Robert Fabbri - Rome’s Fallen Eagle

Vespasian tensed inwardly; was Narcissus remembering his debts? A knock at the door ruptured the silence; Vespasian almost jumped.

‘Ah!’ Narcissus exclaimed with interest. ‘That will be the arrival of the object of our bargaining. Enter!’

Vespasian frowned; how did Narcissus know of Sabinus’ presence? Gaius shifted uncomfortably in his seat, which was too narrow to fully support his ample behind.

The door opened and Pallas walked in; Sabinus followed, supported by Magnus.

‘Secretary to the treasury, how good of you to bring the masked assassin.’

If Pallas was surprised that Narcissus was expecting them it did not show on his face. ‘I am glad to be of service in clearing up this matter, imperial secretary.’

‘Of great service, my dear Pallas, please stay,’ Narcissus urged, his voice brimming with overly genuine entreaty. ‘I have had five chairs put out.’

Pallas inclined his head. ‘It would be my pleasure, my dear Narcissus; I wouldn’t wish to upset your seating arrangements.’ He took the chair between Gaius and Callistus.

Vespasian was confused: who was surprising whom? Or were the freedmen acting and this meeting had been planned in advance?

Narcissus looked over to Sabinus, pale and resting on Magnus’ shoulder. ‘Our surprise visitor: the legate of the Ninth Hispana; and so far from his posting. Or ex-legate to be more accurate, which is a pity really as my people in that legion tell me that Camp Prefect Vibianus and Primus Pilus Laurentius are very impressed by you, but no matter. I guessed it was you when one of my agents saw a hooded man being taken secretly into Pallas’ apartments earlier. Well, well. Please sit down, ex-legate; you, out of all of us, look like you most need a chair.’

‘Thank you, Narcissus,’ Sabinus said, hobbling to the chair next to Vespasian.

‘My title is imperial secretary,’ Narcissus reminded him coldly.

Sabinus swallowed. ‘My apologies, imperial secretary.’ Magnus helped him down.

Narcissus put a finger to his lips in thought and then shook it gently at Magnus. ‘The redoubtable Magnus of the South Quirinal Crossroads Brotherhood; of course, that’s where you were hiding, Sabinus. Why did I not think of that?’ He turned to Pallas. ‘But you did, I’m sure, esteemed colleague; or did Magnus’ involvement with this family slip your memory too?’

‘Evidently not, Narcissus.’

Narcissus nodded slowly. ‘You just forgot to share it with me. Well, we can all be a little forgetful at times; but no matter, Sabinus is with us now. I assume that you’ve managed to get him here unnoticed.’

‘Apart from us, only Caenis and Vespasian’s wife know that he’s here in Rome, and they will keep that secret,’ Pallas confirmed.

‘And my two lads, sir,’ Magnus put in, ‘and my slave, but they’re all loyal.’

‘I’m sure they are, Magnus, but they’re also irrelevant; as are you.’ Narcissus waved a hand. ‘You can go.’

Magnus shrugged, then turned and walked out; the clerk followed him, closing the door.

Narcissus played with the point of his beard, ruminating for a few moments in the silence. ‘I imagine that you’ve been thorough, Pallas, and have ensured that Herod Agrippa doesn’t go sneaking to our patron, undermining us if we keep this between ourselves?’

‘Sabinus and I have just had a short conversation with our eastern friend. I told him that I was minded to block the addition of the two tetrarchies that he’s asking to be incorporated into his kingdom on the basis that it would be a considerable loss of revenue to the imperial treasury which, after Caligula’s excesses, we can ill afford. I then asked him to look carefully at Sabinus and tell me if he was convinced that he was the man he’d seen just before Caligula was assassinated.’

Narcissus pretended to look interested. ‘And?’

‘Regrettably, after further consideration, he now feels that he has made a mistake. He thinks that we may never know who that man was.’

‘I see, so Sabinus could now be considered innocent; admirably done, dear partner.’ Narcissus flicked a look to Callistus as if to gauge his thoughts. His face was unreadable to Vespasian but Narcissus seemed to gain some insight; he nodded cogitatively and then arranged a couple of scrolls on the desk in front of him. ‘So, to business, gentlemen. I recommend that we confine ourselves to straight talking; I think we all know each others’ positions. So let me begin. Sabinus, were you the masked man who took part in Caligula’s assassination?’

‘No.’

Narcissus pointed vaguely to Sabinus’ right thigh. ‘Lift up your tunic.’

Sabinus glanced at Pallas, who widened his eyes a fraction; he slowly revealed the bandaging.

‘I’ll ask you again. Were you the masked man who took part in Caligula’s assassination?’

Sabinus hesitated for a moment before conceding the point. ‘Yes, imperial secretary.’

‘You may drop the formalities now that we are all old friends together.’

‘Indeed, Narcissus.’

‘Good. Your comrades are due to be executed as soon as I command it. I have delayed it until today so that they can spend a few last hours with their wives and children. I’ve allowed that because I am not insensible to the fact that they have done my patron, me and indeed the whole of Rome, especially its treasury, a great service in ridding us finally of Caligula. However, they must die for obvious reasons. And, at the moment, despite Pallas’ best efforts to clear you, you may well be joining them.’

Sabinus lowered his head.

Vespasian felt his guts tense.

Narcissus picked up a scroll and rolled it in his hands. ‘I don’t know whether you’re all aware that the conspirators had a deal with Pallas, Callistus and me to protect them against any retribution, in return for declaring Claudius emperor. They kept their side of the bargain but only the most naïve fool would expect us to keep ours.’ He glanced at Pallas and Callistus.

‘It would be a recipe for instability,’ Callistus stated.

Pallas nodded once in agreement.

‘Quite so,’ Narcissus concurred. ‘However, the great advantage of this deal was that we have been able to prepare, for the past few months, for our patron’s elevation. My agents have been busy, sounding people out, ascertaining how they would react to a drooling cripple who has been the butt of countless jokes, becoming emperor.’ He unravelled the scroll. ‘This is a condensation of the reports from my agents in the Rhenus legions and it does not make for comforting reading.’ He perused the contents for a few moments as if to remind himself. ‘It’s not good at all; nor is that one.’ He indicated to the second scroll in front of him. ‘That is from the Danubius. In short: the officers think of Claudius as a laughing stock and the men are at best ambivalent — even though he’s the brother of their favourite, Germanicus. And I have no reason to think that anyone here in Rome thinks any differently.’

‘Nonsense, Narcissus,’ Gaius protested. ‘We are great admirers of Claudius; his knowledge of law and history …’

‘Spare me the platitudes, Gaius,’ Narcissus cut in, waving the scroll at him. ‘I said that we would be straight talking. Do you really want Claudius as emperor?’

Gaius’ mouth fell open, his jowls wobbling.

‘Well?’ Narcissus pressed.

‘It’s not ideal,’ Gaius conceded.

‘No, it’s not ideal for most people. But it is for me.’ He looked at his colleagues. ‘As it is for Pallas and Callistus.’

‘It suits us perfectly,’ Callistus confirmed.

‘And what’s more, it’s a fact: Claudius is emperor,’ Pallas stated.

‘Yes, he is.’ Narcissus almost purred with pleasure. ‘But the question is: how do we keep him there? We’ve bought the Guard, so in Rome Claudius is safe. But what if the legions on the Rhenus mutiny as they did on Tiberius’ ascension? Civil war? A breakup of the Empire? Or perhaps both. That cannot be allowed to happen. So how do we secure our malformed patron in his office?’ Narcissus’ eyes slowly came to rest on Vespasian.