‘Mistress, it’s only me!’
Sallust the Searcher crouched down on the grass. Claudia apologised, rubbing her face with her hands.
‘You’ve been asleep for at least two hours,’ Polybius shouted from the porch. ‘I didn’t want to disturb you, but if you slept too long. .’
Claudia raised her hand. She asked Sallust to make himself comfortable whilst she went across to the latrines and into the small wash house nearby. She bathed her hands and face, wiping the sleep from her eyes, and idly wondered how Timothaeus and Narcissus were faring at the Villa Pulchra. She went out and rejoined Sallust.
‘I’ve left the boys in the tavern.’ The searcher mopped a platter with a piece of bread, popped it into his mouth and started on the fruit which Timotheus and Narcissus had left. ‘So you got the Holy Sword back?’ He smiled. ‘It was so easy, you know. I kept the palace under watch! I have some friends there, so I could drift in and out. Timothaeus was acting like a scalded cat, he was highly nervous. He came sneaking out at the dead of night when he thought no one was watching, through a side gate, and by the time he had reached his sacred place, the tomb of that Christian — what’s his name? Ah yes, Paul — there were more people watching him than spectators do an actor in some play. The tomb stands off the road. Timothaeus went as close as he could, dug a hole and buried it.’
‘I didn’t ask him for the details,’ Claudia confessed. ‘He was just so relieved, he couldn’t get away fast enough. You’ll keep it quiet?’
Sallust raised his right hand.
‘Claudia, Claudia. If I told the police everything I knew, half of Rome would be arrested! Now, I’ve got news for you. You were correct. Spicerius was murdered. I don’t know how, but the bitch who poisoned him was certainly no friend.’
Chapter 12
‘Crimine ab uno, disce omnia.’ (‘From one crime, learn about them all.’)
You’re not Rome’s most skilled assassin, Claudia reflected, as she sat in the shade of the orchard trees and squinted across at Agrippina on the stone bench opposite. The morning was still cool; a breeze had sprung up the night before and brought in refreshing showers. Once Sallust had left, Claudia had spent the previous day feverishly preparing for this confrontation. Narcissus returned full of the news about how their supposed discovery of the Holy Sword had won him and Timothaeus the favour and generosity of the Empress. Each had been rewarded with a leather purse of coins and invited to join the Emperor in the imperial box for the coming games. Narcissus was so overjoyed Claudia had to secretly remind him that they had not really found the sword, and if the truth were known, the Empress’s mood would change violently. Claudia did not intend to be nasty; she needed Narcissus’s attention and cooperation. Due to her warning, the former slave recollected himself abruptly and became all serious and wary.
‘Do you think the Empress suspects anything? You don’t think she’ll challenge us later?’
‘She’ll never hear of it from me,’ Claudia whispered. ‘It’s best if you accept her reward, bask in her favour and keep your mouth firmly shut. I know Timothaeus will. Now look, Narcissus, one thing I’ve learned about you is that you have a natural talent for acting, and I have a job for you.’
Narcissus’s mood soon lightened as Claudia told him what she had planned at her meeting with Agrippina. He proved to be an able pupil and had soon perfected the look he was to adopt and what he was to say. Valens was also drawn into the conspiracy. The old army doctor needed no prompting. He deeply mourned his friend and was only too eager to seek justice for Spicerius’s untimely death. They had all met here in the garden, and Valens had helped Narcissus, teaching him certain names and terms, how he was to act and sit. Claudia insisted on both of them becoming word perfect; her only worry was that Agrippina might recognise Narcissus and challenge the trap which would close around her. She had also brought Polybius into the plot. Her uncle was sworn to silence.
‘I don’t want you drinking,’ Claudia warned, ‘because once you open your mouth in the eating hall, half of Rome will know within the hour.’
Polybius had promised, swearing by his cock that not a word would pass his lips.
Claudia had worked long and hard trying to distract herself and not think of Murranus or his preparations for the combat which would take place the following day. Accordingly, she found it very difficult when Murranus, lithe and fit, his face shaved, looking positively boyish, had visited the tavern just after nightfall the previous evening. Claudia thought her heart would break at the sad look in his eyes, his quiet courage and confidence, which carefully masked his own fearful anticipation. He only stayed an hour, coming out here into the garden and embracing her fiercely and kissing her gently before slipping away.
Claudia had sat and wept until Narcissus and Valens came out to comfort her, but the pain of Murranus’s farewell still made her heart ache, so she had no compassion, not a shred of kindness for the treacherous, murderous, spoilt bitch who’d wandered like a fly into her web. Agrippina had arrived mid-morning, black hair flouncing, mouth pouting, her blood-red jewellery clattering and clinking. She showed no guilt or fear, but rather smugness at being escorted by two oafs, followers of Dacius by the looks of them. Oceanus had kept this precious pair in the tavern whilst Claudia, chattering like a sparrow, had taken Agrippina out into the garden. Claudia’s visitor was now beginning to lose some of her calm poise, staring anxiously across to the porch where Polybius stood on guard against any intrusion.
‘Your messenger said,’ Agrippina turned on Claudia, ‘you had some very valuable property belonging to Spicerius.’
‘Yes, that’s what the messenger said.’ Claudia scratched her head and leaned closer. ‘Now, Agrippina, listen to me. I want you to keep that big mouth of yours shut. I don’t want to frighten you, but if you go across to the tavern my uncle will remind you that I have powerful friends at court. I work for the Agentes in Rebus — you know who they are, don’t you? The Doers of Things. Men and women who can bring the likes of you, a nasty pampered bitch, crashing down; their loyalty is to the Empress and no other.’
Agrippina sat swallowing hard, her lips moving soundlessly. Claudia sensed she was cursing her own arrogance at coming here.
‘I could leave,’ Agrippina blustered, tapping her mullet-red sandals.
‘You can try.’ Claudia lifted her goblet and toasted her. ‘Do you know what I’ve been thinking, Agrippina? That you are not Rome’s most skilful assassin. You are, in fact, a blundering murderess who thought no one would see through her deceitful, nasty tricks.’
Agrippina jumped to her feet, gathering up her robe.
‘Oh, sit down!’ Claudia drew her dagger, slicing the air so Agrippina stepped back hastily and sat down with a bump. She was trembling, glancing fearfully across at the tavern.
‘You’re an assassin.’ Claudia smiled sweetly. ‘You’re also a fool. You tried to kill Spicerius once and bungled it, hoping Murranus would finish the job. So you tried again, thinking you were ever so clever.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Agrippina gasped. ‘You have no proof.’
‘Oh, I’ve got plenty of that.’ Claudia turned. ‘Uncle, you should ask our visitors to join us.’
Polybius stepped aside as Valens, accompanied by Narcissus, left the tavern and strolled across the grass towards them. Claudia vowed to keep her face straight. She and Valens had done an excellent job. Narcissus had been transformed. His hair was clipped, his face oiled; his tunic and robe were the best, and no one could fail to admire the jewelled rings displaying the insignia of Aesculapius, as well as the polished walking stick embellished with the hawk wings and all-seeing eye of the Egyptian god Horus. Narcissus even walked like the learned physician he was pretending to be, his head slightly to one side as if weighed down by knowledge, his face twisted in a look of cynical superiority, his mouth pursed as if he was sucking on a plum and had discovered it was a prune.