Soldier of Rome: Heir to Rebellion (The Artorian Chronicles) by James Mace

be postponed for nine days to allow time for cooler heads to review and implement justice that is both hard but fair.” He then turned his gazed towards the Emperor, who nodded affirmatively. Agrippa had also seen Tiberius’ gesture and he seized upon it in order to save any face he may have lost.
    “I second the motion and move for an immediate vote!” he spoke quickly as he came to his feet. The corner of Tiberius’ mouth twitched slightly, pleased as he was by Lepidus’ motion. As he rose to his feet to leave the hall, the rest of the senate also stood as a sign of respect. Though Tiberius knew that the Senate would vote how they thought he wanted them to, he did not want to give the impression of influencing any vote; therefore he left before any further action on the motion could be taken. Outside the senate house Sejanus was waiting for him.
    “It is done,” Tiberius said as he continued walking, Praetorian guards falling in on either side of him. As soon as the Emperor climbed into a waiting litter slaves hoisted it up and started the walk back to the imperial palace. Sejanus walked beside the litter.
    “If I may be so bold,” the Praetorian Prefect began, “I know it is not my place to question the judgments of the senate, and even less so that of your highness.”
    “Sejanus my old friend,” Tiberius replied, pulling the veil of the litter aside and propping himself upright onto some pillows, “you know that I cherish your candid feedback more than any; probably because you are among the few who will say what is on your mind, rather than what you think I want you to say.”
    “It’s just that…well to be perfectly blunt Caesar, I did not agree with your assessment that words are not deeds. Treasonable utterances can lead to wider sedition, which in turn brings about discourse and eventually threatens us directly.”
    “Sejanus,” the Emperor replied, sighing audibly, “You know I am not one for bringing someone to trial just for speaking foolishly.”
    “I am not speaking of poor Priscus,” Sejanus corrected. “He was indeed a fool; but a harmless one. No, what I speak of is something a little… darker.” Tiberius sat up, suddenly curious.
    “Have you heard such things?” Sejanus smiled internally, knowing that he had at last planted the seeds of doubt within the Emperor.
    “Only traces here and there,” he replied. “Nothing I would be alarmed about. However, you do have enemies; some I hate to say, within your own family.”
    “You need not remind me about Agrippina and her lot,” Tiberius replied with a scowl, settling back down once more. All around them the city of Rome slowly moved by. People trying to catch a glimpse of the Emperor were forced back by the Praetorians on either side of the litter. At the head of the procession a Centurion was barking orders for people to move out of the way. For Tiberius it was a tedious ordeal. He could not even so much as leave the palace and go to someone’s house without surrounding himself with Praetorians . And though he preferred to walk, it was Sejanus who suggested he ride in a covered litter for extra protection. Given their present conversation, Tiberius wondered if there was indeed that much of a threat to his personal safety. Even Agrippina, who was both his niece as well as one of his most hated enemies, would not dare to even think of such a thing. He put this to his Praetorian Prefect.
    “Agrippina is a thorn in my side,” he observed, “however ; she would not dare to seek my physical demise.”
    “If only that were so,” Sejanus replied, baiting the Emperor even more.
    “What do you mean?” Tiberius asked, perplexed. “She is still friends with my son, and surely Drusus would be the first to hear of any truly treasonable talk on her part!” Sejanus’ face twitched at the mention of Drusus Caesar.
    While it was tempting to try and implicate his hate rival as well, he knew better. Tiberius may have had a sometimes