I was not certain Livius would appreciate me calling him a friend, but I did not know how to account for him.Very, very powerful and wealthy secret son of a man I once did business withseemed an inadequate explanation.
Livius did not dispute the label. “I am a freedman who has been extraordinarily lucky.”
“And I am Nonus Marcianus,medicus.”
Livius gave him a nod that was more of a bow. “I am honored, sir.”
Marcianus as an Equestrian outranked a freedman many times over. Livius, no matter how much money he acquired, could never hold high office or marry into certain classes or be considered anything but a former slave. Yet Livius wore more gold on his wrists than Marcianus would make in a year, even from patching up expensive gladiators.
Herakles shifted impatiently. “Can we return to Ajax being cut up like firewood? You said he’d supped with a wealthy man. One likehim?” He glared at Livius in suspicion. “It would be just like a Roman dog to gut one of my countrymen.”
“Or your lady of the villa did,” I told him.
Herakles snorted. “Domitiana? She wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’d fear to mar her manicure.”
“Wealthy women can hire men to do the difficult deeds for them,” Marcianus pointed out. “I suggest we discuss it elsewhere rather than beside her door.”
“Agreed.” Livius gestured us onward. “I will lend myself and my bodyguards to escort you to the gate of your ludus. You will be safe with them.”
“Possibly Ajax was told the same thing,” Herakles muttered, but he started with us along the path southward toward the ludus.
I let the bodyguards pass me as they surrounded Livius, Herakles, and Marcianus. Cassia hesitated as well until we were a dozen or so paces behind the others.
“Were you all right in there?” I asked her.
I could see only Cassia’s eyes in the folds of her cloak, but they crinkled as though she smiled. “Yes, indeed. As I said, I know some of her servants well. They will not mention my name to her.”
“You are very certain,” I stated.
Cassia slowed her pace. “Do you have friends you trust beyond logic? Nonus Marcianus, for instance.”
“Yes.” The answer came without hesitation. I would trust Marcianus with my life and had several times. In a way, I trusted Aemil, though I knew he was self-serving. But he was honest.
“These are people like that,” she said. “I’ve known them most of my life.”
“They told you much?”
“All about Domitiana Sabinus and Herakles, yes. I will tell you more when we are private. Did you find Rufus?”
“No.” One of the guards glanced over his shoulder at us and slowed his pace, and I gave Cassia a cautioning glance. “When we are home.”
Cassia agreed, and we caught up to the party.
Septimius stood at the gate again this afternoon. He straightened quickly when he saw us coming, then put his hand on his sword, glower in place at the bodyguards and the man they surrounded.
Marcianus stepped in front of the guards. “Let us in, Septimius, there’s a good fellow. I will vouch for Livius and his entourage.”
Aemil was already jerking open the gate. “Herakles,” he bellowed. “Thank all the gods. In your cell—now—or feel my wrath. Leonidas, why did you bring a mob with you? Did you find Rufus?”
Shaking my head, I said, “I spoke to his wife and his mistresses then searched where I could on this side of the river, but there is no sign of him.”
Aemil let out a curse in his Gallic language. “At least you found one of the strays. What about Regulus? Where in Hades is he?”
“I haven’t seen him either.”
Aemil scowled at me as though I were to blame for his troubles as Herakles slid through the gate and strolled toward the arched line of cells.
“Can I help?” Livius asked, his voice full of smooth strength.
