Carthage Must Be Destroyed, page 3
part #2 of Soldier of the Republic Series
“Velio is busy. Come back later,” one of the guards retorted.
“Look,” Flavius snapped, his face darkening. “I have urgent news for the commissioner. Important information concerning the very survival of this colony. Now unless you want to be responsible for people dying, I suggest you move out of the way right now.”
His words seemed to have the desired effect, for the two guards quickly exchanged an apprehensive look.
“Thank you,” Flavius snapped, as without waiting for them to reply, he barged past them and into the building. Inside, a young man, secretary to the colony’s authorities, rose quickly to his feet from behind a desk as he caught sight of Flavius.
“They are in a meeting,” the secretary called out in protest. “You can’t just go in there,” as Flavius turned and immediately headed for the door that led into the inner sanctum of the building. Ignoring the secretary, Flavius opened the door and stepped into the room beyond, as the secretary hastened after him vainly calling out in protest. Inside the room - sat around a table - the three land Commissioners who formed the colony’s government were drinking wine and playing a game of dice. They paused and turned to stare at Flavius in surprise.
“Hannibal intends to march on Placentia,” Flavius snapped, addressing Velio and ignoring the other two men. “I have had that confirmed to me this morning. Hannibal and his army are coming here. They intend to destroy and massacre us just like they did to Taurasia. I have come to warn you. We must prepare.”
As Flavius fell silent no one spoke. Then at last Velio cleared his throat and silently and calmly gestured to the secretary, showing him that it was all right and that he could leave the room.
“We know,” Velio replied at last as he turned to look at Flavius. “We are as prepared as we can be citizen. Don’t worry.”
“You seem to forget that the consul Scipio and his army are in between Hannibal and us,” one of the other commissioners exclaimed. “The consul will make sure that we are protected.”
“Have all precautions been made to withstand a siege,” Flavius snapped. “I have a family here with me.”
“They have,” Velio said in a reassuring voice. “I appreciate your concern citizen, but we have not been idle. Preparations have been made.”
“The Gaul’s,” Flavius continued stubbornly. “Many are flocking to join Hannibal’s army, but many others are still not convinced that Carthage is going to win this war. Hannibal has not yet proved himself. We must use that. The Gaul’s are fickle. They will switch sides the moment they can see the advantage. We must show the local tribes that Hannibal cannot win this war. If we can do that, it will slow the stream of reinforcements and supplies that he is receiving.”
His comments were met with silence from around the table. Then the three commissioners glanced at each and raised their eyebrows with incredulous looks.
“Citizen,” one of the men said with a frown. “What do you think we can do? We are the government of this colony. Nothing more. These are major strategic issues that you are talking about. It is the consul’s job to protect Roman land. Maybe you should be speaking to him. Now if you don’t mind, we would like to finish our game.”
Flavius took a deep breath and looked away.
“I know you don’t I,” Velio said as he gazed at Flavius with sudden interest. “You are the man who promised those Gaul’s two hundred denarii to ferry those people across the Po. You were the foreman working on the northern wall.”
“That’s right. My name is Flavius.”
Velio nodded. Then he rose to his feet.
“It is not yet public knowledge,” Velio began in a careful thoughtful voice. “But you may as well know, as we are going to announce it shortly. We are aware that we may scare and panic people, but our settlers deserve to know the truth.” Velio paused. “We know that Hannibal intends to come here and burn our home to the ground. So, as we are the proper and responsible authorities, we have decided to issue an order that no colonist and his family will be allowed to leave Placentia. None shall be allowed to leave and if they do, they shall forfeit all their rights to their plots of land and membership of this colony.” Velio paused again gazing at Flavius. “It is in the contract that you signed when you agreed to become part of this colony. In exchange for a grant of land every colonist has the solemn duty to hold and defend this land for Rome. And that is what we are going to do Flavius. We are going to defend our home in the name of Rome. That is our duty.”
Flavius looked away and for a moment he remained silent.
“That explains the doubling of the guard at the gate,” he growled at last.
“A necessary precaution,” Velio replied with a nod.
Flavius took a deep breath and looked down at his boots. “I am glad to hear it,” he said as he looked up at Velio. “Forgive my rude intrusion Sir. It seems that I was mistaken and that you do have matters in hand.”
“No need to apologise,” Velio said magnanimously.
Flavius nodded and then quickly reached into his pocket and produced the small, sealed wooden tablet. “One more thing Sir,” Flavius said, as he handed the letter to Velio. “This dispatch needs to go to Rome with all possible haste. My patron informed me that it could be included in the official dispatches that the colony authorities send back to Rome. It needs to go right away.”
Surprised, Velio turned to look down at the tablet in his hand and at the address marked on the front. Then abruptly he looked up at Flavius and there was a sudden newfound respect in the commissioner’s eyes.
“Trebonius of the house of Aemilia,” Velio exclaimed. “Well that is a surprise. So, you are working for Trebonius?”
“I am.”
“May I inquire what you do for him?” Velio shot back, his eyes glowing with sudden interest and curiosity.
“No, you may not Sir,” Flavius replied, standing his ground. “It’s a private matter.”
For a moment Velio stared at Flavius, searching his face for clues. Then a smile appeared on the commissioner’s lips and he nodded.
“Fair enough Flavius,” Velio said. “Fair enough. It is your business. I shall see to it that your letter is included in the satchel of the rider who leaves for Rome tomorrow at dawn. You have my word.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Flavius said with a stiff awkward nod.
Chapter Three – The Commander of the Grain Depot at Clastidium
“Twelve percent interest a month,” Flavius cried out in an outraged voice, as he limped out of the banker’s shop in the heart of Placentia. “You are having a laugh.”
“I have a business to run,” the loan shark shouted after him in an exasperated voice, as he appeared in the doorway of his workplace. “Nothing in life is for free you know. Come back when you have reconsidered. You won’t get a better offer anywhere else. That’s a fact.”
Flavius did not look back as he headed away through the ramshackle tent city that dominated the heart of the Roman colony. He looked furious. The interest that the banker was charging on a short-term loan was crippling. It was an outrageously high rate, but he needed that fifty denarii loan and he needed it today. Dasius Brundisius, commander of the grain depot at Clastidium had ridden into Placentia and they were meeting later. Dasius had come to offer his services as a spy and informant, but if the deal was to be closed, he would need to pay him immediately. Flavius bit his lip. He could not wait until Trebonius sent the requested funds from Rome. It could take weeks before the money arrived, time that he simply did not have. He had to act now, or a great opportunity would be lost. With a frustrated look, Flavius stomped on down the narrow passageways in between the colonist’s tents. There was however no way he could afford the interest that the banker was demanding, and he would be damned if he legally surrendered himself and his family as collateral to that lender. He was not prepared to take that risk. Not even in order to serve his country. If things went wrong, it would affect his whole family. They would be all cast into debt servitude. The thought of spending the rest of his life paying off the debt to that banker filled him with horror. But now what? How was he going to raise the money if not through the banking industry?
Flavius groaned as an idea suddenly came to him. For a moment he paused in front of a bakery that was doing a brisk trade. It was morning and it was freezing. Around him, the Roman fort was alive and thronged with people going about their business and the sound of a dozen different professions at work. Taking a deep breath, Flavius turned to gaze in the direction of the colony’s administrative HQ. It was a rather desperate plan, he thought, for questions would surely be asked – questions which he’d prefer not to answer, but he seemed to have little choice. He needed that fifty denarii right away. He could not wait for Trebonius. Dasius needed to be paid today or the deal would collapse.
***
“You again,” Velio called out in surprise, as Flavius came limping into the office of the colony’s land commissioner followed by the agitated-looking colony’s secretary, who was vainly trying to stop Flavius from entering the room. “You know Flavius,” Velio added with a well-meaning sigh, “you should really learn to make a proper appointment if you have something to discuss. That’s how everyone else arranges to see me.”
“Forgive me Sir for the intrusion,” Flavius said hastily, as Velio gestured to his secretary that it was all right.
“Well what is it this time? Still concerned about the state of our defences?”
“No Sir, I have come to ask you for another favour.”
“Ah another favour,” Velio repeated smoothly with the non-committal voice of an experienced politician. “Favours do not for come free Flavius. I hope you are not here to check on your letter. It went to Rome with the despatch rider like I promised. And now you want something else? Well, be quick about it. I have much to do this morning.”
“It is my understanding Sir,” Flavius said, “that most civic authorities disapprove of those money lenders who charge too much interest on their loans. Is that the case here in Placentia?”
“It should be,” Velio said sharply, as his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Placentia is going to be a well-organised and managed colony. That’s my aim. That’s what I am working night and day to achieve. Outrageously high interest on loans cripples our economy and impoverishes our people. The bankers must be allowed to make a profit of-course, but it cannot be made by imposing ruinous terms on their clients. I personally am all in favour of regulation of their industry.” Velio sighed. “Hopefully soon - once I have secured the agreement of my two colleagues - we shall crack down on such practices. Tolerating crippling interest on loans is just not good governance. Why? Why do you ask? Do you wish to make a complaint?”
“I need a loan. A fifty denarii loan,” Flavius said quickly. “I was hoping Sir that the colony’s authorities would be able to grant me better terms than the commercial bankers.”
For a moment Velio said nothing as he stared at Flavius. Then abruptly the land commissioner looked away in disappointment.
“You know Flavius - this is the second time that you have come to me asking for money,” Velio said disapprovingly. “I am a fair-minded man, but now I am beginning to think you are a liability. I am not a well of unlimited favours and resources. The colony of Placentia is not a charity.”
“I would need the loan today Sir,” Flavius continued. “It would only be for a short term, maybe a month, after which I shall repay you in full.”
“The colony of Placentia is not a money lender,” Velio retorted. “We don’t make it a habit of lending out the colony’s public funds to private individuals. If news of this got out, every man and his dog would want a loan from me. I am sorry but it is not going to happen.”
Flavius looked down at his boots.
“I am not taking the loan for myself,” he said in a quiet voice. “I am doing this in the service of Rome.”
A glimmer of interest suddenly appeared in Velio’s eyes.
“In the service of Rome,” the land commissioner repeated. “Fifty denarii is a lot of money, nearly half a year’s income for most people. Why do you need such a large sum of money?”
Standing in the middle of the office, Flavius hesitated. Now, more than ever, he had to be careful in what he said. Under no circumstances could he betray Trebonius’s trust and his oath of secrecy.
“I need to pay a man,” Flavius said, lifting his head and looking Velio straight in the eye. “A man who can be very useful to me and I need to pay him today.”
Velio’s eyes were now positively sparkling with interest.
“Flavius, has this by any chance got something to do with that letter that you sent to Trebonius in Rome?”
“I would rather not answer that question Sir.”
Velio sighed. “Look,” he said. “I cannot lend such a large sum of money if I don’t know what the loan is intended for. Lending carries major risks for the creditor. You need to give me some more details. That’s not an unreasonable request.”
“So, you are able to make the loan,” Flavius shot back.
Velio suddenly blushed, as he realised that he’d been tricked. “What I meant to say,” the commissioner protested, “is that I was speaking in a hypothetical sense. It is still the case that the colony of Placentia does not act like a money lender. I was merely stating normal lending practices.”
“You are right Sir,” Flavius continued. “The money is connected to the letter that I sent to Trebonius. In fact - if all goes according to plan, it is Trebonius who will be repaying you in full. Like I said, I would need the loan for about a month.”
“If Trebonius has the money why don’t you just borrow it from him?” Velio retorted. “Why come to me?”
“I would Sir. I would borrow it from him. But there is no time I’m afraid. I need that money today. Like I said, this is in the service of Rome.”
“What the hell are you and Trebonius up to?” Velio hissed in an irritated voice. “What are you playing at? You are either naïve or stupid or both. What is this big secret that you can’t tell me? I am this colony’s magistrate after all. I should know about everything that goes on in my colony.”
“You would have to ask Trebonius Sir. I am not at liberty to tell you. I have sworn an oath of secrecy.”
“You do realise, Flavius,” Velio said with growing incredulity, “that Trebonius belongs to the House of Aemilia and that his patrician aristocratic family are no friends of mine. My relatives in Rome are new men, self-made men, plebeians. We did not inherit our wealth and status like Trebonius did. We came from humble beginnings and made our money through hard work and competence in business. That’s how we managed to secure a place in the senate. We have a long-standing rivalry with Trebonius and the Aemilia. There is no love lost between our houses.” Velio paused, as he glared at Flavius. “So, let me give you a word of advice, as I don’t think you realise what you are getting yourself into,” he continued. “Politics in Rome is a dirty business best avoided by honest, sensible men like yourself. My advice to you is to get out, before the politics of the great Roman families sucks you in and spits you out. But now here you are, standing before me, asking me for a loan but refusing to tell me what it’s for, except to say that it is in the interests of a political rival. Forgive me Flavius, but why the fuck, in your opinion, do you think I should help you?”
“I don’t care about the politics of the great houses Sir,” Flavius replied. “I only wish to serve my country, to serve Rome.”
“Don’t hide behind that excuse,” Velio hissed.
“It’s not an excuse Sir,” Flavius said gruffly. “I fought for Rome at Telamon. I fight for her now against Hannibal.”
“Not good enough,” Velio snapped, shaking his head.
Flavius sighed and turned to leave. This was not going to work. He could see now what Trebonius had meant, when the fat aristocrat had warned him about the political constraints and hostility that their fledgling intelligence gathering agency faced back in Rome. He had made a mistake by hoping that Velio would be able to help him raise the money.
“Wait,” Velio called out, as Flavius was about to walk out. “Wait. The colony of Placentia cannot act as a money lender,” the commissioner snapped, “but I could give you the loan as a private individual. The agreement would be just between me and you.”
Slowly Flavius turned around to look at Velio.
“You would give me the loan Sir,” he said quietly. “You would do this. On what terms?”
“You seem to be an honourable man Flavius, like myself, so I will expect you to comply with my terms,” Velio replied, as a sudden crafty gleam appeared in his eyes. “I am prepared to extend a loan of fifty denarii for a month, interest free. There will be just one condition. That in return for my help you will owe me a favour Flavius, one big favour and, as a political man, I make it a habit of calling in favours when I need to. Do we have a deal?”
Flavius said nothing as he turned to look down at his boots.
“All right, I agree,” he said at last, looking up.
***
The dull winter sky cast a sombre, failing light across the cleared ground that surrounded the colony of Placentia. It was afternoon and there were few people about beyond the walls of the Roman fort. Taking care not to stumble over the numerous concealed tree-stumps, Flavius trudged on through the snow towards the edge of the forest where two men stood waiting for him. He looked relieved. The work he was doing for Trebonius was important and today was going to be a big day. It had taken him months of painstaking preparation and investigation to get to this point. But his plan was coming together. He’d recognised Dasius’s potential as an informant right away but recruiting him had been an all-together more challenging task. However, with both Dasius and Victorix working for him, he should at last be able to start providing Trebonius with some useful information on the enemy.
Somewhere out in the forest he could hear the thud of a wood-cutter at work felling a tree. Apart from that there seemed to be no one about. Waiting for him at the treeline the two men were patiently standing holding the reins of their horses. As he drew closer Flavius recognised Dasius. The commander of the grain depot at Clastidium was in his early forties, with black hair and a crooked nose. He was right on time too, as they had agreed. Limping towards him, Flavius raised his hand in greeting. During his preparation work he’d discovered that Dasius was not a Roman citizen but a native nobleman of Brundisium, a Greek speaking city in the far south of Italy. Commander of the town garrison and major grain depot was an important job and Dasius, so Flavius had learned, had gained it through the influence and contacts that the local provincial aristocrats maintained with the great senatorial family’s in Rome. The final piece of information he’d been able to gather on Dasius, was that he was reliable and loyal to Rome.
“Look,” Flavius snapped, his face darkening. “I have urgent news for the commissioner. Important information concerning the very survival of this colony. Now unless you want to be responsible for people dying, I suggest you move out of the way right now.”
His words seemed to have the desired effect, for the two guards quickly exchanged an apprehensive look.
“Thank you,” Flavius snapped, as without waiting for them to reply, he barged past them and into the building. Inside, a young man, secretary to the colony’s authorities, rose quickly to his feet from behind a desk as he caught sight of Flavius.
“They are in a meeting,” the secretary called out in protest. “You can’t just go in there,” as Flavius turned and immediately headed for the door that led into the inner sanctum of the building. Ignoring the secretary, Flavius opened the door and stepped into the room beyond, as the secretary hastened after him vainly calling out in protest. Inside the room - sat around a table - the three land Commissioners who formed the colony’s government were drinking wine and playing a game of dice. They paused and turned to stare at Flavius in surprise.
“Hannibal intends to march on Placentia,” Flavius snapped, addressing Velio and ignoring the other two men. “I have had that confirmed to me this morning. Hannibal and his army are coming here. They intend to destroy and massacre us just like they did to Taurasia. I have come to warn you. We must prepare.”
As Flavius fell silent no one spoke. Then at last Velio cleared his throat and silently and calmly gestured to the secretary, showing him that it was all right and that he could leave the room.
“We know,” Velio replied at last as he turned to look at Flavius. “We are as prepared as we can be citizen. Don’t worry.”
“You seem to forget that the consul Scipio and his army are in between Hannibal and us,” one of the other commissioners exclaimed. “The consul will make sure that we are protected.”
“Have all precautions been made to withstand a siege,” Flavius snapped. “I have a family here with me.”
“They have,” Velio said in a reassuring voice. “I appreciate your concern citizen, but we have not been idle. Preparations have been made.”
“The Gaul’s,” Flavius continued stubbornly. “Many are flocking to join Hannibal’s army, but many others are still not convinced that Carthage is going to win this war. Hannibal has not yet proved himself. We must use that. The Gaul’s are fickle. They will switch sides the moment they can see the advantage. We must show the local tribes that Hannibal cannot win this war. If we can do that, it will slow the stream of reinforcements and supplies that he is receiving.”
His comments were met with silence from around the table. Then the three commissioners glanced at each and raised their eyebrows with incredulous looks.
“Citizen,” one of the men said with a frown. “What do you think we can do? We are the government of this colony. Nothing more. These are major strategic issues that you are talking about. It is the consul’s job to protect Roman land. Maybe you should be speaking to him. Now if you don’t mind, we would like to finish our game.”
Flavius took a deep breath and looked away.
“I know you don’t I,” Velio said as he gazed at Flavius with sudden interest. “You are the man who promised those Gaul’s two hundred denarii to ferry those people across the Po. You were the foreman working on the northern wall.”
“That’s right. My name is Flavius.”
Velio nodded. Then he rose to his feet.
“It is not yet public knowledge,” Velio began in a careful thoughtful voice. “But you may as well know, as we are going to announce it shortly. We are aware that we may scare and panic people, but our settlers deserve to know the truth.” Velio paused. “We know that Hannibal intends to come here and burn our home to the ground. So, as we are the proper and responsible authorities, we have decided to issue an order that no colonist and his family will be allowed to leave Placentia. None shall be allowed to leave and if they do, they shall forfeit all their rights to their plots of land and membership of this colony.” Velio paused again gazing at Flavius. “It is in the contract that you signed when you agreed to become part of this colony. In exchange for a grant of land every colonist has the solemn duty to hold and defend this land for Rome. And that is what we are going to do Flavius. We are going to defend our home in the name of Rome. That is our duty.”
Flavius looked away and for a moment he remained silent.
“That explains the doubling of the guard at the gate,” he growled at last.
“A necessary precaution,” Velio replied with a nod.
Flavius took a deep breath and looked down at his boots. “I am glad to hear it,” he said as he looked up at Velio. “Forgive my rude intrusion Sir. It seems that I was mistaken and that you do have matters in hand.”
“No need to apologise,” Velio said magnanimously.
Flavius nodded and then quickly reached into his pocket and produced the small, sealed wooden tablet. “One more thing Sir,” Flavius said, as he handed the letter to Velio. “This dispatch needs to go to Rome with all possible haste. My patron informed me that it could be included in the official dispatches that the colony authorities send back to Rome. It needs to go right away.”
Surprised, Velio turned to look down at the tablet in his hand and at the address marked on the front. Then abruptly he looked up at Flavius and there was a sudden newfound respect in the commissioner’s eyes.
“Trebonius of the house of Aemilia,” Velio exclaimed. “Well that is a surprise. So, you are working for Trebonius?”
“I am.”
“May I inquire what you do for him?” Velio shot back, his eyes glowing with sudden interest and curiosity.
“No, you may not Sir,” Flavius replied, standing his ground. “It’s a private matter.”
For a moment Velio stared at Flavius, searching his face for clues. Then a smile appeared on the commissioner’s lips and he nodded.
“Fair enough Flavius,” Velio said. “Fair enough. It is your business. I shall see to it that your letter is included in the satchel of the rider who leaves for Rome tomorrow at dawn. You have my word.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Flavius said with a stiff awkward nod.
Chapter Three – The Commander of the Grain Depot at Clastidium
“Twelve percent interest a month,” Flavius cried out in an outraged voice, as he limped out of the banker’s shop in the heart of Placentia. “You are having a laugh.”
“I have a business to run,” the loan shark shouted after him in an exasperated voice, as he appeared in the doorway of his workplace. “Nothing in life is for free you know. Come back when you have reconsidered. You won’t get a better offer anywhere else. That’s a fact.”
Flavius did not look back as he headed away through the ramshackle tent city that dominated the heart of the Roman colony. He looked furious. The interest that the banker was charging on a short-term loan was crippling. It was an outrageously high rate, but he needed that fifty denarii loan and he needed it today. Dasius Brundisius, commander of the grain depot at Clastidium had ridden into Placentia and they were meeting later. Dasius had come to offer his services as a spy and informant, but if the deal was to be closed, he would need to pay him immediately. Flavius bit his lip. He could not wait until Trebonius sent the requested funds from Rome. It could take weeks before the money arrived, time that he simply did not have. He had to act now, or a great opportunity would be lost. With a frustrated look, Flavius stomped on down the narrow passageways in between the colonist’s tents. There was however no way he could afford the interest that the banker was demanding, and he would be damned if he legally surrendered himself and his family as collateral to that lender. He was not prepared to take that risk. Not even in order to serve his country. If things went wrong, it would affect his whole family. They would be all cast into debt servitude. The thought of spending the rest of his life paying off the debt to that banker filled him with horror. But now what? How was he going to raise the money if not through the banking industry?
Flavius groaned as an idea suddenly came to him. For a moment he paused in front of a bakery that was doing a brisk trade. It was morning and it was freezing. Around him, the Roman fort was alive and thronged with people going about their business and the sound of a dozen different professions at work. Taking a deep breath, Flavius turned to gaze in the direction of the colony’s administrative HQ. It was a rather desperate plan, he thought, for questions would surely be asked – questions which he’d prefer not to answer, but he seemed to have little choice. He needed that fifty denarii right away. He could not wait for Trebonius. Dasius needed to be paid today or the deal would collapse.
***
“You again,” Velio called out in surprise, as Flavius came limping into the office of the colony’s land commissioner followed by the agitated-looking colony’s secretary, who was vainly trying to stop Flavius from entering the room. “You know Flavius,” Velio added with a well-meaning sigh, “you should really learn to make a proper appointment if you have something to discuss. That’s how everyone else arranges to see me.”
“Forgive me Sir for the intrusion,” Flavius said hastily, as Velio gestured to his secretary that it was all right.
“Well what is it this time? Still concerned about the state of our defences?”
“No Sir, I have come to ask you for another favour.”
“Ah another favour,” Velio repeated smoothly with the non-committal voice of an experienced politician. “Favours do not for come free Flavius. I hope you are not here to check on your letter. It went to Rome with the despatch rider like I promised. And now you want something else? Well, be quick about it. I have much to do this morning.”
“It is my understanding Sir,” Flavius said, “that most civic authorities disapprove of those money lenders who charge too much interest on their loans. Is that the case here in Placentia?”
“It should be,” Velio said sharply, as his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Placentia is going to be a well-organised and managed colony. That’s my aim. That’s what I am working night and day to achieve. Outrageously high interest on loans cripples our economy and impoverishes our people. The bankers must be allowed to make a profit of-course, but it cannot be made by imposing ruinous terms on their clients. I personally am all in favour of regulation of their industry.” Velio sighed. “Hopefully soon - once I have secured the agreement of my two colleagues - we shall crack down on such practices. Tolerating crippling interest on loans is just not good governance. Why? Why do you ask? Do you wish to make a complaint?”
“I need a loan. A fifty denarii loan,” Flavius said quickly. “I was hoping Sir that the colony’s authorities would be able to grant me better terms than the commercial bankers.”
For a moment Velio said nothing as he stared at Flavius. Then abruptly the land commissioner looked away in disappointment.
“You know Flavius - this is the second time that you have come to me asking for money,” Velio said disapprovingly. “I am a fair-minded man, but now I am beginning to think you are a liability. I am not a well of unlimited favours and resources. The colony of Placentia is not a charity.”
“I would need the loan today Sir,” Flavius continued. “It would only be for a short term, maybe a month, after which I shall repay you in full.”
“The colony of Placentia is not a money lender,” Velio retorted. “We don’t make it a habit of lending out the colony’s public funds to private individuals. If news of this got out, every man and his dog would want a loan from me. I am sorry but it is not going to happen.”
Flavius looked down at his boots.
“I am not taking the loan for myself,” he said in a quiet voice. “I am doing this in the service of Rome.”
A glimmer of interest suddenly appeared in Velio’s eyes.
“In the service of Rome,” the land commissioner repeated. “Fifty denarii is a lot of money, nearly half a year’s income for most people. Why do you need such a large sum of money?”
Standing in the middle of the office, Flavius hesitated. Now, more than ever, he had to be careful in what he said. Under no circumstances could he betray Trebonius’s trust and his oath of secrecy.
“I need to pay a man,” Flavius said, lifting his head and looking Velio straight in the eye. “A man who can be very useful to me and I need to pay him today.”
Velio’s eyes were now positively sparkling with interest.
“Flavius, has this by any chance got something to do with that letter that you sent to Trebonius in Rome?”
“I would rather not answer that question Sir.”
Velio sighed. “Look,” he said. “I cannot lend such a large sum of money if I don’t know what the loan is intended for. Lending carries major risks for the creditor. You need to give me some more details. That’s not an unreasonable request.”
“So, you are able to make the loan,” Flavius shot back.
Velio suddenly blushed, as he realised that he’d been tricked. “What I meant to say,” the commissioner protested, “is that I was speaking in a hypothetical sense. It is still the case that the colony of Placentia does not act like a money lender. I was merely stating normal lending practices.”
“You are right Sir,” Flavius continued. “The money is connected to the letter that I sent to Trebonius. In fact - if all goes according to plan, it is Trebonius who will be repaying you in full. Like I said, I would need the loan for about a month.”
“If Trebonius has the money why don’t you just borrow it from him?” Velio retorted. “Why come to me?”
“I would Sir. I would borrow it from him. But there is no time I’m afraid. I need that money today. Like I said, this is in the service of Rome.”
“What the hell are you and Trebonius up to?” Velio hissed in an irritated voice. “What are you playing at? You are either naïve or stupid or both. What is this big secret that you can’t tell me? I am this colony’s magistrate after all. I should know about everything that goes on in my colony.”
“You would have to ask Trebonius Sir. I am not at liberty to tell you. I have sworn an oath of secrecy.”
“You do realise, Flavius,” Velio said with growing incredulity, “that Trebonius belongs to the House of Aemilia and that his patrician aristocratic family are no friends of mine. My relatives in Rome are new men, self-made men, plebeians. We did not inherit our wealth and status like Trebonius did. We came from humble beginnings and made our money through hard work and competence in business. That’s how we managed to secure a place in the senate. We have a long-standing rivalry with Trebonius and the Aemilia. There is no love lost between our houses.” Velio paused, as he glared at Flavius. “So, let me give you a word of advice, as I don’t think you realise what you are getting yourself into,” he continued. “Politics in Rome is a dirty business best avoided by honest, sensible men like yourself. My advice to you is to get out, before the politics of the great Roman families sucks you in and spits you out. But now here you are, standing before me, asking me for a loan but refusing to tell me what it’s for, except to say that it is in the interests of a political rival. Forgive me Flavius, but why the fuck, in your opinion, do you think I should help you?”
“I don’t care about the politics of the great houses Sir,” Flavius replied. “I only wish to serve my country, to serve Rome.”
“Don’t hide behind that excuse,” Velio hissed.
“It’s not an excuse Sir,” Flavius said gruffly. “I fought for Rome at Telamon. I fight for her now against Hannibal.”
“Not good enough,” Velio snapped, shaking his head.
Flavius sighed and turned to leave. This was not going to work. He could see now what Trebonius had meant, when the fat aristocrat had warned him about the political constraints and hostility that their fledgling intelligence gathering agency faced back in Rome. He had made a mistake by hoping that Velio would be able to help him raise the money.
“Wait,” Velio called out, as Flavius was about to walk out. “Wait. The colony of Placentia cannot act as a money lender,” the commissioner snapped, “but I could give you the loan as a private individual. The agreement would be just between me and you.”
Slowly Flavius turned around to look at Velio.
“You would give me the loan Sir,” he said quietly. “You would do this. On what terms?”
“You seem to be an honourable man Flavius, like myself, so I will expect you to comply with my terms,” Velio replied, as a sudden crafty gleam appeared in his eyes. “I am prepared to extend a loan of fifty denarii for a month, interest free. There will be just one condition. That in return for my help you will owe me a favour Flavius, one big favour and, as a political man, I make it a habit of calling in favours when I need to. Do we have a deal?”
Flavius said nothing as he turned to look down at his boots.
“All right, I agree,” he said at last, looking up.
***
The dull winter sky cast a sombre, failing light across the cleared ground that surrounded the colony of Placentia. It was afternoon and there were few people about beyond the walls of the Roman fort. Taking care not to stumble over the numerous concealed tree-stumps, Flavius trudged on through the snow towards the edge of the forest where two men stood waiting for him. He looked relieved. The work he was doing for Trebonius was important and today was going to be a big day. It had taken him months of painstaking preparation and investigation to get to this point. But his plan was coming together. He’d recognised Dasius’s potential as an informant right away but recruiting him had been an all-together more challenging task. However, with both Dasius and Victorix working for him, he should at last be able to start providing Trebonius with some useful information on the enemy.
Somewhere out in the forest he could hear the thud of a wood-cutter at work felling a tree. Apart from that there seemed to be no one about. Waiting for him at the treeline the two men were patiently standing holding the reins of their horses. As he drew closer Flavius recognised Dasius. The commander of the grain depot at Clastidium was in his early forties, with black hair and a crooked nose. He was right on time too, as they had agreed. Limping towards him, Flavius raised his hand in greeting. During his preparation work he’d discovered that Dasius was not a Roman citizen but a native nobleman of Brundisium, a Greek speaking city in the far south of Italy. Commander of the town garrison and major grain depot was an important job and Dasius, so Flavius had learned, had gained it through the influence and contacts that the local provincial aristocrats maintained with the great senatorial family’s in Rome. The final piece of information he’d been able to gather on Dasius, was that he was reliable and loyal to Rome.
