“I've observed that Lepidus seems to respect and value your opinion a great deal.” I saw no harm in laying it on thick, and he seemed to perk up a bit at the flattery. “I'm asking you to prevail upon the Governor to relax his punishment, not the discipline behind it,” I emphasized. “We fully accept and respect his authority under the laws of Rome, and we don't expect him to ignore any violation of regulations, we're just asking that his punishment be more in line with the custom of more recent times.”
“And what’s in it for me?” he asked, not blinking. I suppose I should not have been surprised, but I was. “What do you want?” I asked cautiously. He laughed, I guess, at my naivety.
“Why, money of course,” he said cheerfully.
He named a sum, making me fight the urge to pick up the cup and smash it over his head because of his greed. Instead, I agreed, while I was wondering how I would scrape up that kind of cash on short notice. Our business concluded, I thanked him for the wine, then returned to the Legion area to spread the news.
~ ~ ~ ~
As expensive as it was, the Tribune was at least as good as his word. While the next morning’s inspection produced just as many men on the punishment list as before, this time the penalties were in the form of money and extra duties, something that Lepidus looked none too happy about. I could feel the breeze produced by the audible sighs of relief of both the rankers and the Centurions as the crisis passed. With that out of the way, we could return our minds and efforts to making the Legion ready to fight.
However, that is for later. Once again, I grow tired, and need a day or two to recover my energy. There is much more to tell about the struggle between Marcus Antonius, and young Octavian; more marching, more fighting, more bleeding and dying. Most importantly, a new Rome to be forged, a Rome breaking free of its past and becoming stronger and mightier than ever, thanks to the men of the Legions. Of which I am one, and will always be. Titus Pullus, Legionary of Rome.