Bedrock of Empire

by Thomas M D Brooke

  Seagulls twirled in the sky as we approached the coast and the high walls of Tarraco encompassing the great palace and newly built circus inside. I remarked to Marcus, ‘I hope Livianus is pleased we put in so much effort to get back in time for his games.’

  Marcus frowned. ‘I think you need to be careful with Governor Livianus, Cassius.’

  I looked at him quizzically. ‘Why do you say that?’

  He shrugged. ‘Something the old veterans from Bracara Augusta told me when I picked up the monoceros. They refused to hand it over at first because they thought it was intended for Livianus. They hated him, Cassius, all of them. Allegedly, he went back on a promise made to them years before.’

  I frowned. ‘Regarding what?’

  Marcus shrugged. ‘I’m not sure really, something about land rights earned by their service. They only gave me the animal when I told them it was for Germanicus and the imperial family. Even then it took some persuading.’

  Retired legionaries were often disgruntled with the plots of land handed to them upon retirement. I couldn’t see how that had anything to do with me. I clapped Marcus on the shoulder. ‘Thanks for the warning, but as we’re only here a few days, I think we’ll be alright. Besides, we never returned with the monoceros, so what does it matter now?’

  Marcus gave another shrug. ‘You’re probably right.’

  There wasn’t much fanfare when we returned to Governor Livianus’ palace. A centurion from the palace guard welcomed us and took us to the large barracks that my Praetorians had stayed in previously. I told Maris to keep Flavus out of sight. Arminius’ brother was no longer bound – on the journey back to Tarraco I’d grudgingly accepted that I trusted him enough not to run. But even so, I didn’t want any questions raised why a centurion with the insignia of the VI Victrix was accompanying us, so the men smuggled him into a back room of their barracks. One guard was to be kept on his doorway at all times, but that was more to give him someone to talk to rather than act as his jailer. He was popular with most of the men in my unit now. I wasn’t sure whether I was pleased with this or not.

  Marcus and I were unloading the heavy saddlebags from the mules when the head of the governor’s guard, the tribune Marianus, sought me out. On finding us outside the palace’s stables, he gave me a questioning look. ‘Surely you can have one of your men do that? Or I can find a few slaves to unload them for you?’

  I gave him a broad smile. ‘That’s quite alright, Marianus. We can manage just fine. We’ve got used to looking after ourselves on our trip.’

  Marianus gave a frown, his long face bemused that anyone would wish to do manual labour when they needn’t. ‘Well, you’ll have to leave it for now. The governor wishes to see you.’

  I lowered the heavy saddlebag slowly, so the coins inside it didn’t chink. ‘Can’t it wait? I haven’t even seen my rooms yet. I wanted to get freshened up before I presented myself.’

  Marianus grunted and shook his head. ‘No, there’ll be plenty of time to find your rooms afterwards. You’ll find everything just as you left them. The governor said he wanted to see you at once. If I were you, I wouldn’t keep him waiting.’

  I looked at Marcus in exasperation. ‘I’d better go.’

  Marcus nodded. ‘Don’t worry, I can manage the bags. You go see what he wants.’

  I turned to Marianus. ‘Very well. Where can I find him?’

  The governor’s guard told me, ‘You’ll find him in the palace gardens with his wife. They like the late afternoon sunshine at this time of year.’

  I frowned. ‘Great.’

  I wandered through the palace gardens still wearing my tribune’s armour and covered with dust from the road. I placed my helmet under my arm and walked through the long row of cedar trees that lined the palace grounds. The garden was dotted with magnificent marble statues of forest nymphs, interspersed between neat green borders and several trellises strewn with climbing flowers.

  I saw the governor and his wife arm in arm. He was bending down to smell a pink rose, whilst she giggled by his side. He turned on seeing me approach. ‘Ah! Quaestor Cassius, how good of you to join us! Doesn’t he look fine in his armour, Abelia? Every inch the man of action I have heard about.’

  She stopped giggling as soon as she saw it was me. Her face turned cold and hard. ‘He might have washed his face.’

  The governor smiled. ‘Come now, Abelia, let’s not be uncharitable. He has travelled a long way.’ Livianus turned back to the climbing rose. ‘Just as these roses have. Do you know, this variety has come all the way from Parthia? My gardener has crossed them with a hardier blend so they flower this late in the year. Quite beautiful don’t you think, Quaestor?’

  Abelia gave me a scowl from behind her husband’s back as I tried my best to ignore her. I looked at the delicate pink flowers, sweat beading my brow. ‘Yes, lovely. Your garden is magnificent. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so fine.’

  Livianus plucked one of the pink roses and handed it to his wife, who smiled sweetly at him. He turned back to me. ‘It was originally designed for Augustus of course, when he resided here during his time in Spain. But I have been at pains to preserve its beauty, and even to enhance it in my own way. I pay for plants and flowers to be brought to me from throughout the empire. I’ll wager that this rose would have never seen these climes if it had been left to Augustus.’

  I inclined my head politely but decided to change the subject. ‘I made all speed to return here in time for your games. I take it I am in time?’

  Livianus stood up proudly, looking every inch a gentle grandfather enjoying his garden. ‘Yes, yes. The games are in three days. You’ll be guest of honour alongside your brother-in-law, as we planned.’

  Abelia scowled at this, but mercifully she kept quiet. I said to the governor, ‘You do me great honour.’

  He smiled amicably. ‘Nonsense, it is my pleasure. Now, did you settle that dispute between the Paulus brothers?’

  I stood straight. ‘I believe so. Both brothers appear to accept my ruling, and the tribute owed to Rome should remain unaffected.’

  He said sharply, ‘And all coin will be minted in Tarraco?’

  I inclined my head. ‘Of course. It was a stipulation of my ruling.’

  His face became shrewd, as if looking at me in a new light. ‘Very good. You’ll have to explain to me sometime how you achieved this. I felt certain that it wouldn’t end well. But no matter now, I have more pressing concerns.’

  I frowned. ‘Which are?’

  He looked at me in surprise. ‘Why, the monoceros of course. Marianus tells me that you only came to the palace with half your contingent of Praetorians. I presume the other half is escorting the great beast? It will be here in time for the games, won’t it?’

  My heart sunk. ‘I am sorry, my lord. We had trouble with a local outlaw in Gallaecia. The other half of my men are all lost.’

  He looked at me in panic. ‘But you have the beast? You must have. My man in Bracara Augusta sent me a message. He said that the beast was picked up!’

  The governor already had a man in the veteran’s colony? He’d never said. No time to worry about that now; this wasn’t going to be easy. I bowed my head and said solemnly. ‘I regret to inform you that the beast was also lost. We were attacked by a force far greater in size. We were lucky to escape with our—’

  ‘What!’ Livianus shouted, face purple with rage. ‘How dare you return here without my monoceros? Why do you think I sent you all that way?’

  I stumbled an apology. ‘I’m sorry, my lord. But you said you were planning on giving the wild beast to Germanicus.’

  The governor spat at me in anger. ‘As if I’d ever give my prize beast to that young pretender! Do you know how much trouble I went to getting that animal shipped from Africa?’

  I saw the spiteful smile on the face of his wife Abelia, standing behind her husband and delighting in my discomfort. I stood up straighter. ‘I am very sorry if I have disappointed you. I assure you
I did everything in my power to return with the animal.’

  Governor Livianus bent double and held his stomach, wincing in pain. ‘Ah! Now my gut is playing up. You shouldn’t have returned at all! What use is a quaestor who cannot even do the simplest of tasks?’

  Abelia bent over the ailing governor. ‘You shouldn’t have upset him like that! Losing his temper brings on his attacks.’

  I didn’t know how to respond. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean …’

  Livianus was bent double, but he was still able to bellow, ‘Leave us!’ in a tone that gave no room for misinterpretation.

  I did as I was told, walking away, listening to his complaining and the sympathetic words spilling from his wife’s mouth. A cold knot of worry coiled within my own stomach, but this had nothing to do with rich food or temper. I needed to warn the others.

  When I came up to our rooms, I was greeted by Marcus and Aulus. Marcus told me urgently, ‘Cassius, someone has been in our rooms!’

  I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. ‘Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. How do you know?’

  He turned and pointed to the large chest we’d left there. ‘Do you remember the sealing wax you pressed into the back of the chest? The seal was broken.’

  Aulus put his hands on his hips. ‘This may mean nothing, but it could also mean that the governor wasn’t entirely honest with us about his intentions towards the gold.’

  I undid the straps of my dust-caked breastplate and discarded it on the floor. ‘Had we left it here, Governor Livianus almost certainly would have stolen it. I don’t feel quite so guilty for taking it with me now, despite the problems it caused us.’

  Marcus frowned. ‘Why’s that, Cassius?’

  I shook my head and sat down heavily on a divan. ‘Because he had no intention of giving the monoceros to Germanicus. He admitted as much after losing his temper with me for letting the beast escape.’

  Marcus’ eyes narrowed. ‘Those old veterans said we couldn’t trust him.’

  Aulus folded his arms. ‘What happened?’

  I explained, ‘He was so furious with me for turning up without the beast it brought on one of his stomach attacks. I think the only reason he cooperated with us at all was so he could send us to Bracara Augusta to pick up that animal. Maybe he guessed the veterans there wouldn’t hand it over to one of his own men. Either way, he would have known they would find it hard to decline a contingent of Praetorians on the express business of the imperial family.’

  Marcus looked angry, but Aulus was more measured. ‘Betray Augustus’ own adopted grandson? Surely he wouldn’t be so bold?’

  I chuckled. ‘He could and he would. I don’t think that old man is scared of anyone, not even the imperator.’

  Marcus looked to the door, to check no one was listening. When he was sure, he turned and said, ‘But surely Augustus will have him replaced?’

  I looked at Aulus, who raised an eyebrow and explained to the young man, ‘I doubt it, Marcus. I’m sure Augustus is fond of Germanicus, but do you really think even the imperator would risk a civil war over one monoceros? Remember, Livianus’ powers here are unlimited. As far as this province is concerned, he is Rome.’

  I looked at the chest in the room. ‘He would have stolen our gold, then taken the animal from us. There wouldn’t have been anything we could do about it.’

  Marcus looked at me sharply. ‘But that means we’re still in danger?’

  I looked at my young friend. ‘Yes, Marcus. The same thought had occurred to me.’

  The next two days were difficult. I received no more word from the governor, but likewise, no one moved against us either. Food was brought to our rooms – a simple fare of figs, bread, cheese and olive oil. Aulus was worried about eating it, but I told him not to be. If the governor wanted us dead, he needn’t resort to poisoning. His own palace guards outnumbered my tiny force of Praetorians by such a number that armed resistance was an impossibility. Marcus suggested making a break for the harbour, but I knew we’d not make a hundred paces, let alone sneak away on a ship. Livianus commanded a formidable fleet of his own, and the city was crawling with the governor’s own men. I told them both to sit tight and do nothing. All we could do was hope for the governor’s temper to cool. I reminded them both that I was still a quaestor of Rome. Not even the recalcitrant Livianus could forget that. In all likelihood we’d be able to be on our way soon enough.

  Marcus went down to visit the men on a few occasions, but he told me he was always followed, the palace guards keeping a careful eye on him. I told him to keep the visits short to avoid suspicion. I gathered that Maris and the others were well, but they’d been prevented from leaving the palace grounds. Marcus told them not to try anything and to wait for orders. I approved; on no account did I want to antagonise the governor any further.

  It wasn’t until the night before the games that we were finally summoned. A slave came to inform us that the governor wanted to meet the three of us immediately, and he would await us in the main atrium. The three of us looked at one another with worried glances. I swallowed hard. ‘Tell Governor Livianus that we will join him there shortly.’

  The slave left, and Marcus started strapping on his armour.

  Aulus looked shocked. ‘Marcus, what are you doing? Is that wise?’

  He looked at my brother-in-law. ‘I don’t care whether it is or not. He’s not getting me without a fight.’

  Aulus turned to implore me. ‘Cassius, tell him!’

  I stopped to pick up my breastplate, which had been left in the corner of my room, and buckled it on. ‘I’m with Marcus. The decision regarding us has already been made. If he’s decided to do away with us, let’s not make it easy for him.’

  Aulus gave a great sigh. ‘You’re not filling me with confidence.’

  We walked down to the atrium in the centre of the palace, which held a large pool below an opening in the roof. The roof was slanted so the pool could collect rainwater, and the last of the evening light illuminated the room. Livianus was there, talking with the head of his guard on the ornate mosaic floor that surrounded the marble pool, surrounded by high porticoes. ‘Ah, my friends, so good of you to join me,’ said Livianus.

  His friendly tone caught me off guard, but I stumbled a reply. ‘It is a pleasure, my lord. I hope your health is restored from when I last saw you?’

  He waved away my concern. ‘Yes, yes, I am quite well. Please pay my ailments no mind. All part of getting old I’m afraid.’

  I wasn’t sure how to respond. Should I mention that the last time we met he was furious with me? How should I broach the subject?

  Aulus filled the awkward pause for me. ‘Such a beautiful room you have here. That mosaic is absolutely superb. Is that a depiction of the goddess Abudantia?’

  Livianus looked down in surprise. ‘Yes, it is! I’m pleased you recognised her. Not many expect to see the goddess of abundance and prosperity in a hall built by Augustus. But he has a surprising wit at times. He thought a depiction of a goddess dispensing wealth from her cornucopia suited a palace in the centre of Spain. Where else in the empire provides such wealth?’

  Aulus gave an ingratiating smile. ‘Where else indeed.’

  I noticed Marcus was still looking around the room suspiciously, checking the porticoes for hidden guards. I gave him a subtle kick, to bring his attention back to the atrium, and addressed the governor. ‘I’m sure your games tomorrow will show your people just how generous the goddess can be.’

  Livianus held his hands behind his back and gave a broad smile. ‘Quite so, Cassius. Well said.’

  I took my cue. I wasn’t above a bit of grovelling. ‘My lord, let me offer my forgiveness for my failings with the wild animal you wanted for these games. If there is any way that I can make it up to you, please just ask.’

  Livianus waved his hand in dismissal. ‘Please forget it, Quaestor. I’ll admit I was a bit put out. These games have come to mean so much to me. But on reflection, I realise blaming you
is pointless. Please forgive my bad temper of a few days ago.’

  I breathed a sigh of relief, but I noticed that Marcus was still looking at me askance. I guessed he wasn’t about to forget that the monoceros was supposed to have been a gift for Germanicus.

  I ignored him and focused on the governor. ‘And how can I help you this evening?’

  Livianus walked round the marble pool towards us. ‘Well, it’s not actually you I’m in need of. It’s your friend here.’ He looked directly at a shocked Marcus. ‘Well, him and the rest of your Praetorian Guards.’

  ‘My guards?’ I stumbled, quite surprised myself. ‘How can they help you?’

  Livianus walked around Marcus as if admiring a prize cow. ‘I was walking through the palace with my man Marianus’ – he gestured to the head of his guard, who looked on impassively – ‘and we saw your Praetorians at drill.’

  Marcus explained, ‘I told Maris to keep the men busy with drills. I hope I didn’t do anything wrong? They were just a little restless after a few days inactivity.’

  Livianus smiled. ‘Not at all, young man. I just remarked what a marvellous sight they make with the horse plume helms, brightly bleached tunics, straight backs and shiny armour. No soldiers can compare for putting on a show.’ He turned to look at Marianus, giving a slight scowl. ‘Far better than my own palace guards.’

  Marianus didn’t react much; he just gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘My men are well trained and armed, but I grant they don’t look as fine on parade as your Praetorians.’

  Livianus clapped and looked at me with bright eyes. ‘You see, even he agrees! So I was wondering if I could borrow your Praetorians, just for tomorrow’s games, to act as my guard of honour?’

  Marcus looked taken aback, but I didn’t hesitate. I was only too pleased to comply with such a simple request. ‘Of course, it would be my pleasure. I am sure they will make quite a spectacle for your games.’

  Livianus rubbed his hands. ‘Marvellous!’ He turned to Marcus. ‘So what do you say, young man? Will you guard my back during the games tomorrow? Station your men around my imperial box? The crowd are bound to notice them!’