Insurgent of Rome Read online

  The Capitaneus shook his head. "Nay. You have sufficient strength to accomplish what you will, and there is much peril that your men might mistake the crew of the Petrel for reavers. Remember, most of your men have not seen myself or mine." Indeed, the Romans were garbed alike, in reddish-brown leather torso armor with a red sagum - a cloak - hanging behind. The helms and shields were as alike as eggs in a basket, as were the short swords - gladi - in their scabbards. By contrast, in a crowd of the pirates, none of his men would stand out as allies - and especially not to men in the hot blood of battle.

  Gaius nodded. "Aye. That is so." He thought for a moment. "I will assign my unit of Immunis to stand with you until the strife is over." Those were soldiers of the Legion, but specialists that were too valuable to merely stand in ranks and hack at a foe.

  "Nay. That is unnecessary. We will stand out at first light."

  Caesar stepped forward to clap Julius on the shoulder, saying in partial jest, "If you return to Latium and find that I have still not appeared, you might send a vessel to scour the open waters for my helpless fleet. I have doubt that the Archigubernus of my ship can find his own member while in the latrine, far less the route back to the land of Latium."

  With a smile at the jape, Julius returned one of his own, "My brother could find himself lost in floating down the Tiber from Rome to Ostia, and even he could find his way from this island. Any man who can point a ship north will find the land, then may follow it toward the setting sun to find his destination in Latium. But as to that fear, we will return in a few days, the wind gods willing. I give you good fortune in your mission." With that, the Captain returned to the ship to gain a few hours sleep before the morrow.

  "Capitaneus!" Julius woke at between one heartbeat and the next, his hand instantly on the hilt of his gladius, then relaxed as he saw the face of Densus in the dim light of pre-dawn. "The soldiers are making ranks." His man waited until the Capitaneus stood, then offered a cold meat-bone and a cup. "The day will be busy, and with little time for sustenance, I give wager."

  Julius nodded his gratitude, then walked to the bow to look over the landscape, munching and drinking without noticing either taste or action. His men were roused, or beginning to break their fasts - all accoutered as if for major battle, both blades and iron at hand. There had been some disappointment when the Capitaneus had given that they would not participate in the discipline of the pirates, but agreed with his reasoning. None had any desire to be spitted in failed recognition of friend and foe.

  He could see Caesar waiting for the ranks to finish assembly and then for quiet to drop over the hundred men. The voice came clearly in the quiet of the morning dimness. "Men of Rome! This day will not see a battle to enter the annals of our people." He pointing across the landscape. "Rather, it is a day of removing some of the vermin of the Great Sea from their incessant plunder and butchery of honest citizens, plying their trade. As such, I do not wish a slaughter, but a maximum number of prisoners." He waited for the words to sink into the men, then, "To that effect, I will bounty every man with one silver denarius for every live reaver that is taken. For those who refused to learn the counting of numbers in their youth, know that every man could return to Latium with as much as three aurei in his purse." There was a series of grins and muted chatter at the thought of receiving three gold coins - the wages of more than a year for most - for the work of a single day. "With such you could drink the taburnae of Rome dry and cause the prostitutae of the brothels to offer complete surrender." Now, of course, there was a raucous laughter among the ranks. Turning, he said to the commanders, "Begin the action."

  Even as the ranks began their stride forward, Julius turned and called to Kaeso. "Pole us out and set for Rhodes."

  Chapter 19

  "Broken man on the sinister bow!" came the call from forward. Even in the half light the men could see the crumbled remains of the huge statue that had been erected hundreds of years before in celebration of... some victory by the Rhodeans. Julius thought that it must have been impressive beyond belief in the days of its glory, and even now, the broken remains were arresting.

  The port city of Rhodes, on the island of the same name, was reached in a pair of days, being only about five hundred stadia from the pirate isle of Syrna. The wind was steady and directly on the beam, giving goodly pace to the ship.

  A stadium from the wharf area, they pulled the cloth, allowing the wind on the hull to slowly carry them into an empty dock. Even as the ropes were readied for looping around the bollards, Julius could see one of the speculatoriae of the family tied up a half stadium along the port shore. With any fortune, it would be the one that he was expecting.

  To Kaeso, he called, "Allow all but the anchor watch to have visit in the port, but mind them to keep watch for the recall streamer."

  "Aye, Capitaneus." A hesitation, then the first mate pointed, "Have you noticed the merchant yon, and the speculatoria there, with the streamers of the Clavius at the mastheads." Indeed, he had. In fact, had the larger ship not been in port on their arrival, then such would indicate something gone amiss with his plans.

  "Aye. When the Masters come aboard to report, have them wait on my return. And call for Decimus to attend." That was probably unnecessary - he could see the Captain of the swift message boat even now walking toward the Petrel.

  For now, he strode across the boarding plank, turning to make his way to the offices surrounding the harbor, but suddenly... "Your pardon, Kurios." A man in his path raised his hand for a plea to speak. As Julius stopped in puzzlement, the man said, "I come from Euonomos, Kurios. He regrets his inability to meet your ship, but he is indisposed and on his mat with his leg in some distress of breakage."

  Euonomos was the agent of the family in Rhodes - a Greek, but tried and tested for many years. Surprised at the news, Julius asked with some sharpness. "How did he gain such an injury?" The man was not an oldster, but neither was he a young man. And like all men of scrolls and tablets, was not one to take an active stance in life. His first thought was that the tentacles of the putrid Dionysophanes had reached over the span of distance from Antioch to strike again at the family, but...

  "Alas, Kurios, he gives himself reproof for his actions. Instead of calling for a younger scribe, he climbed onto a table to reach an upper shelf and a scroll, but his weight - and that of many clay tablets - was excessive. Table and tablets and Euonomos collapsed in a heap, to the detriment of a limb." Now the man waved a hand in denial of the total severity of his news. "But, the Giatrós has captured his leg between poles and gives that it will be healed by the middle of Gamelion."

  The man was speaking in the tongue of Greek, of course, and Julius was uncertain as to the references to both physician and month, but such was no matter. At least this injury to another worker of the family was benign. He nodded and said, "Lead me to Euonomos."

  The distance was not far, only on the next street beyond the one that spanned the wharves. Inside a sturdy building of stone, even to the roof, he was led to a back room - the cubiculum of the agent. The man was laying on his sleeping mat, reclining against fat cushions and in peruse of a scroll. At the entry of the newcomers, he looked up to speak. "Greetings, Master Julius. And my sorrow for not meeting your ship in the importance of the voyage."

  Julius shook his head. "You old fool. Does not the family give goodly enough quittance to hire young servants that you might keep your aging feet on firm ground?"

  The man gave a dry smile. "It may be that my remembrance of age is somewhat defective, but I certainly did not think that I was overmatched in merely retrieving a scroll. Subitus." This was to the man who was in escort. "Bring a chair for the Master."

  Now settled, Julius asked, "What news of Anticoch?"

  The man nodded, picking up another scroll - this one only a short piece of papyrus wrapped around a spindle. "This came on the missive ship only..." He counted on his fingers for a moment. "...five days ago. It appears to be goodsome tidings, although to my read
ing it makes little sense."

  With some haste, Julius took the sheet and began to read. Indeed it was goodly news, but seemingly incomplete. Then he realized that the script was on both sides of the papyrus. He read it again, then ripped it from the spindle, folding it to place in his purse. Now, Euonomos asked, "Need you anything from my agency for the nonce."

  "Nay." He stood, then gave a salute to the old man. "For yourself, take some care in your daily being. I have no interest in attempting to find a replacement of your value - at least, not for many years."

  Back at the vessel, he found that all three ship-Masters were waiting in the chairs on the deck. Both rose as the Capitaneus walked the boarding plank, giving a salute as he strode up to take their wrists in the Roman way of manly greeting. "Decimus! Fundanus! Greetings on your most opportune arrival." They were standing with the Master of the speculatoria that had arrived with the Petrel. He could see that all had cups and a tray of sweetmeats was sitting on the small mensa. "My men have seen to your comfort, I assume."

  "Aye, Capitaneus," came from both. In fact, given the strata of the second of the house of Clavius, the proper title would normally have been, 'noble Master' or 'noble Capitaneus'. That only lasted past the first meeting of a new Captain. Julius had little interest in pompous blather to proclaim his importance. To himself, a man was what he was, and came in all colors of quality, from incompetent fool to brilliant thinker - and all shades in-between. Arrogant titles had no effect on the quality of the man, high or low.

  The Captain of the merchant boat, one Fundanus, said, "Might I introduce Heraklides of Argolis? Selected as the agent for Antioch, per the instructions given to me in making passage."

  Julius bowed to the man, who returned it. "My welcome, Kurios." The man was Greek, of course, and the Captain made change to that tongue. He waved at the chairs. "Sit you down, all."

  The Captain of the fast message boat said, "I have delivered a scroll to Euonomos, from the Dispensator of King Tigranes."

  "Aye, Decimus. I have already received it and goodly news it is. Let your men have their indulgence in the city - we will not stand out before morning. Your boat will accompany us back to Syrna."

  Julius waved them back to their chairs. "Now, sit and let me regale you with a saga of our voyage - and what is to come..." There was a short tale of the voyage to the island of Syrna, then he asked the newcomer. "Have you been told of our problems in Antioch? I wish any who take the post know that there may be some little peril in their engagement."

  The man was neither young or old, as expected, and looking less of the merchant than a man of labor. Of course, his brother would not have selected a fat and stolid man for agent - not for a position with possible need of physical action. He nodded. "Aye. The honorable Dominus of Clavius made such clear in his offer and scroll, and set my wage in appropriate level for such." He took a sip, then continued, "But, I came from the position of Condictor for the agent in Gaza, where I have served for these... oh, four years."

  Julius nodded. The man was - had been the strong arm of the agent in that rough city, watching for pilfering storemen and dishonest vendors. And even dockworkers who might drop a bag or box of value overboard during the busy time of loading and unloading, to be retrieved later when the ship had sailed.

  They were still in talk when a man strode aboard, stopping to be noticed by Capitaneus Fundanus. "Aye, Lars," said "Make your report."

  "Aye, Capitaneus. The first wishes to report a throng of wagons with supplies, and orders to deliver to the ship."

  "Aye. My compliments to the First. Tell him to load the supplies in the fore and aft holds, and make ready the waist containment for forty men. Do not dump ballast. Our passengers will not be loaded in Rhodes." A pause for a last thought, then a sharp nod. The man saluted and left at a run.

  In a while, a meal was delivered - from the wharf kiosks and hot. Afterward, Julius stood, as did the inferior Captains. "We will depart on the morrow. I give you a good evening."

  With salutes, the three Captains turned to depart, then hurry along to their respective vessels. To Judoc, the only crewman left on the ship, he said, "Go. Join your mates. I will take the anchor watch."

  The night was pleasant and the need for stratagems was nil at the moment. He set his thoughts back to that startling day in Capua, after the noble guests had left...

  Giving a servant a series of orders, he had walked back to the office of Patroclus, finding the oldster at work on his maps, as expected. Without preamble, he had sat heavily in the wicker chair, to the surprise of his mentor. The man had stared for a moment, then dragged another chair to face his visitor. "It would appear that some news of startlement has arrived..." It was a question, and no doubt.

  Julius had nodded, then gave the tale of the noble woman in full, stopping as the servant arrived with a jug and cups. "Your pardon, Sos. Pontiki, is not in the household. Virnius was told that the young man was seen in converse with the noble Matrona, Camelia, upon her leaving this household. The Steward asks if you wish to send a summons to that house?"

  "Aye, but give that there is no need for haste." As the servant turned and left, Julius had said, "It would appear that my news is not of surprisal to yourself."

  The oldster nodded, his face grave. "Indeed, it is so, but only in the last days of the voyage did I learn of the... subterfuge." At the questioning eyes of his Master, he nodded, and continued, "I was taking my rest in the cool of the bilge on a hot evening, waking to the sound of voices around the next bulkhead. The noble Camelia and Pontiki were in quiet talk, and apparently about some need of garment mending to prevent certain... female parts from giving show to all above." He had paused. "Had I made the discovery on my own, I would certainly have given you notice immediately, but with a noble woman involved in the... concealment, I could not know that such knowledge was for my being." He had spread his hands, then said, "Pontiki meant no deceit, I am sure. It was her means of surviving."

  Now Julius had waved his own hands. "Nay, I am not taken with either insult or anger at the change of our little drake into a duckling. As you say, Pontiki was taking measures to endure and such does not negate the service to myself and our cause. Rather, I need to find the best path forward for her growth. It is obvious that she cannot remain a member of the crew - at least, not for long. Eventually the little duckling will be full-grown and goodsome to the eyes of a male. I fear that the crew might have other thoughts than reefing and furling in a gale, with a crewmember wet from the spray and her garb showing more than hint of the treasures beneath."

  The talk went on for a while, then the subject of the discussion appeared in the doorway, and with some apprehension at the summons. Before she could speak, Julius had said, "Come in and sit down. There, on that bench." Waiting for him... her to settle in place, he continued, "Firstly, let me say that I have no ill feeling for your disguisement over the last months. It has no bearing on the courageous acts that you performed in my service. But..." He paused and looked at the Sage, then said, "You know that to continue as a sailor on a ship is impossible, now." She nodded, about to speak, but Julius continued. "Nay, you may give your thoughts about such later, but for now, the noble Camilus gave that, while you are an orphanus, your genesis is not of the back alleys and streets. And that it may have some connection to our problem in Antioch. I would hear the tale, if you will..."

  Now, here in Rhodes, far from both Capua and Antioch, the girl was still on board, but rather than escaping a life of hunger and peril, she had a destination and a goal - and powerful friends to share in her needs.

  Patroclus, at his advanced age, still had the occasional need for a woman but, of course, his desires did not flow in raging torrents as did the younger men. After a short tryst, and a hot meal, he casually walked back to the ship, enjoying the coolness of the evening. There, he joined Julius in the waist, finding the Captain looking at the map-board and obviously in much thought. Sitting in a chair beside the mast, he said with some waggery, "
Even after a month at sea you have no need to relieve your juices with some well-accoutered wench?" Julius looked at him with puzzlement at the words. Not at the speaking of such unasked jocularity between Patrician and Plebeian - in private, they had been equal confidants since the time that the noble boy began to make crude pictures on a clay tablet under the instruction of the elder - but at the jesting tone of the question. "Mayhap, your thoughts of the Lady Camelia have removed any desire for some mere taburna doxie."

  Now the Captain looked at the elder with surprise, and with some abashness. "You old fraud. Even you are in cohorts with mother and Camelia with their schemes?"