“Just as I thought,” I growled in mybest impersonation of my father as I could manage, “I leave for afew days, and here you all are, fucking about.”
The last part was drowned out by theshouts, and it was Gemellus who reached me first, mySignifer’s expression of happinessmatched by my own. All formality was ignored as I clasped arms witheach of them, then embraced, including Clustuminus, who Icongratulated on his move up.
“We thought you had decided to staythere!” I believe Gemellus said this, but it was Poplicolawho said jokingly, “If he stayed for that red-haired girl,who could blame him?”
This made me roar with laughter, and it tooka moment before I could catch my breath.
“You’re more right than you know.But,” I grinned, “I didn’t stay with her; she came withme.”
“Gerrae!”Gemellus’ eyes went wide, but then he asked suspiciously, “Are youhaving some fun with us, Pilus Prior?” I saw his involuntary wince,but Licinius said nothing, and I decided to ignore it by tellinghim, still with a grin, “Come to the Faun tonight and see foryourself!”
This was how we made our way through theCohort, and while most of the reception was happy, I was notsurprised that with Calpurnius, his smile was as false aseverything else about him. Honestly, it was Saloninus I wanted tosee the most, and I will not deny that there were three eyes withtears in them, but when he asked about the future, I said only,“Come to the Faun tonight. Besides,” I grinned, “I’ve got asurprise for you.”
It was midday by the time I had made my waythrough the Cohort, accepting their congratulations, and listeningto their own tales of what had happened to them when the huge stormhad scattered us. Most of the men who were stranded ended up inGaul, but what we had heard was confirmed, that there were othermen who had been stranded in Britannia, although none of them werefrom the Fourth, and as far as anyone knew, they had all beenreturned safely. Then it was time for me to leave the camp and goto Alex’s apartment, and when I knocked on the door, it was Alexwho opened it.
“I brought everything here,” he toldme, but before I could say anything, he was shoved aside frombehind, and I came face to face with Algaia, who without anywarning whatsoever, leapt up into my arms, wrapping her arms aroundmy neck in a manner that reminded me of Miriam. Then, like mymother, she stepped back and slapped me.
“That,” she sniffed, “is for scaringme.”
Turning to Alex, I was only partly jestingwhen I complained, “Why do women like to hit me when they’re happyto see me?”
“I want to hit you most of the timetoo.” He shrugged. “I don’t think it’s us; I think it’syou.”
Algaia had just stepped out of my path asBronwen appeared from the other room, with Iras on her hip. Thebaby gave me a smile that now had several teeth, whereas when I hadleft, she was mostly toothless, but while Bronwen was smiling aswell, there was something uncertain about it, which I assumed wasabout my fate; I was only partially correct.
I knew it was a bad idea, yet I could notstop myself from trying to make a joke, asking Bronwen, “Do youremember how badly you wanted to see Rome?”
“Yes,” she answered cautiously, but Isaw the worry there.
“Well, you’re going to get yourchance.”
By the manner in which she staggered, Ithought she might faint, and clearly so did Algaia, because beforeI could blink, she had crossed the room, taken Iras with one handwhile steadying Bronwen with the other, all while glaring atme.
“Do you think you are being funny,Gnaeus?” she snapped at me.
When I glanced to Alex, the shake of hishead told me that I was on my own, so I mumbled, “I did, but Irealize now that wasn’t a good idea.” Pointing to the table, Isuggested, “Let’s all sit down, and I’ll tell you what I know.Which,” I tried to warn them, “isn’t that much.”
Of course, they all complied, and I wasabout to suggest that we might want some wine for this, thenrealized this would probably get me slapped again.
Taking a breath, I produced the scroll as Iexplained, “I’ve been summoned to Rome for some sort of newassignment, at the order of Germanicus.”
Alex asked to see it, and I handed it tohim, watching his frown as he scanned what was in effect a shortorder, simply stating that I was to come to Rome and giving me allthe necessary authority to commandeer any travel means Ineeded.
“Wait,” he spoke up. Pointing at thetop, he said, “This is dated in September. How do you know thatit’s still valid?” I explained what Sacrovir had told me, but thisdid not satisfy my friend, and he asked impatiently, “Are you surethat’s all it said? That you’re being assigned to Rome? Not in anyspecific role?”
“No, there wasn’t anything mentioned.Although,” I suddenly remembered, “Sacrovir did mention that thisnew order said that it’s not permanent, and that I’ll be able tocome back to the1st.”
I could tell by the manner in which his headcame up sharply that this caught Alex’s attention, and I worriedthat he would press the matter, forcing me to divulge what Sacrovirhad said about nothing being guaranteed. When I learned why he didnot, I cannot say I was any happier.
“Can I talk to you outside?” he asked,but he should have known how this would be received by the othertwo participants.
“We have every right to know whateveryou plan on saying to Gnaeus,” Algaia snapped, and while Bronwendid not say anything, she was nodding vigorously.
While he has never believed me, the reason Iacquiesced was not because I did not want to face their wrath, butthat I agreed with them, and I told him, “Go ahead and say what’son your mind.”
“I think I know what Germanicus wantsyou to do,” he spoke slowly, and he was clearly reluctant. “When Iwas talking to Lysander and some of my friends in thePraetorium, I learned that thingsare…tense between Germanicus and Tiberius.”
“I heard about that,” I assured him,but he shook his head.
“I highly doubt that you’ve heard whatI’m talking about,
