Sword of Rome: The Complete Campaigns by Richard Foreman

Author:Richard Foreman [Foreman, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press Ltd.
Published: 2013-11-25T00:00:00+00:00

15.

At least Mallius had arranged for a coach to take him back to Rome after the contest, even though the coachman was slightly confused at first, as he believed that his passenger would be going by the name of Baculus. Titus and his unit would make their way back on their own.

The muscles in his injured leg both throbbed and tightened at the same time as he rested in the coach. Mallius provided his own surgeon, who had once been in the employ of Crassus, to attend to his wound after the bout.

“I must look after my prize asset,” the merchant explained, before leaving to check upon ticket receipts.

As the surgeon stitched up his wound Oppius received an unexpected visitor. Pompey stood before him in a gleaming white toga and ran his hand through his hair, attending as much to his famous quiff as to the centurion. Pompey smiled gently, although his hard eyes struck a hard note compared to the softness of the rest of his face. He initially just surveyed the soldier, without uttering a word. He stared intently, as though he were almost taking in the soldier’s past, present and future as well as his physical appearance. At the same time as feeling that he was the centre of Pompey’s attention, Oppius also felt that he was but of vague secondary importance to the senator; a lesser mortal (if indeed Pompey considered himself wholly mortal).

“You fought well centurion. You are a credit to the army. Although it seems that Caesar’s Champion possesses Caesar’s good fortune, it also seems that Julius has infected you with his weakness for clemency. Should you have somehow been in a position to spare my gladiator, Charon, he would have despised you all the more and murdered you in your sleep afterwards. As much as you have won a battle, you have not won the war,” Pompey exclaimed, sneering a little as he mentioned the words “Julius” and “clemency”. Before Oppius could reply – although he was at a loss as to how to – Pompey took his leave.

Sunlight finally melted through the clouds and rain as Oppius entered the city, though dusk was about to melt the day. Mallius had arranged for a litter but Oppius never felt comfortable travelling in them. They were for over-indulged women, or overweight patricians. He walked gingerly, but made his way through the streets towards Titus’ house. Oppius was mindful of his injury – and also watching for Rufus Glaber and his men. He spotted one not before long, just as Oppius was about to enter a small fruit market. He was wearing the same distinctive white toga, bordered in black, from before. The soldier soon saw two more. As he looked in their direction they averted their glances. One pretended to buy some grapes whilst another bent down to re-fasten his sandals. Yet Oppius still couldn’t see Glaber. He would want to be here to finish the job, the soldier suspected. This was one of the few opportunities when the centurion would be isolated and vulnerable.

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