Fortuna at the Rudder: The Curious Adventures of Gaius Obsequens Dolo Tribune of the Roman Army by Erik Hildinger

Author:Erik Hildinger [Hildinger, Erik]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

XX

Gaius Relaxes

The Emperor Worries

* * *

“W

hat I can’t figure out is why I was so worried about Volusianus and the ledger. I mean, all the figures come out exactly right.”

Merobauda, Faustinus and Gaius were all back in his quarters, the first two sitting uneasily on shabby old chairs while Gaius stretched out comfortably on the couch with a glass of wine. Merobauda looked meaningfully at Faustinus, who shrugged to show his sympathy with her.

“I mean,” Gaius went on fatuously, “why couldn’t Volusianus see there was no problem in the first place? All that threatening me with death and so on, and he didn’t have a leg to stand on. Though he seemed to enjoy it.” Gaius looked into the glass and swirled the wine. “It’s a good thing it all worked out properly because I didn’t have enough cash to pay him off.” Merobauda and Faustinus gave him stoney looks. Gaius went on happily: “I can tell that you’re both dubious about so much of my ready money going to Milan to prosecute the lawsuit, but there really wasn’t any choice.” He looked down for a moment, musing. “Still, I hope Crastinus doesn’t keep too much of it for himself.”

“Yes. We can only hope.” Merobauda’s tone was very cold.

“It’s a fine line, I suppose. One the one hand, he can enrich himself at my expense while prosecuting the case—I expect some of that, of course—or he can enrich himself by winning the case. Which will pay better? Or which will he reckon pays him better? That’s really the question.”

“You might have thought of that first.” Her tone was icy.

“Unfortunately, I have to trust him.” He said obliviously and took sip of wine. He leaned back against a pillow, and reflected on the questions before returning to the original subject. “Frankly, I just don’t see why we need a second set of books if the figures all tot up correctly. And yet, it can’t be as simple as that, can it?”

Merobauda winced and looked up at the ceiling in exasperation.

“I mean, we really have been operating as though we have fifty more soldiers than we do. It’s so puzzling. In fact, I’m just as puzzled as Volusianus, now that I come to think of it.”

Merobauda said, “You’re worse than my first husband.”

“First? Is there another?” Gaius, who had forgotten about the late, lightning-struck Rutuolf, glanced about the room as though there might be another husband somewhere—possibly lurking in a corner.

“You’re my second husband. Or you will be if you have any sense.”

“Well, I suppose…” he drifted into silence.

“Honestly. Sometimes I think you need a keeper.”

Faustinus coughed gently and said, “Master, it was all just a trick of Cornelia Merobauda’s.”

“Really?” Gaius sat up and put his wine glass down. “Well, of course. Yes, of course it was. Anyone can see that.”

“You couldn’t. And, more to the point, Volusianus couldn’t,” Merobauda said.

“Mistress, I’m just as lost as the Tribune here about how you did it,” Faustinus said. “The figures can’t all add up. And yet they did.

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