The information arrived that afternoon in a leather container. Carefully Junius unfurled it and laid all the scrolls and letters out on the desk. Marius watched warily, there was a lot to get through and the Emperor was anxious for them to be off as soon as possible.
“I’ll look at the letters from the general and you read the reports?” Junius suggested. Marius knew why: his friend was still uneasy about using information from Hadrian’s spies. They were well known and greatly disliked throughout the Empire, but they did an important job. They were the eyes and ears of the Emperor, feeding back the details of any disputes or problems which could destabilize the Empire. Marius had no problem with them, they worked for Rome, but he could see that it was beneath Junius’s dignity to sully his name with their dirty reputation.
Quietly, with a flagon of wine between them, they read the reports and letters, then planned their route with the help of the maps. Once they’d agreed Marius went out to organize the horses for their journey and the provisions. When he returned Junius was in the courtyard garden, admiring his new uniform.
“Black suits you,” he told the younger man, who was in full armour and practising lunging with his sword.
“Yours is there. It feels strange, not just the black, but to be wearing uniform again. It’s been a while.”
Marius nodded, he could understand that. “It’ll soon be second nature to you again.” He wandered over and picked up the black tunic. It was good quality, better than standard Roman issue.
“Is it all arranged?” Junius asked.
“All taken care of.” He paused and turned to face his friend. “Junius, what do you think?”
The newly made praetorian tribune relaxed his arm. “What do I think of what?”
“This …” Marius was lost for words. “Everything…”
Junius sat down on the bench and put his sword across his knee. “I think that the Emperor has a right to be worried. I would be after reading those reports. And I think that we’re the best people for the job. The generals are practical men like my father, but they only see what’s in front of them. We both know there are things in this world which we can’t explain, and that makes us perfect for something like this. We won’t be blinkered to the impossible.”
Marius agreed. “Do you think it’s the Kin?”
Junius met his gaze. “I sincerely hope not. But we won’t know until we get there and if it’s not, then maybe there’s something else out there we should be worried about.”
“Or it really is mushroom spores?” Marius said.
Junius gave a wry smile. “It wouldn’t be the first time mushrooms have killed Romans.”
Marius had to laugh at that. “No one knows for sure it was the mushrooms which killed the emperor Claudius, or his wife for that matter,” he replied, then changed the subject quickly, knowing that his friend had very set opinions on the Julio-Claudian dynasty from which he was descended. “Will you tell your father about your move to the guard?”
Junius shook his head. “No, Hadrian will do that. I’ve done my three years in the provinces now, I accept that. At least this way I can still do another couple in the guard. I’m in Rome, my parents should be happy, it’s what they wanted. They can keep an eye on me.”
“I don’t quite think that’s what he intended.”
Junius stood and held the sword out again ready to lunge. “It’s a good position, with plenty of influence, much more than a mere lawyer. I assure you, Marius, they’ll be delighted that I’m high in the Emperor’s esteem again.”
“They’ll forget what happened and the arguments?”
Junius lunged and turned to smile. “When we return, I’ll be their golden boy again, on the path to power and influence. They’ll have conveniently forgotten that events in Parthia almost derailed their plan. They don’t care how I get there, Marius, just as long as I do.”
Marius watched him, wondering if Junius truly shared his parents’ ambitions for him. “And do you want the same as them? Do you care what you have to do?”
Junius held up the sword and examined it in the moonlight, watching the silver light bounce off the blade. “I won’t sell my soul for it, Marius, I’ve only just got it back thanks to you, and I intend to keep hold of it. So I’ll do what I can for my family and our ancestors, because competition and ambition is instilled into all boys of my rank. But I’ll do it on my terms.” He stopped and moved the sword so that it glinted and glared in the moonlight, then glanced at Marius. “The Emperor knows and respects that. He’s a good man, and won’t force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. I won’t tarnish my family name, Marius, I’m proud of my lineage and birth. I’ll go on my sword before I do anything that could bring disgrace to my family, so my mother has nothing to fear.”
Marius regarded him in the moonlight, seeing his earnest and sincere face.