Insurgent of Rome

by Ken Farmer

  Despite the vociferous protests of his mother, he was garbed as on shipboard. The difference being that his tunic was of spotless white linen reaching to his knees and his sandals of the finest and softest leather that could be supplied by the cobblers of the city. His only concession to the desire of the Grand Domina was his brilliantly dyed red cloak - the saglum - secured with a gold fibula fashioned in the shape of a ship. As such, his entry into the huge atrium of the Aedile was little less dramatic than had he been a successful General, returning from war. Tall and handsome, browned from the sun, and with sinews that had not atrophied in lack of use, he stood out among the males of the fête as a jake in the poultry-yard of a farm-wife.

  The Domina in the house of the Lanista, realizing that her function this night was given great enhancement by the sudden appearance of the young man, came to gush over his presence. To the mother, she exclaimed, "Sextilia! Why did you not send word that your son had returned? We would have made invite of the younger nobles of the city."

  "Alas, good Cordia. Julius does not give me forewarning of his arrival. His sudden manifestation at our door was as great a surprise to myself as any." She looked at her son with affection, bordering on pride. "I only give thanks to the gods that he has returned in whole form."

  The young Roman had no dislike of such gatherings, although the idea of a lifetime filled with such, and at a pace of every few days was not a choice he would make. Several of his friends from youth were present, although after almost ten years, they had little in common. Still, his conversation was pleasant, and a change from his usual life at sea.

  Less enjoyable was the need to interact with Matrons that lined up as merchants at an auction, presenting this unmarried daughter or that, all of whom just happened to be present on this night, as was claimed. Most of the presented feminae, of course, were far younger than Julius, even to the distance of ten or twelve years, and... superficial would be the word he would have used. Few had any knowledge of either history or the world beyond the bounds of the noble quarter of the city. Still, he nodded and somehow made the proper responses to the compliments and invitations, although, alas, he had to inform all that the need to visit the shipyards in Neápolis with some haste.

  Such was not precisely truthsome, as he had little to do until the Petrel arrived, but he would make the visit if needed to avoid calling on one household and another, that the mothers might parade the suitability of their daughters as a proper wife. As he held a smile, waiting for the next Matrona to arrive, he decided that he would make such a travel and actually visit the shipyards of the family.

  "Your pardon, Sos." He turned to see an elderly noble standing with his wife, apparently, giving a bow then continuing, "Might I beg the boon of converse with yourself, and with some privacy?"

  Julius nodded, then followed the man and woman from the atrium to the garden - one of them - that bounded the western wall of the house. He knew the man from sight, but the name was long forgotten...

  Stopping within the foliage, then looking around for any wandering ears, the man said, "You might remember myself, good Sos. Gnaeus Calvinus, of the house of Domitius? And Titinia, my wife."

  Now the memory came back. "Aye, Dominus. It has been long, but I well remember the good Domina, Titinia..." He bowed to the woman. "...many times chasing myself and Marcus from her garden of flowers and herbs, as we fought our boy-battles with wooden swords." Indeed, their young son had been a close friend in their youth, both with many bidings to either household, for play or food, even to stay in security while parents were out of the city. "How is Marcus? I have not put my eyes on him for these... four or five years now." Before he finished the sentence, he knew that the answer was not to be goodsome. The faces of both oldsters gave easy evidence of such.

  "The tidings are evil, Sos. He and his family were captured by pirates, and even now are being held for exchange." There was a pause, then quietly, "They require a sum that we cannot deliver, even were we to sell our possessions down to the last farmhouse."

  With a sudden flash of perception, Julius asked, "Was he... Were they on the ship with Gaius Caesar? The man from..." Where had he been told? "Alba Longa?"

  "Aye, Sos. Voyaging to Rhodes for the edification of the children. And to allow Camelia some measure of distance from her desolation at the death of her husband." He had only a vague memory the younger sister of his friend, mainly from the disdain of all boys to the existence of such useless beings. Of course, such scorn began to disappear with time, and eventually feminae were looked upon with more interest.

  Now the man looked around again, then spoke quietly. "I am given that you yourself will deliver the ransom for the Caesar family." Julius kept his face passive, marveling at the speed that a secret moved from the lips of the maker to the ears of all. He gave a wry thought to himself, at the insistence of his brother that they speak of the matter on the roof terrace, that no one else might know of the potential commission for their enterprise.

  He shook his head. "I have received no such mandate, Sos. In fact, I have only arrived in Capua on the yesterday." He disliked to give words that were less than accurate, and before the Mother of a good friend - a woman in much distress, but managing to hold her poise even so.

  Now the man nodded. "Nay, Sos. Break no confidences for myself, but... should you find yourself in such a task, then... Any alleviation of our distress would be remembered by our family far beyond mere friendship."

  Now the woman, Titinia spoke. "Should you find yourself in the happenstance of voyaging with the ransom deliverers, then I ask that you might deliver a missive from myself to my son..."

  Now Julius nodded. "Aye, Domina. Be assured that I would not sail without giving inform to yourself and the Dominus."

  The rest of the evening was blank in his memory the next day. He had made all the correct responses to all that had spoken to himself, but his thoughts were elsewhere. And his surprisal was not finished with the fête that night. In the middle of the following morning, Virnius brought word of a visitor to the house - the noble Antonius of the family, Pullus. Both Aulius and Julius waited as the noble was escorted to the atrium by the Steward. The Dominus of Clavius bowed, saying, "Welcome, Antonius. My brother and I grieve with you at the evil happenings of your family."

  Julius had no idea of the evil happenings, and little of the man beyond remembering that he was another head of a noble family in the city. But, such ignorance did not last beyond the next sentences.

  With a bow in return, the visitor said, "My gratitude, good Aulius. And to your brother..." He bowed again, this time to the younger man.

  "Is there word of conditions of release of your son?" Now Julius knew what this had to be about. With some bewilderment at the situation, he wondered how many Romans were on that ship voyaging to Rome, and with such an apparent count of important people, did they carry temple Priestesses as protection, rather than veteran soldiers?

  "Only the demand for the release-fee." There was a hesitation, then, "Word comes that your goodly brother..." He nodded toward Julius. "...will deliver the ransom."

  Aulius knew that the news of piracy was known in the entire domain of Latium, but obviously was startled to hear of the assumed part that his family might play being given so freely as fact. His control of facial expressions suffered from the sudden startlement. Quickly, he replied, "Only that we are being considered for such. Certainly, no commission has yet come from the family of Caesar." That was a statement of truth. "Indeed, the only ship in our possession that would be suitable for the task is not even in port at the present."

  The man just nodded, then said, "Even so. When such is decided, I would wish that the courier might make the transaction for my family. Our remuneration will not be beggarly."

  Watching the back of the man as he took his departure from their house, Julius said quietly to his brother, "I am certainly gladsome that you took care in recalling me in secret, and to the extent of sending a sealed scroll. Else, all in the
land might know of the plans."

  Aulius looked at him for a moment, and in some wonder, then seeing the jest of the words, shook his head with a crooked smile. "Aye. Such news might find its way even to the streets if one is not careful."

  For the next few days, Julius relaxed, walking the city that he had not seen for a long year or more, and even back then, little more than his own house. Pontiki was given over to the Steward, with bidding to place him at work with the many and various craftsmen that supported the family. And to give watch so as to allow the determination as to the industriousness or nay of the boy.

  The quiet of the days even allowed for the visiting this therma and that brothel until a runner came with the missive that the Petrel had hove into the port of Neápolis. As the day was young, and the distance only about two hundred stadia, he called for a mount from the household stables. By evening, he was cantering into the harbor quarter, looking for the familiar silhouette of his vessel.

  Such was easily found, and with only Flavius at anchor watch. Waving to the sudden noticement, he strode on board, giving greetings to his crewman. "How was the voyage? I was expecting you several days from now, given the winds."

  The sailor picked up another cup from the basket, then filled it. Handing it to his Captain, he replied, "There was little for the bards of the Forum to give tale about. The eye of the wind changed after two days of your going - enough as to allow us passage through the narrows." Then he asked, "Will we careen to be giving clean to the bottom in our stay." As the Carpenter of the ship, he would be responsible for the proper removal of the green growths that eventually hampered the movement of any ship that was in water for many months.

  "Aye, and on the morrow even as the sun rises. It is possible that we will have a commission that will require the utmost from the Petrel." After finishing his cup, Julius gave the farewell to the crewman, then walked the distance to an inn placed on a low hill, far enough from the port to gain the freshness of airs, and not the reeks that sometimes infested any harbor. This common, but comfortable devorsorium was both owned and operated by the family for the use of any crew that stood into the port. Except for Kaeso, the first mate, who had a house and wife in the city, all others were itinerant. Indeed, this inn was the only place in all the Great Sea that they could call home.

  Though the doorway and into the grand hall that served both as an eating room and a taburna, he was met by the Caupo. He was also the Mensarius for the building - acting as the Numerarius that would disperse the wages of any crew to their needs and desires. And who would accept any extra funds that had been made on a voyage, to be placed with the senior Numearii in Capua, there to be invested and grown until their retirement from the sea. "Welcome, noble Julius Clavius," boomed the rotund man. "Densus gave that you were already landed and several days ago."

  "Greetings to you, Bellus. Is the crew in residence, or already giving trade to the brothels?"

  The man grinned. "Aye, and you have it in correctness. All but master Kaeso did not even pause for a cup, but dropped their bags in the rooms and strode out for their evening of feminae chase and taburna gab."

  Julius gave a wry smile, then said, "I will need a room - for a single night, unless some defect is found in the bottom of the Petrel." The man nodded, waving at a servant, who immediately left to prepare one of the opulent rooms held in reserve for family members or their friends. "I will return before the night."

  Now he strode down the street for a few stadia, to the neat and whitewashed house of his First Mate. It was a stunned woman who answered his knock. As she seemed reluctant to close her mouth to speak, he asked, "My pardon to you, Matrona, for the uninvited call, but might I speak to the good Kaeso for a moment?"

  From behind the woman came the voice of his First Mate. "Capitaneus! I was not expecting yourself till some days from now." To the still motionless and speechless woman, he barked, "Bithia! A cup for our guest." As if suddenly awakening from an amazing dream, his mate started, then fled from the room, no doubt to the kitchen area. "My apologies, Sos. My wifemate has little experience in the greeting of a noble personage in our house." With a grin, he waved to a chair.

  As they settled to opposite sides of the table, the woman returned with cups and a jug, allowing her man to pour that she might not disgrace the house by decanting the red liquid over their guest in her discomposure. Nodding his gratitude to her, he waited until she vanished again from the small room, then leaned over and asked quietly, "Any problems to report with the ship?"

  Kaeso shook his head, saying, "Nay, Sos. I will have the forestay rerove before we stand out. The tag ends are showing some fray. Unless, the Capitaneus has need for other mending..."

  Of course the mate was in wonder at the sudden hail by the message-boat and the immediate departure of his Captain, but certainly would not directly ask without cause. Julius smiled, still with a quiet voice, and replied, "This is for your ears only, for now, but we may have a commission that will require both speed and guile. For now, I can only say that it will involve an unbelievable amount of wealth and our ship will attract reavers even from beyond the Pillars should the facts become known." Now the first mate was wide-eyed as he listened. "There will be a considerable element of danger, thus... You will query the men, giving that statement, and ask if any would wish to remain behind for this voyage."

  Now the man spoke, and with some fervor. "By the hanging pouchstones of Mithras, Sos. If I give such portent, the men will refuse to leave the ship even in the harbor, in fear of missing the journey." He thought for a moment, then continued, "It might be wise to leave the Sage, if the peril is as you say, but the rest would sail into Hades for the chance of blading or feathering some assailant. And the new man, the Thracian, if his tales of the past have a particle of truthiness, then he has already made the voyage to the edge of the river Styx several times." Now a dismissing wave of the hands. "Nay, Sos. Your only worry of the men would be if one was told that he was forbidden to come."

  Now Julius nodded. "Aye, and I agree that you are correct in your survey, but still... ask for their desire." He took a drink, then leaned over to say, "On the morrow, at first light, move the ship to the yard for careening, then scour the bottom. Afterwards, inspect all standing and running rigging, replacing any with the slightest wear. And have another set of light weather cloth stowed - new and closely weaved. I will give orders to the master Shipwright that the work is to have the greatest urgency and first call on needed supplies and labor. You will oversee the work, as I have need to remain in Capua until... certain facts become known." Now, draining his cup, he stood. "My apologies for the interruption of your first evening at your home. And my gratitude to your goodly wife for her delicious wine."

  Kaeso stood also, and with a wide grin. "You have given her a present unexpected and of great magnificence in her eyes." As the puzzled look of Julius, he said, "On the morrow, she will regale her women-friends with the tale that her house gave entry to the noble Clavius, and that he even sat at our table and drank of our wine."

  The Captain gave his own grin, clapping his man on the shoulder, then striding back into the street. A journey to the shipyard of the family and a short meeting with the Shipwright for the morrow finished the day. One last stop at the offices of their shipping concern was to arrange for the ambassadors to be taken to Rome on any vessel that was in port, even using the speculatoria if none other was available.

  By now his legs and feet - and bottom - were complaining of the number of stadia that had been trod in the day, and he retired to the inn for the evening.

  Chapter 12

  "We are making almost eighty stadia in the hour, even in this moderate wind. It would appear that your work on the keel fin was most efficacious." Julius was speaking to the Carpenter of the ship, Flavius, as both stood at the stern giving count of time as the small piece of wood floated past the rudder post. He waved forward, giving halt to the man who had been tossing the small sticks overboard at call.

&nb
sp; During the careening in the shipyard, while the ship was rolled to one side and exposing even the bottom most planks, they had made a major change to the contour of the hull. Much time had been passed in previous voyages - and not just in this ship nor its crew - in talk of improvement of vessels. Indeed, the previous ships with the same name of Petrel had been reformed over the years in search of more pace through the water and less fall to leeward. The current vessel was the product of those generations of sailors that had come before.