But, to his eternal credit, he suddenlyexhaled then admitted, “No, that’s not what I’m saying.” He resumedmoving, as did I, and for several paces, nothing was said, thenfinally, Septimus spoke first. “You know why, don’t you, Alex? Youknow why I’m saying this?”
“I do,” I answered,completely honestly. “And I don’t bear you any ill will. He wasyour brother.”
“Yes,” he sighed, “hewas.”
There was nothing more tobe said then, and we finished our journey in silence, and withoutany attempt by some misguided fool to make himself as wealthy asCroesus in one bold move. And, I thought as we walked through thegates of our villa, it is alot of money.
It took a day longer thanI would have liked to arrange passage, mainly because, followingSeptimus’ example, I felt the need to hire security for the voyageback to Britannia, but instead of former gladiators, I circulatedthe wine shops and tavernae looking for old, bored Legionaries. In this endeavor, I had asecret and powerful weapon.
“I need to sail toBritannia to bring the great-grandson of Prefect Pullus and TitusPullus’ son back,” was how I put it, although not always in thoseexact words. “He’s being ransomed, and we’re going to pay thosesavages and bring him home.”
It was more a case that Ihad to be selective once I began using this, and before the sunset, I had hired four men: Servius Marcellus, who had been an Optioin the 4th Legion, Appius Hemina, Decimus Celer, and Marcus Trio. Myone, and only, hope was that I was as good a judge of a man’scharacter as I believed, but there was only one way to find out. Wespent a nervous night with those two chests under our roof, but itwas also an occasion for great joy, because my mother had cooked ameal, and everyone connected to the Pullus family who was notseparated by vast distances sat at the long kitchen table. It wasnoisy, it was somewhat chaotic, and it was a perfect reminder of mychildhood and why it had been so happy. And, honestly, it was onlybecause of a chance comment by Miriam that my appetite was ruined,not that she meant to do anything of the sort.
“I wonder,” she spoke asshe passed me a hunk of bread, “what will happen with thevilla.”
I did not understand her, frowning as Iasked, “What about the villa? What does that mean?”
She seemed surprised as she explained,“Septimus was forced to sign over the villa as security for theransom. When Septimus couldn’t come up with the entire amount, hewas forced to go to Salinator for the rest. And,” she shrugged asif she was discussing a matter of no consequence, “Septimus signedover the villa to him.”
I have never had the floor suddenly vanishfrom underneath me, but I am certain that the sensation Iexperienced was close.
“He didwhat?” I managed to gasp.
“Septimus had to sign overthe villa,” she repeated, but with a tone that I was certain shewould have used with someone simple.
“But what will Septimusdo? And my mother? And Gisela and Gallienus? Where will theygo?”
“We’ve talked about it,”Miriam replied calmly. “And we’ve decided that your mother, Gisela,and Gallienus will come to live with me because I have the mostroom, and Septimus?” She shrugged. “He’ll stay with Scribonia untilhe finds something for himself.”
Aside from the fact that this arrangementwas somewhat backwards, since Septimus is Miriam’s brother, andScribonia and Gallienus are my siblings, I could not credit theidea that, after all that Titus Pomponius Pullus had sacrificed inhis struggle to elevate his family, the one tangible symbol of hisachievement was going to fall into the hands of some oily merchant.In simple terms, it was too much for me to bear.
Consequently, this was why I suddenly stoodup and shouted at Septimus, “Is this true?”
Naturally, he was caught by surprise,absorbed in his conversation with young Manius, and he asked, “Iswhat true?”
I repeated what Miriam had told me, and Isaw his expression change, not to one of anger, necessarily, butwhat I would describe as one of an implacable determination.
“Nothing matters more thanfamily, Alex,” he said flatly. “This?” He waved a hand at thevilla. “This can be replaced. But unless Gnaeus is safelyreturned?” He shrugged. “Who gives an amphora full of piss for thisvilla?”
He was right; I knew that he was right, butI suppose that it was because of my awareness of all that had goneinto this villa, in the form of blood, of sweat, and of tragedythat made me balk.
“This villa,” I forcedmyself to be, or at least sound patient, “is a symbol, and I thinkall of you know that. It’s a symbol of all the sacrifices that thePrefect made to attain all of…” I waved my hand around. “…this. Andnot just for him, but for everyone who’s sitting at this tableright now.”
I suppose I expected something different interms of reaction, but not one face around that table, at least ofthe adults, appeared swayed in the slightest, and I knew that I wasdefeated.
Consequently, it was without much grace thatI muttered, “Fine. If that’s how you all feel.”
Secretly, my heart was soaring at thisdisplay, because it meant that seeing Gnaeus out of danger was themost important thing, and I wondered if my father and the Prefectwere watching and nodding with approval. However, an equallypowerful but competing emotion was a despair at the idea of seeingall of this coming to an end, and I am certain that my fatherDiocles would have felt the same way, and I am equally certain thathe would approve of what I was about to do. I waited until the mealwas finished, and the youngest, Atia and Manius, were put to bed inthe room they used whenever they were here, while Gallienus andGisela were banished from the room, at my insistence. Of course, Iknew they would be tucked around the corner, listening to everyword, but I was unwilling to waste time worrying about it. Once itwas just Septimus, Miriam, my mother, and me, I broached thesubject.
“Did you ever find outmore about Aviola?” I began, and I could tell by their reactionthat they were completely unprepared for this,
