‘Things have moved much faster than I anticipated,’ Pallas said, surprising Vespasian by getting to his feet as the steward showed him into the room. ‘Caenis’ report this morning caused me some concern; however, the timing is most convenient. Narcissus can ask you to stop in Macedonia and speak to your brother on the way out to Armenia. No doubt he will do as soon as you leave these rooms; I imagine that he has a messenger stationed outside to fetch you to him. I was careful to let him find out that you’re here being briefed for your mission to the East.’
They grasped forearms as equals although one was a consul of Rome and the other a mere freedman. Vespasian put the thought to one side knowing that there was nothing ‘mere’ about Pallas. ‘You have no idea what Agrippina has done?’
Pallas waved his steward away. ‘If, indeed, she’s done anything. It may be just Narcissus’ wishful thinking or a calculated lie contrived to seed mistrust between the Empress and me.’
Vespasian took the seat indicated by Pallas next to an already filled cup. ‘If that’s so then I’d say it’s working.’
‘Yes, well, Caenis’ analysis was correct: I can’t confront Agrippina with it so you have to find out for me; an admission or denial from her would put a strain on our relationship without doubt. However, if there is truth in the accusation and Narcissus is right and it does have something to do with the Parthian embassy, then I can make a shrewd guess as to what she has done.’
‘She’s the money behind Radamistus.’
Pallas’ face twitched, betraying surprise. ‘How did you get to that?’
Vespasian took a sip of his wine and closed his eyes as he savoured it; it was exquisite. ‘It’s the timing. The Parthian embassy arrived towards the beginning of September, stayed for a few days and then headed home, evading Sabinus on the way. According to Narcissus, the embassy went through the port of Phasis at the end of September. Also in September, Radamistus took his army from Iberia into Armenia and, in a very short campaign, deposed Mithridates by the beginning of October. Narcissus is certain that the embassy travelled to and from Parthia via Iberia. Now, one of Agrippina’s agents murdered the man who informed Sabinus about the embassy; Agrippina not only ordered his death but also the timing of it so she evidently wanted Sabinus to know about the embassy. But how was Agrippina aware of the embassy in the first place in order to make that decision? I find it very hard to believe in coincidences.’
‘Yes, as do I. If Narcissus is right and she is somehow connected to that embassy then that is the logical conclusion. And if that is the case, I can perfectly understand why she hasn’t taken me into her confidence. But what concerns me more is why my agents knew nothing of this. I’ve been well aware of the events in Armenia for a couple of months now, but this embassy being the possible instigator of Mithridates’ deposal is news to me. Agrippina evidently knew and Narcissus found out by intercepting Agrippina’s messages; but being closer to her than he is I can normally get access to all the correspondence that arrives at the palace; but not in this case. When it comes to messages about the Parthian embassy only his people intercepted them, not mine. It’s as if I’ve been purposely kept in the dark or, more worryingly, as if Narcissus has been purposely enlightened.’
‘But now you do know, what do you think the objective of the embassy was?’
‘Instability along the Danuvius to keep our eye off Armenia.’
‘Has there been any?’
‘No more than usual.’
Vespasian thought for a few moments, savouring his wine; somewhere in the gardens below a dove started cooing. ‘What does Agrippina have to gain by deposing our client in Armenia and replacing him with someone loyal to Parthia?’
‘I don’t believe that he is completely loyal to Parthia; these slimy eastern Kings don’t have any loyalty other than to themselves and their family — those family members that they allow to live, of course. Radamistus is Tryphaena’s nephew, she was the-’
‘Queen of Thracia, I know, I met her when I was with the Fourth Scythica there.’
‘Of course; so then you’re aware that she has always been a friend of Rome’s.’
‘So why would the Parthians help Radamistus to seize the throne if his family is pro-Roman?’
‘Assuming, again, that Narcissus is right and they did, with Agrippina somehow involved, that is what you have to find out while you help Mithridates back to his rightful place where we originally put him.’
‘Me? Depose the usurper? I’ll need an army for that.’
‘That’s what we’re trying to avoid; if we send an army in we’ll be at war with Parthia. It may come to that but where would we take the legions from?’
‘Perhaps you shouldn’t have invaded an irrelevant island like Britannia and then tied up four legions trying to keep hold of it.’
‘What’s done is done and it achieved the political aim at the time of giving Claudius a victory and securing his position.’ Pallas paused and regarded Vespasian for a moment. ‘But I will admit that the repercussions of that venture have gravely reduced our aggressive power. We can’t strip any more legions from the Rhenus; we can’t risk moving them from the Danuvius as, although nothing has happened as yet, we must assume that the embassy was to encourage the northern tribes to push south into Moesia. The two Egyptian legions and the single African one protect the grain supply from those provinces and so cannot be moved and the Hispanic ones are busy most of the time cowing the locals. And if we send the Syrian legions in, Parthia could sweep through the province to Our Sea, no doubt aided by those treacherous Jews, if they can manage to unite themselves; although my brother Felix, whom I persuaded the Emperor to make procurator of Judaea, tells me that they are still as argumentative as ever.’
‘So we can’t afford to go to war.’
‘Not at the moment; we need a few years to prepare.’
‘So you want me to achieve by intrigue what we’re unable to do with force in order to remedy a situation that threatens the stability of the Empire that may have been instigated by the Empress herself for reasons that seem to escape everybody?’
Pallas’ face remained unmoved. ‘Yes.’
Vespasian laughed, loud and hollow. ‘It’ll cost you.’
‘You could come back from this very well.’
‘I’m not asking to be paid to come back, I’m asking to be paid to go.’
‘What do you want?’
‘Protection from Agrippina, a guarantee of a province when I return, my brother to be exonerated of all responsibility for losing this Parthian embassy and, just so I can get some financial gain from this situation, reinstatement into the equestrian class for a client of mine.’
‘I could guarantee all but the first; the Empress’s grudges are not easily forgotten.’
Vespasian thought for a moment. ‘But my wife’s are; in which case I also want the finest Gallic wet nurse available in the city. Make sure that Flavia knows just how much she costs.’
If Pallas felt surprise at that request he did not show it. ‘Very well. You’ll leave as soon as you step down from the consulship in a couple of days.’
‘But it’s still winter; the shipping lanes won’t be open yet.’
‘I’ll give you enough gold to tempt a crew out of their hibernation. You can cross to Epirus and then take the Via Egnatia to Macedonia; there you can question your brother and find out what it is that Narcissus suspects he knows that proves Agrippina’s treachery. As Caenis suggested, I’ve dismissed her from my service, ostensibly for disloyalty; Narcissus will assume that she refused to tell me what you talked about last night and think that he’s safe in trusting you.’