Tubruk sniffed his wine and chuckled. ‘The best.’
Marius held his cup high, his expression sombre. Silence fell after a few seconds.
‘To those who didn't make it today, who died for us. Tagoe, Luca and Vegus. Good men all.’
‘Good men all!’ Every voice echoed his in a guttural chorus, and the cups were tipped back and held out for refills from the waiting slaves.
‘He knew their names,’ Gaius whispered to Tubruk, who brought his head close to reply.
‘He knows all their names,’ he muttered. ‘That is why he is a good general. That is why they love him. He could tell you some of the history of every man here and a good portion of the legion outside Rome as well. Oh, you can call it a trick if you like, a cheap way to impress the men who serve. I know that's what he would say, if you asked him.’ He paused to look at the general as he caught a huge and husky soldier in a headlock and walked through the crowd with him. The man bellowed, but didn't struggle. He bore it as it was meant.
‘They're his children, I think. You can see how much he loves them. That big man could probably tear Marius’ arms off if he wanted. On another day, he'd put a dagger in a man for looking at him with a squint in the noonday sun. But Marius can lead him around by the head and he laughs. I'm not sure you can train a man into that skill – I think it's born into you, or not. You don't even need to have it to be a good general.
‘These men would follow Sulla, if they were in his legion. They'd fight for him and hold formation and die for him. But they love Marius, so they can't be bribed or bought and in battle they will not ever run, not to the last man. Not while he's watching, anyway. There used to be a land qualification to be in the legions, but Marius abolished it. Now anyone can make a career fighting for Rome, at least for him. Half these men wouldn't have made it into the army before Marius had his law passed by the Senate. They owe him a great deal.’
The men began to walk out of the entrance square, off to be bathed and massaged by the prettiest female slaves on the grounds. Several beauties had taken arms and were already gasping and exclaiming at stories of battle prowess. When Marius let go of the big legionary's head, he immediately called a girl over, a slim brunette with kohl-dark eyes. The big man took one look and grinned like a wolf, gathering her up into his arms. The echoes of her laughter came back off the brick walls as he trotted into the main buildings.
One young soldier dropped a powerfully muscled arm onto Alexandria's shoulder and said something to her. Marcus came up behind the man quickly.
‘Not this girl, friend. She's not from this house.’
The soldier looked at him and took in the boy's bearing and determined expression. He shrugged and called to another slave girl as she passed by. Gaius stood watching the exchange and when Alexandria caught his eye, her face filled with anger. She turned her back on Marcus and strode into the cool interior of the garden rooms.
Marcus turned to his friend. He had noticed her expression and his own was thoughtful.
‘Why was she so annoyed?’ Gaius said, exasperated. ‘I wouldn't have thought she wanted to go with that big ox. You saved her.’
Marcus nodded. ‘That may be the problem. Perhaps she didn't want me to. Perhaps she wanted you to save her.’
‘Oh.’ Gaius' face lit up. ‘Really?’
Marius staggered over to Gaius and his friends, still laughing, his hair plastered to his forehead with wine emptied over him. His eyes were shining with pleasure. He took Gaius by both shoulders.
‘Well, lad? How was your first taste of Rome?’
Gaius grinned back at him. You couldn't help it. The man's emotions were infectious. When he frowned, dark clouds of fear and anger followed him around and touched all who met him. When he smiled, you wanted to smile. You wanted to be one of his men. Gaius could feel the power of the man and for the first time wondered if he could ever command that kind of loyalty himself.
‘It was frightening, but exciting as well,’ he replied, unable to stop his lips smiling.
‘Good! Some don't feel it, you know. They just add up supply figures and calculate how many men it would take to hold a ravine. They just don't feel the excitement.’
He looked over at Marcus, Tubruk and Cabera.
‘Get drunk if you like, have a woman if you can find one by now. We'll do no work today and no one can leave until it's dark after that trouble we had. Tomorrow, we'll start planning how to bring five thousand men fifty miles and all the way through Rome. Do you know anything about supply?’
Both Marcus and Gaius shook their heads.
‘You'll learn. The best army in the world is lost without food and water, boys. That's the thing to know. Everything else falls into place. My home is your home, remember. I'm going to sit in the fountain and get drunk.’ He collected three unopened jugs of wine from the remaining male slaves and walked away – a man with a mission.
Tubruk watched him leave the courtyard with a wry smile.
‘Once, in North Africa, on the eve of a battle against a savage tribe, they say Marius walked alone into the enemy camp carrying a jug of wine in each hand. Remember, this was the camp of seven thousand of the most brutal warriors the legion had encountered. He drank all night with the chief of the tribe, despite not understanding a word of each other's language. They toasted life and the future and courage. Then the next morning he staggered back to his own lines.’
‘What happened next?’ Marcus said.
‘They wiped out the tribe to the last man. What would you expect?’ Tubruk laughed.
‘Why didn't the chief kill him?’ Marcus continued.
‘I suppose he liked him. Most people do.’
Metella came into the courtyard and held out her hands to Gaius and Marcus, smiling.
‘I'm glad you are safely returned to us. I want you both to think of this house as a place of peace and refuge for you.’
She gazed into Marcus' eyes and he looked back calmly. ‘Is it true you grew up without a mother?’
Marcus blushed a little, wondering how much Marius had told her. He nodded and Metella gave a little gasp.
‘You poor boy. I would have brought you to me earlier if I had known.’
Marcus was wondering if she knew what the legionaries were getting up to with her female slaves. She didn't seem to fit into the bluff world of Marius and his legion. He wondered what his own mother was like, and for the first time considered trying to find her. Marius would probably know, but it was not a question he wished to ask the man. Perhaps Tubruk would tell him before he returned to the estate.
Metella took her hand away from his and reached up to brush his cheek.
‘You have had a rough time of it, but that is all over now.’
Slowly, he touched her hand with his and it was as if they had reached some private understanding. Suddenly her eyes glistened with tears and she turned and walked away along the cloisters.
Marcus looked at Gaius and shrugged.
‘You have a friend there,’ Tubruk said, watching her retreating figure. ‘She has taken a liking to you.’
‘I'm a bit old to need a mother,’ Marcus muttered.
‘Possibly, but she's not too old to need a son.’
* * *
At noon, there was a commotion at the house gates. Some of the legionaries turned out with swords drawn in case it was a reprisal for the morning's