‘I can’t stay long,’ he said as they broke the embrace.
‘I know. I’ve brought you this.’ Caenis held up small silver figure on a leather thong.
‘What is it?’
‘My mother left it to me; it is an image of Caeneus, a warrior from Thessaly, the guardian of our tribe. He was born as a woman called Caenis. One day Caenis wandered far from her home, to the north into the wild lands before Asia, where Poseidon saw her by the sea. Struck by her beauty and unable to control himself he raped her. After he had finished she fell to her knees and begged him to turn her into a man so that she could never be raped again. So ashamed was he of what he’d done that, to atone for his crime, he did as she had asked. But not only did he turn her into a man, he also made him invulnerable to weaponry.’
‘He must have lived to a great age.’
‘Sadly no, there is always a catch. He fell in a battle against the Centaurs. They crushed him with logs and rocks. As he died he turned back into a woman and was buried as Caenis.
‘Take it and wear it, my love, and I will pray to Poseidon that he will grant you the same invulnerability to weapons. But it’s up to you to avoid Centaurs armed with logs.’
He smiled. ‘I think that I can manage that.’
She reached up and slipped the thong around his neck and kissed him. ‘Take good care.’
‘Thank you. I shall wear it always, knowing that you are thinking of me.’ He pulled her gently to his chest and he felt her sob. He held there for a moment and then she pulled back with tears in her eyes.
‘Go,’ she said and turned away.
Vespasian took a last look at her and quickly left the room, feeling his heart tear as he did so.
He entered the formal reception room to find Sabinus sitting in close conversation with their parents. His father looked up as he came in.
‘Vespasian, my boy, your brother has told us enough of what is going on to make me feel heartily ashamed of myself. I can only apologise for our rash behaviour in coming here. Would that there was something that I could do to make amends.’
‘It’s all right, Father, I understand that Mother must have been very worried when we didn’t return last night; we should have got Magnus to send a message to you, but things just happened too fast.’
‘Worried!’ Vespasia cried. ‘I was up all night, not knowing where you both were or what was going on. Gaius would say nothing and-’
‘Enough, woman!’ Titus shouted, standing up. He had reached breaking point with his wife’s wilful behaviour. ‘Sometimes it is not your place to know, sometimes it is your place just to wait, and you would do well to remember that, as the Lady Antonia said. Now hold your tongue.’
He sat back down again and briskly adjusted his toga.
Neither Vespasian nor Sabinus had ever heard their father speak to their mother like that before and braced themselves for an explosion, which didn’t come. Instead Vespasia folded her hands on her lap and lowered her gaze to the floor looking every inch the image of a demure and respectful Roman matron.
They heard Antonia’s voice in the corridor and the men stood as she came into the room with Asinius in tow.
‘Our esteemed ex-Consul has some very good news for us,’ she announced smiling.
‘Indeed I have,’ the diminutive ex-Consul said brusquely, motioning them to sit back down. ‘Sabinus, I have secured your position at the mint. You will oversee the striking of all bronze and silver coinage. It’s a position open to much temptation so don’t succumb – and if you do, don’t get caught. I want you monitoring the treasury, not languishing on some island because you’ve been banished from Rome for petty theft.’
‘Yes, Consul, thank you.’
‘I’m not a consul any more so call me by my name.’
‘My apologies, Asinius.’
Vespasian smiled inwardly at his brother’s faux pas, enjoying his discomfort.
‘Vespasian, Pomponius Labeo has agreed to take you into the Fourth Scythica as a tribunus angusticlavius. A “thin stripe” military tribune with no command is the lowest of the low, but you will serve on his staff, which is perfect for our purposes. When you get to Thracia you will first report to Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, who is in overall command.’
‘Thank you, Asinius.’
‘Yes, well, do what I have asked and you will find me thanking you. Now, there is a column of new recruits for the legion assembling up north at Genua; you need to be there by the beginning of next month. That gives you fourteen days, which should be plenty.’ He handed Vespasian two scrolls. ‘This is your letter of introduction and a military pass, don’t lose them.’
‘I won’t,’ Vespasian said, unrolling the scrolls and reading them.
Asinius paused and looked over to Titus and Vespasia. ‘Antonia informs me that you are the parents of these men. I am pleased to meet you.’ He held out his arm to Titus, who took it gratefully.
‘It is an honour, Asinius.’
‘Indeed. I believe that there is a problem in that you were seen coming here?’
‘I can only apologise, we were foolish to meddle in matters that we didn’t understand.’
‘Well, it’s too late now, it is done. But you can’t return to Senator Pollo’s house; if you were seen there it would link him with us and put him and your sons in great danger.’
‘Can we not just go immediately home to Aquae Cutillae?’ Vespasia asked.
‘I’m afraid not. You will have to stay with me for a while until I can smuggle you out of the city.’
Titus cast a sour look at his wife.
‘I should go.’ Asinius turned to Vespasian. ‘Good luck and remember, trust no one and do not write anything down.’
‘Yes, Asinius, thank you.’
‘Good. I shall leave you all to say your goodbyes. Antonia, I’d like a private word with you, if I may?’
When they had gone Titus looked at his sons. ‘I don’t know which of you I shall be more worried for, Vespasian in the army or Sabinus under Sejanus’ nose here in Rome.’ He took Vespasian’s arm. ‘Take the Via Aurelia to Genua, not the inland route, then you can stay a few days with your grandmother. She’s old and you’re going to be away a long time. Give her my greetings.’
‘I will, Father,’ Vespasian replied, cheered by the thought.
Titus embraced each of his sons in turn. ‘Farewell, my boys. I’m proud that you are serving Rome.’
Vespasia kissed both of them. ‘Being unable to help you make decisions recently hasn’t been easy for me. Forgive me. And take care of yourselves, my sons. May the gods go with you.’
Vespasian and Sabinus took leave of their parents and joined Pallas, who had been waiting for them in the corridor. He took them through the house and out to the stable yard. There they found the two covered litters ready with the teams of Nubian bearers waiting patiently in the shade. Six burly bodyguards, armed with cudgels and staves, talked quietly in a group.
‘One of you in each if you please, masters,’ Pallas said, bowing slightly and gesturing to the waiting litters, managing to be polite and formal even whilst organising an escape. ‘Make sure the curtains are fully closed once you are in, and sit exactly in the middle so that your weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear teams. We want the litters to look empty when they go round to the front of the house.’
Vespasian climbed into his litter, the same one as he had seen Caenis in only a few days earlier, and sank into the sumptuous cushions and soft fabrics of the interior. With the curtains fully drawn it began to get stuffy inside fairly quickly and he was relieved when, not long later, he heard a shout and felt the litter being lifted by the bearers. Another shout and they moved off. He felt the litter turn left and heard the gates start to close behind him. The litter remained very stable so, being unable to see where he was going, Vespasian had hardly any sense of movement or speed. He was aware of another left turn, then after a short while a slight bump as the litter was grounded, Antonia got in almost immediately and sat in front of him; he felt the litter rise again.