Swords of Rome (16 page)

“
Come; stop straining yourself on matters your young mind can’t possibly understand right now. You’ve yet to see a senatorial session. Wait until it has concluded, then your outlook on Roman life will be even more distorted than it is now.”

Gaius did not reply as he stared at Valerius with a questionable expression before the legate of the Sixth
escorted him inside.

Inside three
hundred senators sat tightly, shoulder-to-shoulder on two sets of elevated stone benches. Their combined voices echoed over the marble and limestone chamber as they debated without pause about Rome’s most pressing issues, which were numerous, beyond that of the approaching army, led by Hannibal.

Two seats sat in the center of the chamber. There, the two co-consuls would have sat, but on this day only Consul Gaius Flaminius was present as his counterpart was out of the city.

The chamber was well lit; the sweat smell of the oil that burned filled the room as Gaius and Valerius walked unobtrusively, making sure not to interrupt the proceedings. Several other officers also stood near the back, where they listened with restraint.

As Gaius spend the next couple
hours' listening, the day’s proceedings were  filled with debates on taxes, shipping and trade issues with several Greek states, piracy, plague, grain shortages in distant territories, and of course, finally, Hannibal and his alliance of barbarian northerners making their way down across the Alps.

Speaking now was an older senator
who looked to be in his late sixties. He held the folds of his toga in one hand, while the other he brandished violently in the air as he spoke, dramatically.

“The destruction of Saguntum b
y the Carthaginian, Hannibal ten years ago was a clear sign that his government, which has already refused our demands for justice, has always been seeking war with the Republic,” the senator named Quintus spoke loud enough for all to hear him. Numerous senators added their angry voices to his claims as he continued once the roars lessened.

“Now, reports tell us that Hannibal has amassed an army of
fifty thousand, many of whom are Gallic barbarians that have sworn their service to him, as long as he promises them Rome. Hannibal’s intentions are very clear: with his army, he will threaten the whole of Italy once he has completed his journey across the Alps, and yet this Senate will do nothing in response to this act of aggression!”

“We sent an envoy to Carthage
, numerous times since Saguntum’s fall,” one senator spoke up, trying to defend the actions of those that did not support the call for war.

“And they
continually refused our demands for peace, have they not?” Quintus asked, which was followed by an uproar of anger.

“We offered them peace, and they refused it,” another man proclaimed.

“We must still try to continue with peace talks. The actions of Hannibal are not the desires of Carthage. Even they have acknowledged this much to us.”

“Yet, they support him!” a voice called out.

“We cannot hold a whole country accountable for the actions of one man. If this Senate declares war on Carthage, a war we are in no position to fight right now, then our enemies, those nearer to us, will act. It is the continuing conflicts in Greece and Macedonia that we need to focus our attention on, not some renegade general and his band of barbarian followers,” Liberius announced, but quickly his cautious words were drowned out by the supporters for war.

“You only care about your grain shipments, and not the honor of your country, Liberius!” Senator Appius yelled as he challenged his colleague’s loyalty to Rome; his words caused another outburst between the two factions.

“We cannot ignore the threats from Greece, nor can we deny that the Carthaginians have brought war to our lands once again,” a new voice stood as he tried to be the voice of reason.

“Agree
d!” Yelled both factions, as each believed the words were in support of their point of view.

Consul Flamini
us raised his hands, begging for his fellow representatives to be silent as he rose to his feet.

“Fellow senators,
I do not wish war with Carthage. The last conflict our two nations shared was bloody, and cost the lives of many of our finest men. It is true that the protection of our grain shipments from Greece and the East take priority over the threat that Hannibal poses.”

Numerous hecklers erupted as those that support the cause for war responded to what the consul was saying.

Flaminius again raised his hands and asked for silence.

“However, this act of aggression by a single
man cannot go unpunished.”

Cheers replaced the negative jeers as the volume in the chambers rose higher.

“If our enemies see that Rome takes no action to defend our allies, and punish those responsible for defying the Republic’s laws, then we as a nation would have proven that we are not up to the task of crushing even the tiniest insect, or protecting our friends. For this, Hannibal and his barbarian horde must be crushed, and Carthage, taught a lesson it shall never forget!”

The sound of applause and cheering was deafening as three hundred senators stood to their feet in support of Flaminius. Even those that
were opposed to war quickly reconsidered their position; it would not be patriotic to stand against the consul.

“I will send word for Publius Cornelius Scipio
to raise an army and march them north, and cut Hannibal’s advance into our territories,” Flaminius proclaimed. “Once Scipio has dealt with this unprovoked aggression we shall send Hannibal’s head back to his country!”

For several
minutes, the Senate commemorated Flaminius’ call for war. Already the bloodlust within the house was beginning to boil and would soon reach the streets outside where thousands of citizens and freedmen would eagerly be waiting to hear the news.

The prospect of such a large war was frightening to Gaius, and yet exciting. He was young and had trained for such a day.
However, as he looked over towards Valerius, expecting the old general to be beaming with excitement, his mentor’s face was blank, and his eyes filled with concern and disappointment.

“How many legions will be sent?”
a senator cried out.

“Hannibal is but one man with an army of barbarians. We do not need to combine our legions to deal with him. So, we shall leave this victory to Scipio and his men, as they are already nearer to the border, and have more experience in dealing with the
Celts than anyone in this room,” Flaminius replied as he sat back down.

“Only one leg
ion, are you mad?” a chorus of voices spoke up, but their concerns were drowned by the overwhelming supporters.

“Bah, he just wants Scipio out of Rome. The bloody fool cares nothing about stopping Hannibal. If there was glory in it, he would be leading the army himself,” Valerius mumbled quietly to himself.

Gaius stared nervously over at him, seeing that a number of the other officers too agreed with the veteran’s statement. They marched with the men to Rome, expecting to be called upon to confront Hannibal, now it seems they weren’t needed, or were going to be sent elsewhere to protect wealthy men’s purses.

After a few
closing statements from other senators, they began to exit into the forum, where crowds had formed on the steps of the Senate, waiting to hear about the day’s proceedings.

Gaius remained with Valerius as he spoke to his colleagues, expressing their concern privately to each other. Already it seemed they were planning their own strategy in case the
worst should happen, and Hannibal should break through Scipio’s legion. For the moment, at least, the Sixth would be staying put, which disappointed Gaius more than he figured it would.

Gaius’ attention was turned as he heard his named suddenly called among the crowd of senators and advisors that had gathered, speaking openly among themselves.

At first, he did not recognize the man who called his name, as he stepped through the crowd, a joyful, surprised expressing on his face, and spoke again.

“Gaius? By
Jupiter’s beard, is that really you?”

“
Antony?” Gaius questioned before he too recognized his boyhood friend.

Antony stopped
before Gaius, holding him in his hands as he looked taller, larger man over in careful detail; the smile on his face was ear-to-ear.

“Look at you. You really did it. A real, honest to gods’ soldier of Rome,”
Antony said with a prideful voice as he embraced Gaius.

“And you, a senator of all things.”

Antony laughed. “Hardly; I’m too young. I leave that to my father, but I do, someday, have to follow in his footsteps, so it seems. So all I do is sit quietly and let him do all the talking, like a good puppet. I never get to take part in all the excitement. However, it is a start. I suppose.”

“The
Senate can’t be that bad, can it?” Gaius asked.

“Ah, my friend, I’m afraid that the Rome we grew up dreaming of is a far lesser thing than we imagined. This city is harsh, and so is its politics. Take what you heard today. What our dear consular said is only the tip of the spear. He will hang Scipio out to dry – if he fails, he loses favor, allowing Flaminius to take the glory when he marches his own army north to stop Hannibal.
However, if Scipio wins, then he doesn’t receive as much praise: he only crushed a rogue general and his band of barbarians, and Flaminius still stands tall as he moves against Carthage. Regardless, he gets what he wants at the expense of our men.”

Antony leaned
closer to Gaius and whispered, “Truthfully, almost everyone here is my age. Politics does terrible things to a man’s youth. It is a very slow and painful death,” Antony laughed.

Gaius managed a false smile. He was beginning to see that Rome, the eternal city of light he’d grown up believing in, was indeed becoming something else entirely. There were harsh realities that his eyes had opened up to this day, as Rome seemed a city of horrible contradictions.

“You are in a position to make changes, are you not?” Gaius asked.

“Perhaps, someday;
however, as I said, politics is a game, a rather difficult and dangerous one. I have to play it by its rules or risk being swallowed up by it. I must admit I envy you, my friend. At least, your enemies won’t slit your throat while you sleep.” Antony’s words were friendly, but Gaius could hear in the undertone the unfortunate truth.

“
Antony! Come, it is time we leave,” one of the older senators called out.

Antony turned
to face his father, his face beaming with excitement.

“Father, come over here and see who has graced us with his presence.”

Varro was puzzled for a moment, not sure whom he was looking at as he walked over and stood next to his son. But then he recalled the young man that stood before him, as his eyes widen with genuine admiration.

“Young Gaius, i
s that really you?”

“Senator
Varro, I am pleased to see you are doing well, sir.”

“Well, look at you, an officer in Rome’s legions, and one of Valerius’ Wolves too.
Wonderfully done, my boy.”

“I am honored to serve Rome, and the Sixth Legion, sir.”

“As you should be, he is famed and respected, even among us older senators. I’ll tell you what, I’m having a get-together with a few friends at my city estate, and I would be honored if you could attend this evening as my guest.”

“Yes, that would be a brilliant idea, father,”
Antony eagerly spoke.

“Oh, I don’t know. I wouldn’t wish to impose. We are only in the city for a short while,” Gaius replied, as he wasn’t sure he was ready for this sudden reunion.

Antony leaned closer to him and spoke softly into Gaius’ ear.

“Julia will be there. I know for a fact that she will be very excited to see you again, after so many years apart.”

Gaius’ posture suddenly changed at hearing Antony speak of his sister. His mind worked out what his answer would be as he wanted, needed to see her again. However, the prospect also frightened him terribly. Nevertheless, he gave his answer with a warm smile.

“Then, I will make the effort to come.”

“Excellent. Until tonight,” Varro said before he turned and rejoined his fellow senators.

“I think he likes you better than me,”
Antony jokingly commented as he placed his hand on Gaius’ shoulder. “Unfortunately, I have too much boring work that needs taken care of, and so little time to do it. Now, I must take my leave, old friend. Tonight, around six, the same house we stayed in during our first trip to Rome as boys. You do remember where it is, don’t you?” Antony asked.

“I think I can manage,” Gaius replied warmly.

“Wonderful. Until tonight,” Antony turned and quickly rejoined his father as they exited the Senate, along with a dozen other men behind them.

“Until tonight,” Gaius replied with a soft voice. He took a deep breath, already birds
began to swirl in his stomach at the thought of seeing Julia again. Ideas to find excuses to escape the dinner ran through his mind. Regardless, however, he knew he wanted to see her, despite his fears, so he would do what was asked of him and man-up. What was the worst that could happen – she’d grown fat?