Note from Kanuro5: Hello to you readers. My job as a new school teacher has been very overwhelming. Please know that I try to get these chapters posted as quickly as I can. Thank you and enjoy!
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Ad Familia Mei
The intoxicating scent of frankincense wafted within the medical chambers of the Pro-Consul's Palace as Vitus entered, all the better to mask the stench of human innards, Vitus figured. He caught the lead physician applying talc powder onto his hands as his servants were cleaning his operating tools. The physician caught sight of Vitus and addressed him, his Greek accent was strong, "Come to see him, have you?"
"Indeed, I have. How is he?"
"He is a strong man and shall recover in time. He will move with a mild limp from the pain, but within a year of rest and recovery, he shall be as strong as he was before he was wounded."
That put a smile on the young man's face. "Is he awake?"
"He is. Just left him about five minutes ago. You may go in; his wife is also with him."
"Can he still drink wine?"
"I recommend in small quantities, but yes."
He gave the physician a nod and entered the room past the curtains. On a cot, lied Proculus with his stomach covered in wrapping and poultices, as candles lit on the windowsill overlooked his still form. Beside him was Appia, sitting on a stool with her soft hand resting on her husband's shoulder. Vitus' arrival brought a smile to Appia, yet Proculus just inhaled through his nostrils.
"Back from your trip, eh?" Proculus asked him, his voice slightly above a whisper.
"Just arrived in Arretium an hour ago. I had my new Tribune arrive yesterday to mobilize the Legion."
"Yes, Appia has informed me."
"How do you feel, Proculus?"
He sighed listlessly, "Terrible. Every time I move to achieve comfort, my stomach aches. That Greek keeps feeding me different extracts and tonics that are rotten as bile. I'm quite sure my own piss will have a better taste."
Appia rolled her eyes, "Proculus… I believe the taste of your treatment would be small matters compared to the fact that you yet breathe and shall recover."
"Indeed… within a year."
Vitus eyed the bandaged laceration on his brother's stomach, "The wound was deep."
"So, I was told… and fondly remembered. That damn poker you shoved in me, I was sure the end of that thing would exit my back."
Vitus grabbed a stool and sat beside the couple. "But you survived, my heart would not endure if you had perished, Proculus."
Proculus actually managed a smile, "Oh, so you do love me?"
"As a pig loves a butcher. And seeing how you got stuck like a pig…"
Proculus clenched his teeth and shook his head, "Oh you are so fortunate I am confined to this bed, Vitus."
Vitus laughed. Appia giggled. Even Proculus chuckled.
Vitus pulled out a wineskin pouch from behind his back and held it in front of the couple, "I brought you a gift. It's Capuan White, hope you enjoy it." He then handed it to Appia, "To enjoy in small quantities."
Appia nodded, uncorking the wineskin and pressing the mouth of the pouch to Proculus' lips. He gulped it down hastily for a moment before she pulled it back.
"So, 'Capuan White', huh?" Appia muttered. "We didn't know your travels took you to Scipii lands."
"It was not planned for, more of an order by the Dictator."
"Oh. I see."
"So, what did you find when you left?" Proculus asked.
Vitus played with his hands, "A great many things."
"Any of them positive?"
The younger brother shook his head. "Oh Venus, where to even begin…"
He decided to speak first upon Sulla's mentioning of the attempted purge of the Three Families. Then he told them of Scipio Lupus and of his character and then his meeting with the assassin, and how Lupus and him conversed with Sulla; yet, he left out the name "Arcani" in his conversations, and he told them of their possible whereabouts, and his mission to root them out and destroy them.
Understandably, the couple were blinking in disbelief. "The Brutii and the Scipii as well…?" Appia gasped, her mouth hanging low.
"By the fucking Gods…" Proculus cursed, his hand covering his eyes. "What has befallen Rome?"
"I know," Vitus told them. "To think that these black assassins' reach extends throughout the Republic, from Hispania to Cyprus, is truly frightening. Even more reason they have to be destroyed so another massacre like this shall not ensue."
"And such is the mission that Sulla assigns you and this Scipio?"
"Yes, it is."
A few days ago, Vitus Julius and Gaius Scipio had sailed from Capua and they had docked in Ostia, purchasing a oxen cart for transport. Their destination was the Eternal City. Both Julius Germanicus and Scipio Lupus were riding in the front of the oxen cart with Lupus holding the reins. Their respective bodyguards were walking along their flanks in a protective formation. Vitus looked behind in the back of the cart, the contents of the prized was covered by a grey tarp, to protect it from the outside world.
The capital of the "Civilized World" was still in the state that Vitus had left it in. Pestilence running amok, men were walking around with heads lowered and eyes on the ground, women were weeping over corpses, and knifemen were running around searching for the names of the proscribed. Homes were boarded up by the families who fled or were forced into exile. Several complexes were dilapidated, the wood was rotting, and the tiles of the ceilings were falling off to splinter into bunches of pieces. Those citizens who were not weeping openly wore masks of forlorn.
Lupus had a look of mild disgust of his surroundings. "This is the 'Great City'? By Neptune, what happened to this place?"
Vitus leaned in and whispered into his ear, "Disease and Sulla." He then pointed to the heads on spikes and children throwing rocks at them.
Vitus could hear a drawn-out, "Shit…" exit Lupus' low-gaping mouth.
Suddenly, a group of soldiers with purple-cladded armor made a line formation and stopped the cart. The bodyguards of Germanicus and Lupus stepped forward with hands on their weapons. A centurion walked forth and announced, "Vitus Julius Germanicus, Legatus of the Twenty-Eighth Legion, you and your colleague are hereby summoned to stand before His Most Excellence, Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, Dictator of The Republic, Imperator of the Eastern Legions. You shall follow us to the Dictator's residence at the Capitoline."
"Of course." Vitus said.
The centurion saluted and his men fell-out in military fashion. The ox cart started following them to the Palatine. Lupus was stunned.
"We were here for about five minutes. How did he know—"
"Sulla sees all in Rome. He probably knew I was here before we passed the Field of Mars. If I was you, Scipio, I would practice that wolf smile of yours, maybe it shall beat Sulla's Scowl."
"You are quite right." He then exhaled, "Give me a moment…"
Their senatorial escort brought them up to the most fascinating form of the Capitoline Hill and to Sulla's luxurious home. In front of the door was Sulla Felix, bent over from age, yet sporting an honest smile. Behind him were men and women of the patrician class who followed his every move and word, retainers and sycophants.
Sulla gave a short laugh, "Ah, Vitus! You have returned, and with company." His retainers started clapping.
Vitus gave a hesitant wave with a forced smile, "That I have, Sulla."
Sulla walked closer, his wrinkled face scrunched at Lupus, "You, the driver… I recall your face…"
The Scipio smirked, "It lifts the heart that you do. For my name is Gaius Scipio Lupus, the Wolf on the Waves!"
"Ah, that you are. And for what reason have you brought him before me, Vitus?"
"For he was the Scipio that was in Capua, and he has brought you something of import."
Sulla's eyebrows rose. "Truly? Then I am most eager to receive such a gift."
Lupus chuckled and snapped his fingers twice to his men, "Bring him out!"
Lupus' men swung open the tarp over the oxen cart and heaved out a large chest, big enough to fit three talents of coinage inside, and placed the heavy chest in front of Sulla's feet. Sulla's eyes bulged in avaricious excitement. Then the chest moved, and his excitement soured into utter confusion. Lupus' men unlocked the chest and pulled out a bounded, groaning man in black with a bag placed over his head.
As he emerged, horrid fumes of stench shot out from the chest, fouling the immediate vicinity. Sulla's retainers groaned, covering their nose with their limbs and pieces of cloth. Even Sulla winced at their odor. The two men who brought the man out of the chest were fighting hard not to gag.
Lupus whispered in Vitus' ear, "I guess that bastard had shit himself on the way over here."
Sulla reddened, "What is the meaning of this?! What foul creature have you bring brought before me?!"
Lupus swaggered forward, arms extended as if an actor on stage, "Oh, I brought the most wonderful creature as a gift. A beast that skulks in the shadow and strikes with his pack." He took off the hood of the bound man. "Before you is Quintus Paetus, the black assassin who made an attempt on my life during the Bloody Ides." And he boldly raised the mask of the Arcani in the air and smirked.
Vitus shivered as he recalled how deep Sulla cackled at the sight.
Sulla ordered the filthy assassin to be seized by the senatorial soldiers and taken away to the Tullianum, one of the oldest prisons in Rome. Sulla invited both Julius and Scipio into his home and into his triclinium to debrief the young men.
"Athens, eh?" Sulla spoke, holding his cup out to be filled to the brim by his slave.
"Correct," Vitus affirmed, "I cannot believe such mention from this Quintus and Murio's locations stand mere coincidence."
"Good, for I would have labeled you a fool if you stood otherwise," Sulla grunted. "Athens… to hide in that ruin of a once great city."
Lupus already downed the wine poured for him and spoke up, in what Vitus imagined to be a bitter tone, "Indeed, no thanks to you, Sulla."
Years ago, during the First Mithridatic War, the genocidal Mithridates was ravaging Asia Minor and the Greek country to ward off Roman expansion. The Pontic King executed virtually all Romans and Italians that were not fortunate enough to flee. One of the leaders from the Anti-Roman party in Athens stirred up dissent and a revolt erupted in Southern Greece. Fortunately, Sulla arrived with his army to fight off Mithridates and landed in Greece, and his first stop was at the revolting city of Athens. The siege lasted a year, but they broke through and brutally put down the revolt and razed the city. Thousands were massacred and pieces of art and history that were made during the height of Athenian power centuries ago, were lost forever.
Sulla looked to Lupus, "Those rebellious philosophers, I taught them a valuable lesson about rising up against Rome. And now they harbor criminals?"
"With respect, Sulla," Vitus muttered cautiously. "If the Roman citizens were unaware of these assassins, then I might doubt that the Greeks were aware of them."
"That's what all men say until their blood is shed, and flesh torn, then they sing truer than any songbird, remember that, Vitus," Sulla pointed to him with a raised brow.
"Right… I shall."
Sulla's eyes fell on Vitus, seemingly filled with a distrustful nature. The Dictator turned to the drinking Lupus, "Scipio Lupus, what did Germanicus tell you of the Arcani?"
Vitus inhaled through his nose sharply. Lupus abruptly looked over at Vitus with narrowed eyes, "The fuck is an Arcani? What are you not telling me, Julius?"
Sulla stared at Scipio for a moment. "I see, do not worry about Vitus, allow me to inform you since you have captured one." Vitus could breathe easier.
Vitus sat in a stool, listening to Sulla telling Lupus the tale that he himself heard just a week ago. It was quite interesting watching the range of emotions rising in the Scipio's face, especially learning that it was his ancestors that formed these archaic assassins. Once Sulla finished, Lupus poured himself another cup of wine.
"Africanus? The Gracchi? Gods…" he remarked in disbelief. "The same men who butchered my clan are descended from the ones who were elevated by us. Am I hearing this correctly, Sulla?"
"Indeed, you are."
"But why? Why did they betray Rome if they were once so loyal?"
Sulla stared at him with that scowl of his, "Such matters are confidential."
Lupus gave him a scowl of his own, "If Germanicus and I are to risk our lives and that of our men, we should be privy to all information concerning this phantom adversary. Do you not agree?"
"Mind your tongue in my presence," he sneered firmly.
Lupus continued to stare at him for a moment, before finally relenting, "Yes, Dictator."
Sulla's scowl was so sharp that it could wound a god, "You have fire in your soul, Scipio Lupus, but I have seen wickeder infernos in the eyes of men with twice the merit of you. Do not forget that, pup."
Lupus' hand was clenching tight on his goblet, Vitus thought he was going to throw it at the dictator. But Lupus just sucked his teeth with annoyed nods, "Apologies… may I beseech forgiveness from you?"
Sulla's scowl lifted, "Granted."
Lupus sighed, then drank from his cup. "So… Athens… the Brutii must have men there to apprehend the Arcani."
"I would believe so, but most likely a garrison, not a standing army." Vitus answered.
"Vitus is right," Sulla validated. "Most of the Brutii forces are in Anatolia with Murena and Lucullus, keeping the Pontians at bay. No, they wouldn't have an army in Greece. At last report, Mithridates is launching a new offensive and pushing hard against Lucullus, Murena, and the Brutii. Such makes it even more imperative that an army is sent to Greece, I shall not have the enemy in the rear with Mithridates in the front."
"And if the Arcani are as trained as they were during the Bloody Ides, then do you believe that the Town Watch, a militia, can track these men down and arrest them?"
"Hmm, guess not." Lupus replied.
Sulla rose from his seat, "I shall send word to Lucullus and Murena to assist you in any manner. If they can spare men, then they shall aid you. If the Arcani are this close to Pontus…"
Vitus mused, "Could they have acted on Mithridates' orders?"
"No," Sulla growled, it was long and filled with gravel. He downed his wine in what seemed to be out of spite. "Their pride is for all things Roman. They shall not dare stoop as low as selling themselves to a foreign king."
"And yet they dare strike down many noble families of Rome," Lupus countered. "I shall not rule it past them."
"Mithridates has done something similar in the past, the Vespers." Vitus said. "He had many Romans murdered within a short time frame. What if the Arcani took inspiration from him?"
"Impossible, they rely too much on all things Roman. Anything less is an affront to pride. They cannot have allied with Mithridates."
"So you say…" Vitus heard Lupus mutter under his breath.
"Vitus, you must head to Athens as swiftly as possible with the Twenty-Eighth," Sulla told him. "It shall be a long march, but you need to move there with haste."
"Oh, he shall not travel by land, my fleet shall accompany him against these bastards," Lupus boasted.
"You shall dedicate your forces against the Arcani?"
"I shall, Sulla. No one strikes the Wolf and expects to survive its fangs."
"And my legion shall grind them beneath the heel for the injustices they have delivered upon us, Julii," Germanicus said surely.
He shook his head with a grin, "You vigorous youths… if only I was young again…"
Vitus finally remembered, "Oh! Sulla, I forgot to mention about the Arcani prisoner. He mentioned of a 'Vipera' and 'Taurus'. We believe these two are the leaders of the Arcani. Are these men familiar?"
Sulla's expression did not change, "Only Vipera, his name brings faint recollection."
"Who is the man?"
"I do not recall his true name, all men of the Arcani went under false identities. He was among the high-ranking men as I recall. Very good friends with the Captain of the Arcani at the time, Fornax."
"The Captain?" Lupus asked.
"What happened to Fornax?" Vitus said.
"He died, some time ago." Sulla looked to his wine cup. "You two have your mission. Go to Athens, search for the Arcani presence and destroy them. Their leaders, Vipera and Taurus, bring to me alive, if feasible. I shall parade them across the streets of Rome before I kill them."
Vitus and Gaius gave each other a look. Sulla said to them, "Do you understand?"
"We do," they said as one.
"Good. And Vitus, I have someone I desire you to meet." Sulla turned to his slave, "Bring him in."
The slave opened the door, a man in purple senatorial armor walked inside the room. He was of average height and his face seemed to indicate his age to be in his early to mid-30s. He had a shifty smirk on his face as he stood in front of Vitus.
Sulla placed his hand on the man's shoulder, "Julius Germanicus, the man who stands before you is Flavius Rupilius. I recalled him from Anatolia and he just arrived today. He is to be your tribunus laticlavius."
Vitus blinked incredulously. This man was to be his second-in-command?
Rupilius looked down on Vitus for a moment, the corner of his mouth rose even more, "His Excellence had told me that you were young, but I did not expect you to be this young." His voice sounded pleasant. "I heard of your deeds, Germanicus, and I am honored to serve under you." Yet something was in his eyes, something that caused Vitus to worry.
"Gratitude, Flavius Rupilius," Vitus said, trying to mask his uneasiness. He turned to Sulla, "You are giving me a tribune?"
"I am. Rupilius has served under me against Mithridates and Marius Minor. He holds talents in warfare and shall be of use to you. Him and his men."
" 'His men'?"
"Your legion is currently understrength, correct? About a thousand at last count. Instead of worrying about mercenaries, allow me to bestow—temporarily—a thousand legionaries of the Senatorial Legions."
"You're giving me a thousand soldiers?"
"You cannot face the enemy with a weakened legion. These men are veterans of my campaign and Rupilius shall aid you in leading them. Oh Vitus, do not give me that look. This is non-negotiable. You shall count yourself fortunate that I even do this. Now your legion is at full strength."
Sulla was smirking now. Vitus turned to Rupilius; he too was smiling. For a brief second, Vitus sucked his teeth, then unearthed a smile, "Gratitude for your wisdom and generosity, Sulla. These men shall be put to good use."
"Oh, I know they shall, you are leading them." Sulla looked to Lupus, "Scipio Lupus, I shall not forget your assistance in aiding the Republic. Are you well supplied?"
"I already have my supplies ready; we shall be in the port of Arretium within three days."
"Very good. You young men are the future of the Republic, you do me proud. And if you desire to have a future, then you both shall not fail me."
Proculus strained to raise his upper body up, "Vitus, I understand but… travelling with a Scipio, and into the unknowns of Greece for these assassins. Are you certain on this?"
Truthfully? He wasn't completely sure. But he had to, he kept telling himself he had to. Who else could be? "I am, Proculus."
"Do not lie to me on this matter."
"I believe that this is the way."
Proculus' gaze lingered on him before he reclined back on the cot, "So, when do you leave?"
"We leave today, I had sent word along with Rupilius to have the Twenty-Eighth mobilized."
"Yes, I remember conversing with him on the subject," Appia mentioned in a displeased tone.
Vitus' eyes narrowed, "Rupilius. Do you know of the family, Appia?"
"I do, my father was a patron to their family. From recollection, my father labeled this Flavius Rupilius as a conniving man who served Sulla loyally during his March on Rome. He is an ambitious man and shall do what he needs to succeed, these are the kind of people that Sulla attracts. Be wary of such a man, Vitus."
"I see, gratitude." Great… another person for me to divide my mind upon…
Proculus spoke up, "How many men again did Sulla lease to you again?"
"A thousand. Exactly."
"Which brings you up to?"
"With these additions and some mercenaries, and about twenty returning wounded… we rounded up to about 4,500."
The couple frowned at the number, "But your legion is not at full strength."
"We faced worse odds when we were in Samarobriva, Proculus."
"Indeed, and such nearly got us all killed, if I recall."
"By Mars…" Appia exclaimed softly, "The Germanians committed that much damage upon you?
"The Suebi were ferocious fighters. We suffered many casualties, but we inflicted more upon them, with interest."
"And so, Sulla gives you a thousand men to swell the ranks of the Twenty-Eighth, and with that, several officers loyal to him and to observe your every move."
Vitus chuckled weakly, "You hit the truth with the precision of an arrow, Appia."
He had entered Arretium an hour ago and was immediately set upon by his centurions with dozens of questions about these senatorial soldiers that were now attached to their legion.
"Pardon, Legatus, but the men are curious. Rumors have reached them that we are to war with the black assassins who butchered the Julii."
"That is correct, Centurion."
The centurions blinked in disbelief. "Understood, Legatus… but do these assassins have an army? We understand these orders came from the Dictator, but it seems as if we are using a hammer to slay ants. They cannot number that many."
Germanicus stopped walking, he spun around. "I know. But a week ago, no one even knew they existed, and they have caused irreparable damage to the Republic We hold no idea what these men are truly capable of. So, at this point, a hammer may be the right tool to kill these bastards. Do you understand?"
The centurions stood to attention and responded, "Yes, Legatus." The one who questioned him said, "Apologies, Legatus, I did not mean to question—"
"Be at ease, Libo. I understand your questions. Pass what I told you around with the other centurions. Any other questions?"
"Just mine, Legatus." It came from Primus Pilus Aelianus who walked up to them. By the look of his face, he wasn't happy. "Apologize if my tone or words reflect unruliness, but I must ask as Primus Pilus… are these men, necessary for the Legion?" he pointed to the purple-cladded soldiers among the red-armored soldiers.
Vitus wanted to visibly sigh, but he had to maintain the mask. "These men have been gifted to us by the Dictator to replenish our forces."
"I understand, Legatus. But the cohesion of the men with the newcomers are…"
"They will have to make do, Primus Pilus. We are to embark immediately. Aelianus, you are the rock of this Legion, you must do what you can to forge unity between the Sulla's soldiers and ours."
Centurion Libo spoke up, "How many ships are to be prepared for us, Legatus?"
"Scipio Lupus, spoke upon sixty, we divided each cohort upon one."
"Also, Legatus, the men speak of ominous things as they are to embark on the sails to cross the waters. And that we are to fight these shadowy figures who butchered many Julii. These rumors are worsened by the fact it is the Scipii who takes us. The men are… not in the right spirits."
He inhaled and exhaled through his nose. He understood their fear. "Gratitude for the words, … . I know the men hold fear, but it is your jobs as centurions of the Twenty-Eighth to keep the men in check. The Legio XXVIII have faced the might of Gallia, Germania, and Britannia. What are masked men who skulk in the shadows to the fury of barbarians, eh?"
Some of the centurions bowed their head in shame. Centurion Libo bowed his as well, "A thousand apologies, Legatus. I didn't mean… I was only speaking for the men and…"
"Raise your head, Libo ," Vitus said gently. "I know what you meant. All of you, listen with care. You must fetch your optiones and tessararii and remind your men of what I have told you. Remind them of their pride in being men of the Twenty-Eighth, and if such does not work, then shame them into courage."
The centurions saluted proudly, "Yes, sir!"
Before the officers could leave, the new tribune of the Twenty-Eighth, Rupilius, came to Vitus. And he brought two men, no, they looked like boys, even younger than Vitus. The two of them wore their purple armor that fitted their small bodies perfectly.
"Tribune, who are these boys?" Aelianus asked.
"Not boys, but men. They have donned the toga virilis and have become men. Both of them are sixteen and are of equestrian status. I shall have them placed as officers of the cavalry, with your permission, Legatus."
Looking at them, they both wore eager expressions on their faces.
Vitus eyed the young "men", "And these… men, their families owe their status to Sulla, correct?"
"Indeed. His Most Excellence always rewards his friends and their families. These men have promising careers in the Cursus Honorum, to start young, they need military experience. Sulla had hoped that they can gain such experience with you."
Vitus was fighting back a curse. More politics? He was here to kill Rome's enemies, not advance careers. And yet, in the Roman military, those two things were often synonymous. Vitus understood it, but he didn't like it, at least this aspect. Military experience was truly the most common and distinguishable way for a nobleman to advance in the hierarchical society of Rome. Yet Vitus' father, Lucius, created the Twenty-Eighth Legion to be devoid of politics, to be a legion whose sole purpose was to kill the enemies of Rome. If one wanted political advancement, they could join the other Julii legions under other generals, but not the Twenty-Eighth. They were elite.
He nodded quickly to erase the curse that might slip his tongue. "Sure! Sure! Fine, they can join my bodyguard retinue. I shall do that before I give them a command."
Rupilius smiled and nodded, patting the backs of the young men before their new general.
Vitus looked down on them, masking his annoyance. He recalled a time when he was sixteen and eager to go on a campaign himself. "Who are you?" he asked the two.
"I stand Gnaeus Domitius."
"And I stand Titus Labienus."
"Well, Gnaeus Domitius and Titus Labienus, as long as you are with me, do not expect some cushy experience where you are exempt from fighting. This is the Twenty-Eighth, our specialty is killing and dealing in death to the Republic's enemies. If you ride with me, then you ride in the front and in the thick of it. Do you understand? I cannot guarantee your safety."
Domitius saluted proudly, "I understand, Legatus!"
Labienus gave a grin and played with his hands, "As long as we get to fight, then I am fine, Legatus."
Hmm, eager… just as I was… Vitus couldn't tell that a smirk had crept up on his own mouth. "Good, do you have your own mounts?"
"Yes, Legatus!" both of them said.
"Good, get your mounts situated with the stablemaster and familiarize yourself with the quartermaster. Centurion Libo, escort these two equestrians, will you?"
"At once, Legatus!"
Vitus turned back to his new tribune, "Rupilius, you know the standing of experience with these men of the Senate, do you not?"
"I do, Legatus."
"Then assist Primus Pilus Aelianus here, in placing the veterans into the appropriate cohort. The ones with longest degrees of experience shall be in the Second Cohort, then the Third, and so on."
"Apologies, Legatus," said Rupilius, "Would it not benefit the experienced men to be in the First Cohort than the Second?"
Vitus could feel the stares from his centurions behind him, who were looking upon Rupilius with contempt. "The First Cohort of the Legio XXVIII are the most distinguished soldiers we have and the largest cohort. You must be from the Second Cohort before you may join the ranks of the First."
Rupilius chuckled, to Vitus it seemed almost smugly, "I understand, Germanicus. But some of these soldiers were with Sulla against hundreds of thousands Pontians and fought with him during the wars against Marius' foolish son. They deserve the great privilege of fighting in the First Cohort."
"As I said, all men must be in the Second before they advance to the First. No matter what."
Rupilius' smile dissipated, "The men shall not like that, Germanicus." Vitus' eyes then narrowed.
Looking back on it now, Vitus now knew what Appia meant about Rupilius.
Germanicus spoke slowly, "Tribune, I do not deny the courage and skill you say that these men have. I do not deny that. But I must witness their valor firsthand before I say they can advance, Tribune. They have served under Sulla, and now they shall serve under me. And I am not like Sulla, Tribune. They are soldiers of the Republic and shall act like soldiers of the Republic; soldiers under the Republic follow orders of their superior. Any flagrant act of insubordination shall be meted out with discipline and punishment. Do you understand, Tribune?"
He nodded his head slowly, "I do, Legatus."
"Your most experienced men shall be placed in the Second Cohort, until I witness their valor firsthand. Am I understood, Tribune?"
"You are, Legatus."
"Now, go with the Primus Pilus, and sort out the men. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Legatus." Rupilius' salute was slower than expected, possibly defiant. But he gave Vitus a nod and spun around to fulfill his order.
As Aelianus passed by Vitus, both men locked eyes, and Aelianus gave him a short, but firm nod.
Vitus exhaled and rustled his red hair. What a lovely way to begin my relationship with my Tribune…
He overheard the squabbles of his men over these new men from the senate.
He wanted to tell them that he didn't have a choice, that it was forced upon him by Sulla, but what good would that do? It would only increase tension with the Julii soldiers and these "unwantedly posh" senate soldiers, something that he didn't need. The only thing that irritated Vitus in this deal was that he didn't have time to drill and train these new men with his veterans. He didn't know their combat capability, and close-order drills between these two types of soldiers could also build cohesion and trust. But there was no time for that, they had to move now. He would be praying to Mars that they would all act like soldiers and turn their aggression and attitude towards the enemy.
"I would not fret upon such matters, Vitus," Proculus told him. "Soldiers often exhibit conflict with another unit."
"I know they do, but this is different. They are an attachment to our unit and are making demands of positions of prestige as if they were always a part of the Twenty-Eighth."
"Father made the Twenty-Eighth legendary, you could forgive these new men for being eager."
"I guess… hopefully battle drives the heart of them all to a single purpose. We are all Romans; we should not wage war among one another. Our focus are these assassins in black."
Appia played with her hands, she gave him a sorrowful look, "My father was always weary of Sulla after he fell out with Marius. Sulla possesses an appetite which rivals that of Saturn. What man would violate sacred Roman Law and actually march his army on Rome? Twice. Did you truly have to be aligned with such a man, Vitus?"
"Believe me, Appia, I had no notion of working with him…" he then sighed, "Or I guess in this case, working under him. I only came to Rome to get Titia, he summoned me and dragged us all into this quagmire of blood and intrigue."
"Speaking of, where is your wife, Vitus?" Proculus asked.
He rubbed his jaw, "Last I saw her, she was in the hallway to the triclinium."
"She has recovered, somewhat, from her ordeal from a week ago," Appia muttered.
"I have seen such. I was worried, and still am."
"How did she take the news upon your departure?" Proculus asked.
Vitus scratched the back of his neck, "She was… uh, not happy when I told her…"
"Unbelievable!"
"Titia I—"
"For what purpose do you do this to me!"
"It is not my intent to leave you."
"And yet you do! Gods, Vitus! She gritted her teeth and started to tremble, "Every time you return, every damn time, you have to leave on a mission! I cannot fathom this. We cannot even spend two full days together before you must leave for danger!
He was quite surprised how animated she had been. It seemed as if she was back to her former lively self. And yet, She sat down beside a stone pillar, her hair fell down obscuring her face. He sat down next to her, he was tempted to put his arm around her but rescinded the idea.
"Titia, four men stole into the night and nearly murdered us. Proculus was wounded, and Herennius was killed. And now you, who was always a scrapper with the other girls, now have the blood of death forever stained on your hands. I am a soldier. By marrying me, you have married the Republic; wherever I go, I leave to preserve and protect the citizens of Rome. Especially you. But I… I do not know what I am exactly doing. It's not like venturing north and eventually go hunting for marauding barbarians. This enemy hides within the shadow and strike when you least expect. I cannot fathom how to fight that, and that unknown… is frightening."
"And yet you go anyway... to Greece…"
"Because I must."
"Because it's your duty."
He tightened his lips. He wanted to instantly reply 'yes', but the way she said that, was she testing him for a response?
"I do not know how I do this, Vitus. I am always loud, and I spit down on those who hurt me or my family. They are not worthy of me plucking a hair from my skull to fret about. At least that's what I desire to believe and what I desire others to think. But…" her hands came together, and her fingers entwined into a prayer motion.
She had a slight tremble to her with a soft, quivering voice, "I am afraid. Not for you, nor my family… but for me. I cannot explain, I know I should worry for you. You are my husband and a good man. But that is not what I truly fear. I have been living in fear for an entire year. Ever since we were married a year ago, so much has happened. You going off to war, Sulla's proscribed killings, the fear of my family name being etched on his death list for any minute reason, the plague, my father's health and mother's safety, and now assassins that appear in the dark and slaughter those of aristocratic blood. And I killed someone… He tried to kill you and Proculus, I was in the right. But did you recall how he choked on his blood; how easy it came out of him…? I can't… I can't do this, Vitus. I'm sixteen. I often fancied leaving girlhood to embrace womanhood; and yet so much death, chaos, and blood follows it. But wait! I... I fear for my father, my mother, you, Proculus, everyone… See?! I cannot even determine how I truly feel? How would I…"
He placed a hand on her shoulder, "I never told you what happened when I was sixteen, did I?"
She looked at him timidly, "No, I don't believe you have."
He started looking at his hands as he played with them. "When I was sixteen, I was pretty excited donning the toga virilus,"he started to chuckle, "I was short back then, well, shorter if you could believe that, and was always mocked by my height and strange eyes. Then, the Senate's legions were surrounded by a coalition of Briton, Germanic, and Gallic barbarians at Samarobriva; my father was chosen by the Senate to rescue the trapped legions. You could imagine how excited I was to be on a military campaign, to be so young and to do my duty as a citizen by fighting the enemies of Rome. But I would never know how arduous one campaign could have been…
"A week into the campaign, I was mortally wounded by an arrow while scouting. Barbarians came in and slaughtered all my scouts and would have slain me if not for Oroles."
"Who?"
"Oroles. He was a Thracian prince who served as Captain of the Thracian Auxiliary under my father. He was… a man that held no equal. Fierce, profound, loyal, cunning, a wonderful friend, and a mentor to me." He unfastened his swordbelt and handed Titia his sword. "This was his personal weapon."
Her eyes were large, "This was the same weapon that I used that night…"
"It was, and it belonged to him… He taught me to be a better fighter, and a better leader, and a better person. I saw though his eyes a world that is unfamiliar to that of Rome. I saw understanding of a flawed man, humbled by his failures."
"And… he died?"
"He died. We were at Samarobriva, our final battle against the Britons and he was mortally wounded in the fighting. Once it was over, he had enough strength left to speak to Proculus and I. As he laid dying, he told us his last words, and Titia, I shall never forget this. He told us of never living with regret and that he freed himself of one regret to 'Have died without bettering the two of us.' Then, his life faded in the snow, and I wept over his corpse. A man who was as a second father to me had died. That whole campaign was a whirlwind of hardships. I was wounded by a Germanic arrow, I killed my first man by slitting his throat on my father's orders, I then tried to kill my own father out of anger for what he commanded me to do, I experienced my first battle and was nearly killed, we were betrayed by a barbarian we foolishly believed was our ally, the Twenty-Eighth was near destroyed in an ambush, we rescued the Praetor at Samarobriva just to get surrounded by another barbarian army, we committed sacrilege by surrendering to barbarians just to abscond with the Praetor and fight another day… and my mentor was killed, as was my own father. And I had to bury them both. All of this happened, within a span of two months. In my sixteenth year."
No words came out of his mouth. His physical eyes were staring at the tile between his two feet; his mental eyes were looking back in the past, reliving every horror that he witnessed on that damn campaign. No words came out of Titia's mouth; Vitus could tell that she was looking on at him with widened eyes.
"Indeed, being sixteen unlocks the gateway to adulthood, yet adulthood brings its own roads of problems and horrors, doesn't it? Such an acrid taste of fear is familiar… There were times on that campaign where I broke down and cried, everything was so overbearing that I feared the Gods were tormenting me with madness. But I stayed sane, do you seek to discover the secret of how, Titia?"
She didn't respond. "I had companions to converse with," Vitus continued. "My brother, Oroles, Ligadis, Antonius, Cossutius, Aelianus, Ardunas, and my Father. I spoke to them of my fears, and that taste of terror began to dissipate—not completely but began to slowly dissipate. You are a strong woman; I've seen that strength in you. But if you choose to contain all of your pain and fear… then… I don't know what will happen to you, but I do know that you shall lose yourself… the you that makes you, well, you." He groaned, "Damn it, these talks are not my specialty. What I'm saying is, you have people close to you that have experienced a tumultuous year in their lives. Break words with them and hear their stories, embrace their wisdom, and learn to live with it than be consumed by it."
Her eyes were now staring at the opposite wall, her lips didn't even twitch. Vitus stayed their two minutes with her in silence, trying to conceive of more words to say, but none came to mind. Well, none except, "Titia, I leave for the Legion today, I… I pray that when I return, you shall be recovered from this ordeal. Now… I leave."
He stood to his feet and turned away. Her hand suddenly seized the back of his crimson cape, but she did not look up at him. Her voice was soft, "No, Vitus, tarry a while…"
Vitus nodded silently, placed his back against the wall and slid back down next to her. Their shoulders were touching, both of their eyes staring at the opposite wall. Vitus stretched his arm and placed his arm around her shoulder. He didn't know if such was appropriate, he just felt it may be something he had to do. Did she mind? A few moments later, Titia rested her head on his shoulder; her eyes were still focused on the opposite wall. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts, but both of them were together in body and soul.
"We had quite a talk, Titia and I," Vitus told them. "It lifts the heart to know that she is speaking more."
"Yes, it is," said Appia, "What happened in Genua, was…" she glanced at her husband's wound, "…harrowing. To do what she did and live with that, I cannot begin to fathom. I had to speak to her for days to open up to form proper sentences."
"Gratitude, Appia, the fruits of your labor have ripened… I ask you for one more venture of my selfishness. Appia, as I leave, do look after Titia for me. Please care for her."
She nodded firmly, "Of course, Vitus. She is a sister by family now. I shall."
"One last thing, have there been any more news of further Julii deaths?"
"Not quite. Publius and his son, Hostus, were attacked in Osca, but they survived," Proculus told him, "yet not without wounds. The letter was written by Publius' wife. Hostus was blinded in both eyes by the attack, and Publius was gravely wounded and needed to have his arm amputated. We now wait to see if he shall survive."
Vitus' fist tightened, "Publius… Hostus… they yet draw breath, but to live in such crippled conditions…"
"I know…"
"From Osca, huh? If we receive word from Hispania… then what of Sertorius, does he yet live?"
"Vitus, we hold no word about Sertorius," Appia said concernedly.
"How? He's the governor of the peninsula! If he yet lives or is… dead, then we should have heard about it by now."
"We know, Vitus," Proculus said, "We have no certainty of what happened to him."
Vitus exhaled. "I see… What of the others, are they all arriving to Arretium, as I requested?"
"They are. We already have two families on the move at this moment. They shall arrive once you depart."
"Good, at this critical junction, the ones who are mightily true to us are ourselves. If we can, let us get those in Rome as well, especially Tiberias."
"We shall, Vitus, do not worry."
"Do you plan to leave now?" Appia asked.
"I do. We need to get the Legion moving as soon as possible. I have already spoken to Mother, and… tried to see Decius, but he is still locked in his chambers. I desired to visit the both of you before I left."
She stood from her seat, "Gratitude for your visit, Vitus. Do be careful. You hear this all the time, but still…"
"I shall. Gratitude, Appia." They both hugged one another.
Vitus looked down to Proculus, "I pray for speedy recovery."
He chuckled once, "You are not the only one, Vitus. Take care, now. Bring the Fury of the Julii down upon their miserable heads."
"That, I intend to do. You have my word, Proculus."
Both clasped one another's hands firmly.
The gates of the Arretium port had opened up to the Twenty-Eighth. Vitus was the first one through, leading his men through the throngs of citizens who suddenly gathered to witness the unexpected approach of the most famous Julii legion. The citizens cheered at them with pride, applauding them as they walked by. Several legionaries waved and whistled at the children and the women respectively, until their centurions told them to knock it off. But Vitus was stone-faced, his mind preoccupied on his mission and the unknowns that he could possibly face, and the chance that he may not return.
In the dockyard, the sight of the lands of Dalmatia that was separated by the Adriatic Sea was obscured by blue sails of many ships of the Scipii. The ships were already anchored by the piers with the marines and slaves walking up and down the gangplank to make the vessels ready for the incoming infantry. A good-sized crowd had already gathered near the harbor; they were gossiping to one another about these "blue invaders" residing in their port. The sea gust blew gracefully into the sails, flapping the mouth of the Blue Wolf, almost as if it was cackling.
The harbormaster made his way through the onlookers and jostled towards Vitus with an expression of worry. "Legatus, I have done as you commanded. Our dockyards are now open to these Scipii sails."
"You have done well, harbormaster. Yet you seem troubled."
He looked over his shoulder nervously, "It's just I never expected these Blues to be hear, especially this 'Wolf on the Waves'. It is minor, but it is strange nonetheless."
"I understand, but they are the only fleet that can transport the Twenty-Eighth on such short notice. We need them." He looked to his new Tribune, "Rupilius! Notify the Centurions to get the slaves and the men to settle our provisions unto the ship. Harbormaster, I already paid you and your men for the docking service, now assist my legion in docking their provisions."
"I understand," both men said.
But before the harbormaster left, Vitus asked, "Tell me, have you seen Scipio Lupus? Strong looking, black-bearded, carries a vulgarian streak?"
"Hard to miss him. They arrived an hour ago and he was ordering me around like this was his city! Hmph, the nerve of that animal! Anyway, he is on his flagship, that quinquereme, the only one of its kind in the fleet."
The quinquereme was a strong ocean blue and was the largest vessel of the fleet. Scores of long oars were dripping low on each side and resting in the waters, making the galley look as if it was a giant wooden centipede. The thick sails had the same insignia that the other sails had—a blue wolf's head on the white sail. Yet upon closer inspection, Vitus noticed something different. Underneath the wolf's head were blue lines that seemed to resemble waves. Vitus sucked his teeth and nodded his head slowly. He got what it meant, "The Wolf on the Waves"… of course… It seemed weird how the one of the most fearsome Roman admirals in the Republic relied on lighter galleys in his fleet.
"Julius! There you are!"
He looked up to see the admiral himself waving from his flagship, leaning over the side of his ship with that wolfish smile of his. He motioned for him to come aboard, "Get your Red ass up here!"
Vitus relented with a sigh and dismounted Romulus. "Rupilius," he said to his second-in-command, "Summon Primus Pilus Aelianus and have the Legion prepared to board. Start with the baggage train and the slaves first."
"As you command, Legatus."
He made his way up the gangplank; Lupus' flagship was busy with activity of sailors and marines docking supplies and tying up knots and checking the sails. Lupus was wearing his battle armor, which bore striking similarity to Vitus's own. The steel in the armor was the same smoky grey, but Lupus' cape was blue; in fact, wherever Vitus had red in his armor and clothing, Lupus had blue in his instead.
"Welcome aboard to the Howling Sails, Legatus!" Lupus announced with open arms.
"Gratitude for having us on your vessel, Admiral."
Lupus extended his arm out to the port, encouraging Vitus to gaze upon the scrambling of the Twenty-Eighth to load their supplies and men onto the fleet. "So, these are the men of the Twenty-Eighth, eh? You have a great stock, Germanicus. I see pride in their faces, I recognize the same in my marines. You are fortunate to have good soldiers."
"Gratitude, Lupus. I cannot have risen as high as I have without them."
"And you are humble as well. Bless the Gods you Julii are not pompous like the Brutii."
"Of course, we aren't. Do we look like we were descended from jackasses?"
That got a good laugh from Lupus, in which Vitus laughed in kind.
"Ready for this bold undertaking, Julius?"
"I am, Scipio, I just hope that you are as well."
Lupus laughed, "I am always ready for a new adventure."
"You claim this adventure? This is a mission of importance and vengeance, not adventure. This is not entertainment, Lupus."
Lupus shook his head with several clicks of his tongue, "Oh Germanicus, you have much to learn. Every mission, voyage, assignment, and battle is an adventure whilst sailing on the waves. For better or worse, it is an adventure that you shall always recall. Now this hunt to track down a group of assassins in Greece with a war several miles away, that is an adventure. One that I shall tell my children."
"But first, we need to make children," came the sultry accent of Suba from behind them. She wrapped her dark arms lovingly around Lupus' chest. Lupus turned around and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Well, I wouldn't mind making children on this voyage, but I need you to be in peak fighting condition."
"Who do you think I am? Some fragile Roman girl?" she laughed.
"Of course not," he firmly grasped her thigh, then moved up to her rear end. She breathed exotically. Lupus continued, "Roman women do not have legs or an ass like you do!"
"Uh, do I need to get off this ship?" Vitus asked, his eyes focusing on the water below.
Suba giggled, "You do not have to, Germanicus, you can always watch."
"That… is not my thing."
"Well we could make it your thing," Lupus winked.
Vitus groaned; the couple laughed at his expense. "How long should this voyage take us?" the Julius asked.
"If the weather permits, then a week. Week and a half if not."
"That's not too bad."
"It's the best we can do, hopefully you sacrificed a bull to Neptune and Venilia for a safe and quick voyage."
"I just pray to the Gods, that the Arcani are still there when we arrive."
"As do I, be much easier to kill them all if they're in one place. It would be glorious if they are at sea. I could crush them all and send them into the murky abyss below."
"Such would be easier, I suppose."
"Have you ever stood among the waves, Germanicus?" Suba asked with a smile.
"Once or twice."
"They make you feel alive, like you are exploring a frontier never sought to be taken by Man."
Lupus wrapped his big arm around her, "My woman speaks truth, especially amongst the seas in Greece, blue as the sky above us."
Vitus leaned over to the side of the ship, his eyes looking out into the distance. "Men believe the sea is something not to tread upon, especially if we voyage into the unknown."
"The world is a large place, and superstition shall not hold me back in voyaging."
"So, you fear nothing, Lupus?"
"Every man fears something. Even I, but what it is, I shall never divulge unto you."
"Such is fair. I would not expect such wisdom from the 'Wolf on the Waves'."
"There is more to me than my appearance and behavior, as there is more to you than your bizarre eyes and stature."
"There has to be," Vitus began to smirk, "for I am to embark on a perilous journey with a Scipio."
Lupus smirked back, "And I am embarking with a Julius." He looked to the water, "If there is one consequence that has arisen from the Arcani's attack, it is that it has united our families into a singular purpose."
"And let that purpose cry 'Vengeance', as we wreak furious reckoning on these ancient assassins."
"Oh, how grand that shall be."
Another chapter that I have been wanting to publishing for a while, but time has not been my friend recently.
I know there was a lot of flashbacking, but I hope I did it well enough and the format was easy to understand.
Also, I added another real life Roman to the story, bonus points if you know who it is.
Thank you for reading.
-Kanuro5
