Final Campaign

barred from being awitness, or for allowing him to speak. Finally, the Senior Tribuneissued a command of a single word, "Enough!" before he sat backup.

"Tribune Piso, the Tribunal has decided thatit will allow this man to be questioned to determine hisqualifications to serve as a witness here today. But," he pointedat Piso with a wagging finger, "I will be listening very, verycarefully, and the moment I detect that this man has nothing ofvalue to offer here, this will be over. Is that understood?"

Piso bowed his head in answer, saying,"Perfectly, Senior Tribune. And I thank you for your application ofjustice."

"You can thank me later," the Senior Tribunewarned. "Nothing has been decided yet."

Piso motioned Scribonius to take the chair,and I saw my friend take a deep breath, but he otherwise showed nohesitation, striding to the chair to take his seat. As he did so, Icould see Lucullus whispering furiously to Sulpicianus, who wasscribbling away in a tablet, looking like he would rather have beenin the arena facing Felix the Retiarius. Scribonius took his seat,and offered up his oath to the gods of Rome that he would speakonly the truth. That, I thought grimly, is what I'm afraid of,although it was not for me that I was worried. My stomach was in araging turmoil, twisting in knots as I watched my best friendsitting so calmly, about to utter words that could lead to his owndestruction.

"Although you have already introducedyourself, would you please do so again so that it can be enteredinto the record?" Piso asked my friend.

"My name is Sextus Scribonius, of thegens Scribonii, son of Lucius." His voice was clear andstrong. "I retired from Legionary service as Secundus Pilus Priorof the 10^th Equestris to take up the role of Evocatuswhen the 10^th Equestris was...merged," my friend's mouthtwisted as the bitter word was uttered at the disgrace that wasmeted out to our beloved 10^th, "with the 10^thVeneria, that is now known as the 10^th Gemina. I wasattached to the Army of Pannonia, where I served with Camp PrefectPullus, and I was present for the campaign that is at the center ofthis Tribunal."

"Thank you, Sextus Scribonius," Pisoreplied.

He had been facing Scribonius so that hisback was to me, but when Piso turned back to the table to pick up atablet, I saw by his expression that he was deeply troubled.

Our eyes met, and I whispered the answer tothe question I saw in them. "Trust him. He knows what he's doing.Just don't act surprised by what you hear."

Giving a barely perceptible nod, Piso turnedback, holding up the tablet he had picked up.

"Sextus Scribonius, you say you wereattached to the Army of Pannonia for this campaign. However, I havehere the entry from the Legion diary that is submitted as the finalentry at the completion of every campaign. Actually, what I amholding is just the list of the senior leadership of the Army thatwas present at the end. This, as you know, contains the names ofall the Centurions of every grade, every Tribune, praefectifabrorum, and every other Roman of noble birth who hasparticipated in the campaign. However, it also contains the list ofthe Evocati who were attached to the Army in question as well." Hemade a show of perusing the tablet, frowning at something. "What Ican't find in this list is the name of Sextus Scribonius. Can youexplain why that is the case?"

"Yes." Scribonius showed no hesitation,looking at Piso levelly. "I wasn't present at the end."

"Ah." Piso nodded. "But you were there atthe beginning of it, is that correct?"

"Yes."

Piso returned back to our table, rummagingthrough the stack until he found another one, and picked it up.

"So, I have here the same list that isentered into the Legion diary at the beginning of acampaign." He addressed the Tribunal. "I know that I don't have topoint out to the Tribunal why this is so, but I would like toexplain for the purposes of the record."

The Senior Tribune waved his permission, butadmonished Piso, "This needs to go somewhere, quickly."

Piso assured him, "It will, in the nextmoment. The purpose of these two entries, before and after, are, ofcourse, to provide a record of any difference, in the event that aman of Rome fails to complete a campaign. This is usually becausethe man has been either killed, or severely wounded. In some cases,it is due to a serious illness. Obviously, you were not killed,Sextus Scribonius. However, I do see the name of Sextus Scribonius,listed under the status of Evocatus as you described."

Piso then walked over to the Tribunes'table, holding the tablet open and pointing to where Scriboniusname was incised in the wax. Every Tribune glanced at it briefly,then gave a nod. When he reached the Senior Tribune, he did notgive any indication of acceptance for a moment as he stared hard atthe tablet, then looked over at Scribonius, who gazed calmly backat him.

Finally, he grunted, "Very well. I see hisname there, so that means there was a Sextus Scribonius oncampaign. But," he pointed to my friend, "how do we know that thisis the same man?"

Before I could stop myself, I uttered anoath aloud, the flare of anger at this insinuation coming soquickly that it caught me without warning. Even Piso seemedstartled, if not angry. The only person who appeared unruffled bythis open questioning of his honesty was Scribonius himself.

"Senior Tribune," Piso started to protest."He's sworn an oath to the gods of Rome! He..."

"That's quite all right," Scribonius' voice,although it had a quiet tone, still cut in and silenced the others.This was something I had witnessed many times before, and I watchedScribonius reach under his tunic as he pulled out somethingsuspended by a leather thong. "I believe this will prove who Iam."

I felt a smile come to my lips, knowing thatScribonius had just established his identity in a way that couldnot be disputed. In all reality, it is nothing but a small, rounddisk of metal, but it is one of the most prized possessions any manwho has marched a full enlistment for Rome has. Even as I dictatethis, I am reaching down to clutch