"He is making his announcement very soon," a senator said.
"And he needs the support of these legions?"
"Exactly!"
'What a fool,' Gaius thought. If he needed legions, he should have guaranteed their support before he set out on this scheme. "And the Republic?"
"The idea is we restore the Republic," the Senator nodded. "Scribonianus will be Consul for the first year."
"And what does everybody else get out of this?" Gaius asked cautiously. It must be obvious to the others by now that he was not exactly over-enthusiastic about a conspiracy, so he needed to show he was contemplating a deal. These fools should understand the motivation for wanting to get loot or position.
"Oh, don't worry about that," a Senator smiled. "That's all taken care of. There'll be plenty of rewards for those who restore the Republic."
"I see," Gaius offered. It occurred to him that what he needed to do right now was to at least look as if he was persuadable. "I've spoken to Cinna, and it appears Scribonianus has ordered Cinna to follow me, so that gives us two legions. ." He had been careful to insert "us" into that sentence. "The question is, is that enough? What about the German legions? If they all sided with Claudius, we would have another civil war, and we don't need that, and worse still, we would be grossly outnumbered."
"There's no particular love for the Principate from those Legates," Messala said. "Little Boots poisoned that well."
'What Gaius Caesar did was show up the lack of discipline in the German legions,' Gaius thought, 'but there is no use pointing this out!' Instead, Gaius said carefully, "So you propose?"
"Your legion and the seventh must be prepared to march at once," Messala said. "A clear declaration of force, and Claudius will go. The praetorians won't be prepared to fight two legions on his behalf."
"No, but the ambitious amongst the German legions might be prepared to move against Scribonianus."
"They might think twice about moving against you, though," one of the Senators said.
"Your confidence is flattering, but I'm not sure that it's deserved."
"Oh yes it is." Messala said. "Look at your combat decorations. You defeated Parthians with the odds nine to one against. That same reputation will keep the German legions at bay, especially since the Eastern legions would support you."
Gaius was stunned. It was possible that that reputation, together with the friendship he had made with Cinna might persuade the seventh to follow, but he was more sceptical about the German legions, particularly given the egos he knew were there.
"So, can we count on you?" one of the senators asked.
Gaius realized that he had got about as far as he could with this discussion. The problem was, they had told him enough that they could hardly let him get up and walk away, because once he was back with his legion, anything was possible. He had to persuade them that he was at least amenable, and there was one more thing to try: ask for something. "This is one of those things where you have to be all in," Gaius said softly. "It really is a case of death or glory, so, if we suppose this works, let's define the glory."
"What do you mean?" Messala asked.
"I would need a Governorship in the east, and a guaranteed seat in the Senate," Gaius replied. When he saw the stunned looks, he added, "If I don't get the promises now, I'm hardly likely to later, am I?"
"Of course," Messala said, "but only Scribonianus can authorize those things."
"Then I await his response," Gaius nodded towards Messala, and began to get up.
"That's going to take time," Messala said, "and by now you will appreciate that we can't just let you wander off. Until you commit to our cause, we have to assume you could be against us. You'll have to come with us."
The men on either side were already on their feet, and Gaius could feel the points of daggers against his sides.
"You can take your hands off me," Gaius said coldly. "I'm unarmed, and you obviously are not."
"Then follow us," the senator said, "and don't make a fuss."
Gaius nodded, and got to his feet. Any attempt he made to get away had to succeed, because such an attempt would show he was against them. If he did get away, they would be dead men, so they would have no hesitation in killing him. Could he outrun them? Quite possibly, but he was surrounded by them, and it was difficult to see how he could fight his way out of the group before someone could stick a knife in his side.
The wine-shop had been on the outside of the village, and they were now walking along a track through bush, towards a small farm, which, because it was deserted, had been used several times by the legions for exercises. Accordingly, Gaius knew the farmhouse was in reasonable condition. They entered the house, and made their way towards the doorway to the cellar. The door was opened, and one of the Senators offered him a lamp, some papyrus, some ink, a writing implement, and a jar of wine.
"We'll be back in two hours," he said. "By then you should have written orders that are signed that unambiguously commit yourself to our cause. You have to do more than simply say you will get your legion to march, because once you got back to them, you could do anything. You have to be in a position where, if we don't succeed, you'll be found guilty of treason."
"And if I don't join you, you'll kill me?"
"No choice," Messala shrugged.
"You'd kill your daughter's husband? What will she think?"
"It's not all bad," Messala shrugged. "We can make out it's an accident, and after all, she'll inherit your estate. She'll be very very rich."
'And you think you will too,' Gaius thought to himself, as he laid the lamp down on a large box. "I'll have something in two hours," he said, "and I promise to honour whatever it is." He then watched the other climb the steps and go out of the cellar, then he heard the door close behind him, followed by a click as the latch was fixed shut from the other side.
Gaius looked around the cellar. There were two bales of straw, and some loose straw in the southwest corner, which was opposite and to the right of the stairs he had climbed down. Apart from that, the cellar seemed empty. Midway along the wall to his left, the eastern wall, there was a trapdoor that led outside, but that would presumably be bolted shut from the outside. Along the western wall there was some substantial shelving, but there was nothing stored there now. There was a space between the top of the shelves and the floor above, and it was not possible to see what was there from the floor.
Gaius sat down on a bale then he put the jar of wine beside him. The last thing he needed now was to dull his reflexes, and it would not have surprised him if there was some sort of potion in it, allegedly to make him more agreeable. He might have to find somewhere to pour much of that out, without leaving a clear trace. Possibly under the straw, but that could be left until later, just in case it had some use.
Could he deceive them, persuade them he was with them? After all, if they wished him to march the legion, he had to get back to it. Once there. . The problem was, they could see that as clearly as he could, and they must have some plan to get around it. Did they have a good plan? They had already asked him to leave written orders for the legion to march to, say, Northern Italy, while he rode to somewhere like Pannonia to persuade Governor Plautius to do something. Not that they could let him ride to Plautius. . unless he was in the plot as well. But they would not need him to ride. He merely had to present appropriate written orders. Then the legions would march, and at some time later he would send more written orders telling them to march on Rome and. .
Probably written orders would fail at this point, but that might be irrelevant. They would be gambling that with the legions on the march the praetorians would see sense and get rid of Claudius. At that point, they would succeed, and unless he had cooperated, he would be disposed of. Assuming they had planned that far ahead!