Constantine thought about this for a moment. It’s a good deal, and I would advance several rungs up the seniority ladder. Still, he was surprised by the offer. He’d never really been inclined to leave his cohort. We haven’t even been in a major conflict yet. Why does the general want me? Is it to keep an eye on me, or is he trying to take advantage of my Imperial connections?
Gravus waited patiently, apparently studying the opposite wall with great interest. He sighed and gave his head a little shake. Out of the corner of his mouth he whispered, “If I were you, I don’t think I’d take it. Kruscus treats his staff like horse dung and the turnover rate is horrendous. He’s been through three tactical officers in the last eight months alone. One poor Iberian lasted only two weeks!” He was now eyeing Constantine.
Constantine voiced the question that had been going around in his head. “What is the general up to? Why does he want me? I’ve got no tactical experience except for that operation in Brittenburg-and that ended with three-quarters of my command dead, injured, or missing. I’m not exactly general’s staff material.”
“Now that is an excellent question, Tribune. If I was a general who had been shown up by a promising younger officer with both family and power connections, and who now happens to be the sole heir to the entire Empire, I think I’d want to keep an eye on this young man and try to mold him as I saw fit.”
Constantine couldn’t keep the alarm from his face. Gravus had only confirmed his fears. “I don’t want to be an imperial feather in that man’s hat. Why are you telling me this?” he asked.
“I’m not telling you anything,” Gravus replied. “I’m simply voicing some ideas. I’ll inform the general that you’ve respectfully declined his offer. Peace be with you in the name of the Emperor.” The civilian stood, showing himself to be much taller than Constantine had suspected, overreaching the tribune by at least half a foot. Gravus gave a little bow, and left, passing Alexandros in the hallway.
The captain now carried a folder full of papers, and was carefully wrapping them with wax paper to ensure their survival in the damp and rainy outdoors. “Who was that?” he asked. “And what did he want?”
“He’s attached to the general’s staff and offered me a job.”
“A job? Why?” Alexandros’ brows drew down in confusion.
“I still don’t know.”
“By the way, Constantine, I was wondering if you could help me out on that tiny argument I had with the senator. .”
Alexandros continued to chatter on, while Constantine mused. Minnicus, what are you up to?
They exited the building, and Constantine literally bumped into a cloaked figure striding hurriedly up the steps. “Excuse me!” Constantine blurted.
The stranger pulled down the hood to reveal her face. “Ah, Senatora Pelia!” Captain Alexandros cried, greeting the rain-soaked politician warmly. “We were just saying how excited we are to have you on this adventure of ours.”
“Although I do thank you for the kind gesture, Captain, I sincerely doubt any soldier has ever welcomed the presence of a politician in any military venture,” she replied coolly. “But fear not, I shall try to stay out of your way as much as possible.”
“I look forward to your presence,” Constantine blurted, then felt his cheeks heat. Now why did I have to go and say such a thing? “Er, I mean, you being around. It is good. Yes, very good for us.” Gah! Constantine wanted to cry out in annoyance.
Alexandros came to the rescue. “Senatora, please accept our utmost apologies for keeping you out here in the rain. Please, get inside before you catch a cold. We shall, of course, be seeing you soon, I hope?”
“Thank you for your concern, Captain. I believe we’ll be seeing each other more than we’ve ever wanted to in the next few months,” she quipped, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Tribune Appius, good day to you also.”
“Good day, Octavia-I mean Senatora,” Constantine stuttered.
As they walked away, Alexandros smacked him on his head. “Are you an absolute dummy? What was that back there? Have they taught you nothing about courting in Rome? Gah! ‘Good day’-back in my day. .”
Alexandros continued to rant about Constantine’s poor courting technique, but all Constantine could think about was the smile on Octavia’s face as she walked away.
Chapter 3
Octavia
Senatora Octavia Pelia was furious.
“How the blazes did that-that-that creature become leader of this expedition?”
Her staff quailed before her as she bombarded them with her voice. Octavia knew that the small group was not responsible for this disaster, but it felt good to blow off steam at her underlings. Under her wrath, the office that she had commandeered prior to the departure of the expedition seemed tiny, even though it stretched over an entire floor of the forum.
“Senatora! Domina!” cried one of her staff members, young Raestes. “Perhaps there is some way to wrangle some political advantage from this?”
Octavia paused as her brain shifted gear from anger mode to political mode. We’ve got to control our temper; you aren’t normally a hot head! she chastised herself. Although it can be entertaining.
Seeing her anger momentarily halted, her staff chose that moment to bolt.
“Raestes, please remain.” She held up a hand, her calm voice at odds with the anger of moments before. “I want you to send a message back to Senator Ignatios back in Rome, asking him to clarify the decision to place our esteemed General Minnicus in command. And use my government code to ensure it has the highest priority on the wires.” Uncapping a fountain pen, she hastily scrawled a message on a scrap of paper and handed it to the young orderly. Holding the missive like a potentially volatile explosive, the man raced out.
Sighing, the politician considered Raestes’ words. Perhaps there is some advantage to having Minnicus out here. The man had barely survived the last official inquiry demanded by the governor of Brittenburg after he had succeeded in botching the rescue operation for the city. It was only with great luck that the cohorts under Tribune Appius’ command had managed to kill the ringleader of the rebellion, the so-called Warrior Chieftess Amalia, in a spectacular battle on the western ramparts. It was also with great luck (thanks be to the gods!) that the massive explosion that ripped part of the wall away and flooded the city hadn’t flattened the tribune and remaining heir to the Empire. We couldn’t afford to lose both of them now, could we?
The emperor had agreed with the governor, but the fact that Minnicus had not been “forcibly retired” spoke to the strength of his allies in the Senate. The fact that he was here now meant that someone in the Senate had a great deal of support. Or simply has the right proof to blackmail the right people at the Central Principia in Rome. Someone with a lot of control pushed Minnicus to the top of the list.
Octavia rested her eyes for a moment, the lack of sleep beginning to catch up with her. She let her mind drift.
She was back among the smooth columns of the Senate house in Rome. The grand building had been expanded many times from its small beginnings. She walked beside the stooped form of Senator Tufero Ignatios from Athens. The old man had served his Empire and his province for over fifty years. Her sprightly step contrasted with his shuffling feet as they left the final meeting of the war committee. The senator had been an old friend of her father’s, and was something of a mentor to young Octavia.