The Senator's Assignment

by Joan E. Histon

  Deciding his appearance was a minor problem compared to all the others, he picked up his luggage and made his way unsteadily across the deck to join the queue of passengers waiting to disembark. He found Dorio, Lucanus and Nikolaos leaning over the side of the boat discussing the complications of finding a docking bay with so many vessels arriving in port after the storms.

  Vivius squinted down at the dockhands waiting for the boats to dock so they could unload their cargo. But after spending so long in the hold all he saw was a blur of figures. His eye travelled along the blurred figures then stopped, drawn to a mass of red and black. He narrowed his eyes further in an attempt to clear his vision. When it did he breathed in sharply. Praetorian Guards! At least ten of them he reckoned, and they were scrutinizing each incoming vessel as it docked.

  Vivius rested his hand uneasily on his dagger, his thumb rubbing the ruby inset in the handle, but his eye never left the high-ranking officer who was watching the line of passengers on their boat. His bearing reminded Vivius of a strong man he had seen in the circus, tall, broad, cleft chin, wide forehead, strong facial features The only difference being this Praetorian carried an air of intimidation. Vivius saw his gaze come to a standstill—on him—on his senator’s toga. They made eye contact. The officer began ambling alongside their boat, waiting for their captain to find a docking bay. His men followed.

  ‘I think we might have a problem,’ Vivius murmured.

  Lucanus’s shoulders sagged. ‘Not more trouble, Senator. Please don’t tell me there’s more trouble.’

  ‘We’re being watched, so turn away from me, all of you. But listen.’ He waited until they had their backs to him before saying, ‘Dorio, pull your cloak over your missing arm. I don’t want those guards knowing you’re the wounded Decurion I’ve brought back from Rome. I want you to take the ledgers in that…that…shabby bag of Lucanus’s and lose yourself.’

  ‘Lose myself?’

  ‘Anywhere on the docks, but keep me in sight. If I’m arrested, get those ledgers and the policy parchment to the emperor. The material in the medical case I’ll keep with me. If the guards take me to Sejanus I don’t want him thinking I’ve come away from Palestine with nothing. Can you carry the bag?’ Vivius knew he’d said the wrong thing by the unspoken bristles of indignation aimed in his direction.

  ‘Lucanus, I want you to get Nikolaos to Dorio’s estate in the hills.’

  ‘Dorio’s estate? But…’

  Vivius addressed the worried-looking bookkeeper. ‘You’ll be safe there until I return.’

  Vivius realised the captain had spotted a docking bay when he found the vessel shuddering towards the dock with its overload of cargo. He grasped the rail when he saw the captain was attempting to out-manoeuvre another approaching vessel.

  ‘I have a problem, Senator,’ Lucanus began.

  ‘I’m not interested in your problems right now, Lucanus?’

  ‘Yes, but…’

  ‘Just give me your medical case.’ Vivius turned his head. ‘None of you know me, understand?’

  There was a thud as the medical case fell at Vivius’s feet. ‘Take care of that case, Senator. It was given to me by…’

  ‘You understand what you have to do?’

  ‘Yes, senator. Swap luggage, we’re strangers and I’m to go to Dorio’s estate with Nikolaos. But as I’ve been trying to tell you, I don’t know where Dorio’s estate is.’

  There was a shout as the sailors jumped on to the dock to secure their vessel.

  Vivius pinched between his eyes. ‘Ask any blacksmith in Rome for directions to the Suranus stables,’ he said with forced patience. ‘It’s in the hills; a two-hour brisk walk northwest of the city. It adjoins my olive grove. Understood?’

  ‘Understood, Senator.’

  There was a clatter as the sailors secured the gangplank. Not wanting to be seen near his companions, Vivius sauntered towards the centurion on crutches, and as the passenger began disembarking, he followed him closely down the gangplank. When he reached solid ground, the high-ranking Praetorian officer moved towards him with slow, sure steps.

  ‘I had expected you back before now, Senator Marcianus. Good journey?’

  ‘Dreadful!’ He examined the officer intently. ‘You’re here to meet me?’

  The Praetorian officer ignored the question, too engrossed in studying the disembarking passengers. ‘I understood you were travelling with your brother-in-law; wounded wasn’t he?’ His eyes flickered towards the centurion on crutches.

  ‘Decurion Suranus?’ Vivius made a point of emphasising Dorio’s rank. The centurion had served his purpose in being the focus of attention to allow the others to disembark unnoticed. ‘Unfortunately, he was too ill to travel. I repeat, are you here to meet me?’

  The officer lost interest in the centurion who, with his bag over his shoulder and crutches under his arms was struggling towards the barges that would take them from the Port of Ostia into the city of Rome. ‘I am, Senator. I have a boat to take you up river to Rome.’

  ‘Rome?’

  ‘Sejanus wishes to examine your findings for himself.’ The officer hesitated when he saw Vivius’s raised eyebrow. ‘The emperor informed him of your investigation and as you know the Prefect deals with all Rome’s administrative matters.’

  Vivius set his jaw. ‘I’m sorry, but my orders were to report directly to the emperor.’ His eyes drifted over the shoulder of a Praetorian Guard to where Lucanus and Nikolaos were walking briskly towards the barges. Of Dorio, there was no sign.

  ‘The thing is Senator Marcianus,’ the officer said in a low voice. ‘Sejanus believes it would be in your own best interests if you speak to him first. There have been, shall we say, developments while you’ve been away.’

  ‘Developments? What sort of developments?’

  ‘We’ll discuss it on the way to Rome.’ He signalled to the Praetorian Guard behind to pick up Vivius’s luggage.

  Vivius showed the approaching guard the flat of his hand; the guard hovered, uncertain.

  ‘What sort of developments?’ Vivius repeated.

  ‘Good ones if you support Sejanus.’

  ‘Really? Then please tell Sejanus I shall be pleased to call on him as soon as I’ve seen the emperor.’

  The officer’s face hardened, his upper body moved forward in an intimidating manner. ‘I think you will find it is to Sejanus, not the emperor, you will have to answer to if the charges of treason being brought against you are true, Senator.’

  Vivius was not intimidated. He had used these same tactics when he was with the Praetorians, but he was uneasy by the accusation. ‘Treason?’

  ‘I understand you presided over the case against the Lady Aurelia’s former husband. The case that was dropped for lack of evidence.’

  ‘What are you insinuating?’

  The officer stepped forward. He was so close Vivius could smell the garlic on his breath. ‘I have been instructed to inform you that Sejanus will soon be in a position to make you a very rich and influential man, Senator. And as you know, loyalty to him does not go unrewarded. He can clear you of these charges. But any resistance to his orders…’

  ‘Senator Marcianus?’

  Vivius spun around. Senator Felix Seneca was marching briskly towards them with six Vigils in tow. Vivius tried not to look relieved to see him.

  ‘Ah! Good day, officer,’ Felix greeted the officer of the Praetorian Guards with his usual wide smile and winning charm but his only response was an angry glare. Unperturbed Felix turned to Vivius. ‘And good day to you as well, Vivius. You’re late; but nonetheless I’m here to take you to the emperor,’

  In the distance Vivius heard the clatter of a gangplank. A moment later he was relieved to see the barge drifting away from the pier with Lucanus and Nikolaos safely on board. He glanced casually around the busy dock. There was still no sign of Dorio.

  The Praetorian officer’s lips formed into a thin, straight line as he addressed Felix. ‘You’ve had a wasted journ
ey, I’m afraid. Sejanus wants him in Rome.’

  Vivius was aware that the Vigils had fanned out behind them; but they were edgy, nervous. His fingers drifted through his cloak to the dagger in the folds of his toga. The last thing he wanted was Rome’s police and firefighters forced into action for him. Knowing they’d be no match against the emperor’s Praetorian Guards he forced his tired brain into action. Inclining his head to Felix, he said, ‘Thank you for your concern, Felix. But I must confess I find myself in a predicament here. The emperor will be disappointed with what I’ve brought back from Palestine. A few meaningless reports from embittered Jews and that’s about it. I don’t think he was…feeling himself when he gave me this assignment.’ He gave a forced laugh. ‘Sejanus was right about that at least. On top of which, I gather there’s a charge of treason being levelled at me so I’m likely to find myself in Mamertine Prison before the end of the day.’ He cleared his throat. ‘However, Prefect Sejanus has promised me these charges will be dropped if I give him my support. That’s my dilemma; Sejanus in Rome or the emperor on Capri?’

  Vivius realised Felix was studying him closely, a frown across his brow. But then his face cleared. Addressing the Praetorian officer in a low voice, he said, ‘There seems to be some misunderstanding here. I too am taking Senator Marcianus to Rome because that’s where the emperor is. He sailed over from Capri earlier today. I thought you knew that?’

  A glimmer of uncertainty crossed the Praetorian officer’s face. ‘Why wasn’t I told?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. How old are your orders? Given the significance of the emperor’s arrival on the mainland I would assume Sejanus will want you in Rome with him. I doubt he’ll be bothered about a failed mission by Senator Marcianus, not today anyway.’ He paused a beat. And especially not tomorrow. Perhaps you need fresh orders?’ My orders are clear. I’m to assemble all senators for an important announcement in the Senate tomorrow. As for Senator Marcianus, as a senator he has no option but to be present.’ Turning to Vivius he scanned him up and down, his mouth gradually drooping at the corners. ‘But we can’t have you looking as though you’ve been ravaged by wolves, Vivius. By all the gods, what have you been up to? Perhaps we ought to get you cleaned up before we head into Rome. Sejanus will not be too pleased you arriving for his big occasion looking like that.’

  The Praetorian officer looked unsure of these new developments. ‘You’re taking the next barge into Rome?’

  Felix shook his head. ‘Not the next one, no. I think it will take more than an hour for the senator to clean himself up, don’t you?’

  The grim-faced officer stepped back, but slowly. Vivius licked his lips with relief; they tasted of salt. Picking up his bags he gave him a curt nod and without further comment followed Felix and the six Vigils along the docks and away from the barges.

  Felix whistled softly through his lips. ‘That was close.’

  ‘The emperor sent you?’

  ‘He did, and he suggested I take the Vigils with me in case of trouble. We’ve been waiting for you for over a week now.’

  ‘Waiting for me? And he sent the Vigils? Where are his own Praetorian Guards?’

  ‘Some are with him, others…’ he shrugged. ‘There have been…developments.’ Felix indicated a boat a few yards away and after a glance behind headed towards it.

  ‘Vivius’s heart sank. ‘I thought you said the emperor was on the mainland?’

  ‘I lied.’

  There was a clatter of boots behind them. ‘I think we have company, Senators,’ the Vigil officer warned.

  The whole party swung around, hands on swords, to find a one-armed Decurion staggering after them, dragging a shabby cloth travelling bag.

  ‘Your ledgers,’ Dorio dropped them at Vivius’s feet.

  Vivius gave him a brief nod of approval, but that’s all it was, a brief nod. His mind was already one step ahead. ‘Dorio I want you to get the next barge into Rome. I need you to keep Lucanus and the bookkeeper safe until I return.’

  The senior Vigil glanced down at Dorio’s disability. ‘I could muster more men if…’

  Vivius shook his head. ‘He’ll manage fine, won’t you?’

  Dorio nodded. ‘What about you?’

  Vivius’s mouth quivered at the edges. ‘I always manage fine.’

  ‘Right then.’ With a salute to Felix and the Vigil officer, Dorio picked up his own bag and with an unsteady but purposeful gait, made his way back along the docks.

  ‘Oh, there’s one other thing,’ Felix said as he stepped on to the boat. ‘It concerns Aurelia.’

  Vivius eyed his fellow senator uneasily as he followed him aboard. ‘What about her?’

  ‘I’ve sent her to my summer villa for safety.’ He nodded to the captain of the vessel to set sail.

  ‘You have Aurelia in your summer villa?’ Vivius repeated it simply because he was unsure what to make of it.

  ‘Your slave, what’s his name, Phaedo, took her. I was tied up with affairs on Capri, and as Sejanus was keeping your estate and the Suranus stables under observation…’

  ‘Observation?’ The vessel shuddered as the sailors pushed it away from the docks. ‘Why would Sejanus have the Suranus stables under observation?’ Vivius clung on to the rail.

  ‘Everyone you know is under observation, Vivius. That’s why I sent Aurelia away. She…well, let’s just say she got herself…involved.’

  ‘Involved?’ Vivius swallowed hard. ‘How involved. No!’ he raised his hand. ‘Don’t tell me. As long as she’s safe, that’s the main thing. But if what you say about the Suranus stables being under observation is true Felix, then I’ve just sent my prime witness for the prosecution, and the two men with him, straight into the hands of Sejanus.’

  * * *

  Vivius knew Felix was right when he said there was little he could do about that now. But as he took yet another sea voyage, although to his relief a considerably shorter one, he couldn’t tear his thoughts away from the trouble his friends and companions had been left in because of this one assignment.

  ‘I can send men over to the Suranus stables first thing in the morning,’ Felix offered.

  ‘Yes, do that.’ Vivius rubbed the bristles on his chin. ‘So, is it true? Is the emperor coming to Rome? Is he well enough?’

  Felix ran his hand through his hair as the sea breezes picked up. ‘He’s well enough. Signs are he’s going through a period of sanity, but how long that will last is anyone’s guess. As for whether he will be well enough to come to Rome, I’ve no idea. sure. It was the first thing I could think of to get you away. There have been developments while you’ve been in Palestine though.’

  ‘Developments? I keep being told there have been developments but no one cares to enlighten me.’

  ‘The emperor will do that.’ Felix settled himself in the stern clearly unperturbed by the choppy waters. ‘But the most important thing to ask is, do you have proof of illegalities against Sejanus?’

  It was at that moment Vivius realised they had left the harbour and the waves had begun pounding up against the side of the boat tossing it, and him, from side to side. Although he would have enjoyed going into details with a fellow senator, a brief nod of the head was all he could manage. Fortunately, Felix appeared comfortable enough with that and content to continue the rest of the journey in silence.

  By the time they reached the Isle of Capri, Vivius found the sea voyage followed by a steep walk up the cliffs had done nothing to help his exhaustion or the pains in his stomach. But both were forgotten when he saw it was Vigils guarding the palace, and not the emperor’s own Praetorian Guards.

  ‘What in the name of all the gods is going on?’ he murmured.

  ‘You’ll find out soon enough.’ Felix answered. He led him up to the main entrance and through the same double doors he had entered some weeks previously. They thudded shut behind him. Vivius raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the sizeable gathering of senior Praetorian Guards, Senators, the consul, magistrates and members of t
he equestrian order in the hall.

  ‘You got back just in time, Senator.’ Macro, Prefect of the Vigils, stepped forward, saluted and stepped back to let them pass.

  ‘Time for what?’ Vivius murmured as Felix ushered him through the crowded rooms.

  ‘The emperor will tell you.’

  Vivius realised that whispered conversations were breaking off as they passed to stare at his unkempt appearance, and he became uncomfortably conscious of the fresh streaks of vomit down his clothes. Although he was comforted by fact that the colleagues whose integrity and judgement he respected acknowledged him in a more friendly manner.

  A moment later, he was admitted into a room designed for comfort rather than show. The emperor was seated in a high backed chair; his fingers drummed impatiently on the wooden scrolled armrests. A low marble table sat in front of him. The Vigil who had been following with the luggage dropped it at Vivius’s feet and departed.

  ‘See you later,’ Felix murmured and closed the door behind him.

  ‘You’re late! I expected you days ago,’ Tiberius snapped.

  Vivius noticed the emperor was pale but the vagueness he had exhibited at their last meeting appeared to be less obvious. ‘I realise that, Caesar; the weather…’ Vivius dropped his eyes aware that the emperor was scrutinizing him from head to foot with a look of disgust on his face.

  ‘By all the gods, Senator. You look as though you’ve been dragged out of a pit.’ He snorted a chuckle.

  Vivius breathed a sigh of relief, finding it small comfort that if nothing else his unseemly appearance had put the emperor in a good mood. ‘I apologize, Caesar. The journey…’

  Tiberius waved his hand dismissively. ‘Quite! Quite! You’ve got what I want?’

  ‘Yes, Excellency.’ Vivius knelt down and opened Lucanus’s shabby cloth travelling bag. He grimaced as a smell of damp clothes emerged. Pulling out the ledgers, he dropped them on the table and snapped the bag shut. Then, opening the medical case he pulled out the parchments and couldn’t resist spreading his work across the table with a sense of satisfaction. The amount of material he had accumulated in so short a time gave the impression he had been hard at work.