Shadows and Dust

Part 4: Ostia The trio walked through the woods slowly and utterly dejected. The 3 horses were exhausted from the gallop. Despite the fact that they were never being pursued, they had pushed the horses to the limit – not wishing to be caught and suffer at the hands of Commodus. Maximus grimaced, his ribs protesting at the sudden movement as Argento stumbled, lame once again although not as severe as before. It had been the 4th time that he had tripped, and so Maximus swiftly dismounted, wincing slightly as the pain in his leg and side intensified. Quintus and Cicero had dismounted moments before to give their horses a chance to recover and now all 3 walked. Maximus in the lead, Quintus and Cicero following, watching both man and horse limp painfully.

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Petronius was worried. He had been looking for his commander and Maximus for 2 whole days, and yet he had been unable to find them. His men had been less that co-operative. It wasn't that they despised his recent promotion, or even that he had become the Emperor's lap dog – despite being the Emperor's personal guard, they could only take so much of his madness, and they had already been pushed beyond their limit. No, it was the fact that they were looking for their beloved commander. Commodus wanted him. Dead, or alive. And so they hadn't looked. And now it was too late.

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Maximus could smell the camp before he could see it. Smoke from campfires that had been made without the threat of giving their position away to the enemy.

"Sir!" Maximus smiled

"I see it Cicero." Row after row of tents, neat and precise as only the army could be. Home. Maximus grinned at his friends.

"Lets go and introduce ourselves shall we?" he asked before swinging himself onto Argento, whose lameness had lessened once he had a chance to rest. Almost immediately, the big black horse cantered easily towards the camp, Cicero and Quintus close behind. Maximus pulled at his Generals furs, trying to improve their already immaculate appearance, oblivious to the grins of his friends.

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Commodus paced his chamber, Petronius had seen him moments before, and he was furious. Angrily he replayed the conversation in his head.

"What do you mean, they haven't been found"

"The men wouldn't look Caesar"

"You said they would follow you!"

"They will be punished Caesar"

"I will give you the men at fault Caesar…"

"Surely the blame must lie with the leadership…"

"1 man cannot command hundreds Caesar"

"Maximus can…I can!"

"But they are willing, mine are not. It takes more than a handful of men to enforce orders on 3 unwilling centuries! 1 man cannot have his eyes and ears everywhere. Once them men had been sent on a scouting party, I had no idea whether they were searching or not!"

"It seems not. Dismissed." Commodus grinned slightly as he remembered the speed at which Petronius had fled the room.

"Oh Petillius? Mine are, remember that"

"Caesar?"

"My eyes and ears – they are everywhere."

Petillius had fled, the threat hanging heavy in the air, but he knew that he had got away with it – this time.

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Argento stamped his foot impatiently as his master drew him to a standstill in front of the encampments defences, allowing Quintus and Cicero to catch up, and giving himself chance to ponder what to do. He flinched as a shouted warning came down from the ramparts.

"Who goes there?" the centurion could clearly see that Maximus was a man of some stature within the army. Maximus glanced back at Quintus before answering.

"I am the former commander of these men, General Maximus Decimus Meridius and I wish to speak with the General." Maximus could see the man turn and speak to another, who ran swiftly across the camp, no doubt to fetch the new General.

"Was it wise to tell them your name?" Quintus whispered, Maximus shrugged before walking Argento through the massive gates.

A lone legate walked to greet them. "General Meridius?" he asked, addressing Maximus who nodded in reply. "Come with me sir, General Claudius has agreed to see you." The legate began to walk away, but paused and turned as he realised that Maximus was not following.

"My friends are thirsty." He said coldly, the legate smiled.

"Of course," he looked at Quintus, "you can leave the horses at the stables with the cavalry animals, it's just to your right. Someone there will be able to tell you where you can get a drink. Sir?" the man acknowledged Maximus before striding purposely towards the Generals tent. Maximus turned towards Quintus.

"Quintus, you and Cicero find as many men as you can, and wait by the Generals tent. If you hear anything, come in sword first. I have a bad feeling about this." Quintus nodded before leaving with Cicero. Maximus watched them walk away before following the path the legate had taken. As he approached the tent, the legate dutifully held the tent flap open for Maximus to enter.

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Commodus glowered at the 30 Praetorians that stood before him, all officers of varying ranks, and all officers that had led patrols looking for Maximus and Quintus.

"I expect you know why you are here?" Commodus asked quietly, one or two of the men nodded silently. "Why weren't they found?" Commodus asked, his tone dangerously quiet. One Praetorian spoke up.

"The men did not search as well as they could have Caesar, they have been punished."

"But you commanded those men." Commodus replied

"Quintus was their General, he was well liked…" Commodus fumed with rage.

"I am their Emperor! Do you say that they love me less? Quintus is a traitor. He became a traitor the moment he sided with Maximus. The men did not find him because you allowed him to get away. Now you have betrayed me, and you are traitors…and you will die a traitors death." The Praetorians stared at him mutely before they were dragged to the Colosseum.

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Maximus entered the tent slowly, taking in the elaborate surroundings that made the tent seem more like the Emperor's own rather than a Generals quarters.

"Ah, Maximus!" Claudius stood, arms outstretched as if wishing to embrace the younger man. "What have I done to receive the pleasure of this visit?"

"Sir…" Maximus began.

"Claudius." The General corrected.

"Claudius, I am here to regain my position as the commander of the Northern legions. I did not give up my position and I want them back."

Claudius nodded. "Indeed, you did not give up your position? Of course not. You were executed for treason in Germania! These are my men! Guards!"

Maximus stared at Claudius; unaware of the 6 men that now surrounded him, swords drawn. "Maximus, you have made a remarkable recovery from your death, do you think that you can survive another?" Maximus took in the guards, seemingly for the first time and addressed them.

"My name in Maximus Decimus Meridius, General of all of the Northern legions, you are under my command, and I order you to sheath your swords!"