Brothers in Blood Read Free Page B

saving. Any thought of turning him was pointless. Musa was muttering a prayer as Narcissus leaned over him.
    ‘They tell me you are ready to talk.’
    Musa did not seem to notice him and Narcissus leaned a little closer and took the man gently by the jaw and turned his face so that their eyes met.
    ‘Musa, I want the answers to my questions. Are you ready?’
    There was a blank look in the man’s eyes and then recognition and a struggle to concentrate before he nodded, swallowed, and replied, ‘Yes.’
    Narcissus smiled. ‘That’s better. Now then, this morning you set out from the palace at first light to visit a house on the Aventine.’
    ‘Was it only . . . this morning?’
    ‘Yes,’ Narcissus replied patiently. ‘You were followed by Septimus here, who managed to stay with you without being spotted. This time.’ He glanced at his agent son and Septimus had the good grace to look embarrassed. ‘Although you took the usual precautions, changing pace, doubling back and so on, Septimus stayed with you and saw you enter the house of Senator Vespasian. Now, I know that the good senator has been spending the last few months at his villa at Stabiae. There are rumours that all is not well between him and his wife, sadly. So I assume that the reason for your visit was to see his wife Flavia, nay?’
    Musa stared at him a moment and nodded.
    ‘Then please tell me that it isn’t because you’ve taken a leaf out of your master’s book and decided to screw someone above your social station.’
    Ancus chuckled until the imperial secretary shot him an angry look and he fell silent and turned his attention to rinsing his instruments clean in a small bowl of stained water. Narcissus turned his attention back to the man lying on the table.
    ‘So what was your business with Flavia?’
    ‘A . . . message, from Pallas.’
    ‘I see, and what was this message?’
    ‘My master asks her for her support . . . when Nero comes to the throne.’
    ‘More if than when , my friend. Your master is fooling himself if he thinks he can draw on the support of Flavia and her circle of associates. Contrary to the face she so carefully presents to the public, the woman is a fervent republican. She’d sooner devour her children than support your scheming snake of a master. The lovely Flavia has been most useful in drawing traitors out of the shadows to join her conspiracy against the Emperor, never suspecting that I watch her every move.’ He paused and stroked his cheek. ‘Tell me, what did Pallas promise Flavia in return for her support?’
    ‘Preferment . . . for her husband. When Nero comes to . . . power.’
    ‘The poet emperor and the professional soldier. I doubt there would be much in the way of small talk there. Besides, Vespasian seems to make his own fortune in this world. An admirable man in many ways, but there’s more than a spark of ambition there as well. He will need to be watched, and I have just the agent for the job. There’s not a man born who can resist the charms of young Caenis. My dear Musa, I fear your visit to Vespasian’s house has been a waste of time. Your master, Pallas, has put you at great risk for nothing. He has caused you this torment on little more than a speculative whim. All that you have endured here today can be blamed on him. On his poor judgement. Surely you can see that?’
    Narcissus scrutinised Musa’s expression, looking for any sign of the doubt he was trying to plant. The business with Flavia was no more than a ploy, the chink in his opponent’s armour that he wanted to prise open to reveal the secrets he was really after.
    Musa’s expression suddenly screwed up and he clenched his teeth as he struggled to contain a fresh wave of agony. The imperial secretary indulged him, waiting patiently for the pain to subside before he pressed him again.
    ‘Musa, you are being used by Pallas. He regards you as nothing more than a worthless tool to be thrown away on the chance