‘You may go now, Lavinia.’ Vespasian waved his hand. ‘But I want you to remember this: if Vitellius ever asks you for any information about me again, or arranges another meeting, I want to know about it. And I warn you, the consequences of not telling me the truth from now on will be very painful. Very painful indeed. Do we understand one another?’

‘Yes, master.’

‘Good. Now leave me.’

===OO=OOO=OO===

‘So how did it go?’ Flavia asked Lavinia that evening as they waited for the tents to be erected.

‘I think he believed me, mistress. But why did I have to say that I was meeting Vitellius in the tent that night?’

‘Would you rather have told him the truth and got Cato involved?’

‘No, mistress. Of course not.’

‘Well then, if we’re to keep Cato out of the frame we need to put someone else into it. Vitellius fits the bill nicely. Very nicely indeed.’

Lavinia glanced at her mistress in surprise. Clearly there was more to this than simply saving Cato’s skin. The pleased expression on Flavia’s face as she idly watched the legionaries struggling with the guy ropes went beyond relief for saving the young optio and Lavinia could not help wondering if she, and Cato, might well be small pieces in a deeper game. Flavia suddenly switched her gaze to the slave girl.

‘You must remember to stick to the story we agreed, Lavinia. Stick to that and we’re all safe, understand? But don’t ask me for any further explanations. The less you know, the more honest you will appear. Trust me.’

‘Yes, mistress.’

Under The Eagle

Chapter Twenty-eight

The Sixth century marched through lush Gaul countryside bursting with the fresh buds of spring. The legionaries joked and chatted happily — with occasional raucous bursts of lewd singing to while away the day. And this mode persisted despite the pace that Macro had set, for he was eager to reach his destination as soon as possible and offload the imperial secretary before the latter tempted Macro to some act of violence. Narcissus had lost no opportunity to make barbed comments about the army in general, and its soldiers and Macro in particular. The centurion would dearly have loved to smack the smug bastard in the mouth just once, to emphasise the fact that you simply did not behave in such a fashion: ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do, but when you’re in the army keep your mouth shut and show some fucking respect.’

He smiled at the thought but knew it could never be voiced aloud, let alone face to face with a close friend and confidante of the Emperor. And so he had to sullenly endure the sarcasm and criticism in apparent good spirit — the fate of all those exposed to insecure arrivistes. Cato fared somewhat better at the hands of their tormentor since their common background provided a basis for conversation, even though Narcissus made it perfectly clear that, whatever the past, a huge social gulf now existed between them. Fortunately, the only opportunity for conversation occurred at rests in the march and at the end of the day when the century camped for the night. In between, Macro and Cato led the column from the front, though a smoother-tongued, more ambitious officer would have marched by the imperial secretary’s litter to engage him in conversation and use every opportunity for flattery. After the first day, Macro insisted that he inspect his troop’s equipment at each break in the march. The men regarded this zealous display of duty with curiosity, silently shaking their heads as the centurion tugged at equipment straps and checked that their weapons were being properly maintained.