“Look at you. You really did it. A real, honest to gods’ soldier of Rome,” Antony said with a prideful voice as he embraced Gaius.
“And you, a senator of all things.”
Antony laughed. “Hardly; I’m too young. I leave that to my father, but I do, someday, have to follow in his footsteps, so it seems. So all I do is sit quietly and let him do all the talking, like a good puppet. I never get to take part in all the excitement. However, it is a start. I suppose.”
“The Senate can’t be that bad, can it?” Gaius asked.
“Ah, my friend, I’m afraid that the Rome we grew up dreaming of is a far lesser thing than we imagined. This city is harsh, and so is its politics. Take what you heard today. What our dear consular said is only the tip of the spear. He will hang Scipio out to dry — if he fails, he loses favor, allowing Flaminius to take the glory when he marches his own army north to stop Hannibal. However, if Scipio wins, then he doesn’t receive as much praise: he only crushed a rogue general and his band of barbarians, and Flaminius still stands tall as he moves against Carthage. Regardless, he gets what he wants at the expense of our men.”
Antony leaned closer to Gaius and whispered, “Truthfully, almost everyone here is my age. Politics does terrible things to a man’s youth. It is a very slow and painful death,” Antony laughed.
Gaius managed a false smile. He was beginning to see that Rome, the eternal city of light he’d grown up believing in, was indeed becoming something else entirely. There were harsh realities that his eyes had opened up to this day, as Rome seemed a city of horrible contradictions.
“You are in a position to make changes, are you not?” Gaius asked.
“Perhaps, someday; however, as I said, politics is a game, a rather difficult and dangerous one. I have to play it by its rules or risk being swallowed up by it. I must admit I envy you, my friend. At least, your enemies won’t slit your throat while you sleep.” Antony’s words were friendly, but Gaius could hear in the undertone the unfortunate truth.
“Antony! Come, it is time we leave,” one of the older senators called out.
Antony turned to face his father, his face beaming with excitement.
“Father, come over here and see who has graced us with his presence.”
Varro was puzzled for a moment, not sure whom he was looking at as he walked over and stood next to his son. But then he recalled the young man that stood before him, as his eyes widen with genuine admiration.
“Young Gaius, is that really you?”
“Senator Varro, I am pleased to see you are doing well, sir.”
“Well, look at you, an officer in Rome’s legions, and one of Valerius’ Wolves too. Wonderfully done, my boy.”
“I am honored to serve Rome, and the Sixth Legion, sir.”
“As you should be, he is famed and respected, even among us older senators. I’ll tell you what, I’m having a get-together with a few friends at my city estate, and I would be honored if you could attend this evening as my guest.”
“Yes, that would be a brilliant idea, father,” Antony eagerly spoke.
“Oh, I don’t know. I wouldn’t wish to impose. We are only in the city for a short while,” Gaius replied, as he wasn’t sure he was ready for this sudden reunion.
Antony leaned closer to him and spoke softly into Gaius’ ear.
“Julia will be there. I know for a fact that she will be very excited to see you again, after so many years apart.”
Gaius’ posture suddenly changed at hearing Antony speak of his sister. His mind worked out what his answer would be as he wanted, needed to see her again. However, the prospect also frightened him terribly. Nevertheless, he gave his answer with a warm smile.
“Then, I will make the effort to come.”
“Excellent. Until tonight,” Varro said before he turned and rejoined his fellow senators.
“I think he likes you better than me,” Antony jokingly commented as he placed his hand on Gaius’ shoulder. “Unfortunately, I have too much boring work that needs taken care of, and so little time to do it. Now, I must take my leave, old friend. Tonight, around six, the same house we stayed in during our first trip to Rome as boys. You do remember where it is, don’t you?” Antony asked.
“I think I can manage,” Gaius replied warmly.
“Wonderful. Until tonight,” Antony turned and quickly rejoined his father as they exited the Senate, along with a dozen other men behind them.
“Until tonight,” Gaius replied with a soft voice. He took a deep breath, already birds began to swirl in his stomach at the thought of seeing Julia again. Ideas to find excuses to escape the dinner ran through his mind. Regardless, however, he knew he wanted to see her, despite his fears, so he would do what was asked of him and man-up. What was the worst that could happen — she’d grown fat?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The night air was cool and had a pleasant aroma of fresh rainfall, which for the time had washed the filth from the city, at least on the surface; in the morning, the smell of trash and excrement would return.
Gaius walked down one of the countless mazes that made up the streets of Rome. The night was dark, which made every step a careful one. A few torches lit his path, but they did not help his journey much. While he was a stranger to these streets, he did not have much trouble finding his destination. Varro’ estate stood along a stretch of road that was dominated by numerous wealthy homes and businesses. Currently, he was less than two blocks from the gates.
He did not entirely feel comfortable about being out alone. While the streets of Rome were relatively safe during the day, at night, it was a different story. These narrow corridors were famous for hunters who emerged after dawn. Muggers and rape gangs preyed on the unsuspecting. A few hurried footsteps and peering eyes from within the surrounding darkness would from time to time catch Gaius’ attention. Most of them were harmless, but every few blocks, or so he could hear ominous whispers from the shadows.
He wore no armor of any kind but only a long red cloak, which signaled him to be a soldier. This, for the most part, was what kept those prying eyes away from him, if any of the men behind those stares had other intentions, and if there was trouble, Gaius kept his right hand firmly on the hilt of his sword, which hung loosely down beside his hip. A small dagger also was kept behind his back, both of which he was more than comfortable using if he needed them.
There was a part of him, as he neared the estate of Senator Varro that wanted to be attacked. He was young and had trained for years in the art of warfare and single combat. However, Gaius had never had the opportunity to test his abilities outside of training, nor had he killed a man since joining the Sixth. However, that didn’t mean that Gaius was a stranger to death. In ten years since joining the legion, he had witnessed a number of accidence and fights that ended in one or more men dead. He, himself had been cut a number of times that if not attended to by the camp doctor, he would have bled to death.
As it would stand, no one dared challenge him this night as the gates to Varro’ home came in sight.
After Gaius knocked on the hard wooden gate, a small hinged door opened and allowed an old man’s eyes to peer out.
“Announce yourself, stranger,” the man demanded.
“I am Centurion Lucius Gaius,” a sense of pride filled his words. “I am here by invitation from Antony, son of this manor and senator of Rome.”
When he finished his address, the small door closed with a hard thud as the old man backed away. A moment later Gaius listened as the sounds of heavy iron bars were removed from behind the gate, before it swung open, just enough for Gaius to enter.
Standing behind the gate was a short man who bowed his head slightly as Gaius stepped inside.
“Greetings, and welcome Master Gaius; Master Antony is expecting you. If you would please follow me, I will take you to him with haste,” the old servant now said with the utmost respect.