by Ken Farmer
"Very well. We will give the findings of your putative man on the morrow."
Unfortunately, in the early morning collection of men in the Tabularium, the difference between what needed to be said and what was wanted to be heard was quickly apparent. "Forty thousand men? That is ludicrous, Julius! Your man is easily impressed, or is attempting to foment panic." The Burgimagister of Capua was incredulous, as were all the men in the Tabularium.
The senior of the city Aedilis thumped the table, to indicate a spot on the large map. "This putrid Spartacus bandit has only roved around the region of Campania. There are not so many slaves in the entire domain."
Julius stood his ground. "He did not give that all were freed slaves, nor that all were from inland between Neopolis and Paestum in the south. After the victory over Clodius, men have swarmed in from the entire domain of the land, and not all escaped or freed slaves. Many are free men escaping from debts and suppression."
"Still, I suggest that your man be given harsh sanction for his attempts at agitation. The number is absurd." This was the Prefect of the Watch, the fat noble in command of the Vigilis - the watchmen and enforcers of the law in the city.
It was then, for the first time, that Julius saw his brother as something other than a mild-mannered sibling interested in little but his scrolls and tablets, wages and prices and future costs of grain not yet grown - a respected noble of the city, but not such as to become a forceful leader. It was with startling wrath that the Dominus of Clavius now said, and not quietly, "My family has waxed in prosperity for the two generations before us, and I can say that in my time of guidance, it has not diminished, but also increased with goodly wealth. And any success that I have had at such increasal was not because of my brother fighting through pirates and tempests and convulsion to bring me tales of falsehood instead of goodsome facts. If he gives that the shades of Orcus are at the gates, demanding either our tribute or our heads, then all had best give open ears to the warning!"
This sudden and unexpected rebuke from one of the wealthiest men in all of Latium was immediately given response from all. The Burgimagister held both hands out in supplication as he said, "Nay, good Aulius. No such denigration was intended. It was just that such... surprising numbers are difficult for our sudden hearing..."
"Aye," blurted the Aedilis. "Had the good Julius seen such a sight with his own eyes, none here would have given the slightest hesitancy in belief. But..." He turned to the ship Captain. "Might I ask of the... competence of your man in matters military?"
Julius nodded, then replied. "He is not a soldier, but is well versed in arms and has had many discussions with iron across the width of the Great Sea. That, I have seen myself." The statement was not completely false, since the description was, in actuality, himself. "But, truth or nay aside, many in our city and the surrounding domains have lost both property and workers. And I assume that most would wish to have both returned? I see little profit if your goods are despoiled and your are chattels nailed to cross-wood." There was a general nod around the room. "The cold season is about to arrive, and my man gives that the encampments of the rebels are merely grass huts and stick-shelters. I suspect that, left alone, the vast bulk of the masses will soon tire of cold and wet dirt for their mats and little but grass and boiled bark for their nourishment. The hot meals, even of a bondman, might have great attraction."
"Aye. There is much judgement in your reasoning." said one.
"And Capua is not with the forces needed to confront the mob," said Aulius, "thus we have little else to do but wait."
The days went by without further incident, and in the month, the Petrel set out for Rome with two of the family merchant ships in follow. With feigned reluctance, Julius allowed the young femina to be taken as a passenger, after multiple reminders from the youngster of past promises made and accepted, but not until given strict instruction by Camelia. "... you are looking less like a ship's boy every day. You will wear the padded strophium under your tunic to keep your papillae from making points. Wear the garment that reaches your ankles and take another, to be donned if you are drenched with water. Any bathing will be done at night and behind the privacy cloth." Finally, the noble woman said, "You are becoming a woman and quickly, and a man long at sea has an appetite for such that is sometimes difficult to restrain. There is no danger for yourself of ravishment from the men of Julius, but it is deceitful to parade your growing femininity before men who can only see but not enjoy."
Like Capua, the port of Rome was not directly on the coast, but some stadia inland, in this case, up the river with the name of Tiber. The Petrel and the two merchant ships wharfed in the port of Ostia, with Julius and the family agent for Rome, along with Pontika in tow and Ngozi as another set of eyes on the road, set out for their destination in walk up the road between the port and the city. As this was the start of the wet season, there was no use of a river flatboat to allow passengers to sit and relax while being poled up the river - the current was such that any attempt would probably find them and their little vessel pushed far out to sea.
The city being reached in the afternoon, Julius engaged rooms in a prosperous inn, although, of course, the agent and Ngozi had to take their rooms in the back with the other subordinates of the patrons. They settled in, unpacking their traveling bags, then Julius sent the agent to announce their arrival. He was surprised when the man returned with an overdressed lackey in accompany, saying, "From the house of the Dominus, Tacitus Lucianus, Sos."
Who? Before he could ask, the stranger bowed and said, "Greetings from Gaius Julius Caesar, Sos, and his invitation to dine this evening at the house of my master, Dominus Lucianus."
That answered one question. Julius said, "Where is the domicile?"
"With your permission, Sos, I will remain to give guidance to yourself for the short walk."
The sun only had about an hour before setting, and Julius assumed that the invitation was immediate. "Aye, let us regarb from our travel, and we will follow."
Fortunately, he had included a toga, on the slight chance of needing such, and of course the girl had brought enough garments to almost open her own habiliments merchantry. With approval, he looked the young femina over as she emerged from her room, the inn maid-servant in tow. She turned that he might examine the entirety of her gleaming white stola and the matching palla, draped over her head and falling below the shoulders. The femina pointed to her maid, supplied by the inn. "This is Papiria - she will be my ancilla for the evening."
"What..."
"A noble woman does not attend a fête without a maidservant, you should know of such." She paused, then continued, "And you should have a Cacula for your needs of attendance."
Julius knew nothing of noble women and their needs, beyond mere man-knowledge, but this had to have come from the tutoring of Camelia. As to the need of a body servant, he had always managed to avoid having such a useless drone hovering about at all times of night and day - and had no intention of gaining one now. He merely shrugged and said, "Aye, noble lady. Let us be off."
Of course, Pontika was in full enjoyment in the short walk, seeing more of the great city and asking with enthusiasm that they might walk the streets on the morrow.
Julius merely smiled, and replied, "If you are in thought that we will be here long enough for you to tour the entirety of Rome, then I fear you have misunderstood our mission. Mayhap we can take our stroll around the Capitoline on the morrow, if our patron is not in haste to leave."
Julius had been to Rome a few times, back when he was a young puer in accompany with his father, but, while the port of Ostia was exciting beyond all measure to a youngster, the actual ruling city was just a large collection of uninteresting buildings. And his memory gave as little use to the past visits.
In a short walk they stopped before a very sizable dwelling, at least as large as that of his own family, although this one was with few windows and apparently almost square in shape. In the street were several groups of servants, and not a few lec
ticae, and with the slaves used for the carrying chairs squatting against the wall. Unlike the noble households in Capua, where the use of land was more generous and not restricted to hilltops, these domiciles fronted the streets - indeed, the bricks of the walls met the cobblestones of the via without gap. Thus, between one step and the next, a person would move from street to hallway.
At a large and ornate door, their guide gave formal identification of his party to the doorman and the Captain and girl entered, to be guided down a long dark hall to the expected massive atrium. Here they were greeted by the head of the household, the Dominus Tacitus Lucianus, he assumed. "Greetings and welcome, Master Julius. It is my honor to finally meet the man of which Gaius has often spoken."
Next to the man was the Domina, it was obvious, and as Julius bowed, she said, "Of course, as a man, Gaius did not mention the obvious fact that the savior of himself was such a handsome youth." The woman was speaking to himself, but looking at the young girl at his side. The gaze was as intense as a direct question.
Julius raised an open hand toward the girl, saying, "Noble Domina, may I present Pontika Minthe of the family of Echemmon, of Antioch, honored and received by the King and Queen Mother of Antiochus for the services of her family in the need of the throne. And to the family of Clavius, I have to say." He paused, then looked at the man with a smile. "She refused to allow this voyage to proceed without her benefit in seeing the glories of Rome, that until now only her ears had heard."
"You are indeed a budding young femina, Pontika," said the woman. "Or do you prefer the nomen, Minthe?"
"My family knew of me as Minthe, Domina, but my friends in Capua call me by Pontika."
"What a delicious accent you have, Pontika. I have tried such in my youth, to give a Grecian mystery to my being, but I fear that my diction was easily found to be false." She held out a hand, then said, "Come, I will give introduction to our guests." To her husband, she said, "You may gather with the men and talk of man-things." As they walked away toward the crowd of females on the other side of the large fish-pool, she said to the girl, "If you had two more seasons to your age, I would have to have Vexus, the Steward, station men with sticks to beat off the young men who would be giving sad attempt in gaining your attention..."
The Dominus shook his head in mock dismay, then smiled. "Come, Master Julius. Gaius is over yon, beyond the ferns and waiting for your entry."
As they came into the view of the group of men, Caesar stepped forward to take and offer wrists in the Roman manner of manly greeting. "I did not realize that a mere patron seeking a berth would rate the Capitaneus, himself."
Julius smiled, saying, "It was not a necessity, but my feet were needing the feel of salt water beneath, and this was a convenient excuse for a voyage."
The Dominus of the house now said, "I am introducing the noble Julius, of the Clavius family, well known from Capua and in all the lands." To the newcomer, he said, waving at each man in turn, "Senators Lucius Papius Tiburs and Amulius Cispius. Proconsul Agrippa Accoleius Antius..."
Julius just nodded, his expression carefully bland, then the Dominus of the house finished his roll call of the assembled nobles. Now, Gaius asked, "How is the handsome Camelia? Still in enjoyment of her coming motherhood, I would guess."
"Aye. Although there is little sign of such as yet. It will be the solstice before my family expands."
Amenities aside, the discussion naturally returned to the happenings to the south, each man with his own opinion of the proper actions to be taken. As many of the nobles had been active Tribunes or high officers in a Legion in their younger past, the ideas given were sound and well founded. Or they would have been had the group had the actual facts of the situation.
One turned to Julius and asked, "Had Publius Varinius arrived before you left Capua?"
Surprised, the Captain returned, "Nay... In fact, none in the city have knowledge of his impending arrival, and I was in the Tabularium on the preceding afternoon before we stood out. No reports were received with such information." A pause, then, "He is coming to ascertain the situation?"
"Nay, Master Clavius!" boomed the Dominus. "He is coming to end the despicable uprising and nail the putrid scum to crosses along the Appian Way. He himself took ship on the... when was his... three days ago. The Legions began their march on the next day."
Trying to keep his voice in match of the confidence in the atrium, Julius said, "The winds were from the south, giving our ship a quick voyage, but for any moving south along the coast, the length would be doubled, at least." The he casually asked, "What is the numbers of the levy that will be commanded by Varinius?"
"Two Legions," said another. "They have more than four thousand men between the two."
Now another man, the one identified as Cispius said, "In actuality, they are not proper Legions, Accoleius. There are no Machinatoris or Ingeniarius companies in attachment, as there will be little need for siege-work or bridge building. And, he carries no Sythian archers for use - all are in Hispania with Pompey and Lucullus."
"The veterans are not needed, Amulius," said another. "These are slaves and outlaws in roving bands, not a foe arraigned as an army in wait."
Julius was giving a sharp look at Caesar, but of course he could not say his thoughts. He asked the group, "Did not a report on the sighting of... this Spartacus man arrive from the Tabularium of Capua?"
"Aye," said the Dominus. "But the leaders of your fair city - noble men all, and of upstanding character - are not men with military usage. The reports were clearly inflated by an observer with little understanding of matters military."
"My friends," now said Caesar. "My voyage to the far lands of Pontos begins in two days, and through the waters infested with another kind of looter. If you will excuse us for the while, I must make some plans with the noble Capitaneus."
"Aye, Gaius," said the Dominus with a laugh. "In my youth I would have considered your voyage to be an adventure, but with my creaking bones, I have much gladness that it is you that will be tramping the dirt of some far land and not myself." He turned and barked to a servant, "Take Masters Caesar and Clavius to the ambulacrum of the librarium." To the pair of nobles, he said, "The reading room will be far from the chatter of yon females, and quiet for your purposes. Master Clavius, I would be delighted to offer you a cubiculum for your stay in Rome."
"My gratitude, Dominus, but I have already made sufficient arrangements." Now, bowing to all in the group, he followed Caesar and the servant deep into the house, through a huge librarium and into a small room with windows in two walls, although night had already fallen and the only light was from three large oil lamps.
Julius was looking back through the wide entrance to the reading room, although not in worry of any ears that might be in hiding. In this corner of the huge house, none could approach without being seen. Both sat at a table, rather than the usual mats for reclining, waiting until the inevitable servant arrived with cups and a jug, and a platter of dainties, then Julius said with some bitterness, "My tutoring under the Sage was that Rome had learned generations ago not to celebrate battles yet to be won."
"Aye," agreed his companion, "But you must remember that the leaders of the militia are merely dabblers wishing to gain a victory or two for their own aggrandizement. They do not even realize that the campaigning season is past, with the coming of both rain and cold within the month. Were Lucullus or Pompey, or even my soon-to-be Commander, Marcus Aurelius given charge, the threat would be treated as dire and proper plans made to reduce it." Then he asked, "You are expecting another defeat against your friend and his followers?"
"Varinius and his men will be as a fruit under the wagon wheel of the stone merchant."
Caesar looked sharply at his friend, then said, "You have knowledge not known to others." It was not a question.
"It was given to all, but without any man of importance taking the matter as truth." He looked again back through the doorway, then said, "The observer that supposedly sc
outed the slave band was myself, meeting with Melglos outside of his encampment." His companion showed widened eyes, but said nothing. "He has forty thousand men in three camps - not all with the ability of a Legionary, but enough. And the remainder are in training even now and many of them men with nothing to lose and much to gain if they are victorious."
Caesar just sat as a statue, no doubt in wonder if his ears had actually heard the words coming from his companion. Then, "Forty thousand? You can give the truth of such numbers?"