The Dacian War (Book 6 of the Veteran of Rome Series)

by William Kelso

  Glancing up at the stars Marcus sighed. They could not stay here out on the streets. No one in their right mind ventured out at night. The night in Rome belonged to the criminals, the rapists, the murderers and thieves and those up to no good. Reaching out he gently knocked on the school gates but there was no response. He tried again but once more the night remained quiet.

  “Open the fucking gates, will you, and let us in,” Petrus suddenly roared in a loud impatient voice, giving the doors a furious kick.

  Startled Marcus turned to stare at the young man, but Petrus’s attention was firmly fixed on the school gates, oblivious to his surroundings. And in the courtyard beyond there was a sudden noise and through the cracks in the door, Marcus caught sight of someone holding up a flaming torch.

  “Who’s there? What do you want? The school is closed,” a voice cried angrily.

  “We are friends of Lady Claudia,” Marcus called out. “Please Sir. There has been a riot and we seek shelter in your school. Lady Claudia knows me. She will vouch for me.”

  From behind the gates there was no immediate response. Then a voice, much closer now and standing just behind the gates, spoke.

  “Lady Claudia is not here. She has a house on the Palatine. Go away. The school is closed.”

  “No Sir,” Marcus insisted shaking his head, “We have no place to go. Please let us in. Lady Claudia will be most displeased if you turn us away. All we ask is a place to stay tonight and in the morning, I shall explain myself to your mistress.”

  Behind the gates, Marcus sensed the man hesitate. Then with a bad-tempered grumble, something was unfastened and in a few moments the gates swung open a fraction. In the gap an old man appeared, clutching a burning torch and peered suspiciously at Marcus.

  “You had better have a good story to tell her,” the caretaker grumbled, as silently and without a word the three of them slipped into the school premises and the man slammed the gates shut behind them.

  ***

  Lady Claudia was staring at Marcus with a calm, thoughtful and serious expression as she listened to him. She was clad in a black tunica over which she was wearing a thin cloak and a black mourning-shawl covered her hair. She looked every inch the dutiful, mourning wife of a recently deceased husband. The two of them were alone, standing in her office in the school house. Outside, the voices of several excited children could be heard playing in the school courtyard.

  Marcus sighed and looked down at the floor as he finished telling Claudia everything that had happened. He looked exhausted. Ever since he’d first met her some twenty years ago, Lady Claudia had somehow always made him a tick nervous, but after the disaster with Abraham, he no longer had any choice but to throw himself on the woman’s mercy.

  “You said to me once that if I wanted to go up in this world, that I would need allies,” Marcus said, forcing himself to look up at her. “Well here I am. I am officially asking you for help. I wish to be your friend and ally, Lady Claudia.”

  Opposite him Claudia’s face remained unreadable as she studied him. Then her lips parted into a wide smile and suddenly she giggled.

  “Oh Marcus,” she exclaimed, “you are so sober and formal. There is no need. We are friends and now we are allies. I am glad. I am truly glad that you came to me. Ofcourse I shall help you and your companions. All three of you may stay in my school as long as you like. I shall have food and drink brought to you.”

  “Thank you,” Marcus muttered dipping, his head in gratitude. “We shall only require some time to sort ourselves out. We shall not be a burden on you, lady.”

  “You will never be a burden on me,” Claudia said with a gentle smile, as she slipped her arm around Marcus’s arm and began to steer him out of the study and towards the school yard, where the shrieks of the playing children could be heard. “But what you have told me sounds serious,” she said as she paused at the outer door leading into the small school courtyard. “This Cunitius sounds like a horrible man and the Governor of Britannia is an arsehole. I met him once. He has hands that like to wander if you know what I mean. He’s a beast.”

  Marcus nodded but did not say anything as he turned to gaze at the children playing in the school yard.

  “You are a man who is in trouble,” Claudia said as she held onto his arm. “But don’t let that worry you Marcus. To an extent, we are all in trouble. Everyone in this city has their own world of little troubles, challenges, fears and secrets. But a true man rises above it all and remains focussed on what really matters.”

  “And what does really matter?” Marcus murmured.

  “Loyalty, Marcus,” Claudia answered. “Loyalty to who you are and to your family and friends.”

  “And what about loyalty to husbands and wives?” Marcus said fixing his eyes firmly on the playing children.

  Standing beside Marcus, Claudia chuckled and turned to look at him with an affectionate smile. “Now there is the young Batavian commander I still remember from the fort at Luguvalium,” she exclaimed in delight. “That is why I like you. You are never afraid to confront people with the truth, even if they are born several ranks above you. That is why you are priceless, Marcus. You do not fear telling the truth. That is a rare quality in the circles in which I live.”

  “You didn’t answer the question,” Marcus said quietly, as he refused to look at her.

  In response Claudia turned to gaze at the children. “The truth is that I never loved my husband,” she said in a changed voice. “He was not my choice. One day I was told that I was going to marry him and the marriage was arranged by my father and without my consent. It was a marriage of convenience, one that suited my father and my husband. I had absolutely no say in the matter. I had not even met my husband until my wedding day. Yes, Marcus,” Claudia sighed as she studied him, “life at the top is not easy. The only thing that we, high-born women of Rome, have any control over, is the choice of poison with which we can despatch our unfaithful, abusing husbands.”

  “And did you?” Marcus murmured.

  At his side, Claudia smiled secretly but did not reply.

  “I am sorry,” Marcus said. “I should not have asked you that.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have,” Claudia replied. “But it doesn’t matter. My husband is dead and that is not a bad thing.” For a moment, she paused as she gazed at the playing children. “Sometimes, I wish I had been born just a common citizen.” Claudia took a deep breath. “Life would be far simpler and more enjoyable if all one had to care about was a farm and one’s family. In that respect, you are a lucky man, Marcus, you have everything that can make you happy.”

  “I have a son,” Marcus said. “His name is Fergus. He has been posted to the Dacian frontier with a vexillation from the Twentieth. I worry about him every day. It’s hard,” he muttered.

  At his side, clutching his arm, Claudia nodded.

  “Tonight,” she said quietly, “Gaius Avidius Nigrinus is giving a party at his house on the Palatine. I would like you to come with me. There are some people that I would like you to meet.”

  “Nigrinus,” Marcus turned to look at Claudia in surprise. “The same man who paid for the games yesterday? One of the wealthiest men in Rome? That Nigrinus?”

  “Yes, that’s him, he’s a good friend of mine. My daughter was married to him briefly before her death,” Claudia said looking away. “So, will you come?”

  Marcus thought about it for a fraction of a second and nodded.

  “Good,” Claudia replied. For a long moment, she was silent as if she was remembering something. Then she turned and gave Marcus a sad smile. “Before we go tonight, there is something important that you must understand,” she said quietly. “These people who you will meet tonight. They are not just friends. All of us, we form an alliance - a network of people and families that spans the empire, tied together by blood, family, loyalty and friendship. Our alliance includes generals, senators, politicians, governors, merchants, scientists, lawyers, soldiers and yes people like myself. We have
thousands of supporters here in Rome and in the provinces. All of us are pledged to support our man and each other. Our alliance, which Nigrinus leads, has supporters in high places right the away across the empire, from Alexandria to the Caledonian frontier.” Claudia fixed her eyes on Marcus and suddenly he was aware of something hard and unyielding in her stance. “We are a force. We wield power and influence Marcus - true power that includes the support of five legionary legates, their troops, over a hundred senators and several provincial governors. But we are not the only alliance. There are others, rival networks, some even more powerful than us. We compete with them. And,” Claudia paused, “these alliances exist for just one purpose. To make their leader, their man, the next emperor of Rome. For that is the ultimate objective and once our man is emperor, the jobs and positions that are his to appoint, will be given to us, his supporters. That’s how it works. So,” she added smoothly, “at the party tonight people will want to know where you stand. You need to think about this.”

  Marcus was silent as he digested what Claudia had just told him.

  “It is hard to pledge one’s allegiance and support to a man who I have never met,” he said at last.

  Claudia chuckled. “I thought you would say that,” she exclaimed. “But don’t worry, I won’t force to you to do anything. Just make up your own mind after you have met him. There will be some interesting people there tonight. People who may be able to help you with your own problems back in Britannia. People who have the authority to tell the Governor of Britannia to fuck off and leave you alone. Think about that, but please” - Claudia gently raised her finger to Marcus’s mouth, “I want you to do this on your own, with a free mind. We are good people Marcus, we understand that loyalty cannot be forced upon someone. It is your choice to make, your loyalty to give and we want it given freely.”

  “All right,” Marcus nodded, “I shall think about it.”

  “Good,” Claudia exclaimed turning to give him a quick examination, “I shall have some new clothes brought to you. You cannot show up in what you are wearing. I am sorry to say, but you stink Marcus. There are going to be many very important people at tonight’s gathering, so I want you to make an impression. And you had better have a shave too, they don’t like beards and neither do I.”

  ***

  The house on the Palatine hill, the most prestigious address in Rome, was a sumptuous affair just a couple of hundred yards from the vast, forbidding structure of the imperial palace. The small carriage that brought Marcus and Claudia to the house was just large enough to fit them both. As he squeezed out of it and onto the pavement, Marcus could see a line of burning torches lining the entrance to the house. It was already dark and at the entrance a gaggle of people were talking in loud, excited and confident voices, as armed guards and slaves stood motionless to one side, staring silently into space. Lady Claudia came around the side of the carriage and slipping her arm around Marcus’s arm she allowed him to lead her towards the doorway into the house. Her face was made up and she looked fantastic in her elegant, stylish tunic and cloak. Her perfume enveloped him and around her neck was a fine necklace of glittering beads and her fingers were adorned with amber and gold rings. The noise of music and the buzz of a hundred voices was spilling out into the night as they approached the doorway.

  “It is customary,” Claudia whispered as they joined the queue to enter the villa, “for a newcomer like yourself to bring a gift for Nigrinus, the host of this party. He will want to know what you bring him?”

  Alarmed Marcus turned to look at Claudia. “What, like a cake?” he exclaimed.

  Marcus was rewarded with a shriek of laughter from Claudia, and as they gave their names to the house-master and his slaves at the door, she turned to him with an amused look and shook her head.

  “No,” she whispered, “he will want to know why he is wasting his money and time on you. He will want to know how you are useful to him.”

  “You could have told me that earlier,” Marcus replied as the two of them stepped into an entrance hall. A beautiful and expensive mosaic, depicting a harvest festival with grapes, wine and naked women, welcomed them into the villa. A couple of female slaves were taking the guests cloaks but Marcus waved them away as they came to take his coat.

  In the entrance to the main space within the villa, Claudia paused and turned to inspect the multitude and groups of chatting people who stood interspersed throughout the room. At the centre of the large, open space, the roof opened and a square water-basin, used to catch the rainwater, was set into the floor directly below the gap. In a corner, a few musicians were playing on flutes and a giant harp. Incense filled the room, banishing the stink of the city.

  “Lady Claudia, mother in law,” a voice called out suddenly and before Marcus could react, a handsome, powerfully-built man in his mid-twenties was approaching them. He was clean-shaven and clad in a fine, white toga with a purple stripe running down one side. As Claudia held out her hand, the man kissed it and grinned affectionately.

  “Claudia, I am so glad that you are here,” the man exclaimed. “I leave for the Dacian frontier within days. Trajan has appointed me as one of his Tribunes. This is probably the last time that I shall see you for a while.”

  “It is always a pleasure,” Claudia replied with a little respectful dip of her head. “Nigrinus, may I introduce a friend of mine. His name is Marcus. He is a retired veteran from Britannia. He is a good friend and many years ago, he saved my life and that of my daughter.”

  Instinctively Marcus stretched out his hand and to his surprise Nigrinus clasped it in the legionary fashion. For a moment Nigrinus studied him with a curious searching gaze.

  “Shit,” the patrician muttered at last with a little shake of his head, “so, you are the man who saved both my dead wife and her mother. I have heard a lot about you. You have my gratitude and welcome to my house.”

  “Thank you, Sir, I am honoured to be here,” Marcus replied, awkwardly dipping his head like Claudia had done. “This is my first time in Rome and everything is rather new to me.”

  “You are a veteran,” Nigrinus said sharply, poking his finger at Marcus. “I too have served in the army. Where did you serve?”

  “Britannia, Sir,” Marcus replied stiffly. “For a short while I was commander of the 2nd Batavian auxiliary cohort. I fought at Mons Graupius with Agricola and then later I was posted to the Danube frontier. I served twenty-three years, Sir.”

  “Ah, you were with the auxiliary cohorts,” Nigrinus said as the interest in his eyes suddenly and rapidly seemed to diminish. “Fine Cohorts, all of them, they do a splendid job, no doubt.”

  Beside him Marcus sensed Claudia tense.

  “The Batavian cohorts are the finest units in the whole army,” Marcus spoke proudly, raising his head and meeting Nigrinus’s gaze. “They are more than a match for the best legionaries, Sir. During the great northern rebellion, I saved my entire unit from annihilation. The Batavian veterans; they respect me. They will come to my aid if I summon them and there are thousands of them spread across the empire. They are loyal to me, Sir. They are the finest soldiers in the world.”

  “Is that so,” Nigrinus replied stroking his chin as some of his interest re-appeared. “So, tell me Marcus, what do you think of Hadrian?”

  “Hadrian, Sir” Marcus frowned in confusion.

  “Yes, Hadrian,” Nigrinus repeated, “legate of the 1st Legion based at Bonna on the Rhine. What do you think of him?”

  For a moment, Marcus looked a little lost. “I think nothing of him, Sir,” he said at last, “for I have never met him and have no idea who he is.”

  Across from Marcus, Nigrinus was studying him carefully. Then gracefully he turned to Claudia and respectfully dipped his head.

  “You are most welcome in my house, enjoy the party,” Nigrinus said as his eyes slipped away towards the next group of guests.

  “That was well done,” Claudia muttered in relief as the two of them stepped into the room and looke
d around.

  “It was a lie,” Marcus whispered uncomfortably. “I may be respected amongst the Batavian community but there is no way that all those veterans would come to me if I called them out to fight. I don’t command that kind of influence.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Claudia hissed, as at the same time she managed to smile politely at a couple of men in the corner. “Nigrinus has seen some value in you. That was enough.”

  “Well that was his gift,” Marcus growled as he accepted a drink from one of the slaves and turned to look around the room. “And why was he asking me about Hadrian? Should I know who that man is?”

  “Hadrian is our arch rival,” Claudia replied smoothly. “He is the enemy. He and Nigrinus hate each other.”

  “And why is that?” Marcus asked.

  “Because if Trajan remains childless,” Claudia whispered, leaning in towards Marcus in a conspiratorial manner, “it is most likely that Trajan will proclaim either Nigrinus or Hadrian as the next emperor of Rome. That is what this is all about. Nigrinus and Hadrian are competing for Trajan’s favour and blessing. That’s why he wanted to know where you stood with Hadrian.”

  Marcus grunted but said nothing as he turned to look around at the party.

  At his side, Claudia sighed and took a sip from her drink as she joined him in looking around the crowded, noisy party.

  “You can do anything in this house,” she said leaning in towards him. “Follow that corridor over there and if you want sex, there are female and male prostitutes there who will do absolutely anything. If you want to spend the whole night arguing philosophy with the best Greek professors, that is the next room along and, if you fancy re-enacting famous battles from the past with miniature clay soldiers then you can do so at the end of the corridor. Nigrinus caters to all tastes.”

  “He can afford to,” Marcus replied feeling that he was out of his depth amongst these people and the realisation added to his discomfort.