Carbo walked up to me. “Best tread softly, Decius,” he advised. “Odds are good that you’ll be the next man killed in this army.”
“I’m all too aware of it. The only men I’m getting along with these days are barbarians and the disgraced. How can he banish an entire century from the camp? It’s outrageous!”
“So is the murder of the First Spear. An example has to be made, Decius. At least they have a chance. He could have ordered decimation. He could have ordered the lot of them to march into Germany and not return until he sent for them. Maybe it will be best just to let those eight men be executed. The legionaries won’t be perfectly satisfied, but it would return the legion to some sort of normalcy.”
I shook my head. “No! I don’t know about the others, but I am sure that Burrus didn’t kill his centurion, richly as the man deserved it, and I won’t allow him to be punished for it.”
“Then you have a very large task,” Carbo said. “It is more than just saving Burrus. These men want their honor back, and if that contubernium is not to be executed, you must give them something better.”
As he spoke these words, the officer’s call sounded and we passed within. Next to Caesar’s tent I saw Molon standing beside some chests and bales; the belongings of the late Titus Vinius. And on top of the heap sat Freda, looking as disdainful as always.
“Gentlemen, I must be brief,” Caesar began. “I need every hour of daylight I can get to ride to Italy. This sorry business has already cost me half the day. Treasurer, your report.”
The legion’s treasurer was an optio chosen for his excellent memory, good penmanship, and a head for figures.
“Titus Vinius never married, had no children and never informed me of any family. He left behind no will. Therefore, according to custom, the Proconsul is executor of his estate until a family member comes forward to make a claim. Word will be sent to the steward of his Italian estate, who will presumably inform the family, if any. He paid regularly into the funeral fund and this, along with a generous contribution by the Proconsul, will pay for a fine gravestone. Massilia has excellent Greek stonecavers and a monument will be commissioned immediately.
“The aforementioned steward visited Titus Vinius twice each year and at those times the First Spear made his banking arrangements, presumably with an Italian banker. He kept at all times a balance of one thousand sesterces with the legion bank.” This was a tidy if not a princely sum. A senior centurion could be a modestly wealthy man, what with pay, loot, and bribes.
“Very well, Treasurer. Gentlemen, I hereby take charge of the movable goods of the late Titus Vinius. They shall stay here in the praetorium while Decius Caecilius Metellus conducts his investigation. There remains his ambulatory property: his livestock and his slaves. His horse and pack mules will stay with the pack train animals for now. That leaves his slaves. Accommodation must be found for them and I have a full staff.”
Slowly, every head turned until we were all staring at Freda, who ignored us.
“Actually,” Labienus said, “I have room in my tent . . .”
“You know, I could use a cook . . .” and so on. Everyone found that he had room for just one more slave. Everyone except my cousin Lumpy. Maybe the family rumors about him were true.
“Recall, gentlemen, that Molon goes with her.” Even that dismal prospect did not slow down the offers of accommodation. Caesar silenced everyone with a wave and a look of utterly malicious humor came over his face.
“Decius, you may have them.” Instantly, every man in the meeting was glaring at me, even my old friend Carbo. This was perfect. Now everybody but the Gauls hated me.
“And now, gentlemen, I must ride. I shall take only a small escort of cavalry. I intend to be back here, with our reinforcements, in no more than ten days.”
“Is that possible?” asked Labienus, incredulous.
“If not, I intend to make it so,” Caesar said with that confidence of which only he was capable. It was a trick he knew how to use well. He could almost convince even me that the gods were truly on his side. “You are dismissed. Decius Caecilius, stay here.”
The others left as the small cavalry escort arrived. I was glad to see that Lovernius and my ala were not among them. I needed friends at that moment.
“Decius,” Caesar began, “I cannot impress upon you too strongly just how much I depend upon you to solve this murder. Even with the reinforcements my army will still be very small. I need the Tenth! And I must have it in top fighting order, not weakened by suspicion and dishonor and fear of evil omens.”