The Eagles Conquest c-2

by Simon Scarrow

  Vespasian gazed at her in open admiration, and looked again at the remains of his pastry. 'How can you tell all that? Just from the scent?' 'Unlike you, I actually bothered to read the menu.'

  Vespasian smiled graciously. 'What else is on the menu, since you're the expert?'

  'I've no idea, I only read as far as the introductory course, but I imagine it is simply a replay of every banquet Claudius has ever had.'

  'Creature of habit, our Emperor.'

  'Narcissus' habits unfortunately. The menu has his stamp all over it, fussy, pretentious and likely to leave you with a sick feeling in your stomach.'

  Vespasian laughed, and spontaneously reached over to kiss his wife on the cheek. She accepted the kiss with a surprised expression.

  'Sorry. Didn't mean to shock you,' Vespasian said. 'It was just that, for a moment there, it felt like old times.'

  'It needn't feel otherwise, husband. If you would not treat me so coldly.'

  'Coldly,' Vespasian repeated and met her gaze. 'I don't feel cold towards you. I have never loved you more than now.' He leaned closer to her, and continued softly, 'But I feel I don't really know you. Not since I was told about your involvement with the Liberators.'

  Flavia took his hand and grasped it firmly. 'I've told you all you need to know. I've told you I have no connection with those people. None at all.'

  'Now maybe. But before?'

  Flavia smiled sadly before she responded in a quiet, clear voice, 'I have no connection with them now. That's all I can tell you. To say any more would endanger you, and maybe Titus… and the other child.'

  'Other child?' Vespasian frowned before the sestertius dropped. He stopped chewing the pastry, breathed in to reply, and promptly started choking on the pastry crumbs. His face went red as he coughed frantically to try and clear his throat. Heads began to turn, and at the table of honour Claudius looked up, watched the spectacle and looked down at his food in tenor. Narcissus rushed over to reassure him and quickly nibbled at one of the mushrooms on Claudius' plate.

  Flavia was thumping her husband on the back, trying to dislodge the blockage, until finally Vespasian started breathing again, eyes watering, and caught Flavia's hands to stop the beating.

  'I'm all right. I'm all right.'

  'I thought you were dying!' Flavia was on the verge of tears, then suddenly she laughed at them both, and the other diners relaxed again. 'What on earth got into you!'

  'The baby,' Vespasian managed to say before having to cough. 'You're expecting another child?'

  'Yes,' Flavia replied with a smile, before sending Lavinia to fetch some water for her husband.

  Vespasian, still red-faced, leaned over and wrapped his arms round his wife, burying his face in her shoulder and neck. 'When did you conceive?'

  'Back in Gaul, shortly before we arrived in Gesoriacum. Over four months ago. The baby's due early next year.'

  'Vespasian!' Claudius called out above the hubbub of conversation, which abruptly died away, 'I say, V-V-Vespasian!'

  Vespasian released his wife and quickly turned round. 'Caesar?' 'Are you all right?'

  'Quite all right, Caesar.' He turned to smile at his wife. 'Marvellous, in fact.'

  'Well, you don't look it. You seemed to be on the verge of croaking just a m-m-moment ago! Lucky escape for me, I was thinking – someone poisoned you by mistake.'

  'No poison, Caesar. I've just learned I'm going to have another child.'

  Flavia blushed and gazed down at her hands with becoming modesty.

  Caesar reached for his gold wine cup and raised it in their direction.

  'A toast! May the next Flavian to be born live to serve his Emperor with as much distinction as his father, and uncle of course.' Claudius nodded towards Sabinus, who smiled weakly. The rest of the guests in the brightly lit great hall of the Catuvellauni chorused the toast and Vespasian bowed his head in thanks. But the Emperor's light-hearted mention of assassination brought back Vespasian's fears over what Adminius had told him, and he glanced round the hall, eyeing the British contingent suspiciously. Venutius, the elders of the Trinovantes, and a score of other natives sat in self-conscious discomfort not far from the Emperor's right hand.

  'What's keeping that wretched girl Lavinia?' Flavia muttered as she glanced round the hall. 'She was only supposed to go and get you a glass of water… '

  A pungent aroma of spices and the richer undercurrent of sauces and cooked meats filled Cato's nostrils as he and Macro entered the open kitchen area at the back of the great hall. Huge cauldrons simmered over cooking fires tended by sweating slaves, while the cooks laboured over long trestle tables, preparing the plethora of dishes required at an imperial banquet.

  'What now?' Cato whispered. 'Just follow my lead.'

  The centurion marched up to the timber-framed door leading into the side of the great hall. A burly palace slave in a purple tunic held up a hand at their approach.

  'Out of my way!' Macro snapped.

  'Stop!' the slave responded firmly. 'No entry without authorisation.' 'Authorisation?' Macro glared back. 'Who says I need authorisation, slave?'

  'Only kitchen slaves come through here. Try the main entrance to the hall.'

  'Says who?'

  'My orders, sir. Straight from Narcissus himself.'

  'Narcissus eh?' Macro stepped closer, and lowered his voice. 'We have to see the legate of the Second right now.'

  'Not without authorisation, sir.'

  'OK then, you want see my authorisation?' Macro reached into his purse with his left hand, and the moment the slave's eyes followed the gesture the centurion piled in a skull-shattering uppercut with his right. The slave's jaw snapped back and he dropped like a sack of stones. Macro shook his hand as he gazed down at the crumpled form at his feet. 'How's that for authorisation, you dumb shit?'

  The kitchen slaves were nervously watching the centurion.

  'Back to work!' Macro shouted. 'Now! Before you get the same treatment as him. '

  For a moment there was no reaction, and Macro took a few paces towards the nearest group of cooks, slowly drawing his sword. At once they returned to their work. Macro glowered round, daring any of the others to challenge him until all the cooks turned back to their duties.

  'Come on, Cato,' Macro said quietly and ducked through the door into the great hall. Cato followed him into the shadows behind a stone buttress. A warm fug wrapped itself round them.

  'Stay back,' Macro ordered. 'I need to check the lie of the land.' Macro peered round the buttress. The huge space was lit by countless oil lamps and tallow candles fixed to vast timber crosspieces hanging from pulleys up in the dim rafters high above. In their amber glow hundreds of guests were ranged along dining couches on three sides of the hall. Before them lay tables heaped with the best cuisine that the imperial cooks could provide. Loud conversation and laughter overwhelmed the Greek singers battling to be heard from a dais behind the top table, where the Emperor reclined alone. In the space between the tables a bear was chained to a bolt in the floor. It snarled and swiped at a pack of hairy hunting dogs that darted around and snapped whenever the bear presented an unguarded quarter. With a shrill yelp one of the slower dogs was caught by a paw, and flew through the air to crash into a table. Food, plates, cups and wine exploded into the air while a female guest shrieked in horror at the blood that splattered across her pale blue stola.

  As the roars of support for the bear died down, Macro turned his gaze to the British contingent sitting to one side of the Emperor. Most of the Britons had succumbed to the Celtic weakness for drink and were being loud and gauche as they cheered on the beast fight. A few, however, were sitting quietly, picking at their food and gazing at the spectacle with barely concealed contempt. On the couch nearest the Emperor sat a young Briton, chewing on a small plaited loaf, staring fixedly at the floor in front of him, quite outside the prevailing mood of the banquet.

  'There's our man – Bellonius, I'd say.' Macro waved Cato round and pointed. 'See him?' />
  'Yes, sir.'

  'Think we should rush him?'

  'No, sir. We've no proof any more. We have to try and speak to the legate, or Narcissus.'

  'The freedman is standing in his master's shadow, but I can't see the legate yet.'

  'Over there.' Cato nodded directly across the hall. Vespasian's head was turned away from them as he kissed his wife. Behind them stood Lavinia, laughing happily as she watched the tormented bear. A simmering mixture of jealous loathing and remembered affection bubbled up from the pit of Cato' s stomach. Lavinia looked to one side and smiled. Following her gaze, Cato saw Vitellius sitting with a group of staff officers opposite the Britons. The tribune was looking over his shoulder and smiling back at Lavinia, causing Cato to clench his fists and press his lips together in a thin line.

  'There's Vitellius, by the Emperor,' whispered Macro.

  'Seen him.'

  'What now?' Macro eased himself back behind the buttress and looked at his optio. 'Narcissus or Vespasian?'

  'Vespasian,' Cato decided immediately. 'There's too many of those German bodyguards round Narcissus. We'd have no chance of getting a message through that lot. Let's wait for the next change in course and use the waiters as cover to get close to the legate.'

  'Wait? Can't afford to. Won't take that lot outside long to recover their balls enough to go for help.'

  'Sir, what do you think will happen if we're discovercd in here without any invitation or authority, and carrying weapons?'

  'Point taken. We'll wait a little longer.'

  As they crouched down behind the buttress, the savage growls and roaring from the beast fight reached a crescendo. The banquet guests cheered and howled like beasts themselves as the bear and dogs tore at each other in a terrifying frenzy. With a final shrill yelp that was abruptly drowned by the triumphant roar of the bear, the fight came to an end and the cheers of the audience subsided into loud conversation. Cato risked a glimpse round the roughly hewn stone buttress and saw the bear being led away in chains by a dozen burly Britons, blood dripping from its jaws and numerous wounds. Its mangled victims were dragged away on hooks.

  There was a loud clapping from outside the hall and the doors burst open to admit dozens of imperial slaves who flowed round the sides of the hall.

  'Let's go!' Cato hissed, tugging at Macro's arm. The two of them rose and causally joined the slaves making for the far side of the hall, mingling with them as they threaded through the mass of entertainers and party guests. Cato's heart pounded and he felt cold and afraid at the dreadful risk he was taking. If they were discovered, the chances were that they'd be cut down at once, before they had any chance to explain their presence. Cato could see Lavinia standing behind her master and mistress. Not far beyond, Vitellius had lisen from his couch and beckoned to Lavinia. With a quick glance to make sure her mistress wasn't watching, she ran lightly over to the tribune. Cato's heart hardened at the sight and he had to force her from his mind.

  With Macro at his side, Cato shuffled into position behind Vespasian.

  Just then Flavia glanced round, and frowned as she saw the two soldiers amongst the slaves. Then she smiled as she recognised Cato. She tugged her husband's sleeve.

  On the far side of the great hall the head steward clapped his hands, and the slaves moved closer to the guest's laden tables. 'Sir,' Cato said quietly. 'Sir, it's me, Cato.'

  Vespasian looked up and exactly reproduced his wife's reaction. 'What the hell is going on, Optio? And you, Macro? What are you doing here?'

  'Sir, there's no time to explain,' Cato whispered urgently. He saw Vitellius take Lavinia by the hand and lead her towards the Emperor's table. 'That assassin Adminius warned us about is here.'

  'Here?' Vespasian swung his feet to the floor and stood up. 'Who?'

  'Bellonius. '

  The legate's eyes snapped towards the group of Britons opposite, all of them drunk and shouting now, except Bellonius. He, too, was on his feet, one hand hidden in the folds of his tunic.

  'How do you know it's him?' He swung round to face Cato. 'Quickly!' At the Emperor's table, Claudius licked his lips as he ran his eyes over the shapely slave girl standing before him. Far from being nervous at the prospect of being presented to her Emperor, the girl was smiling, coyly.

  'She's quite something,' said Claudius appreciatively. 'Indeed, Caesar,' Vitellius agreed. 'And very willing.'

  'I'm sure.' Claudius smiled at Lavinia. 'And are you ready to surrender to your Emperor?'

  Lavinia frowned and anxiously turned to Vitelli us, but the tribune was staring straight ahead, utterly unmoved by the Emperor's advances. 'Well, young lady?'

  Vitellius glanced quickly towards the tribal guests then turned back to his Emperor. 'Perhaps Caesar would like a closer look at the goods.' Without warning he grabbed Lavinia's tunic by the shoulders and vrenched it down violently to expose her breasts. Lavinia screamed and struggled, but Vitellius held her tightly. All eyes turned on them.

  There was a sudden movement to the Emperor's right as Bellonius sprang forward, racing towards the Emperor, a dagger glinting low in his right hand. Cato was the first to react, jumping up onto the table in front of his legate and launching himself across the hall towards

  BelJonius.

  'Stop him!' Cato screamed.

  Bellonius darted a look sideways, teeth bared in a snarl, with the wide, blazing eyes of a fanatic, and continued running towards the Emperor. Cato threw himself headlong at the assassin, grabbing at his leg. He caught it, held tight, and managed to bring Bellonius tumbling down. Both pitched forward, but Cato held fast to his man, digging his fingers in for a moment before Bellonius kicked out with his spare foot and struck Cato square in the face. Instinctively Cato relaxed his grip and Bellonius tore free, scrambled up and threw himself towards the Emperor.

  The German bodyguards, momentarily distracted by Vitellius' exposure of Lavinia, were running between their master and Bellonius. Claudius had raised his hands across his face and uttered a tremulous scream. The Briton ran on, dagger ready in an underhand grip, making straight for the Emperor. As he reached the first bodyguard, the German leaned back and smashed his shield into the side of the Briton's head.

  Bellonius crashed to the stone floor'.

  'Guards!' Narcissus shouted. 'Guards!'

  It took only an instant for Vitellius to realise that the assassin had failed. Snatching a dagger from the belt of one of the bodyguards, he fung himself on the writhing Briton. The bodyguards were moving in but by the time they had reached the spot, it was all over. Vitellius rose to his knees, cheek and tunic front splattered with blood. Bellonius lay at his feet, dead, the handle of the body-guard's blade protruding from under his chin. The blade had been driven up through his throat into his brain and his eyes bulged with surprise. A dribble of dark blood formed at the side of his open mouth and rolled down his cheek.

  In the Briton's hand lay the jewelled hilt of the Celtic dagger Lavinia had smuggled into the hall. She glanced down at it and then looked up at Vitellius with a terrified expression, slowly backing away from him even as she clutched the ruined tunic to her chest.

  The bodyguards swarmed forward, weapons drawn. From the other direction the dinner guests and serving slaves were surging forward to get a better look. Cato rose to his feet and found himself surrounded by a dense press of bodies. He looked round and saw that Claudius was safe. Narcissus had slipped his arm round the Emperor and was shouting out orders to have the hall cleared. Cato turned his head and looked about anxiously for any sign of Lavinia. Then he saw her, struggling in the grip of Vitellius who was trying to drag her to one side.

  The Emperor's bodyguards were forcing the crowds away from Claudius at swordpoint. At the sight of the weapons, there were cries of panic and the crowd recoiled, carrying Cato with them, and he lost sight of the tribune and Lavinia. His arm was wrenched in someone's powerful grip and he was spun round, to face Macro.

  'Let's get out of here!' Macro shouted. 'Before the P
raetorian Guards arrive and some fool starts a massacre.'

  'No! Not before I find Lavinia!'

  'Lavinia? What the fuck for? Thought that bitch was working with Vitellius! '

  'I'm not leaving her, sir.'

  'Find her later. Now let's go.'

  'No!' Cato tore himself free and thrust his way towards the place he had seen Lavinia struggling with Vitellius. With no thought to the people around him, Cato forced his way through. Behind him he heard Macro calling out his name, angrily shouting at him to get out of the hall. Then a woman directly in front of him shrieked and through the crowd he saw Vitelli us, drenched in blood and holding a knife that dripped crimson. He met Cato's eyes and frowned. Then, glancing around at the terrified faces hemming him in, Vitellius smiled once at Cato and backed away towards the Emperor's bodyguards, where he let the blade drop and raised his hands. Claudius saw him, and instantly rushed over to take him by the hands, face beaming with gratitude.

  Cato continued to push forward, fighting to catch sight of Lavinia.

  His foot snagged on something and he almost tripped. Looking down he saw that it had caught on a fold of tunic. The tunic was wrapped about the still form of a woman lying on the floor, in a spreading puddle of blood that matted the long tresses of dark hair. Cato felt a chill wave of horror sweep through his body.

  'Lavinia?'

  The tightly packed mob heaved and pressed in all around as Cato knelt down beside the body and lifted the hair away from the face with a trembling hand. Lavinia's lifeless eyes were open, pupils large and dark, her mouth slightly open to reveal white teeth. Below her chin, her throat had been cut so deeply that bone was just visible beneath the severed tendons and arteries.

  'Oh no… No!'

  'Cato!' Macro bellowed into his ear as he finally broke through to his optio. 'Come… Oh shit.'

  For a brief moment neither man moved, then Macro snapped back into action and viciously hauled Cato to his feet. 'She's dead. Dead, you understand me?'

  Cato nodded.

  'We must go. Now!'

  Cato allowed himself to be hauled through the panicking crowd by Macro who kicked and thrust people aside in his desperation to get them both out of the hall before the Praetorian Guards added to the mayhem. 'Quick!' Macro grabbed Cato' s arm and pulled him towards the nearest side entrance. 'Through here!'