Salvatoria: The Memoirs of Lucretia Aurelia

ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ ᙭᙭᙭I: TᕼE TᖇIᑌᗰᐯIᖇᗩTE'ᔕ ᑕᖇEᔕᑕEᑎᗪO

March 20, 35 B.C

Ctesiphon, Parthian Empire

The clock had been ticking for months. I had continued my embargo of Italy, and convinced my client in Egypt to cut off grain exports to Rome, thus not solving the famine situation that conquering Sicily and Sardinia normally would have. Lepidus had been sent back to Rome, essentially without any authority after opposing Octavian. This left just him and Antony, and despite my presence they were clearly gnashing their teeth at each other. Antony was recovering after his invasion of Parthia - so I took advantage of that and seized Cyrenaica, and the two legions switched back to my camp. Octavian was preparing to invade Africa, and I wasn't ready. So I needed to distract Octavian while making my next moves.

Luckily, Decimus, who had been building up strength, launched an invasion of Gaul, forcing Octavian to relocate north to deal with him. Of course, knowing Decimus, and knowing he knew of my predicament likely planned to just retreat when Octavian drew close. His diversion had given me a few precious months, which I used wisely. My fleet was being repaired and strengthened to several hundred warships. I read "The Lives of Eminent Commanders" by the biographer Cornelius Nepos - who had fled to Africa. It was an excellent read, and I was taking notes for how to best counter the triumvirs once Decimus' distraction had concluded. I decided to try my hand at deception to push them into a controlled position.

I sent each of my brothers as "defectors" to both Octavian and Antony, who brought incorrect analysis of my troops and fleet, but brought fabricated reports from my spies. Both men knew I had spies in Rome, Italy and their camps at pretty much all times and they could never know who and where they were. It was a trick used by Hannibal, and as such I knew more about Antony and Octavian then they knew about themselves. Because I knew so much about them I knew exactly what type of story to spin.

Marius met with Octavian, told him that I had fifteen legions in Africa, and six in Hispania, and provided reports that Marc Antony was planning on invading Egypt and deposing Arsinoe, and annexing Egypt before retaking Cyrenaica. Octavian was apparently so concerned about Antony gaining so much power that he abandoned all plans to invade Africa, and replaced them with plans to invade Egypt. He wanted to seize the wealthiest part of the Mediterranean for himself, and use it as a base to pressure Antony. Marius convinced him I was too weak to threaten his position, and by leaving a handful of garrisons of legions I wouldn't dare to act. Octavian, normally cautious, believed my brother. Miracle number one.

Livius had an audience in Syria with Antony, lying about my position before convincing him that Octavian was planning to invade Cyrenaica and Egypt, maybe even Judea. Antony couldn't let this happen, and began preparing his forces to invade southwards. Miracle number two.

Now with Antony and Octavian gearing up to clash over Egypt, I traveled as urgently as possible under total secrecy. Cicero attended with me, leaving Cimber in charge. We moved through Egypt and Judea before crossing into the lands of Parthia. Knowing who I was, I was brought to Ctesiphon to meet with the Parthian king, Phraates IV who had just waged a small war with Antony. He had centralized his rule and was in a good position.

So I stood alongside Cicero in the court of Phraates, where I had never stood before. The grand hall of the Parthian king was adorned with rich tapestries and gleaming treasures, his personal figure formidable and imposing upon his throne. The air was thick with anticipation as we prepared to make our case for a renewed alliance between the Parthians and the Republicans. Phraates regarded us with a cool, assessing gaze, his expression inscrutable.

"Romans, representatives of the Republic, I welcome you to Ctesiphon. My father regarded you both warmly and endearingly, so I must honor his considerations. I believe I know why you are here, but I shall let you make your case," He motioned for me to speak.