He turned and muttered to the other guard that he would return as soon as he could, then beckoned to Marcus and his two friends. They passed through the gatehouse into a colonnaded courtyard lined with neatly trimmed potted shrubs. Ahead lay the imposing quarters of the Roman governor of the province of Achaea, three storeys high with marble columns supporting an imposing entrance hall. The guard approached a thin man in a tunic sitting on a small bench to one side of the hall and explained the presence of the three visitors before hurrying back to his post. The governor’s servant looked at them doubtfully, until Marcus produced Caesar’s letter, and then shrugged.
‘Sirs, the governor can’t see you today. He’s at the arena, overseeing the final preparations for the spectacle.’
‘Then we’ll wait.’
‘But he won’t be back until very late. He’s attending a feast of the philosophers’ guild. Those events can go on for some time …’
Marcus clenched his jaw in frustration.
‘You could come back tomorrow,’ the servant suggested hopefully.
‘No. We’ll wait.’
The servant pursed his lips in irritation before he spoke again. ‘I could find out if his aide will see you. If you wish.’
‘Yes. That will do.’
‘Please wait here.’ The servant bowed his head and disappeared into a corridor leading off the hall.
Once he had gone Festus cleared his throat. ‘What do you intend to say to this aide of the governor?’
‘I’ll tell him why we are here and ask for accommodation, of course.’
‘Might be better to tell him no more than you need to. It is always best to keep those in the know to a small number in my experience.’
‘But if the governor’s aide is his right-hand man, then what’s the danger?’ asked Marcus.
Festus continued in a patient tone. ‘Marcus, I’ve been dealing with these people since before you were born. If there’s anything I’ve learned along the way it’s that you have to be careful who you trust with what you know.’
Marcus knew that his friend was right, but at the same time he felt driven to take short cuts to find out where his mother was held. He should trust Festus’s judgement, he told himself. Festus had never let him down. He was as wise as he was deadly and Marcus was fortunate to have him at hand. Even so, the urge to find his mother as swiftly as possible was eating away at his caution.
He heard footsteps and turned to see the servant returning with a slender man, who looked the same age as Festus. His dark hair was neatly cut and he had a finely trimmed beard along the line of his jaw, which met in a precise triangle beneath his mouth. As he approached, he smiled and held his hand out to Festus.
‘Welcome to you, and your boys! I am the personal aide to Governor Servillus. My name is Quintus Euraeus. I am at your service. First, if I may, your letter of introduction?’
Festus nodded towards Marcus. ‘Caesar entrusted the letter to this boy. He is the reason why we are in Athens. My name is Festus. Caesar sent me along to protect Marcus, and advise him.’
Euraeus’s dark eyes flitted over Marcus and then Lupus. ‘And the other boy?’
‘I am Lupus, scribe to Caesar and friend of Marcus,’ he announced proudly.
‘Indeed. Then you are all most welcome. Now, if I might see the document?’
Marcus took out the letter again and handed it to Euraeus. The aide unrolled the letter, examined the seal and quickly ran his eyes over the contents. He handed it back to Marcus with a smile. ‘It seems very comprehensive. Clearly Caesar holds you in high regard to gift you the authority to ask any favour in his name. I wonder why?’
‘I served him well. Along with my friends here,’ Marcus explained simply.
The aide waited in vain for him to elaborate, and then nodded. ‘Evidently. Now, if you would be so kind as to follow me to my humble office, then let me know how I may help you.’
14
‘So, Marcus, what can the governor, and I, do for you exactly?’ Euraeus smiled as he faced his three visitors across his gleaming walnut desk. They were seated on the stools that one of the aide’s clerks had brought for them, along with a tray of scented water and some pastries.
Marcus hastily chewed the mouthful of minted lamb and crust that he had been enjoying and wiped the crumbs from his mouth. At the same time his mind was hurriedly organizing his thoughts over how much information he should provide to Euraeus. Marcus explained the cover story that they had agreed on and then moved on to the real reason for their presence in Greece.
‘Caesar sent us here to find someone. A slave.’ He felt a twinge of pain as he used the word to describe his mother. ‘She is the — property — of a moneylender and tax collector who has an estate here in Greece.’
‘I see.’ Euraeus nodded. ‘And what does Caesar want you to do when you find this slave?’
Festus coughed a warning. ‘Marcus — ’
‘Set her free.’ Marcus’s voice caught and he forced himself to control his emotions as he continued. ‘She is being held illegally. Kidnapped by the man who now claims to own her.’
Euraeus stroked his jaw. ‘This is a serious crime you speak of. A serious accusation at any rate. What proof is there that she was kidnapped? Were there any witnesses?’
‘Yes.’ Marcus felt a lump in his throat. ‘There was one.’
‘That helps if we are to bring the perpetrator to justice. Speaking of which, do you know his name?’
Marcus nodded. ‘Decimus.’
‘Decimus?’ The aide raised an eyebrow. ‘I know a few moneylenders by that name, none of whom strike me as particularly criminal.’
‘Really?’ Festus interrupted with a wry grin. ‘Seems you have a higher standard of moneylender here in Greece than I ever met back in Rome.’
‘There are many things in Greece that are of a higher standard than in Rome,’ Euraeus replied with a smile. ‘Our civilization being one of them. But back to the business at hand. Obviously we need to find the right Decimus to bring to justice. Do you have any other information about him that would help me?’
‘Only that he has an estate in the Peloponnese.’
‘Hmmm. That’s not much to go on.’
‘It’s a start,’ Lupus added. ‘There must surely be a record of the taxes due on estates in the province. Then it’s only a question of matching the records to the names and we should find the man easily.’
‘Oh, there are records all right. The trouble is they are at the fiscal procurator’s office down at Piraeus. I’ll have to send for them. They could be brought here in a matter of days, once the procurator returns to Athens.’
‘Where is he?’ asked Marcus, stifling his impatience.
‘He was called away to resolve a tax dispute in Thebes. Shouldn’t take long.’
‘Well, couldn’t we look at his records before he gets back?’
Euraeus looked shocked. ‘Such records are confidential, my dear boy. It would be unthinkable to make them available to anyone behind the procurator’s back. It’s more than my job is worth to even suggest it. No, I’m afraid you must wait until he returns.’
‘What about the governor?’ Festus interjected. ‘Surely he has the necessary authority?’
The aide thought a moment and nodded slowly. ‘True. He might agree to it. But Servillus won’t be available until the morning. At least. Later if he’s been in his cups. I suggest you come back tomorrow at noon.’
‘That raises another matter,’ said Festus. ‘We need somewhere to stay while we are in Athens. That won’t be easy with the crowds who have come to see the governor’s spectacle. You can arrange something for us here, I trust? Some accommodation and some food.’
Euraeus shook his head and made a sad expression. ‘Unfortunately, there is no spare room at the palace for the same reason.’
Festus leaned to the side and tapped a finger on the leather tube hanging from a thong round Marcus’s neck. ‘I think that will disappoint the man we work for.’
The aide considered this briefly and coughed. ‘On second thoughts, I’m sure I can arrange something for the three of you.’