VESPASIAN OPENED HIS eyes to see the familiar whitewashed ceiling of Caenis’ bedroom. Rolling over he found himself to be alone but that did not surprise him as it was well past dawn; the sun shone through the opaque glass window above him with a soft, diffused light that he found calming after the events of the previous day.
He had picked at the remainder of the meal in silence, unable and unwilling to converse further with Corvinus and uninterested in the forced conversation of the other guests as they waited for their host to meet the ferryman. The blood finally drained from Asiaticus’ wrist and he began his last journey across the Styx. With a coin under his tongue as payment for Charon he was borne to his pyre and his body was consumed without damage to his beloved apricot trees.
Vespasian had left as soon as the fire had taken hold and had made his way to the open arms of Caenis. Enfolded in them, he had lost himself in the one thing that he knew that he could trust: her love. They had barely spoken as they re-explored each other’s bodies for the first time since saying goodbye on the northern coast of Gaul, four years ago, on the eve of the invasion of Britannia. Finally satiated, they had fallen asleep and Vespasian had found peace: a peace that, as the door opened and Caenis appeared fully dressed with a cup of warmed wine, he knew would soon be broken.
‘Don’t you have slaves to bring wine?’ he asked, enjoying the sight of her sapphire-blue eyes shining in the soft light.
‘I used to be a slave and I haven’t forgotten how to please.’
‘And you did that very well last night.’
She handed him the cup and sat on the bed. ‘So did you.’
He put his hand around the back of her head, feeling the softness of her raven-black hair and drew her into a kiss, bathing in the musk of her scent.
‘I let you sleep, my love,’ Caenis said, breaking off after a few tender moments, ‘because I can tell that you are troubled. Narcissus dictated his account of Asiaticus’ hearing to me yesterday; I assume it’s about what Pallas forced you to do?’
‘It’s much more than that, my love; much, much more.’ He raised his head with his eyes closed, breathed deeply and then looked into Caenis’ eyes. ‘Since I was given the Second Augusta, six years ago, I’ve been used to command; I’ve made decisions for me and the men below me. For the four years that I was in Britannia my legion worked as an independent unit. Yes, I had orders from Aulus Plautius as to what objective I was to achieve in the campaign season, but it was I who decided how best to effect them and everybody obeyed me. That’s what I’ve become used to. But now, after just a couple of days back in Rome, I have no control any more; I’ve been forced into situations that I don’t want to be in by people who I don’t want to be involved with, just like when I was younger. Back then I accepted it because I had no choice if I wanted to rise in this city.
‘Now, however, I’ve risen. By rights I’ll be consul when I’m forty-two in four years’ time, the highest honour a man from my station can aspire to; and yet look at me, I’m being used as if I was a mere boy on his first trip to Rome rather than a man who commanded one of Rome’s legions in the biggest military operation since Germanicus crossed the Rhenus to avenge Varus’ lost legions. I’m being blown this way and that by forces fighting each other to gain as much personal advantage as they can in the shadow of a weak emperor. I’m sick of it already. I want to get out, but if I want that consulship, which, for my honour and that of my family’s, I do with all my being, then I have to stay here and let myself be subjected to the will of others because that’s how it works in the Rome we live in.’
Caenis stroked his cheek. ‘We all have to accept that our society works because it is a strict hierarchy, my love, just as the men under your command accepted their positions; the legion is just a smaller version of Rome.’
‘No it’s not; no one plays politics in the legion. In the legion every man knows exactly where he stands, be he me, the newest recruit or the lowliest slave. Here, one’s standing changes by the hour.’
‘Tell me what’s happened, my love.’
And then it all tumbled out: Corvinus, Messalina, Flavia, Pallas and Narcissus, all of whom Caenis knew and understood thanks, mainly, to her position as secretary to Narcissus, the imperial secretary.
‘Corvinus would carry out his threat against Flavia and the children, I’m sure of it,’ Caenis said once Vespasian had finished. ‘He knows that Narcissus has never forgiven him for trying to hijack the invasion for his own personal gain so he’s fighting for his life. He has nothing to lose.’
‘So what do I do?’
‘You have to do what he’s asked and tell Flavia to carry on sleeping with Messalina.’
‘Does she really do that?’
Caenis’ full lips pursed and she gave a little shrug. ‘What can I say, my love? I don’t know; she certainly wouldn’t confide that sort of information to me – or anybody for that matter. But why would Corvinus tell you such a thing unless it was true?’
Vespasian was not surprised by this confirmation but resolutely pushed the information aside. There was no point delving deeper until he could confront Flavia. ‘And will Narcissus consent to meet with Corvinus?’
‘Narcissus never refuses any opportunity to strengthen his position. You’ll have to see him today as he’s leaving with Claudius tomorrow morning to inspect the construction work in the new port and won’t be back until the day before Plautius’ Ovation.’ She cocked her head and added innocently, ‘And I won’t charge you for the access.’
Vespasian was astonished. ‘You charge people for appointments to see Narcissus?’
Caenis raised her eyebrows conspiratorially. ‘Of course. He’s the most powerful man in the Empire and people can only get official access to him through me; they pay handsomely for a quick appointment and I’d be a fool not to take their money.’
Vespasian chewed this over for a moment. ‘Yes, I suppose you would be; after all, no one gets paid for serving Rome.’
‘And I’ve got one of the most important commodities in the city to sell and I’m doing very nicely from it.’
Vespasian smiled and kissed Caenis again. ‘Even the most beautiful woman in Rome sells her favour.’
‘It’s just business, my love; there is nothing wrong with the accumulation of wealth.’
‘I agree, but I was brought up to believe that a man should make a profit by working his estates hard.’
‘You do it your way and I’ll do it mine. But remember that every denarius that you pass up will belong to somebody else and seeing as wealth is power the best way to defend yourself from the powerful is to gain as much wealth as they have – as quickly as possible.’
‘And in the process make others less wealthy.’
‘Exactly.’
Vespasian thought for a few moments, toying with Caenis’ hand. ‘So I should use this situation that’s been forced on me to do precisely that. If I take the offensive and gain some advantage from this I’ll feel a lot better.’
Caenis leant forward and nuzzled his neck. ‘Much better.’
Vespasian responded, feeling the arousal of the previous night returning. ‘I think that if Corvinus really wants me to set up a meeting with Narcissus to bargain for his life then he should pay for the privilege.’
‘Just like everyone else does. But you’ve already agreed to do it free of charge.’
‘So I’ll have to find another way of extracting the money from him.’
‘And you will, my love.’ Caenis began working on his earlobe, flicking it gently with her tongue. ‘And because I’d rather have power over you than let Messalina have that pleasure, I’ll lend you the money to pay off Flavia’s debt, seeing as I can well afford it. Are you starting to feel better now?’
‘Far more in control,’ Vespasian said, sliding her stola from one shoulder and kissing the exposed flesh. ‘In fact, I’m feeling really quite manly again.’
‘That’s quite a boast; I’d be interested to see if it stands up under
close scrutiny.’
He rolled her onto her side. ‘I shan’t dignify that with an answer.’
‘I wasn’t expecting an oral response from you.’ She smiled with a mischievous twinkle and then eased herself down and kissed his chest. ‘I was planning on doing the talking.’
‘I’ll be very attentive.’
Caenis began to kiss her way lower and Vespasian looked back up at the ceiling, smiling, and then closed his eyes.
A soft knock at the door made him open them a few moments later.
‘Mistress?’ a voice from outside called.
‘What is it?’
‘The master’s friend, Magnus, is here; he says that it’s very important.’
‘Are you sure that it was him?’ Vespasian asked Magnus as they hurried along the busy Alta Semita, the main street running the length of the Quirinal Hill.
‘I didn’t see him. I’ve had my lads watching all the gladiator schools in the city; Marius and Sextus sent me a message saying that a man answering Theron’s description arrived at the school on the Campus Martius soon after dawn. Whether he’s still there now I don’t know; but the lads will follow him. If you hadn’t taken such a long time “getting dressed”, we’d be there by now.’
Vespasian mumbled an apology.
‘I’ve never known someone take almost half an hour to put on a loincloth, tunic, belt, sandals and toga; and you must have had help because Caenis came out of the bedroom with you.’ Magnus looked at Vespasian, his expression a study of innocence. ‘I just don’t understand it.’
‘What’s happened to your eye?’ Vespasian asked, keen to change the subject.
Magnus put his hand to his left eye, which stared sightlessly and unmoving directly ahead in a very unnatural manner. ‘I bought a glass one. Not bad, eh?’
‘You’d never know the difference,’ Vespasian lied as they passed the roofless Temple of Sancus, the god of trust, honesty and oaths.
‘That’s what all the lads say. They tell me that you have to look really carefully to spot that it’s a fake.’
Vespasian smothered a smile and refrained from giving his honest opinion as they passed through the Porta Sancus and out onto the Campus Martius.
Magnus’ crossroads brethren, Marius and Sextus, a couple of bull-like men in their fifties, were waiting for them leaning against the arched façade of the Circus Flaminius sharing a loaf of bread and an onion.
‘He’s still in there, sir,’ Marius said, pointing the leather-bound stump at the end of his left arm to a substantial, high-walled complex built of brick, with a single well-guarded gate, across a wide thoroughfare, next to the Theatre of Balbus. ‘That’s the only way in or out.’
‘Thank you, Marius,’ Vespasian said, handing each of the brethren a couple of sesterces. ‘Did he have anyone with him when he went in?’
‘It was Sextus that saw him; I was in Agrippa’s Baths taking a shit.’
Vespasian’s confidence in the sighting plummeted as he looked at Marius’ companion. ‘Well?’
Sextus scratched his shaven head and squeezed his eyes tight shut as if he were attempting a piece of complex mental arithmetic. ‘More than four, sir,’ he announced eventually with a look of relief.
‘How many more than four, Sextus?’
‘One or two.’
Hiding his annoyance, Vespasian decided not to pursue the finer details of Theron’s entourage – if, indeed, it was Theron. ‘Well, we’ll soon find out. Stay here, lads; there’s a tavern next to the baths and we’ll be in there having breakfast – one of you come and find us when they emerge.’
‘Theron!’ Vespasian called, walking fast to catch up with his quarry, with Magnus and his brethren following.
The Macedonian did not turn around even though he must have heard the shout. Surrounded by eight ex-gladiator bodyguards and a boy holding a parasol over his head, he walked on towards the Carmenta Gate in the shadow of the Temple of Jupiter, towering above on the Capitoline Hill to the right.
The deliberate slight annoyed Vespasian but he did not break into a run: it would have been beneath his dignitas as a senator to chase after a slave-trader in the streets.
As the Macedonian slowed to get through the crowds filing in and out of the gate, Vespasian drew level. ‘If you ignore me again, Theron, it’ll be more than just money that you owe me.’
Theron turned. He cranked his face into his most ingratiating smile and stepped towards Vespasian, holding out his arms as if greeting a long-lost friend. ‘Excellency, I did not know that you were back in Rome. I thank the gods for your safe return; news of your valiant exploits have travelled before you and I am honoured by your attention.’
‘I’m sure that you are, Theron, and I’m sure that you’ll be equally as honoured to pay the money that you owe me immediately.’
‘Noble senator, nothing would give me greater pleasure but, alas, you find me between transactions and—’
‘I don’t care for excuses, Theron, you’ve sold the stock that I allowed you to choose and therefore you have the money to pay me. I want it delivered to my uncle Gaius Vespasius Pollo’s house on the Quirinal this afternoon along with the bills of sale, which I shall verify with each of the parties involved to make sure that you haven’t cheated me. If it doesn’t arrive I’ll have no choice but to make use of the contract that you signed.’
Theron opened his mouth and eyes in mock horror. ‘Take me to court! The humiliation of it when our sordid little deal is exposed to the public; and you a senator, what disgrace!’
Vespasian took a pace forward and thrust his face close to Theron’s. ‘I’ve no intention of taking that contract anywhere near a court for the reasons that you’ve just outlined.’
Theron scoffed; all pretence at subservient friendship had now disappeared. ‘And what will you do with it then that’ll make me pay you?’
‘I strongly advise you to bring the money this afternoon because I don’t think that you’ll want to find out what I intend to do; and I certainly don’t think that you’ll want to see just how much I’ll enjoy doing it. Don’t forget, Theron, I really don’t like you.’
Theron hawked and then spat at Vespasian’s feet before turning to go.
Vespasian did not demean himself by responding to the insult. ‘I think I’ve had my final answer. Have one of your lads follow him and find out where he lives, Magnus.’
‘Do you want me to arrange for his house to be heated up a touch, if you take my meaning?’
‘No; but thank you for the offer. He will be my price for Flavia’s co-operation.’ Enjoying the confused look on his friend’s face, Vespasian set off to confront his wife, determined to regain some control over his affairs.
Flavia stood before Vespasian with defiance in her eyes, her arms tense by her side and her shoulders shaking. ‘Who told you such a wicked lie?’
‘It’s not a lie; I saw how you and Messalina looked at each other at the circus yesterday. I suspected then what was going on – though I didn’t really believe it. But when it was confirmed to me last night, I knew it had to be true because I didn’t feel surprised.’
‘It’s not true!’
‘Flavia, keep your voice down.’ Vespasian rose from his seat and paced quickly to the door of the triclinium and opened it abruptly; it crunched into the heads of two of Flavia’s slave girls. ‘Get away! And draw lots between you, because one of you will be sold; and tell the rest of the household I’ll get rid of anyone else I ever find listening in on our private conversation.’
The women fled, too terrified to plead for forgiveness.
Vespasian slammed the door and rounded on Flavia. ‘Let’s stop this accusing and denying. Admit the charge and then we can discuss how best to take advantage of the situation.’
Flavia wrenched an ivory comb from her hair and hurled it at her husband. ‘What did you expect me to do for six years? Lie in my bed every night as unfulfilled as a Vestal? I played the faithful wife for you; I kept my virtue for four yea
rs.’
‘And then you cuckolded me!’
‘With another woman!’ Flavia screamed. ‘Yes! But that is not the same.’ She pointed to the couch upon which they had made love. ‘Since the day you left no man has touched me until you took me there on your return. And don’t tell me that you didn’t have another woman in all that time; Caenis was with you for a few months and then there would have been all those captives.’
‘My actions are irrelevant in this, woman. We are talking about your chastity, or lack of it, whilst I was away serving Rome.’
‘I was chaste! No one impregnated me. I didn’t feel an erect penis for six years. Do you know how hard it was to deny myself that? Can you understand the longing, the images burning in my head night and day, the trembling desire each time I caught the scent of a man? I had to do something before I broke and straddled the nearest slave, as many of the women do. But I didn’t, out of respect for you, husband, even though I was well aware that you wouldn’t be showing me the same consideration – not that I expect it of you. Messalina offered comfort of a different sort, not as satisfying but at least it was physical; now you’re back I don’t need that any more so I won’t be going to her bed again.’
Vespasian stared at his wife, his mouth gaping in astonishment. ‘Do you have any idea what would happen if you broke off your affair with her?’
‘She would understand now that you’re back.’
‘Understand? What do you know of this woman?’
‘She’s the Empress and she has been my friend ever since Claudius invited me to move into the palace. We weave together and talk about the children and—’
‘And do whatever it is that women do together; you don’t have to go into the details, I can imagine.’
‘I’m sure you can.’
‘Does she not involve you in her other affairs, try to tempt you into bed with her other partners?’
‘She has suggested it but I said no.’
‘You refused Messalina?’
‘Yes, husband; I know what she does, she confides in me. I know about all the men, I know about her going out into the city and whoring herself in rough brothels. I have no wish to do that; at least, I wouldn’t let myself do that. I just enjoy her when she wants me.’
Masters of Rome: VESPASIAN V (Vespasian 5) Page 31