Sabina hadn’t slept that much at all and now she found herself sat looking out on her walled garden. She was certain that she should be tired but found herself alive and awake and as the early morning grew she started to hear the sound of children and her heart soared.

She’d never really confronted her need for more children until last night and with the arrival of the Coruncanii children her maternal instincts had been strongly rekindled.

She watched as Popillia played with the two elder children whilst gently holding the baby, their eyes met and both Popillia and Sabina smiled to each other.

The trouble was, what to do now? Sabina thought hard on the problems at hand though she was sure her son had a plan, most military types always had “plans”, she was just as sure that she wanted to play a part in it now. She would leave a note with one of the menservants so that Aulus would know she was safe and with her son.

She stood up and, taking another look at the happy children, she strode to her chambers.



Kaeso woke early, as he always did, and got dressed quickly before moving through the villa and waking his escort.

“Burcanius!” the passing servant paused and turned to Kaeso

“Burcanius, could you arrange for our horses to be ready and some supplies to be made available for my men and I?”

“Certainly master, shall I advise the mistress of the house so that she is fully ready to leave with you?”

“Eh? What do you mean Burcanius? Mater isn’t coming with us?”

“….oh, but I am my lad…”

Both men turned to see Sabina walk into the corridor, clearly dressed for travel.

“You are not going anywhere with those children, without me. Is that clear my boy?”

“what are you talking about mater? You can’t come with us!”

Sabina took a second to ignore Kaeso’s outburst and address Burcanius.

“Be a good fellow and do as the young master has bade you, oh and make sure the litter is well stocked.” With a wave of her hand to emphasise that Burcanius should move away, the servant bowed and left.

Sabina calmly turned back to Kaeso

“Now then, what was it you were saying?”

“You can’t come with us Mother! Simple as that.”

“I see….simple as that is it?” Sabina’s eyebrows raised “I don’t think it is boy. You may be well versed in moving troops about but you have absolutely no concept of how to look after your charges. Had you considered that in any detail at all??”

Kaeso looked defiant.

“Of course I had! I thought we would employ Popillia to journey with us and….”

Sabina cut him off

“Simple as that huh!?! Had you considered Popillia in any of this? She’s got her own family and her own young child to look after, had you even thought how she’d cope on a journey with not only looking after her own babe but also your four charges??”

It was Kaeso’s turn to feel small now, it was true. He’d considered that it would be an easy matter to throw vast sums of money at the problem and it would just “go away”. He’d pay Popillia exceptionally well, she’d travel with him and his men looking after the children until they found a safer spot to settle. He felt ashamed now though, he’d not considered any personal feelings that Popillia may have had into his calculations and now, it seemed, his plans were evaporating like fine wine on warm terracotta tiles.

He looked at his mother, ready, dressed for the road. Her hair was up tight to her head and she’d placed a fine pearl head-dress around her scalp so it appeared as if her hair was radiant with sparkling dew drops. Her dress was practical but very fine all the same and cut, like so many of her clothes, so there was no excess, nothing to catch or snag. However the effect was that the dress followed the contours of her body. It was almost an obscene display of the female form, little skin was showing but none the less, it was obvious that she was still in prime physical condition.

“Sorry mater, I assume that you’ve already been busy today and have arranged everything?”

“Of course I have Kaeso. I do not stand by idle whilst my favoured son needs help. I have arranged a carriage for myself, Popillia and all the children. Obviously, you and your men will ride as escorts and we have a cart for supplies ready also.”

“You cover everything mother..”

“Not quite my boy, I mean we have no idea where we are headed do we?”

Kaeso was startled at first. Of course he’d considered the problem but the priority had been to get out of immediate danger and he’d not had much time to consider much more but he now had to think and think quickly.

“We cannot travel North, war comes from that way and I am certain that both Republican and Consular forces will be approaching from all diretions…….” Kaeso sighed “….I just….don’t know mother. I had hoped that we could make it to Capua at least and charter one of fathers ships to take us to the islands but I am unsure if we will be able to do so now.

“Of course we can Kaeso” his mother smiled at him and a warm feeling of love and security passed through Kaeso washing his anxiety away.

“How so?”

“Your good father is always considerate enough to leave notes of passage for me every time he leaves for business, we can go where ever you feel is best for now.”

Kaeso was overjoyed! His father was rescuing him even though he wasn’t at home and his mother was intelligent and had the presence of foresight to arrange all this for him.

He embraced her releasing all his panic in that clinch. He patted him on his back and raised head before kissing him on the forehead and they parted.

“Now then, where are we to decide upon when we get to Capua?”

“I think, mother, that we should decide that along the way. For now we need to get ready and leave before the day gets too old.”