Rome's Executioner Read Free

loyalty of key officers for when the time comes; meanwhile you work out who you will need to buy and start to cultivate them.’
    Macro nodded his head slowly. ‘What about the problem of getting your witness to the Emperor?’
    ‘With all due respect sir, my mistress considers that to be your problem; she suggests that somehow you get yourself transferred to Capreae.’
    ‘Oh, does she now?’ Macro sneered. ‘As if it could be easily done just by putting in a transfer request.’ He fixed Pallas with an icy glare and studied him for a few moments; the Greek remained, as always, unreadable. ‘What is to prevent me’, Macro continued slowly, ‘from going to Sejanus now and telling him all that you have said? I wouldn’t give much for your life or the lives of this ex-praetor’s nephew and his family, would you?’
    ‘No, sir, but then I wouldn’t give much for your life either after you told him.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I mean that the very fact that you agreed to see us will give him cause to doubt your loyalty; he will assume that this time you were just not offered enough, but next time you may well be. I think that we will all be dead if you go to him.’
    Macro stood and slammed his palm down on the desk.‘Secundus, sword!’ he shouted, grabbing a sword from the desk. The guard instantly drew his gladius and rushed at Sabinus and Pallas.
    ‘Ennia!’ Pallas shouted.
    Macro raised his hand to stop his man. ‘Hold,’ he commanded. Secundus obeyed. ‘What has my wife got to do with this?’ Macro growled.
    ‘Nothing at the moment sir,’ Pallas replied flatly. ‘She is in very good company and no doubt enjoying herself.’
    ‘What do you mean, slave?’ Macro was becoming visibly agitated.
    ‘Soon after you left your house this evening the Lady Antonia sent a litter for your wife Ennia with an invitation to come and dine with her and her grandson Gaius; of course she could not refuse such an honour. We left as she arrived, and she will stay there until our safe return, so it may be advisable to have Secundus escort us.’
    Macro tensed as if ready to fling himself at Pallas and then flopped back down on to his stool. ‘It seems that you leave me little choice,’ he said softly. He looked up at Pallas with hatred burning in his dark eyes. ‘But believe me, slave, I will have the balls off you for this insolence.’
    Pallas knew better than to express an opinion on that subject.
    ‘Very well,’ Macro said, collecting himself. ‘Secundus will escort you back. Tell your mistress that I will do as she asks, but I do it for myself, not for her.’
    ‘She did not expect anything else from you, sir; she is well aware that this is an alliance of convenience. Now, with your permission we shall leave.’
    ‘Yes, go, get out,’ Macro snapped. ‘Oh, one question: when does Antonia want to get the witness before the Emperor?’
    ‘Not for at least six months.’
    ‘At least six months? You mean he’s not in Rome?’
    ‘No, sir, he’s not even in Italia. In fact he hasn’t even been captured yet.’
    ‘Where is he then?’
    ‘Moesia.’
    ‘Moesia? Who’s going to find him there and bring him back to Rome?’
    ‘Don’t concern yourself about that, sir,’ Pallas replied, turning to go, ‘it’s all in hand.’

PART I

    P HILIPPOPOLIS , T HRACIA , M ARCH , AD 30

CHAPTER I
    V ESPASIAN EASED HIS weight cautiously on to his left foot, trying not to rustle the dead leaves or crack any of the twigs that carpeted the snow-patched forest floor. He had covered the last few dozen paces with hardly a sound, his breath steaming in front of him as he tried to lower his heartbeat after a long chase. He was alone, having left his companions, two hunting slaves borrowed from the royal stables, a couple of miles back to follow on slowly with the horses as he stalked his wounded prey on foot. His quarry, a young stag, was close now; the trail of blood from the arrow wound to its neck he had inflicted