Legatus Legionis: Book Two in the Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy

by Miller, Ian

  The legion did little in the cold. Gaius did request occasional winter drills, for ultimately it might be required to fight in the winter, but he was only too well aware that the available clothing was not really adequate. It would be one thing to lose soldiers to valiant enemy, and another to have them die of cold and exposure. Perhaps someone should work on better boots and better clothing, but that was something to work on some other time.

  * * *

  The feast of the Saturnalia was a family affair, and by definition, soldiers in the field do not have families. That, however, was no reason not to feast. Gaius decided that this year he would invite the Legate of the seventh, and the Tribunes of both legions to a joint feast, which left the question of where to have it. The official camp was one option, but Gaius realized that he was still renting the villa where the Valerii had been living the previous year. That would be a better place; to start with, it was not a military camp, and the facilities would be very suitable. He was about to write the formal invitations when the thought struck him that he should check to make certain the condition was still suitable. A ride in the snow would be as good a way as any of filling in the morning, so he grabbed his cloak.

  The sun was bright, the air crisp, and all seemed well with the world. Truly a day to lift the spirits, to . . . It was as he turned off onto the track towards his villa his goodwill began to subside for instead of good clean crisp snow there were clear signs of heavy horse traffic. This track did not go anywhere else, so who had been up here? As he approached the villa, he could see smoke coming from the chimney. Someone was using his villa. He rode up towards the front door, dismounted, secured his horse, and looked around. There were wheel-marks going around to the back of the villa, and he assumed any horses would be there as well. He checked his gladius, then strode to the door. He put his key in the lock, but then found it was open.

  He strode in and quietly closed the door, then began walking through the villa. He could hear sounds from the kitchen area, so he crept there and flung open the door. Two men, who he recognized from the previous year as Valerius Messala's slaves were cleaning the floor. One of them looked up and cheerfully waved at him.

  Gaius thought for a moment, then asked, "Where's your master?"

  "They've all gone back to Rome," came the cheerful response. "We're just cleaning up before we go back too."

  "They?"

  "Yes, there were about half a dozen of them, all the Master's acquaintances. Except for the governor, that is."

  "The Governor?"

  "Yes, Governor Scribonianus was here too. There was some sort of a meeting. Didn't you know?"

  "As it happens, no," Gaius replied.

  "I'm sorry . . . I . . ."

  "It's not your fault," Gaius said. "What are your instructions now?"

  "To clean up, and take the next ship back to Italy. The steward is just going to arrange it."

  "Then perhaps I should have a word with him," Gaius nodded. "Where is he?"

  "He just went out the back door. You should be able to catch him."

  Gaius nodded, and went quickly to back door. This situation was puzzling. Why had Messala and a number of other Romans come all this way? The obvious answer was that they wanted to see Governor Scribonianus, but what for? And why in this villa? Why not at the Governor's villa? If they wanted to entertain the Governor, why not in Burnum itself? It was possible that there was nowhere better that was available, and it was possible that when the meeting was arranged, this was the one place Messala could count on, but . . . Could he count on it? He had no idea whether Gaius was still renting it. It appeared that he had just assumed that would be the case, probably on no better grounds than Vipsania had not been told of any change.

  But if he was relying on Vipsania, why hadn't he brought her with him? Had he done so, that would at least guarantee access. And more to the point, why hadn't Messala asked him if he could have the villa? He would always have said yes, although he might have added that Vipsania should come. Did he want to keep Vipsania away from him? If so, why?

  Perhaps he wanted the villa because it was out of the way, but why did he need to be out of the way? The only reason would appear to be because they did not want anyone to know they were there. So, what was the secret? Then there was the question of why Messala did not wish to see his son in law? He had not even brought a message from Vipsania!

  He soon found the steward about to mount a horse, so Gaius suggested they ride together to Burnum. The conversation was rather stilted, and the steward claimed that he had no idea why Messala had come. That could be true, Gaius realized. If Messala did not even wish to let his daughter's husband know why he was there, it would not be overly surprising if he also kept the information from his steward, who might well talk over wine when he was left behind.

  They arrived at the port just as the ship to Italy was leaving, and the next one would not arrive until four days after the Saturnalia. On hearing this, Gaius turned to the steward, and asked what arrangement had Messala made for the rental. The steward was stunned, then a little horrified. As Gaius suspected, Messala had left his staff with little money.

  "You have cooks with you?" Gaius asked. On hearing that he had, Gaius then added, "We can forget about the rent if you people will cook and clean for a little party I am throwing on the Saturnalia. There'll be plenty of food for you, and you can't leave for another few days anyway."

  The steward was only too happy to agree.

  * * *

  Once again Gaius sent a cartload of venison to the villa, but this time he did not deliver it in person. This time, the celebrations did not include the great god Saturn, there was no lord of misrule, and everybody retained their usual status. However, the servants and slaves were very well fed, and as long as they stayed sober for the day, wine was available for them.

  The Tribunes from the two legions mixed well, and the two legates knew that their performances would be compared. Accordingly, they made sure they approached groups of Tribunes openly, in full view, and reasonably noisily.

  Eventually, the two decided to sit down together with some wine.

  "To a successful new year!" Gaius proposed.

  "To a successful new year!" came a rather limp response.

  "You don't look very enthusiastic?"

  "I'd be more enthusiastic if I knew what was going to happen."

  "Wouldn't we all."

  "Don't you?"

  "Don't I what?" a slightly bemused Gaius asked.

  "Know what the big move is planned for next year?"

  "I didn't even know anything was planned for next year, let alone what," Gaius replied. "What makes you think I do?"

  Cinna looked a little suspiciously at him, then shrugged and said, "Governor Scribonianus has ordered the seventh to be on full operational alert for May next year, only he hasn't offered a clue as to what and to where we're supposed to march."

  "Well," Gaius smiled, "it looks like glory for the seventh, because I haven't heard a thing. As far as I know, it's back to Lussonium over the summer for us."

  "I thought you were better connected," Cinna offered. "After all, you do get these personal letter from the Princeps."

  "I've known Claudius from a way back," Gaius explained, "but I assure you, he's given me no information about your legion. All I know is that he's determined to do something about Mauretania in the coming year, but if the seventh were to be involved there, I would have expected you'd be marching now."

  Cinna looked at Gaius with a touch of suspicion, then continued, "Governor Scribonianus apparently brought a delegation from Rome to this villa recently, and you seem to . . ."

  "Not exactly," Gaius interrupted. "Yes, there seems to have been a meeting here, but Scribonianus didn't invite the others here, or if he did, he had no right to. Me, I had no idea anyone was here."

  "You didn't organize it?"

  "I had no idea there was a meeting here until I came out to see if the place was fit for this Saturnalia party
. All I know about the meeting was from the slaves left behind to clean up, and they know nothing about what was said, or at least that's what they tell me."

  "That's odd," Cinna frowned.

  "It's more than odd. It's annoying. As far as this villa's concerned, I rented it last year for my wife's family, and when I went campaigning, they went to Rome and I kept it on, just I case my wife wanted to come back over the winter, but as you can see, she didn't. As far as I'm concerned, this villa was supposed to be empty, but it appears that my wife's father must have invited Scribonianus and the others here, and I haven't a clue what for."

  "And they didn't tell you anything?" Cinna was clearly surprised.

  "No, and I'm a bit pissed off with that. He used my villa then shot back to Rome without saying a word and never even told me he was here."

  "Then what's going on?"

  "I don't even know anything is," Gaius replied, "and I rather doubt there is a major military venture about to be undertaken. One legion isn't enough for anything but a minor expedition, so my guess is the governor has some exercise in store for you."

  "But not for you?"

  "Probably not, because strictly speaking my operational areas are in the north, and then I'm controlled by Governor Plautius from Pannonia."

  "I suppose that makes sense, but all the same, Scribonianus really made it sound important. It must be more than a minor exercise."

  "Well, I haven't heard a word of anything, but if I do, I promise I'll let you know."

  "Thanks, and if I hear anything, I'll let you know. After all," he grinned for the first time, "we are on the same side."

  "We are indeed! Here, more wine, and Io Saturnalia!"

  "Indeed, Io Saturnalia! Only I hope there's no Lord of Misrule over the coming season."

  "So do I!" Gaius said as he poured the wine.

  * * *

  It was the third day of January when the boat arrived, which meant Messala's staff could leave for Italy and Gaius received mail from both Claudius and Vipsania. The letter from Claudius was full of enthusiasm for his baby boy, much less enthusiastic about the support he was receiving from the senatorial class in Rome, but he said nothing about any military exercise, other than that relating to Mauretania, and the necessary legions for that were already in North Africa. He would take this letter and show it to Cinna, and that would hopefully put his mind at ease.

  The letters from Vipsania were encouraging, at least as far as his property was concerned. Production was good, particularly with pork, and the trading ventures were generating record profit. Claudius was treating them very favourably. She had also met Valeria Messalina, although Gaius was surprised to see that Vipsania's comments were strangely guarded. Reading between the lines, Gaius concluded that she believed Messalina was very interested in increasing her own power, and was not simply supporting Claudius. Gaius wondered about this, but then decided that without any evidence, there was absolutely nothing he should do. Claudius seemed to be very happy with his family, and he felt confident that Claudius would see through most of Messalina's schemes. Further, there was no reason to believe such schemes, if they existed, would not favour Claudius anyway. What mother would not want the best for her children?

  Chapter 16

  "I thought we had an agreement," a clearly annoyed Cinna replied to Gaius' enquiry as to what was wrong. Cinna had attempted to burst into his tent, and was stopped by a clearly concerned soldier. Stopping a Legate was a bad idea, but not obeying your own Legate's orders was a worse one.

  "And why do you think we don't?" Gaius responded.

  "I have been ordered by Governor Scribonianus to prepare to march, and to follow you," Cinna replied. "That seems to imply you know where to, and why."

  "As far as I'm aware, now that spring is almost here, I'm off to Lussonium in a couple of weeks to carry out the standard summer exercises and border controls," a startled Gaius replied. "No disrespect, but I don't quite see why another legion is needed for some fairly ordinary exercises."

  "What?"

  "I think you heard."

  "Sorry, yes, I did. It just doesn't make sense. What did Scribonianus say to you?"

  "Nothing," Gaius shrugged. "I haven't seen him for months, not that that's surprising because as I've pointed out before, Lussonium technically comes under Governor Plautius' control. We mainly come here because it's an easier place to winter over."

  "That doesn't make sense," Cinna muttered. "Do you think we're going to invade over the river?"

  "We've got an ally on the other side, and Claudius has approved the relationship," Gaius replied. "I really doubt it, and I can't see that a major operation would be launched suddenly without telling us, because there're logistics to organize."

  "Then what?"

  "We stand by our agreement," Gaius said. "If we hear anything, we send messages to the other. In the meantime, we continue as if nothing had happened."

  It was obvious to both of them that this was unsatisfactory, but there was little else either could do, so they parted, each a little suspicious of the other.

  * * *

  Two days later, Gaius received a message: Valerius Messala was back at the villa, and he had brought Vipsania. Gaius' spirits rose immediately, but then he became concerned at the rest of the message. Messala and some others wanted to discuss something with him before he went to see Vipsania. Could Gaius come at once to the wine shop and share a wine? Although posed as a question, there was no real mechanism to send a message back declining. With a somewhat irritated feeling, Gaius reached for his cloak. Yes, he would have to see Messala first, or have a family row that he did not need.

  Messala was sitting with several others at a table as far away from the wine-shop as it was possible to get, while still being at their tables. Obviously this idiot had something to say that he wanted to keep secret, because there was no other reason to sit outside in the chill wind. There were several others present, and there was one spare seat, opposite Messala. Gaius nodded, drew his cloak closer to keep the cool northerly at bay, and sat down. There was no attempt at introductions, however Gaius recognized three Senators. The two on either side of him appeared to be more like soldiers than politicians. Two more men who also appeared to be, or had recently been soldiers were standing near the path back to the legion.

  "So," Gaius said as he raised his cup of wine, "what is so important to keep me away from Vipsania?"

  "You know Governor Scribonianus?"

  Gaius' heart sank. This meeting was political, and his being here right now had the makings of being a really bad idea. "Yes."

  "What do you think of him?"

  "I've only met him a couple of times," Gaius replied cautiously. "From what I gather from his reputation, he's a good administrator, and a fairly firm disciplinarian."

  "The local citizens like him, and he gets thing done, wouldn't you agree?"

  "I've no reason to dispute that," Gaius said cautiously. It was then that he realized that he was sitting on a bench, and the men on either side of him were at ends. If he decided to get up and run, they would be able to get up much more quickly. In effect, he was trapped.

  "You probably don't realize this," a Senator said, "but over the last few years, Rome has been very chaotic, and we badly need to get things done, with a firm hand on the tiller."

  "Exactly where is this going?" Gaius asked, although he was beginning to have a fairly clear idea. This had all the makings of a conspiracy to seize power in Rome. That would mean betraying the one person who had stood up for him over the last few years, and there was nothing these men could offer to make that worthwhile. The problem now was, how could he get out of this situation? Of immediate concern was that, because of the chilly wind, there was nobody else sitting outside. Assuming this was a conspiracy, these fools needed his legion, but if they couldn't get his legion they needed him dead. His problem was simple: how to stay alive long enough to escape?

  "Claudius is little better than a stuttering fool,"
another of the Senators said. "If Rome is left in his hands, we'll be the laughing stock of the world. Barbarians will see Rome as going mad, or soft, or silly, or whatever. We need someone to show the Germans, and the Dacians, and the Parthians that raids will be met with a strong response. We need . . ."

  "And you think the legions can't provide that strength without Scribonianus?" Gaius asked. He was trying to give the impression that he was uncertain about this option, but he was thinking about it.

  "Exactly!" Messala said firmly.

  "I see," Gaius said very slowly, as if he was in deep thought. He was, but he was not thinking about supporting Scribonianus. "And what does Vipsania think about this?" he asked cautiously.

  "Who cares!" Messala snorted. "She's just a woman. She'll do whatever you ask."

  "I see," Gaius nodded, as he struggled to hide his jubilation. At least it looked as if she was not party to this plot. Now he needed information. "So what does Scribonianus plan to do?"

  "He is making his announcement very soon," a senator said.

  "And he needs the support of these legions?"

  "Exactly!"

  'What a fool,' Gaius thought. If he needed legions, he should have guaranteed their support before he set out on this scheme. "And the Republic?"

  "The idea is we restore the Republic," the Senator nodded. "Scribonianus will be Consul for the first year."

  "And what does everybody else get out of this?" Gaius asked cautiously. It must be obvious to the others by now that he was not exactly over-enthusiastic about a conspiracy, so he needed to show he was contemplating a deal. These fools should understand the motivation for wanting to get loot or position.