Greek, Jew, or even Roman.
I was told they galloped up to the huts after dark, hunted down the two fishermen, and immediately beheaded one with knives while the other ran off into the night. The killers then followed in the same direction. I retrieved the severed head from the family when we ourselves arrived some time later. I bring it to you as proof of the death. They want it returned, of course, for burial ceremonies today. They will sew the head back to the body, so the man goes to their Underworld in one piece.'
'What does this mean?' Clarus turned to Suetonius. 'Why would anyone want two humble fisher folk dead?' The two subsided into their seats.
'I'd say the sailors of that river craft emblazoned with the Eye Of Horus might not want to be identified?' the biographer suggested forlornly. He moved closer to Clarus to add a further observation in a low whisper.
'But it also seems, my good friend, that someone among us here has communicated our desire to identify that river craft to some other party with an interest in this matter,' he murmured low. 'That other party wanted those two witnesses out of the way promptly.'
Clarus paused thoughtfully.
'But who in this godforsaken place, Suetonius,' the ageing senator murmured, 'has the authority or soldiery to prosecute such an attack? They were mounted on horses! Whose horses? Who has the power to organize a cohort of riders to kill two mere fishermen? Neither Caesar nor his officers have issued such orders, to our knowledge. Nor why should they? Who else here has such authority?'
'Unless those priests of Amun are more combative than we imagined,' Suetonius rationalized, 'or there are local bandits involved somewhere? There aren't many options really. The local town militia is a scruffy ragbag of imported Nubians, but they keep well out of Rome's way. The local nobility are few and far between. This then leaves only our own people.'
Suetonius shifted closer to the senator so only Clarus, Surisca, and the scribe could hear his conjecture.
'Are Governor Titianus and his Alexandrians on a private mission? Or, have some of Tribune Macedo's Praetorians gone feral? Are there disaffected Horse Guards around Caesar, unknown to anyone? Yet who traveling with us has the authority to instruct soldiers or cavalry independently of Caesar's commanders? But then, why should they murder simple fishermen? Is it because they were the only known witnesses to that suspect vessel on the river yesterday?'
Suetonius gave Centurion Urbicus new orders.
'The death of the fishermen affects our enquiry greatly, Praetorian. Even if they have both been killed, it doesn't change our need. In fact, it makes it more necessary. We must discover who was sailing the craft emblazoned with the Eye of Horus. Who? To where? And why? This is your primary duty, Praetorian,' he affirmed. 'And we need the details by high sun today. Perhaps their families know of other fisher folk who can assist you?'
Urbicus cleared his throat.
'We've taken the liberty, sir, to do a preliminary search at first light of the riverside by the Temple of Amun. There is a craft fitting the Egyptian's description moored nearby. But we have yet to discover who was sailing this craft yesterday,' he explained.
'Then find out, Quintus Urbicus, by high sun. You might have to consult one of the priests and take them into security,' Suetonius instructed. 'Our uncertainties about the Bithynian's death now grow with each hour.'
Urbicus raised a clenched salute and announced, 'It will be done, sir!'
A trooper rewrapped Ani's butchered head. He wiped-up the moist stain on the bench-top where it had dribbled juices, and then marched off with his colleagues.
Suetonius looked at the stain on the table and decided he didn't feel especially hungry for breakfast. Surisca developed a similar lack of appetite. Clarus returned to devouring his platter of victuals and signaled a slave to pour wine.
'Where is the Bithynian youth Lysias? He is due here now! He's late!' Clarus called.
'He is not to be found, gentlemen,' an oddly-accented voice unexpectedly interrupted.
Geta the Dacian had arrived at the courtyard accompanied by one of Caesar's Horse Guards.
'I have been to visit Lysias at Antinous's apartments to summons the lad to attend Caesar, only to learn he is not to be found,' Geta repeated. 'The chamber slave says he hasn't seen the Bithynian since late last night. The youth slipped away somewhere in the night, the slave told me. I had hoped he might be here with you already?'
Geta scanned the clustered team gathered around the long bench. His eyes fell upon Surisca and lingered momentarily. He displayed surprise. Surisca returned the gaze, only to then lower it demurely to the ground. Suetonius noted this interesting exchange.
'What of the language tutor, the slave Thais?' Suetonius added.
'I am told she too is not to be found,' Geta stated.
Clarus reacted angrily.
'What? Have these two absconded? Have we been deceived by the Bithynian?!' he clamored. 'Issue a warrant to apprehend them both!'
The lictor departed briskly to his new commission.
'My good Septicius, to where can they abscond?' Suetonius posed. 'Beyond this encampment lie irrigated fields of grain and then a wilderness of desert. There's nowhere to go, my friend.' He turned to Geta. 'You know these people well, Dacian,' the biographer queried Geta. 'Where will they have gone?'.
The man with the faint blue circles tattooed across his cheekbones hesitated.
'I have no idea, Suetonius Tranquillus. You are the Special Inspector, not I.'
His eyes drifted back towards the Syrian female standing nearby with lowered eyes.
'What does this mean?' Clarus called rhetorically. 'Two witnesses are killed, two others disappear into the night, while the hours pass quickly towards our deadline. And our heads are at stake!'
The biographer avoided response by making a formal introduction of the Syri entertainer to the Dacian.
'You have met the lady Surisca of Antioch, Prince Geta of Dacia?' Suetonius asked in his best silkily polite manner. He was offering an unlikely social gesture to two people of impossibly unequal status. He followed their interaction closely as Surisca dipped a suitable curtsy.
'Just Geta, Special Inspector,' the Dacian responded with unexpected modesty. 'I am a simple man of little consequence. Yet I am pleased to acknowledge the lady Surisca of Antioch.'
Suetonius sensed the two already knew each other regardless of his genteel introduction. It occurred to him their meeting may have been of a professional nature it might not be polite to explore.
'Dacian,' Clarus proclaimed, 'it's time you gave us your opinions of the death of Antinous. You probably know things we don't? You have lived close-by the lad daily. You knew him over several years.'
'I am at your disposal, gentlemen, though I must also attend to my duties shortly,' Geta responded evasively. 'Feel free to ask what you will.'
His eyes barely departed Surisca.
'Strabon, our scribe will record your words. We have several questions to put to you, so take a seat,' Suetonius intoned. 'This is a legal statement, a deposition, Geta, as Caesar commanded us. State you name and titles, your age and place of birth, and your functions in the Imperial Household. Remember, you are under oath to your titular deity.'
'Under oath? I, Geta, am being interrogated?' he asked with dismay. He sat against the edge of the bench table, not in the chair provided, implying only brief participation. Strabon's stylus was poised ready to flutter. Geta gathered himself reluctantly.
'This is unexpected, gentlemen, but I'll try. By Sacred Zalmoxis of the Dacians, I am known among Romans simply as Geta. This is a mistaken praenomen given to simplify my proper titles in my mother tongue. My true name is Dromichaetes, a tarabostes prince of the royal house of The Getae,' he announced with quiet pride. 'I was born at Sarmizegethusa in the year when Palma Frontonianus and Sosius Senecio were consuls at Rome, I'm told. Caesar Trajan was ruler. I was taken hostage as a child after the wars against my father, the king of the Dacians known as Decebelus.
Rome's victory against my father saw me assigned into the care of Hadrian when he was a commander of Legions. I remain even today under Hadrian's protection in his household. Yet I possess my own independent wealth endowed from my father's treasures. Hail Caesar!' the Dacian added diplomatically.
