THE INVASION OF GAUL Read Online Free
Author: S. J. A. Turney
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Rome, Legion, Caesar, marius
wine had dripped onto his cloak. Prying his eyes open, he forced himself to concentrate on the commander. With a second jolt, he realised that the General had finished.
Caesar leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “I think that’s all, gentlemen… unless there’s anything you wish to ask?” The officers remained silent, some shaking their heads until, at a dismissive gesture from the General, they bowed in turn and made their way out of the tent.
As Fronto stood and bowed, trying hard not to let the ornate cloak fall over his head, Caesar gestured to one side. Obediently, Fronto stepped to the side of the tent and waited until the other officers had filed out. With a word, the general also dismissed the two servants, who left through a different flap and into separate quarters. Once they were alone, Caesar heaved a sigh of relief and gestured Fronto back to a chair.
“ For the sake of all that’s good and sacred, Fronto, please take that cloak off. It’s as distracting for me as it is annoying for you.” Caesar reached down to the table by his side and poured two more goblets of wine. Fronto set his eyes on the goblet as he unfastened the last catch of the cloak, and wondered exactly how much wine he had drunk tonight. Certainly more than he should have done on a duty night. And yet his head felt surprisingly clear, if tired, perhaps due to all the exercise, concentration and fresh air. With a smile, he let the cloak drop to the floor and accepted the goblet. Almost as an afterthought, and with pictures of an irate sister swimming in his head, he retrieved the cloak, folded it carefully and placed it by his side.
“ Caesar, I appreciate, as always, your private invitation to talk, but I really should be returning to the Tenth and having them stand to.”
The General cast his eyes over the slightly ruffled officer and a smile played around his lips.
“ Marcus, how long have we known each other now? I would think the best part of ten years, yes?”
Fronto nodded. “I would think so sir, yes.”
“ In all the time I have seen you in command of a unit, that unit has never been unprepared for anything. I would lay a hefty wager that the Tenth are already standing to. It’s not entirely unreasonable to suspect that your juniors are already having the tents pulled down and stowed. I’m well aware that you were half-expecting something like this tonight, especially since you were standing outside in answer to my summons almost before I had sent it. That Priscus is a good man. If only he were a man of standing and property, he would be a good choice, I think, to step into your shoes when you try for Senatorial power.”
Fronto growled; a low growl, but nevertheless, Caesar must have heard it. “I’ll never make a politician. I don’t have your gift with people.”
Caesar smiled. “No, perhaps not. But your family will never rest until you achieve some kind of position. Still, in time we may be able to do something about that. You stick with me Marcus, and we’ll both go a long way.”
The General stood for a moment and wandered around the tent, casually pausing by the main door and glancing out into the night, before letting the flap fall closed.
“ There is no doubt in my mind Marcus that you are exceptionally intelligent and astute for a ‘career’ soldier. I tend to keep an eye on your behaviour, as it tells me whether I am being too open or too closed, too friendly or too harsh. I also understand that you either know or suspect a great many things that have flown like a flock of geese over the heads of the rest of my command. The time has come to be very frank in our discussions, Marcus. If you will talk straight with me, I will extend you the same courtesy.”
Fronto’s eyes darted around the tent nervously. This was the sort of situation that had seen a number of loud-mouthed officers fall from grace in the past few decades. Still, he had known Caesar for a long time, and better
Caesar leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “I think that’s all, gentlemen… unless there’s anything you wish to ask?” The officers remained silent, some shaking their heads until, at a dismissive gesture from the General, they bowed in turn and made their way out of the tent.
As Fronto stood and bowed, trying hard not to let the ornate cloak fall over his head, Caesar gestured to one side. Obediently, Fronto stepped to the side of the tent and waited until the other officers had filed out. With a word, the general also dismissed the two servants, who left through a different flap and into separate quarters. Once they were alone, Caesar heaved a sigh of relief and gestured Fronto back to a chair.
“ For the sake of all that’s good and sacred, Fronto, please take that cloak off. It’s as distracting for me as it is annoying for you.” Caesar reached down to the table by his side and poured two more goblets of wine. Fronto set his eyes on the goblet as he unfastened the last catch of the cloak, and wondered exactly how much wine he had drunk tonight. Certainly more than he should have done on a duty night. And yet his head felt surprisingly clear, if tired, perhaps due to all the exercise, concentration and fresh air. With a smile, he let the cloak drop to the floor and accepted the goblet. Almost as an afterthought, and with pictures of an irate sister swimming in his head, he retrieved the cloak, folded it carefully and placed it by his side.
“ Caesar, I appreciate, as always, your private invitation to talk, but I really should be returning to the Tenth and having them stand to.”
The General cast his eyes over the slightly ruffled officer and a smile played around his lips.
“ Marcus, how long have we known each other now? I would think the best part of ten years, yes?”
Fronto nodded. “I would think so sir, yes.”
“ In all the time I have seen you in command of a unit, that unit has never been unprepared for anything. I would lay a hefty wager that the Tenth are already standing to. It’s not entirely unreasonable to suspect that your juniors are already having the tents pulled down and stowed. I’m well aware that you were half-expecting something like this tonight, especially since you were standing outside in answer to my summons almost before I had sent it. That Priscus is a good man. If only he were a man of standing and property, he would be a good choice, I think, to step into your shoes when you try for Senatorial power.”
Fronto growled; a low growl, but nevertheless, Caesar must have heard it. “I’ll never make a politician. I don’t have your gift with people.”
Caesar smiled. “No, perhaps not. But your family will never rest until you achieve some kind of position. Still, in time we may be able to do something about that. You stick with me Marcus, and we’ll both go a long way.”
The General stood for a moment and wandered around the tent, casually pausing by the main door and glancing out into the night, before letting the flap fall closed.
“ There is no doubt in my mind Marcus that you are exceptionally intelligent and astute for a ‘career’ soldier. I tend to keep an eye on your behaviour, as it tells me whether I am being too open or too closed, too friendly or too harsh. I also understand that you either know or suspect a great many things that have flown like a flock of geese over the heads of the rest of my command. The time has come to be very frank in our discussions, Marcus. If you will talk straight with me, I will extend you the same courtesy.”
Fronto’s eyes darted around the tent nervously. This was the sort of situation that had seen a number of loud-mouthed officers fall from grace in the past few decades. Still, he had known Caesar for a long time, and better