S. Turney - Conspiracy of Eagles

Dramatis Personae (List of Principal Characters)

The Command Staff:

Gaius Julius Caesar:Politician, general and governor.

Aulus Ingenuus:Commander of Caesar’s Praetorian Cohort.

Cita:Chief quartermaster of the army.

Quintus Atius Varus:Commander of the Cavalry.

Quintus Titurius Sabinus:Senior lieutenant of Caesar.

Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta:Lieutenant of Caesar

Quintus Tullius Cicero:Staff officer and brother of the great orator.

Titus Labienus:Senior lieutenant of Caesar.

Mamurra:Famous engineer favoured by Caesar

Gnaeus Vinicius Priscus:Former primus pilus of the Tenth, now camp prefect of the army.

Seventh Legion:

Quintus Tullius Cicero:Legate and brother of the great orator.

Titus Terrasidius:Senior Tribune.

Publius Tertullus:Junior Tribune.

Gaius Pinarius Rusca:Junior Tribune.

Lutorius:Primus pilus of the Seventh

Lucius Fabius: Centurion of the third century, first cohort

Tullus Furius: Centurion of the second century, first cohort

Eighth Legion:

Decimus Brutus:Legate and favourite of Caesar’s family.

Titus Balventius:Primus pilus amp; veteran of several terms of service.

Aquilius:Training officer, senior centurion and perfectionist.

Ninth Legion:

Publius Sulpicius Rufus:Young Legate of the Ninth.

Marcus Trebius Gallus: Senior Tribune and veteran soldier.

Grattius:primus pilus, once in sole command of the Ninth.

Tenth Legion:

Marcus Falerius Fronto:Legate and confidante of Caesar.

Gaius Tetricus:Military Tribune, expert in military defences.

Crito:Veteran tribune of two years.

Servius Fabricius Carbo:Primus Pilus.

Atenos:Centurion and chief training officer, former Gaulish mercenary

Petrosidius:Chief Signifer of the first cohort.

Eleventh Legion:

Aulus Crispus:Legate, former civil servant in Rome.

Quintus Velanius:Senior Tribune.

Titus Silius:Junior Tribune.

‘Felix’:Primus Pilus, accounted an unlucky man.

Twelfth Legion:

Servius Galba:Legate.

Gaius Volusenus:Junior Tribune.

Publius Sextius Baculus:Primus pilus. A distinguished veteran.

Thirteenth Legion:

Lucius Roscius:Legate and native of Illyricum.

Fourteenth Legion:

Lucius Munatius Plancus:Legate and former staff officer.

Menenius:Junior tribune

Hortius:Junior tribune

Cantorix:Centurion in the Third cohort.

Other characters:

Quintus Balbus:Former Legate of the Eighth, now retired. Close friend of Fronto.

Faleria the elder:Mother of Fronto and matriarch of the Falerii.

Faleria the younger:sister of Fronto.

Corvinia:Wife of Balbus, legate of the Eighth.

Lucilia:Elder daughter of Balbus.

Balbina:Younger daughter of Balbus.

Galronus:Gaulish officer, commanding auxiliary cavalry under Varus.

Publius Clodius Pulcher:Powerful man in Rome, enemy of Caesar and conspirator, responsible for multiple crimes.

Publius Curiatius pulled the cloak tightly about him, trying to wrap himself in nonchalance as he sidled from the door, his business with Caesar’s major domo complete. The general himself remained in Illyricum until nearer the campaigning season’s start, but his household thrummed with activity and intrigue at all times, whether the master was present or not.

The street in the Subura was remarkably empty for the time of evening, though the sounds of carousing flowed from nearby streets and alleys. Two men stood huddled at a corner, exchanging some shady goods; a prostitute with a bored expression displayed her wares outside one of the lower class establishments and an ex-soldier with a disfigurement sat in the shit of the gutter swigging from a cheap jar of wine.

The district was usually a lively one, and not for the highest class citizens. Yet Caesar still maintained his house there, where his family had always dwelled, despite his sisters having turned their nose up at the Subura and plumped for better class locales.

Pulling the hood of the cloak down to help disguise his features, Curiatius shuffled along the street quickly, his fine sandals already ruined by the muck and filth of the street. Not far and he would be able to throw open his own door and hurry inside to the safety and warmth of the triclinium and the meal that would be waiting for him.

Turning, he moved into an alley just in time to see the tavern shutters slam closed. He shrugged as he hurried on. This was no time to go frequenting cheap bars. Not for the first time tonight, he wondered whether he should have brought guards with him, but the head of the household servants had been explicit that he should come alone.

“A bad time to explore the Subura” a voice called out from behind. Curiatius turned, his heart lurching, to see a cloaked figure silhouetted at the alley end whence he had entered. The only detail he could make out other than the shape of a cloaked man was the sword that extended from his right hand, gleaming in the reflected light from the street. “The time all the taverns start to get bawdy and dangerous. Gentlemen should be safely in their own homes now.”

Curiatius felt his bladder weaken and turned back, hurrying on into the gloom of the alley.

Another cloaked figure stepped out of the next crossing in the alley, again in silhouette, again with a blade extended from his right hand.

“Tut tut tut. You are a busy boy, aren’t you?” the shadow offered.

Curiatius skidded to a halt, his bladder close to giving up the ghost. “I’m not worth the trouble. I have no money on me but I will be missed.”

“I think you overestimate your importance, Publius Curiatius.”

They knew him by name? This was no random mugging. Curiatius backed against the wall at the alley’s side. “Whatever you want, I can pay you well to leave me alone!”

“I thought you said you had no money?”

He was suddenly aware that the two men were now moving forward, converging on him. Panic began to set in as the first warm trickle issued down his thigh, staining his toga. Turning, he moved a few feet along the wall to the recently-closed tavern. It may be shut to new custom, but the night’s visitors were still inside, carousing at full volume.