Capitolinus frowned. “Hold power?” he looked at his men and shook his head. “I hold no power Camillus. I’m not like you, with your riches from campaigns, your state-given dictatorships and your patrician breeding.” Marcus moved to reply to this obvious last statement as it was clearly a lie, Capitolinus may have renounced his patrician status but his own background was clearly of patrician blood, but the man raised his voice and continued loudly. “Jupiter has asked me to be the patron of the plebs. I am their voice, Marcus Furius. Nothing more. I have no power over them unless they give it to me. If they choose to honour me with titles that I, in the eyes of Jupiter himself, have deserved for my hard work on their behalf” he shrugged. “Then I can do naught but accept, for to do otherwise would be an insult to them and to Jupiter himself. But I hold no power over them, no more than a shepherd over his flock.”
“Then you deny that your words are causing seditious acts in the city? That men you employ are working to undermine the state and cause mayhem for patrician families?”
“I ask you, instead, Marcus Furius, to tell these honest freeborn Romans why it is that you, a consular tribune, do not return the money that was taken from them on the Capitol Hill. Give them back their gold, free them from their debts and I will have no cause to be their leader.”
“You accuse me of stealing gallic gold then Marcus Manlius” snapped Marcus, his eyes flashing.
Capitolinus grinned and shrugged. “If your anger is reflective of your own guilt, under the eyes of the gods” he added as he waved an arm towards the rear of the house where the temple of Jupiter stood, “then I can say no more. But no, Marcus Furius” he said quickly “I do not accuse you. I ask only that those who have taken the gold from the people return it to the people so that they can rebuild their homes, feed their families and live as good citizens.”
Marcus flinched as he realised that his own emotions had gotten the better of him and Capitolinus had made him look a fool. He remembered what Javenoli had said, and noticed that Capitolinus was a step ahead of them, he’d already started to use the people to back his claims and be the centre of his arguments for change.
********
Menenius watched as a girl of no more than fourteen was thrown to the floor, her clothes torn, with one exposed breast scratched red from the fingernails of her attacker. Brevo, a leather belt wrapped around his knuckles, punched her father in the face. “Don’t look at me, you patrician bastard” he growled as the man fell to the floor. Behind him the noise of crying from three children continued as the man’s wife attempted to grab the girl and pull her into her own arms, but was pushed back violently by another of Brevo’s men, her head thumping into the wall.
“Where’s the chest?” growled Brevo.
The man’s teeth glinted in the low candle light, the whites of his eyes showing momentarily as he stared at the wall and tried not to look up and get another beating. Blood dripped from his nose onto his bare chest.
“Now” yelled Brevo, “or I’ll set them on her” he pointed to the girl, starting screams of terror from both mother and daughter.
Menenius noticed the youngest boy staring at him and flinched. The boy’s eyes instantly dropped to the floor and he curled into a tight ball, expecting to receive a kick.
The father pointed a hand towards the corner, three of his fingers twisted into odd shapes. “There” his muffled voice said, blood and saliva oozing from a split lip and dribbling down his chin.
Brevo motioned with his head for Menenius to search the corner, which he did quickly, pushing back reeds from the floor and seeing a wooden square set into the ground, just visible in the low light. He scrabbled about with a knife to lift one of the corners and inside found a box two hands deep and a forearm long, which on attempting to lift from the floor was surprisingly heavy. “Is that everything?” Brevo snapped, his face now an inch from the cowering, beaten, man, whose head nodded frantically. “Bastard” he snapped, kicking the man in the guts one last time as he stood over his prone form.
“Come on, leave him, we’d better go” said Menenius sharply, getting a look of loathing from Brevo. He glanced at the small boy again as he looked up at him. Their eyes met, and he saw a deep anger and hatred within the boy’s small glance which shocked him to his core. He stumbled towards the door, hearing Brevo lash out again and either the mother or daughter scream once more, as he started to run from the house.
********
Marcus took a long breath, calming his anger at the way he’d let the conversation get the better of him. “Capitolinus” he said with more dignity in his voice than he felt necessary. “You talk of being the patron of the plebs. The senate wishes to know to what end do you place yourself into such a role?”
Capitolinus allowed his brow to wrinkle as he glared back at his questioner. His lips curled as he replied. “The people have given me this title. It is for them to decide to what ends they wish me to act on their behalf.”
“And what do they demand of you, Capitolinus? Do you speak on their behalf, or do you incite hatred through your own words?”
Again, it took a moment for the answer to come. “Jupiter gave me the strength on the night that I saved the Capitol from the barbarians as they climbed to kill very man…”
“You say that you acted alone on that hill, Capitolinus. I hear others were with you. I also say that good plebeians and good patricians defeated the Gauls within the city and in the battle outside the city. Both classes worked together to free this city Capitolinus. It was not just you on your own as you seem to suggest.”
“I know what you are saying Camillus. I saved the city. There would have been nothing left for your army to do if I hadn’t turned back the tide of men as they flowed over that wall. The Capitol was all that was left of Rome, this house and a handful of others all that Jupiter saved from the barbarians. We looked down and saw Rome burning, men hanging from trees, women raped. You were not there, Camillus, to feel the hunger gnawing at your belly, to see the children dying from starvation. The Capitol was saved by me alone, I acted with the strength of Jupiter himself as his chosen man. I held back that first tide and I raised the alarm as I stood and forced back the barbarians from the wall with the strength given to me by Jupiter.”
Marcus tied another thread on a hook and launched it at Capitolinus, just as Javenoli has prompted him to do. “And you were alone? Or were others there with you? Others who might have thrown that first spear?”
Capitolinus bared his teeth as he almost spat back at Marcus. “Jupiter chose me to wake and be at the wall. Jupiter gave me this strength to defeat my enemies. Jupiter saw fit for me to be crowned and glorified for my efforts.” He stepped forwards as he spoke, face reddening in anger as he closed on Marcus.
“And when you overthrow the state, will Jupiter put you in control of Rome?” asked Marcus, his voice measured as he saw the men at Capitolinus’ side flick their eyes to each other. Capitolinus motioned as if he was about to shout, but then his eyes narrowed, and his head twitched slightly with a glance to the men behind him as he checked himself from replying. Quickly, Marcus seized the initiative. “And these men, are they to be given new roles in your new future? Will they be granted the vote that the senate hold now, or will it be yourself and Jupiter that hold control over Rome?” Capitolinus backed up slightly and his lips curled. “What of the freeborn man? What will he get from this new order where you are leader of the plebs? Where will you find the gold to pay for every house to be rebuilt, for soldiers to man the walls against our enemies, for food to fill every bowl as you’ve said will happen when you are in power?”
“No, no, Camillus” said Capitolinus, his head shaking slowly. “You misunderstand everything because you cannot see beyond how things happen today. The plebs will work as one to help one another, each man equal to his neighbour…”
“These men, here, will surely be more equal than others as they have put their lives in danger for you?” asked Marcus, seeing questions rise in eac
h man’s eyes as his finger pointed towards them. Capitolinus took a breath, but Marcus asked another question before he could speak. “Will you hold the keys to this gold that you say has been stolen, Capitolinus? Will you be the treasurer as leader of the plebs, or will one of these men hold it?”
Capitolinus said, quickly “The people will decide, Camillus, not me. You attempt to trick me with your words, but you don’t understand the hatred of the plebs like I do. The loathing of years of being trodden on by the boot of the patrician clans. Years of debt which is never repaid.”
“The state gave soldiers pay when the plebeian tribunes asked” Marcus replied, two of the men next to Capitolinus turning to look at each other. “Good plebeians have earned land grants and started new lives, building farms for their families. I know several men who have joined together to create businesses with their combined lands which rival those of many patrician families. Rome has much to offer, Capitolinus. If there are one or two bad apples in the basket, tell the senate who they are. Accuse them in the court and we will stand behind you and search their houses for this missing gold. Tell us, Capitolinus, what you think inciting the plebeians to rise against their neighbours will achieve? Rome is growing, we are expanding. Never again will we be unfit to fight against our enemies. The Gauls caught us off guard. All the gods will be part of our new future, not just Jupiter as you claim.”
Capitolinus reacted by laughing, his cold eyes never leaving Marcus. “There are many bad apples in Rome” he snarled once he’d stopped. “The people will decide the future. I am their instrument, not their dictator, as you would be.”
“A role I legally attained, voted by all clans and denounced when the danger to the state had passed, as is the law” said Marcus, his point made. “I ask you again, Marcus Manlius Capitolinus, have you incited factions within the city to act against patrician or plebeian families to act violently? What do you gain from inciting these men to violence?”
Capitolinus walked past Marcus and waved to the slave to unlock the door. With his hands on his hips he turned back to the retinue, addressing Marcus directly. “The people ask me to speak on their behalf. I incite nobody to do what they do not wish to do. I care not for this conversation, Camillus. Please leave my house, unless you come with the power of the senate to arrest me, again, for crimes for which you have no proof of my inclusion. Jupiter sits here, with me on the Capitol Hill, he sees what I see, he hears what I hear. The people will speak Camillus, they will decide.”
Marcus bowed, and began to walk to the door. As he reached the exit he turned back and looked past Capitolinus to the men behind. “When I returned to Rome with our soldiers, we saved Rome. Not me, we. I do not claim to be the man who has the right hand of Jupiter, but I do know that inciting Romans to fight Romans is not what our forefathers wanted when they created the Republic, and neither is it what the gods plan for us.” He turned to looked at the host. “Times are changing Capitolinus, the people demand a better future. But are you the man to offer them this? The state looks after every man, not just the few. The city has been rebuilt with state gold, we have worked tirelessly to source grain, fruit and every other necessity from our allies and neighbours. We, the people of Rome, patrician and plebeian, will create a future together Capitolinus, one in which we have a combined voice, not one where a patron acts like a king and dictates his own will on the people.” With that he turned and left the house.
********
Brevo slapped his brother on the shoulder and headed to his door. He didn’t see the figure that stepped out in front of him until it was too late, but as soon as he started to back away his face broke into a smile once he recognised who it was standing in front of him.
“Ah, assassin” he said with a laugh. Istros smiled back. “Here, I owe you something for the job you did for me.” He waved away the protestations of the Thracian as he passed him a small handful of golden trinkets, including a pair of earrings shaped like pomegranates. “A debt’s a debt” he said, “I should know.”
“I’m keeping low for a while after that attack” Istros said as he put the items in a small bag attached to his belt. “Can I stay at your house for a while?” he asked.
Brevo wrapped an arm around his shoulder and dragged him towards his door. “My friend, you can stay as long as you want.”
************
Chapter 40
Javenoli waved a finger at Cossus. “You do not understand the complexity of the situation, Cornelius. Camillus is right, the state needs to change, the people need to see a brighter future, one in which every man has some form of status and purpose. What Capitolinus is offering is more akin to a permanent dictatorship, something that we simply cannot allow.”
Cossus stared, blankly, at Javenoli for a few moments before speaking. Camillus had given a long speech about a brighter future, plans to develop the Roman legions and expand into neighbouring states, taking by force anything that stood against Rome. His plans included promoting men of plebeian birth to senior ranks, giving them a role in the city akin to that of junior tribune and pushing forward reforms of the laws which gave plebeians greater voting power. The plans had stopped short of any roles which had true power, but they were aimed at promoting a new future for Rome which saw the city expanding and growing to protect its own borders and move into new territories. “Gaius, you are like the piper that has always played a death march and is now playing a jolly ditty after lunch. I cannot understand the change in you” he replied.
Javenoli sighed, his mouth pursing before he spoke. “Times change Cornelius. How many patricians have died on the battlefield these last two years? We don’t have an endless stream of sons who can lead our armies, and you know as well as I do that there are no new political heavyweights pushing us old men out of the way in their desire to champion the Republic.” Cossus wasn’t looking convinced so Javenoli continued. “Times have changed, and we must change with them or get trampled under the oxen. Our families and clans have worked tirelessly for Rome over centuries, Cornelius. Can we let this upstart take that away? This isn’t about money or power, this is about having a future for our children, having a home for our gods and having security for the people who follow them. Rome will last forever, gentlemen, of that I’m sure. Yet this situation” he shook his head slowly. “The readings are not clear. On one hand they say that Rome will endure, on the other they say change is needed. But what change? That is what we must decide, we are the leaders, the chosen men, and we shoulder that responsibility. Capitolinus is stirring the people towards hatred of their leaders, offering something that can only lead to them putting him in power as their chosen dictator. But to what end? Why does he covet the crown? His mind has been affected by power, gentlemen. Power that has blinded him to the bigger vision of Rome, that of which you have heard Camillus speak” he nodded to Marcus, who sat listening in silence as he felt many eyes turn to him. “What is Rome if we allow our borders to be attacked by more Gauls? Or if we allow the children of city states to turn against us when their fathers have followed us loyally for years? That is what I see now, gentlemen. There is an illness creeping over the land, an illness which desires change and is seeping into the minds of the lower classes. Marcus Furius Camillus has spoken of how we should turn the tide of hatred and fear into a new beginning. A new beginning which allows every man to see a future in which he will have a voice in the city, a voice in the market place and a voice in his own home. Every man must believe that we are working together to create a better future for all citizens. As we have stood still and looked down at our own feet in our efforts to rebuild our own homes, others have looked up and dared to move against us. Yes, we continue to defeat our enemies in the field because our soldiers are the best trained and stand ready for war, paid by the state, but we have allowed the enemies at our own door to creep into every house in Rome, to poison their minds against us.” He looked to Cossus, then to Marcus, before continuing. “Rome must expand, gentlemen. We must move outwards, looking
beyond our neighbours. We must turn this anger at what they don’t have today into a desire to see what they could have tomorrow. You’ve heard Quintus say how Capitolinus is clever, he’s turned minds against us by giving them something to fixate their anger. But anger can be overturned by hope and desire. Let us vote for this new beginning that Camillus has spoken of. Give the men of Rome a new focus, one in which they are part of a greater plan, a plan in which they can see a future for their families which is greater than what they see today.”
Cossus sipped at some hot wine, licking his lips as he placed the wooden cup he’d drank from onto a three-legged table at the side of his couch. “And Camillus, you believe that Capitolinus is, truly, determined to undermine the state?” Marcus nodded. Cossus looked to the other attendees and his face darkened. “You make a compelling case, Gaius.” He said as he shuffled from reclining to sitting and stared at the many faces in the room. “Can the state afford to buy the iron and wood which will furnish this new army with weapons? Do we have the resources to promote men of plebeian birth to positions of higher rank? What roles will they play? How will those whose families have been at the forefront of Rome proposer from this situation? And, how do we remove Capitolinus if, as you say, removing the one will save the many. Those are the questions that need an answer, gentlemen.”
Javenoli replied almost instantly, a glint in his eyes. “You know I wouldn’t propose such a thing without having planned for its execution. Camillus has the men identified, I have the iron mines and forests ready to be put into full production, Iulius and Aetius have the ships and wagons to transport the goods. We’ve identified seven foundries, all run by plebeian families, with whom we will contract the work to show that we are building this new Rome together. Camillus has identified five men who will be offered positions in this new army, men who have served Rome for generations and deserve this credit. It will be a powerful signal to those who follow Capitolinus to show that Rome is changing for the better. Capitolinus will lose his followers as they see action from the senate, action which drives their hopes and desires, not words which are filled with anger and hatred. His support will dwindle, and any further actions against the state will be seen for what they truly are, a move for the crown.” He stared at Cossus. “Capitolinus is like the grape on the vine that has started to rot. Remove the branches that surround him and let him drop to the ground. All we need is your agreement to set the wheels in motion.”
The King of Rome Page 53