The Crossroads Brotherhood (5 page)

‘He’s probably just come to check that the exchange went alright last night. But what’s really interesting is who he’s got with him; I think I recognise that cloak.’

Sempronius’ party approached the two doormen, one of whom immediately knocked rhythmically on the door; it opened and the doormen stepped aside to allow Sempronius in. As the woman followed him in she pulled down her hood.

Magnus’ eyes widened. ‘Minerva’s wrinkled arse, that’s the new girl, Aquilina! I thought that there was something wrong about her when she offered to let me have her for nothing; nobody does something for nothing.’

Servius downed the last of his wine. ‘Evidently someone else paid her. It seems that Sempronius has put a little spy in our midst.’

Magnus slapped his counsellor on the shoulder. ‘I’d say that was a piece of good fortune. I think that’s just solved my last problem.’

‘Y
OU
’
RE LATE
!’

Magnus chuckled looking down at the shadow cast by the seventy-feet high Egyptian obelisk on the Campus Martius; it was a couple of inches short of the third-hour line. ‘I didn’t think that anyone had the brains to read the sundial since I left the Urban Cohort, Aelianus.’

‘True enough, mate, I’m probably the only one who can, which is why they made me quartermaster,’ Aelianus replied grasping Magnus’ proffered forearm.

‘A moment of madness on their part but one that’s proved extremely lucrative for us, eh my friend?’

Aelianus’ florid, round face creased into a gap-toothed grin and he passed his hand through his thinning copper-coloured hair. ‘And how are we going to exploit their moment of madness this time?’

Magnus put an arm around the Aelianus’ shoulders and led him away from the tourists admiring the hundred-feet long, curved hour-lines emanating from the base of the obelisk sundial – set up by Augustus a generation before – and on towards the first emperor’s mausoleum on the bank of the Tiber, as it curved back northwards after a brief foray east. ‘Get me twenty Urban Cohort uniforms, minus the armour and shields.’

‘What for?’

‘To pay a visit to an establishment that has caused me some grief. Oh, and I’ll also need you to set fire to your depot.’

Aelianus raised his eyebrows. ‘Just like that?’

‘Yes my friend, just like that.’

‘And what’s in it for me?’

‘Half of what we find in the place, but with a guarantee of at least 225 denarii.’

Aelianus whistled softly. ‘A year’s pay for a common legionary. Well, the tunics, belts, boots and cloaks will be no problem – I can have those for you by this evening. The helmets, swords and scabbards are slightly harder because I’ll have to wait until all my staff have left for the day – but I could bring them round to you personally by the third hour of the night. When do you plan to do this thing?’

‘The day after tomorrow, an hour before dawn when there shouldn’t be any clients in the house; so tonight will be fine, you can bring it all then.’

‘Good. But as to the fire, that’s a different matter: I need to think that through very carefully.’

‘Well, don’t take too long about it, my friend. I need that warehouse doing its best imitation of a beacon an hour before dawn in two day’s time.’

‘Oh it will be, Magnus, don’t you worry.’

‘That’s why I’m paying you so well, Aelianus, to take away my worries.’

The ginger quartermaster grinned again. ‘If only you had more worries, I’d be a very wealthy man. I’ll see you later with the gear; can you send a few of your lads to escort me?’

‘Sure, they’ll be at your depot by the second hour of the night.’

‘Thanks, mate,’ Aelianus said turning to leave.

‘Before you go, Aelianus,’ Magnus said, stopping him. ‘There’s one more thing that I’ll need you to do when you come over tonight.’

‘It’s included in the price I suppose?’

‘Yes and it’s not negotiable.’

‘Go on.’

‘I need you to fuck one of my girls.’

Aelianus sighed melodramatically and shook his head slowly. ‘Magnus, you’re a hard taskmaster.’

T
HE
F
ORUM
R
OMANUM
was packed – three treason trials were being conducted simultaneously, part of a recent upsurge in the legal hounding of enemies of the emperor or the rivals of his praetorian prefect. To Magnus, how the equestrian or senatorial classes treated each other meant nothing, provided it did not affect the daily running of the city’s institutions that were close to his heart: the games and the grain dole.

Pushing his way through the mass of spectators, food vendors, beggars and jurists Magnus eventually came to the steps of the
Curia
, the Senate House. The doors were open and the senate was in session. Magnus peered into the gloomy interior and, once his eyes had adjusted to the light, soon made out the corpulent figure of Gaius Vespasius Pollo. Knowing that he had no right to enter the building he descended the steps, bought a grilled sausage and a hunk of bread from a street vendor and settled down to wait.

Prodded by a red-shoed foot, Magnus awoke to the booming voice of Gaius. ‘Sleeping on the senate house steps like some vagrant? Have your brethren finally kicked you out as you did your predecessor?’

‘Yeah, but less violently it would seem, seeing as I’m still alive.’ Magnus grinned and got to his feet, rubbing his numb behind. ‘Actually I was waiting for you, Senator.’

‘Is there a problem with our business? It’s meant to be done by tomorrow at the latest.’

‘Not as such. I have a question for you.’

‘Walk with me,’ Gaius requested, turning right along the front of the Curia, heading for the Quirinal.

Magnus fell in step and explained Servius’ plan.

‘I see,’ Gaius mused as they started to climb the hill. ‘That counsellor of yours is shrewd. Suspicious circumstances, very good.’

‘So what do you know about this Blandinus? What doesn’t he do?’

‘I’m afraid he does most things: goes to the games and the theatre, he drinks, he gambles, he goes whoring; in fact he frequents an establishment in your area, owned by Terentius.’

‘But that’s just boys; does he like women?’

‘I think so; he’s married and has children.’

Magnus looked disappointed. ‘There must be something that he wouldn’t be seen dead doing.’

Gaius’ flabby face, glistening with sweat from the exertion of the uphill walk, suddenly brightened. ‘Of course there is: men!’

‘Men?’

‘Yes, men. I can almost guarantee you that he has never even contemplated being buggered, let alone countenanced it.’

Magnus smiled. ‘Of course; so simple that it was too obvious. Thank you Senator, I’d best be going.’

‘Won’t you have some honeyed cakes and wine, we’re almost at my house?’

‘No time Senator, I’ve got a lot to organise; it seems that I can wash two tunics in one tub.’ He ran off leaving Gaius wondering just what he had been talking about.

‘B
RING IT FORWARD
to dawn tomorrow?’ Servius asked throwing a handful of kindling onto the small fire on the altar of the Crossroads’
lares
next to the front door of the tavern.

Magnus sprinkled incense over the flame; it flared, giving off a pungent aroma. ‘Yes, provided Terentius, with the good help of our lares, can entice Blandinus to his place this evening. Send one of the lads to fetch him here immediately.’

The counsellor nodded and went over to Marius and a group of the brothers sitting playing dice on one of the tables outside the tavern. After a brief word from Servius one of them got up and left.

‘What about the gear?’ Servius asked returning to Magnus by the altar.

‘That’ll be here tonight but I want you to write a note to Aelianus telling him that I need his fire to happen one hour before dawn tomorrow, not the next day; ask him to acknowledge that in writing.’

‘I’ll do that now.’

‘What about Tigran, any luck?’

‘Yes, he’s waiting inside to see you; he’s very keen to repay the favour. He speaks a little Albanian but he’s brought his cousin, Vahram, who’s fluent.’

‘Thank you Brother,’ Magnus said looking up the Alta Semita towards the Porta Collina. A party of travellers caught his eye. ‘Marius, take one of the lads and do the honours with that lot,’ he said pointing at the group. ‘They look wealthy enough to be in need of our services.’

Marius grinned and got up from his game. ‘Right you are Magnus. Normal rate?’

‘Yeah, normal rate.’

Marius slapped his neighbour on the back. ‘Come on Lucio, let’s get busy.’

Magnus sat down at an empty table watching the two brothers waylay the travellers and offer their protection whilst mulling over the plan for the night in his head; he knew that it was risky bringing the raid on the Albanians forward but it was too good an opportunity to miss and he smiled to himself as he thought of how Blandinus was to be found. Poor bastard.

Eventually a cough brought him out of his reverie; he looked up. ‘Ah, Terentius; sit down my friend. How’s that boy?’

‘Still passing blood, so I’ve had to put him on lighter duties,’ the whore-boy master replied, elegantly placing himself on the bench opposite Magnus. Out in the street money was changing hands.

‘I’m sorry to hear it. Do you know the Praetorian Tribune Blandinus?’

‘Of course, he’s one of my regulars.’

‘Does he ever, how shall I put it, take his turn around?’

‘No never; some of our clients ask for that but never Blandinus. He only gives and he gives very well; I can personally vouch for that.’ A misty-look came into Terentius’ eyes that Magnus found disconcerting.

‘I’m pleased to hear it. Will he be coming this evening?’

‘I don’t know, he comes most evenings. Why?’

‘I need you to ensure that he comes this evening.’

‘I suppose I could send him a note saying that I’ve got a new boy that may be to his taste.’

‘And do you?’

‘Yes, I’ve had to replace the ones that were cut up.’

‘Then do that and when he comes I need you to drug him; can you do that too?’

Terentius looked uneasy and hesitated. ‘Of course,’ he answered after a few moments.

‘You seem reluctant?’

‘No Magnus, I’ll do it.’

‘Good. Send me a message when it’s done and keep him sedated until I pick him up.’

‘What’s this for?’

‘Terentius my friend, it’s part of something that will make you very happy.’

Out in the street Marius and a group of brothers led the now very well protected travellers off.

N
IGHT HAD FALLEN
and the tavern was packed. Magnus sat in a corner watching Aquilina and her fellow whores plying their trade. Tigran and his cousin looked to be enjoying their wait for the night’s mission.

Servius slipped onto the bench next to Magnus. ‘The lads have left for the Cohort’s depot.’

‘They should be back in an hour then. Any news from Terentius?’

‘Nothing yet, but Aelianus sent a message saying that he can do the fire tonight.’

Magnus nodded. ‘Well that’s something. I suppose if Terentius fucks up then we could postpone it until tomorrow night, although the Senator won’t be happy about it.’

‘What are you going to do about her?’ Servius asked as Aquilina led another customer outside. The ever watchful Jovita made a mark in her ledger.

‘Use her to deliver a message and then … well we’ll see.’

‘I assume this message is for Sempronius.’

‘Exactly Brother. When my mate Aelianus comes with the gear tonight I’m going to make a big fuss about him and offer him a girl and the use of my room. He’s going to let a piece of pillow-talk drop.’

Servius smiled coldly. ‘And she’ll run straight to Sempronius with this titbit.’

Magnus grinned and watched a young slave come through the door. The boy would have been pretty, had it not been for an ugly, badly-stitched wound running from left corner of his mouth to his ear. He walked over to Jovita and after a brief conversation was directed over to Magnus’ corner.

‘Magnus?’ the youth asked, speaking with some difficulty. He held out a wax tablet.

Magnus inclined his head.

‘My master, Terentius, sent this.’

Magnus took the tablet and gave it to Servius to read.

The counsellor glanced at it briefly. ‘Our tribune is sleeping peacefully.’

A look of relief spread over Magnus’ face. ‘Excellent. Tell your master we’ll be along in three hours.’

The slave bowed and slipped out of the room.

‘Make sure all the lads are here within the hour, Brother,’ Magnus said getting to his feet.

‘They will be.’

‘And the first delivery?’

‘Already here.’

‘P
ILE THEM UP
over there in the corner, next to the ladders,’ Magnus ordered as Aelianus and four brothers pushed a couple of laden handcarts off the street and through the double doors of the storeroom at the very rear of the tavern.