Domina Victrix

Chapter 30: 24 AD, Rome, Campania, and Antioch

Tiberius paced the floor in his office in Campania, fuming. He knew there had been an earthquake in Antioch, but nothing else. Had Marcus been there, he would have sent a full report that would have reached Rome and Campania by now. But Marcus and Gaius were at sea, making their way to Brundisium, en route to Rome. Lucius, damn his hide, would try to contact Marcus first instead of just going up the chain. A secretary appeared in the doorway and bowed.

"A dispatch from General Antonius, Divinity."

Tiberius took the tablet and read the report. General Marcus, conscientious public servant that he was, had received news of the quake at Tarsus and returned with his nephew to Antioch. The quake was not as bad as it could have been and cleanup and recovery was underway.

Tiberius picked up a stylus to write back, relieved that Antioch was safe. The Antonys would handle this crisis and add another laurel. He could find no fault with what General Marcus had done, with one exception. Why Young Marcus had returned was a mystery. The Emperor had issued an express order for him to be present at the celebrations in Rome. The First Rank Centurions of XII Fuliminata and Cohors II Italica were among the traveling party. They would have provided a more suitable escort for General Marcus than his nephew. He also surmised that if anyone was behind Young Marcus' sudden about-face, it was Juba. He was aware that Juba spread his lies about life in Tiberius' household to anyone who would listen and he was certain Young Marcus hung on every word.

"Damn you!" Tiberius snapped as though Juba was in the room. "I needed Antonius here!"

Tiberius knew that the populace in Rome needed a hero, and he had had just the idea in mind. Almost five years after Germanicus' death, he was idolized by the masses. No other member of the extended Imperial Family held the hearts and minds of the people as Germanicus had and still did. Tiberius son, Drusus, had had a lackluster career and died while the Armenian campaign was ongoing. Germanicus' oldest boys, indolent and fun-loving, were an example of why Rome's youth needed a visible lesson. Until they and Drusus' son grew up and found their way in the world, if they ever did, Young Marcus could have been brought out when needed without any fear that he coveted the diadem for his own. This horse-loving, homebody of a country boy from Syria had the mystique of Antony with none of the complexities. But Juba had nixed that plan with one stroke. Tiberius considered ordering Young Marcus to Rome, but the honors for Parthia had been delayed too long and Young Marcus now knew too much. He would have to be useful in Antioch.

Tiberius replied to General Marcus with regrets that Young Marcus would not see the Ovation. The Emperor sent, by way of a personal gift to the General, Prefect Lucius, and their nephew, sets of silver gilt arm bracers and torques with the grapes and leaves of Bacchus, the divine genius of the Antonys. He also sent some items that were part of a gift package that the other senior members of the delegation would receive on their arrival. His correspondence done, the Emperor pondered how to deal with Juba and Lucius. He had plenty of good infantry generals, but cavalry was never a Roman strength. Most Roman commanders considered cavalry a nuisance. They relied on foreign auxilliaries for everything but line infantry. The Antonys, though, had a strong cavalry tradition. They numbered among them two of the best cavalry generals in the Empire, and were mentoring a young, potential leader. Fuming, Tiberius wrote to Sejanus, approving Young Marcus' absence and reiterating that the command structure in Antioch would remain as it was. He would deal with Juba and Lucius in his own time and way.

...

Senator Aelius Lamia read the letters from the City Prefect, Titus Polcher, the Tribune's father, and Consul of Antioch, Plautius Gabinius, again, not surprised the Antonys had not gotten ahead of this crisis. Given that Lucius Antonius was in charge, it should have been expected. Lucius, a gifted horseman and talented battlefield commander, was, like Mark Antony, a fool in every other aspect. During his time in Spain, Lamia had worked with many young tribunes. None were as angry, antagonistic, or entitled as Lucius. Lamia had considered discharging him several times. The only reason he did not was because of Lucius' skills as a scout and tracker, useful in an area with a lot of smuggling and outlawry.