Six for Gold

Chapter Sixteen

“Please sit down, Batzas.”

Anatolius remained standing in front of the window of John’s study. His visitor, a younger man with the broad, unmarked face of an overgrown boy, placed himself on the nearest stool. “Did you bring the documents I requested?”

Batzas’ hands tightened on his bundle of papers. “Yes, sir, but-”

“I hear you’re doing well with your temporary new responsibilities. Justinian has not yet named my successor?”

“The emperor is hoping you will reconsider and return.”

“I don’t think I shall. I’ll put in a good word for you. The work you’ve done for me has always been excellent.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Now to business. You composed the letter of introduction given to the Lord Chamberlain, I believe?”

Batzas confirmed this had been the case. Like every first-time visitor to John’s study, Batzas kept glancing uneasily to the girl in the wall mosaic. Anatolius was surprised John did not bring people there to be interrogated, considering the assistance Zoe’s discomfiting gaze would give him.

“Sir, I have those old drafts you were working on, but Justinian ordered the one for the Lord Chamberlain’s introduction be destroyed.”

“That is the usual procedure.”

“I was thinking, on the way over, pardon me, sir, but I can’t reveal anything-”

“I wouldn’t expect it, Batzas. As secretary to the emperor you must cultivate discretion as diligently as a gardener tends her herbs. If anyone had approached me with suspicious inquiries about imperial correspondence, I would have reported the fact to Justinian immediately.”

“That’s exactly what I would do in the same circumstances.”

“You are an astute young man. However, you are also aware that the emperor intensely dislikes being disturbed with trivial matters?”

“Understandably.”

“You’ll appreciate then why I asked you to bring me all the documents I left in my office. As I mentioned then, although I am no longer his official secretary, Justinian has ordered me to draft further correspondence regarding the Lord Chamberlain. There is a detail that has unfortunately escaped me. Naturally, I don’t want to impose on the emperor.”

He took the bundle Batzas had brought and rifled through it. “What miserable luck! I was certain I’d made a note of it.”

“Of what, sir?”

“The Lord Chamberlain’s destination.”

Batzas stiffened. “Sir, I am not permitted-”

“It’s just that I can’t recall how the place was spelled. Those Egyptian names are always so difficult, and I was hoping you could recall the spelling.”

“Oh. Well, if that’s all it is. I can probably remember it.” Batzas looked at the ceiling for a brief time, resembling a schoolboy who was being quizzed. “It’s M-e-h-e-n-o-p-o-l-i-s.”

Anatolius accompanied the young clerk to the door. It irked him to serve as a doorkeeper, but it was quicker than calling for Hypatia, who for once was spending the day there rather than in the hospice. He wondered if she was still at work in the garden.

How could a Lord Chamberlain employ only two servants? There were clerks at the palace who employed more.

As he saw Batzas out, a small brown bird flew into the atrium. They were always getting into his own house too, probably because they nested under the peristyle. He’d even seen them come straight down through the compluvium to bathe in the atrium’s impluvium.

He didn’t want the avian intruder to get upstairs, where there would be no escape and its panic would foul the floors. It was already perched halfway up the stairway, so Anatolius trotted forward, waving his hands. The bird took flight in a small explosion of pinfeathers, but fortunately fled into the garden.

Anatolius followed. Looking up, he saw the bird dwindle and vanish into the deep blue rectangle of sky framed by the roof of the peristyle.

Hypatia was working in one of the herb beds. Her hands were black with dirt and her tawny face, sheened with perspiration, glittered like polished marble.

At his greeting, she brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead, carefully using the back of her hand. Nevertheless, the gesture left a streak of grime. “I’m almost finished here, sir, and as soon as I get cleaned up I’ll see what I can find for the evening meal.”

“Don’t worry. You’re overworked, Hypatia. What have you been pruning?”

“It’s fennel and dill, sir. The fennel’s got into the dill and if it’s left there it will weaken the stock. Dill needs the light in the center of the garden, so I’ve been digging up the fennel plants to move them further away.”

“That sounds like an excellent solution.” He was trying to think of something else to say when she gathered her tools and went into the house.

Anatolius strolled around the garden for a time and then returned upstairs.

He decided to put away the will he’d been working on and go to see Thomas again.

When he entered the study he saw someone bent over the desk, studying the documents scattered there.

The figure straightened and turned, revealing a scarred ruin of a face whose skin resembled that of a fowl left on the spit too long.

“Hektor!”

“What are you doing, Anatolius, creeping around the Lord Chamberlain’s former residence? You startled me!”

“I’m staying here in his absence.”

“Indeed? And so it’s true this is your new line of business?” Hektor plucked a document up by a corner as if it were something distasteful. It was the will.

Hektor let it drop. “You’ve gone from being Justinian’s secretary to sweating in the employ of bakers. Such a pity.”

The former court page was dressed in spotless white garments decorated with embroidered squares depicting Christ on the cross and the risen Christ.

Unfortunately there was no finery in the empire that would draw attention away from the disfigured face.

“You have no right to be here, Hektor,” Anatolius snapped.

“I expected the house to be abandoned after the Lord Chamberlain’s enforced departure, and the carelessly unlocked house door gave me no reason to think otherwise.”

“It’s still occupied, as you see.”

“You’re not doing a very good job, are you? What if I were a common criminal?”

“Instead of an uncommon one? Well, if you haven’t come to scavenge whatever you can steal like some carrion-eater then why are you here?”

“I intend to take possession immediately.” Hektor glanced around the room. His gaze lingered on the wall mosaic. “It’s a most desirable property and could be furnished attractively. The Lord Chamberlain’s notion of comfort is not mine.”

Anatolius observed that John was a man of simple tastes.

“Then he’ll be much happier in a hovel in Egypt.”

Anatolius heard a step in the hallway and glimpsed Hypatia, who vanished in the direction of the kitchen.

Had she been listening?

“Leave, Hektor. You’re not welcome here.”

“What’s the hurry? John won’t be coming back. Our dear empress was correct all along. He was a cunning villain and now he’s been unmasked. Yet who would have guessed he’d go so far as to murder a senator? Whatever could he have been trying to conceal?” Hektor made the Christian sign. “I shall pray for his soul, sinner that he is.”

“Do I have to throw you out?” Anatolius grabbed Hektor’s arm.

Hektor jerked away. “Beware, Anatolius. If I appeal to the emperor-”

“You don’t appeal to anyone now, I’m afraid. Since I was the emperor’s secretary until recently, he knows me well, and I doubt he’d take much notice of whining complaints about me from a prancing fool like you.”

“You mistake me for the person I once was, Anatolius. The terrible accident I suffered was a gift from heaven. The veils of sin were lifted from my eyes and I saw the vanity of earthly things. However, we must also be practical. Even those who serve the Lord must have a place to live.”

“Why don’t you find a vacant pillar to crawl up and take up being a stylite instead of causing trouble for everyone?”

Hektor glared. “Your friend John will not be needing this house again.”

“He’ll be back before too long. How can you possibly doubt it?”

“Being in the confidence of those who are highly placed, I’ve been entrusted with more than a few secrets,” the other replied.

“You mean you’re a keyhole specialist.”

Hektor raised his gaze to the ceiling. “Lord,” he muttered, “please help this deluded paga-”

With a quick movement Anatolius struck Hektor square on the chest, sending him sprawling to the floor.

“I’m impressed! Your prayer’s been answered already! I’ve neglected the gymnasium lately and needed help getting exercise. Shall we continue?”

Hektor scrambled to his feet, fists clenched. “I’ll be back to take possession of this house when your protector is dead, Anatolius!”

His voice was a low snarl. “Until then, I wouldn’t make myself too comfortable here if I were you,” he went on. “It won’t be long until the Lord Chamberlain is on his way to whatever part of hell is reserved for pagans. Indeed, he may be writhing in the flames right now if the assassin has already caught up to him!”