“He has done many good things” admonished Pompeia as Javenoli’s voice suggested a hint of anger. He laughed in response.
“You have taught me so much, my dear” he replied with a warm smile. “Ah, if only I’d met you years ago.”
“I’d have been too green and too quiet to know what is important in life, my love. I’ve have been looking for some aristocrat’s son who would have shown me no more interest than the string of prostitutes he keeps in the farms across all his villa’s” she replied, entertained by her own answer.
Javenoli agreed. “But the prophecy may be the key” he replied as he walked to the fire and stood there watching the flames dance. “Yes, that and the gods, the man only acts if the gods will it.” After a moment of silence, he continued. “If Camillus is to give the plebeians power, then it must only be within certain spheres. Rome acts when the gods act. The true decisions must come from divine authority” he turned to her and let his lips curl “which we know can be changed to suit the circumstance.” He moved towards the couch again and sat for a few seconds churning through ideas in his mind. “Camillus must see that the speed of change is critical for our future as a city. Allowing plebeians access to the higher political roles will be a concession I can accept, after all every man has a price and we can afford most prices” he grinned at Pompeia. “But access to the gods? No, that can only be through certain rites and rituals, of which these men are not yet capable, due to their heritage. If we lock the doors to the gods, then our son must attain that position. This position” he said as he raised his chin towards the walls of the room.
“There will have to be a reason for this” Pompeia replied. “Something which will sway the minds of the senate to ensure that this is the case for generations to come.”
Javenoli didn’t reply as he thought about it, sighing and shaking his head as he dismissed ideas.
“It’s a shame we can’t blame Capitolinus for it” laughed Pompeia.
Javenoli turned to her and clapped his hands. “You’ve got it” he cried, moving back to the fire and rubbing his hand vigorously. “Yes, that’s it. Oh, my love, you have the simplest but best ideas.”
********
“You took your time” snapped Capitolinus as he entered the room with Castrus and two other men, both of whom bore resemblance to large bears, hairy and with enough metalwork on their belts to appear like sharp claws. Menenius swallowed hard, his bladder tensing as he mumbled an apology. “Today is a momentous occasion” Capitolinus said without taking any notice of the responses from the two plebeian tribunes. “Today I will ask the people to rise up and follow me.” At this he glared at the incredulous looks on both Menenius and Sicinius’ faces. “You, gentlemen, as you have agreed by binding our blood to Jupiter” all three men glanced quickly to the silver bowl which now housed dried red stains where the blood had dissipated. “Will go to your clans and families and ask them to come to the Forum, to listen to my speech and to rise against the patricians when I call them to action. Do you understand?” he ordered, his eyes now boring into those of both men. They nodded, dumbly, in unison. “Good” he barked, slapping both men on the shoulder and motioning towards Castrus who tapped them on the shoulders, inclining his head for them to leave.
“Mid-day, and we expect a good show or, well you know what will happen” leered Capitolinus’ thug through his thick beard.
As Menenius left the room he heard Capitolinus walk along the hallway talking to a cloaked figure, and seeing that Castrus had gone along the corridor in the opposite direction, he stopped and listened for a few seconds to catch what was being discussed.
“Here, and you better do the job, boy or I’ll hunt you down and string you up by the balls” said Capitolinus as the unmistakable sound of a bag of coins being handed across reached Menenius’ ears.
“Don’t worry, I know what to do, I’ve got several men watching them already.”
“I want them dead by the end of the day.”
The hooded figure nodded his head, and then spoke. “Javenoli is easy to get to, I’ll sort him first, Camillus might be more difficult to get on his own. Don’t worry” said the voice as Capitolinus turned an angry glare towards him, “He’s a dead man walking. I’ll have it done by nightfall.”
Menenius slipped away quickly and almost ran through the door, searching the busy road on the slopes down towards the Forum for his friend Sicinius as he rushed through the crowds. He ran down the slope and then turned right, moving along past the Temple of Vesta before starting the slow incline up towards the Esquiline, where Sicinius would be heading. Seeing the man ahead he called out to him, Sicinius turning with ill-disguised fear in his eyes at hearing his name being called urgently.
“What is it Menenius?” came the abrupt response as the tribune caught up with him and gripped his arm.
“We can’t do it” he replied, his voice shaking.
Sicinius glanced around, looking for faces who may be watching them. “Not here” he said, moving towards an alleyway between two wooden framed houses. “What do you mean? You heard him and his threats. We swore an oath to Jupiter.”
“You said it Sicinius. He’s mad. We can’t allow him to gain control of the city. Look at how he’s changed. Look at the murder he’s prepared to commit to get what he wants, is that what we signed up for? It isn’t what I want. These plans from the senate, Camillus’ new future, that’s more like what I expected from Capitolinus, but he’s turned in a tyrant, Sicinius. He’s mad.”
Sicinius rubbed his face with his palm, sweat glistening from his brow as his eyes stared into those of his fellow plebeian tribune. “What can we do? I’m not prepared to stand against him on my own” he said aggressively.
Looking to the right and left, and then up at the shuttered window above them Menenius said, “I’ve just heard him order an assassin to kill both Gaius Javenoli and Marcus Furius Camillus” he whispered, his eyes wide with fear. Sicinius’ mouth dropped open, his eyes widening as he heard the words. “What do we do?” implored Menenius.
Sicinius closed his mouth and stared back down the alley, his hand still rubbing his chin. “That Assassin, that Thracian” he said. “Is he the one working for Capitolinus?”
Menenius tried to think back to the hooded figure. “No, he was too tall, and his accent was more Latin than Thrace” he replied.
“Then we need to find the Thracian, get him to search for the man who Capitolinus has hired. And” he added urgently as he gripped Menenius’ shoulders. “I’m going to that first spear, Narcius. My cousin says he’s close to Camillus, he’ll know what to do.”
********
Chapter 42
Capitolinus left his house, his retinue streaming out behind him with carts of equipment and flags from his fallen enemies as they strode down the Capitol Hill towards the central meeting place. They were early, but that was exactly as Capitolinus wished, he had some plans to set in motion first. A crowd stood waiting as he turned into the Forum square and searched for Castrus, the overgrown bear of a man waving to him from ahead where he’d cordoned off an area with his men. On arrival Capitolinus looked around, judging the spot with a critical eye, and moving some of the carts to a different position as well as reviewing the placement of the podium that was being built for the senators who would judge him, publicly, when the trial started. He moved to the crowd, many of whom dropped their eyes at his approach, and then he turned to look back at the scene where he would make his speech, allowing his lips to curl as what he saw met with his expectations.
“Good” he said to Castrus. “Now, go and find the rest of the men, circle them here and wait for me to call before you bring them forwards. I want them to be a show of strength.” Castrus left quickly, followed by three men carrying clubs, ill-concealed, under their tunics. Capitolinus thought about calling them back for a moment but then decided it would cause more trouble to call them back than to let them go. He looked up at the Capitol Hill, the weak winter sun low in the cloud-f
illed sky. As he looked up he saw Jupiter and his Quadriga standing proudly over the Temple, looking down benevolently on him. He nodded appreciatively, planning was everything, and everything was ready.
********
Sicinius hammered on the door, his persistent knocking bringing people into the street to see what the commotion was. He raised his hand to knock again and the door was pulled open, the senior centurion standing with a club in one hand and a small, round, shield in the other. Several bearded faces stared at the plebeian tribune from behind him, each man armed and ready to charge into the street.
“What is this?” demanded Narcius as he stepped out, his eyes searching all directions before they fixed on the lone man at his door.
Sicinius composed himself, taking a deep breath. “I am Lucius Sicinius” he started.
“I know you” growled Narcius, his mouth dropping into a scowl. “Why are you hammering like Vulcan himself on my door?”
Sicinius was taken aback by the sudden outburst and took a step backwards before speaking. “I…I have something important we need to speak of” he said. “But not out here” he added with a glance towards the watching crowd.
“Inside” snapped Narcius, whom Sicinius noted had a large bandage wrapped around his arm. As he was bundled inside he protested at the rough treatment he was receiving, his voice rising in tone as he was pushed into a small room and several pairs of eyes stared at him malevolently. “Well?” Narcius asked, his arms folded across his chest as he stood in front of the plebeian tribune.
Sicinius took a moment to calm himself before saying, “I..I…”
“Come on” said Narcius angrily. “You nearly knocking my door down a moment ago and now you can’t remember what you came for. Get on with it” he snarled.
“Capitolinus has paid an assassin to kill Camillus…”
“What” bellowed Narcius, taking a step forward which made Sicinius flinch.
“And… and Javenoli as well” came the meek response.
Narcius turned to one of the men behind him, “get Crastinus and bring him and his lads here, and then go to Vetto and see if he can spare a few men, get them to the Forum as I know Camillus is going there this morning. Tertio, go and find Petronius, see if he can send men to the Pontiffs palace, tell him it’s urgent, I’ll send more men there when I know what’s happening.” The men dashed off immediately. “Right, sit down and tell me everything” Narcius said as he placed a hand on Sicinius’ shoulder and pushed him towards a chair.
********
The senators were arranged around the table with Cossus in their centre, his dour face holding court as the men reviewed the notes for the trial, which was to start within the hour. “His actions threaten the liberty of every freeborn Roman” said Quirinius, his voice firm but not raised. “We lost three good men to his butcher, clearly that shows that he has stooped to new depths in his demands against the senate? He has yet to answer the question of which men he believes have stolen the Gallic gold from the temple of Jupiter, a crime of which he has accused us all, and we know that he must have had Cincinnatus killed. It’s obvious, the man who attacked our own spies is the man he saved from Cincinnatus’ debts. It all adds up” he said with a slow look around the table. “There is no other way to end this violence than to act with our own force before this problem gets any further out of hand. The fact that he moved against our own men shows that he is now desperate to control the city. Gentleman, we must accuse him of tyranny, for surely that is what it is.”
Assent rang around the table, however Cossus, still holding the title of dictator, and therefore the ultimate decision maker, continued to grimace as he re-read the accusations. “These murders” he strummed his fingers on the table, “has the man we captured accused Capitolinus of inciting him to do the act?” he asked the group. Javenoli turned towards Cossus and answered. “Not yet. He claims that he was resolving a family feud, as is his right in law.”
Cossus let his mouth show his displeasure at the answer as he made a note on his wax tablet. “Has any man come forward to claim that he stole Gallic gold and wishes to repent for his error?” Again, there was a negative response. “And no other culprit has been found guilty of the murder of Cincinnatus? Then we appear to be no further forward than we were the last time we brought him to trial. We need evidence, gentlemen. I fear that without it this trial may turn into another victory for him.” He sucked in a slow breath as he tapped his finger on the wax tablet.
A knock came to the door and all eyes turned towards the front of the building. They watched as the door was opened to four men, two of whom Marcus immediately recognised and two he vaguely recognised. The guard approached the table and said “Senators, we have one of the plebeian tribunes, arrived with three of our senior army officers with some vital information.” All faces turned towards the door where the men stood.
“Approach” called Cossus, his hand circling to get them to hurry along. He nodded to the greetings of the men, Marcus raising his eyebrows to the stern-faced Narcius who stood before them in his military uniform and thick leather chest guard.
Narcius addressed the senators, looking directly along the table and towards the back wall, as if his audience lay somewhere beyond the group of men in front of him. “This is Lucius Sicinius. As I am sure you know, he is one of this year’s plebeian tribunes. He brings news of Marcus Manlius Capitolinus and his meetings, as well as a threat against two of our prominent senators” he said sharply before stepping back with a quick glance at Marcus.
All eyes now turned to the plebeian tribune, and Sicinius stepped forwards quickly. “Sirs” he said, unsure how to address the group. “Until recently I was a part of Marcus Manlius Capitolinus’ followers. But recently there has been a change in him, a desire for power that we, as plebeians do not feel is right for the future of the city. I could not, in my heart, accept the changes that he is trying to make.” He looked around at the faces watching him, taking a moment to compose himself
“Go on” said Cossus as Menenius seemed to struggle for words.
With a glance to Narcius, he continued. “Sir, I would like to point out that I had nothing to do with the violent acts that he has set in motion and denounce his ideas as un-democratic. Our aims, as plebeian tribunes, have always been the best for the people of Rome, not for any individual or any personal gain…”
“Yes, yes” snapped Cossus as he circled his hand impatiently, again.
“Capitolinus offered the people a voice. A voice beyond that which we currently have. We were carried along with his fervent love of the Republic, his desire to make all men equal in the eyes of the law. His speeches were compelling and with the love of Jupiter to support him” he shrugged “who wouldn’t listen?” He shuffled nervously. “But recently he’s started to demand more control, take more of a personal role in leading the way we act as a group and” at this point he stopped and glanced to Narcius, who nodded as if he should carry on. “He’s calling himself the dictator, saying that he will overthrow the state in the name of Jupiter.” At this Cossus thumped the table, his teeth clenched tight in his jaw as he turned to face the rest of the senate.
“There’s our proof” stated Cossus, eyes flashing with anger.
“There’s more, sir” said Sicinius, his voice steadier than before. All eyes turned to him. “Capitolinus has given money to an assassin to murder two of this group.”
Voices were raised and each of the men at the table demanded to know which of them were to be the targets of this attempt of their lives. Sicinius indicated who it was, and the table grew silent. Cossus, a man of action, spoke first after a moment. “We must arrest him immediately” he snapped. “There is the evidence we require” he finished by pointing to the plebeian tribune.
Javenoli coughed lightly and everyone looked to him. “I’m not so sure” he said slowly, his eyes narrowing. “If I know Capitolinus, he’ll have some slippery words which will accuse these men of plotting against him. We know that he ha
s a strong following, and, under the law, we must get the people to vote for any action against him. Sicinius, in your view do the common people still think he is beloved of Jupiter? Will they follow him?”
Sicinius answered. “Yes, undoubtedly. His reach stretches further than you think. He has many of the lower clans who cannot vote in his pay as well as many of lower patrician blood, he will bring four or five hundred men to the Forum today at the very least, and every one of them believes that Jupiter is guiding his actions.”
Cossus stared open-mouthed at the words.
“Then we cannot accuse him without inciting a riot” said Javenoli quietly as Sicinius nodded slowly. “Gentlemen, when you have a fish on a line you must tease him, tire him and wait for the right moment to throw in your net and drag him from the water. That is what we must do today. I ask that I am allowed to speak as the voice of the senate. I know the man, I will be able to use his own words against him and I am skilled in dealing with people who use the gods as their judges.”
“And what of the threat against your life?” asked Cossus.
Javenoli shrugged. “I’ve had many threats against my life, Cornelius” he smiled “and I’m still here” he added with raised palms. “As have we all” he smiled towards Marcus. “I am sure that Camillus and his men will be able to find these assassins and remove them safely before any harm can come to any of us.”
********
Istros threw a small pebble into one of the buckets which adorned a stall along the western edge of the Forum, his aim true as always. The crowd was swelling, the miserable cold of the day not stopping people from appearing for the trial against Capitolinus. He listened as excited children asked their parents if there would be anyone hanged or having their limbs cut off. Parents laughed as they said that they doubted this would be the case, but if there was they’d make sure they were all in the front rows to watch it happen, which brought squeals of excitement from the children. As he continued to scan the throng of people around him, he noticed three cloaked men slipping into the crowd, each of them with hoods covering their heads, which seemed odd at the time of day. They were mostly unremarkable except they all arrived together and then split as soon as they entered the crowd, the way one of them walked sparked a memory, but he couldn’t work out who it was. He tried to watch them, but soon lost sight of them within the swell of people. He was just considering if he should follow one of them to ascertain what was happening when a more urgent need arose; Regullus appeared, with four other men, no more than ten strides from him, his large head twisting left and right, searching the crowd. Time to move, he thought, slowly edging towards the right and keeping his head low so that his movements didn’t catch the eye of the former right-hand man of Cincinnatus. Dodging a cart filled with honeyed dates, he strode into the depths of the crowd, not looking back as that was sure to attract attention. He caught the eye of a hooded figure, the man dropping his glance as quickly as their eyes met, and Istros, momentarily, couldn’t think who it was despite the flare of recognition. The body shape which came to his mind made him stop and turn, looking urgently around. It was Auguronos: definitely. What was he doing, cloaked and hidden in the crowd? A man of his standing, a lowly patrician, but still a patrician, should be at the front with his clan. His mind was suddenly pulled away as a voice called ‘Istros’ and he winced. Why was someone calling his name in a crowd. He yanked his own hood over his head, ducked, turned left and right in quick succession and then headed directly for the rear of the forum, he needed somewhere to gather his thoughts.
The King of Rome Page 56
