Fortune Favors

Chapter 6

Sam was seated on a pillow in Augustus's office, and the room was filled with a most pleasant smoke. Augustus had offered him an opium pipe, and Sam had taken it willingly. Sam rarely indulged in smoking it, but he knew better than to turn down Augustus.

"I remember when you were a boy," said Augustus sleepily. "You seemed so angry at Eolus and Maximus, not scared but angry. You were a small, golden-haired thing, peeking around screens and listening to what the adults said and plotting your revenge."

"You were barely an adult yourself, sir," replied Sam taking a drag from the pipe. "I suppose that's why you took such a liking to me."

Augustus took the pipe back from Sam and laughed. "You were much like I was at that age. You knew who to trust and who not to trust. I knew I could make you my ally, and I did. I've never regretted it."

Sam sighed and leaned back on the pillows. Augustus was such a handsome man, so full of charisma. He wasn't at all cold and harsh like so many people said. "If the Gods be willing, you never will, sir."

Augustus laughed. "You know, when we are alone," he replied, "I wish you would call me Gaius. Nobody calls me by my real name anymore, not even my sister or Agrippa."

Sam yawned. "I'm honored, Gaius. I truly am."

Augustus put an arm around Sam, and he put his head on Sam's shoulder. Sam nestled closer to him, knowing that Augustus would never ask for more than this. Sam considered that lucky, even though he thought Augustus was most handsome. Becoming Augustus's lover would be dangerous for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which was the wrath of his wife Livia.

In fact, Sam was fairly certain Augustus was faithful to his wife. When Sam was a boy, Augustus had promised Sam that he would care for him, and he wouldn't ask anything ugly of him. Sam had later heard the rumors about what Julius Caesar had asked of his nephew, and he understood. Augustus would never do to Sam what was done to him. Sam loved him all the more for it.

Eventually, the two got up and walked into the courtyard, where a lovely young girl ran into Augustus's arms.

"Julia," he said warmly, "you must remember my friend Sammius."

The girl smiled, and she reached up to touch Sam's hair. "It's like gold," she said.

Sam normally became annoyed with people who fixated on his hair, but Augustus's little daughter was so charming, he didn't mind her attention at all. In fact, he pulled his dagger from his belt and cut a lock from his head and gave it to Julia, who was delighted.

Augustus was clearly pleased, and he placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. "You'll make a fine father," he said.

"Thank you, sir," he said. "Coming from you that gives me great confidence. My younger siblings gave me good practice of course."

Augustus smirked at that. Sam knew he wasn't fond of the Hadius family nor was he fond of Sam's mother. Jacquetta tried way too hard to be Roman but could never break herself of her Gaulish habits. On the other hand, Latin and Roman customs came naturally to Sam, though inside he always felt like a Gaul.

"You know if you need anything, Sam, you just must ask," said Augustus.

Sam and Augustus's eyes met. "Thank you, Sir, but it is I who was born to serve you. Always remember that."