Andronikos had grown tired of debates and conversations he thought trivial. Returning to his guards and Captain Ampelides he saw the Imperial Palace in from the Senate steps. Before he could be stopped by Vibius or Annius, he had his men ride with him straight for it. Having stopped by the Imperial Palace unescorted, Andronikos caused a sudden uproar with the Praetorians on guard duty. They had no knowledge of who he was or that anyone of importance was coming so they quickly went over to him to halt him as any good Praetorian would after seeing twenty fully armed and armored Companion Cavalrymen come trotting over toward the Imperial Palace. With the carriages carrying his things closely behind, he dismounted and moved to meet the Praetorians. Captain Ampelides stood beside his prince as they began a verbal argument with the Praetorians. Vartouhi arriving step over to her husband and tried to calm him down since she knew it not wise to start trouble, Pontelais agreed and tried to calm the situation explaining what was going on. Andronikos and Ampelides on the other hand seemed hell bent on causing trouble as they argued with the Praetorian Captain.

Hearing the commotion Legatus Imperatoris Commodus Augustus Julianus came outside to find out what was going on. "What’s all this then?"

Andronikos ceased his arguing and looked at Augustus. “Are you Emperor Justius?”

Not very shocked Augustus looked on allowing the Praetorians to remain at heavy guard, “No I am not, I am Commodus Augustus Julianus, Prima.” He paused glaring at Andronikos. “And you are?”

Andronikos seemed shocked, almost insulted by his comment. Does not anyone know of his coming? “I am Crown Prince Andronikos Antiochus of Seleucia. I have traveled west to Rome to speak with your Emperor Justius regarding what is happening in Cappadocia.”

Augustus motioned for the guards to be at ease and to allow them to pass. “Ah Andronikos!!!” he exclaimed. “I am terribly sorry for this mess. I was told you were delayed at the Senate and so I was not expecting you yet.” Augustus looked and could see Senator’s Vibius and Annius approaching now. He waved to them that he would take care of Andronikos from here on out. “I am sorry to inform you that the emperor is still unavailable. He is currently overseeing preparations for the festival later this evening to be held in your honor.”

Andronikos and his entourage seemed confused and surprised.

“I am sure I can be of service to you my prince. I was instructed to be with you until Emperor Justius is free to finally meet you.” Augustus informed him.

Andronikos eyed the Praetorians carefully before finally turning back toward Augustus. “Then my dear Prima, perhaps you can explain why my wife and my guards have yet to be shown a room they could reside in while in your city.”

“But of course my prince, please follow me and I shall show you all where you can put your things and where you will be staying.” Augustus said motioning inside the Imperial Palace.

The prince, along with his wife, counselor, captain and guards all followed him inside. Augustus gave his party a short tour of the palace showing off the bird sanctuary, the gardens and the many bathes. He finally directed them to the large state rooms and stopped before them. “Here you are sir, your rooms. Inside you shall find the most comfortable atmosphere, the finest wine from across the empire and slaves to attend to your every need. Whatever you require is at your disposal.” He told them with a smile.

Vartouhi walked elegantly into the room and seemed to be very inspective. Walking over to the large bed she gently touched the silk linen. The silk was of high quality but not as good as the linen back in Antioch or the silk dress she wore. She turned and smiled back to her husband* Yes, this shall do nicely.”

Clearing his throat to catch Augustus’ attention Ampelides asked “Pardon me, but where am I and the rest of the guards supposed to stay?”

“I trust that my captain and his men will be lodged next door in the adjacent rooms?”
Andronikos asked.

“Yes, I have taken the liberty of making sure that the rooms adjacent to yours, east and west, are for your guards and captain.” Augustus motioned to doors in the room. “Those doors to your right and left are for them to use if you need to be reached immediately; however, I assure you that here in Rome, with his majesty’s finest troops and personal guard, there will be no need to fear.” Augustus added.

Captain Ampelides looked about the room and then back out the hallway, looking it up and down. “We'll be the judge of that.” He commented.

Ampelides called over Andronikos and the two began to talk privately about something. Vartouhi used this chance to walk over to Augustus and speak with him.

"Forgive me for being so inquisitive, but as Prima what is your role in Rome? “Other than being the designated heir of course?” she asked in a sweet voice, walking around the Prima with her hands on her hips, her emerald boring into the Prima’s.

“To be very blunt my lady, I am the direct link to Emperor Justius. I oversee the senate as well as the military and I make sure the emperor’s commands get completed.” He replied to her.

“I see…” she replied casually, walking around the Prima and looking him over. “You were a man of the military yes?”

“Yes, I was Proconsular Legate of the African legions before I was chosen to be the heir to the Roman throne.” He commented proudly.

She smiled seductively, “I thought so. I can tell when a man has served his nation in war.” she gave a look at Augustus and walked away.

Andronikos, having finished his talk came over. "Well Augustus, perhaps I can discuss things with you since your emperor seems to be so busy.” Andronikos said annoyed that he has still yet to meet the emperor.

“I am at your disposal my prince.” Augustus replied.

“Very well then, do you mind if I am very blunt?” Andronikos asked.

“Not at all sire, I would hope that you could be as open as you like around me.” He answered.

“Fine…” Andronikos paused momentarily. “What the hell kind of a ruler allows his generals and men to run free doing as they please?” he demanded.

“You are referring to Florianus I presume?” Augustus asked.

Andronikos crossed his arms and glared sternly at his counter-part. “Unless you have another renegade general with a large body of men heading east as well that I do not know about, he is the only one I could be speaking of.” Andronikos said angered.

“No,” Augustus said strongly. “There is no one else, I can assure you; however, this Florianus is not of us. He is Roman yes, but he forfeited his rank and titles for ignorant reasons. I assure you, he is of no relation to our Roman state, he is a traitor and is being dealt as such.” He assured the prince.

“Tell me Augustus, what would cause this man to betray ‘glorious’ Rome?” Andronikos asked with sarcasm.

Augustus sighed and cleared his throat. “To tell you the truth, it was all for glory. He is under the delusion he can use funds that were being set aside by our family to raise his own legion. Those funds were meant to raise troops in honor of our family and add them to Rome’s greater glory, not to finance some hopeless cause. My family and I are sorry to say that he was going to use the legions he paid for with our money to go to Cappadocia and fight your forces there. Having succeeded he would then take the lands he acquired and ‘give’ them to Rome, hopefully to him while I was Emperor. He believes if he does this all will be forgiven. I however will not allow it to happen. You are an ally of Rome and we will not allow you to be stabbed in the back because of his treachery. He is being hunted down as we speak, my prince.” Augustus informed the prince.

Ampelides looked uneasy toward Augustus’ comment and spoke up. “And just how is he being stopped?”

“He abandoned his post captain. His former legion will not follow him, we have seized all his assets and funds, and he has nothing left. We are tracking him and his accomplices now. All we need is permission to get him and everything will be as it was before this whole incident.” Augustus replied.

“Permission?” Ampelides asked.

“Well he is in Cappadocia. We would need to cross your lands in order to deal with him. So all we would need would be your permission and we will send an army with the best possible haste and dispatch this traitor of Rome.” Augustus stated.

Vartouhi walked over to her husband and whispered something in his ear. Finishing she flashed a look at Augustus before returning to her seat on the couch.

Andronikos shook his head and paced the room. “Why is it that you Romans cannot seem to grasp the idea of ‘Stay Out!’?” he demanded. “Constantly your people come into our sphere and do as they please. Why! Do our lands mean that much that you must have them yourselves?”

“We do not care for your lands Andronikos; if we did you would not be here. If Rome wanted your territory she would use the excuse of hunting down these traitors and take your entire kingdom.” Augustus commented boldly. “Have we done that? No, because we value your friendship.”

Andronikos looked shocked by the Prima’s comment. Ampelides tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh; Vartouhi herself even bore a childish smile. The Seleucid laughter made the Praetorians in the room quite angry and they held scowls on their faces.

“Well Augustus,” Andronikos began with a smile himself. “Perhaps you do not realize something. If your 5, 6 or even 10 legions came into our lands, I would personally see them crushed under the weight of Seleucia's might. We both know Rome does not have the power to attack us outright. So before you go threatening anyone, know first that you can back up whatever you say.” Still with a large grin he continued. “Regardless how am I supposed to know this whole thing is not some ruse? That this renegade general is not acting on orders of your emperor?”

“Why else would we have you here? Trust me Andronikos you don’t want a war with us.” Augustus said being arrogant. “I can assure you that this incident did not come from the emperor, he had no idea what Florianus was planning. Besides, how long do you really think Aegyptus and the rest of the east will actually side with you? Sure your alliance is there, but have they not broken it before with you? And you are not as strong as you claim. If you were, why did you almost lose your conflict with the Parthians then?” he asked boldly.

Andronikos eyed Augustus carefully. The Praetorians became quite anxious, expecting a fight to ensue at any second. But before that could happen, the Seleucid prince broke out in laughter. The Praetorians were caught off guard; they never expected him to laugh. Looking around the room, they saw the Seleucid captain laughing as well and the princess was shaking her head with a large smile on her face.
“You are alright Augustus,” Andronikos began. “You do not cower when someone begins to threaten you. I like that...” he paused. “If you are to be the next ruler of Rome, then the peace between our two lands might just make it.”

Augustus, the red in his face beginning to lower, swallowed empty air. With a smile he replied, “Well my friend, I tell it like it is. I would like nothing less then our friendship.”

“I see nothing wrong with that.” Andronikos took a seat beside his wife. “Now while I wait here and you stall me until this Justius appears, what can we do to pass the time, hmm?” he asked.

“Perhaps we can see the infamous Praetorian Barracks?” Vartouhi asked sitting close to her husband.

“If you wish my lady, but I would also wish to take you other places as well.” Augustus said with a smile.

“You are the one who lives here Augustus, we are mere guests.” Andronikos pointed out. Suddenly Ampelides walked over to his prince and whispered something, Andronikos quickly sat up and turning toward his host commented, “I must speak with my captain, please excuse me for a moment.”

Vartouhi suddenly rose from her seat as well. Looking over at her husband leave the room, she walked over to Augustus, catching by surprise as she traced her finger gently down his back. “Tell me something Augustus…” she began. “Where is your wife?”

“To be honest my lady, I had a betrothal once when I was young; however the Gods took her away from me. The ironic thing is she loved me and I loved her. Unlike some marriages.” He said taking a jab at Vartouhi and her marriage.

Vartouhi smiled at the comment and thought him clever to get it in. “Such a pity...” she said circling the Prima, gently touching him here and there. “You would make some girl very happy if you were to wed her. To bad...” She stated looking up at him with seductive eyes and biting her lower lip before she suddenly turned around and casually walked away.

Andronikos came back into the room and saw Augustus tense and a little flushed.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

Augustus coughed and tried to quickly regain his composure. “Yes, I am well. So, how about I take you on a tour of the Praetorian Barracks? I am sure I can show you other great buildings along the way.” He replied, finally regaining the color in his skin.

“You're the one leading the way.” Andronikos said. He turned and looked at his wife who was busying herself with a book she found in the room. Walking over to her he quietly asked her with a smile, “Are you behaving?”

“Always.” she replied innocently, giving her husband a small kiss. “He’s a fool.” she quickly whispered to her husband.

“Well then, let us be off.” Augustus said leading the way back outside the palace. Augustus suddenly stopped and he began to converse with someone outside in the hallway. Suddenly a man in ornamental battle regalia stepped into the large state room; he was flanked by impressive looking Praetorian Captains. Tullus Gaius Varro, Rome’s vaunted Praetorian Prefect had arrived.
“Thank you Augustus, I will take care of our esteemed guests from here on out.” He said with a commanding presence.
“And who are you?” Ampelides asked with a sense of nervousness. Several of the other Companion Cavalry guards also placed their hands on their weapons.
“I am Praetorian Prefect, Tullus Gaius Varro. Until Emperor Justius can see you, I shall be your escort and protection from this moment onward.” He replied.

Andronikos looked cautiously at this new Roman. He could immediately tell he was a completely different man than Augustus. Where Augustus was timid, Gaius was forward. Where Augustus was blunt, Gaius was calculated. Andronikos stood and staring at them man introduced himself. “I am Crown Prince Andronikos Antiochus of Seleucia.”

”I know.” Gaius said with a half smile.

Vartouhi suddenly moved to whisper in her husbands’ ear. “This one is dangerous my love; he is not like the other opportunistic idiots. Be careful.” She looked at Gaius and gave him an innocent smile and bowed her head gently.

Gaius’ facial expression never changed for a moment, he seemed to have this cold feel about him. Andronikos walked over to him and looked at the Praetorian Captains at his sides.

“Perhaps if you tell me a little about yourself I would feel more comfortable with you ‘protecting’ me.” He stated.

“I told you my name what more do you need?” Gaius asked. “Where were you taking them Augustus?” he asked the Prima.

“Various buildings, and also the Praetorian Barracks.” He told him.

“Then that is where we shall head first. Come, this way.” Gaius suddenly stopped and pointed to Andronikos’ guards. “They will remain, they shall not be needed I assure you.”

Captain Ampelides had a distasteful look upon his face; he turned to his prince who slightly nodded. Ampelides ordered the Companion’s to stay in the palace and to keep Counselor Pontelais company.

Vartouhi seemed to grip her husbands’ arm tighter than normal; it was the first instance where Andronikos could feel that she was genuinely nervous and apprehensive. Andronikos, his wife and Captain Ampelides were motioned forward to follow the Secondo, and this they did until coming to a waiting carriage.

Arriving at the Praetorian Barracks, the Seleucid trio paid close attention at the training facilities and what made men Praetorians. If they were reputed to be the best soldiers in the world, it would serve Andronikos well to know why. Vartouhi paid close attention to the guards as they trained with one another. Likewise the Praetorians were also paying close attention to her as well, those few who decided to stare were quickly reprimanded by their commanders and Gaius, if he caught any, would see that they had hell to pay.

“So Gaius, as Praetorian Prefect how can you do your duties as commander of men in the field as well?” Andronikos asked.

“I am a man of many talents my prince. If my great emperor feels I should better serve him as only Praetorian Prefect then so be it. Yet if he feels I can also serve him well as commander of some of his armies then I shall not fail him in that respect either.” Gaius replied with a smile.

Andronikos made mental notes to himself. It appeared that the Varro family in Rome is quite strong. He wondered what happened to the Vitellius family, if that was the one which the emperor belonged to. Had they just died off? Had Justius betrayed them and sided with the Varro? Andronikos pondered that he did not want to know; all he cared about was that he fixed this whole situation with Rome and in the process see how powerful they were. Perhaps by seeing their leading men he could what would happen should his nation and Rome wage war. Andronikos smiled slightly, combat he thought, now that was something he understood. Not this boring mind games and debates.

Gaius noticed the prince with a smile and pondered why. “Andronikos, is something funny?”

“Not at all Gaius,” Andronikos commented still with a smile.

Gaius felt slightly uneasy but shrugged it off as nothing major, this time. He saw that Andronikos’ Captain Ampelides was in conversation with one of his own Praetorian Captains and nothing seemed out of the ordinary there. Gaius then thought he was over analyzing everything and shook his head a little. These were Rome’s allies, and as such he should not think ill of them.

Vartouhi noticed her husband and saw the look in his eyes as he gazed at the large marble and stone buildings in the city. She walked over to her husband and pulling him from Gaius’ side she spoke to him. Gaius eyed them carefully as they walked through the large gardens in the palace, which gave all beautiful views of the major buildings in Rome.

“I know that look dear,” she quietly with a wicked smile. “But you promised father that you would fix this situation not capitalize on it.”

“I know but I know even you have seen how we can expand ourselves.” He told her back.

She smiled and tossed her hair aside. “Well, it appears this Varro family is quite strong. They will be ruling Rome in the coming years.” She paused and looked at Gaius who caught her gaze. She smiled sweetly to him and looked back at her husband. “This one is the strongest of them. The rest seem to be nothing more than scroll pushers all looking for a chance to become powerful and wealthy.” She commented.

“Well then, since you seem to know so much. What do you suggest I do?” he asked her in a low voice.

“Make sure you keep the peace, and continue our friendship, but prepare for a massive war.” She told him smartly. “I have no doubt husband that you would crush Rome’s mightiest armies if had but the chance. Rome has not impressed me,” she said bitterly. “only this Gaius has. And a man in his position does not have the power to stop us.” She told him with a gleam conquest in her eyes.

“My beautiful Vartouhi, if Rome does not scare you then who does?” he asked her, while standing in the gardens, running his fingers up and down her cheek.

“Parthia,” she paused. “And Asia, you know well how much Pontus hates us. Only his hate for Rome keeps him in our camp. I fear a war coming husband, one in which will be started by this ‘Roman’ in Cappadocia and from whence it will spread to Asia, Parthia, Armenia and to home. To Seleucia.” She informed him in a slightly worried tone.

Gaius, now intrigued at what the couple was discussing, motioned for a few of his Praetorians to edge closer to them so as to eavesdrop on their conversation. This did not go unnoticed and Vartouhi tilted her head slightly realizing the close proximity of the Praetorians.

“They are trying to eavesdrop…” she said quietly with a smile, trying to give off the impression they were just two people in love.

“Do you want to give them something to talk about?” he asked her with a smile.

She just giggled and laughed shaking her head. Soon the two rejoined the larger group again and motioned toward Gaius that they were ready to move on.

Gaius nodded and began to lead them on through the palace. He could not help but stare at the prince and princess. What had they just spoken about? Was it just simple sweet nothings or was it more? He sighed to himself with the impression he would never know.

A Praetorian came over to Gaius and handed him a letter, reading it he turned to the group he was leading. “Well it appears Emperor Justius has returned. He is ready to meet you upon your convenience.”

“Excellent, if you would be so kind to lead us back to our state rooms we will meet with Emperor Justius.” Andronikos replied.

Gaius nodded and ordering his men about they returned to the rooms that had started at.


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By: F. Hadrius Vitellius (GM), Q. Mardraeus Agrippa (GM), V. Vibius Varro, A. Annius Varro, C. Augustus Julianus, T. Gaius Varro, O. Justius Vitellius, and F. Publius Varro


AD 43