The Crossroads Brotherhood(6)

‘How can I be of assistance at this time of night?’ Magnus asked sitting and adjusting his toga.

Gaius handed him the cup. ‘Yes indeed, not really the business time of day is it?’

‘It is for my sort of business.’ Magnus took a long draught of wine, ignoring Gaius’ disapproving frown at the rough treatment of such a fine vintage. ‘That’s a nice drop of wine that is, sir.’

‘I’m glad that you appreciate it.’ Gaius reluctantly topped up Magnus’ proffered cup. ‘What do you know about the Lady Antonia?’

Magnus shifted uneasily in his chair and took another slug of wine. ‘She’s the Emperor’s sister-in-law, grandmother to the children of the late Germanicus and a very formidable woman. I believe that you are in her favour.’

‘I am.’

‘When I was a boxer I attended a few of her dinners as a part of the entertainment.’

‘Yes, I’m aware of that, although I’ve never understood why a citizen would choose to become a boxer.’

‘The money mainly but also the notoriety – look at all them young gentlemen who choose to fight a bout or two in the arena for wagers or just to get their names heard.’

‘Rather excessive to my mind.’

‘Yeah well, it helped me become the patronus of my Crossroads – you don’t do that by just asking nicely, if you take my meaning?’

Gaius’ eyes twinkled with amusement in the glow of the fire. ‘No, you did that by murder for which you would have paid with your life – had it not been for me, if you take mine?’

‘I do, Senator and I will always be in your debt.’

‘Enough to commit another murder?’

Magnus shrugged and held out his cup for another refill. ‘If you require it.’

‘I don’t,’ Gaius emphasised, pouring more wine, ‘but Antonia does. This evening she asked – or rather ordered – me to organise one for her. She’s not a woman that one can say no to.’

Magnus looked away and tried to keep his face neutral. ‘I can imagine.’

Gaius chuckled causing his tonged ringlets to sway gently over his ears; he took another sip of wine.

‘Who does she want done and why doesn’t she organise it herself?’ Magnus asked.

‘There’s absolutely no reason why she couldn’t organise it herself, so I’ve a hunch that the answer to the second question is that it’s a test to see how far she can trust me. If I succeed then I will have a place in her inner circle of friends.’

‘And be one step closer to the consulship.’

‘Quite. So you can see how important it is for me. As to the first question, that’s simple: a Praetorian Guardsman.’

Magnus banged his cup down onto the table in alarm. ‘A Praetorian? Is she serious?’

‘Oh yes, quite literally deadly serious. And it’s not just any Praetorian either, it’s Nonus Celsus Blandinus.’

‘Blandinus? One of the tribunes?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘What’s she got against him?’

‘Nothing that I know of; it’s rather unfortunate for him really.’

‘Then why?’

‘Earlier this year, Antonia managed to persuade the Emperor to forbid the Praetorian Prefect Sejanus to marry her widowed daughter, Livilla. Now she wants to send a message to Sejanus that in making that request he went too far; and what better way to do that than to have one of his deputies killed?’

‘I can think of a lot of better ways. When does she want it done?’

‘Within the next couple of days. But she wants it done in a way that Sejanus will know that she’s behind it but be unable to accuse her of organising the murder.’

‘So we can’t just slit his throat in a dark alley.’

‘Absolutely not, this demands subtlety.’ Gaius leaned forward and put his hand on Magnus’ forearm. ‘I’m relying on you, my friend. If you do this well for me then Antonia will owe me a favour. My sister and brother-in-law are bringing their two boys to Rome. I may be able to use this to have her further their careers as well as my own.’

Magnus raised an eyebrow at his patron. ‘And the higher you and your family rise the more you can do for me, eh Senator?’

‘Naturally.’ Gaius smiled and patted Magnus’ arm. ‘We could all come out of this very well.’

‘You might, but I could come out of this very dead.’

‘If I thought that for one instant then I wouldn’t have entrusted you with one of the most important favours of my career,’ Gaius asserted raising his cup to Magnus who smiled mirthlessly, raised his in reply and then downed it in one.