Now that I had spoken my piece, and theyaccepted my decision to face the consequences no matter what, wewent on to discuss other possible outcomes that might await me.None of which, as I would be learning in a matter of a couple ofweeks, were anywhere close to what transpired.
Once we reached a point where I felt we hadexhausted the alternatives, I looked at Septimus, “Now it’sSeptimus’ turn. If,” I grinned, “he’s sober enough.”
“Nephew,” Septimus stood, “my head forwine is legendary.” His exaggerated grabbing at the table, alongwith his weaving that was as overdone drew laughter, which I amcertain was his intent.
I took my seat next to Bronwen, and shesqueezed my arm as Septimus began immediately.
“Our home is safe,” he said first, andwhile everyone knew this much already, it was still greeted withsighs of relief. “And we have enough money to pay our expenses andtaxes to the duumviri.” As Ihad, he paused, “But as near as I can calculate, we are more thantwo hundred thousand sestercespoorer than we were before…” His voice trailed off, but therewas no need for him to finish, and I saw the pain in his face thatI had observed every time the subject of his brother was mentioned.Somewhat oddly, at least to me, while Miriam had been prostratewith grief in the immediate aftermath of Gaius’ death, a yearlater, she seemed to have come to a place where she did not viewher dead younger brother with the kind of sentimentality that wasbeing displayed by Septimus in this moment. Gathering himself, hewent on, “Now, some of this will undoubtedly be regained when wesell the cargo we brought from Alexandria, but I don’t have enoughexperience to know just how much money the peppercorns,kinnamon, and silk will fetch. Mysuggestion is that we invest some of that money back into thebusinesses that we managed to keep, and that we have someexperience with. I’m not,” he spoke emphatically now, “planning ongoing into business as a merchant. Once we sell our cargo, we’ll bedone with that. Although,” he turned to address Miriam, “I agreewith you, sister. There needs to be some changes made, particularlywith Numerius Prixus’ tanning business. His drinking has gotten outof control and what profits he makes he’s been spending atthe tavernae around Arelate.It was something I intended to address,” he admitted with a wansmile, “but there were some other things that drew myattention.”
There were some appreciative chuckles at hisunderstatement, and I was one of them doing so. Seeing that he wasfinished, I decided to seize the moment back, my only intentionbeing to keep this from becoming maudlin and overlysentimental.
To that end, I stood up with my cup, holdingit out as I ordered, “Everyone, fill their cup.” Everyone hurriedto comply, but I do not believe that the amount of wine that gotsloshed onto the table was because of their haste, but before Icould say anything, Alex called out, “That better not be water inyour cup, Gnaeus. You know that’s bad fortune to give a toast withsomething different from everyone else.”
Mumbling something about superstitiousnonsense, I still complied, draining the rest of the water, thenostentatiously reaching down for the jug and filling my cup.
“Satisfied?” Ignoring Alex’striumphant expression, I became serious as I realized I had notactually thought through exactly what I wanted to say. What cameout was, “This last year and several months have been the mostimportant of my life. For the first time, I understand what itmeans to be part of a family that’s more than just parents and son,and I have all of you to thank for that.” I cannot blame the winefor what came next, and I do not know who was more surprised tohear me say, “And I thank the gods that Gnaeus Claudius Volusenusis dead and gone, and who stands before you now is GnaeusVolusenianus Pullus. Yes,” I acknowledged, “what I know about beinga good Centurion of Rome and a great warrior came from my fatherTitus. But what it means to be a Pullus? That,” I moved my cup toindicate everyone around the table, “I learned from each of you,and I thank Jupiter Optimus Maximus and all the gods in the heavensand below for that.” Again, I paused, trying to look each and everyperson there in the eye before I said, “Ave to the Pullus family!”
For such a relatively small group of people,the noise they made was enough to wake the children and bring somedust sifting down onto our shoulders; by draining the cup, I madethe mental step that preceded the first physical one of my journeyback to Ubiorum to learn my fate.
Chapter Fourteen
It was not surprising that, as much aswe tried, our departure the next day was a somber affair, myattempts at humor falling flat, but after tearful hugs, kisses, andpromises of prayers and sacrifices, Alex, Bronwen, and I departedArelate, bringing nine horses, three of them pack animals, with us.The sky was leaden, and with a north wind, the intermittentflurries of snow were driven directly into our faces as we rode theVia Agrippa north. We did not talk much; frankly, I think we wereall exhausted of small talk, and I know I welcomed the silence,occupying myself with watching Bronwen observing anything andeverything around us. Her new cloak was lined with fur and had ahood, but at least it did not swallow her up as mysagum had, and the only sign she wascold was the blush of her cheeks and how the tip of her nose wasred. When the silence was finally broken, it was only for Alex andme to discuss the prospects of Saloninus’ pass working again, andwhile we decided
