Insurgent of Rome

by Ken Farmer

  Another large chamber was reached, and again through a portal with no doors and also empty of any practical use. The idea that this royal compound was mostly for giving mere evidence of grandeur was given more credence. Other than woven rugs on the stone floor, and hanging festoons on the walls, the huge enclosures were empty.

  Turning aside from what was almost a street within a building, the man stopped before an ordinary wooden door, turning to say, "Beyond is the plenum chambers. You will wait here until announced, then stride forward to kneel in veneration, not rising until graciously given leave. The proper honorific is, Your Megaleío, but you must say nothing without the given auspice of the royal Person."

  Julius ignored the strictures in his surprise that King Antiochus was waiting, and apparently the instigant of his summons. It was with some small uneasiness that he waited as the door was opened and the man stepped through. This was a far distance from the deck of the Petrel, and not completely in terms of stadia. His was the profession of Captain, knowing the sea and winds and currents - the maneuvers of power and plotting of and between domains was as an unread scroll. What a summons from a King had to do with...

  "Enter, Kapetánios." It was immediately obvious that this was not a court in session. Julius had little knowledge of the workings of a royal assembly, but this could not be one. This was not a throne room - merely a small room with little but a few chairs and a long table.

  And two people sitting in wait - a man and woman.

  The overbearing lackey thumped the end of his staff on the stones of the floor, then ordered loudly, "Kneel to the Vasiliás of Asiatius Philadelphus, ten and third of the dynasty of Antiochus..." The man tailed off as he realized the mark of his word was giving no indication of obeying. Indeed, Julius had no intention of prostrating himself before any man of whatever rank, and certainly not to a King that was apparently hiding in his own palace. He merely bowed deeply, as if to an older noble of Rome, then waited for the reason for the summons.

  The Chamberlain was apparently about to give forth with some stern words of sanction when the woman said with some drollery, "Nay, Mnesiphilos. The Kapetánios is a Roman and such do not willingly give obeisance to one of any throne." She waved a hand in dismissal. "Leave us."

  According to the knowledge of the Sage, the Queen Mother - known as Kleopátra Selene - was far past her middle age, probably having seen fifty or sixty years in her time. Even so, she was still quite attractive in her being and apparently still of cunning mind and thought. Indeed, by the thoughts of Patroclus, she was the power behind the King, giving pointing and advice for every need.

  Her son, beside her, was still on the younger side of middle age, although probably some years older than Julius himself. Neither was dressed as would be expected of a Monarchial family, but rather as wealthy nobles in the simple garb of the household.

  She gestured to a chair. "Please sit yourself Kapetánios. You have our gratitude for your prompt delivery of our needs to the Senate of your city. There are few men to whom gold can be given with utter assurance of goodly treat."

  Julius nodded his head. "Any abscondment of wage without delivery of service is a gain that will be paid for in future loss. Had the mission been accepted from a mere grain-merchant of the docks, my family would have been no less intent on its completion."

  She nodded back. "Just so. But, our delegation was successful, as you know. We have retained suzerainty over our domain, properly inherited from Philadelphus, and attested to with agreements with both Rome and Tigránes."

  "Aye. Such was given to me by my brother at our last meeting. I am gratified to have been of some minor service to the house... throne of Antiochus."

  There was a pause, then the King spoke for the first time. "You are no dullard, Kapetánios, not to wonder at many things. To begin, our motive for your invitation to our company, and the need of myself to be in Antioch without ceremony."

  Julius nodded. "Aye. Just so, but I have no reason to believe that you gave invite for me to merely sit and make guesses of the royal needs."

  Now the woman smiled. "A Roman, indeed, and with all the traits of your peoples. One being the need to cut through mere gab to find the nugget of information." She waved a hand vaguely. "You yourself have found that the city of Antioch is in the throes of uncertain succession. Some wish for this domain and that to accept suzerainty over Antioch and others to give some thought to the city itself becoming master of its own fate." A pause, then, "And some even with the idea of using the uncertainty of succession to elevate their own position."

  The King spoke again. "We speak, of course, of the Émporos of the port. A man who has done much damage to your family and its merchantry."

  Julius assumed the word to mean 'Magistrate' or such. "Dionysophanes," he said, simply.

  "Just so."

  Julius nodded, then said, "Aye. He has slain innocents of our employ in his quest for control of the trade - men employed by my family and without desire for harm to either the man or his merchantry."

  "But your rancor has taken on more weight than would come from the machinations of a man for mere trade." The man looked for a moment, then said, "Is your shipmate still with the living?"

  Julius kept his expression blank, wondering at the impossibility of the Petrel to harbor a spy in the employ of... But of course, they had received the tale from Melglos - or at least, from the Conservator, Timotheus. The question to himself, was why a King and Queen mother would give the slightest concern for an old sailor. "When I left the ship, he was still breathing, but little more." Now, he carefully chose his words in realization that even a Roman does not interrogate a King in his own chambers. "Might I ask the reason for my travel to this palace, rather than merely sending word for any need?"

  "A man of your erudition will know that these lands are in dispute - indeed, all of the old realm of Alexander is the prize being sought. Three domains are in contest, and it is our assessment that Rome will be the winner. Does that surprise you."

  "I have given it little thought, but my Pedagogus... Dáskalos? Aye, the oldster that gave my learning from young age is a Greek, and has the same thoughts as yourself. His ideas say that Rome is young and in ascendency - the only question being how fast and how far."

  "Aye, a man of obviously great acumen, and his belief is in follow with ours. If Rome is on the path to greatness, then our vastly smaller domain would be wise to join the procession." Now the Queen Mother smiled grimly. "Your family has need of making cause for the harm given by the Émporos of the port, and for more recent reasons having nothing to do with merchantry." She gestured to her son. "As do we. Despite the understanding between our three domains, in agreement that the Dynasty of Antiochus will rule between Armenia and the lands of Cicilia, we find that King Tigranes is... less than sincere in his wish of amity between the kingdoms. Indeed, Dionysophanes is his... what is your word for such..." The woman paused, then continued, "Agent? Aye, agent charged with fomenting rebellion in Antioch."

  Julius just stared across the table for the moment, his mind racing. Aye, such could well be the reason for a man to deliberately give insult to a strong trading house on the Great Sea, rather than join in the usual goodly profit. Again he hesitated in giving query to a royal Person, but this was not before a court and the usual formalities were moot, but before he could formulate a proper question, the King said, "We have known such for most of the year, even before the agreement between the Senate and Tigranes was reached, that Dionysophanes was grasping in his need for aggrandizement over Antioch. We are uncertain if he made offer to the King of Armenia or if that monarch reached out to a convenient source for his plans, but there is no doubt of the grasping - to become the Kyvernítis of this domain."

  Kyvernítis? Julius assumed that the word meant governor or such. "Might I ask how such information came to your knowing?"

  "We have long had our own ears and eyes in his court." This was the Queen Mother. "A hare must keep eyes on the lair of the lio
n if he wishes to live another day. And such games are not only played by us. I would give wager that one in ten of our entourage in Damascus is in wage to Tigranes." She gave a grim smile. "Such details are not for your ears, but suffice it to say that a courier from that King to Dionysophanes was intercepted and convinced to give us his missive."

  Julius just sat in thought for the moment. It was becoming apparent to himself that the actions - whatever they had been - of Roman citizens long in the past, to eject a Monarch from the rule and substitute that of a body of men was wise, indeed. Not that the Senate was incapable of devious machinations in their desires, but such were usually fought out over the ivory stools, with the only casualties being the digestion and temper of the Senators. The Captain was no stranger to force and violence, but that was by direct action with iron and arrow, not with spies and hidden plans and subterfuge. Finally, he said, "Again, you have summoned me to your presence for a reason - may I know of it?"

  Chapter 27

  The forth part of a month had passed since their coming to Antioch, and little had been accomplished, other than a realization of the actuality of life in a palace. The King and Mother had departed in some measure of secrecy, to take their place in the official procession of entry into the city that gave the name to their dynasty. Or mayhap, the other way around. Julius did not know of the history of this land, and were he asked, little interest.

  The first days had been... interesting. As guests of the King, they were treated as if visiting royalty by the lackeys of the palace, with even the Chamberlain giving some temper to his haughtiness. Julius had met several times with the royal Pair, but mostly with just the Queen Mother, for the two days before the Royals left to make their official entry. Kleopátra had an insatiable desire for knowledge outside of their domain. For many hours by the watercock - the land of the Hellens used the same measure of time as the Romans - Julius gave description and explanation of life and living in his land. And in others, that he had visited, although his knowledge of such foreign lands did not extend far beyond the various ports.

  Then, suddenly, the Queen asked, "What would be the reason for a man of Rome to have a Greek Korí as companion, and in a time of turmoil? I have much doubt that a strapping ándras as yourself enjoys use of a half-budded Koritsa for his mat-pleasure."

  Julius was not entirely surprised by the knowledge of the woman as to their young companion. The friend of Melglos, Timotheus, had given many warnings, in private and with some intensity, that nothing was a secret from the rulers of this land, and, "...within the confines of this royal compound, even the success or nay of your labor in the latrine will be reported in full." Pontika was still garbed in the nondescript clothing that gave little notice of her gender, but beyond that, little effort was made to keep her actual being a secret. Such attempt would have been useless in any case, with every bodyslave and servant attendant hovering closely for any slightest need of their designated patron.

  Julius thought over the question for a moment, then realized that dissimulation would be useless, and possibly with some peril. "To us she is called Pontika, although her given name was Minthe and her father was one Echemmon of Antioch - a wealthy grain and warehouse factor. Her association with the Petrel began innocently enough, but at the cusp of several incidents, she gave goodly service to myself and my crew, performing acts that would have given pause even to a strong and spirited man."

  The Queen nodded, saying, "And as she is still in apparent wardenship with yourself, I assume that her principle has fallen on evil times."

  "Alas, he was one of the men whose property and power was coveted by Dionysophanes, and during some travel in cause of his merchantry, was set upon by bandits who gave slaughter to all in his party. His young daughter was in their household, and seeing men arrive, giving rough handling to the servants, made hide in a place known only to herself. Such coveted and secret refuges are common for all urchins, born high or low. From there, through the cracks of the boards, she could hear the Axiomatikós, in accompany with the men, give proclamation of the sale of the property to the leading merchant of the port. But..." He gave a grim smile of no humor, then said, "Later in the day, she heard the banter of the gang of men, sitting in unusual comfort and giving goodly quaff of wine from the vaults of the house, then realizing from their gab that the proclamation of the taxing magistrate had been false and in conspiracy with Dionysophanes. The japing was of the slaying of her father and all in his company, and by the men of the wealthy merchant, led by his strong-arm, one Ardeshir."

  "It speaks goodly of her metal, for an unfledged Koritsa to have such control in receipt of such dire news."

  "Aye," agreed Julius. "As she doubted the tender mercies of either man or men who had performed the crimes, the night saw her crawl from her secret space and disappear into the darkness, just another homeless waif in the underbelly of the city. She had the foresight to present herself as another boy to the other urchins and any grownsters of the city, knowing that a young Koritsa would have been taken by the first man who discovered her lack of maleness." Julius waved away another fill of his cup, then continues, "For her actions in benefit of myself and the Petrel, I - and a noble woman of Rome - have offered wardenship and guarantee of goodly placement in our land, but..." He paused, "As you say, her metal is unnaturally hardened for a mere Korí, and she gives oath of retribution to the evilness, should it take her life." He paused, then, "For myself, I can give no words of disagreement, but one has to take notice of the reality for such as her to take vengeance against an evil man of such power."

  The Queen Mother nodded. "And you have decided to keep her close, so as to prevent any... impulsive actions." It was not a question and she continued. "It mayhap that the throne can give assist in her desires. Our cause is common and need the same." A pause, then, "Call her into our presence that we may gain acquaintance with our young subject."

  As a servant was dispatched to summon the young woman, Julius said. "As to the putrid Captain of that merchant, Ardeshir, I will give his deserve, both for the evil done to the Korí and my aged crewman, even now laying in the hull of my ship in effort to gain his back his life." Very shortly, the lackey returned with Pontika, with her giving a deep bow before the Queen Mother.

  "A fetching Korí, indeed, Kapetánios. One such as her will be a jewel for the household of any man." To the girl she said, "Your life has taken an unfortunate path, through no fault of your own, I am told."

  "Aye, your Majesty." The girl glanced at Julius, then continued, "But, despite the evil put upon my family, I have gained friends who have given comfort and assistance."

  "Indeed. And I would hear of it. Go and rest yourself and your men, and with a goodly meal from the Royal kitchens. Your Korítsi and I will make converse of women's matters, of little interest to a man."

  Shortly after, the King and Mother, and the residue of court, left for Damascus, in preparation for the return. During the next days, the five wandered the compound, with interest in seeing the home of a Royal Family, but also in need of privacy in their talk. Any room might have a myriad of ears pressed to hidden holes in the walls, but such close observance was impossible of men - and a girl - walking around the open streets of the island. The top of the eastern tower was a goodly spot for converse, although at this time of the season, could be sweltering on a day of sun and no wind. "...for a vow by the King to give depress to this evil merchant, I see little enough in this city to assault the virgins of the Venus temple, far less to give halt to a man with an army of miscreants at his call." This was Maccalus, speaking as they walked past one of the eastern bridges over the river.

  Julius waved vaguely in the direction of south. "Aye, but Antiochus has no real military. The domain of that dynasty has diminished over the many years to only a part of what it once was. I doubt that he has the coin to keep a standing army, beyond palace guards and the Vigilis - or whatever the civic guardians of the streets are called in this land."

  "Timotheus g
ives from his hearing, the estimate is that 'Phanes has half a legion of cutthroats in his hire," said Flavius.

  "Aye," gave reply from Melglos. "But most will be nothing but harbor toughs that will make stand only as long as they see no peril coming for them. The tough nut of the putrid merchant will be only a few handfuls of sea-rovers and soldiers late of some army and wishing for employment that does not require labor."