Abascantius reached into the basket and pulled out three silver ingots. He passed one to Lady Antonia, one to Indavara, and one to Cassius.
‘I checked the prices this morning. Those are worth over two hundred aurei each. They are unmarked.’
‘And how did you reward yourself, Aulus?’ asked Antonia.
Abascantius placed his hand on his heart. ‘The privilege of serving the Emperor is reward enough,’ he said, with a gusto that bordered on convincing.
Antonia smiled.
‘Now — for you,’ said Abascantius, glancing at Simo. He took out a folded sheet of papyrus from the basket and handed it over. ‘Your master told me what you did.’
Simo stood and bowed.
‘Read it.’
As the Gaul did so, Abascantius caught Cassius’s eye.
‘A pardon for his father. Him and only him, I’m afraid, but he’s free to leave the prison. He’ll have to do some time on a work crew but no charges will be brought, and he need not pledge his allegiance to Domnus.’
‘And the others?’
‘That’s up to Gordio.’
‘You think he’ll leave?’ Cassius asked Simo.
‘I don’t know, sir. But I shall certainly tell him that he should.’ The Gaul turned to Abascantius. ‘Thank you, sir.’
Cassius slid his silver ingot back across the table to Abascantius. ‘Sir, would you give this to Major’s family for me?’
‘I told you I’d take care of that.’
‘The man gave his life, sir.’
Abascantius examined Cassius’s face for a moment, then took the ingot. ‘Very well.’
A knock at the door. Shostra opened it and took the tray from the innkeeper.
‘One for all of us,’ ordered Abascantius as the attendant poured the wine.
A rich, fruity aroma reached Cassius’s nose.
‘Not for me,’ said Lady Antonia as she stood, leaving the ingot on the table. ‘I can see the dust on those glasses from here.’
‘Come, Antonia — drink with us,’ implored Abascantius.
‘Aulus, it’s the middle of the afternoon. I should be asleep.’ She nodded down at the ingot. ‘Thank you for that though — an unusually timely and generous payment. But I shall not carry it around with me. Have it sent over later, would you?’
‘Of course. And entirely well deserved it is too. Who else could have persuaded the Emperor’s deputy to halt his column and come to our aid?’
‘Emperor’s deputy or not — a man is a man.’
‘May I?’
Abascantius took Lady Antonia’s hand and kissed it.
She walked towards the door.
Cassius stood up.
‘Good-day.’
‘Good-day.’
Antonia leaned in close and whispered in his ear. ‘Don’t forget my offer. I have my carriage outside. I shall only wait for a few moments — no longer.’
Cassius reddened as she left. He tried to ignore the speculative glint in Abascantius’s eye as he took his drink.
Simo declined his glass of wine.
‘No, no. I insist,’ said Abascantius.
Simo took a glass, as did Indavara.
‘To success!’ declared Abascantius.
They raised their glasses and drank. Cassius savoured the sweet, powerful wine. Nomentamum was one of his father’s favourites; it was extremely expensive, and very hard to come by outside Italy.
Another knock on the door. It turned out to be Salvian; and the portly operative was carrying a letter. Abascantius went over to speak with him.
Cassius turned to the others. Indavara put down his already empty glass.
‘Well,’ said Cassius. ‘As this seems to be an occasion for giving gifts — Simo.’
The Gaul reached into Cassius’s satchel, which was hanging from his chair. He pulled out an object a little longer than his hand, wrapped in cloth. He passed it to Cassius, who then presented it to Indavara.
‘For you.’
Indavara took the object and unwrapped it carefully. It was an immaculately rendered figurine.
‘Fortuna,’ Indavara said.
‘Silver leaf. Best you can buy,’ stated Cassius.
‘I shall still keep the old one.’
‘Of course.’
‘Thank you,’ said Indavara with an awkward little nod.
‘Quite literally the least I could do. I wouldn’t be here if not for you.’
‘Me neither if you two hadn’t fished me out of that river.’
Cassius shrugged. ‘Let’s call it even.’
‘Not quite — don’t forget the inn at Palmyra.’
‘But what about the baths?’
Cassius kept up a serious expression for a moment, as did Indavara, but then they both cracked into broad smiles.
‘Fair point,’ said the bodyguard. ‘Even it is.’
‘So what are your plans?’ Cassius asked.
Before Indavara could reply, Abascantius spoke up.
‘Gentlemen.’
They turned round. The agent was holding up the letter.
‘It seems we have a slightly problematic situation developing in Cilicia.’
Cassius let out a breath and rubbed his brow. ‘Oh no.’
‘Don’t worry, Corbulo; a trifling matter by comparison with this last outing. But I fancy you might be well suited to it. You’ll need your man Simo, of course, and a bodyguard wouldn’t go amiss.’
Abascantius cast a speculative glance at Indavara, who said nothing.
‘Well, you needn’t give me an answer now,’ continued the agent. ‘Perhaps a little later.’
‘No,’ said Cassius. ‘I shall be otherwise occupied for the rest of the day.’
Abascantius grinned. ‘Prior engagement, Corbulo?’
Cassius ignored him and turned to Indavara. ‘What do you think?’
Indavara still had the figurine of Fortuna in his hand. He gazed down at the pale, delicate features of the goddess’s face, then looked up as Cassius asked again.
‘Well?’