‘For the moment.’ Narcissus nodded. ‘Don’t be too long, Cato. I’ll be here, waiting for you,’ he added with a ring of certainty that stayed with Cato all the way across the terrace, out of the villa, and down the long path back into the port as he went to find Macro.

‘He’s a real low, shitty, slimy, crooked piece of work, our Narcissus.’ Macro shook his head. ‘One of these days I’m going to take him for a nice little walk down a quiet alley and do him in.’

‘Come the day,’ Cato replied with feeling. He lifted the cup that Macro had poured him and glanced round the small inn. A handful of off-duty Praetorians were playing dice on a table on the far side of the room, dimly lit by the handful of oil lamps hanging from the beams. Cato lowered his voice. ‘What do you think?’

‘About Narcissus’s offer?’ Macro shrugged. ‘We accept. What else can we do? The bastard has us by the balls and he knows it. Besides, if it gets me back into a legion on a permanent posting then I’m game. You too if you have any sense. How else are you going to get that promotion to prefect confirmed? I tell you, Cato, I’d do anything to get back to regular soldiering. If it takes doing one more job for Narcissus, then I’ll do it.’

Cato nodded thoughtfully. His friend was right. There was no choice in the matter. Not if he wanted to marry Julia. He would have to do the bidding of the imperial secretary in order to win his promotion and rise into the ranks of the equestrian class. Only then could he present himself to Senator Sempronius as a suitable husband for his daughter. Cato reached up with his spare hand and touched his scar. He felt a stab of anxiety in his heart as he wondered how she would react when she saw him again.

Macro noticed the gesture and could not help a light chuckle.

Cato frowned at him. ‘What?’

‘Trust me, lad.’ Macro smiled as he picked up the wine jug and reached across the table to refill Cato’s cup to the brim. ‘The ladies love a good scar. Makes you look more like a real man, not one of the pampered dandies that strut around the forum in Rome. So, let’s have a toast. Death to the Emperor’s enemies, and here’s to the rewards that are long overdue to us both.’

Cato nodded as he tapped his cup against Macro’s. ‘I’ll drink to that, my friend.’

AUTHOR’S NOTE

AUTHOR’S NOTE