"I appreciate you taking the time to talk tome," I heard him say.
"Of course, but I must admit I'm surprised."Although it had been some time, I recognized the voice of theTribune Claudius. "When we served together and you were part of theEvocati, I never assumed that you were one of these Scribonii."
"There's no reason you should have,Claudius," my friend replied. "It wasn't something that I madeknown."
While Scribonius' words and his manner werematter-of-fact, I knew him well enough to hear the undercurrent ofnot just tension, but something else. Was it...fear? I looked overat Diocles, and even with the curtain blocking most of the light, Icould see by his expression that he heard that same undertone aswell. That was when a third voice spoke, and I instantly understoodwhy my friend was so shaken.
"You think you're surprised! I was just oncampaign with him and he was killed! I saw them burn his body!"
"Yes, about that..." Scribonius started tosay something, but I could not allow him to say anything more.
Stepping through the curtain, both men, whohad entered the room and had their backs to me, whirled around, acombination of shock and surprise their first reaction. Then, asthe pairs' eyes moved to my face, I heard both of them gasp, and atleast one of them show more than a little fear.
Holding my hands out in a peaceful gesture,I said, "Salve, Claudius. I don't mean any harm. I just wantto talk."
Turning to the other man, I was not quite aspolite, although I did make an attempt, even if I was regrettingnot bringing my sword so I could run him through.
"Salve, Lucullus. Apparently, Imisjudged you."
In retrospect, it was a good thing thatScribonius had thought to stand in front of the door, because I amfairly sure that, at the very least, Lucullus would have bolted forsafety. Speaking truthfully, he had cause to feel that way.Nevertheless, I managed to keep from raising my voice, and did mybest to keep my tone from being menacing.
"P-P-Prefect Pullus, I-I-" Lucullusstammered, but I waved him to silence.
"Tribune Lucullus." I decided to refer tohim by rank, for the simple reason that within that context, Istill outranked him. "I wasn't planning on you being here, andfrankly, I don't know if I should even start this conversation withyour cousin with you present or not. What are your thoughts onthat?"
As I had hoped, my asking him a questionclearly rattled him even further.
"I, I mean, we," he indicated his cousin,"just came to pay our respects to the father of the Evocati here. Idon't think this is the appropriate place for us to meet."
"I won't deny that," I answered him calmly."I wasn't planning on you being here, but you're here and thatcan't be helped." I thought for a moment, then continued, "I giveyou my word as an officer in the army of Rome that I will notdivulge the fact that we met, under any circumstances. And I mean,any circumstances," I finished, looking at him meaningfully as Iattempted to signal that I would resist, even under torture.
"Frankly, that's not what I worry about,"Lucullus answered, with the flicker of a grimly amused smile."Remember, I've seen you on the battlefield. As much as I practicemy sword work, I harbor no illusions that I could last more than afew moments with you."
I pointed down to my side, showing him I wasunarmed, but he was unimpressed.
"As I said," he repeated, "I've seen you ina fight."
"Then you have my word that no harm willcome to you during this meeting," I told him.
He opened his mouth, and I was sure that hewas not happy that I only specified this meeting, but I supposesomething in my face told him that was all he was going to get.
"Very well," he said finally.
Not sure which man to address, I asked thequestion that had preyed on my mind the most to both of them.
"Why?"
Neither man spoke, looking at each other,but I could not tell if there was some sort of silent communicationgoing on. I was desperate for one of them to break the silence, butI understood this was not the time for me to speak, that it neededto come from one of them. Instead, I looked from one, then to theother, but while I did not bring the numen with the turdalong with me, I know how cold my gaze was, and how uncomfortableit made men.
"My mother is Claudius' father's sister,"Lucullus at last broke his silence. "So while I have the blood ofthe Claudii, I don't have the name. Claudius' father, my uncle,offered to adopt me so that I could not only have the blood, Icould have the name," he finished, looking thoroughlymiserable.
Turning to Claudius, he gave a slightnod.
"Yes, Prefect," Claudius said. "What mycousin says is true. My father has offered my cousin the chance tobe adopted, to become my adopted brother, in return for histestimony against you."
That explained why Lucullus had been swayed,so I looked over to
