The Crossroads Brotherhood (9 page)

‘H
AVING OUR VERY
own tame senator so close to Antonia has to be a good thing surely?’ Servius said, shaking the dice cup vigorously.

‘I wouldn’t call him tame,’ Magnus replied, taking his eye off the street to watch the dice roll across the table. ‘Ah, two threes and a two. Eight. Double it, Brother.’ He slammed four sesterces down and scooped up the dice in his cup. ‘Like all rich men he just wants more power and more wealth.’

‘And poor men don’t?’

Magnus grunted, acknowledging the point, as he made his cast. ‘Pluto’s balls, four, three, one. Eight again. And anyway, being in Antonia’s favour may be lucrative but along with that comes some high expectations. He’ll have to work hard to maintain his position with her and that will mean some rough jobs for us.’

A raucous shout of satisfaction from the crowded table next to them indicated a large pot had been won. Lucio snapped his fingers under a glum-looking Cassandros’ nose and Sextus chortled, slapping his palm on the bench, as Jovita stepped out of the tavern carrying two plates of roasted pork and bread.

‘We can afford to take on a few new faces with what we got last night plus the extra income that’s sure to come from Terentius, that should help,’ Servius pointed out, taking his turn. ‘Twelve! Double it again.’

Jovita placed the food on the table as Magnus matched the bet. ‘Festus has slipped back into unconsciousness again,’ she said wiping the grease off her hands onto her tunic, ‘and the wound’s started to ooze. There’s nothing more I can do.’

‘Call for a proper doctor, then,’ Magnus said, shaking the dice cup. ‘We owe it to him and it ain’t as if we can’t afford it.’

Jovita nodded and walked off.

Magnus slammed the cup upside down on the table, keeping the dice hidden. ‘What about Tigran and his cousin? They did well last night and they’ve got nothing, so they’d be loyal if we give them a chance.’

‘They ain’t citizens.’

‘We’ll give them less of a percentage then, like auxiliaries, if you take my meaning?’ Magnus lifted the cup slightly towards him, peered under and cracked it back down. ‘Shit! Fortuna spent the last of my luck last night.’

Servius scraped his winnings towards him. ‘Then I can’t see a problem. I’ll send one of the lads to find them later.’

‘Marcus Salvius Magnus.’

Magnus looked up to see Terentius standing at the end of the table, holding a purse.

‘I’ve come to thank you for looking after my interests,’ he said placing the purse in front of Magnus, ‘and to assure you that I won’t tell anyone what I know about the events of last night.’

‘That would be wise, for both our sakes, Terentius.’ Magnus pushed the purse back. ‘There’s no need to pay me, it was covered by your percentage.’

‘This isn’t a payment, Magnus. This was Blandinus’ purse that he brought to spend with me yesterday. It would be wrong for me to keep it. I’ve heard how he was found and I’m sorry that I was, in a way, responsible.’

‘Yeah well, that’s the thing about patronage, it goes both ways and you never get something for nothing not even if you’re the emperor.’

Terentius nodded, smiling sadly. ‘Still, one good thing came out of Blandinus’ death: that bastard Macro has got his wish, he’s taken Blandinus’ position. I shan’t be missing that particular Tribune patrolling our streets. Keep the purse.’

Magnus picked it up and felt its weight. ‘Perhaps I’ll use it for what it was intended for and spend it in your house.’

‘You’ve no need to bring any money if you visit me. As I’ve always told you: you can have the run of my establishment for free.’

‘I know, Terentius my friend; but as we all know, no one gives something for nothing.’

Terentius inclined his head, turned gracefully and walked away.

‘Are you really thinking of giving that a try?’ Servius asked, taking a mouthful of pork.

‘Why not? Don’t judge it until you’ve tried it and besides, change pleases. And it would be on Blandinus.’ Magnus grinned and tipped out the coins onto the table. His eyes widened in surprise. ‘That’s forty Denarii or so.’

‘Blandinus must have been planning quite a night.’

‘Yeah. And Terentius must be feeling very bad about him to give up that amount of money.’

‘Strange morals for a whore-boy master.’

Magnus looked up and watched Terentius walking away along the Alta Semita. ‘Very strange,’ he agreed as a party of travellers on horseback followed by a litter, coming towards him, caught his eye. He picked up the dice and threw them. ‘Three sixes, Venus. Fortuna’s back with me.’ He looked over to his brothers still playing dice on the table next to him. ‘I’ll do this one lads, they’ve got guards and a litter; I’d say that they could well afford our services. Stay alert.’

He studied the party as they approached. Behind three mounted guards rode an equestrian in his mid-fifties flanked by what looked to be his two sons. He was talking animatedly with the youth riding on his right who had a look of awe on his round, sun-tanned face as he looked about.

Getting up off the bench, Magnus timed his walk so that he got between the party and their guards and stood, full-square, in front of the leading traveller’s horse, forcing it to stop. Magnus looked up at the man, his face set hard and menacing. ‘You’ll be needing protection, sir, if you’re thinking of going down that road.’