Those were just the things that came to mein the moment; there were literally dozens more I needed to know.Primus stood staring at me, speechless for several moments.
Finally, he gave an exasperated shout,reaching up to grab his head with both hands, naturally causing thesheet to drop, so that I was staring at his fat, white naked body,jiggling all over as he wailed, “Must I think of everything?”
“That's your job,” I said grimly, completelyout of patience. “That’s what comes with a Praetorship withProconsular imperium. You're the Legate of this army, which makesit your responsibility.”
“I thought that was your job,” he protested,but I shook my head.
“No. My job is to carry out the plans thatyou make for the army. Hasn’t your staff been working on this, atleast?”
“My staff has been busy with other matters,”he snapped.
I could not imagine what else would takeprecedence over the invasion of another country, but I held mytongue.
“Then I can't allow this army to march untilwe have some idea of exactly what we're doing,” I said calmly.
Primus had been bending down to retrieve hissheet. My words caused him to shoot upright, and he stared at me inshock and anger.
“You will obey my orders, Prefect! And myorders are that this army begins to march immediately!”
“I'm sorry, Praetor, I will do no suchthing. Not until I'm comfortable that there is a plan in place forthe upcoming campaign.”
“I could have you crucified!” heshrieked.
“By who?” I asked pleasantly. “Do you think the armywould allow that to happen? Especially after the display you put onyesterday?”
“What are you talking about? I behavedperfectly yesterday.”
“Not as far as the men are concerned. Yourincident with the horse when you lost your helmet made quite animpression, and not a good one. The men are convinced that you'redoomed.”
“Oh, that,” he replied dismissively. “Thatwas an accident, nothing more. It could have happened toanybody.”
“I agree.” I still kept my tone pleasant,mainly because I was getting the measure of Marcus Primus in thisexchange, and to that point was not worried about what I saw. “Butto the men, there's no such thing as an accident. And they viewedwhat happened yesterday as an evil portent. So if they were to hearthat you planned on crucifying me, they'd probably tear you topieces.”
“They wouldn’t dare,” he hissed, yet I couldsee his chin quivering in sudden fear at the idea.
“Perhaps not.” I shrugged. “But who willstop them? Do you think the Centurions would lift a finger?”
There was really nothing he could say tothat and he obviously realized it; his shoulders suddenly slumpedand he closed his eyes.
“What do you want?” he asked. “Money? Isthat it?”
Now it was my turn to stare at him.
“Is that what you think this about?Money?”
“Isn’t everything with you lower classesabout money?” he asked bitterly.
“No,” I said quietly. “But it is about doingour job with the highest chance of success, which comes with properplanning. That's why I’m asking, Praetor. All the men want to do ismarch to Thrace, avenge the friends they lost, and make it backhome in the same shape they started.”
“Fine,” he said wearily. “I will have mystaff draw up plans for your approval. Now, can I go back tobed?”
Despite my loathing for the man, I stillrendered a salute, which he returned while clutching the sheet tohis fat frame.
Despite harboring little hope that any manselected by Marcus Primus to serve on his staff would display anymilitary competence, I was pleasantly surprised when, two dayslater, I was summoned to the Praetorium. For once, thePraetor was up and waiting for me, and he was not alone. When hereceived me in the large library that he had appropriated for hisoffice, Primus was dressed in another of his seemingly endlesssupply of richly embroidered tunics. With him this day were threeother men, one of whom looked extremely familiar to me, though Icould not place where I knew him from. He was young; but so wasalmost everyone I encountered. He had none of the effeminate natureof Marcus Primus, but had the same air of privilege about him. Hewas a bit shorter than I was, making him taller than average, andwell built, with curly blonde hair that he wore long in the stylethat was becoming more popular because of Octavian’s habit ofgrowing his hair to cover his ears. The other two men were clearlyfrom the same class, yet neither of them stood out in the manner ofthe first; all of them I assumed to be members of Primus’ staff. Inconfirmation, the Praetor made the introductions, starting with theTribune who had first drawn my attention.
“Prefect, may I present Tiberius ClaudiusLucullus, my Tribunus Laticlavus,” he began as the young manstood, favoring me with a smile that indicated a familiarity I didnot feel.
The mystery was cleared up with his greetingwhen he offered his hand.
“My cousin speaks very highly of you,Prefect. Even though you two apparently got off to a rockybeginning.” He laughed.
It took me a moment to make sense of what hewas saying before I realized he was speaking of the Tribune who hadstarted out as an avowed enemy and was now an ally.
“You’re his cousin?”
Lucullus nodded and replied, “His father andmy mother are brother and sister, and I'm married to hissister.”
These patricians certainly do whatever ittakes to keep it in the family, I thought, but kept that to myself,asking instead, “And how is Claudius?”
“He's doing very well. He’s taken his placein the Senate, and served last year as one of the aediles.He said to send his regards and to remind you that his promisestill stands.”
“That’s good to know. When you write to him,tell him that I appreciate it very much.”
The promise Lucullus was referring to wasClaudius’ oath to provide me with aid and assistance should I everneed it, something that I honestly hoped I would never haveoccasion to call on. Primus indicated the second man, who lookedlike a younger version of Primus himself as far as his corpulenceand fussy elegance, though his greeting was friendly enough.
“This is Aulus Honorius Silanus.” Primusdrew out the
