“Well, anyway, here you are safe and sound. Get yourself off to the baths and have the dust scrubbed off you before we are all covered in it,” Cassius scolded him.
“Did you ever hear him talk so much?” he asked Lucius when Otto was halfway over the square.
“Only one or twice in the whole time I’ve known him. That sculptor must have made a big impression,” he replied.
Cassius sighed. “You know, Boxer, I quite envy friend Otto. Everything is so fresh and new to him. It’s just service as usual for us, or at least, for me.”
That evening, an Imperial freedman arrived with a summons for Otto and Lucius, accompanied by Cassius to attend Augustus one hour before noon on the following day. Cassius had them ready far too early; fussing about their appearance and giving them contradictory advice which they soon began to ignore. He was immaculate. His white toga shone, his boots glimmered and the hairdresser had re-curled his hair. They walked uphill, not a great distance, to a modest house distinguished only by the guards at the door. Cassius announced them, their documents were examined, they were politely but thoroughly searched for weapons and then shown through a pair of painted doors into an anteroom. A clerk sat a desk in the middle of the floor of black and white tiles in a chequer patter; he looked over their papers once more and led them to an inner door which he opened and ushered them past him. They now stood in a small foyer with no furniture. Two more guards entered and searched them again and passed them through yet another door. Finally, they were let into the presence of the Emperor. A civilian official in a pale-yellow tunic smiled and beckoned them forwards to stand in front of Augustus.
Otto looked at him curiously. He saw a handsome middle-aged man with a square face and a nose tending to the aquiline. He had sandy hair and seemed to be of average height. What was most striking about him other than the brilliance of his eyes, was the balanced and graceful way in which he held himself. His expression was one of benevolent tranquillity. He was plainly dressed in a tunic and sandals. His chair was made of delicately carved ivory inlaid with gold; a small, matching table bearing a few scrolls was placed by his right hand. The audience room was of modest dimensions but the walls were exquisitely painted with a scene of woodlands full of birds and deer. An open door led to a garden terrace.
“Praetorian Tribune Cassius Plancus, Tribune Lucius Taurius Longius and Otto called Otto Longius, sir,” the official announced and moved around to stand behind Augustus. All three of them bowed.
“Thank you, Menities,” Augustus said and then looked at each of them in turn with those bright, liquid eyes before turning his attention to Cassius.
“Do not ask me to send you to a legion again, Cassius Plancus. Won’t do it. Promised your mother. Why are you wearing those ridiculous boots?”
“They are the fashion, sir.”
“Ghastly,” he said with a dismissive wave and looked at Otto. “What do you think of Rome?” the Emperor asked.
Otto took half a step forward with his right foot. He placed his left hand on his midriff. He raised his open right hand upwards and sideways to the full extent of his arm and took a deep breath.
“The inexpressible awe I felt on seeing the marvels of your great city which, from your overflowing benevolence, you are embellishing with architecture to enhance the lives of even the humblest of Rome’s citizens, is as a nothing to the intense gratification, nay delight, I feel at beholding you face to face,” Otto declaimed in a ringing tone which echoed slightly off the walls.
Cassius sniggered but was silenced by a glare from Lucius. Menities dropped his head to his chest to hide the smirk on his face. Augustus raised his eyebrows almost to his hairline and stared in astonishment at what he had heard. Otto let his arms drop to his sides. A long silence followed.
“What was that?” Augustus asked at last.
Otto looked abashed and then grinned. “I have never seen an Emperor before sir, only kings. There was a sign in the street for a tutor who teaches public speaking for all occasions. He told me what to say and how to stand and speak.”
“Get your money back,” the Emperor told him.
“I took his word for it when he said it was the right way to address you, sir.”
“It isn’t.”
“No, lord.”
Augustus glanced up at the ceiling for a moment and sighed.
“Don’t call me lord. Hate it. “Sir” will do. Answer the question, what do you think of Rome?”
“Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“Sir, I have never smelled such an awful stink in my life as what hit us when we rode in through the city gates.”
The Emperor threw his head back and laughed melodiously.
“Oh, how right you are, Otto. Not so bad up here on the Palatine but down in the streets! Summer, heat, much worse. Make a man gag. Is there anything you specially like?”
“Oh yes lo…sir. I saw a sculptor at work. You wouldn’t believe it. He was cutting wonderful likenesses out of marble as easily as slicing bread.”
“Glad you like statues. Paid for one each of Concordia, Pax and Salus Publica this year alone.”
“Then you do well, sir and I hope people are grateful.”
“They aren’t. Never are. But thank you for your approval.”
He looked at Lucius and consulted a scroll on his table.
“Tribune Longius. Your family were rabid and dedicated Antonians.”
Lucius felt his heart race. Now was his opportunity, if he dared to take it. His mouth dried. He swallowed then threw the dice.
“Not so, sir. My family have held Marcus Antonius and his brothers in detestation since the time of my noble grandfather.”
“Telling your Emperor that he’s wrong?”
“No, sir,” Lucius said, swallowing again, he was playing a hand which could result in his death if he played it badly. “Your ministers have misinformed you.”
“Explain.”
“During the time Marcus Antonius held the sacred office of tribune of the people, he approached my grandfather saying the public finances were dangerously short of funds. My grandfather mortgaged his estates and passed the money he received over to Antonius, allegedly to be used for the good of the state. When Marcus Antonius became consul, my grandfather asked him to repay the loan. He was told that if he ever spoke of the matter again, he would be imprisoned. The lenders foreclosed, my family was bankrupted and my grandfather retired to Luca. Thanks to Marcus Antonius and his deceit, a noble Roman of senatorial rank was ruined and unable to take any further part in the public life of the capital. No, sir. There is no love for that ignoble race in our family.”
Augustus made a sign to Menities who produced a wax tablet and a stylus out of a pocket in his tunic. He handed them to the Emperor who scribbled a note, snapped the tablet shut and handed it back. Menities took it to the door and passed it to unknown hands on the other side before returning to his position.
“The Divine Julius,” the Emperor said to Otto, “was inclined to offer Roman Citizenship to all and sundry. Dreadful idea. Don’t like it. But you have stood over a defenceless legate and protected him, killing three enemies and spilling your own blood. Admirable. As your reward, I confer Roman Citizenship upon you and transfer you to my cavalry.”
Otto shook his head and looked at the Emperor with haggard eyes.
“I cannot accept.”
“You won’t, you mean. You defy your emperor?” Augustus responded, in his unchanging, even tone.
“No, sir; the noble Tribune Lucius Taurius Longius has my oath. I am sworn to him to death. In honour, I cannot leave his service.”
“To refuse my gift is to insult me. An insult to the Emperor means public execution.”
“No disrespect is intended but if I break my oath, I am shamed in this life and in front of my ancestors who will refuse me their company in the next. I must accept your verdict, sir.”
“Honour? Death? This is unexpected,” Augustus gently remarked.<
br />
“Sir, may I explain?” Lucius asked and went on without waiting for an answer, “Otto values his oath and his honour more than his life. He pledged himself to me. I can formally release him if you will allow it?”
Augustus nodded.
Lucius embraced Otto and then dissolved his oath. “Farewell Otto of the Suevi, my friend and comrade. Otto Longius, I declare your obligation to me is ended. In token of the love and respect in which I hold you, I promise you a warhorse, saddled and bridled and the armour, weapons and equipment fitting for a warrior of your rank.”
“Can you afford all that?” Augustus asked.
“I shall borrow the money. I can pay it back out of my army salary in a year or so, sir.”
Augustus looked from one to the other in silence for a long while. It was impossible to read the thoughts behind that calm mask of a face.
“Unheard of nowadays. Like a legend of antique heroes,” the Emperor said, half to himself and then continued in a louder voice. “You hear this Cassius? Otto accepts death rather than tarnish his reputation. Tribune Longius puts himself into the hands of moneylenders to preserve his friend. Loyalty. Rare. Menities, a scribe and something to eat. I’m peckish. Now, Otto Longius, already said I would confer citizenship. Above that, a gift of one hundred and ten thousand denarii from the Imperial Treasury to maintain yourself as a Knight of Rome. Invest it in land, that’s best. None of this speculation. All the rage. Never ends well. Return to your legion as a Decurion of cavalry. You’ll be good at that. Tribune Longius, financial dealings are not your family’s strength. Avoid them. Donative to you of one hundred, no, fifty gold pieces. Equip Otto and buy him his knight’s ring. Don’t stand there with your mouths open like fish on a slab. You say, “thank you, sir.” Now say it.”
“Thank you, sir,” they blurted out in unison.
“Should think so too. Where’s lunch? Join us, Cassius; we’ll eat outside.”
Augustus dictated between mouthfuls of the bread, cheese, smoked fish and fruit laid out for them on a table on the terrace. They drank ice-cold spring water. The Emperor teased Cassius.
“No larks’ tongues and candied dormice, Cassius. Disappointing for you.”
He asked how Otto and Lucius had met and declared the tale worthy of being written down. He took Otto for a tour of his orchard and was astonished that his guest did not know what a fig was and had never seen one. He listened to Lucius talking about artillery.
“Need to understand engineering as well. Easier to knock something over if you know how it was built in the first place.”
Documents were placed in front of him by his scribes. He read each one from beginning to end and before applying his seal. He laid them down one by one.
“Confirmation that Otto Longius is henceforth a citizen of Rome. Instruction for Otto Longius to be enrolled in the Order of Knights. Call on the treasury for one hundred and five thousand denarii.,” He threw a quick glance at Otto. “Never be extravagant, young man. Call on the treasury for fifty gold pieces for Tribune Longius. Finally, a letter which will be made public, recording that the family of Lucius Taurius Longius residing in Luca are acknowledged as loyal citizens of Rome favoured by Augustus. Your story has been checked, tribune.
“But sir,” Lucius said. “it was only an hour or so ago I told it to you.”
“Things get done quick as boiled asparagus when you’re the Emperor. Pick up your documents and be on your way, gentlemen. Pleasure to meet you. Cassius knows where the treasury secretary’s office is. Work calls me. Senators lolling about in the hot springs at Baiae. I have an empire requiring attention
Part I – The End
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Knight of Rome Part II
Now a citizen and enrolled in the Equestrian order – a Knight of Rome – Otto Longius returns to his legion as a cavalry officer. It is a great achievement but comes at great cost. His ties of comradeship with his oldest friend, Tribune Lucius “Boxer” Longius, are beginning to weaken. His rank in the legion allows him to take his full part in councils of war but will anyone listen to him? The question for Otto Longius is, has he become a true Roman and will he be accepted on an equal footing with his brother officers? An uprising by the Marcomanni of eastern Germany sets the Rhine borders alight. A prolonged siege and a mission for the Emperor Augustus test his courage and loyalty to the limit.
The Butterfly Fool Part One
Being an account of the Remarkable Early Life of Mr. Augustus Reynolds of Split Water City, Montana Territory. How he came to leave the Country Of His Birth to travel to the Frontier of the United States of America. His Thrilling Voyages by Steamboat up the great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. His Dangerous Encounter with a Savage and Fearsome Blackfoot Chief. How he Comported himself in Mortal Combats with Ferocious Wild Beasts and Brigands. And the Many, Remarkable and Diverse Characters he met on his journeys. Also the History of Miss Charlotte Reynolds, Sister of the Above who Heroically accompanied Her Brother on his Adventure. How an English Gentlewoman fared in the Wilderness with neither Cook nor Maid. Her Primitive Domestic Economy. A Romantic Attachment which would have distressed the Many Friends she had left at Home. In Addition, how the Thriving Metropolis of Split Water City rose from the Plains. Its Rude Beginnings and First Development.
The Butterfly Fool Part Two
The Second and Final Volume Depicting the Exploits and Times of Mr. Augustus Reynolds the Celebrated Frontiersman, his Family and Friends. A Theft and Pursuit across the Vastness of the American Prairies. Retribution upon the Felons. Confrontations with Fierce Natives. A Hunt for the Indigenous Bison. A Violent Death followed by Remorse. The Moral Repugnance of Mrs. Reynolds at developments in Split Water City, Metropolis of the Plains. The Arrival of the Mechanical Wonders of our Age in the Remote Wilderness. Celebration of the American Public Holiday known as “The Fourth of July”. Wonder at the Resilience of The Inhabitants of The Far Western Territories. Thrill to the Dangers Faced and Overcome by Them with Undaunted Steadfastness.
Willy Maddox Went To Texas
Coming off a cattle drive from Split Water City to St. Louis, young Willy Maddox has a bitter quarrel with his cousin Ed which changes the course of his life. Willy is in the wrong of it but for all he cares, Ed can go home on his own; he would rather ride off south with his two new friends, heading for Texas. At twenty years old Willy believes he can handle anything that life throws at him. He has already learned the ranching trade up in Montana, endured the rigours of a long cattle-drive and fended off stock-thieves. What could Texas show him he had not seen before? So, what did Texas show Willy Maddox? Only outlaws, deserts, blizzards blowing up out of nowhere, renegade Comanche and worse but also great opportunity, transforming new technologies and finally, his journey’s end. (Willy Maddox first appears in “The Butterfly Fool Part Two”, the sequel to “The Butterfly Fool Part One”.)
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Knight of Rome Part I Page 31
