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alert to the point at which you will need to get your candidate through to the imperial chambers, while I send Flavius to ready his fellow officers, those to whom I have imparted what is to take place. They’ll then take up the stations and only those you designate will be permitted to pass through them.’
    The croak that got hinted at real dread. ‘You have not used my name to these people?’
    ‘All they know is that a high and deserving person aspires to the diadem and it is one considered to be well suited to rule our empire, also that he sees the need to reward loyalty as have emperors in times past to those who have aided him. They do not know any namesand will not until they are called upon, when I fetch you to them, to acclaim your candidate. At that point your chests of gold, brought out by Flavius, will be opened and distributed.’
    ‘If we fail, if this is discovered, Petrus? Loose tongues.’
    ‘There are only two tongues about which you have to worry and they’re both in your presence. No one else knows your name and since you have been guarded, even I do not know who you propose to make emperor.’
    ‘Who else is plotting? Who has a plan that will thwart ours?’
    ‘The imperial nephews are seeking support and finding none, while those with ambition meet only like minds. No one senator will stand aside for the other so they waste their words on plans that will never mature. None has seen the need to befriend the Excubitors, believe me I would know if they had, for I meet with them constantly. Only you will have a clear path.’
    Amantius stepped forward to clutch at Petrus’s arm. ‘If you are true to me and mine, you will not regret it.’
    ‘My uncle?’
    ‘Will have much to thank you for.’ The sunken eyes turned towards Flavius. ‘And you too, young fellow.’
    ‘Do show some gratitude, Flavius,’ Petrus purred when he did not respond. The result was a croak as hoarse as the voice of the man at whom it was aimed, this with Petrus still talking. ‘Flavius will come to your villa tonight and fetch away the funds we need. We dare not delay.’
    ‘It is sinful to wish death upon another, but I swear I will not sleep till Anastasius has breathed his last.’
    ‘It is true we cannot pray for such, but if God is merciful it is not impious to wish a body in pain and a soul in fear of damnation to bereleased into peace. We will leave now, Amantius. I trust you will be wise enough to wait awhile before doing likewise.’
    Flavius had his arm taken and again he was ushered back out to the corridor, his face now with a thunderous look aimed at Petrus and a stride that obliged the intriguer to walk fast to keep pace.
    ‘Your anger does not shock me, Flavius. Conspiracy is not to your liking, I suspect.’
    ‘It is not and especially one of this magnitude.’
    ‘All I ask is that you go to the villa of Amantius tonight and fetch his gold.’
    ‘You go.’
    Petrus sighed. ‘Which would be like waving a red lantern. Why do you think we met today in such a place? Would you have me do it openly in this palace, where, for every two courtiers who meet there are three conspiracies and a dozen pairs of eyes and ears? I have not been near his home and nor will I ever be, for his ambitions are not the secret he hopes them to be, for all his seeming wiles he struggles to dissimulate. The only one of those still extant is that I have undertaken to aid him, which would no longer remain if I was seen in his company.’
    ‘Is the man he has in mind worthy of that which you wish to gift him?’
    That received a snort. ‘Who is that? That old skinflint expiring as we speak, who only got the imperial title through his handsome face and the bedchamber of an empress who outlived her husband. Zeno before him, who left things in such a pass as to allow his widow to choose his successor? Flavius, it is not about worthy, it is about opportunity and the taking of it. Amantius does not possess a great mind but he has