Caput VIII
***LVII***
Percy ran his hand through his hair as rain pelted him from the heavens. His helmet lay in the mud beside him. The muck covered his feet to the ankle. The ground, already soft from the preceding week's rain, now resembled a dark gruel. Thousands of feet and the blood of hundreds churned the soil into a morass of the dead, soon to be dead, and those that dealt the death. In places, only parts of bodies appeared above the soupy mess. Percy's place in the battle had been amongst the infantry, something never experienced until this campaign. He was a Roman now, standing beside the legionaries was his place. The red crest of his helmet stuck in the mire, causing the helm to stand upside down. He pulled on his cloak, only now feeling the discomfort of wounds and seeing the damage caused to the red material by enemy weapons. The soaked material connected with the blade of his sword and he carefully cleaned it. The blood removed from the weapon, he sheathed it, and again ran his hand through his mud and blood matted hair. His left hand drag down his face and failed to remove the grime covering it.
"Centurion," Percy turned slowly. He was a pilus prior now, younger than many of his compatriot officers, but as or more experienced than most. A young soldier marched across the muddy field. At least he attempted to, for no steady gait was possible. Percy struggled with how young the boy looked, despite knowing at one point or another, he had looked the same. "Tribune Cornelius requests your report." Percy closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. Painfully, he leaned over and lifted the helmet whose crest now ran transverse to the helmet's view.
"Inform the tribune I must collect my casualties and then I will report to him." The soldier saluted and scampered off as quickly as he could. His service to the tribune had taught him that the pilus prior was not to be questioned, even when orders from the tribune were involved.
Percy moved slowly across the battlefield. His comfort with the infantry did not match his comfort on horseback, but Agrippa's counsel led to the move. Doing so moved Percy under the command of his former deputy. As had been the case far too many times already, once the conflict with Sextus ceased, his lack of social standing resulted in promotions accepted on the battlefield being found unacceptable. Again, his title of praefectus had been stripped away and he again became a decurion. Agrippa transferred him to the one of the legions as a centurion, the same legion to which Caesar transferred Tribune Lucius Cornelius Jason.
Perseus did not blame Jason for their roles' reversal. It was a result of the strict social order of Roman life. There was no familial line from which Percy was descended, therefore despite his growing wealth, much of from Jason's teachings, he was a bastard. While their blood content mirrored, half god and half man, a Roman father had formally accepted Jason. Percy was also fully convinced that Jupiter was in love with the idea that Poseidon's son now reported to his.
"Gods, you look terrible," Jason stated simply as Percy stomped into the campaign tent he occupied. The two's friendship grew over the four years of campaigning. First the forays in Sicilia against Sextus, after that had been Jason's "how to be a Roman" lectures upon their return to Rome, and now the three years of blood-letting in Illyricum under Caesar. The pair spent just six months in Rome before leaving for Illyricum with Caesar's legions. The time there, however, proved enough for Percy to meet his son. Reyna's pride shown clearly as she introduced Publius Quinctilius Varus to his singularly named Greek father. The reunion served not only as an introduction to fatherhood but a reintroduction to lust and blossoming love and upon their departure, Reyna knew herself pregnant with another child subsequently learned to be a girl. The rumors revealed that while Publius resembled his mother by so much that there was no trace of his father, the daughter was not the same. Pitch black hair and opaline eyes made for many whispered conversations in the domii of Rome's upper class. The girl's appearance mattered little to Percy as she was nearly three years old and he had never met her.
"I feel old." Jason nodded as Percy began to remove his armor. In the process, he ripped out the arrow protruding from his hip. With a groan, he walked to a basin and again attempted to clean the detritus of battle from his face and arms.
"What was it like? Fighting in this slop."
"I drowned a man in mud today. Put my foot on the back of his head and kept it there."
"You've killed before." Jason did not mean the statement to be one of judgement. It was merely fact.
"There's something different about forcing a man's face into mud until he stops moving. Makes it look like Gaea herself is attempting to eat the bastard." Percy looked down into the basin and could see the platelets of blood and dirt. They distorted his reflection, but it did not matter, he knew it. Sunken eyes, a scarred face, long black hair, and an equally dark beard. He was in his twenty-eighth year of life, his tenth as a soldier, and he felt like he was at least twice that age. After three years of fighting here, having nearly died thrice, he wondered if it would ever be possible to reach his years necessary to claim his land and fade from Roman eyes.
***LVII***
Flavius knew war was coming. He had stood by Antonius' side as the man named his bastard children heirs to lands that should have been part of Rome. It had been at the same time that Antonius paraded Artavasedes through the streets of Alexandria in a mockery of a triumph. Three of their children received kingdoms it was not Antonius' place to give. The Egyptian whore was named the Queen of Kings and the Queen of Egypt. The next proclamation sealed their fates. Upon a dais, before all of Alexandria and thousands of legionaries, Marcus Antonius proclaimed Caesarion—son of god. Julius Caesar had been deified and Cleopatra had given birth to his bastard as well. The newly named King of Kings and King of Egypt signaled the end of the previous truce. No longer would the young Caesar rule in the west while Antonius frolicked in the east. No longer would Rome remain at an uneasy peace with itself. Antonius and his Egyptian whore declared war on Caesar when they proclaimed Caesarion the legitimate heir of Julius Caesar; for even if Caesar forgave divorcing his sister, taking his titles would not do.
He stepped into the tavern where he knew his men spent most of their nights. Ambiotorix sat by himself, rare in his unwillingness to pay for pleasure and drink alone. With a mug of something that smelled as if it would put him on his ass, Flavius sat across from the tall Batavi warrior.
"Your time is nearly spent, isn't it?"
"Aye, soon I can return home as a citizen of Rome. I will see my wife and son again." The weight already felt by Flavius only grew. Fuck me, he thought. He stared across the table at the man who had fought beside him for nearly two decades now.
"I fear we are destined for another civil war. If it comes, do you fight beside me or beside the one who claims to be Rome?"
"You are our chief, Flavius. We follow the chief until our time is done or the chief is no more."
"I was afraid you would say that," muttered Flavius before draining the entire cup of alcohol in a single swig.
***LVIII***
Gods, thought Agrippa, sometimes I impress myself. He gazed across the city and beneath his gaze was the Rome he was building. The Campus Martius had been his focus. Agrippa's name now would stand as long as the Pantheon, the Baths, the Saepta Iulia, and the Basilica of Neptune also stood. Only the final building had not been solely built to his specifications. The Basilica possessed another decision maker. Agrippa's Greek-born friend and subordinate commander and provided nearly one hundred thousand sestertii to fund the build. The projects did not simply spring into being and Agrippa understood that it would take years for them to be fully realized. But they were his projects, just as the Porticus Ocavaiae rising around the temples of Jupiter Stator and Juno Regina belonged to Caesar.
Agrippa laughed slightly at the thought of Perseus, the man who never understood his true wealth. Not until the end of the Bellum Siculum had the Son of Jupiter revealed to the Son of Poseidon all that he owned. Bassus had never been one to promote his own wealth and in doing so, only the most senior and trusted of his household slaves knew the extent of his lending and investment. The domus in Rome was joined by two estates in the Italic countryside that wealthy Romans regularly rented for steep prices. Loans to other noble families in times of hardship had resulted in massive paybacks or the exchange of goods. Outside of the inheritance, Perseus had accumulated massive payments owed due to the slaves brought back from the front. Many of the slave traders who followed the army paid only a nominative value at the front, but held onto the hefty profits for the soldiers' "return," knowing few enough would do so. Percy was one of the few and with Lucius Cornelius Jason's assistance reaped near windfall profits.
Agrippa's elder daughter, Vipsania Agrippina, was already engaged to Caesar's stepson, Tiberius. Tiberius Claudius Nero's mother, Livia, married Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus four years earlier as his third wife. His younger daughter, not yet one and bearing the same name as her sister, slept against her mother several chambers away. Pomponia, however, still seemed weak following what had been a difficult birth and despite his duties and the distractions they wrought, he worried for her. Caesar earlier in the year created the post of Curator Aquarum and placed Agrippa as its first holder. In addition to the management of the city's water and grain distribution, he had also been elected as one of the cities aediles. It was a demotion from consul, to be sure, but it provided him with the opportunity to commit his talents to his desires, the betterment of Rome.
The man turned his attention to the east, his mind's eye aimed beyond both his visual range and even the fighting in Illyricum. Alexandria and the machinations of Antonius and Cleopatra captured his gaze. In the east, Antonius reigned supreme. Through deliberate measures, Caesar outmaneuvered Lepidus following the Bellum Siculum and the triumvirate become an exercise in polarity: Caesar in the west, Antonius in the east. Officially, Lepidus remained a pillar of Roman life, serving as Pontifex Maximus from his home in exile in Circeii. In the eyes of the people however, the augurs provided the will of the gods and Lepidus sank into obscurity.
***LIX***
The twelfth anniversary of Julius Caesar's death marked the return of Percy, Jason, and nominatively the new Caesar. In reality, the new Caesar had returned to Rome following the recapture of the two lost legion standards of Gabinius. Jason and Percy's final commander had been Titus Statilius Taurus, one time deputy of Marcus Antonius; despite their positions as praefectus castorum and primus pilus of Legio XVII respectively, they had been recalled to Rome with him. Taurus, like Agrippa, seemed set to make his mark on the city, sponsoring the first permanent amphitheater. Regardless, the new Caesar claimed his victory over the rebels of Illyricum and a friendship with the novus homo or self-made man from Lucania. News of their return had reached the city ahead of them and when they split for their respective domii, one was met by their lover and his children, the other by the wife arranged by his father.
In the fashion of Roman aristocracy, Jason's betrothed was not yet old enough to be anyone's wife. The arrangements had been made and they would wait until the girl reached an appropriate age. Legally that meant a wait of four years, Jason intended to wait ten. He knew his familial duty to the man that had claimed him as a son, but there were limits to what he would do, after all this was Rome and families fell from grace on the same timeline as civil wars. There was little doubt as to why the girl had been chosen. Claudia Marcella Minor was Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus' niece, daughter of Octavia the Younger and her first husband, Gaius Claudius Marcellus. While it was clear that the affection between Octavia the Younger and her second husband, Marcus Antonius, withered on the vine, one could not deny the affection still present between Caesar's heir and his sister. In that vein, the marriage of his niece to a Son of Jupiter made sense. Via marriage, his niece, whose stepfather was most likely leading Rome toward yet another civil war, now connected his Julii with the gods and the family from Hispania that had long supported the Caesars. It equally lashed the family more so to him, formally connecting them after years of support.
On another of the city's seven hills, Perseus looked down on the dark haired and green eyed girl that could only be his daughter. His son very much favored the beautiful woman smiling as he spoke with the three-year-old girl. His son, nearly five, ran about the domus looking with awe upon the war trophies gathered from the already many years of campaigning. Soon, the girl ran off after her brother, admiring the treasures of other worlds. In the rare moment of silence and privacy, Reyna Messalina Varus rushed forward and embraced the scarred soldier. Her lips felt soft against his as passion brought them even closer.
"I have missed you," she said softly. The tone did not come natural to her, yet it suited her, at least where Perseus of Corinth was concerned. "I worry when you are gone."
"I have missed you too," he brought her in for another kiss. She looked up into his weather-beaten face and opaline eyes.
"Do you truly miss me? Or just my company in bed?" She felt like the comment was not something she should have surprised him with, but only after asking it did she realize how much his answer meant to her.
"There is far more between us than what occurs in our beds, Reyna, my love." The feeling that shot through her heart at his final two words alleviated her fears. Too long had she allowed the words of Octavian to poison her mind, Percy's final words were antidote enough.
"Then promise me, for as much as I hate it you are right, when you acquire the correct status, we shall be married?"
"I promise."
"Then, my love, I suspect my mother's domain is to be our salvation." Striding to the entrance to the chamber, Percy gave a whispered order to Bassus' major domo, a holdover that Percy was growing to trust. With a nod the man left to distract the two children still running about the domus. By the time Percy returned to his bed, Reyna's nude body waited, her hands rubbing up and down it seductively.
"Are you certain your mother isn't Venus?" He asked with a roguish grin he knew she loved. Reyna rose to her knees before him and slid her hand under the hem of Percy's tunic and up his thigh tantalizingly.
She began to lift the tunic. "As assuredly as your father is Poseidon."
***LX***
The missive arrived two months later at dawn, its courier's attire and appearance clearly displaying its origin. A small crowd of the curious followed the Ptolemaic Egyptian to the domus upon the Caelian Hill. Three-quarters of the crowd consisted of various military officers and minor officials that knew enough of what was coming that they suspected why the messenger searched for Perseus of Corinth. The remainder were the women that lusted after the tall and broad Greek most suspected to be the father of the two Varus children, after all, Octavian had been unsuccessful in producing heirs for nearly four years before the Greek's first arrival in Rome.
The major domo admitted the messenger and the crowd dispersed for the most part. Those that remained were informers. Some reported to Caesar, others to Agrippa. One slave girl belonged to Claudia Marcella Minor and hoped that the information would win her mistress, and therefore her, favor in the eyes of Marcella's betrothed, perhaps the only the man in Rome believed to be as attractive as the dark Greek owner of the house. The final watcher, more weaselly than the rest, reported to the augur, Octavian.
The conversation occurred in Greek, though none would know that. Lasting exactly forty-two minutes, the messenger then departed. Avoiding eye contact with anyone nearby, the man marched off smartly, his face a mask. Of all the informers that scurried into the alleys and shadows, none moved more quickly than the weaselliest. His instructions were clear. Any knowledge on the visitors of Perseus of Corinth were to be reported immediately. Had the man stayed for just an hour longer, he would have confirmed the suspicions of Octavian when Reyna Messalina Varus departed the domus having spent the night.
A few hours later, Agrippa sat in a chamber with Caesar, Lucius Cornelius Jason, and Taurus as an animated Octavian Varus presented his case that Primus Pilus Perseus intended to fight for Marcus Antonius in the civil war they all believed coming. Agrippa could not help but roll his eyes as Octavian stated that the existence of the messenger alone and the historic treachery of the Greeks at Troy provided proof enough. Finally, the Son of Jupiter spoke what they had considered.
"Why does this sound like the grasping of an excuse to punish the man over an unconfirmed accusation, due to the fact that he and your wife openly cucked you nearly six years ago?" Agrippa, of course, knew the cucking was not a one time event, but would not admit so to the party. Though he now wondered if Percy was truly so secretive that Jason had no knowledge of the affair.
"As I have stated, this has nothing to do with the unconfirmed events of six years ago or my personal feelings toward the man, this has to do with the historic treachery of Greeks and his communication with the man who gave away parts of Rome to his bastard children and who dishonored Caesar via his affair with Cleopatra and his divorce of Octavia." Everyone in the room could see through the augur's lies, though he impressed them with the vigor of them.
"He's also gathering forces," they all turned to see a man wearing a military tunic with a studded tassel armored belt gird about his waist. Three men in the room greeted the newcomer by name, Taurus resorted to the formal military address "Primus pilus," while Octavian muttered "Graecus." Percy ignored them and stepped forward. Percy continued, "He offered what you have already provided, Caesar. But he also says he is establishing a second Senate in Alexandria. It was clear by his talk that something has changed within him. He asked me to deliver this," Percy held up a papyrus scroll, "to the Temple of Vesta. However, I think you will find it most interesting." He tossed it to Caesar, who barely caught it. Within three lines of reading, Caesar's reaction was apparent.
"You cannot interfere with Roman law, Antonius' order stated you must deliver it to…" Octavian was cut off by Caesar.
"He has done me a great loyalty, Octavian." He turned his attention to Jason and Agrippa, "Inform the senators I will address them today. I bring news from Egypt." Everyone began to leave. Caesar called out and halted Percy. "This was a great show of loyalty."
"There is no show, Caesar. You granted to me what he would not."
"If everything moves forward as I suspect it shall, I will have a problem. More correctly, I will have two problems." Percy's mind had been analyzing the potential problems since reading the will.
"Antyllus and Caesarion, who he claims to be Caesar's true heir." The young Caesar did not answer directly when he responded.
"And your position on their status?"
"There can only be one Caesar."
"I believe I only granted yourself citizenship. It would work wonders for your family to be raised as well. An official position in Corinth for your father, well the man who raised you, and better marriage opportunities for your sister."
"Why me?"
"I cannot give you command as merely a citizen, therefore you will always be subordinate to those that see themselves as betters. You will always be outclassed by Agrippa and Jason and Octavian, until you are not. When that time comes and wealth is on your side, would it not be better spent with a woman you love and your children? For is it not class that opens such possibilities?" The wording was carefully chosen, after all, it was merely a rumor about Percy and Reyna. Caesar watched his jaw clinch and learned the truth knowing the time had come.
"What would you have me do?"
"See that my problems do not survive this war and I will see that you rise as an equestrian and that your family rises with you."
***LXI***
"Most honorable senators. I stand before you with grave tidings from the east. A proud son of Rome has been beguiled by the witchery of the Egyptian queen." Caesar paused, analyzing the faces of the assembled Senate. "On her behalf, he is drawing up nearly two hundred thousand soldiers with the goal of replacing this noble body with a barbarian Senate of their own in Alexandria. She has driven Antonius to personal insult to my family, marrying the Egyptian queen before properly divorcing my sister. It is, therefore, that I request this noble body grant a declaration of war against the Ptolemaic queen, Cleopatra of Egypt."
He looked around the chamber. Half of the men seemed to balk at the request, including the two consuls. Percy watched as Octavian's eyes scanned the crowd, they seemed unmoved by the affronts to Caesar's family. Caesar paused another few seconds then looked around the room.
"The Egyptian queen has blinded Antony to his loyalty. She claims one of her bastards a son of Julius Caesar." Again the room remained quiet, and Percy began to wonder if their purpose here would be realized. Caesar scanned the room. "Antonius, scion of Rome, has been convinced to live out his death in Alexandria." A sudden calm refocused attention upon Caesar. "Yes, my dear senators, Antonius has requested burial outside of Rome."
The room erupted.
***LXII***
"The damned little prick," Flavius watched as Antonius took a deep draft of wine. "Damn all the fucking cunts." Four out of ten senators and both consuls attempted to prevent war. The others sided with Caesar and the musters began. They anticipated two-hundred thousand soldiers marching for Caesar, he and his queen would march the same.
A messenger entered. Antonius recognized him. It was the man he ordered to Rome to bring back Bassus' protégé.
"Well, what did the boy say?" Flavius leaned forward, his interest peaked by the potential responses from the Greek demigod.
"The primus pilus responded with: My place is leading the right bastards under my charge. My loyalty is with my men.'" Shockingly, Antonius let out a soft laugh and turned to Flavius.
"It appears, we taught the cunt too fucking well."
A/N: As this is the shortest chapter of the story thus far, I will take a moment to ensure all is clear. This is not a sign to come, however, it provided the correct ending point for what will follow. I see no reason to use filler to meet a prescribed length of chapter.
We are currently in 32 BC or 32 BCE, whatever your preference. Percy, for this story, was born in 60 BC/BCE; three years after the man who would become Augustus and Agrippa. At this moment, Percy is twenty-eight years old and a citizen of Rome, though he does not hold status amongst the equestrian or senatorial class.
As CombatTombat is well aware, I took the characterization of Mark Antony from the HBO series Rome as inspiration for mine and as such I hope that I have done James Purefoy credit. This story, more than any of my previous works, has truly benefited from the inputs of multiple others in one passage or another. CombatTombat has of course been mentioned, but there are too many others to name out, though I have met them all through Discord in one way or another.