by midmorning; they should be able to slip out there undetected.’
‘Thank you, domina,’ Sabinus said.
‘It is I who should thank you,’ Antonia replied. ‘What you all did last night not only saved Caenis’ life but also bought us more time to construct a case against Sejanus strong enough to convince the Emperor.’
Pallas walked back in. ‘Titus Flavius Sabinus and his wife Vespasia Polla are here requesting an interview with you, mistress; they want to know the whereabouts of their sons.’
‘Bugger it!’ Sabinus exclaimed. ‘Why couldn’t they just wait patiently at home?’
‘I don’t think that we can blame our father for this,’ Vespasian said, looking worried. ‘But I’m afraid that they’ve unknowingly made a big mistake coming here; the Praetorians would have seen them and if they follow them home then Sejanus will be one step closer to us.’
‘I’m afraid that you may be right,’ Antonia said, getting up. ‘But they are here and I should see them. Come with me, all of you.’
She led them out into the atrium where an anxious Vespasia and a very embarrassed Titus were waiting.
‘Domina!’ Vespasia exclaimed, coming forward with her hands outstretched in supplication. ‘Thank you for consenting to receive us. Where are our…? Oh!’ Vespasia caught sight of Sabinus and Vespasian.
‘Mother, you shouldn’t have come,’ Sabinus said firmly. ‘Why didn’t you stop her, Father?’
‘She was threatening to come on her own, unchaperoned. I could not let myself be disgraced like that, so it was the lesser of two evils.’
Antonia looked sternly at Vespasia. ‘You have done a very foolish thing in coming here. In future you should follow the example of Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, and wait at home and spin wool whilst your sons serve Rome.’
‘I – I am sorry, domina,’ Vespasia said. She bowed her head in acknowledgement of Antonia’s vastly superior social standing. ‘We shall return immediately.’
‘I’m afraid it’s too late for that, you must both stay here for the time being; Pallas, show them to the formal reception room, we’ll join them there presently.’
‘With pleasure. Mistress, master, please follow me.’
Titus and Vespasia were led away. Antonia turned to Caligula. ‘Get ready to go out. We shall leave as soon as we have spoken with Asinius.’
‘Yes, Grandmother.’
‘Sabinus, go and keep your parents company; Vespasian, you might want to check that you’ve left nothing in your room.’
‘But I didn’t bring anything… Oh, I see. Thank you, domina.’
‘Don’t be too long.’
‘No, domina.’
Vespasian hurried to his room with a knot in his stomach; his excitement at being able to see Caenis to say goodbye was tempered by the knowledge that it would, in all probability, be a very long separation.
He opened the door; Caenis sprang up from the bed and embraced him. He held her tightly, relishing the sweet smell of her skin and hair.
‘I can’t stay long,’ he said as they broke the embrace.
‘I know. I’ve brought you this.’ Caenis held up small silver figure on a leather thong.
‘What is it?’
‘My mother left it to me; it is an image of Caeneus, a warrior from Thessaly, the guardian of our tribe. He was born as a woman called Caenis. One day Caenis wandered far from her home, to the north into the wild lands before Asia, where Poseidon saw her by the sea. Struck by her beauty and unable to control himself he raped her. After he had finished she fell to her knees and begged him to turn her into a man so that she could never be raped again. So ashamed was he of what he’d done that, to atone for his crime, he did as she had asked. But not only did he turn her into a man, he also made him invulnerable to weaponry.’
‘He must have lived to a great age.’
‘Sadly no, there is always a catch. He fell in a battle against the Centaurs. They crushed him with logs and rocks. As he died he turned back into a woman and was buried as Caenis.
‘Take it and wear it, my love, and I will pray to Poseidon that he will grant you the same invulnerability to weapons. But it’s up to you to avoid Centaurs armed with logs.’
He smiled. ‘I think that I can manage that.’
She reached up and slipped the thong around his neck and kissed him. ‘Take good care.’
‘Thank you. I shall wear it always, knowing that you are thinking of me.’ He pulled her gently to his chest and he felt her sob. He held there for a moment and then she pulled back with tears in her eyes.
‘Go,’ she said and turned away.
Vespasian took a last look at her and quickly left the room, feeling his heart tear as he did so.
He entered the formal reception room to find Sabinus sitting in close conversation with their parents. His father looked up as he came in.
‘Vespasian, my boy, your brother has told us enough of what is going on to make me feel heartily ashamed of myself. I can only apologise for our rash behaviour in coming here. Would that there was something that I could do to make amends.’
‘It’s all right, Father, I understand that Mother must have been very worried when we didn’t return last night; we should have got Magnus to send a message to you, but things just happened too fast.’
‘Worried!’ Vespasia cried. ‘I was up all night, not knowing where you both were or what was going on. Gaius would say nothing and-’
‘Enough, woman!’ Titus shouted, standing up. He had reached breaking point with his wife’s wilful behaviour. ‘Sometimes it is not your place to know, sometimes it is your place just to wait, and you would do well to remember that, as the Lady Antonia said. Now hold your tongue.’
He sat back down again and briskly adjusted his toga.
Neither Vespasian nor Sabinus had ever heard their father speak to their mother like that before and braced themselves for an explosion, which didn’t come. Instead Vespasia folded her hands on her lap and lowered her gaze to the floor looking every inch the image of a demure and respectful Roman matron.
They heard Antonia’s voice in the corridor and the men stood as she came into the room with Asinius in tow.
‘Our esteemed ex-Consul has some very good news for us,’ she announced smiling.
‘Indeed I have,’ the diminutive ex-Consul said brusquely, motioning them to sit back down. ‘Sabinus, I have secured your position at the mint. You will oversee the striking of all bronze and silver coinage. It’s a position open to much temptation so don’t succumb – and if you do, don’t get caught. I want you monitoring the treasury, not languishing on some island because you’ve been banished from Rome for petty theft.’
‘Yes, Consul, thank you.’
‘I’m not a consul any more so call me by my name.’
‘My apologies, Asinius.’
Vespasian smiled inwardly at his brother’s faux pas, enjoying his discomfort.
‘Vespasian, Pomponius Labeo has agreed to take you into the Fourth Scythica as a tribunus angusticlavius. A “thin stripe” military tribune with no command is the lowest of the low, but you will serve on his staff, which is perfect for our purposes. When you get to Thracia you will first report to Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, who is in overall command.’
‘Thank you, Asinius.’
‘Yes, well, do what I have asked and you will find me thanking you. Now, there is a column of new recruits for the legion assembling up north at Genua; you need to be there by the beginning of next month. That gives you fourteen days, which should be plenty.’ He handed Vespasian two scrolls. ‘This is your letter of introduction and a military pass, don’t lose them.’
‘I won’t,’ Vespasian said, unrolling the scrolls and reading them.
Asinius paused and looked over to Titus and Vespasia. ‘Antonia informs me that you are the parents of these men. I am pleased to meet you.’ He held out his arm to Titus, who took it gratefully.
‘It is an honour, Asinius.’
