect was at his side.’
Albinus nodded with more respect than Marcus had seen in him earlier, gesturing to his companions to accompany him.
‘We’ll renew this discussion elsewhere. It probably isn’t fitting for the steps of an imperial palace in any case.’
‘Just you, Senator, and your bodyguard of course. The tribune and I will stay a moment longer before he goes on his way.’
Albinus arched a disbelieving eyebrow, but found something in Cleander’s level gaze that stilled any complaint he might have made, and he turned away down the steps with a wave to Cotta. The bodyguard stared for a moment at Marcus and then nodded at him.
‘We’ll meet again, I expect, Centurion Corvus.’
Marcus met his gaze and inclined his head in return.
‘Indeed, Centurion Cotta. Perhaps we’ll provide each other with some sport, the next time our paths cross.’
Cotta barked a laugh over his shoulder as he followed Albinus down towards the street and his waiting men.
‘Oh, I have little doubt of that!’
Cleander smirked at Scaurus.
‘You need to keep your attack dog on a shorter rope, Tribune. He seems to be filled with the desire to tear out the throat of anyone and everyone that gets close enough to him.’ He stepped closer to Marcus, looking him up and down as if he were examining a finely bred chariot horse. ‘You’re a fascinating specimen, Centurion … Tribulus Corvus, was that what you said your name was?’
Marcus snapped to attention.
‘Centurion Marcus Tribulus Corvus, First Tungrian Auxiliary Cohort, Chamberlain!’
Cleander nodded.
‘Yes, that was it. Tribulus Corvus …’ He looked at Scaurus with an amused expression. ‘I believe that a tribulus is a military invention scattered in large numbers across ground where a cavalry attack is expected, a neat little device of sharpened iron that presents a spike uppermost to pierce a hoof and instantly render a horse lame. A very military name, and in that case surely one that stretches back a fair way in the city’s history, and yet I am told by men who ought to know that there is no record of any such clan title. I watched the centurion closely during that entertaining audience with the emperor, and on two occasions I could swear that I saw him barely restrain himself from leaping first at Perennis, and then at our beloved Caesar, by what appeared to be supreme self-control. So, are you simply an attack dog, Centurion, or are you perhaps something infinitely more dangerous?’
He regarded them both for a moment in silence.
‘I find it impossible to believe that you, Tribune, would do anything to bring jeopardy to your emperor, and you clearly trust the centurion here, and yet I’m finding it hard to avoid the conclusion that Tigidius Perennis was in fact correct when he pointed the finger at this young man and named him as the outlawed son of a senator who was executed for treason three years ago. And if that’s the case — ’ he raised a hand to Marcus as if to forestall an assault by the stone-faced centurion ‘- if you really are Marcus Valerius Aquila, then having successfully found a place to hide for the rest of your days on the empire’s frontier, what would be a sufficiently strong lure to bring you back to Rome? Revenge?’ He raised his hands to the night sky above them. ‘If so, then how lucky you are to have had the gods grant you the pleasure of watching the man who sentenced your family to death writhe with a spear through his guts, even if it was wielded by hands other than your own. And having met the emperor, you will now be clear that he had little part in your father’s condemnation and murder, or in any other part of running the empire for that matter.’
He waited until Marcus responded, nodding reluctantly.
‘Excellent. In which case all is well. Perennis is thwarted, the gold he sought to use for his own ends is restored to the imperial treasury, his demise has doubtless satisfied your desire to see him suffer in return for the suffering he inflicted upon your family, and you two gentlemen can return to your cohort and renew the centurion’s anonymity. I’m sufficiently grateful to you for bringing this matter to my attention to keep the truth of your parentage to myself, and to allow you to return to the shadows from which you came. I will even overlook the small matter of exactly where the gold displaced from those chests to accommodate the eagle and Legatus Sollemnis’s head might have got to. After all, I’m sure that your journey here wasn’t without its expenses.’
Scaurus opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak the chamberlain raised a hand.
‘However, it’s clear to me that you both possess some rare qualities that might sit well in the service of the throne, at least while I’m consolidating my grip on the city. Two men such as yourselves, backed up by two cohorts of battle-hardened men with no existing political allegiances? Yes, Tribune, obviously I had you investigated as well. It’s an old name, they tell me, and once a proud one, now simply struggling to survive with no ties to any of the major families. All in all, I’d say that your continued presence in Rome might well be the answer to my most fervent prayers. So I won’t hear of your leaving for Britannia until I’ve extorted one or two trifling favours from you. And gentlemen, just in case you miss my meaning, I used the word extort then in the full sense of its meaning. This really isn’t a request in which you have any choice.’
He turned away, calling back over his shoulder.
‘I’d return to your barracks if I were you, and take some time to show your men the sights of the city. You’ll be earning the corn you consume, and the gold you spend …’ He turned back and winked at Scaurus, who met his gaze unblinkingly. ‘Yes, you’ll earn them both when I finally decide to which of my many problems you’re the best answer.’