Chapter 25: Call To Arms
Maximus entered the young emperor's quarters with a five man escort that included Quintus. Commodus turned to the group and motioned for all but Quintus to leave. He saluted Maximus, giving the former general every confidence in this gesture. Maximus saluted, but with less enthusiasm.
"You sent for me, Caesar?", Maximus said almost gagging on the last word that was the young man's title. Commodus could distinctly feel the apprehension that his old friend had in saying it. He couldn't blame him, either. He hadn't been totally pernicious, but he hadn't been the best thing to happen to the empire in the least. He sighed and motioned for the three of them to sit in a group of chairs off to the side of his desk. Commodus frowned and looked down slightly.
"I have yet to make ammends for the loss of your family, Maximus. Since it was my father who murdered him, then his bloodline should pay for theirs. In his absence I will stand as the object of your vendetta. Then again I'm sure that was already on your to-do list.", Commodus said. This seemed to amuse the older man somewhat. Quintus tensed at hearing this. He didn't feel any extreme loyalty that would cause him to give all he had right this moment to bring Maximus down for a simple threat, but he did feel compassion for young Commodus as a fellow victim of the follies of Marcus Aurelius. He was a little confused as to why Maximus didn't feel the same. "The present matters that face the empire are much greater than that debt at the moment. Until the matter I am speaking of is resolved, I am afraid I cannot give you what is owed desperately, but perhaps you can help remedy it."
"How is that?", Maximus asked with a half smile. It just figured that the insufferable little runt would need his help to do something right before he killed him. It was a little ironic and quite perfect.
"Senators Falco and Gaius have been able to gather near the whole of the military and half the Praetorians to serve them. They have been calling them back from the borders into their service every time I would call our men back from foreign soil. That's how they have been able to keep this from me, it has been done out of sight. They are gathered several miles outside the city walls. They are ready to march on the capital in three days?", Commodus explained looking at Quintus for confirmation of the last fact. Quintus nodded quickly. An emmissary had been sent from the traitorous Praetorians to tell the emperor. The young man had the nerve to apologize for his decision, but stressed that Falco and Gaius were very persuasive, using the edict of repossession of a turncoat's family and belongings as a weapon. Commodus had felt sorry for the man. He knew a little of what it was to be caught in a hard place and being a peasant without power couldn't have made things any easier for him, soldier or not. "Please, Maximus. I need you to reclaim control of the legions and show them that they need not fear. I will protect them."
Maximus laughed scornfully. Commodus looked at him in a mixture of anger and shock. "You want me to lie to them, you mean. Commodus, you couldn't even protect your own sister and that is how they will see it. My influence will do little if anything.", Maximus said as he ceased laughing. Commodus frowned and looked down sadly. This had been his one and only ace in the hole, he saw no other options whatsoever. "I have seen something that might be far more effectual in what you need."
"What? You were their leader, you are surely the only one that could turn their heads and divert them from the violence they are craving every moment until the come for me and my nephew!", Commodus exclaimed, rising desperately and shaking. Maximus smiled and laughed again, shaking his head as if he had just heard the most magnificent filthy joke. Commodus growled and balled his fists together. "There will be a massacre here in the palace, do you hear me?! A total slaughter!"
"You still think that the army holds the power, don't you? That those who wield the swords in turn wield the power. You spend so much time trying to be a man of the people, the defender of the homefront; but you lack the faith in them to defend you when the time comes.", Maximus said.
Commodus relaxed a little. Quintus perked up and listened closely.
"What are you getting at?", Commodus asked with genuine interest.
Maximus smiled. "In Brittania, there is an old legend. Cicero has told it to me many times. He says that there was so much resistance to Roman involvement that Rome attacked them with emmense fervor and at one time kidnapped a prominent commander of one of the armies. They chose not to kill him so that they could extract information from her.", Maximus explained.
"Her?!", Quintus and Commodus replied in unison. Maximus smiled brightly.
"Aye, her. The young woman knew what she had in her favour, her feminine wiles. The Romans felt compassionate and passionate for her and were easy on her. Instead of torturing her, they set her to work in their camp doing odd jobs, mostly the cooking. She learned of a full invasion that was to take place and knew also that her men would be sending a scout to confer the army . Rome sent for a servant of the commander to come and see that she was simply staying with them and that they could lower their arms and be unready for the invasion to come. ", Maximus explained with excitement. "Now, she knew that she couldn't be alone with whomever they sent because while the Romans were leniant, they weren't stupid. Instead, she took a piece of parchment and wrote down all the details of the battle to come and baked it into a loaf of herbed bread. When the servant sent to check on his commander arrived, she gave him the loaf as proof to her men that they were to suspect nothing of Rome. The Romans allowed this, impressed with her initiative. As soon as they servant got back, they broke open the loaf and discovered the facts and the symbol of the roaring dragon; their call to arms."
"Marvelous tactic!", Quintus exclaimed suddenly.
"Clever indeed. How does that help me?", Commodus asked. Maximus shook his head.
"Sire, even common citizens are familiar with the iron eagle and what it means. Distribute the symbol among the people and every able bodied man will rally to your side under me, I garuantee it. There are hordes of men in the city that would fight for the empire, but were never able to complete proper training in the military and many more who are retired from it.", Maximus said. "Once they see that symbol, they will all gather into the senate building as we have planned to do in case of emergency."
"Yes, but that still doens't tell me how we would do it. Gaius and Falco are cunning and will no doubt have spies everywhere. They have already sent many spies into the palace and the ranks behind my back. I am quite sure they would see nothing wrong with it again.", Commodus remarked. He and Quintus remembered all too well the stories from other senators and nobles about the spies from treacherous senators and backbiting royals in times past.
"The bread worked once, it would do it again.", a new albeit familiar voice stated from behind them. The three turned. Staying true to his recent need for escape or simply wandering around, Cicero stood at the door. He walked over to the group slowly. Maximus rose instantly and smiled at his old friend and loyal servant. Cicero smiled to him and walked over to Commodus, bowing low. "Simply stamp the eagle and the word 'tonight' on a piece of parchment and conceal it in a small loaf of bread. Distribute it at the games tommorrow assuming that they are still going to be held. The greater majority of the nobles and none of the people know what is transpiring here."
"And this will work? You know for a fact that the men will rally together?", Commodus asked slightly shaking at the thought of attending an event with half of his personal guard serving two traitors just outside the city gates. Worse yet, the thought of Lucilla being held by Falco and Gaius for more time. He was powerless to do anything else other than an insurrection against the army outside the city with what little Praetorian manpower they had. He sighed and fought back a few tears. He would need to comfort Lucius. Maximus nodded enthusiastically. Quintus did the same and remarked about how silly he was for not having thought of it sooner. "Very well. Maximos; send for parchments, ink, and Tertullian. Quintus, go into the city and tell the bakers that I will be needing all of them that are available to come here to the palace, we need as many bodies as we can get to bake the loaves in time. Cicero, I need to speak with you privately. Is everyone busy for the next few moments?"
"Yes.", all of them replied. Commodus smiled. It was the first in a long time that a plan of his would work. Not just work, but make a significant difference for the good of his people and family.
"Once the armies see you and I at the head of every man in the capital ready to lay down their lives, then they will abandon their questionable loyalty to these senators immediately and Lucilla will be safe.", Maximus said proudly. Commodus smiled brightly and grasped the larger man by the arm, gripping him in brotherhood tightly. "After that, you and I will settle things."
Commodus said nothing, but nodded. As Maximus and Quintus left the room with their respective tasks to complete, the young emperor turned to Cicero and sighed heavily. Cicero had lightened the hateful glare that he had sported in front of the youth as of late and now simply stared at him inquisitively. Commodus sat down slowly and looked up at the servant.
"Cicero, do you know that I have never taken a concubine to my bed?", he asked. Cicero looked at him in confusion. "I am by no means a virgin, I was given that training as soon as I reached fifteen. Father felt it mandantory to my development. Hardly a necessary lesson for a young man in combat training if you ask me. The sad fact is, Cicero, that I wanted more than anything to have what my mother was at my side again. I didn't want a temporary relief of my passionate frustrations, I have since my childhood wanted what my father had and squandered; a wife and family. I have courted in the past, unsuccessfully of course, but I gave what I could to the occasion. I had never met the woman that completed me."
"Are you saying one thing in particular, majesty, or are you simply trying your hand at reciting tradgedy?", Cicero said annoyedly. Commodus glared at the young man. He knew too well that Commodus was almost powerless to call on guards any time he was simply angry, he would need them to be there solely when he was in danger. Cicero frowned. Even he felt a little sorry for the young Caesar, he was enduring quite alot by comparison. "What did you really want to tell me?"
"I want Ursa to be my wife.", Commodus admitted. Cicero stepped back, awestruck at his ruler's words. "I want you to come back and serve in the palace at her side as an attendant to her safety and well-being if you wish that."
"You want her to what!?", Cicero breathed loudly, feeling a thundering wave of pure shock racking his body and mind.
"I love her, Ciero. I do not wish anyone else to know about my decision. Not even her, do you hear? I want you to know to let you see that she is more to me than a bodyslave. You need to have the decision made soon, I will announce us as soon as the battle, such as it is, is over and done.", Commodus explained. "I will not be my father. I have never taken a simple concubine to my bed and I never will."
"Caesar I truly feel it best that you tell her now. This can't wait, she feels betrayed and that she has betrayed her family and convictions. You have to end her suffering.", Cicero argued.
"If I tell her, then she will rush headlong into any fight and try to protect me, you know she would. Not to mention the fact that any assassins still in the service of Gaius and Falco that are here in the palace would kill her as soon as she closed her eyes for a moment.", Commodus argued. "Please keep this secret and consider what I have told you."
Cicero smiled a little and finally nodded. "Very well, sire. Ursa will remain in the dark about this matter. As for me, I will give you my answer by tomorrow night.", he stated. Commodus nodded to him. It was a better answer than he had hoped for. The best he had thought would happen is Cicero telling him that he would consider both options until he went back to Ursa's quarters. He breathed an enormous sigh of relief and took hold of the man's arm. The two smiled at one another with a slight glow of fraternal understanding. "I'd best set out after Maximus and make myself useful for the time being."
"Thank you, Cicero.", Commodus said softly as the manservant turned to leave. "And I am very sorry for my rash accusations and cruel behaviour the other night."
Cicero nodded and smiled brightly. Even if Ursa didn't want to stay with the little weasel, Commodus was proving himself to be quite the little gentleman. He had even managed to impress Maximus a little with his research and noble offers. This might be superficial; but for a politician, Commodus seemed genuine.