The Senator's Assignment

by Joan E. Histon

  ‘Can I suggest you take a look at this one first, Caesar?’ Vivius handed the emperor the parchment of policies with Sejanus’s signature at the bottom.

  Tiberius pointed over to the window. ‘Sit over there, Senator. I may have questions for you while I read.’

  Vivius made his way over to the window, sat down in a heavily embroidered chair, and for a while he was left with nothing to do but listen to his stomach grumbling from lack of food. It occurred to him that what morsel of food he had managed to force down during his journey over the Mediterranean had promptly ended up over the side of the boat again.

  He glanced out of the window. A beautiful, semi-naked statue of Venus stood in the middle of the garden. He found his thoughts drifting towards Aurelia. Why in the name of all the gods had she gone to Felix’s summer villa? Why Felix? He and Aurelia were no more than acquaintances, weren’t they? Weren’t they? He took a deep breath as the first trickle of doubts filtered into his head. But if Aurelia had been getting pressure from Sejanus he reasoned, perhaps she felt Felix was the only person she could turn to?

  He jumped as Tiberius banged on the marble table.

  ‘Pilate has been executing Sejanus’s policies in Palestine? Sejanus’s policies?’

  ‘Yes, Caesar. Pilate is a strong supporter of Sejanus.’ Vivius stood up as the emperor moved silently across the room towards him; silent that is, except for a slight squeak of his sandal. He stared into the garden, and Vivius thought he detected a look of sadness in his eyes.

  ‘And, if I may say, Caesar, judging from the way Sejanus has been replacing your army commanders and governors over the last year I suspect Rome’s colonies will have similar policies; although that has yet to be proved,’ he added.

  ‘Proof? You’ve given me all the proof I need, Senator.’ The emperor continued staring out of the window. Eventually he said, ‘A letter was smuggled into me from my sister-in-law, Julia Antonia Minor. She’s a sound woman. I trust her judgement. She believes Sejanus has been plotting a revolt for months. The reason he’s been replacing my army commanders and governors is so that when he takes over in Rome he’s not met with opposition. Of course, Julia Antonia had no proof but…’ Tiberius waved the parchment of policies with Sejanus’s signature at the bottom. ‘You have given me that.’

  Turning away from the window, Tiberius made his way back to the marble table and picked up another parchment.

  ‘I was told there have been developments while I’ve been away, Caesar?’ Vivius ventured.

  ‘Hmm? Developments? Ah, yes!’ Tiberius dropped the parchment back on the table. ‘I received a visit from Apicata, Sejanus’s former wife. She tells me that my son Drusus…’ The emperor’s voice shook and he turned his head away.

  Vivius waited.

  When the emperor turned back, his voice was steadier. ‘She makes claims against Lavilla, the wife of my dear son. She tells me Lavilla and Sejanus were lovers. She alleges they poisoned Drusus so they could marry. At first I dismissed her accusations as those of an embittered woman, but then a second letter from Julia Antonia declares there are witnesses to prove it.’ His voice broke again but only momentarily. ‘I don’t believe Sejanus was interested in Lavilla. Sejanus is more interested in being a member of the Imperial family and my heir.’ He paced across the room and back again before adding, ‘And now Sejanus has turned my Praetorian Guards against me. That’s why the Vigils are here.’ He folded his arms against his chest. ‘I can’t say any of this is a surprise to me, Senator. I think I’ve had my suspicions about Sejanus for some time, but I’ve been…ill. I haven’t wanted trouble. Life on Capri suited me. It was…convenient having Sejanus handle affairs in Rome. I trusted him. I believed him to be a dear friend when all the time…’ Tiberius turned away and returning to the table began reading the parchment from Joseph of Arimathea.

  Vivius sat down again and listened to a Vigil officer barking out orders. There was a stamping of feet, salutes and uneven marching of guards, none of which resembled a Praetorian Guards’ efficiency, but judging from the emperor’s comments they were doing their best in difficult circumstances.

  He waited, aware that the sun would be setting soon and his body was aching from the effort of vomiting and lack of food. He glanced across at the emperor engrossed in his reading and wondered how time always seemed to move with such incredible slowness when there were so many other important issues to deal with.

  Eventually Tiberius said, ‘So, Sejanus has been responsible for the deaths of prominent Jewish businessmen and for no other reason than he hates the Jews, eh?’ His eyes dropped down to the bottom of the page. ‘And it would seem from his signature that once again, Pilate is following Sejanus’s policies; no trials before a crucifixion.’ Tiberius stabbed at the parchment the clerk had sent from the tribune at the fort in Jerusalem. ‘I haven’t read all of this, but it puts a completely different slant on the deaths of those two hundred Jews; a massacre, the tribune calls it.’

  ‘Yes, Caesar.’

  Tiberius opened the second ledger. Once again there was silence, not so prolonged this time.

  ‘I don’t understand all these figures, but I suspect it indicates that taxes from Palestine are going in the pockets of Sejanus and Pontius Pilate?’

  ‘Yes, Caesar.’ Vivius paused a beat. ‘I brought the Greek bookkeeper back with me as a witness for the prosecution against Sejanus and Pilate. Sejanus needs money for his revolt against you and this is how he’s raising it. The bookkeeper risked his life bringing this information back to Rome for you.’

  Tiberius looked up sharply. ‘But you have him safe?’

  Vivius bit his lip. ‘I’m hoping so, Caesar. Senator Felix Seneca will be sending in legionaries first thing in the morning to guard the house where he’s staying.’

  ‘Good.’ Tiberius continued his reading.

  ‘Unfortunately, Fabius, the man who brought these indiscretions to your attention in the first place was murdered,’ Vivius added.

  Tiberius looked up again. ‘Murdered?’

  ‘Yes, Caesar. His home was ransacked and his family threatened.’

  ‘By who?’

  ‘I have no proof but I have my suspicions, and with your permission, Caesar, I’d like to instigate enquiries.’

  ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ The emperor dropped his head to examine the records again.

  Unobserved, Vivius scrutinized his emperor. The sagging flesh under his jaws showed him to be aging, his eyes looked tired but it was apparent his speech and actions were not those of a mad man, at least not today.

  ‘Your Praetorian Guards, Caesar. Will they support you?’

  Tiberius dragged his eyes away from the records and his mouth hardened. ‘When Sejanus is arrested tomorrow, Macro will be Prefect of the Praetorian Guards. All I’ve been waiting for is proof, solid evidence, not rumours instigated by ambitious men and scheming women whose only interest is who I will name as my heir.’ Slamming the ledger shut, Tiberius clasped his hands behind his back and paced across the room.

  ‘I gather Sejanus is not aware of what’s going on, Caesar?’

  ‘I hope not. I’ve gone to great lengths to mislead him.’ Tiberius gave a chuckle. ‘I’ve had coins minted with his head on, statues erected in his honour, and rumours circulated that I’m announcing my heir tomorrow.’ Tiberius lost his smile as he turned to him. ‘Which is why your late arrival was causing such concern, Senator. I wanted Sejanus to think he was safe until I had sufficient evidence against him—now I have.’ Tiberius furrowed his brow. ‘But that’s not my only problem. Which governors and army commanders in my colonies is still loyal to me? I’m in a power struggle, Senator Marcianus. What I need are trustworthy men who would be prepared to investigate these colonies.’ The emperor examined him warily before adding, ‘Men like you.’

  Vivius licked his lips; they still tasted of salt. ‘As, er…a senator, my place is in Rome, Caesar. I have plans to marry. I…’

  ‘You refuse!’

  Vivius
sent his brain ticking rapidly over his escape routes—it found one.

  ‘Yes, Caesar, I refuse but…if you would hear my reasons for the refusal.’

  ‘I was under the impression you’d given them. Some notion about getting married and at the very time Rome needs you.’ Tiberius pouted.

  ‘There are other reasons, sire. They concern…your safety.’

  ‘Oh?’ Tiberius’s attention had been caught.

  ‘You gave me an assignment, but in my opinion I haven’t completed it yet.’

  ‘Go on?’

  ‘As a magistrate I’d best be used in accumulating evidence and preparing a case against Sejanus and his supporters, his governors and Army commanders in the colonies, men disloyal to you, Caesar. Even as we speak, your supporters are gathering around you. I would like to be part of that group. The danger lies here, in Rome.’ He paused a beat. ‘Your relationship with the Senate has not always been, er…easy, shall we say. As a senator of Rome I can do something about that.’ Vivius allowed his words to sink in before adding, ‘It would be my privilege to find a suitable, and younger man for you to send to the colonies, if you wish. I…I’m a bad sailor.’

  Tiberius examined Vivius with an amused curl on his lip. ‘I can see that, Senator.’

  ‘You need me in Rome, Caesar.’ Vivius persisted.

  ‘Do I?’

  ‘Yes, Caesar.

  ‘And you would rather be in Rome, which is why you’ve put your argument so well, Senator Marcianus,’ Tiberius said dryly. His eyes flickered over the reports on his desk but Vivius could see he wasn’t really reading them. ‘As usual, what you say makes sense.’

  In the ensuing silence, Vivius wondered how much longer he could stand this interview. He shuffled uncomfortably.

  ‘Are you anxious to be away, Senator?’

  ‘No, Caesar. But I imagine you would prefer a more delicate aroma around you.’

  Tiberius threw his head back and laughed. ‘I like you, Senator Marcianus.’ He closed the ledger on his desk with a thump. ‘But if you want to unite the Senate behind their emperor, you may need promoting.’ He smiled slyly at him. ‘Is that what this is all about?’

  Vivius’s chin jutted out. Two offers of promotion in one day? The corner of his mouth quivered at the honour of being sought after. Yes, of course he wanted promotion, he thought. Of course, he wanted respect and financial gain. Who didn’t? But what he wanted above all else was a far greater voice in Rome than his father had ever…he flinched. This had nothing to do with his father; this was his promotion; his decision…

  The emperor was watching him shrewdly, as though he sensed an inner struggle taking place. But being a man familiar with inner struggles he didn’t interrupt, he waited.

  ‘No, Caesar, I’m not after promotion,’ Vivius said quietly. ‘The key issue for me is the integrity of the Senate. What I would like to see is power taken from Sejanus, Pilate brought back to Rome to answer these charges, and Fabius’s killer brought to justice.’

  Tiberius rubbed his chin with his index finger. ‘Well said, Senator.’ He paused a beat. ‘Tomorrow morning power will be taken from Sejanus. I’d like you to be there.’

  ‘Yes, Caesar. As you wish.’

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  (Rome)

  Knowing that within the hour there would be momentous changes taking place in the government, Vivius was surprised to arrive in Rome and find life carrying on as normal. The citizens of Rome were enjoying the morning sunshine, stall-holders were vying loudly with each other for business, slaves were being sold in the market square and there was the usual bustle of activity in the streets. As far as the people of Rome were concerned, Tiberius was still on Capri preparing to name his successor, and as far as Sejanus was concerned—that was him, Vivius mused.

  When he, Felix and the senators who had been on the Isle of Capri with the emperor reached the Senate House he noticed that most of his colleagues headed for the front benches. They were clearly anxious to get an unobstructed view of unfolding events. Vivius, conscious of his unkempt appearance, crept towards the back. Felix, unfazed by how his companion looked, joined him.

  ‘Any better?’ he murmured as they sat down.

  Vivius pulled the corners of his mouth down. He still felt acutely embarrassed over his bout of seasickness on the early morning journey over from Capri. ‘If I never see another boat again I’ll not view it as a hardship,’ he said quietly. ‘Two hours’ sleep, that’s all the emperor left me with…two hours. Fortunately he fed me but he had me up talking till the early hours of the morning. Not even a chance to clean up.’ He rubbed his eyes. They still stung with sea spray and tiredness. Folding his arms across his chest he gazed down at the balding heads of his fellow senators. A thought occurred to him.

  ‘Felix; yesterday you said Aurelia had got…involved? Involved in what?’ He spoke quietly, the circular benches and high ceiling in the Senate House was a great medium for voices to carry.

  Felix brought his hand up to his mouth to hide his moving lips. ‘She hid Apicata from Sejanus and got vital information to the emperor on the death of his son.’

  ‘She…she did what?’

  ‘Shh! Keep your voice down.’ Felix glanced around but the arrival of curious senators with their noisy greetings drowned out their conversation. ‘She hid poor Apicata under her couch, then lay on it while Sejanus searched the house.’ He gave a chuckle. ‘After that she had the guts to meet up with a courier belonging to Julie Antonia Minor and smuggle her letter to Tiberius.’ Felix hedged a grin. ‘You have quite a lady there, Vivius. If she was mine, I wouldn’t have left her to… Whoa!’ Felix sat forward. ‘Sejanus! And he’s early.’

  Vivius ran his hand down his face trying to make sense of what he had just heard. Admittedly, Aurelia had always been lively, he thought, but what in the name of Jupiter had possessed her to get involved in…? He sat forward; his thoughts distracted by an immaculate Sejanus strutting across the marble floor in his Praetorian Prefect’s uniform, his armour shining, his face glowing with anticipation. Deciding that pondering the bizarre actions of his betrothed would have to be postponed, he sat back in his chair and waited for proceedings to begin.

  He glanced around. The Senate House was full. Sejanus was being greeted warmly by fawning supporters. Most of whom, Vivius judged from their excited faces, appeared to be under the same expectations as Sejanus himself. The only sober faces came from the senators who had travelled over from the Isle of Capri with them, and a few puzzled by this extraordinary meeting of the Senate.

  Vivius watched Sejanus carefully. He was laughing in an affected manner at a comment made by a fat-faced, over-jewelled senator. But Vivius could see by his glazed expression that he wasn’t really listening to what was being said. Whether Sejanus actually felt the intensity of Vivius’s stare was hard to say, but he suddenly glanced up the tiered benches to the back of the Senate House, and by the way his laughter faded and his brow knitted, Vivius knew he’d been spotted.

  ‘This could be awkward,’ he murmured.

  Felix shuffled uncomfortably. ‘He’s heading this way,’ he muttered. ‘Keep it together, keep him talking…’

  Sejanus gave Felix a nod of acknowledgment as he approached. ‘Huh! Senator Marcianus. Here for the big event I see.’ Sejanus examined his unkempt appearance in a manner that reminded Vivius of the way he chose his new slaves, with a look of contempt. ‘You’ve been to see the emperor?’

  Vivius kept his arms folded across his chest. Whatever happened, he decided. There was no way on this earth he could fawn, bow and scrape to this overbearing son of a…he clenched his fists under his armpits. ‘I have.’

  In the distance he heard the rhythmic tread of the legionaries’ boots.

  ‘And, er…has he arrived in Rome yet?’

  There was something almost pathetic in the way he asked the question, like a schoolboy waiting for a crumb of praise from his tutor. Vivius had an overwhelming desire to blurt out the truth and make th
e arrest himself, but realising the stupidity of such an action kept a firm grip on his tongue. ‘I have no idea, Prefect Sejanus,’ he said coldly.

  ‘And when you saw him did he…’

  The rhythmic tread was now the heavy stomp of approaching legionaries.

  ‘…did he mention the time of his arrival? All I received was a message…’

  There was a loud clomp outside the building as boots came to an abrupt halt.

  ‘…that I had to be at the Senate House midday. I assume…’

  There was a thud as the doors were flung open. Voices dropped. Sejanus lifted his head, his face lightened and his eyes gleamed with greedy anticipation. ‘Yes, that sounds like his arrival now. If you’ll excuse me I shall go and welcome…’ His face clouded over in confusion as a grim faced Macro entered the Senate House wearing the uniform of the Prefect of the Praetorian Guards. Behind him were four Praetorian Guards. Behind them a small detachment of the emperor’s loyal Pretorian Guards who spread out quickly around the circular floor.

  ‘What in the name of…?’ Sejanus hastily made his way down to the centre of the Senate House. ‘What in the name of all the gods are you playing at, Macro? Where…?’

  Vivius leant forward as Prefect Macro’s voice carried around the benches. ‘Lucius Aelius Sejanus, by order of the Emperor Tiberius I am arresting you…’

  Sejanus’s ruddy face drained of colour. A roar echoed around the building, a mixture of cheers, shock and objections as senators rose to their feet, their arms waving like a display of white and purple flags. Four Praetorian Guards stepped forward, positioning themselves on either side of Sejanus. His eyes widened with shock.

  ‘What is this?’ he demanded.

  His supporters had moved forward in his defence, but as the Praetorian Guards drew their swords they stepped back, uncertainty written across their faces.