Dangerous Emperor 003: The Cursed City by Laurence O'Bryan

Author:Laurence O'Bryan [O'Bryan, Laurence]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

XLVI

Polensis, 326 A.D.

The physician cut a strip of yellow bandage. “Do not get up again,”

he said, waving a finger at Crispus.

He looked at Constantine. “Can you make him stay still, Emperor?”

Constantine shook his head. “I wish I could.”

The physician slipped the wide bandage under Crispus’ body.

“There was a woman outside looking for you, my lord,” he whispered to Crispus.

Constantine heard the comment. “Who was looking for him?”

The physician looked from the emperor to his son.

“Some old woman who lost her daughters.” He shrugged.

Constantine looked at his son. Crispus had his lips pressed tight, as if trying to suppress something.

“Tell her not to come back. My son knows nothing about what happened to her daughters. And,” he leaned toward the physician, “if she does come back, she must give me the gold coins I paid her earlier.”

The physician nodded, headed for the door.

“And close the door after you,” said Constantine. He turned back to Crispus. He’d pulled a faded red blanket over himself.

“Did you kill that woman’s daughters?” he said. “It’s time you started telling the truth, Crispus.”

Crispus stared up at him. “Why do a few whores matter?” He sounded indignant. “They got paid extra for playing dangerous games.” He snorted. “At least they went to the gods doing what they enjoyed.”

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LP O’Bryan

“So you don’t deny it,” said Constantine. He expected now that Crispus had been involved with Seutonius too. If he liked such pleasures, admitted to them, this had to be the reason Seutonius had taken that apartment in that part of Rome.

He remembered a trick he’d used many years before to get to the truth.

“You killed Seutonius too.”

Crispus looked up at him.

“Lucius brought a slave girl with him who overheard you talking to him the night he died,” said Constantine. “I am going to hear what she has to say later. But it will be better if I hear it from you.

Save me having to meet her.” Constantine tapped his sandal on the stone floor.

Crispus’ expression changed. He looked bewildered. “You cannot believe a slave over me.” He put his hand up.

“I want to know what happened,” said Constantine.

“I’ve always loved you, Father. That is the truth. I never schemed against you, as so many advised me to do. I commanded your troops again and again, and brought you victory at Chrysopolis, when I could have taken over the empire.” He shook his head. “And now you want to ask a slave what she has to say about me.”

“I won’t speak to her, if you explain to me why you killed Seutonius.”

“Father, come here. I do not want anyone outside to hear this.”

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