Free Masters of Rome by Robert Fabbri Page B

by getting you involved in the feuding of those in power.’
    â€˜When?’
    â€˜When you reported to me, two years ago, that your scouts had told you that Corvinus had not stopped his Ninth Hispanaon the northern bank of the Tamesis River as ordered, but had carried on. I told you not to tell anyone and that I would inform Plautius when I felt the time was right; in doing so I made you complicit in a plot against Messalina and her brother, Corvinus, which had been set in motion by Narcissus. They are no doubt aware of your part and so that makes you their enemy. Pallas is also aware of it and wants to use the fact to help bolster his position. If you don’t co-operate he will halt your career and that gives you no alternative other than to go to Rome and do his bidding.’
    Around the camp bucinae sounded the general reveille, announcing yet another day under the Eagle of the II Augusta.
    Paetus paused for a few moments’ reflection before acknowledging with a small hand gesture the veracity of his commander’s words. ‘What does he want me to do?’
    â€˜He wants you to do what any man of your age and class would do: he wants you to go back and get elected as one of the quaestors. He will see to it that you don’t get posted to a province but, rather, serve as an Urban Quaestor, as your father did, so that you can take your seat in the Senate immediately.’
    â€˜That’s what I was planning to do as soon as my replacement arrives; why the rush?’
    â€˜Because Pallas wants you to be back in time for this year’s elections; he wants you to be in place in the Senate by next year, not the year after.’
    Paetus leant forward in his chair. ‘In place to do what?’
    â€˜In place to be prepared to act as a witness at a treason trial.’
    â€˜Who’s to be prosecuted?’
    â€˜Corvinus, of course, and you’re to be the star witness; a senator from the Junii, one of the oldest and most renowned families in Rome, who can swear that the Ninth Hispana carried on across the Tamesis without provocation and their legate thereby committed an act of treason.’
    â€˜I could swear to that.’
    â€˜I know and so does Callistus, which is why Pallas thinks that it will never come to trial, it’ll never get anywhere near a court.’
    â€˜But Callistus is the secretary in charge of justice.’
    â€˜Yes, and as you know from when he tried to have Sabinus, you and me killed four years ago he’s …’
    â€˜And me,’ Magnus’ voice came from the shadows.
    â€˜Yes, and you … he’s the most duplicitous, slimy piece of treacherous filth that ever walked the corridors of the Palatine Hill and that is saying something indeed.’
    Paetus grimaced at the memory of Callistus’ treachery when he, Paetus, had helped Vespasian and Sabinus in the search for the lost Eagle of the XVII Legion.
    From outside the murmur of thousands of waking voices gradually grew into a constant hubbub, punctuated by bellowing centurions encouraging the less keen from their blankets.
    Paetus’ face brightened. ‘If it means that I’m going to get a measure of revenge on him, then I’m willing to do whatever Pallas wants.’
    â€˜It will. Callistus has made it a habit to change his allegiances at what he considers to be the right time. He used to be Caligula’s freedman but when it looked for certain that it was only a matter of time before Caligula fell to an assassin’s blade he decided to hasten that moment and join in the conspiracy against him by allying himself with Narcissus and Pallas.’ Vespasian glanced at the letter again. ‘Now, according to Pallas, it seems that he might be thinking about changing sides again and throwing his lot in with Messalina or, at the very least, backing both sides.
    â€˜But apart from Callistus failing to report an outrageous infidelity of Messalina’s to the