Londinium, Summer 234 BC

“It is good to see you, father.” Lentilus Flaminus said stiffly.

Amulius Julius embraced the awkward young man. Lentilus was in awe of Amulius, leader of the Julii faction and a man said to be touched by the Gods.

“It is good to see you, Lentilus.” Lentilus was adopted and Amulius still could not bring himself to call the young man son.

”You must be glad to be returning to Arretium, father.” Lentilus volunteered.

”There is much to be done.” confided Amulius. ”Nothing too exciting, though. We must bring our campaigns against Gaul, Iberia and Scythia to a conclusion, it is true. But other generals are tasked with that and I am sure they can see it through. No, my main task is more mundane - reorganisation. I intend to reconstitute our armies on traditional lines. Romans have done too much of the dying in our quest for expansion. I intend to make more use of our allies - mercenaries some call them. Henceforth, half of all field armies will be alae, not legions. We must also return to a historical mix of the different ranks of men within our legions.”

Lentilus listened attentively. ”The people will approve, but the Senate may fear over-reliance on auxiliaries. What if they grow stronger than us?”

“You know my feelings on the Senate. Their sniping at us, after all our great victories, is becoming intolerable. We have the support of the people - that is all that matters. I will strengthen the loyalty of the people by cutting taxes in all our towns and cities to the lowest possible rate. We will encourage Romans to settle in the provinces, giving us a strength that will extend far beyond north Italy.”

Lentilus nodded, feigning approval. In truth, none of these plans appealed to the young man. He had a Spartan character and the idea of letting Romans grow fat in peacetime on low taxes was anathema to him. Still, he knew better than to reveal his opinions to Amulius, on whom his own position depended utterly.

Amulius scrutinised the young man carefully. Was he the one? Should he be groomed for leadership as Amulius’s successor? Lucius the Victor was sixty and although Lucius was the next most influential man in the faction, it was clear he could never succeed the 49 year old Amulius.

“Have you heard from your brother?” Amulius inquired innocently.

Lentilus’ lip curled in distaste. “No. As you know, we are not close.” Amulius smiled inwardly - that was the understatement of the year. Lentilus might struggle to hide his opinions, but some were too strong to suppress. Amulius had a second adopted son, Publius Maxentus, a man as different from Lentilus as day from night. Where Lentilus was authoritarian, judgemental and Spartan, Publius was extravagant, loose and Epicurean. Amulius needed a successor and ideally he wanted to find him within his own adopted family. But who to choose, Lentilus or Publius?

Amulius smiled at Lentilus. He admired the stern young man, living his solitary life of duty. So different from Publius, married with two children and yet still living a wild life of debauchery, by all accounts. The rumours were too much - that Publius had succumbed to the embraces of other men.

“I will make a man out of your brother, yet.” Amulius said harshly. ”I will send him to join the campaign against Scythia. He will learn military virtues or he will die trying.”

Lentilus nodded heartily in agreement. The second option sounded good.