Rubicon by Linda Coleman

Author:Linda Coleman [Coleman, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-17T06:00:00+00:00

Antony had no chance to take his revenge on Melissa. A few days later word arrived that Caesar’s fleet had returned to allow Antony and the reinforcements to embark for Greece. Caesar’s messenger insisted Antony come at once with all the troops he had mustered.

As soon as Vitruvius told Melissa what was happening, she sent word to Antony that she must speak with him. He had no intention of seeing her before he left, but Caesar had also sent specific instructions regarding any further information she could provide, so he was forced to call on her.

Melissa knew Caesar would be expecting word on the outcome of his forthcoming engagements with Pompey, but she also knew that he would not be returning to Rome for a very long time. There was far too much to tell Antony, and so she set about writing as much down as she dared.

Firstly, she had to deal with the impending battle. Caesar’s forces’ first encounter with Pompey would be at Dyrrachium, but this would prove indecisive. The final battle would be at Pharsalus. Caesar would emerge victorious and Pompey would be forced to flee to Egypt where he had good connections and would hope to receive aid. This much she had already told Caesar, including information on Pompey’s tactics, but she had not told him what would happen beyond the battle. She wrote that Caesar would follow his quarry and would be reunited with Pompey in Alexandria, but that he would never see his old friend in the same way again. Melissa had no intention of telling Caesar outright that Pompey would be murdered as soon as he landed in Egypt and that Caesar would be presented with his severed head in a basket. That was a fact Caesar would have to find out for himself.

Melissa knew that Egypt was suffering from its own problems. Queen Cleopatra VII and her brother-consort King Ptolemy XIII were at loggerheads over the rule of the country. Unrest in Egypt was bad for Rome for two reasons. Firstly, the old king, Ptolemy Auletes, had bribed Rome to not annex Egypt even though his uncle, Ptolemy X had bequeathed the country to the Republic in his will. Auletes taxed his people excessively to raise the money, which resulted in revolution and his expulsion. He then fled to Rome and promised even more money to a number of prominent Romans if they helped to restore him to his throne. Troops were sent, including the young Mark Antony, and Auletes was returned to power. His debts were never paid in full, and, as a result, Egypt still owed the Roman people an immense sum of money.

Secondly, the fertile banks of the Nile produced most of the grain that fed the people of Rome and to lose that supply would lead to starvation and rebellion back home. Melissa explained to Caesar that he would need to mediate a resolution to the problems of Egypt to ensure Rome received its annual supply of grain.

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