‘I’m minding my own business, boy,’ he said. ‘Perhaps you’d like to do the same.’
The insult only made the young man angrier. His pallid features turned a belligerent brick red as Valerius turned his back and continued to study the house. ‘This is private property.’
‘It is property which belongs to a friend, and—’ The only hint of danger was the sound of rushing feet, but Valerius was already turning to meet the threat and he used his right arm to block the cudgel scything at his head. He grunted as the blow landed, but the thick cowhide socket which attached the walnut fist to his forearm took most of an impact that would have smashed another man’s bones. At the same time he brought his right foot round in a sweeping arc that knocked his assailant’s legs out from under him. Not the boy, but some hired thug who’d appeared from the gods knew where and whose head now smashed sickeningly off the cobbles. A second attacker, short, running to fat and much too slow, had been at his partner’s shoulder, but Valerius’s violent reaction made him hesitate for a fraction too long. While he was still trying to work out what to do with the curved knife he carried, Valerius brought the walnut fist up in a backhand smash into the angle of his jaw. Teeth flew like hailstones as the man’s head snapped back and he collapsed groaning beside his friend. By now the first attacker was trying to push himself up with his elbows. Valerius crouched beside him and took the greasy hair in his left hand. A short-arm jab with the right connected with the thug’s temple and the man’s eyes rolled back in his head.
Valerius kicked the knife and the cudgel away and turned to where the young man stood, frozen to the spot, dark eyes wide and mouth gaping. He put the walnut fist under the boy’s chin and closed his mouth with a click of teeth. ‘You should choose your hired help more carefully,’ he advised. ‘Too slow and too stupid, and they both stink so much that I smelled them before I heard them coming. Why did you order them to attack me? I told you I was only minding my own business.’
‘I am guarding—’
‘He and these bully boys have been hanging around for days, ever since the mistress left, your worship.’ The expression of righteous outrage came from Domitia’s doorkeeper, the man who had ushered him in on his previous visit. ‘I told them we didn’t want them here, but he insisted they wouldn’t leave until he knew where she’d gone.’
‘What business is it of yours where the lady of this house is?’ Valerius turned on the young man.
The youth bristled. ‘That is my affair.’
Valerius glanced casually at the two men groaning on the cobbles. ‘What if I choose to make it mine?’
‘You will pay for this.’ The young man spat his defiance. ‘My uncle will have you thrown in the carcer. These are two of his personal bodyguards.’
‘And who is your uncle?’ Valerius asked, somehow knowing he wasn’t going to like the answer.
‘Titus Flavius Sabinus, Prefect of Rome.’
Merda.
XVII
To my friend G. Valerius Verrens, greetings from your brother in arms. How I miss our desert banquets of sand and dung flies, savoured to the musical accompaniment of the Nubian auxiliaries whose howls so entertained us that I fell to dining with cloth stuffed in my ears. This innovation had the added attraction, of course, of rendering your rustic chatter interesting and your Spanish friend’s witticisms quite comic. I trust he is well and this letter finds you still basking in the glow of our new Emperor’s gratitude, and that the fruits of victory taste sweet upon the tongue, for it seems clear to us here that your mission on behalf of my father was an unqualified success. General Vespasian sends his regards and good wishes. For my part, I have spent the past three months with a stylus in my hand instead of a sword, and my backside, more used to a saddle, has grown soft as an Egyptian dancer’s. The reason for this enforced lack of hostilities is my father’s insistence that the armies of the East must remain on the defensive until the intentions of our commander are made clear. The invasion of Judaea was a complete success and we made great progress in the months after you left Alexandria. The Jews are worthy opponents and fanatical defenders of their ground, but, as you know, our legionaries are a match for any enemy. We took Tiberias and Tarichaea in the late summer before marching on Gamala, one of their hilltop strongholds. I had the honour of leading the assault and you will be pleased to know, my Hero of Rome, that your friend has equalled you in the matter of honour. I accepted the Crown of Valour from my father’s hands, though I modestly ascribe my success to the men of the Third Gallica who did most of the actual fighting.