Conquest and Glory: Chapter XIV
Final chapter
The first snow of the year had fallen blanketing the fields around Rome in a beautiful white. It was an early snow, so many were predicting a harsh winter. Much different than when Justinus and the legion had set out from Rome to fend off the rats and expand their territory.
By now Marcus had been reinstated and Rome was more or less restored to order. With the help of the legionaries, the citizens had earnestly devoted themselves to cleaning up the city and it was now pristine. The rats had been put to flight after the death of Aquila and those who had remained loyal to him, including the nobility, were now awaiting their doom.
Messengers had been sent to gather the Justinius’s Legion back to Rome and to install someone to govern the newly acquired lands and city. Another force was on their way to defend the territory and crush any resistance left in the surrounding lands. New recruits would be found to fill the Legion’s ranks once more, many of the surviving members of Aquila’s legion who had turned against him had already volunteered to join. The rest of that legion was being disbanded and the legionaries being sent to various legions.
Justinius had no thoughts for any of that. He was sitting in his villa, enjoying a nice day, telling his wife, children, and servants about the orders from Marcus that sent him from Rome to the border, back to Rome again to face the traitorous Aquila. He was quite ready to stay there and do nothing for quite some time. He listened intently while his wife, with his many children and servants chiming in, told him what transpired while he had been gone. How Aquila had ousted Marcus and what had happened after and what it had been like. He had received a harsh scolding from her. “You need to be more careful,” she had finished, “If you had come back dead I don’t know what any of us would do.”
After all the chaos of the last several weeks and the duties of the last few days, Justinius just wanted a chance to sit and rest. This had been his first real chance. Marcus had Justinius help more than anyone in getting Rome sorted. He it had been who had been charge of rounding up the rats and loyal followers of Aquila. The one in charge of overseeing the cleaning and, where necessary, repairs of Rome had also been Justinius.
“How are your injuries? Will you recover?” one of the servants asked.
“I am recovering just fine,” Justinius answered to the relief of everyone there. “In fact, of all my injuries, the one I am afraid of most is my whiskers.” Everyone laughed at his joke. Though none of his injuries were life threatening, and his whiskers only a minor inconvenience, it was still the one that plagued his mind the most. “You should see Octavius.”
Octavius had not fared quite as well in the fighting. He had lost half of his remaining ear before coming to the palace. And once inside facing three of Aquila’s mice alone, he had lost an eye and a quarter of his tail, not to mention many other cuts and bruises. He had come a long way, from a young soldier without much experience when they had just set out, to a scarred and experienced soldier who had been promoted once again. He was now a centurion in the first cohort, having shown great promise, skill, and decision making during the battle. So much so that Justinius swore that the day could not have been won without him, and that he would become one of the greatest military leaders in the history of Rome, if not the greatest.
“Sir,” said Octavius, who really should not be up about. Justinius was surprised to see him in his house, but not surprised to see him up, “The Emperor has desired to see you.”
“Has he?” Justinius asked, getting up with a groan.
“He has,” the bandaged mouse nodded. “And me as well.”
“What is it?” he said, holding back a sigh.
“Don’t know,” Octavius replied with a grin. “But we’ll be sure to have some wine I’m sure.”
“I’d rather have some sleep,” Justinius mumbled.
Standing up, he stretched as much as his injuries would allow, which wasn’t as much as he would have liked, and made to follow Octavius.
“As would I, sir,” Octavius chuckled.
They left amid protests from his children and servants who were pleading for him to tell them more. Justinius would have very much liked to stay and talk but he knew that the Emperor’s summons were more important. As they slowly meandered their way to the palace, they talked of this and that, recalling events from their journey. Octavius reminded Justinius of details he had forgotten, while Justinius told him parts he didn’t know.
“Feels like we brought that hawk down years ago,” Octavius said.
“Aye,” Justinius agreed. “You were just a young soldier then, and now look at you.”
“Fourth Centurion of the First Cohort!” he said proudly.
“I don’t think I’ve congratulated you yet,” Justinius commended.
“Nor I you,” Octavius laughed.
“Ah yes,” he replied slowly. One of the first things Marcus had done after being restored had been to promote Justinius once again. Now rather than just being the legate of his legion, he had been made a general and now oversaw several legions, becoming one of the most powerful mice in Rome. “I’d rather not think about it, I had enough commanding just one legion, now I’ll have nine more and governors to oversee as well.”
“You won’t have too much trouble, after what you did they all love you, the ones who weren’t loyal to Aquila that is.” Silence reigned for a couple minutes as both mice tried to get the sour taste Aquila’s name had given them out of their mouths.
Even taking it slow, they had now arrived at the palace. Justinius sighed, he didn’t want more work than he already had and was going to have governing legates and listening to governors’ reports. It had been a surprising move that Marcus had made, one which the nobles and citizens had cheered on, and one which Justinius had appreciated. He wished it had been conferred with and not thrust on him. But still, he smiled, it wasn’t all bad, and it would have its perks.
“I think you would have made a better choice,” he said, giving Octavius a hearty, yet mindful, slap on the back.
Brushing Justinius’s paw away, Octavius laughed, “Yeah, and what about you, old man?”
“Caesar would be fine.” They both fell about in a violent fit of laughter.
Wiping tears from their eyes, Justinius spoke through gasps. “Now, let us see which of us will be getting the bigger pile of work.” Their laughter renewed, they stumbled through the doors to the confusion of the guards posted there, and continued on to meet the Emperor, the chambers echoing with their mirth.
The End God bless and thank you!
word count 1,179—total 21,940
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