Free The Purple Shroud: A Novel of Empress Theodora by Stella Duffy

quite useful. And I think you like the rumours now because they make you seem more powerful. It’s occurred to me that you might even have started those rumours yourself.’
    ‘Nice theory. Are you prepared to test it?’
    Armeneus sighed and shook his head. ‘You know I’m not.’
    ‘Good. Then come on, I’ll take Mariam and go out alone if you won’t accompany us.’
    ‘It’s for your own safety.’
    Theodora stared at the young man in front of her. ‘You think Theodora-from-the-Brothel doesn’t remember what the people can be like? I know things are “difficult”, as you so coyly put it. The girls in Metanoia say there’s talk of replacing the Emperor. I can just picture Hypatius or Pompeius as puppet-master, and if I can, I’m sure the people can too. It’s simple, Armeneus: to whom do you owe your allegiance?’
    ‘We all answer to the Emperor. Who I serve on a day to day basis is not the point.’
    ‘Oh, I think it is,’ she replied. ‘Didn’t Mar say you’ll go back to Africa some day? Did he mean you to go this soon? I’m sure it could be arranged.’
    Armeneus shook his head. The threat of exile was too great a risk. He went to fetch his cloak.
    They followed the paths under the Palace into the deepest level beneath the Hippodrome, walking alongside the Imperial vaults. The City’s records were stored here, between old costumes and animal skins, alongside theatre props, ancient armour and weapons, as were Theodora’s memories of watching her father train his bears, watching her father killed by the bear he’d loved best. Now she walked swiftly, escorted by Armeneus acting the role of angry Palace official – hurrying the intruding refugee and her child through corridors where they should not have found their way.
    Armeneus had no problem working up the semblance ofanger and took great delight in pushing her hard, poking her in the back, until Theodora finally turned on him.
    ‘That’s enough fun, eunuch,’ she hissed.
    After that, he was more gentle in his prodding, but no less aggressive in his tone of voice. Theodora led Armeneus and Mariam up through the corridors beneath the Hippodrome until they came out at the northern entrance, where the four great Greek horses rose up, shining in the morning sun.
    ‘You see these horses?’ Theodora said.
    ‘Yes, Mistress,’ answered Mariam.
    ‘I don’t think I ever passed them in my youth without wanting to climb up and ride them through the city, pulling the whole Hippodrome behind. Now, when no one could stop me doing so if I chose, I have to stop myself.’
    Armeneus looked sideways at his mistress, surprised again at the things she missed from her past and those she didn’t. He said nothing and they walked on, into the Mese, now choked with traders and salesmen, stallholders and shoppers. Armeneus slipped into the role of quietly solicitous husband shepherding his wife away from any impertinent gaze. Theodora pulled her cloak tighter to hide her face, and they walked out into the Forum of Constantine, Mariam between them, just like any other family new to the City, trying to work out where they were and what came next.
    One youth from the Blues called to another; soon there were several standing together. The lads were close to the old triumphal arch, grouped around an elderly man. The first of the Blue youths bent down and whispered something, the old man, grateful, smiling, handed over his basket to the whisperer and took the arm of the second youth. They walked with him for a few paces and then, having exchanged a look over the man’s head, the first youth let out a call, the second answeredit, and the man was pushed over, his basket emptied in his face, bread and eggs and wine smashing around him on the cobbles. The wine jug cracked into five pieces, one of the shards cut the old man’s cheek, and three apples rolled, bruised, into the gutter. From the other side of the Mese, several members of the Greens saw the fuss, took it as