General Plautius glared at the man, visions of bloody torture and revenge flooding into his mind in rapid succession. The freedman’s impudence was breathtaking, but the gulf in social status between a senator and a freedman, who had been a slave of Claudius only a few years ago, was erased by the fact that Narcissus was the Emperor’s most trusted and closest advisor. The Emperor ruled Rome, but the Emperor, Plautius had heard it said, was ruled by his freedman. Only now, the freedman had a rival in Messalina, Claudius’s scheming young wife, and that made Narcissus an even more desperate and dangerous man to cross.

‘I’ll give the orders.’

‘Thank you, General.’ Narcissus resumed his concentration on the skinless pear on the silver plate on his lap, slicing it as finely as possible with the glinting blade of his dagger. ‘Send me word when all is ready. I’ll wait here.’

Plautius could not stomach remaining in the same tent as the freedman and, grasping the pannier bags, he clapped a hand on to Vespasian’s shoulder and led him out of the tent. Outside, in the clerks’ tent, and out of the Imperial Secretary’s hearing, Plautius spoke softly to his subordinate.

‘You’d better get back to your legion. I want your Third Cohort stood to, unarmed, in tunics only and under guard.’

‘Why, sir? Why shame them so?’

‘Because they need shaming. They need to know that every man in the cohort is held to account, whatever their rank. It’ll serve as a warning to the other cohorts.’

‘But, sir-’ Vespasian’s exhausted mind was reeling with the way that the inquiry was being rushed through at this mad speed.’Think of the men’s morale. This will bring shame to the whole legion and all the spirit we’ve built up on the campaign will be pissed away.’

Plautius stopped walking, and turned towards him with raised eyebrows. ‘Pissed away? That’s an awfully common expression. I think you’ve been spending rather too long in the company of the lower orders . . .Perhaps you should return to Rome before you forget who you are.’

‘I know who I am,’ Vespasian replied coolly. ‘And I know what’s right and what’s wrong. I’m telling you, this inquiry is a mistake. Nothing good can come of it . . . sir.’

Plautius stared back at him. ‘I think you forget yourself, Legate. I’ve given you an order. Get back to your legion and have everything ready for the hearing. As soon as I’ve discussed these statements with my clerks I’ll ride over and join you and we’ll start immediately. If the preparations are not complete by then, I may have to widen the scope of the inquiry beyond the officers of your Third Cohort. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then go.’

05 The Eagles Prey

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN