The End of a Dynasty

by David Adkins

  Julia answered the Empress with a nod and a sob.

  The Empress turned to the rest of us. “We should leave Julia and perhaps Petronilla, if Julia wishes her to stay, to their privacy. With that the Empress strode from the room followed by all except for Julia and Petronilla. In the corridor she said quietly to me. “Come and see me this afternoon.”

  We all went our separate ways except that I followed Drucilla into the office. Once in the privacy of the room I asked her. “Do you think Sabinus was murdered?”

  She showed little sign of shock at my question. “I do not know. I half expected the Emperor to exact revenge for what happened a week or two ago but it seems that Sabinus died in his bed first. Do you think it was murder?”

  I did not divulge what I had witnessed in the gardens. “It was convenient,” I offered, and left her to her work.

  That afternoon I went to see the Empress as ordered. I briefly knelt before her and she indicated that I should sit. “The death of Sabinus alters things,” she mused.

  “The murder of Sabinus does indeed,” I replied.

  She ignored my change of word from death to murder. “Julia no longer has a husband and that makes her more dangerous if her liaison with my husband continues.”

  “I understand,” I said realizing the implication of what she said. It also seemed heartless to me that we were discussing the repercussions resulting from his death just hours after his murder.

  Domitia Longina did not seem to share my reservations and continued. “We also have the question as to whether she has ambitions or whether Domitian has ambitions on her behalf. I would not be the first Emperor’s wife to be disposed of.”

  “Surely he would not do that,” I offered.

  “He most certainly would if it pleased him to do so. He no longer has a passion for me as he once did and so divorce and exile could easily follow or worse.”

  “He might have you put aside but surely your life is not in danger,” I gasped at the enormity of her implication. “Then again he did have Sabinus killed and he was a member of the royal family,” I mused.

  “Why are you so sure that Sabinus was murdered? I saw nothing to indicate that on his body.”

  “Did you not see the marks on his wrists, Empress? He had been bound. Did you not see the bruising on his neck? It looked as if he had been held down; perhaps by a knee across the throat.”

  My words brought a frown to her regal features. “I did not look that closely, Parthenian. I saw there were no wounds on his body and no blood.”

  I continued. “I was in the gardens early this morning and I saw Casperius and some of his guards drag Sabinus out of the palace just an hour before he was found in his bed. When I went to investigate Casperius warned me off with threats that left me in no doubt that my life would be forfeited if I told of what I had witnessed. There was nothing I could do to help him for if I had tried I would surely now be as dead as Sabinus.” I felt guilty that I had not tried to help him and needed to reassure myself that there had been nothing that I could have done.

  “We must keep this to ourselves. I do not want to lose a chamberlain and nephew. Domitian obviously does not want his doting public to know that he had a former consul and member of his own family murdered; especially when the motive was to have the man’s wife for himself.”

  “Was that his motive or was it simply rage at what he perceived to be an insult?” I asked.

  “Perhaps it was a bit of both, Parthenian. I wonder if Julia knew of the plot and was involved. If she was then that indicates ambition on her part.”

  “It could just indicate fear of Domitian,” I countered.

  “Perhaps it does but that is for you to find out. I am sure that Petronilla knows everything concerning her mistress, for she rarely leaves her side.”

  “Not even when she is with the Emperor?” I smiled.

  “That would not surprise me.”

  “How do you think Sabinus died?” I asked.

  “There were no wounds and so I imagine, in the light of what you say, that poison was the most likely cause.”

  “They poisoned him,” I gulped.

  “He could have been tied and held down. They could have poured poison down his throat and then carried his corpse back to his room to be found by the inconsolable Julia,” she suggested.

  The suggestion of the Empress made sense and that night I could not get the image of Sabinus being held down and poisoned out of my mind. It could so easily have been me as well. This job was no longer quite so appealing.

  *

  The funeral was a week later and I sat in the gardens waiting for the funeral procession to leave the palace. Drucilla came and sat next to me to watch proceedings. Sabinus had been placed in the atrium for the last few days and it had unnerved me each time that I had passed his casket for it was a reminder of the danger I had been in, and might still be in. The number of people in the gardens was increasing by the minute as senators and aristocrats and their families gathered to join in the procession.

  Eventually the family and a few of the Praetorian guardsmen including Casperius emerged from the palace with the casket, containing the unfortunate Sabinus, on a litter. The family then began the lamentations and the gathering joined in and then followed on the back of the procession. Slowly the entourage left the palace heading for the vast cemetery just outside the city. There would be a ceremony and libations at the grave and so they would not be back for some time. Julia Flavia and Domitian were chief mourners followed by the small immediate family and then by the rest of the notables. The only servant among the mourners was Petronilla and I assumed she was there to look after her mistress. I shook my head in disgust that one of the chief mourners was the Emperor himself, and I also found it distasteful that his murderer, Casperius, was also in the entourage.

  “What is it?” asked Drucilla.

  “It is just that the chief mourner is the Emperor and they hated each other.” I did not tell her of what I had seen in the gardens on the day of his death. The only person I had dared to tell was the Empress.

  “It is for appearances,” she replied.

  We sat for a while enjoying the spring sunshine and the quiet solitude. “I suppose they will not return until late afternoon,” I said.

  “No, so it will be peaceful in the palace today,” she smiled.

  I heard a noise which broke the silence and I watched as Stephanus exited the palace and walked across the gardens towards us. “I am going out for a few hours,” he remarked in passing and by way of explanation.

  “So you are taking advantage of the situation for a little recreation,” I joked.

  “I do not know what you mean,” he retorted and went on his way.

  “He is a stern man, Drucilla. I do not believe I have ever seen him smile,” I commented.

  “That is because he has little sense of humour,” she observed.

  “He also keeps himself to himself,” I added.

  “He has always been like that, Parthenian.”

  I watched as Stephanus passed through the gate and disappeared from sight into the city. Then I noticed two guards come quickly out of the barracks and they too left through the gate, passing their colleagues on duty at the exit with no more than a passing nod. “Did you see that?” I asked Drucilla.

  “Did I see what?”

  “I think those guardsmen were following Stephanus.”

  “I think your imagination is working too hard,” she laughed.

  I shrugged but I was not convinced. “Shall we return to the palace?” I suggested. Drucilla nodded and we made our way back inside. I went to my room while Drucilla went to get on with her chores.

  That afternoon there was a loud banging on my door. For the past week such incidents had made me anxious but with Domitian and Casperius absent I confidently opened the door without asking who was there. I felt a little shocked when I was confronted by a member of the Praetorian Guard. “I am Tero, deputy Praetorian Prefect,” he announced
formally.

  “I know,” I replied having had him pointed out to me by Drucilla but without having so far spoken to him. I opened the door wider and invited him in.

  “I have a message from the Emperor for you, chamberlain.”

  “The Emperor is at the funeral,” I pointed out.

  “The Emperor gave the message to Casperius yesterday and now I am giving it to you.”

  “It is?” I asked.

  “In four days time the Emperor will visit Tibur. I and some of our guardsmen will accompany him as his escort. You will travel with him in his carriage and act as his attendant while you are there.”

  I was staggered. This was not a job I wanted to do. “Why has he chosen me?”

  “We do not question the Emperor but merely carry out his orders,” was the response.

  “Is Casperius going?” I asked.

  “No, the Praetorian Prefect will remain in the palace and I will be in charge of the Emperor’s safety.”

  “Why are we going to Tibur?” I continued.

  He almost smiled. “It is the home of the gladiatrix, Corelia.”

  “Yes, of course it is.” I remembered now that Corelia was living in a villa at Tibur which was said to be a gift of the Emperor. “How long will we be there?”

  “It could be a day and it could be a week. It depends on the Emperor. You have the message.” Tero turned and abruptly left my quarters.

  This would be my chance to see the former champion gladiatrix who Domitian was trying to entice out of retirement, for she had not yet visited the palace since my arrival. In fact, such was the turmoil surrounding Julia that he had had no other female visitors during that time. I was not happy that I was to travel in the same carriage as Domitian, but I was relieved that Casperius was not coming, for the Praetorian Prefect was certainly not a man I liked. I wondered if Domitia Longina knew of my coming task and so I resolved to see her at the earliest opportunity and find out.

  The next morning I received an audience with my aunt. She was lounging on her couch as I made my entry. I knelt before her and bowed my head. “I need to speak with you, Empress.”

  Her slipper fell from her foot. “Put it back on, nephew.”

  I carefully placed the slipper back on her small foot. “How did the funeral go, aunt?”

  “As well as can be expected considering that Sabinus had been murdered or so we suspect. Sit on a chair, nephew, you look uncomfortable down there.”

  I sat. “I was, aunt,” I grinned.

  She yawned. “We should not do this nephew and aunt business in case we forget when we are in company. Now what do you wish to speak with me about, Parthenian?”

  “Two things, Empress; did you know that I am to accompany the Emperor to Tibur in three days time and act as his attendant?”

  “No, I did not. It is not a bad thing. There is little for you to do at the palace. Petronilla does not leave Julia’s side and there is not much hope of finding out anything from her at the moment. I do not think that Julia will be playing the mourning widow for too long, and then she will be back to Domitian’s bed and you can start to cultivate your friendship with Petronilla. In the meantime, at Tibur you can find out where Domitian’s relationship with Corelia stands at this time. I have never considered the gladiatrix a serious threat but you can perhaps ask around and hopefully confirm my belief. Even Domitian would surely not consider replacing me with a commoner.”

  “I will do that, Empress.”

  “What was the second thing, Parthenian?”

  “I have noticed that there is something troubling Titus Flavius Clemens.”

  “I have noticed it too,” she observed.

  “It is more than just being troubled. He seems deeply disturbed. Could his wife also be seeing her uncle?”

  My aunt laughed. “She is like me in public, very imperial and prim and proper. However, nephew, I have a different side and past misdemeanours could yet get me into trouble, which is why I have to be careful. If Domitian needed a reason to dispose of me then he might just find it. Our Flavia Domitilla, unlike me, is totally strait-laced with impeccable morals and an unblemished reputation at all times. Even if Domitian wanted her then I am not sure that even he would try to persuade her into his bed. I have no worries there.” She winked at me and dangled her slipper on her toes.

  I smiled. “Nevertheless I shall watch the situation with Clemens, for something is amiss.” I did not mention that I thought his steward had been followed by two members of the Praetorian Guard. As Drucilla had pointed out it was probably a figment of my imagination and I had felt a little stressed since the murder of Sabinus and the threats from Casperius.

  “As you wish and be careful; you already have Casperius as a possible enemy and you would not wish to antagonise my husband. See me before you go to Tibur.”

  I knelt and left.

  The next evening I had a surprise visitor. This time the knocking on my door was just a gentle rap. I opened the door cautiously and to my delight Marcella was standing on the threshold. “I hope I am not disturbing you, Parthenian, but I wanted to talk with you.”

  “Come in and sit down,” I gestured her to a couch.

  “I have brought a flagon of wine. I thought we might have a drink while we talk. Have you some cups?”

  “That is good of you, Marcella. I will get two.” I returned with the cups and sat down on a chair next to the couch. Marcella poured out the wine while I studied my unexpected guest. She was very attractive with long dark hair and deep black eyes that were almost hypnotic. She handed me a cup and I sipped at the contents and while I sipped I could not help wondering if it was just a talk that she wanted.

  “It is good wine,” she observed, as she drank from her cup.

  “What did you wish to talk to me about?” I inquired.

  “I hear that you are very soon going to Tibur with the Emperor.”

  “That is so.” I was intrigued.

  “I wondered if you would do something for me, Parthenian.”

  “It depends what it is,” I smiled.

  “The Head Guard at Corelia’s villa is a man named Hylas and I wondered if you could find out about his present circumstances for me while you were there.”

  “What do you mean by circumstances, Marcella?”

  “I wish to know if he is happy with his lot. He once adored Corelia and I wish to know if he still does. I want to know his habits. I want to know if he ever takes walks alone. I want to know if he visits his local tavern. I want to know everything about him.”

  “Are you working for Casperius on this?” I asked.

  “I am always working for Casperius,” she answered vaguely.

  “Casperius worries me and I am sure that he still wishes to eliminate me for what we saw that day.”

  “I have influence with Casperius and I will make sure that you are safe if you do this for me,” she assured me.

  “You have that much influence?” I was dubious about her promise.

  “I do,” she smiled, and her smile was beguiling and I so believed her.

  I remembered back to our previous conversation. “Is this to do with your conundrum, Marcella?” I finished my drink and waited for an answer.

  “It is connected, as is Casperius. Hylas and the Praetorian Prefect are old enemies and we keep tabs on our enemies.”

  “What was that deed that you are considering?” I was suspicious but enthralled.

  “It is better you do not know that. As you know to your cost it is better not to know the business of the Praetorian Prefect.”

  I thought that I might have detected the hint of a threat. “Why does Casperius not get one of his guards to find these things out?”

  “Hylas would not open up to one of his guards but a friendly chamberlain could be very different.”

  “Am I working for Casperius with you as the go-between?” I asked.

  “No, you would be doing this for me and in return I would keep you safe. So will you do this for me Par
thenian?”

  “I will do what you want, Marcella,” I conceded.

  “Look after the Emperor well and this may not be your only visit to Tibur. There may be more visits for you there in the future.”

  I did not like the sound of that. “You will want me to do more?”

  “Do not worry about that for now. You will find working for me rewarding. Not only will I keep you safe but there will be other favours.” She stood up to leave.

  As to what those rewards and favours may be I found intriguing. I would make a friend of this Hylas and observe his habits and report back. What I would do in the future would depend on what was asked of me. “I will observe Hylas closely.”

  She kissed me gently on the cheek and left my chamber. I pondered on the fact that I was now working for two women and I was not entirely sure of the motives of either of them, and certainly not the motives of Marcella.

  I visited the other of these two women the night before I was due to leave for Tibur. “Good evening, Empress.” I knelt before her as she lounged on her couch.

  She seemed distant and agitated. “Julia was back in his bed last night and tomorrow he will be in Corelia’s bed.”

  I sat on the chair without being instructed but she did not seem to notice. “The Emperor is a fool, aunt,” I observed.

  She gave me a kindly look. “He is welcome to his flings as long as he does not try to get rid of me, for disposal could be very painful. Unfortunately I have to be careful and not give him an excuse though I cannot undo my one big, past indiscretion.”

  “That was a long time ago and he recalled you,” I offered, for it was common knowledge that she had once had a liaison behind her husband’s back.

  “He would not recall me now.”

  I took her hand. “Aunt, you are safe.” I was not sure that my words were the truth.

  “I am sorry that I neglected you, nephew. My sister, your mother, was a lot older than me and we never lived as sisters and so when she died I felt no responsibility for you. I was wrong and I should have acted on her wish to look out for you.”

  “That is in the past. Now you are helping me and in return I am helping you.”