[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
better, but he did not come himself. The following day, Draco brought me a
letter written in Caius's familiar hand. I read it immediately, sitting up on
my bench now without effort. It was terse and unsigned.
Irejoice that you are better and improving rapidly. You frightened all of us
for a while. I may not come to you; the dangers are too great. Be assured that
I have not been idle on your behalf. Much has been done. More remains to be
done. You will be brought to trial soon. Have no fears. This travesty will
soon be dealt with and forgotten by all of us. Rufinus is dead. Your enemy has
no friends in the Empire now. Do not be tempted to keep this. Give it back to
the messenger to return
to me.
I read the missive three times before re-rolling it and handing it back to
Draco. "What dangers are too great?" I asked him.
He shrugged. "Seneca's the danger. He has men everywhere. If Caius Britannicus
were to visit you, it would be reported, and that would do no one any good.
Seneca's completely fooled, we think. He has no idea of how we really feel
about you. He believes that you really are the rebel we said you are."
"So? I can understand that. But who is Rufinus? I know the name but cannot
place it with a face or a position."
"Regent in the East as Stilicho is in the West."
As soon as he said the words, I remembered. Picus had told us in a letter how
Theodosius had split the guarding of his twin sons between his two finest
commanders, Flavius Stilicho and Flavius Rufinus. Divide and conquer. While
each of them lived, there could be little danger of the other usurping the
children's thrones.
I pondered that one. "What has that to do with Seneca?"
Draco grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing, and everything. Seneca was
a spy for Rufinus, it seems. Set to keep watch on Stilicho. Now Rufinus is
dead."
I gaped at him. "How do you know that?"
He grinned. "The General told me. Stilicho told him." I was not the only one
Page 118
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
of Cay's veterans who still referred to him as "the General."
"Stilicho knew? And did nothing?"
"Couldn't. Devious reasons, I'm told. Too many people could be hurt if he did
anything. So he put up with it. And with Seneca."
"Britannicus told you this? To tell me?"
"Why else? None of my affair."
"How did Rufinus die?"
Draco made a face and shook his head, indicating ignorance and indifference.
"And Seneca knows nothing of this?"
"Nothing. Only Stilicho knows. And Britannicus, and me, and now you."
I was mystified. "Why would he tell me this? I am to be tried soon. How soon?
Do you know?" He shook his head. "Does Caius Britannicus know?" Again a head
shake. I tutted in frustration and waved him away, and he left me alone to
practise walking and struggle with my thoughts, which were far from tranquil.
Two days later I was awakened by my regular guards and told that I was to be
indicted before a military tribunal that same morning. They hauled me upright,
bound me with walking chains around my ankles and shackled my hands behind my
back. I was almost sick with terror, and more than aware of the weakness in my
legs, as they marched me out of my cell and up a long and winding stairway,
where I teetered insecurely alongside the vertiginous depths of the stairwell.
A long passageway at the top of the stairs led to an inner courtyard, and the
brightness of the morning sun blinded me after the gloom and darkness I
had become used to. But even as we walked, I felt myself grow stronger, and
soon I was stepping almost normally for me, feeling the tug of the chains and
hearing their metallic rattle at every step I took.
The dazzle left my eyes and I began to see again, and the first thing I saw
was my own filth-encrusted tunic; and then, out in the brightness and the
clean air, I smelled my own stink and it was almost enough to make me retch.
The tribunal, I thought bitterly, would really be impressed by my appearance.
I had a surprise in store, however, for my guards led me directly to a bath
house where they undid my chains and stripped me and let me bathe in cold
water. When I had finished, they threw me a bundle of clothes that were clean,
compared to those I had discarded. None of the six men escorting me spoke or
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]