Arminius woke in the arms of his wife, as he had most nights since their wedding, save for the occasional separation due to travel or kidnapping, and childbirth. He stared into her face for some time before rousing--she had not changed in almost eighteen years of marriage! If only he could say the same! Looking in the bronze hand mirror, he could spot grey hairs where none had been before, and surely there were more lines than he remembered? Feeling the twinge in his back as he picked up 'Candens' his fiery youngest son, finally brought home to him the fact that he wasn't the young man he had presumed himself to be. Having his eldest don the toga virilis made him see that his life was more than half over...and what had he to show for it?

He found himself sitting in a chair on the terrace overlooking the private gardens, as the first rays of dawn broke over the city. Birds began stirring, and the dew refracted the rays of the rising sun into dazzling miniature rainbows. During the night, the city had been quiet, with no smoke showing any indication of fires set by rioting crowds. Would this be the last day for me...for my family? I must go into the forum for the latest news, and to see if the Senate is meeting. No matter what may happen, the business of government must go on! He turned as he heard a step behind him.

"Father, I've brought you some breakfast." Marcus said, setting the plate and cup on a tripod stand next to him. Marcus was dressed in his new white tunic, further driving home the point of Arminius' advancing years. He also wore his new gladius buckled round his waist.

"I hardly think there is need of that...at least in our own house!" Arminius laughed, and stopped when he saw the look of dismay on his son's face. "I know your concern, my son..." he took a deep breath, and released it slowly. "That is why I am going out today--to hear the news, and to make some assessment of the situation."

"And..." he said when he saw his son about to protest, "we must stop by the tonsor's shop so we will look our best for the Forum. Even in times like these, we must uphold the honor of our gens. Now, join me in this fine cheese! We should be off before your mother awakes!"

"Ye may forget all them rumors...I been to the forum already! Lepidus, bein' Master o' Horse, has gathered some troops, and vows revenge on Brutus, Cassius and the other conspirators. He hasn't got many yet, and Marcus Antonius--though he be Caesar's co-consul--can't make up his mind what to do! Hirtius is advising him to make peace with them and give them amnesty!"

If Arminius had not just been finished, his throat surely would have been slit as his head jerked around! His jaw eventually closed, and he finally found words to speak. "What! By Jupiter!--what has possessed the man to do that? Surely Lepidus won't agree to such a thing!"

The barber motioned for Marcus to come forward, meanwhile motioning with his razor as he spoke. "Brutus and his lot have taken defensive positions on the Capitoline, along with some soldiers, gladiators and slaves...and refuse to come down without safeguards. Lepidus can't take their position, and until Antonius decides, the situation stands." He felt the few faint hairs on Marcus' cheeks, and smiled at Arminius. "First time, eh? I remember mine...back when Marius was running things...those were some times! Won't see his like again!"

Arminius watched with a smile as the man deftly removed the few hairs from Marcus' face, and took a snip or two of the more unruly curls in the boy's hair. He presented these in a small parcel to the young man on the stool before him. "An old custom, young sir! Present these to your mother, that she may save them for your family bust!" He accepted the silver denarius Arminius gave him, and smiled broadly when he was told to keep the change.

"Be careful in the Forum today, sirs! All's quiet now, but that may change at a moment's notice!"

Marcus started the turn into the Via Nova, but Arminius put a hand on his shoulder and motioned on to the Via Sacra which led directly into the Forum, rather than the shorter route down the Nova to the Vicus Tuscus. "We must stop at the Vestal's and register you with the censors...and that is on the Sacra. Perhaps we may also pick up more news there...and not have to go to the Curia or Forum after all."

At the Temple of Vesta, they quickly accomplished Marcus' registration...name, parentage, voting tribe...all the tedious details the state needed to make sure each citizen could be properly taxed and identified for court proceedings. As they started toward the forum, Arminius saw increasing numbers of soldiers, plebeians and onlookers of all sorts. The crowds grew thicker as they approached the edge of the city's heart...and at length they could go no further, despite senatorial stripe on Arminius' toga. He disliked the display of wealth, and refused any attendants when he went out, save for a secretary to keep his notes. Today, he wished he had brought a guard, if only to clear the way.

To his enquiry, a man about his own age--equestrian by his dress--turned to answer. "Consul Antonius has read Caesar's will...he has named his adopted son Octavianus as his heir...and has promised 75 drachmae to each man in Rome! As well as money for games and shows. Antonius has agreed to execute the will."

"What of Brutus and Cassius? And the Senate?" These issues struck him as more important than who got all of Caesar's money.

The eques laughed scornfully, then saw the breadth of the stripe on Arminius' toga. He sobered quickly. "Sorry sir...the Senate has apportioned the provinces for the year, and Brutus and Cassius have got their assignments already--Macedonia and Syria! They are still on the Capitoline though...unless Lepidus and Antonius join forces to rout them out."

Arminius thanked him, and turned to go, Marcus following a step or two behind him. Once out of the crowd, Marcus moved beside his father and waited for him to speak. At length, he could contain himself no longer. "Father...what does it mean? What is going to happen?"

"It means, my son...that things are going to stay unsettled for a time....until Marcus Antonius decides to act. If he decides right, then events may calm down, and peace will be at hand." He paused for a moment before going on. "If he decides wrongly, then we will have revolt, or at least another civil war."

Marcus thought for a time, unconsciously imitating the mannerisms of his father--the sucking in of the lower lip, the tilt of the head to the left and the placing of his index finger on his chin. "But father, what of Octavius--Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, rather?"

Arminius waved his hand. "He is only nineteen, and studying in Apollonia...word has it he is sickly--I don't think we need worry about him! The last time Rome saw him, he was trailing behind Caesar's chariot in the Libyan Triumph....Oh, he is good looking, but I can't say he is much of a politician...he has had no career as yet though he fought against Pompey's son in Spain with Caesar. Some say he was no more than his secretary there!"

Arminius turned toward the Mugonian Gate and the Palatine Hill. "Come, we must report the news to your mother, and take counsel before we decide our next move!"