Rome's Executioner (43 page)

‘I’m intrigued, Pallas,’ Gaius said, taking just a sip of wine.

Vespasian managed to tear his attention away from Caenis and focus on what Pallas had to say.

‘No doubt you have heard the rumour that Tiberius will ask the Senate to confirm tribunician power on Sejanus?’

‘Of course, it’s the talk of Rome,’ Gaius replied. ‘That’s why I didn’t want to be present.’

‘Which I quite understand; however, it’s no mere rumour, it’s a strategy thought up by Caligula and adopted by Tiberius and my mistress.’

‘To see who doesn’t share my uncle’s scruples?’ Vespasian ventured, immediately seeing the beauty of the scheme.

‘Exactly, master.’ Pallas looked impressed that Vespasian had caught on so quickly. ‘Tomorrow all Sejanus’ known supporters will enthusiastically attend the meeting expecting to vote tribunician power for their patron and reap whatever rewards he has promised them. However, this rumour will also flush out the senators who have been a little more circumspect in their support for him; if they think that the man that they have been secretly backing is finally in a position to gain supreme power then they will want to be a part of that so as not to miss out on his favour.’

‘And Antonia wants me to note who sits close to him?’ Gaius asked, getting the gist of the ploy.

‘In part, yes, but what really interests her is how long they sit with him.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ll come to that. For a start she wants the list, as soon as possible, of who is surrounding him at the beginning of the meeting. Caenis will be in the crowd outside the temple with Vespasian; once you have noted the names you will come out and dictate them to her.’

‘But there may be as many as a hundred, perhaps even more,’ Gaius complained.

‘Don’t worry about his open supporters, she already knows their names, just memorise the ones who don’t usually associate themselves with him. Once Caenis has written down the list a slave will take it to Antonia.’

‘Why does she want it so quickly?’ Vespasian asked.

‘I’m afraid that I’m not privy to all of my mistress’s reasoning, she tells me only what I need to know.’ Pallas turned back to Gaius. ‘However, what I do know is that as Tiberius’ letter is read out it will start by heaping praise on Sejanus but then it will, by degrees, become more and more critical and my mistress expects people to start moving away from him; note the order in which they do and at what point during the letter. Vespasian, as a triumvir capitalis, is allowed to enter the Senate if a member has summoned him; send for him regularly and pass on the names to him. Once Caenis has the complete list she’ll return to Antonia’s house.’

‘But how will we know when the list is complete?’ Gaius asked.

‘Because by the time that the Senior Consul has finished reading the Emperor’s letter there will be no one near Sejanus,’ Pallas replied confidently.

‘Shouldn’t I escort Caenis back?’ Vespasian asked.

‘No, master, you will stay outside the temple. My mistress is hopeful that you will soon be busy as she believes that Tiberius will finish by asking the Senate to condemn Sejanus to death.’

‘So Tiberius’ vacillations have been no more than a ruse to unearth all of Sejanus’ supporters,’ Vespasian said to Caenis who lay, covered in sweat, in his arms. His bedroom was dark and the sweet smell of sex surrounded them.

Caenis nuzzled his neck gently. ‘Not entirely. My mistress thinks that it was mainly because he was fearful that if he did act against Sejanus, his supporters would have their revenge on him. She dictated a letter to Caligula at Misenum – she’s unable to get letters to Capreae without them being read by Sejanus’ men – telling him that the names of all his supporters were well known. Caligula wrote back saying that Tiberius was fearful that there were more who as yet had not gone public with their support and suggested this scheme for rooting them out. My mistress thought it ingenious and told him to suggest it to the Emperor who embraced it wholeheartedly because he could carry on doing exactly what he had been doing since you left.’

Vespasian smiled in the darkness. ‘Changing his mind, you mean.’

‘Worse than that; he’s actually written to Sejanus, a couple of times, saying that he’s ill and on the point of dying and asking him to return to Capreae. Luckily, Caligula seems to have a lot of influence over him and on both occasions persuaded him, by reminding him of Thrasyllus’ prophecy, to write again to say that he’s now feeling much better and is in fact preparing a trip to Rome, and that Sejanus should stay to meet him when he arrives.’

‘I saw how Caligula deals with him; he’s not having the easiest of times, one word out of place and he could be dead.’

‘Yes, but he’s managing to do the most important thing: keeping Tiberius away from Sejanus.’

‘And tomorrow that’ll be over.’

‘Yes, my love, one way or another.’

‘What do you mean? Tomorrow Tiberius will ask the Senate to condemn Sejanus to death.’

‘Perhaps; I copied Caligula’s latest letter for my mistress’s records yesterday and in it he said that Tiberius didn’t consult him whilst he was writing his address to the Senate nor did he get a chance to look at it; so no one can be absolutely sure what will be read out tomorrow.’

‘But Pallas was confident that Antonia knew the contents.’

‘Pallas only knows what she tells him; other than my mistress, only you, Caligula and I know the full truth.’

Vespasian sat up. ‘Shit! He could’ve just as easily changed his mind and where would that leave Antonia and all of us?’

‘We should sleep, Vespasian; it’ll be a long and dangerous day tomorrow.’

Vespasian kissed her on the lips and lay back on the pillow. He closed his eyes but he knew that sleep would be difficult to find; tomorrow would be a bloody day – one way or another.

T
HE EARLY-MORNING
mist still clung to the lower reaches of the city along the shores of the Tiber, shrouding the island opposite the Campus Martius, as Vespasian, Caenis and Gaius climbed the Palatine in the fresh dawn light. All around them, groups of senators, carrying their folding stools, made their way in the same direction, towards the Temple of Apollo on the southern side of the hill; the mood amongst them was generally buoyant but, here and there, small clusters of less exuberant senators walked slowly with grim faces, the future weighing heavily upon their shoulders.

The crowds grew thicker as they approached the Temple of Apollo because the ordinary people of Rome, drawn by the rumour of Sejanus’ elevation, were gathering to witness the day’s unfolding events. Gaius’ senatorial toga was enough to clear a path for them as the deferential crowd parted to let the senators through to the beautiful, octagonal temple set on a podium, built by Augustus in thanks to his guardian god for his victories.

Paetus met them at the foot of the steps leading up to the temple doors and quickly got them through the security cordon of a century of togate Praetorians. Gaius went ahead with Caenis to find a place under the portico where he would be able to find her again in a hurry.

‘Why aren’t you in the Forum, Vespasian?’ Paetus enquired as they mounted the steps.

‘I’ve been asked to come here,’ Vespasian replied simply as scores of senators flooded past them into the building.

Paetus looked at him shrewdly. ‘I needn’t ask who by. So things may not be going the way the rumours suggest, eh?’

‘Perhaps not, Paetus. I really don’t know. I’m in the rather unpleasant position of being used as a tool for a purpose that I don’t fully understand.’

‘It was ever thus for us junior magistrates. This is not a day to be in Rome, wouldn’t you say, old boy?’

A loud cheer erupted from the crowd below and Vespasian turned to see both the Consuls, each preceded by twelve fascesbearing lictors, cut two different swathes through the milling citizenry as if competing to reach the temple first.

‘Well, this will be fun,’ Paetus observed dryly. ‘It’s the first time the two Consuls have attended a meeting of the Senate together since Memmius Regulus took over from Faustus Sulla as Senior Consul at the beginning of this month; his junior colleague, Fulcinius Trio, hates him because he’s the Emperor’s man not Sej—’ Paetus stopped abruptly and looked at Vespasian. ‘Oh! I see,’ he said slowly. ‘This has been planned well in advance, hasn’t it?’

‘Yes, it has, but nobody except Tiberius knows what the outcome will be.’

‘Well, Memmius Regulus must be pretty confident that he knows; he cancelled the three treason trials in the Forum this morning, all of which had been brought by Sejanus.’ He turned to go. ‘I’d better go in before the Consuls; I’ll see you later in what will be a different Rome, one way or another.’

Vespasian watched him go with that uncertain phrase echoing in his head.

Regulus had won the race to be the first Consul to arrive and he mounted the steps with all the dignity befitting his rank, followed, a few paces behind, by a sour-faced Fulcinius Trio. As they disappeared into the temple Gaius returned, having left Caenis between the first two of the Luna marble columns of the portico, just to the right of the main door.

‘I’d better be going in, my dear boy,’ he said, sounding more than a little nervous. He indicated Caenis’ position. ‘You’d best go and join her. Good luck.’

Vespasian did not need a second invitation to vacate the entrance; as his uncle turned to leave, a mighty cheer broke out from the crowd and it parted to reveal Sejanus walking, in amongst a large group of his supporters, directly towards him.

Vespasian skipped behind the column to find Caenis ready with a wax tablet and bronze stylus in hand, but looking worried.

‘Are you all right, Caenis?’

‘I can’t see the slave that I’m meant to hand the first list to,’ she replied, scanning the crowd.

‘Keep looking, I’m sure he’ll turn up,’ Vespasian assured her as Sejanus’ party mounted the steps; when they reached the top Sejanus stopped.

‘Friends,’ he said, addressing the senators around him, ‘go on in and reserve a place of honour for me; I’ll stay out here a while until everyone is in and then I shall enter last, for maximum effect.’

His supporters cheered him and then began to make their way inside.

Vespasian peered out from behind the column and caught a glimpse of Sejanus; he did not look like a man confident of high honour. His square-jawed face seemed strained and he wore a heavy frown; his hands were fidgeting. He turned suddenly, feeling that someone close by was watching him, and caught sight of Vespasian as he ducked back behind the column.

‘You there, what are you doing?’ he shouted, moving towards Vespasian’s and Caenis’ position.

‘Prefect!’ A voice called from the bottom of the steps, stopping Sejanus in his tracks.

‘Macro, thank the gods,’ Sejanus exclaimed with relief in his voice. ‘Has there been a message from the Emperor? I’ve heard nothing from him for eight days now; I don’t want to go into the meeting unless I’m absolutely sure that he is favouring me and this isn’t a trap.’

‘There has been, sir,’ Macro replied, taking the steps two by two, and taking a sealed scroll from the fold in his toga.

‘Give it to me,’ Sejanus ordered.

‘It’s for the Senate,’ Macro stated, ‘the seal is only to be broken by the senior Consul at the Emperor’s express orders.’

‘Who delivered it?’

‘I did.’

‘You’ve been with the Emperor,’ Sejanus exclaimed incredulously. ‘By whose authority?’

‘The Emperor himself summoned me to Capreae two days ago. I saw him yesterday morning and travelled back overnight using our horse-relay service.’

‘What? Why you and not me?’ Sejanus asked with low menace in his voice.

‘Because, sir,’ Macro replied calmly, ‘the Emperor felt that it would be inappropriate for you to carry this message to the Senate.’

‘Do you know the contents, Macro?’

‘I do, sir; let me be the first to congratulate you.’ Macro clapped Sejanus on the arm. ‘It’s what we have hoped for: Tiberius is asking the Senate to vote you what you deserve for the services that you’ve rendered both to him and to Rome.’

‘Tribunician power! Has he made me his heir?’

‘The Emperor said to tell you that this letter contains almost everything that you deserve.’

‘Almost everything?’

‘Almost.’

‘Then I shall be content with that for the present,’ Sejanus said with relief in his voice. ‘Come, my friend, let us enter together.’

‘I’ll only deliver the letter to the Senior Consul; then I’ll go back to the Praetorian Camp to prepare the men for your welcome.’

‘Do that, my friend,’ Sejanus said as they entered the temple, ‘you will not find me ungrateful.’

Applause burst out as they stepped through the doors.

Vespasian looked at Caenis with concern. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think that we have to wait to know for sure one—’

‘Way or another?’ he cut in, smiling at her.

‘Yes, my love,’ she said, squeezing his hand.

‘Vespasian, sir, sir!’ a familiar voice shouted from the crowd.

Vespasian looked round and saw Magnus with two of his crossroads brothers, Sextus and Marius, at the bottom of the steps. He quickly went down to them and, as one of the Vigintiviri, authorised them through the Praetorians.

‘Antonia sent us, sir,’ Magnus puffed as they went up the steps, ‘something about a message to take to her.’

‘You’re just in time,’ Vespasian said, seeing Gaius slipping out of the temple.

‘The Consuls have just taken the auspices and pronounced the day as good for the business of Rome,’ Gaius said as he approached Vespasian. ‘It’s quite an eye-opener in there; six new faces sitting with Sejanus including three ex-praetors and two ex-Consuls, Aulus Plautius and Silius Nervus. I’ll call you in when it starts to get really interesting.’

He bustled off to give the names to Caenis.

‘So why did Antonia send you?’ Vespasian asked Magnus.

‘She said that she was worried a slave would be intercepted and she thought that a bit of muscle was called for. Why, I don’t know, but she’s anxious about something – I can tell.’