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‘The next assassin he sends will succeed,’ said the charioteer. ‘My god has an army of millions. Any man who makes offerings to him can be used by him. He would kill you himself but he prefers to keep his hands clean. His soldiers will wipe you out for him.’

‘Then where is he now?’ she said. ‘Where is Jupiter?’

The man began to chuckle, then cackle, an inhuman sound that grew louder and more unhinged.

‘Still no answers? Perhaps you will be a bit more garrulous in a few days,’ said Claudia, leaning in closer to menace him, ‘when hunger and thirst are slowly eating you alive, rotting your body from within. Maybe then, you’ll feel like talking.’

She nodded to the guard.

‘Arrange for him to be executed in three days, if he is still alive and unwilling to name his master.’

They climbed back up into the foyer, as Hieronymus wailed and the charioteer screamed obscenities.

Claudia blocked the horrifying sound out of her mind.

‘It isn’t one man we’re looking for,’ she said. ‘I see it now. No wonder I could not pin it down to a single individual. Jupiter might have an army of mortals, all working for him, seized and used like weapons according to his will. Maybe they are not even in control of themselves.’

Damocles dabbed at his bald head with a cloth.

‘Do you remember, back in Pompeii, when Jupiter seemed to enter your brother?’ said Gia.

Claudia met her gaze in dread.

‘I will never forget. What did the prisoner say? That anyone who makes offerings to Jupiter can be called upon by him?’ She turned to Damocles. ‘If it were true, he could use any one of you as a weapon. Every man in Rome has made offerings to Jupiter.’

‘Not just men,’ said Gia. ‘What if he can call upon the women who have prayed to him too? We have all worshipped him, at festivals.’

It was too horrible, too colossal, to imagine.

‘We must talk to the prince now, and find out what he knows,’ said Claudia. ‘I will send for him.’

‘You must tread carefully, Empress,’ said Damocles. ‘Don’t do anything rash.’

‘Too late,’ said Gia, as the prince appeared.

‘My ears are burning,’ said Darius, striding up to them. ‘I do believe you’re talking about me… again.’

He was alone, without his guard, but he was smart enough to keep the curved sword on his belt.

‘I should speak with you privately,’ said Claudia. ‘You wouldn’t want the people to hear this. Come, follow me if you want peace.’

15. THE WISDOM OF THE WATERS

Claudia led the others into the palace temple, so the goddesses might be witness to whatever followed. She, Gia, Cassius, Darius and Damocles. The prince was outnumbered, but this didn’t seem to concern him.

She presented the dagger, unfurling it from its shroud.

‘This knife is the one found among your belongings,’ she said. ‘As you can see, it has the seal of Jupiter on it.’

Darius gazed at her in confusion.

‘Let me be clear,’ Claudia added. ‘This is the same kind of knife used by the man who tried to kill me in the Pantheon, and it matches the arrows fired at us today. Here, see.’

An attendant held the arrow up, for comparison.

‘You are accusing me?’ said Darius.

‘I am questioning you. It is different.’