"If he did, we could stab him," said Amyntas eagerly. He brandished his dagger, which appeared gleamingly out of nowhere. It was curved and had some sort of engraving on its blade.

Antony looked appalled. "No," he said. "I swear that if my brother Triumvir were to walk in and take his place here tonight, I would welcome him and treat him courteously."

Yes, he probably would. That was both his flaw and his n.o.bility.

"I don't think he's likely to show up," said Canidius. "For one thing, we didn't invite him, and I don't think he's succeeded in placing any spies in our camp to tell him."

The first of the dishes, ba.s.s cooked in wine and thyme, began making its way around. In my treasure brought from Egypt were gold platters, enough to serve the highest-ranking, and the fish was ladled out onto them. There were also gold knives and spoons, as well as cups. Always carry a limited gold service with you, was my motto.

Ahen.o.barbus, seated beside Amyntas, eyed the dagger. "You may sheath that now," he said coldly. Ahen.o.barbus did not care for most of our allies, and did not bother to hide it. "I trust your horses all made the journey safely," he said, tasting his wine. "It is a long way from Galatia, especially with two thousand horses."

"It was difficult," said Amyntas. "But now they are here. I trust they will be able to eat well enough. Little grows here, even for horses. Only goats can find anything tasty on the hillsides."

Amyntas was reported a most skillful horseman.

"I hope you will show me your favorite horse," I told him. "I would like to see you ride." I always liked seeing the best, whether it was a moneychanger or an orator.

"Indeed." He nodded and gave a thin-lipped smile.

Beside Canidius, the blocky Deiotarus had heaped his platter so full there was no room for the next dish, boiled prawns with figs. The server sighed and pa.s.sed him by. No wonder the man was so muscle-bound. He kept eating, silently.

"Do you have the same type of fish in the Black Sea?" I asked. His kingdom of Paphlagonia lay along the southern coast of the Black Sea.

"Eh?" He looked up sharply, his mouth full.

I realized his Greek was probably shaky. So I switched to Syriac instead, but he did not understand that/ I had better luck with Aramaic when I repeated the question.

"Oh yes," he said. "And many more besides; we have the best fish in the world." He chewed. "Turbot, bluefish, tuna!" His eyes lit up. "Mackerel, and--anchovy!"

He had also contributed cavalry, but not many.

Sosius beside him was eating sparingly, and there was ample room on his platter for the honey-roasted duck that followed the prawns. He indulged in a bit more wine, tasting it appreciatively. "An impressive gathering of forces," he said. "I salute you. I feel remiss, remaining at the outpost of Zacynthus when the action will be here."

"But it is of vital importance that we keep Zacynthus and its channel in our hands, after having lost Methone," I a.s.sured him. And it was.

The kindly admiral smiled and said, "We will keep it."

Across from him, Tarcondimotus of upper Cilicia was nibbling nervously at the pieces of duck, holding the crisp shreds in his long, bony fingers. The way his wrists stuck out of his shiny bejeweled sleeves like serpents emerging from a dark cave, and his eyes, so close-set in his narrow face that they looked slightly crossed, all strengthened my first impression of him as a snake. I half expected to see a forked tongue dart out of his mouth as he savored the duck. Even his robe was banded and mottled, albeit in silk and jewels.

"How many men have you brought?" I asked.

"Ships," he said. "I have brought ships. Twenty of them."

Yes, of course. His country had tall timbers. But it was not on the sea, and had no history of sailing. The famous pirates were from a different part of Cilicia. I wondered how competent his ships could be.

"Wonderful," I said.

Next to him was the familiar Dellius, making the polite conversation at which he excelled. I watched him, remembering the first time I had met him, when Antony had sent him to summon me to Tarsus. His famous charm had failed him then, but never since. Antony employed him on delicate diplomatic missions, and had relied increasingly on him since Parthia, where he had written a flattering history of the campaign. (As flattering as facts would permit.) Time had done little to improve his looks, but I had got used to them now.

He lifted his cup and drank to "the Consuls," nodding toward the Octavian seat. Antony laughed and drank with him.

Across from Dellius sat Iamblichus, a prince from the remote Arabian peninsula. He looked lost. I wondered if he had brought a corps of camels. But they would be of little use here.

"So it is to be a land war," Canidius said smugly to Ahen.o.barbus. "In a few days we will be ready for our attack."

"It's foolish not to wait for the other squadrons and use the fleet," insisted Ahen.o.barbus. "And we might ask ourselves what will happen to the Republic when all this is over. Haven't we waited long enough for its restoration?"

Not this Republic talk again! Antony had made noises about promising to restore the Republic, and Octavian was claiming to represent the Republic. Enough about the Republic--it was beside the point!

"Antony will restore the Republic," said Canidius.

"Not with her her by his side," said Ahen.o.barbus. Yes, he actually said that out loud. "She makes his position impossible." by his side," said Ahen.o.barbus. Yes, he actually said that out loud. "She makes his position impossible."

Canidius shrugged. "I am a commander, and my job is to win battles with the men I lead. I don't worry about anything else." He looked hard at Ahen.o.barbus. "I suggest you concentrate on your ships and let the rest sort itself out later. It always does."

Ahen.o.barbus looked shocked. "What, don't you care? Don't you care what sort of government you live under? Have you become a slave, a slave like-- like--"

"Stop before you say anything further," said Canidius. "I must protect you from the folly of your own tongue."

Grumbling, Ahen.o.barbus took an enormous swallow of wine, as if to drown his own words. He saw me looking, and frowned.

Hanging a few feet back was a server, little more than a boy, who looked hungry, and kept s.n.a.t.c.hing pieces of food from the serving platters when he thought no one saw him. Then he would lick his fingers, smile, and graciously proffer the platter to the next guest. He must belong to one of the women who had just arrived. I found him amusing as well as resourceful.

That's right, I thought, grab what's pa.s.sing and take it for yourself if you need it. Perhaps I would employ him; he had promise.

Now Antony had risen to address, the gathering. He held up his hands, and silence fell instantly over the company. Above his purple cloak his well-muscled arms made a striking V.

"My friends, allies, comrades-in-arms, in the quiet before the unleashing of our might, I must tell you what I would have you know." He looked around at the throng, gathered from Italy in the west to Arabia in the east. "All is prepared, all is in readiness!" he cried, and a cheer went up. "And in such a varied army, you have each brought the war skills of your own country, making the whole mightier than each of its parts. We have hoplites, cavalry, slingers, archers, mounted archers, catapults, most of which are not to be found in the enemy army."

He lowered his arms and picked up a heavy gold pitcher, brandishing it to show our wealth. "Our enemy is poor and out of funds. He had to extort money from his unwilling people, which had the effect of making them prefer us! We, on the other hand, have each contributed so that no one land feels the burden."

Well, that was misleading. Egypt was providing the funds to support the army and the fleet. I suppose he felt his wife didn't count, "And then we must consider another factor. I do not wish to speak of myself, but in this case the discrepancy between myself and their leader is glaring. Now I realize that you are the sort of soldiers that can win even without a good leader, but how much better to have a good one! And I may say, I could prevail even with poor soldiers. But with you I can do more than just prevail. Together we can triumph spectacularly. For I am at the age when commanders are at their very prime, both in body and mind, being hampered neither by the rashness of youth nor by the slackness of old age."

The company gave a cheer of approval. Antony acknowledged it and continued. " "I have spent my whole life acquiring military experience. I know everything, from the tasks of the lowest soldier to the demands of the highest Imperator. I have known fear, and I have known confidence; thereby I have schooled myself, through the one, not to be afraid of anything too readily, and through the other, not to venture on any hazard too heedlessly. I have known good fortune, I have known failure; consequently I am able to avoid both despair and excess of pride."

Now the cheers broke out in earnest. As a soldier, Antony had no living equal.

"I stress this not to boast, but because you should realize how much better we stand in that quarter than the enemy. Their greatest lack--greater even than their lack of funds, their lack of diversity of equipment, their lack of numbers--is in their leader."

He paused and indicated the empty seat. "About his deficiencies in general I do not need to speak, but I can sum it all up in saying what you already know: he is a veritable weakling in body and has never by himself been the victor in any important battle either on the land or on sea."

A hush descended on the room. "Indeed, at Philippi, in the very same campaign against the very same people, he managed to be defeated while I conquered. As he was my ally, I graciously permitted him to share my victory."

That was true. But then, once Agrippa had entered the picture, it had changed. Even Octavian had realized he could not win alone, and so he had remedied the situation in his practical manner.

"Now, as to the two forces: Our navy is impervious to theirs, because there is no way they can inflict damage on us; our ships are too thick-timbered and high, and will carry archers and slingers to sink any who dare come near. And forget about Agrippa! Yes, he won against s.e.xtus, but it was slaves and pirates with poor equipment he really fought against. And even then, s.e.xtus beat Octavian soundly first. So remember that."

More wine was poured into my cup, but I barely noticed. One of the other servers dipped a red-petaled flower into the cup. I did not see who.

"As for our army, it is not only larger, but better equipped and led by a superior commander. So let us take courage! We fight not for small or insignificant goals, but in a contest for the very world."

I did not want the wine; my head told me I had had enough. I motioned to the boy in the shadows. He darted forward, not even embarra.s.sed that I had observed him earlier, and took the cup, tasting it immediately.

Antony's voice had risen to that rich timbre that carried long distances. "And so, my comrades, if we are zealous, we shall obtain the greatest rewards; if we are careless, we shall suffer the most grievous misfortunes!"

He looked around. "Yes, misfortunes! For who would fall under Octavian's mercy? He has none. Where was his mercy to Lepidus, to the freedmen from whom he extorted money, to the landowners whom he turned off their property? To me, his own partner and a colleague of Caesar's, whom he has attempted to turn into a private citizen, deprived of his imperium imperium7. And by his own word, not by the consent of these senators here, who dared to oppose him and were banished from Rome! If he attempted such against me, in the fullness of my power, having just conquered Armenia, imagine what he would do to someone kneeling at his feet. And yet--here's the joke--he maintains he isn't at war with me at all! It is you he's declared his enemy. So he will treat you even worse!" And by his own word, not by the consent of these senators here, who dared to oppose him and were banished from Rome! If he attempted such against me, in the fullness of my power, having just conquered Armenia, imagine what he would do to someone kneeling at his feet. And yet--here's the joke--he maintains he isn't at war with me at all! It is you he's declared his enemy. So he will treat you even worse!"

That was not strictly true, either. It was Egypt, and only Egypt, against which he had declared war. I bore the brunt of everything--the cost of the war, the opprobrium of Octavian's Rome.

"It is in our power to preserve our own liberty and to do something even more heroic: to restore liberty to the Roman people, now slaves to Octavian and his faction. Therefore let us strive to prevail at this present moment and gain happiness, for ourselves and the Romans as well, for all time!"

A frenzy of cheering broke out. Once again the master of oratory had hit his target, the most crucial audience he had ever faced.

People jumped to their feet and stamped. Just behind me I saw someone going in the opposite direction. Someone pitched, headfirst, onto the ground.

It was the serving boy, and he was rolling around and clutching his sides.

"Canidius!" I grabbed his arm. "Look!" I pulled him away from his place next to me, toward the boy. I thought he could help pick him up. But instead he held me back and knelt down beside the writhing boy.

He was jerking his head back and forth and baring his teeth, while his legs splayed and his back arched.

"Poison!" said Canidius. He took a spoon and tried to stick it between the boy's teeth so he wouldn't bite his tongue, but they were clenched too tightly. "Be careful." He wanted to avoid being bitten or scratched, having no idea what kind of poison it was. He searched the ground for any nails or gla.s.s. There was nothing but the gold cup, now lying on its side, a puddle of liquid around it.

"Don't touch it!" I said, suddenly knowing. It was the wine; it had been poisoned.

I turned and looked at the others at our table, dreading to see them fall stiffly backward. But no one did.

It was my wine alone that had been poisoned.

The flower. The flower that was dipped into it--by whom?

In the shouts for Antony, no one noticed the sprawled figure of the boy in the shadows, with Canidius and me beside him.

Someone in here had tried to poison me. Or was it someone from Octavian's camp? I I don't don't think think he's he's succeeded in placing any spies in our camp. succeeded in placing any spies in our camp. Had Canidius been wrong? Had Canidius been wrong?

I felt weak with shock. Right before our eyes, the boy went limp and died.

It was a very fast-acting poison.

Now Antony had looked around for me, and was frowning. I would have to return to my place and act as if nothing had happened. It was especially important for the enemy to know he--or she?--had failed.

Antony was holding out his hand, waiting for me. Shakily, I took it and smiled at him and the guests. I was warmly cheered; no hint of opposition anywhere.

Now we would have entertainment, meager, but such as the camp could provide. There would be jugglers and singers, a few acrobats, and a camel trained to dance. The musicians struck up, playing their rattles and cymbals at full volume. My heart kept time to them, and sounded almost as loud to me.

The night was not finished with its surprises. As the camel was attempting to cross one padded foot over another to the rhythm of a drum, a sailor came running into the room.

"Imperator, where's the Imperator?" he cried wildly.

"I am here," said Antony, rising. "What is it?"

The man's clothing was stained and torn, his shoes soaked. He grasped Antony's shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

The camel was spinning around with decorated ta.s.sels flying off his saddle, and people were applauding, throwing pieces of dates at him. No one noticed the sailor but those of us at the first table.

I saw a dark curtain fall over Antony's face. He questioned the man quietly.

"And how long ago?. . . When did you come?. . . Any survivors?. . . What is left?. . ."

The answers were given, and at length Antony bade him seat himself. Then Antony leaned over and told me, Canidius, Ahen.o.barbus, and Sosius, "Leucas has been surprised and taken."

Leucas. Our guarding island, where our supply boats landed.

"Agrippa?" asked Canidius.

The sailor nodded.

"By all the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses, that man--!" Ahen.o.barbus exploded. "But the squadron there--"

"Sunk, or burnt," the sailor told him. "He struck at sunset. No one expected--"

"By Zeus, it's your job to expect it!" yelled Ahen.o.barbus.

"Not his job," said Antony. "The admiral's. Is he--?"

"His ship was sunk," said the sailor. "I presume he is drowned."

Antony gave a cry of pain.

"So now we are down to six squadrons, total," said Sosius.

"And some of them undermanned," said Ahen.o.barbus. "The oarsmen have been ravaged by disease."

"Now where will we land our food, clothing, weapons.7" asked Canidius.

"It will have to come overland," said Antony. "The ships will have to land at one of the southern ports and unload the grain there, and then carry it here by pack animal."

"No, that's too difficult," said Sosius. "You can sail farther out, as I still hold Zacynthus, and then make a dash into the gulf from due west."

"Neither of these is satisfactory for long. Well, we will have to force the battle right away, before our food runs low," said Antony. "Yes! Battle within two days. This decides it."

The camel was finishing his dance, and his proud trainer was bowing to cheers. The camel stopped, then snorted and spat.

Chapter 74.