Ideas fell together.I wasn’t certain I was right, but as Cassia would not speak, I did.
“Powerful enough to threaten theprincepsif Priscus is touched?”
Livius regarded me quietly with a hint of a smile.“You knew this?”
“I guessed it.”
He nodded, the calm with which he acknowledged his complicity showing he was powerful indeed.
“I can call on the assistance of many people from all tiers, plebeian to patrician.”Livius’s smile was self-deprecating.“I never had ambition for such power when I was younger—it arose as a consequence of my inheritance, and I learned to use opportunities.I have no wish to remove theprincepsor establish another in his place.I only wish to keep alive the one man who is important to me.A truly good man, who should live out his life in peace.”
When Livius finished this speech, he glanced from me to Cassia.“This is secret knowledge, my friends.It can go no further.”
If it did, I sensed, Cassia and I would be the first to pay.That was his unspoken promise.
“We will keep your confidence,” I said.“I too would like to see Priscus left in peace.He is a good man.”
Livius’s expression turned wry.“Priscus is a bit … unworldly.I will do all in my capacity to protect him.”
“As will I.”I had a thought.“Did you return the money to Priscus?The casket of gold the pirates managed to capture?”
Livius acknowledged this with a nod.“My men were there that day, lurking in watch, ready to intervene if necessary.But there was no need.You were as good as your reputation indicates.My men alerted the Ostian authorities that the men were brigands, and were there to help round them up once they fled you.My head guardsman had the presence of mind to walk away with the casket while soldiers arrested the pirates.I hear theprincepsordered the pirates executed immediately.He’s being praised for it, for keeping the waters that much safer for the rest of us.”
Livius’s neutral expression gave me no indication about what he thought of Nero’s deed.But I saw satisfaction that he had saved his natural father along with Priscus’s coin.
“It was good of you,” I said.
“I had no use for the money.”Livius brushed his generosity aside.We studied each other a moment, then Livius drew a breath.“I will detain you no more.Good day, Leonidas the Spartan.”
I gave him a nod in farewell.
Livius turned to depart but paused at the top of the stairs.“If you need a friend, do call on me.I am indebted to you for saving my father’s life, and that of his son.”
He glanced at our shrine to the departed as though reflecting on the irony that he’d saved the family he could never acknowledge.Then he squared his shoulders and strode out.
We heard his even tramp on the stairs and his barked order to his guards.I moved to the balcony to watch the four walk away, Livius always surrounded.Crowds parted for them like water from a prow.
Cassia joined me on the balcony, and I sent her an accusing look.“How did you know?”
“Celnus and Kephalos.”Cassia kept her voice low, though the shouts and calls of people on the street would prevent any from hearing our conversation.“As I said, they told me about the freed boy.When I spoke to them last evening, they said they knew the boy had been adopted by a very wealthy landholder, though not who.But a wealthy landholder decided to purchase a building that belonged to Priscus, one this landholder likely couldn’t sell for much, yet he pays a premium price for it.I thought it was obvious.”
She shook her head, her pitying exasperation with her informants clear.
“Do Celnus and Kephalos know Livius is his son?”
“No, indeed.They have all the pieces, but cannot put them together.”
Again, the pity.I’d met few men with minds as quick as Cassia’s.
I moved inside, out of the sun.“I didn’t bring bread.I’ll fetch it.”
“No.”Cassia forestalled me.“I will.The walk will do me good, and you won’t know what to ask for.The baker is tricky.”
“Tricky?”I yawned, my long night weighing heavily upon me.
“Sly, I should say.It is best I deal with him.I’ll return soon.Why don’t you nap until I do, and we’ll have lunch.”
I could barely keep to my feet.I did not like to send Cassia out alone, but I knew she would talk rings around this baker, as she likely did every day.I’d rest and look for her if she remained out too long.
