Vicinus held up the bundle of papers that had formed the case. ‘I have my weapons in my hand and they are such that you will be unable to fight them. If I have my way, the knife will be visible just before it takes out your eyes. You will end up begging in the street and when I spit on you be assured I will name myself!’
Flavius wanted to hit him and was about to, when the bustle from the balcony distracted him and that allowed Vicinus to slip by and leave the chamber. John, who had been witness to the exchange now came forward.
‘He begged to be your examiner.’
‘One day I will tell you why.’
That was responded to by a smile from thick wet lips. ‘The rumours of how you aided Justinian’s uncle to the purple are not the only ones that float about. It is said that Justinian contrived your revenge and in doing so brought down one of the most powerful senators to serve Anastatius, a man who might have strong say in the succession.’
‘Such stories are old and from a long time past.’
‘Do you think you have seen off Theodora?’
‘I have dented the case.’
‘True, which would be of use if it was the only one against you.’
‘What else could there be?’
Again a smile, but neither friendly nor humorous. ‘I sensed when we met you do not trust me, for which I can see sound reasons. But know this, Flavius Belisarius, survival in this world is not like the field of battle. Here there are no friends or enemies to see and recognise, merely people with whom to associate or not and time bears on that. Yesterday’s problem can be today’s solution.’
‘So?’
‘When you appear tomorrow there will be other charges laid against you.’
‘What charges?’
‘Come to my villa later and I will tell you.’
His absolute assurance irritated Flavius, who had not fully calmed down from his brush with Vicinus. It was only later that he wondered if it had been wise to so abruptly decline any aid from the Cappadocian by saying, as he strode away, ‘My conscience is clear!’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Thinking the following day would be a repeat of its predecessor, Flavius was thrown when the object of the questioning went nowhere near the meeting at Edessa. Vicinus, who should have been chastened, looked supremely confident when he stood to speak to a hushed chamber. Now it was he who with some deliberation threw a glance at the balcony.
‘The senate has decided to call into question, Flavius Belisarius, certain of your decisions in your campaigns on the Persian border. I will put certain points to you and ask for an interpretation. I remind you that when you answer you do so before not only the senate of the Roman Empire but the Augustus whom we see fit to elevate to a position of guidance.’
Flavius, as Vicinus produced a dramatic pause, was thinking the word ‘guidance’ to be farcical; the assembly never dared challenge any decision made by Justinian or any of his predecessors all the way back to Octavian. The graveyards of the empire both east and west were full of the bones of those who had gambled and lost.
‘Added to that, you are answerable to God Almighty for the replies you provide.’
‘I have never doubted that the Almighty can see into the very depths of our souls and that sins committed in this life are paid for in the next.’
Meant to check Vicinus it failed; he flushed angrily. ‘You will confine yourself to answering what questions the senate puts to you. Your observations are not welcome.’
‘To some more than others,’ Flavius added pointedly. Such blatant defiance had Vicinus turn to the presiding officer, Decius, who responded with a sonorous rebuke.
‘Ancinius Probus Vicinus speaks for this house, Flavius Belisarius. When you defy him you likewise defy the senate, which will hardly bend us to whatever defence you produce.’
‘I ask that the charges be read out to me.’
‘A task I will happily undertake.’
Vicinus aimed his words at Decius who told him to proceed with a nod. His prosecutor then picked up a sheaf of papers and made his way to the well of the chamber there to wave them, though he obviously knew the contents off by heart as he made no reference to them as he spoke.
‘Item. That in the campaign of the Year of Our Lord, five-forty-one, you prematurely broke off fighting the enemy King Khusrow in order to rendezvous with your wife Antonina Belisarius at the fortress of Dara. In short, you placed your private desires ahead of the needs of you responsibilities.’
Flavius actually laughed, which brought a flush of anger to the cheeks of Vicinus. But he did not add any words to state how absurd such a notion was, given he had no desire that she should be at his side at all. That was dirty washing, not to be aired in public.
‘I hear no reply?’
‘While I suspect that given the inane nature of such an accusation you have more stupidities with which to accuse me.’
That got a look around the chamber from Vicinus. He was enjoying playing to the crowd, his face now wearing a smile that spoke of a deeper knowledge than his peers.
‘We are, my fellow senators, in the eyes of the accused, stupid.’
The voices of protest did not come from all the attendees, Flavius supposed it only emanated from the throats of those seeking to impress Theodora, and their desire to do so could be graded by their level of shouted rebuke.
‘By your actions you left isolated a substantial body of your own command. Your precipitate withdrawal handed back to Khusrow not only the recently captured city of Sisauranon, but in bypassing the fortress of Nisibis you failed to counter a thorn in the side of the empire. In what way do you plead?’
‘I retired because of plague in the army. Sisauranon was too far into Sassanid territory to be defended and there was no threat to our territory from Nisibis.’
‘No threat from Nisibis,’ Vicinus sneered. ‘Such a small matter that Anastatius Augustus, may God rest his soul, doled out a fortune in gold to build the fortress of Dara so that what you call “no threat” could be countered.’
‘There are many august people here in attendance, but few are soldiers, even less are commanders and none, I can say with confidence, have beaten the Sassanids in battle. I bow the knee to no man in that.’
Again Flavius was acutely aware of the way his words were received; that some of the senators were embarrassed when reminded of his famous victory, it was not enough to give him the impression that his statement altered the mood of the entire chamber.
‘Past splendours are not germane to this examination of your conduct, for what happened in forty-one was only a precursor to an even more telling dereliction shortly before you were called back to face this house. You are called upon to answer as to how it was possible that the Sassanid King could, at will, sack the city of Callinicum and enslave the entire population while you had an army in the field with the express purpose of opposing him. I might add he is now demanding we ransom these unfortunate captives.’
‘We agreed a truce, he broke it and it would not be the first time a ruler of the lands of Persia had broken a solemn undertaking.’
‘Solemn undertaking,’ Vicinus intoned, as if it were a disease as deadly as the plague. ‘And to whom was this “solemn undertaking” given?’
‘To me, as magister militium per Orientem.’
‘How convenient that you can produce this notion that is unknown to anyone else. Perhaps you would care to show where in writing this agreement exists.’
‘It was verbal and witnessed by my officers-’
‘Who would be the same men,’ Vicinus interrupted, ‘who saw you as a potential emperor? I doubt we can look to them for an honest assessment.’