Legatus Legionis: Book Two in the Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy Read Free Page B

teacher," James continued, "and he always insisted it's what you do that counts. The solution, as you put it, may have come to you, but it came from somewhere."
    "And you know from where." This was also a statement.
    "Where you think it came from is irrelevant," James shrugged. "What is important is that you listened."
    "You must keep listening," Rebecca added. "There will be many more times . . ."
    "I'm afraid you're wrong there," Gaius gave a harsh laugh. "My reward for bringing peace and stopping unlimited bloodshed was . . ."
    "Your reverse will be temporary," Rebecca interrupted.
    "You seem certain?"
    "I am certain," she said. "If you keep listening to where your idea came from, you will do much good."
    "I am a soldier," Gaius said in a slightly bemused tone. "A soldier's job involves killing."
    "Yes, but what happens when you have won?" Rebecca asked.
    "I see where you are going," Gaius nodded. "What I don't understand, though, is why you came to me?"
    "You have done a good deed," Rebecca replied, "so I prayed for your soul."
    "And?" Gaius asked impulsively.
    "I received an answer," Rebecca said. "I was instructed to tell you that to find your own way, you must keep listening to the goodness in your heart and open your eyes so you will see all that is around you, open your mind so you can do something with what your eyes and ears provide, and when things seem to go bad, and they most definitely will, you must do what your heart tells you is right."
    "I see," Gaius said, without any particular conviction.
    "I was also told that you would doubt this," Rebecca continued, "but eventually you will see. In the meantime, you must listen. You should also do one more thing that the Master taught."
    "Which is?"
    "The Master taught that we should do unto others as we would wish them to do unto us. When you conquer, think about the conquered. Put yourself in their place, just for a moment."
    "They would want us to leave," Gaius smiled, "and we're not going to do that."
    "Yes, but if they accept that they are conquered, there are different ways of being treated."
    "Yes, there are," Gaius nodded. A strange feeling came over him, as he realized that Athene had said almost the same thing. "I shall remember what you say."
    "And now we must leave," James said, "for we have taken too much of your time. Again, thank you for the money, and may the Lord be with you, now and for ever more."
    "And with you two," Gaius replied.
    As he watched them walk away, he later told Timothy, for the first time since he had received his orders dismissing him from the legion, he felt at peace with himself. With the peace came realization: another part of the prophecy had been fulfilled. Perhaps his career was not yet over.
    It was only later that another thought occurred to him: was Rebecca's answer from the same source as his prophecy?
    * * *
    When Gaius reached Caesarea, he reported to Marullus, Prefect of Judea. His instructions from Caesar had included continuing with his non-military career, and to assist the Prefect with administrative tasks, which might provide useful experience and might also benefit Judea. As it happened, Marullus was elsewhere, and it was unclear when he would return.
    There was some news from Rome awaiting him. Lucilla had married Quintus. Strictly speaking, as eldest living male within the family, he, Gaius, should have arranged the marriage and given Lucilla away. Knowing his sister, the first part would have been impossible. As it was, there was no immediate male relation available and apparently this lack of available males made this the wedding of the year in Rome, for Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus announced that he had been instructed by the divine Tiberius to look after Lucilla, and he would honour that responsibility by giving Lucilla away, and by ensuring that Quintus would answer to the Princeps of Rome if he did not treat Lucilla properly. After considerable religious procedures, and considerable feasting, the