‘How could I, since it is daily demonstrated? If I have campaigned successfully, Procopius, I have done so only because of men like you. It takes more than soldiers to win a war and you have matched my very best fighters.’
‘I have seen it as an honour, Magister, though your kind words encourage me to continue to air my thoughts.’
If Procopius noted the weary quality of the response it had no bearing on the way he spoke; he was earnest, occasionally passionate, and not beyond insults aimed at the imperial couple.
‘Theodora hates you and is jealous. No matter how well you behave she will see in your every action betrayal – and does Justinian, whom you call a friend, put a stop to this? No! He allows his wife to traduce the man who helped to save both their lives and their thrones.’
‘I was not alone in that.’
‘But if you had not acted, would others have been so keen to protect them from the Nika mob?’
‘It is a mistake to underestimate Theodora, Procopius. Justinian was all for flight, a ship was waiting in the palace harbour. It was she who was prepared to stay and die rather than run away.’
‘And you admire her for that?’
‘How could I not?’
‘Did you also have reason to admire Justinian?’ Flavius had stopped at the horse lines and, having brought with him a small sack of carrots, the next part of the conversation was accompanied by the crunching of equine teeth. ‘I have never made a secret of my opinion of our emperor, have I, Magister?’
‘No.’
‘And you have served him faithfully.’
‘I have done my duty as a soldier of the empire.’
‘Not without frustrations.’
The last carrot gone, Flavius turned to face Procopius. ‘I tire of this, so please come to the point. You know I value your advice and it is obvious to me you want to give it to me. So no more hints, Procopius, speak out.’
‘Even if what I say might be treason?’
‘We are alone, no one can overhear you and I will never use against you anything you now say, on that you have my word.’
‘Do I detect from that you are minded to consider the offer the Goths have made?’
It was now the turn of Flavius to be irritated and his response was severe. ‘That is a question I have already answered!’
Another long pause followed as Procopius marshalled his thoughts, and he even, again Flavius thought dramatically, took a deep breath before continuing.
‘If I was to make a case for acceptance it would be on these points and I ask for your indulgence beforehand if in talking I stray into areas of a personal nature. First, it is my opinion that you serve an emperor who does not know your worth and that is made worse by the suspicions of a woman whose opinion should count for nothing.’
‘But they do.’
‘Theodora has reason in her own mind to fear you. The success you have enjoyed leading our armies, the way you are popular with the people and your patent honesty make you a candidate to succeed Justinian should the Emperor die, and where would the power of Theodora be then?’
‘I am glad you say “succeed”.’
‘I know you too well to suggest otherwise, even if I find your loyalty to that throne misplaced, yet that is not the subject on which I wish to pronounce. What do you gain by accepting the offer made to you? Equality with the Emperor instead of subservience to a man so fickle no person can know his mood from one moment to the next, as well as a ruler so weak in his bedchamber he will allow his spouse to conspire against the most upright of his generals.’
‘It is probably wise to leave bedchambers out of this.’
‘And what of his public behaviour? When you were given the consulship it was done in a manner designed to say that if you had enjoyed great victories, then it was under his hand and his guidance.’
‘It was still a great honour, Procopius.’
‘It was shabbily given and how much was Theodora’s hand in that, a woman who has trapped you into marriage that has within it more misery than regard and will do all in her power to keep it so.’
‘Photius thinks I should kill them both.’
‘Without pausing to consider what would happen to you?’
‘That is not the reason I do not act upon his counsel.’
‘Honour again?’
‘Sacrilege!’ came the near shouted reply. ‘How could I face my maker with such an act on my conscience, as if I do not have enough already?’
‘Would you not, as a ruler in your own right, be able to put Antonina aside? Perhaps you could find a warmer bed mate, for it aids a man to be so comforted.’
‘But not you?’
‘There are needs I do not require, as other men do, inclinations that render them weak.’ That got a snort from Flavius. ‘In ploughing my own furrow I am free to act effectively.’
‘And advise me to accept the kingship of the Goths.’ There was no response so Flavius was obliged to ask the next obvious question. ‘And what about Emperor of the West?’
‘It would be impolitic to assume such a title immediately, but if you ruled Italy, Justinian would be obliged to treat with you.’
‘Or send an army to defeat me.’
‘One he would struggle to raise with trouble brewing on the Persian border.’
‘So there I am treating with Justinian, for what?’
‘Peace, security, recognition of the kind once enjoyed by Theodoric the Great.’
‘And if it came to war?’
‘You command the best army the empire can field and you are its best general. How many of the citizens love Justinian? Even fewer have any regard for Theodora. If he does not grant you peace he risks that you march on Constantinople, and I would wager that if you were to do that the citizens of the city would overthrow Justinian in favour of you.’
‘I marched on Constantinople once before, Procopius, and was full of hope till I saw its walls.’
‘While I maintain it would fall from within if you were the man to besiege it. Recall when you walked or rode unescorted through the streets how people hailed you. Neither Justinian nor Theodora dare move without a large number of guards. I would also add, Magister, that the object of unification of the twin parts of the empire, to which both you and Justinian are wedded, would be just as valid, perhaps even more so, under an Emperor Flavius Belisarius.’
‘How many necks would I have to sever to realise that vision?’
‘How many deserve to have their heads removed?’
‘You and I perhaps, Procopius, for even discussing this.’
Seeing the secretary about to speak Flavius held up a hand to stop him, not least because their promenade had brought them full circle to where they were now approaching the building that acted as the Byzantine headquarters. Within the walls would be assembled his senior officers for the conference that took place every day, and those men would be eager to hear what was to happen regarding the capture of Ravenna.
‘I have enough to consider, perhaps too much, but I have one question to pose to you. If this dream of yours came to fruition, where would you see yourself?’
‘In your service, as I am now.’
‘But richer?’
‘A matter in which I have little interest.’
That was true, as far as Flavius knew. Procopius was not one to turn away a chance to make money. He never sought to hide the bribes he was offered to open doors to an audience with his master, who, ever since he began campaigning in North Africa, had a horde of folk pleading for him to intercede and solve their problems. Much of that sort of problem never even reached his ears; Procopius had dealt with them and in the nature of things had been given many presents for his actions, all of these declared and shared.