02 Crispus Ascending by Culley H A

Author:Culley, H A [Culley, H A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orchard House Publishing
Published: 2015-06-12T22:00:00+00:00

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Crispus received both messages on the same day, but he had other things on his mind. Ditmar had just arrived with the youths and boys from his tribe to join his army; something which puzzled Crispus until he read the letter from his father. Even then he had to re-read his father’s message about forming a Scholae unit as part of his Protectores before he understood what was being proposed. He handed it to Titus, who smiled when he read what Constantine wanted Crispus to do.

‘I think it’s a good idea. At the moment our officers either come up through the ranks or they are the sons of senators and the like who are given command with little or no preparation for the role. Some have a natural ability, but most do not.’

‘And which category am I in, Titus?’

‘Fishing for compliments, Caesar?’ Titus grinned at him. Ever since the campaign against the Franks they had grown as close as ever they had been in the past. ‘Shall I send for this King Ditmar?’

‘In a moment. I also have two messages from my grandmother. It’s not like her to write to me, and two on the same day is distinctly odd.’

He broke the seal, opened the leather wallet and took out a wooden tablet. It was in code so he had to decipher it and, having done so, he read once and then again. His handsome face clouded with worry. Without saying a word, he handed the translation to Titus whilst he destroyed the original.

‘Your grandmother is correct. No word of this must reach your father and, more importantly, Fausta must never find out.’

Whilst he was speaking Crispus opened the second message and, finding it was a duplicate, destroyed that as well.

‘Burn that too, would you? I need to get this Senator Bassus to cancel his plans and, even better, disappear.’

‘If you can spare me, and perhaps Flavia as well, we could do with a trip to Rome. ’

Crispus smiled. ‘Yes, I think I can spare you for a couple of months or so, but travel as civilians. Take Ditmar with you too. You can educate him about being a commander on the way, and the sight of the city should impress upon him the futility of opposing our rule.’

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