Mary Reed - Four for a Boy

“Not only a shrewd fellow, but courageous as well, to ask such a question,” Aurelius remarked. “This man is on the path to great things.”

“Unfortunately,” observed Opimius, “that particular path passes by more than one early grave.”

“This is entirely irregular,” Aurelius said after a gulp of wine. “But then, since you are out and about with one of Justin’s bodyguards, I must assume that perhaps you seek this information for another.” He stopped speaking and looked expectant, but John did not take the opportunity to respond.

“I have as much as admitted my son owes his life to you and Felix, so I can hardly refuse,” Aurelius finally said. “I trust I do not need to remind you that I speak in confidence or that a slave’s word against a senator’s isn’t worth a half-nummus. I note you have not revealed the details surrounding this assignment of yours so you are obviously a man of discretion.”

John nodded silently.

Opimius set his cup down on his desk. “This is quite absurd, Aurelius. I must apologize.”

Aurelius shook his head. “No, I find it rather interesting. I would not be surprised if John here plans to pose equally impertinent questions to whomever I name. Besides, we should all welcome any opportunity to assist our next emperor, no matter the odd guise in which it may present itself. So I believe I can suggest a couple of appropriate avenues of inquiry.”

“It’s all Anna’s doing,” Opimius replied. “She’s never stern enough with the servants. She gets too fond of them, you see. I’ll send him off immediately.”

“That would be an error, I think. After all, he and I seem to be working to the same end. John, I will give you two names, and no more than that. However, I would not be accused of saying anything slanderous nor do I care to be asked how I know this or that. Let’s say I am basing what I tell you on nothing more than a feeling that I have. Or to put it another way I am playing at being the oracle. And my pronouncement, based on the direction of the wind, is that you should seek out Tryphon, whose mansion overlooks the Golden Horn. The other person is someone you may have seen here on occasion. Trenico.”

“Trenico? One of two upon whom you’d cast suspicion?” Opimius’ face reddened. “Aurelius, I hope you’re not implying that I…”

“I’m implying nothing, Opimius. Your friends are all well aware of Trenico’s interest in your daughter. But people who are not familiar with your domestic situation, well, they may draw entirely the wrong conclusions.”

“But Trenico is a confidante of Theodora’s!”

“So he says. Heed the oracle, my friend.” Aurelius smiled, but there was a chill in his eyes. “Now, we should get on with our business and John here can proceed with his.” He pursed his lips and stared at John. “Yes, my son is more perceptive than I at times. There is definitely something strange in those eyes. As for getting any information out of the two men I’ve named, I wish you luck.”

Trenico’s eyelids narrowed when he read the introductory letter he had accepted from Felix. Then he stuck out his prominent chin and did his best to look down on John and Felix, both of whom towered over him.

“Since the City Prefect requests it, I suppose I have no choice but to speak to you. We must all assist him in his efforts to make our streets safe. Even when it involves inviting slaves into our homes.”

He dismissed the servant who had admitted them and led his unwelcome visitors across the atrium and along a short hallway to an office whose lone window was shuttered.

Felix proceeded with his inquiries.

The excubitor had recovered from his drinking bout and possibly, John thought, had had time to reflect for he seemed to be making some effort to conceal his distaste for the companion with whom he had been temporarily yoked. Perhaps he was also embarrassed by recollections of his behavior.

John glanced around Trenico’s office. Its painted walls displayed a fantastical cityscape of impossible spires and domed towers. Lamps sat in niches cleverly aligned with the painted architecture so as to form an impression of illuminated windows. It was easy to imagine he was standing in the street at the evening hour when shadowless twilight flattens reality. He could not help thinking, ruefully, that Lady Anna would be enchanted by the artful effect.

“I have no disagreements with the emperor’s nephew, any more than I do with the emperor. Even if I did, why would I admit it to you?” Trenico sniffed and folded brawny arms across his chest, displaying sculpted muscles.

“Senator Aurelius harbors bitter feelings concerning certain business dealings we had,” he went on. “The fact of it is that although a man may be born to wealth and privilege it does not make him a good businessman. Perhaps he should employ better advisors.”

He stepped toward the window. “We need fresh air in here,” he continued, yanking open the shutter. Thin sunlight spilled into the room, reducing the twilight city to mere pigments.

“A year ago,” Trenico continued, “Aurelius renovated one of his country estates. I introduced him to an acquaintance, who knew an importer able to secure the senator an excellent price on a shipment of marble. I received a small remuneration from the importer. A mere courtesy on his part. Aurelius, however, did not appreciate either the quality of the goods or the price he was charged for them.”

“So that would account for his animosity toward you? He thinks your introduction indirectly led him to pay too much for inferior material?” Felix asked.

Trenico stared into his withered garden, where a single crow perched atop an eroded obelisk. “Yes, I do. Men hold the biggest grudges for the smallest of reasons. As to those who may oppose Justinian, many disapprove not of Justinian personally but of his intended marriage to Theodora.”

“A view which you hold yourself?” Felix inquired.

“Not at all. While it is not a common conviction, I believe one should marry for love and nothing else.” Trenico clapped his hands together, startling the crow into flight. “Nasty creatures, those birds. I’m proud to say that I’m a confidante of Theodora’s. She’s called upon me for advice on more than one occasion. So if you must be putting your noses where they don’t belong, start looking in the right places. Question those who oppose our future empress.”

“And they would be?”

“You might try interviewing Archdeacon Palamos. He has been particularly outspoken, as anyone who moves in palace circles knows. Perhaps he’ll also take your interest as a warning. Now, I have nothing more to say so you can leave or I will have you ejected.”

As John turned to go, he noticed that twined around the columns framing the office door was a freshly painted, luxuriant bush of roses, so perfect in their beauty that he could almost smell their sweet perfume.

***

“A surly fellow, that Trenico,” Felix remarked as he and John traversed the slush-covered Augustaion. “Did you notice his arms? Impressive at first glance, I admit, but they’re the sort of showy muscles gained from the exercise ball, not from using a plow or a pickax, let alone a sword. He’d probably be completely useless in a fight.”

They were now approaching a confusion of buildings. The Great Church and the Church of Eirene, Samsun’s Hospice, a small monastery and the patriarch’s palace clustered together like holy conspirators.

“The palace gossips have it that Emperor Justin also heartily disapproves of his nephew’s plans to marry Theodora,” John observed. He had no particular desire to pursue a conversation with the excubitor, but realized they could achieve nothing without some degree of cooperation.