Many of the officers grimaced at the words as he watched their faces, yet more nodded their approval. “I know some of you may not like these methods, but think on it gentlemen. How many times have you, Petronius” he asked of the smaller centurion, “or you, brave Crastinus” he said with nods in the directions of the two men, “had to deal with the same enemy over and over again? Every time we defeat them they come back the moment our guards are down. What better then, than to destroy them and settle our veterans on their lands.” At this several heads jerked up and hands fidgeted in sudden interest. “Yes” he added. “I know that I’ve always been against settling around the town of Veii, but this is different. The gods have willed it, it is predicted in the sacrificial readings” he said with a look back towards the candles. Silence fell again as the men glanced to each other, some now nodding to their peers as they started to grin at the sudden change in their leaders’ views. “Today we start on that journey. A journey which will take our soldiers into new lands. Lands we will conquer to secure our future. We can never let Rome fall to our enemies again. So now I ask, again, for volunteers to chase down the Etruscans who fled from our victorious army. Several men stepped forwards as Marcus smiled back at them.
As the men trooped out of the tent several minutes later Brevo caught up with Narcius. “So, boss, what do you think?” he asked.
Narcius looked at him with cold eyes as Crastinus and Petronius moved closer. Before he could answer several centurions and optio’s had joined him, almost as if they’d planned to gain his opinion. He shook his head. “I’m not against resettling lands” he said cautiously, “but chasing down farmers and their sons” he shook his head again as he picked up his pace.
“It’s what we’re paid to do” Brevo replied. “I’ve not got a problem with it.”
Narcius grunted as the group fell into step, the bustle and noise of the camp around them forgotten as they headed past the first tents of the legions. “Then I wish you good fortune Brevo. It’s not a job I’d enjoy” he added.
Brevo knew better than to argue with his superior so simply grunted a response before saluting, wishing the others good fortune and setting off to tell his men that he’d volunteered them to follow Aemilius and a few hundred others in chasing down the fleeing Etruscans as he’d guessed there was bound to be good booty in the chase, and he needed it after losing at dice a few days before.
*****
“What news?” asked Capitolinus as Castrus appeared in the doorway.
“The Thracian’s found that Cincinnatus is working with the newly appointed quartermasters in the army outside the gate. He’s giving favours to the leading men and skimming off a little of the supplies and selling them at inflated prices.”
Capitolinus smiled. “The old dog” he laughed. “Does Javenoli know?”
“It doesn’t seem so” Castrus replied, adding “I think he’ll be a little angry when he finds out.”
“Then maybe he should” Capitolinus responded as he slapped the large man on the shoulder. Castrus grinned again. “Anything else?”
“Nothing much. Javenoli is besotted with his new woman. They seem to spend all their time together when he isn’t on his official business. I’ve got eyes in his closest circles now, though.”
Capitolinus turned quickly at these words. “Really, who?” he asked.
“The slave boy Garvi. Turns out he has a bit of gambling problem and owes one of the local gangs a great deal of money. Well, a great deal for him. I’ve paid off the debt and have him dancing to my tune now, and he didn’t take too much convincing either” he smiled.
Capitolinus let thoughts run through his mind. “Excellent. And any news of Camillus and his plans now that he is returning to Rome?”
Castrus shook his head, “nothing. Although it is said that the Senate wish to reward him for his success.”
Capitolinus grimaced at the words. It had been announced that the army had been victorious, and that Camillus had captured a great deal of treasure whilst defeating an enemy twice the size of the Roman forces. The army was returning to Rome and the people had, once again, been singing and drinking to Camillus in the streets overnight.
“Good work my friend” Capitolinus replied. “I think, though, that it is time I took some matters into my own hands. We need to be more forceful in removing Camillus and I need to make the people see him for what he is. The Senate fall at his every word” he said bitterly. “The people accept everything he says, but I cannot think how to knock him from his pedestal.” He shook his head. “Maybe Javenoli can help me. He is better at this political game than I am” he added. “But I must be careful with Javenoli. I don’t fully trust the man.”
**********
Chapter 12
“Another triumph” shouted Capitolinus as his hands flew out from his sides before slapping heavily against his thighs. Javenoli tried to hush the man as his animation caused the house slaves to look up urgently. “The Senate bow and scrape to Camillus as if he were their king” he fumed. “This victory should have been mine. I should have been voted to take command of that army” he clenched his right fist and held it up as he stared at his own curled fingers, his anger burning in his chest. “Jupiter has given me this strength” he said. “Strength to destroy the enemies of the Capitoline gods and bring greatness to my family name. Am I to be thwarted by this man again?” He turned sharply to look at Javenoli. “Was there nothing you could do?” he asked, his eyes wide.
“Sit, my friend” Javenoli said as he tried to rein in his own anger at Capitolinus’ over-reaction. The man had appeared un-announced and barely apologised for the disrespect he’d shown at their last meeting before he’d started to berate the treatment of Camillus once again. “You know there is nothing I can do. If the Senate want to parade their man” he shrugged “there is no stopping them.” He sat and watched Capitolinus, who was now wringing his hands together in frustration with his eyes fixed on a half complete wall fresco which suggested peaceful countryside scenes and rows of summer birds all painted within thick bordered squares. “We must consider our next steps if we are to profit from the victory” said the Pontifex slowly.
Capitolinus looked up with interest.
“The Senate wish to pass off the success against the Etruscans as a pivotal point in rebuilding the old order. We must understand how we can benefit from this” he added, speaking slowly.
“Surely now is the time to act, to turn against them” Capitolinus said. “My plans to take over Rome demand action” he half shouted, his anger evident in his tone.
Javenoli maintained a calm expression, although inside he was fighting his own anger at his friend’s stupidity. “We’ve discussed these things, Capitolinus” he said with a cold stare at the younger patrician. The Pontifex looked at him as a school master might look at his pupil before he spoke again. “No, there are too many families with too many interests. The Patricians group together like geese, Capitolinus. You know that. If we are the benefit from this situation we must play a waiting game, preparing to act when our interests will best be satisfied” he replied. “That is where the second player comes into the game” he smiled. Capitolinus looked confused. “The people.” Javenoli moved back to his seat and sat heavily, rubbing his face in both hands as Capitolinus sat waiting expectantly. “The people are the key to this game” he said after a moment’s silence. “Think Capitolinus, what do the people of Rome want from their leaders?”
Capitolinus grinned. “A leader chosen by the gods who will bring them glory, make life simpler, and remove their debts” he said with confidence.
Javenoli nodded. “What the people want is what their leaders tell them they need” said the Pontifex. “A few well-placed words, a quick victory and the promise of peaceful times sanctioned by the gods and they will fall over themselves to follow the man who led them to believe that what they were fighting for met their own needs and not just those of the man who called them to action. It is what Camillus has done” he
shrugged.
Capitolinus frowned as if he couldn’t comprehend the words he’d heard. “You make it sound simple.”
“At its heart, it is. Think how easily people follow Camillus. He offers the love of his chosen gods, military skill, he’s supported the plebeians.”
Capitolinus fidgeted agitatedly on his chair. “As do I, and as am I”
“Yes, yes, but he has the new army at his command. They revere him like a god, they defer to his words as if they can be the only solution in any crisis. He has their minds, my friend. So, we must wrestle them from him.”
“How?” snapped the younger man.
“The key is the people, as I have said” replied Javenoli. Standing, he took a sip from the wine goblet he’d picked up as he moved from his seat and started to pace the room once again. “They follow because he demands action in the name of the gods. Because they believe he is lucky. Because he tells them how lucky he is, and the Senate promote him because he embodies their power and their strength. He is the Senate. Look at this latest triumph. A sign that Rome is recovering from the loss of the Alliensis and defeat by the barbarians. A sign that men should follow their betters, the chosen men of the gods, those who are the leaders of Rome.”
Capitolinus was up on his feet again, pacing like a cat as he prowled along behind Javenoli. “So, what do we do?”
“We use the people” came the quietly spoken reply. “We cannot fight them on their terms, so we use our own. We build our business empire by broadening our approach, taking wider interests, engage the people to turn a profit and show them that they cannot live without us. In this way we will control Rome without having to resort to violence. With our business interests closely linked to the lives of the populace we can control prices, control the vote, change laws to our favour. With the profits we can live like kings” he smiled.
Capitolinus returned to the chair, his mind running through thoughts and ideas. In truth he felt a little out of his depth in the conversation, but was happy that Javenoli was leading him to where he wanted to be, but was this vision of the future what he truly wanted. His mind flashed back to the dark days on the Capitol, to the fact that Jupiter, greatest of the gods, had given him the strength to fight off those thousands of barbarians. He decided to play along as Javenoli’s lapdog, to make the man believe he needed him. Javenoli had years of experience at the heart of Rome and its families, years of dealing with men who were power hungry, mad, or both. With no family of his own to promote he had become something of a mystery to the older senators. Many didn’t trust him or the way that he seemed to promote younger men for periods of time, before dropping them just as quickly and moving on to patronise others. So, what did the man get from all these political dealings? He looked across as Javenoli continued to wander back towards the door, his head bowed in thought. He had power, he had wealth. Capitolinus was starting to understand the man in front of him. He was driven by the need to constantly improve his power base, to gain from every endeavour he had, he was driven by wealth. But wealth was nothing, it was nothing because power was what made men leaders, not wealth. Javenoli was weak, he decided. He had no heir, his family line would die when he died. What was it that was niggling at Capitolinus’ mind that worried him so much about Javenoli? The man had helped him time and again, yet there always seemed to be a hesitancy in his actions, as if he was waiting for a sign that his support was justified by the gods. He considered this for a moment before turning to see Javenoli looking at him as if expecting an answer. “Sorry” he mumbled. “My mind was racing” he added quickly.
“I am setting out certain acts which will support the notion that the gods favour those who follow Jupiter” Javenoli said without looking up as he walked back across the room. “We must keep our ties more secretive from now on my friend. I will ask the Thracian to set up messengers between us” he stated. “It will take time and you must be patient but if the gods will it we will see our plans begin to shape very soon” he added.
“What acts, what are our plans?” asked Capitolinus with narrowed eyes, suspicious again.
Javenoli looked up at him. “It is better that you don’t know, but rest assured that they are in our combined interests.” The older man came to a stop and looked directly at Capitolinus. “Now, you must leave as I have visitors coming who must not see that you are here” he said quickly as Capitolinus glanced to the door. Javenoli clapped loudly and the door opened as two slaves appeared with Capitolinus’ cloak. “I’ll get a message to you tomorrow” Javenoli said as he patted his friends shoulder and turned to walk through a door at the rear of the room. Capitolinus looked at Javenoli and frowned.
“I don’t like this turn of events. How can I not know what you are planning?” he asked, frustrated and angry.
“Relax my friend” Javenoli said. “The gods will favour Jupiter and Jupiter’s chosen son. You must be ready to act when the signs become clear that Jupiter’s chosen man will lead Rome. Trust me” he said as he gripped Capitolinus firmly by the shoulders.
“I do. I do” nodded the younger man as he turned to leave, his stomach churning as he felt certainty in his heart that Javenoli was double-crossing him. Money wasn’t what was needed, power was what was needed.
**
A few moments later Istros and Pompeia greeted Javenoli with warm smiles. “I’ve told him of what we spoke earlier” said the Pontifex to Istros before he seated himself. “He seems satisfied” he said absently. “And what of Cincinnatus?” he asked with a quick look towards the Thracian.
Istros cocked his head to one side. “H’s been supporting the third Legion with prostitutes and wine” he said with a shrug. “I hear he is making a tidy profit. But the man I saw outside the caves is also taking a cut without his knowing it. He is one of his trusted advisors who believes he can make a few extra coins for himself.”
“Interesting” said Javenoli. “Could he be useful?” he added.
“I think not. He has a reputation around the city as a thug and a murderer, a petty criminal who is overstepping his mark. Adding him to our spies will probably result in his informing Cincinnatus and trying to double his income.”
“Then remove him” Javenoli said coldly. Istros nodded nonchalantly.
“What of his young informer in the camp. Shall I impress upon him the need to pay me the cut that this man was receiving?” he asked with a sparkle in his eye.
Javenoli creased his brows. “What are his family connections?”
“Patrician named Auguronos. They have a small holding with three cows and six goats on the outskirts of the far side of the Aventine Hill. They are a small family, but they have been in Rome for several generations with distant ties to the Augurinus clan” he shrugged.
“Hmm” Javenoli commented with a look to Pompeia who looked back with wide eyes and nodded.
“From Mons Algidus?” she asked.
“Yes” Javenoli said as a small smile crept across his face. “His forbears were consuls some time ago. They lost most of their fortune when one of their family made a bit of a shambles at the battle of Mons Algidus” he added. “Maybe he’d like to bring a little success back to their clan” he smirked. “Yes, bring him on board for some local work” he concluded.
************
The weight of the wooden sword burned his forearm as Marcus clattered the training blade against that of Narcius, his muscles bouncing with the impact. The trained soldier turned the blade to the right as he switched his leading foot position to swivel. Marcus saw it coming and laughed as he ducked and moved backwards, the quick thrust missing by a good distance.
“Still quick despite those grey hairs” Narcius said as he came back into a crouch.
“Go on Papa, send him on to his backside” shouted Marcus’ son Lucius, his eyes glistening as he watched.
“I don’t think I’m able to best the primus pilus of the first legion, Luca” called Marcus, using the short form of his son’s name, as Narcius slid his wooden sword forward
in a series of thrusts which Marcus parried quickly. Luca called again, jumping from his seat, as Narcius threw an overhead attack at his father and then quickly turned his hand to land a heavy blow on Marcus’ thigh as he was too slow in moving backwards.
“Pax” shouted Marcus as he dropped his sword and danced in a circle rubbing vigorously at his thigh. “Gods that hurt” he called as he turned a dark look at Narcius. “This professional soldiering is turning you into a finer swordsman than I ever thought you’d be” he said with grudging admiration.
“Ha” laughed Narcius. “And being a politician is turning you into a city boy” he said with a wide grin. “Gone are the days when you’d run around the farm with a log above your head” he scoffed.
Marcus grinned. “True, true” he said as he picked up the sword and threw it to his only son, named after his brother and shortened to Luca by the family so that they didn’t confuse them. “But I have bigger things to think of now” he said with a sadness in his eyes.
The King of Rome Page 18
