Civil War Stories, The Will of the Senate

[Braden]

Decius smiled to himself as he casually rode out of Rome. He’d been dealt a pretty poor hand today but had still managed to turn things around, in fact, fate hate conspired with him to make matters almost as perfect as he’d initially planned it.

After dragging Urgunalla’s body into the street, he’d placed his own Senate Seal within her dead fingers, it was a simple thing to then set the villa complex ablaze and then he retired to the shadows…and waited.

It was not long before a troop of men had arrived and whilst they were searching the burning property and the surrounding area it was nearly too easy to snatch one of the men as he’d become separated from the group. What he’d told him was most enlightening indeed.

They were on a mission from Servius to safeguard Manius’s family and therefore his loyalty.

Decius laughed out loud when he heard this!

Here he was, wanting to kill them……for the exact SAME REASON!!

The irony wasn’t lost on Decius, and it was almost a shame to kill the man…but no matter, that is how fate deals with things.

Servius, the Consul. Decius had to admit that he had a vile admiration for the young man, so dedicated, so determined and stubborn. A man who knew, without any doubt whatsoever that HE was right and all others who differed in view point were utterly wrong. It was such a shame that he had such useless morals.

Decius worried about Manius though. Manius was not Servius, and he considered if his son would be up to the task he’d set in motion. He was also a little worried about the details the man had blurted to him about the armies that faced Manius in Asia-Minor…..but…..those things Decius had no control over.

He merely placed the markers in the best position possible, rolled the die and waited for fate to decide if he lived or died.

He was used to that, besides, despite his misgivings about Manius’s resolve over the long term he knew that the message he’d planned to send to Manius would get to him and that he would face Numerious’s legions with all the fury he could muster now.

Still….if he failed……was Servius such a poor choice for a second option? Decius was sure he could make himself “indispensable” to the Consul…or would that be Emperor…..

Decius smiled again to himself…whilst behind him Rome, perhaps the very Republic…..

………burned.