by R. W. Peake
“That's true,” I conceded. “He is technically within his rights, but this is a young Legion, and he's using the most extreme punishment for offenses that haven't been administered for at least as long as I've been in the army. I can never remember a man being flogged for failing an inspection. Losing equipment, or failing to show up for an assigned duty, that’s when a flogging is absolutely appropriate, but for having a smudged buckle?” I shook my head. “What happens when one of the men actually does something like what I just described? What’s left?”
“Either the scourge or execution, of course,” the Tribune said, laughing at my shocked expression. Looking down into his cup, I suppose in order to avoid looking me in the eye as he said this, the Tribune continued. “The Governor is a firm believer in the ancient and hallowed traditions of the Republic. He believes that discipline in the Legions under Caesar was lax, and that a firmer hand is required. Perhaps once your men realize this, they will put more effort into their duties in order to avoid punishment.”
“With all respect Tribune, I don’t think it has anything to do with the Governor’s beliefs about the Republic. If it was, he'd be on the side of The Liberators, but he’s not. I think it has everything to do with his enjoyment of seeing men weaker than he is suffer,” I shot back.
The Tribune sat back, now looking me directly in the eye.
While I was expecting him to be angry, instead I saw the ghost of a smile. “Perhaps there is a grain of truth in what you say,” he admitted. “But does it really matter why he does what he does? He's the Governor, and he has the law on his side.”
“And I have a very angry Legion who the Centurions will find hard to control if Lepidus continues on this course,” I countered, and now I saw a glint of anger in his eyes.
“That's a very serious statement, Primus Pilus. You understand what would happen if you and your Centurions were unable to control your men? At the very least the Legion would be decimated, and any Centurion who was found to not have done their utmost to stop such behavior would be executed.”
“True,” I granted, now it was my turn to lean forward to look him in the eye. “But Lepidus would still be dead, and I expect so would anyone the men thought close to Lepidus.”
Nothing more was said for some time, then the Tribune sighed. “Understood,” he said curtly. “So, what do you want me to do?”
“I've observed that Lepidus seems to respect and value your opinion a great deal.” I saw no harm in laying it on thick, and he seemed to perk up a bit at the flattery. “I'm asking you to prevail upon the Governor to relax his punishment, not the discipline behind it,” I emphasized. “We fully accept and respect his authority under the laws of Rome, and we don't expect him to ignore any violation of regulations, we're just asking that his punishment be more in line with the custom of more recent times.”
“And what’s in it for me?” he asked, not blinking. I suppose I should not have been surprised, but I was. “What do you want?” I asked cautiously. He laughed, I guess, at my naivety.
“Why, money of course,” he said cheerfully.
He named a sum, making me fight the urge to pick up the cup and smash it over his head because of his greed. Instead, I agreed, while I was wondering how I would scrape up that kind of cash on short notice. Our business concluded, I thanked him for the wine, then returned to the Legion area to spread the news.
~ ~ ~ ~
As expensive as it was, the Tribune was at least as good as his word. While the next morning’s inspection produced just as many men on the punishment list as before, this time the penalties were in the form of money and extra duties, something that Lepidus looked none too happy about. I could feel the breeze produced by the audible sighs of relief of both the rankers and the Centurions as the crisis passed. With that out of the way, we could return our minds and efforts to making the Legion ready to fight.
However, that is for later. Once again, I grow tired, and need a day or two to recover my energy. There is much more to tell about the struggle between Marcus Antonius, and young Octavian; more marching, more fighting, more bleeding and dying. Most importantly, a new Rome to be forged, a Rome breaking free of its past and becoming stronger and mightier than ever, thanks to the men of the Legions. Of which I am one, and will always be. Titus Pullus, Legionary of Rome.
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