Insurgent of Rome

by Ken Farmer

  Julius sat back down as the men pounded the back of the boy, all with wide grins and mild japes, as the youngster stood in daze at the sudden happenings. As the cook brought the cold haunch, Judoc filled a cup - with crew-wine, not the diluted drink usually given to the boy. Placing a hand on the young shoulder, Julius said, "I am proud of you, youngster. I have known many men who would not dip a foot in the sea after dark, far less jump overboard to swim towards an inferno of burning ships. Nor to approach a shore with raving hordes just beyond the tideline." He paused, then said, "Your time in hull-cleaning must have begun even as you left the paps of your mother. The pace I saw in the water did not become learned by wading a shallow bottom."

  "Aye," said Kaeso. "The fish could learn a thing from his skill."

  "Neptune could 'gage him for a messenger."

  Julius turned his thoughts to the future, leaving both crew and passengers in their extolment of the boy - the young man. Lightly loaded and fully provisioned, there was no need for the Petrel to touch a port for the voyage. They would offload their passengers, then stand in port for a half month or so, unless the family had some pressing need for the ship elsewhere. By end of the half-month, the crew - including the Captain - would have a surfeit of land-living and all would be in desire of feeling a pitching deck under their feet.

  Chapter 17

  The Petrel had returned to Capua with their freed captives and without incident. The ship had appeared off the port of Neápolis one early morning without noticement of the busy harbor until the mist had lifted enough to show the familiar lines of the taut vessel. As the word spread, the wharf and water's edge filled with citizens to the extent that the harbor Magistrate had need to call for the city Virgilis, that order might be maintained and even the women prevented from being pushed into the water by the surging crowds. Mounted messengers were dispatched to Capua to give word of the arriving.

  As both families were from that southern city, their journey ended at the wharf, needing only to make the short distance to Capua. During the voyage, Julius had offered a fast speculatoria to put Caesar in his own city of Rome with the utmost haste, but, interestingly, the noble was vague on his plans, giving that he would decide his purpose when they stood into Neápolis.

  The crowds had cheered - even culling out a feast day for the occasion - as the two families and Caesar, with his man, walked from the wharf between two ranks of the city watch. Julius had offered refuge in the inn of the family until they began the final leg of the journey. For himself, he kept the crew busy making their ship secure, removing the planks that had been used to hold the heavy chests and knocking down the flimsy partitions that had given their passengers a modicum of privacy in the return voyage.

  Eventually, the ship was given over to a watchman from the shipyard of the family and the crew departed - Julius and Kaeso for their homes and the rest to the inn to begin their journeying between taburna and brothel until the next voyage. The Captain smiled as he watched Pontiki stride along proudly beside himself. The youngster had come far from that day, not long ago, when an urchin approached with his rusty blade to offer scraping for a coin.

  As the day was yet young, Julius gained a pair of steeds from the stables of the inn and set off on the short journey to Capua. He was an indifferent horseman, but four legs would make the distance of about a hundred and sixty stadia much faster than his own. The time was shortened by the entertainment of watching Pontiki in his first ride on a horse. Fortunately, his mount was tame and knew to follow its fellow, as the boy did little but lean forward with both arms grasping the neck of his mount.

  As the news of the Petrel and the successful conclusion of the mission had reached the city by riders a few hours before, his entry into the household was no surprise, but of joyous celebration by all. Aulius took the place of the Steward, meeting him at the door with the usual clasp of arms in the Roman manner. There was no need to call for the celebration wine - the atrium was already filled with a banquet of massive proportions, with all the family present and in desire of the tale of the voyage - after, of course, the teary hugs of the Grand Domina, that again her wandering son had returned and with his feet still on the mortal bank of the Styx.

  The meal was welcome, after the cold rations of the voyage. He speared this delicacy and that as he gave a sanitized version of the saga. His brother knew that the tale had been culled for the ears of the women - it would be fleshed out in private between them at a later time.

  He rested for the bulk of the day, allowing his buttocks to gain some relief from the bouncing of the horse on his land-journey, then, in the cool of the evening, settled onto a comfortable mat on the upper terrace for the talk of the next need of the Petrel. "We still have the unfinished business in Antioch, brother," said Julius. "As you have said many times, that is a port that we cannot just relinquish without struggle."

  "Aye," Aulius replied. "But, while you have been roving the seas, there has been a considerable change in the ruling structure of that city. You will remember the two ambassadors that you gave passage in their meeting with the Senate?"

  "From the presumptive ruler, Antiochus."

  "Aye. As it happens, the Senate has made... arrangements with that King and the real power of the land, King Tigranes."

  "Arrangements?"

  "Rome has little need of another war, especially at such a distance. The conflict with the kingdom of Pontus is heating to a white-hot pitch, and consuming both gold and men as a fowl eats grain in the courtyard." He waved to the servant to fill the cups again. "Fortunately, unlike some of our august leaders of the past, both the Consuls and the Senate realize that he who attempts to conquer all at once, usually conquers nothing."

  "And these agreements with the Kings?"

  His brother nodded. "I am not privy to the entirety of the discussions - as yet - but it would appear that Antiochus will be given power over Antioch, provided that he agree to the ultimate suzerainty of King Tigranes to the region. It would appear that Tigranes is engaged in his own conquests to the east and such are not falling into his hands as one plucks fruit from a bush. Thus his need also to avoid any major conflict with us. For now."

  Julius thought over the words of his brother, then said, "So... Supposedly with the auspices of this pretend king, Antioch, we will return to the city of his name and restore our agency." It was not a question. He nodded. "Aye. There is a man in that city with whom I have need of discussion about the matter."

  "There is a speculatoria of the family taking scrolls of agreement to Tigranes. Until it returns, you can relax and mayhap learn a modicum of what happens with the family enterprise while you are galavanting on the wide seas."

  His plans for an easy rest for the nonce was quickly dissipated. On the morrow, the families, entire, of both the clans of Pullus and Domitius made call, bringing peans of gratitude and declarations of eternal friendship with the family of Clavius. The tales began to flow up the road from the port of Neápolis and each with more blather than the last. Julius gave wonder if such had their source in the taburnae of that port city, mayhap from the crew of a certain ship now in port.

  The bards of the city began to recite the saga of the rescue, finally reaching the span of tale where the crew of the Petrel had stormed the citadel of the pirate clan, slaying hundreds of reavers and burning ships and the encampment with flames seemingly enkindled by Vulcan himself. At the head of this band of heroes was the Captain of the ship, his iron blade slaying pirates on either hand until the captives were reached - himself carrying the helpless femina over his shoulder even as he cut his way back to the ship. Aulius gave a wide grin as the latest tale reached their ears. "It would seem that you have culled the narrative, somewhat, brother. I knew that my sibling mate had skills in the martial realm, but Mars himself would claim relationship to such a hero."

  Julius just shook his head with a grimace. The tale was goodly enough even within the bounds of truth, but the latest versions of the saga were becoming ludicrou
s. Finally, he decided to forsake his daily - and enjoyable - sojourns in the Thermae of Apollo for the plain heated bath of the house. The bathing rituals were becoming ridiculous, with each man in turn moving to give congratulations on his triumph of epic proportions. Even more disconcerting were the women in their pools, beyond the lattice separating them from the male waters, coming to look over the flimsy barrier and pointing himself out to their female fellows.

  He knew, that like all news of import and triumphs - either real or expanded - such would eventually begin to wither to insignificance. He would sojourn in his own house until the saga was overplayed into tedium, before venturing into the city again.

  Patroclus had arrived the day after porting, walking the distance in part of the day. He and Julius were in the scribery, filling in details on their maps, examining the voluminous notes made by the navigator on the voyage. "...have found a sketch of the island of Syrna made by some literate voyager from Gaza. The position matches my figurings, but I cannot give credence to the shape." He waved at the expanse of blankness on the map. "The reavers chose a remote haven for their lair. There is no land in any direction from that isle that is closer than two hundred stadia." Another finger pointing. "Except for these three islands here, about thirty stadia to the southeast - mere specks in the nothingness. None are as much as a stadium across."

  Julius was deep in thought. "Two hundred stadia... They would be fools to attempt to cross such an open expanse in nothing but two flatboats."

  "Aye. And there might be some harsh discussion among the pirates, between the few that could use such to an attempt to escape and the mass of men left behind."

  "Master Julius." Both turned to see the Steward, Virnius, standing in the doorway. "The families of Domitius have arrived, asking the boon of your reception."

  The Roman looked at the Sage. "That is interesting. They were here only on the day before yesterday." To the Steward he said, "Show the guests to comfortable mats in the large atrium. I will appear immediately that I have regarbed." Deciding not to venture into the city for the early days, he wore only his casual ship-tunic in the house. By the time he was presentable for noble company, Aulius had arrived and had already welcomed the extended family with cups and platters of sweetmeats.

  As he entered the huge atrium, he could see that the families, entire, of the clan of Domitius had indeed made visit. In addition to the senior Dominus, Gnaeus and his wife Titinia, were Marcus and his mate and several others. He thought he recognized the elder sister of Marcus, and the man standing beside the woman had to be her husband. The other couple he had not the slightest idea of their identity. Only the young son and daughter - Lucius and Velia - of the family of Marcus were missing.

  But, with them was the younger sister of Marcus, Camelia, her appearance greatly changed from the tattered captive on the island, and the passenger on the return, then having nothing for habiliments but her ripped tunic and another tattered wrap given by Patroclus. Now, she was garbed as a noble woman, in a full length stola, dazzlingly white and topped with a shawl - the palla - of golden cloth, covering her head and draped down over both shoulders.

  All had risen as Julius entered the room, with the elder Domitius walking to stand and deeply bow before him. "As I was giving to the good Aulius, we have come because of conflicting reports given to myself about the return of my family to safety."

  Julius gave a mild grimace. "Ah... I would warn you, Sos, do not be gulled by the tales flowing around the city even now. They have little relation to the actual facts as happened."

  The man smiled in return. "Nay. I do not speak of the acts of bravery performed by yourself and your crew, heroic though they were, but of both my surprise at the return of my family, and their worry that the ransom had now descended the family into beggary." The Dominus stopped to gaze steadfastly into the eyes of the other, then, "The magical delivery of a ransom that was not sent - one that I could not find even with sale of the entirety of our holdings."

  Julius had totally forgotten about the matter - that he himself had caused a chest to be taken on board with a weight of silver that matched the demands of the reavers on the island. He had known that the question of a ransom paid, but not sent, would come to light on their return, but... Again, his total indifference to wealth beyond need had passed the matter from his mind.

  With a spread of his hands and a shrug of shoulders, he said, "My brother has lectured me many times on the waste of wealth that is stashed in a vault, rather than being put to use. And what better use than to be spent on friends?" Of course, even though half the riches of the family were his, he had given Aulius his intentions before calling for the chest.

  Now Marcus came to stand beside his father. "Know this, Julius. The funds will be repaid if it takes my life and that of my son."

  "Aye," agreed the elder. "This debt will stand before all others, even beyond such distance."

  Julius shook his head. "Nay. Let us not worry about debts and payments. It may be yet that the ransom will be returned with interest. In any event, the matter is not pressing in any way. Do you agree, brother?"

  "Aye," replied Aulius. "Come. All resume your mats and let us drink to the safe return of your family. Other days will suffice to speak of mundane affairs of such." He waved back at the mats around the tables filled with viands and jugs.

  All turned to make their ease except for the woman. Camelia walked to stand in front of Julius, stopping his movement with some surprise. Looking at the young Roman, but speaking to the others in the room, she said, "During our voyage home, Patroclus spoke of his vast scribery of maps and sketches of the lands of the Great Sea. I wonder if his Master would indulge my interest in such with a showing of the treasure?"

  Marcus grinned at Aulius. "Aye, my sister is the rare female who spends much time in wish that she could visit far places, rather than maintain the form and tasks of a proper noble matron."

  With some sharpness, the elder Domina, Titania, said, "Her place has been uncertain since the unfortunate death of poor Castus. One can allow a widow to gain her relief from mourning in her own manner."

  Julius had much experience with women - those whose time could be purchased for a while with a coin - but not for noble Roman females who were immune to such... uses. It was not that he had trepidation of such consorting, but rather that his opportunities for such had been almost nonexistent since he became of age. Nine parts of ten of any year - and more - were spent thousands of stadia from Capua - from Latium itself. Indeed, he had more knowledge of noble Egyptian women - or Greek or Armenian, than those of Rome. Still, the woman was at an age of maximum comeliness - between the middle age of becoming a staid female with a family and household to maintain, and the empty-headed chattery of a pubescent femina. His lack of familiarity did not equate lack of interest.

  "Aye, Camelia. It would be my pleasure." Even to himself, it sounded as stilted as the blab of a Forum performer. He waved for her to walk with him, turning to enter the wide hallway that spanned the house from door to kitchen.

  Patroclus turned with a look of surprise on his countenance. This room was in the far back of the house, one of many in which the servants labored or household items were stored. Such remote places as this scribery were seldom seen any member of the family, and indeed, he suspected that few noble members, other than Julius, even knew of its existence.

  "A goodly morning to you, Patroclus," said the woman. She and the scribe had made much converse during the return voyage, both with an interest in the wide world and she listening to his tales with much enthusiasm.

  "And to you, Matrona," replied the Sage with a smile and a bow. To Julius, he said, "I admit my surprise at our visitor to the dusty environs of the lower house."

  "The Lady Camelia has asked to see the place of our planning and your vast collection of maps and scrolls of far places."

  The oldster was a man of great erudition and a lifetime of learning. And with full cognizance that when a woman asks a man to a
ccompany her to a place of quiet and privacy, she has little desire for another to be present. "Alas, it would be my pleasure to guide you through my trove of knowledge-wealth, but I must wait on the senior Numerarius to settle the expense score for the Petrel." He gave a slight bow to the man. "Master Julius will be able to guide you through the trove as well as I. If you will give pardon, I will do so now."

  Julius watched the old man leave, and with some wonder. Patroclus, as the crew would say over their cups, could talk the ears off the statue of Jupiter in the Forum about his maps and scrolls, even giving little notice when his audience had reached their fill of such knowledge. Why would he depart with a willing listener suddenly at hand...