Robert Fabbri - Rome’s Fallen Eagle

‘There’s still one thing that we can take heart in, dear boy,’ Gaius muttered as preparations got under way to take the auspices. ‘However much Claudius’ freedmen seek to draw power to themselves, Claudius will always need members of the senatorial order to command his legions and govern the provinces. Narcissus, Pallas and Callistus can never take that away from us.’

‘Perhaps, but who will decide who gets those posts, them or the Emperor?’ Vespasian glanced over to where Pallas stood, but the freedman’s face, as always, remained neutral.

The auspices were taken and, unsurprisingly, the day was found to be eminently favourable for the business of Rome. The will of the Senate, that Claudius should be emperor, was heralded around the Forum to tumultuous cheering; then the oath of loyalty was administered to the Senate and the Urban Cohorts. This was followed by a proclamation that all the legions of the Empire should swear their loyalty to the new Emperor.

Then the speeches started.

By the time the final speaker drew to a long-winded close it was well past the eighth hour of the day and everyone just wanted to get home. Claudius made a short speech of thanks, announcing seven days of games to rapturous applause, and then the procession turned about and headed back towards the Palatine. The only things that had marred the proceedings had been the early, unscheduled, departure of Messalina and the collapse of one of Claudius’ chair-bearers, neither of which had surprised anyone.

The imperial cortège disappeared up the Via Sacra and the huge crowd began to disperse, talking animatedly of the coming games.

‘Another expensive time for the treasury coming up,’ Gaius reflected as he and Vespasian jostled with their peers to get down the Senate House steps.

Vespasian smiled ruefully. ‘It’ll be cheaper than buying the Praetorian Guard.’

‘But that was a sound investment as I think you’d agree, gentlemen.’ Vespasian and Gaius turned to see Pallas; he put a hand around their shoulders and added quietly: ‘But perhaps not enough to ultimately secure Claudius’ position. Walk with me, my friends.’

Pallas led Vespasian and Gaius away from the Senate House, attracting many an envious stare from the mass of senators seeing two of their number so openly favoured by one of the new powers in Rome — however far beneath them in status they considered him to be.

‘Rest assured that I would’ve found you two today without you sending me that note, Senator Pollo,’ Pallas informed them once they were out of earshot of anyone of importance.

Gaius inclined his head, acknowledging the favour. ‘That is good to know, Pallas; but please, call me Gaius in private as we are friends, are we not?’

‘We are friends, although not of equal social standing.’

Vespasian looked Pallas in the eye and added: ‘Or of equal influence.’

Pallas gave a rare half-smile. ‘Yes, Vespasian, I’m afraid that you’re right, my influence is going to be considerable; I am to be the imperial secretary to the treasury.’

Gaius was dumbfounded.

Vespasian looked at Pallas in disbelief. ‘But there is no such post!’

‘There is now. You see, gentlemen, Narcissus, Callistus and I have had plenty of warning of this change of government and time to plan how our patron could best be served. As you two are amongst the few people in Rome to know, he is of reasonable intelligence — if somewhat chaotic — but harbours both an overinflated opinion of his own talents and a dismissive view of those of others. He is therefore, more than anything, inconsolably bitter about how he has been mocked and overlooked.’

‘But Caligula made him consul,’ Vespasian pointed out.

Pallas raised a thick eyebrow. ‘As a joke; although I think everybody, especially his mother, was surprised by how well he carried it off. The point is that he’s now distrustful of everyone who has not supported him in the past, which is most people in Rome, with very few exceptions.’

Gaius slapped Pallas on the back. ‘The most notable of whom being his freedmen, I presume?’

‘Exactly, Gaius. And when the Senate refused to declare Claudius emperor immediately — an eventuality that we freedmen had foreseen — he knew for sure that he could never trust them. At that point it was easy to persuade him to implement our plan.’

‘Bypass the Senate?’ Vespasian queried as they wandered into Caesar’s Forum, dominated by a huge equestrian statue of the man who once tried to impose his will upon Rome.

‘We prefer to call it: centralising government. From now on all decisions will be made by the Emperor.’

‘With the help of those closest to him,’ Gaius added.

‘Naturally the business of running the Empire is too great a burden for one man, so that is why his loyal freedmen will assist him: myself in the treasury, Callistus in the law courts and Narcissus … well, Narcissus will be in charge of his correspondence.’

Gaius understood immediately. ‘Access to him, in other words; which means that he’ll have power over foreign and domestic policy, as well as appointments and …’ Gaius paused and looked meaningfully at Pallas, ‘and appealing to the Emperor on life and death issues?’

Pallas nodded slowly.

‘So you can’t help us with our problem?’

‘Not directly, as much as I would like to be able to, for all the courtesy you and Vespasian have shown me in the past. Narcissus, Callistus and I have agreed not to interfere in each others’ spheres of influence; and, although I can’t see that being adhered to over the years, it’s best to keep to that agreement for as long as possible. Sabinus’ life is out of my hands; you have to go to Narcissus.’

‘We could appeal directly to Claudius.’

‘That would be impossible and, besides, it wouldn’t be wise. Claudius doesn’t know of Sabinus’ part in the assassination and it would be best to keep it like that. This morning, Herod Agrippa told Narcissus and me — with far too much glee for my taste — that he now knew that the masked assassin whom he and Claudius had met in the passage was Sabinus. He’d realised it when he saw your eyes, Vespasian, in the Senate yesterday, it jogged his memory.’

‘We look so similar, why didn’t he think that it was me?’

‘Because when the assassin spoke he didn’t have your Sabine accent, so it had to be your brother as it’s well known that he disguises his origins. For obvious reasons we thought that was impossible but he was convinced. He insisted that we should find him and have him executed tomorrow along with all the rest. If we didn’t then he would go to Claudius.’

‘He could’ve just gone straight to him.’

‘That wouldn’t have suited his purposes. He’s interested in power as well as revenge; he desperately wants Claudius to trust him and leave him to his own devices in his kingdom. We are counselling against that. Herod hoped that we would refuse his demand and then he could go to Claudius and tell him that his freedmen were protecting one of his nephew’s killers, thereby making him seem a more faithful adviser than us. However, Narcissus disappointed him and agreed; I then had no choice but to do the same.’

Vespasian and Gaius looked at Pallas aghast.

‘You’re going to be responsible for having Sabinus found and executed?’ Vespasian almost shouted.

Pallas remained calm. ‘I didn’t say that, I said that I agreed to do so. I had no choice once Narcissus knew his identity; I had to be seen as co-operating with my colleague. Had Herod Agrippa just come to me, I could have made a very real threat that would have kept his mouth shut; but he didn’t, so we must work with the situation as it is.

‘Now, I’ve done nothing to help find Sabinus even though I can guess where he is. We know that he was wounded; two of the German Bodyguards survived their foolish attack on Lupus’ century and withdrew and waited until they saw one of the assassins leave the palace complex. They followed him, waylaying him at the foot of the Palatine. The assassin killed one and wounded the other. Callistus had the wounded man questioned; thankfully he didn’t see his face but he claims to have cut the assassin’s thigh open; Sabinus must therefore still be in Rome.’