"Haven't you learned yet?" the voice asked,and I could easily envision the frown on my best friend's face ashe said this.
Apparently, I had not, as I stopped in frontof Volusenus and, using my height, looked down at him, my handsclasped behind my back, resurrecting the long-lost numen Ihad inherited from Gaius Crastinus who began waving a hot, smellyturd under my nose. I said nothing, just standing there, meetingVolusenus' gaze with my own. I have no real idea how long thesilence lasted, but I was happier than I had been in some time whenhe was the one who broke his gaze to look down suddenly at the waxtablet in his hand.
"You are Camp Prefect Pullus, Ipresume?"
He tried to sound cold and in command, but Ihad too much experience dealing with young nobles like Volusenus,and I could clearly hear the undercurrent of uncertainty.
"Yes," I responded. "But I don't know whoyou are, or in whose name you're speaking."
While this was a bald-faced lie, it wasaccurate in the sense that nothing had been said to me formally,and I knew Octavian well enough to know that he was an absolutestickler for the rules and regulations, most of them being hiscreation. Therefore, I could hide behind the cloak of officialconduct to cover what was an act that I understood was extremelyrude behavior. Volusenus looked as if I had actually spit on him,his face flushing very deeply, and he opened his mouth, I supposein some sort of reprimand or retort that would put me in my place.Apparently, he thought better of it; perhaps he understood that Iwas acting within the regulations in my demand for hisidentity.
"I am Publius Claudius Volusenus," theyoungster finally said, "and I am here at the direct command ofPrinceps Gaius Caesar Octavianus, known now as Augustus. I've beensent by him to formally relieve Marcus Primus from his post asPraetor and commander of this army."
Now, I believed every word he was tellingme, and I was sure that it was true. Nevertheless, I suppose Icould not help myself from trying to exact a small measure ofrevenge by being as petty as the regulations allowed.
"Well, Claudius Volusenus, I would be remissin my duties if I didn't ask to see your orders fromAugustus."
At first, I was not sure why he suddenly hada smile on his face, but I could tell that, for some reason, I wasnot going to like what came next. I was right.
"Actually Prefect, I can do better thanthat." Volusenus might have been smiling, but there was nothingplayful in his voice. "I can give you this."
Turning to his colleague Galba, he took ascroll that looked very similar to the one I had seen Volusenushand Primus. It could have been the same one, except that Iimmediately saw that the seal was unbroken.
Thrusting the scroll at me, Volusenuscontinued, "I've been given very explicit instructions, Prefect.You're to read this in my presence, then acknowledge that you haveread, understood, and will obey the order."
My heart was thudding as heavily as if I wasabout to go into battle as I broke the seal and unrolled thescroll. Immediately, I could see that this was written in the handof Octavian, and it was only through a supreme effort of will thatI kept my hands from shaking as I began to read. The message wasbrief, but very much to the point. Despite my resolve, I heardsomeone let out a gasp, but such was my agitation that it barelyregistered that it had come from me. Looking up from the scroll,Volusenus was making no attempt to hide his malicious grin.
"Yes, Prefect. You are ordered to lead thearmy back to Siscia immediately, then you will proceed immediatelyto Rome to face a tribunal for your participation in this illegalventure into Thrace."
There has never been a time that I wishedmore for the counsel and support of Sextus Scribonius than I did atthat moment. Walking back to my tent, the scroll still clutched inmy hand, my mind was in a fog as I tried to absorb this latestthreat, not just to my career, but my life. Entering, Diocles wassitting with Macrinus and Flaminius; I had forgotten that I hadtold them to wait, and Diocles had broken out an amphora of wine.My face must have given at least Diocles the first sign thatsomething was amiss, because he sprang up and came to me.
"Master?" As always. he was careful to keepup the pretense of our respective status in front of others. "Whatis it? What's wrong?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out, soI simply handed him the scroll, then staggered over to the emptystool behind my desk and collapsed onto it. I was vaguely aware ofMacrinus and Flaminius at this point, and I imagine that they werealarmed just by my behavior. Then, I heard Diocles let out a gaspas he too walked unsteadily to the stool on which he had beensitting and fell onto it.
"How can this be?" He finally broke thesilence, which only deepened the confusion of the other two.
Finally, Macrinus could take it nolonger.
"Would someone tell us what's going on?"
I opened my mouth, but found I just couldnot get the words out, so I waved at Diocles to tell them.
"Augustus has ordered my master to lead thearmy back to
