Marius' Mules VII: The Great Revolt Read Free Page B

Would that Galronus and my dear sister in law were here to greet you, but they are back at Puteoli, with Marcus’ mother. Family business ,’ she added with a sly smile.
    The three visiting soldiers stepped into the atrium, and Priscus narrowed his eyes, looking sidelong at Fronto as he scratched at several days’ growth of beard. ‘There’s trouble afoot, my friend. We are in the proverbial sewer and Jupiter just took a mountain-sized shit!’ He suddenly remembered their company and turned an apologetic look to Lucilia, who brushed it aside.
    ‘If you heard some of the filth my father and my husband come out with together over a few cups, you wouldn’t worry about a word like that.’
    ‘ Priscus !’ hissed Fronto.
    ‘Sorry, yes. We were down at Gergovia among the Arverni, managing to set up deals and arrangements with a few of the native nobles who were apparently still pro-Rome when Gaul basically erupted next to us.’
    Fronto frowned.
    ‘Our friend Vercingetorix - who we used to know as Esus - is on the ascent, Fronto. He took Gergovia with a force of loyal rebels and put all dissenters to the sword. We barely made it out alive, and we’ve been running ever since, heading for yourself and Caesar.’
    ‘Via Narbo?’
    ‘We overheard the Gaulish shi… scumbag… saying that they’d destroyed the mercantile station at Cenabum and cut the supply lines up there, so we couldn’t trust the Rhodanus valley. We came over the mountains and south. And it was a bugger of a trip, too. Have you any idea how high the passes are. There’s a lot of snow this time of year, too.’
    ‘Do you think it was just the first move in the game?’ Fronto hazarded. ‘Are they starting to pull things together at the moment, or do you think they’re already moving and putting their plan into action?’
    Priscus pursed his lips and regarded Fronto levelly. ‘What do you think? They’ve just taken over the Arverni by force, and they’re obviously allied with the Carnutes now, ‘cause it was them who flattened Cenabum. How long would they now have to plan before any tribes still allied to us took action? No. They must already have had most things in place before a move as overt as this. The big rising we’ve been expecting is already happening, and we’re totally unprepared, despite everything we’ve done.’
    The legate of the Tenth nodded his agreement as a slave arrived carrying a tray bearing two jugs and four cups, hovering expectantly. Fronto grabbed the tray and placed it atop the lararium - the altar to the household spirits - that stood close to the door. As the man scuttled off, Fronto poured four cups of wine and left the others to water their own, tipping barely a mouthful of dilutant into his own. He may have already spilled on his leg, but it was not through drunkenness.
    ‘If they are making their move, the bastard’s timed it nicely. Caesar’s in Aquileia, the legions are in the north, and the officers are scattered about either up there or on furlough down here. It’ll take time to pull everything together, and I’d be willing to bet that’s what the Arverni turd’s counting on.’
    Lucilia gave the four men an indulgent smile and excused herself, ducking back through into one of the interior rooms. ‘I shall just go and inform father of your arrival and explain to the others.’
    Priscus gave Fronto a questioning look and the legate shrugged. ‘Half a dozen knob-heads from the local government Lucilia wants me to brown-nose. I’ve half a mind to take you in to meet them like this. Would do them all good to see what a proper soldier looks like.’ He sighed. ‘But Lucilia would tear me a second arsehole for that. Anyway, before you bathe and meet politicians, back to the problem at hand.’
    ‘It may be a problem,’ threw in Fabius as he reached for the water and topped up his mug before draining it in one long gulp, ‘but we still have an advantage.’
    ‘Oh? How so?’
    ‘On our journey we