got his wish, he’s taken Blandinus’ position. I shan’t be missing that particular Tribune patrolling our streets. Keep the purse.’
Magnus picked it up and felt its weight. ‘Perhaps I’ll use it for what it was intended for and spend it in your house.’
‘You’ve no need to bring any money if you visit me. As I’ve always told you: you can have the run of my establishment for free.’
‘I know, Terentius my friend; but as we all know, no one gives something for nothing.’
Terentius inclined his head, turned gracefully and walked away.
‘Are you really thinking of giving that a try?’ Servius asked, taking a mouthful of pork.
‘Why not? Don’t judge it until you’ve tried it and besides, change pleases. And it would be on Blandinus.’ Magnus grinned and tipped out the coins onto the table. His eyes widened in surprise. ‘That’s forty Denarii or so.’
‘Blandinus must have been planning quite a night.’
‘Yeah. And Terentius must be feeling very bad about him to give up that amount of money.’
‘Strange morals for a whore-boy master.’
Magnus looked up and watched Terentius walking away along the Alta Semita. ‘Very strange,’ he agreed as a party of travellers on horseback followed by a litter, coming towards him, caught his eye. He picked up the dice and threw them. ‘Three sixes, Venus. Fortuna’s back with me.’ He looked over to his brothers still playing dice on the table next to him. ‘I’ll do this one lads, they’ve got guards and a litter; I’d say that they could well afford our services. Stay alert.’
He studied the party as they approached. Behind three mounted guards rode an equestrian in his mid-fifties flanked by what looked to be his two sons. He was talking animatedly with the youth riding on his right who had a look of awe on his round, sun-tanned face as he looked about.
Getting up off the bench, Magnus timed his walk so that he got between the party and their guards and stood, full-square, in front of the leading traveller’s horse, forcing it to stop. Magnus looked up at the man, his face set hard and menacing. ‘You’ll be needing protection, sir, if you’re thinking of going down that road.’
