“There will be better men in the Senate in time. A new generation, like Julius.”

Tubruk’s expression eased a little, but Brutus was shocked at the depth of the bitterness and sadness he had seen revealed. Tubruk had always been a pillar of certainty in the lives of the boys. He struggled to find the right words to say.

“We will make a Rome that you can be proud of,” he said. Tubruk reached up and gripped his outstretched arm.

“Oh, to be young again,” he said, smiling. “Come on home, Aurelia will be thrilled to see you so tall and strong.”

“Tubruk? I . . .” Brutus hesitated. “I won’t stay for long. I have enough coin to get lodgings in the city.”

Tubruk glanced at him, understanding. “This is your home. It always will be. You stay as long as you want.”

The silence stretched again as they walked toward the estate buildings.

“Thank you. I wasn’t sure if you’d expect me to make my own way now. I can, you know.”

“I know, Marcus,” Tubruk replied, smiling as he called out for the gates to be opened.

The young man felt a weight lift from him. “They call me Brutus now.”

Tubruk put out his hand and Brutus took it in the legionary’s grip.

“Welcome home, Brutus,” Tubruk replied.

He led Brutus into the kitchens while the water was heated for his bath, motioning him to a chair while Tubruk cut meat and bread for him. He was hungry himself after the axe work, and they ate and talked with the ease and comfort of old friends.

*                                                      *                                                      *

The heat seemed to batter at his skin as Julius inspected the six new recruits. The African sun even made his armor painful to touch, and anywhere the metal made contact with his skin was an agony until he could shift it.

Nothing of his discomfort showed in his expression, though the first doubts tugged at his concentration as he looked at the men he’d found. They were strong and fit enough, but not one of them had been trained as a soldier. For his plan to work, he needed a force of fifty at least and had begun to believe that he would get them. The trouble was, they needed to take orders and make war with the sort of discipline the Accipiter officers took completely for granted. Somehow, he had to impress upon them the simple fact that they would die without it.