‘A timely appearance, jailor’ the young man said with a smile. ‘I feel the need of a leg stretch.’
Rufinus panicked as the sound of bored pacing at the far side of the circle became that of fast running.
‘Hey!’ shouted a voice.
Rufinus stood rooted to the spot, wondering what to do for a moment before his senses kicked in again.
‘It’s only me: Marcius. I think they’ve forgotten about my relief, so I’m looking for oil. It’s damn dark in the libraries!’
The figure of the other guard appeared and he realised with a tiny touch of relief that it was Atracus the Gaul, one of the few men who seemed to consider him an equal. The big, blond man with the braided beard slowed with a relieved smile, his hand leaving the hilt of the longsword at his side.
‘Marcius! I thought we’d had a break-in.’
Rufinus smiled. ‘I’ve only got enough oil for half the lamps in the library. It’s going to be a dark shift if I can’t find spare.’
Atracus snorted. ‘At least you’ve got light and heat. I’ve been walking around this pissing circle for four hours without a break. No heating or light for me!’
‘Excuse me?’
The pair turned to look at Saoterus, still standing on the flagged path before the villa. ‘Yes, master Saoterus.’
‘I’m not sure what your orders are with regards to my ‘accommodation’, but I have been allowed to visit the baths on occasions and once to walk on the sunlit terrace, all under the watchful eye of one of your stalwart staff. Is it permissible that I visit the libraries? Under escort, of course, lest I steal Lucilla’s collection of Aristophanes comedies.’
His smile was knowing and friendly, and Rufinus found himself immediately warming to this young man who was so important, powerful and feared. Rufinus and the Gaul exchanged glances and the former shrugged uncertainly. Atracus nodded. ‘The libraries are no trouble. You alright with this one, Marcius?’
Rufinus nodded wearily, trying to hide his growing excitement.
‘Good’ the Gaul grinned. ‘Try and be at least an hour, ‘cause I need a crap and a drink, alright?’
Rufinus nodded and glanced across to their ‘guest’. Saoterus smiled. ‘I think I can safely occupy myself in a library for an hour.’
Atracus grinned at them and hurried off with the gait of a man who has been dreaming urgently of the latrines for some time. It took Rufinus only a moment to locate one of the removable wooden bridges, leaning against the outer wall. With a great deal of difficulty, given only one working arm, Rufinus half-walked, half-dragged the bridge across to the water opposite the guest. With a grunt, a heave and a quiet curse at Atracus for hurrying off so quickly, he dropped the bridge into the guide slots and manoeuvred it into position.
Saoterus waited patiently until Rufinus stepped back and gestured for him to cross.
‘You have been in the wars, my friend’ he said quietly, eyeing Rufinus up and down.
‘A disagreement with bandits.’
‘I trust they regret their actions’ the man said with a smile as he crossed the bridge and stepped into the colonnade. His toga was crisp and clean and warm, yet he issued a shiver in the cold night air. Rufinus gestured to the door through which he had arrived.
‘This way, sir.’
Rufinus led the way, pausing at the corner and halfway up the stairs to make sure his charge was following. His mind raced. He would never have a better opportunity to speak with Saoterus. They were alone and with very little chance of discovery, and shortly they would be in a warm, secluded room.
‘The Gaul is not a great talker’ the slight man said. ‘I fear you have been instructed not to speak to me unless it is unavoidable, but I have the impression he is not even talkative with his friends. Still, he seems friendlier than a number of the others.’
Rufinus paused and turned to find Saoterus smiling engagingly at him.
‘Are you also taciturn, or someone from whom I might squeeze a pleasantry or two?’
Rufinus bit his lip and stepped out onto the landing, gesturing toward the library interior.
‘Please…’
Saoterus, that enigmatic smile still on his face, bowed and swept past into the room. ‘This is magnificent. Hadrianus had the most wondrous tastes and designers and was a lover of all things cultured. I would like to have met the man. Our current emperor has the makings of a great man himself, would you not say?’
Rufinus closed the door behind them and turned to see narrowed eyes assessing him in a single glance. ‘You’re testing me, master Saoterus? Sounding me out?’
The man laughed out loud. ‘Thank Jove. Someone with a brain.’ His eyes narrowed again. ‘And a sense of humour?’
Rufinus sighed. ‘I used to have one. Long ago, before the world slipped into Hades around me.’
Saoterus gave him a look that he found unsettling. ‘May I?’ he asked, gesturing to the numerous scroll racks around the room.
‘I’m sure the domina won’t mind.’
The young man began to stroll round the edge of the room, squinting in the low light as he examined the labels beneath each aperture, occasionally pulling a scroll from a compartment, glancing at it briefly, then sliding it back.
‘If it’s not a forbidden subject, may I ask your opinion of the mood in the villa?’ Saoterus saw Rufinus’ eyes darken as his guard came up and smiled disarmingly. ‘I only ask as I have matters of import to discuss with Lucilla and, while two days in such luxurious surroundings is a respite after the scuffle of the city, I begin to wonder if she has any intention of speaking to me.’
Rufinus took a deep breath. ‘Why are you here?’
He was aware of the bluntness of the question, but he’d spent a lot of the last few hours wondering how he would approach the subject should he find the opportunity, and no solution had presented itself. Sometimes, as a boxer knew, there came a time to stop dancing from foot to foot and plant a blow, even if it can’t be a powerful one.
The man turned with that same knowing smile. ‘Ah, such directness. You would never make a politician, my friend.’
‘I know of you, Saoterus. Everyone does. You are the emperor’s man; his favourite. What possible business can you have with Lucilla?’
Saoterus’ eyes narrowed. ‘You mean ‘domina’ or ‘the empress’? I cannot see you advancing in these ranks with such familiarity. Lucilla is not easy-going.’
‘Answer the question.’
Something about Rufinus’ tone caused that smile to falter for just a moment. ‘My business with Lucilla is private, not to be discussed with even that fidgety major domo, let alone one of the guard.’ His eyes narrowed suspiciously and something about his smile changed, though Rufinus couldn’t have said quite how. ‘That is, unless there’s something I don’t know? Am I talking to one of the guard?’
Rufinus sighed. ‘The world is becoming a dangerous place, master Saoterus. Here and in Rome. It’s always well to be prepared.’
‘Tell me about yourself. You ask penetrating questions and think outside your station… on the assumption this is your station.’
‘We are dancing around two different questions here, master Saoterus. I am not about to answer yours, I’m afraid, but it’ll be to everyone’s advantage if you answer mine. There is a flood of violence building and the struts that hold the dam come in all shapes and sizes, even that of a simple guard. Why are you here?’
Saoterus folded his arms and leaned back against the wooden racks. ‘Very well. I am here to try and avert the looming crisis. Commodus and his sister must be reconciled before they tear Rome apart.’
Rufinus frowned. ‘Laudable. I’m not sure I see how such a thing could happen. You’ll be more aware than most of the lady’s attitude to her brother, and there are those in Rome who feel the same in the other direction.’
‘I am here to put a proposal to the lady Lucilla. It has taken me months and every argument at my disposal to get the emperor to agree to it, and he has imposed his own conditions, but it can be the only solution if this is to end peacefully.’