A sharp nod from the same hook-nosed fellow; his companions stared straight ahead and added nothing and Flavius took a chair of his own.
‘Then I am awaiting what it is you have come to see me about.’
‘As you know, Flavius Belisarius, we elect our rulers.’
An amused smile and a shrug. ‘It is not beyond the habits of Constantinople to occasionally act in a similar fashion.’
‘And you will not be surprised to learn that we have tempered our faith in Witigis to lead us.’
‘It would ill suit me to slight a man who has fought me, and well.’
‘But he is also a man who has lost.’
‘It is rare in war that one side does not win while another loses. But Witigis has been both shrewd and resourceful, therefore I would be unhappy that anything said should diminish that.’
‘And what does the man who has won wish to gain?’
Flavius shrugged. ‘The approbation of his peers, the respect of his officers and, in my case, the gratitude of his emperor.’
‘And if he could be granted more?’
‘Such as?’ Flavius asked, even if he knew what was coming.
‘Italy.’
‘I have already conquered Italy, which given you’re here can hardly have escaped your notice.’
‘We have come to offer you the kingship of the Goths.’ It was hard to keep a straight face, even if Flavius had got there ahead of the actual words, even more difficult with that which was suggested next. ‘And if you aspire to the title of Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, then we, the Goths, will support you in taking that title. We’re sure that you will carry the majority of your army with you as well.’
‘Not even Theodoric the Great aspired to that, or if he did, he had the sense not to provoke Constantinople by calling himself “emperor”.’
‘He chose not to, you may decide otherwise.’
Flavius looked at Procopius, whose face, lit by the oil lamps and the flaring logs, looked avaricious. It was as if the offer was being made to him.
‘This proposal is being made without the knowledge of Witigis?’
‘It is. Should you accept, we will tell him.’
Flavius spread his hands in a gesture of concern. ‘If I was to even consider your proposal, and that is yet to be decided, it would only be on the understanding that he concurred. You Goths, as you say, elect your rulers, but too often the man deposed also forfeits his life.’
The elaborate shrug was far from reassuring, which had Flavius adding an insistence that the offer had to come from Witigis before it could even be deliberated upon.
‘So I bid you return to the city and speak with him, but of course I offer you refreshment should you so desire it.’
‘No. But I ask that we be able to return on the morrow?’
‘That you must arrange with my secretary, who seems to know how to get you in to my presence without the knowledge of anyone else.’
‘And your inclination, Flavius Belisarius?’
‘There is as yet no such thing.’
‘But there might be?’
The reply came as Flavius stood. ‘What there will be is serious contemplation.’
Interview plainly over, the trio likewise stood and with direct looks departed, escorted by Procopius. Left to think for several minutes, Flavius was still in deep meditation when his secretary returned, to give him a meaningful glance that presaged a question, and one Flavius had no desire to answer.
‘Not a word, Procopius, if you please. Let us see what the morrow brings.’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It was fanciful to think that his secretary would stay silent; no great depth of perception was required to recognise that he had a hand deep in the whole approach. Those Goth noblemen had come to Flavius through him and there was a nagging doubt as to who had initiated the notion. Had Procopius sought them out or was it, as had been implied, the other way round? The former was the most troubling and a restless night did nothing to help settle the mind.
Despite their fraught relationship, Flavius still breakfasted and dined with Antonina – appearances had to be maintained and they did share a villa. Over that meal she began to question him as to what was to happen next, which also served to make her husband uncomfortable. How much did she know? His wife was a very acute observer of both mood and movement, who was not beyond listening at doors. She had spent time with Domnicus and would know in detail what were his instructions from Justinian and how they had been overborne.
Hints that refusing to bend to the imperial will was a dangerous game were mixed with sly enquiries as to what he might hope to gain from such an attitude. Did they hint at knowledge and if so where could it have come from? Procopius would never give her any information, but Antonina was well able to browbeat servants into indiscretions and very often that was unnecessary.
As a group they were numerous and ever the enemy of secrecy, being all around, silent and often having their presence ignored, a point made to Procopius when he and his master were once more alone. For the sake of security this took place in the open air, walking through lines in which the tents were empty, the soldiers being at their daily exercises.
‘Nothing was said that would be overheard by my servants and I ensured none of your own, or those of your wife, were able to witness the arrival of that embassy.’
‘Embassy?’ asked Flavius, it being an odd word to use, implying that he was already a ruler. ‘Do I qualify for such a thing?’
Procopius let that pointed observation go by. ‘As long as you maintain the fiction I presented, that these envoys are Romans, that should keep matters secure. As you will have observed, their leader spoke excellent Latin and the others, who have heavy Goth accents, did not utter a word from their arrival to their departure.’
‘Present, I assume, only to ensure their spokesman did not betray their cause?’
‘Probably.’
‘What a polity they wish me to oversee.’
‘Perhaps it is one that in the right hands could be improved and I doubt it is any worse than pertains in the imperial court. The men who came to see you have certain fears that would be laid to rest by acceptance of what they offer.’ The look that got was an instruction to be specific. ‘What will they lose if they merely surrender? Their wealth, certainly, both individually and as a tribe, just as did the Vandals when you took their treasure.’
‘What else?’
‘They fear to be sent to the east as captives, with no chance of ever being able to return. They would thus be split from everything they hold as precious.’ The pause that followed, covering several paces and accompanied by a studied countenance, had an overdramatic quality. ‘I am bound to enquire, Magister, which way your mind is working?’
‘As of this moment, Procopius, it is not working at all.’
As an attempt to deflect further question that was a complete failure, and now Procopius adopted a grave expression as he made what had to be to him a point of some importance. ‘Am I at liberty to say that whatever you decide has some bearing on my station?’
‘I have never known you shirk such a liberty.’
The laugh that accompanied those words, again an attempt at deflection, also fell flat. Procopius had to swiftly adjust what had become an angry expression brought on by the way his concerns were being dismissed.
‘Then I ask to be allowed to outline the options you face.’
‘Which makes it sound to me as if you are in favour of acceptance.’
‘There are arguments on both sides. All I ask is that I be allowed to express matters as I see them in order to aid you, which is a function I have previously enjoyed and one I hope you have found useful.’
‘It is unlike you to go fishing for praise.’
His secretary took that as permission to proceed, which if it annoyed Flavius, left him unable to stop the flow of words that followed.
‘It would be impossible to deny that you deserve the offer made to you. Recall with what numbers we arrived in Italy. How many gave the force under your command any chance of success? Few, and perhaps with myself as one of them.’ That engendered a dismissive and slightly embarrassed wave. ‘I hope you do not doubt my loyalty to you personally.’