The Antonine Romans and The Tribune's Mission

By Andrew Boyce

The fourth Novella. Tribune Lacitus must use all his skill if he is to save himself, his brother Centurion Antallius of Balmuildy Roman Fort and his father Senior Tribune Rexis of Trimontium Roman Fort.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Boyce
• Release date: Jan 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005640507

Andrew Boyce

Growing up in the Glasgow area of West Central Scotland, the remains of the Roman Antonine Wall were around me. I would see unusual ditches, man-made hills and stretches of straight roads, even the remains of a Roman bathhouse. All harked back to a time when the Romans came to Scotland.In museums such as Glasgow's Hunterian Museum, I would see Roman coins discovered near where I lived, models of Roman life and stone carved distance slabs. Reading great Roman Fiction Authors such as Harry Sidebottom, Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane and Anthony Riches, to name but a few, I hoped one day to write my own humble offerings and thankfully, I have.I write The Antonine Romans Novellas and as well as publishing them individually, I group three each together as compilations, in The Antonine Series. All Novellas and Compilations are available as Ebooks and Paperbacks.Thank you very much for reading/ buying my work, which I very much hope you enjoy, in which case please leave a nice review! Best wishes, Andrew Boyce.

Book preview

The fourth Novella.Tribune Lacitus must use all his skill if he is to save himself, his brother Centurion Antallius of Balmuildy Roman Fort and his father Senior Tribune Rexis of Trimontium Roman Fort. All of the Novellas standalone.

The Antonine Romans and The Tribune's Mission

By

Andrew Boyce

To My Family

The Antonine Romans and The Tribune's Mission

By

Andrew Boyce

The Antonine Romans and The Tribune's Mission

By

Andrew Boyce

Chapter 1.

Midnight. All was quiet. Tribune Lacitus was in his quarters, sitting at his desk. Carefully, he opened his secret drawer and took out the document from Rome. Next, he took out his various writing implements, lining them up by the ink. Over the last four nights he had successfully altered the figure of Rome's offer to the latest Caledonian tribe for its peace, downwards to a lower number. Should the tribe accept the offer, he would later alter the signed document, upwards to the higher figure. In his plan, Lacitus would keep the difference.

Lacitus could think of no other way to raise the money he needed. He knew that he was regarded with suspicion by other soldiers of all ranks and seen as someone not to be trusted, capable of hatching a plan for his own ends. However the money was not for him.

Instead the money was needed to save his father, Rexis. His father was Senior Tribune Rexis of the Cavalry based at Trimontium, which was further south and east than Lacitus's Antonine Wall post. Rexis was near the end of his career and dearly wished to see his two sons Lacitus and Antallius settled in senior roles, before he finished.

Rexis had paid several influential people of Rome to realize this wish, helping both sons to secure Centurion positions and Lacitus to reach his Tribune position. Soon these influential Romans would be wanting their money. Money, that Rexis did not have and he had recently confessed all to Lacitus.

Lacitus knew that such people of Rome would demand payment and that Rexis would be pursued to the ends of the Roman Empire as a result. Payments would be made until one day when Rexis could raise no more, at which point Rexis would be despatched by one or more hired henchmen.

Better to be despatched in case a poor Rexis decided to speak out to the world of the secret arrangements that they had party to, not fitting for a dignified well regarded Roman. Also under threat would be the positions of Lacitus and Antallius themselves, the powers that be deciding their careers should go no further, or even be stopped altogether.

Lacitus gently blew on the document and examined it closely. It was now completely dry and not even the most experienced die-cutter of the Roman Mint or the most senior Clerk to the Emperor, would think this document had been altered in any way.

Lacitus prepared the wax and sealed the document. All was done. He picked up the document as if it was the most precious item in the Roman Empire and placed it back in the secret drawer, concealed once more until the dawning of the peace talks with this latest tribe.

It was still the dead of night and Lacitus turned his attention to the alter in the corner of his quarters. As if