Civil War Stories, The Will of the Senate

[Braden]

Decius continued South East. He heard rumours that Servius was going to land near Rome soon, he didn’t know where exactly so he’d best keep his options open for now.

Actually…….did he know where he was going?

He stopped his horse and looked around the countryside considering his problem. Manius’s wife was dead, Manius himself was potentially already locked in battle with Senate forces, however, Manius’s children survived…..somewhere.

He hadn’t the time or the temper to have tried to get more out of Urgualla before he killed her so where now? He cursed under his breath but…….

….three children, travelling openly with people who are not their parents. It was a very long shot, but perhaps…..perhaps….someone had seen them, the barest lead he could follow. Even if he didn’t kill the children he had to be sure they weren’t somewhere where they could get word to Manius. Such a thing would surely destroy all that Decius had put in place.

He realised that he was potentially already going in completely the wrong direction but as he was already on the Southern road he may as well ask if someone had noticed anything. He turned his horse around to head back to Rome, there would definitely be answers there if he failed to pick up the trail on the main road.
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Soon he came back through a village, some distance between Rome and Capua, the villagers, mostly farmers of no import stood and some even waved as the old man passed them. He acknowledged their greetings in a good manner.

As he entered the village proper, he saw the land owners villa on his left. Much bigger and grander than the small homes of the labourers and farmers he’d passed earlier.

He wracked his brain to try and remember the name of the household here. He knew most families of standing in and around Rome but for the love of……he just couldn’t remember. He realised that he’d not slept for nearly two days. It had to be effecting him now and he needed to be alert now more than ever.

He rode past the house of Decmitius and towards a likely looking farmstead, as he approached the man of the house and a younger man, perhaps his son, moved forward to challenge him.

Decius stopped his horse and dismounted, then putting both his open hands up to show they were empty he addressed them both.

“Greetings citizens, sorry for the alarm. I am just a Senate messenger looking for food and shelter for the afternoon. Do you know where I can find such hospitality?”

The two men looked between themselves before the older one answered Decius.

“Well good sir, whilst we hold you and your station in good stead, we are but poor farmers and have little in the way of hospitality to offer one such as you.”

Decius knew it would almost immediately go this way, so he quickly produced his purse of coins. Making them openly shake in front of the men he continued to speak.

“I’m sure I can provide you with sufficient funds to purchase wine and bread for me good citizens.”

The two men nearly fell over themselves to please Decius.
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Decius fell into a fitful slumber. He’d given clear instructions to the farmer to wake him in 4 hours. He hated to sleep for long and particularly now, time was of the essence.

He also made it clear that he expected to eat when he was woken and had told them how much he was willing to part with for these two minor services.

The farmer and his son, were very well pleased with the amount, though less well pleased that Decius decided to pay them half now, and half when he left that evening. He also, “carelessly” allowed them to see the various daggers and the sword he owned whilst he took the saddle from his horse.

He would not be disturbed whilst he slept.