“Now the men of the 10th were the ones out in the cold, and they didn't like it a bit, I can tell you. Their Centurions began calling for Caesar to decimate them to atone for their crimes. Caesar stood there listening, but said nothing, which of course made the men clamor even more for them to be punished. Finally, he raised his hand, and I don't believe I've ever seen the army fall so silent so quickly. Then he announced that he wouldn't punish the 10th, and that they too could march with the rest of the army. The cheering was so loud, you couldn't hear yourself think!”
Finished, Apollonius drained his cup then looked at me, an expectant smile on his face, and I knew what he was looking for.
“Caesar is truly a master at playing us like a harp,” I said, only half in admiration.
Nobody likes being manipulated like a puppet, and even if I had not been there, I still knew how it felt strongly enough that I could taste the bitter bile of it in my throat.
“How are the men now?”
He shrugged. “Happy enough, I think. They’re just relieved that they're back in Caesar’s good graces. As they should be.”
He obviously could not resist that last jibe but I let it pass. My thoughts were elsewhere by that time anyway, thinking about men like Vibius and how long the relief that Apollonius referred to would actually last. Unless he had changed, I could not imagine Vibius staying happy for long, and I knew he was not alone.
~ ~ ~ ~
After my visit with Apollonius, I went to see Torquatus the evening before I was scheduled to take command of the 10th, not sure what kind of reception I would get. Much to my relief and not a little surprise, Torquatus seemed genuinely pleased to see me, waving me in to his private quarters while offering me wine. At first, we talked about the events in Alexandria and against the Bosporans, and I told him some of the funnier moments that had happened, like when some of the men of the 6th had gotten drunk then tried to ride one of the wild water horses that inhabit the Nile, with the results you can imagine.
Finally, I steered the conversation to the reason I had shown up in the first place. “How are the men, really?”
Torquatus stared into his cup a moment before he answered. I could see how the last year had aged him at least ten just from appearances. “I don’t honestly know anymore, Pullus. One day they're like the old days, when we were in Gaul, then the next they're angry and bitter at not just Caesar but all of the Centurions. And some of the Centurions aren’t any better.”
“Anyone in particular you care to name?”
“Balbus,” he spat the name out.
I cannot say I was surprised that he named him, but something about it did not add up to me, so I decided to reserve judgment on Balbus until I could form my own opinion. “And your old friend Celer, though he’s just more of a nuisance than anything else. Scribonius has done a good job of neutralizing him.”
“How is Scribonius doing?”
He considered my question, then nodded thoughtfully. “He’s doing a good job, better than I thought he would just by looking at him.”
I laughed. What Torquatus said was true; he was not much to look at, especially when thinking of a Centurion. He had always looked, and in some ways acted more like a tutor of high-born children than a member of Rome’s Legions. Yet, I knew better than anyone how deceptive it was.
“And what of Domitius?”
I did not have to identify which Domitius I was referring to; Torquatus knew exactly who I meant.
He rubbed his face before he answered, then let out a long breath. “I wouldn’t call Domitius one of the ringleaders of the problems with Caesar, but he certainly is one of the most vocal.”
I had to laugh at that, for truer words were never spoken about Vibius, since being quiet had never been one of his strengths. He was always more than willing to speak his mind, no matter who it hurt and while I was not much better, compared to Vibius, I was the soul of discretion.
Torquatus continued, the laughter dying in my throat as he spoke. “The problem is that he has a lot of influence, more than one would think of an Optio, even if he is in the Second Cohort. A lot of men in other Cohorts look to him for his opinion on things. There are always a lot of people around his fire.”
“It’s always been that way,” I countered.
“Yes, but we never had trouble with Caesar like this before, and now, more than ever, men have to watch what they say.”
I stared at him, trying to determine his meaning. It took a moment, except it should have been clear to me immediately, especially after what had happened to Verres Rufus.
Finally, I asked, “Is he in any danger of disappearing?”
Torquatus looked uncomfortable at my open reference to that thing that went on in Caesar’s army that we never talked about, his eyes instinctively darting to the darker corners of the tent like there might be someone lurking there writing down all that we said. Seeing his reaction, I almost looked over my shoulder at one point because his eyes fixed on something behind me.
Then he shrugged, saying, “Not that I'm aware of, but I think the more he talks, the higher on the list he'll go. I think I'd have a word with him if I were you.”
“I don’t know if that’s possible. We aren’t exactly on good terms.”
“I know. I was there, remember?” Torquatus said dryly. “I thought you were going to kill him, I truly did.”
“So did I,” I said soberly.
For several moments neither of us spoke, each alone with our own thoughts of all that had transpired.
Finally, I broached the subject that had given me the most worry. “Torquatus,” I began, knowing I sounded awkward, yet not knowing how to phrase things differently, “I just want you to know that I didn't have anything to do with Caesar’s decision to replace you with me as Primus Pilus.”
Torquatus waved a hand to reply, “I know that. The truth is I'm happy that you’re taking over the 10th. Too much has happened with these men. I'd rather start off with a new bunch of fresh meat that I can mold into what I want. These bastards are too hard-headed now.” Suddenly realizing the exact import of his words, Torquatus gave me a look of embarrassment. “Sorry, Pullus, I don’t mean to make it sound so grim for you. But the truth is I’m not hard enough for this bunch, and I suspect you are.” He leaned forward, staring intently into my eyes. "I know we’ve never been friends exactly, but know that what I'm about to say isn't meant in any way as an insult to you. All right?”
I nodded that I understood.
“It’s just that everyone knows how ambitious you are, and that you'll do whatever needs to be done to advance your career. I think that’s why Caesar picked you, because he knows that the 10th needs a firmer hand than I can provide right now. The problem with me is that, between you and me, I agree with the men. I think that we’ve been given the cac end of the sponge by Caesar, and that he owes us and should pay us what he owes us. Now, not tomorrow.”
“I agree that Caesar owes the men,” I said cautiously, thinking back to my conversation with Apollonius, where I had told him essentially the same thing, if not in quite such blunt terms.
“Yes, but would that stop you from enforcing Caesar’s will?”
I shook my head, causing Torquatus to slam his hand down on the table, making me jump. “Exactly! You'd still do whatever Caesar ordered, whether you agreed with it or not. I saw it that day at Pharsalus when you almost cut Domitius in half. I could never have done that, and I know it.”
I knew that he was trying to compliment me, yet it certainly did not feel complimentary, when put the way Torquatus had. I did not know what to say, so I just mumbled something about duty and such, then took a long drink of wine.