The Eagles Conquest

'What did you say?' Claudius craned an ear towards him. In the background the troops had got a little too enthusiastic in their cheering, and it was becoming hard to conduct a conversation at the prescribed distance between Emperor and subordinate. A quite different arrangement existed between Emperor and freedman since the latter was so far down the social order that no protocol existed. Claudius waved Narcissus over and shouted into one ear.

'Look, it's terribly n-nice of them and all that, b-b-but would you have someone tell them to shut up. Can't hear a th-th-thing.'

'At once, Caesar!' Narcissus bowed, backed away and pointed to the assembled senior centurions of the Praetorian Guard and then pointed to the ground before his feet. Vespasian watched in astonishment as the centurions immediately trotted over in response to the freedman's summons, Clearly, Narcissus was so firmly positioned at the Emperor's side that he could command instant obedience from these free-born citizens of Rome, who were nominally his social superiors. The instructions were quickly issued and the centurions hurried off waving their arms at the men lining the route, and quickly the shouting began to subside.

'Ah! Much b-better! Now then, Plautius, you were s-s-saying?'

'My officers, Caesar. I would like to present them to you.'

'Of course you would! Jolly g-good idea.'

The Emperor went down the line of legates and tribunes, arranged by legion, repeating a series of stock phrases as he passed along.

'Having a good campaign? Wished I could have j-joined you earlier. Maybe n-n-next time, eh?

'Had some good b-b-battles, I hear. Hope you sh-sh-showed them how tough we Romans are!

'Hope you've left me enough b-barbarians for a decent fight! I've got a deal off-f-fighting to catch up on!'

Until he approached Vespasian,

He limped along from the last tribune of the Ninth Legion and stood before the legate of the Second.

'Having a… Why, it's Flavius Vespasian. How are you, my lad?'

'I' m well, Caesar.'

'Well, that's good. Jolly g·good. Been hearing excellent things about your brother. Must be proud of him.'

'Yes. Caesar,' Vespasian replied icily before he could stop himself. 'Still, keep up the g-good work and maybe one day you can have a legion of your own to c-command.'

'Caesar.' Narcissus stepped up smoothly. 'This is the Flavian brother who commands the Second.'

'Then who's the other fellow?'

'Flavius Sabinus. Attached to the staff.'

The light of realisation dimly dawned in the Emperor's countenance. 'Aha! Then this is the one with that w-w-wife. What's her name?' 'Flavia, Caesar,' Vespasian answered.

'You're right! That's her name. She's got that gorgeous little slave gggirl, hasn't she? Wouldn't mind having a close look at her myself sometime. The slave girl, that is,' Claudius hastily added as Vespasian tried to hide his outraged expression. 'But your Flavia's a n-n-nice looking filly as well. B-bit cheeky too, eh, Narcissus?' The Emperor made to wink at his freedman but his tic got the better of him and his face convulsed. Narcissus coloured slightly and turned to Plautius.

'Introduce the next officer, please.'

'Vitellius, senior.tribune of the Second, Caesar.'

'Vitellius, my boy, doing well?'

'As ever, Caesar,' Vitellius said with a smirk,

'Your father sends his g-greetings, and hopes… and hopes… ' Claudius' face crinkled,vith concentration before the memory drifted back. 'Ahl I have it now! Hopes you're keeping the f-family end up! There! Are you joining us for the f-f-feasting tonight?'

'Sorry, Caesar, but due to the onerous nature of the duties my legate heaps upon me I need an early night.'

Claudius laughed. 'Your loss, my boy. T-take care, young Vitellius, and you'll go a l-long way.'

"I fully intend to, Caesar.'

Claudius continued down the line of officers and Vitellius risked a quick wink at his fuming legate. Once the last of the senior officers had been dealt with, claudius formally saluted the standards and made the requisite libation to the army altar. Then Narcissus led the emperor to the elaborate quarters that had been erected for him within the walls of the Praetorium. As soon as Claudius was out of sight, General Plautius dismissed the officers and gave the signal for the Praetorian units and elephants to stand down. They wre being quartered in tents already prepared next to the parade ground. the closest possible position to the emperor they were sworn to protect with their lives.

Vespasian hurried up to his commander and set himself foursquare in front of him. determined to deliver his warning without any further delay. Plautius eyed him warily and pursed his lips. 'Can't it wait until after 'you've caught up with your wife?'

"No sir.'

'Allright then, a moment only.' The other tasks on his schedule before turning in were obviously going to have to be put back.

'In private, sir.' Over the shoulder of the general Vespasian could see vitellius lingering within earshot. 'What I have to say is for your ears only.'

'Damn it! I haven't time for this.'

'Yes you have, sir. Believe me.'

That the legate had risked being so insubordinate was not lost on Plautius. He nodded quickly, led the way into the headquarters lobby, and took a turn into the first office. A number of clerks looked up from their paperwork in surprise.

'Leave,' Plautius ordered, and the clerks instantly laid down their pens and scurried from the room. Plautius closed the flap and turned rbund angrily.

'Now, would you mind telling me what's so bloody important that I have to hear it in person and in private.'

Vespasian told him.

Chapter Forty

The camp on the south bank had long since settled down for the night when the flap to Flavia's chamber was lifted. A dark shadow crept in and quietly stole up to the travel bed. Vespasian trod softly into the weak glow of the single oil lamp, still burning on a nearby stand, and looked down on the sleeping form of his wife, marvelling at her perfection in repose. Flavia's face was smooth in the gentle orange glow and with lips slightly apart she breathed deeply in an even rhythm that sounded like the far-off sea. Dark strands of her hair lay across the silk bolster and he leaned forward to sniff them, smiling at the familiar scent. Straightening up, Vespasian let his eyes travel down to her breast, softly rising and falling with each breath, and then his gaze took in the ripples of silk that clung in fuller curves to the outline of her body.

For a moment he sunendered to the raw love he felt for her. She was so close that she was almost flesh of his flesh, so guileless in her slumber that she appeared to him as she had in the first hot heady days of their passion. The fruit of that passion, he knew, lay in the very next chamber.

He had looked in on young Titus before coming to his wife. The boy had been lying on his back, one arm raised across the top of his head, mouth gaping open, the shock of dark hair soft to the touch. So many of his mother's features were reproduced in him in cherubic miniature, and yet Vespasian had felt a twinge of rage at his wife for spoiling the moment.

For a while he stood gazing at his wife, then he slowly lowered himself onto the soft mattress. There was a light rustle of silk against the coarser wool of his military tunic and a displacement of the comfortable position her body had settled into while asleep. Flavia turned onto her side, disturbing the rhythm of her breathing and a loud click at the back of her throat turned into a snort. Her eyes fIickered open, closed a moment and split open again, much wider this time. She smiled.

'Thought you'd never come.'

'I'm here now.'

'I can see that. Just wondered where you'd got to.'