Athene's Prophecy (Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy) (3 page)

"Suppose he doesn't accept me as a goddess?"

"I have an idea to help that along," Grenfell offered. "We get him to recognize you."

"How? I mean I can try in the dream, but if he rejects that . . ."

"We have to dress you up to look the part, and we have to do this twice. What I want you to do is to persuade the builders of this little temple to erect a statue that looks like you. That way, our Roman will recognize you in his dreams."

"Is there an available sculptor?" Athene frowned.

"There was always a statue, and all we want to do is alter what it looks like. As it happens, we know that we can get a chance at him before he does your face."

"So you're going to dress me up as a goddess? Have we got what we need to make it look real?" Athene was somewhat doubtful that this could be done, after all, the temporal satellite was not exactly filled with theatrical material.

"The sculptor will dress you for the statue, and after that it is only your face that counts. But there is one more thing. This has to be an unusual statue. What I suggest is that you persuade the sculptor to show you thinking. Power and bombast simply won't do."

"To add to it," Chu smiled, "I'll make you something that glistens and looks like a laurel wreath crown. We can still put on some theatrics."

"Can we do this in stages?" Athene asked. "Firm up one step, then . . ."

"We get one chance up until the alien civilization is resolved. At that point, their commitment to help, assuming we can get it, could lead to their arranging further communication, so the top priority is to get him there. However, in the later efforts you should also give one or two clues about the subsequent timeline, just in case, and also to stop him branching out into some further non-productive line."

"You don't want him becoming a prophet," she nodded.

"No, and there's another catch. While he must make these discoveries, he has to keep them secret until he gets abducted. The requirement that he could have changed the way Rome developed but for the abduction depends on his not having already done it."

"Further complications!" Athene nodded. "As if this weren't hard enough already."

"I know," Dr Chu smiled, "but I've got faith in you."

That might be misplaced, Pallas Athene thought as she stared at the notes in front of her. All she had to do was save two civilizations. This time she might have to earn that "Goddess" title she had given herself, and since there was no guarantee she would be born on the new timeline that would be created, she might end up being truly mythological.

* * *

Athene stared dolefully at the controls. This would be her last attempt, and she had to time it very well. Up until her previous attempt she had been so confident. Each previous attempt had worked surprisingly well, she had gathered so much information, she had discovered how her Roman would respond to what stimulus, and she had been so sure the last effort would really be the last. But it had not worked. Everything had gone off at a tangent at the end, and she was unsure why. Ralph Grenfell thought he knew: the Ulsians had to feel suitably guilty to let the Roman return. But how to achieve that?

The good news was that Dr Chu appeared to be on top of the heat problem. If this did not work they could spend years in this wretched capsule. She had to make it work! The problem was, there were three theories on what was required: hers, Ralph's and Dr Chu's, but there was only one option. They had discussed this for some time, and eventually Ralph had taken her aside and said that she had the casting vote.

"The reason," he had shrugged, "is that this depends as much on performance as anything. You could have the right approach but if you are not convincing, it still won't work."

She had thanked him for his support, but she felt anything but enthused. It all depended on her. Great!

She reached out and began turning the dials. She must find the very narrow window of time. Fortunately she had been very accurate previously, which was why she had managed to generate three extra chances. But this was definitely the last. The image on the screen began to take shape. She took a deep breath, and adjusted the homemade wreath. She had to look like a goddess! This had to work!

Chapter 2

Old Libo nodded at his young charge and smiled. "One on one! And no pissing around!"

Before the boy could answer, the top of Libo's shield flew towards his head, while the leaden tipped point of the practice sword thrust towards his chest. Totally by reflex, Gaius parried with his shield, but the weight of the thrust was too great, and he fell backwards onto the grass. The side of the wooden sword smashed across his legs.

'Bastard' Gaius thought, as he scrambled to his feet, and another blow fell across his back. "Miserable cheating . . .' He readjusted his grip on his shield while Libo stood away from him, taunting. He grasped his practice sword, turned towards Libo, and angrily charged, shield to the fore. He was half way across the space between them when something flashed across his mind. 'Don't fight in anger!' He jammed his left boot ahead, pivoted to his left on it, and brought his shield across to cover the blow. Libo had launched at the angry young man, but Gaius' pivot left him striking air. Gaius' shield pushed into Libo's side and as he moved away, Gaius thrust his sword into his unguarded right flank.

Libo cursed, but recovered and thrust back. Gaius saw the blow, and pushing it towards his right, he moved forward, thrusting upward towards his opponent's slightly exposed right. Libo pulled his sword downward, parried, and stepped back. Gaius thrust forward, but it was a feint; as the shield blocked the thrust, and also partly blocked Libo's view, he leaped to his right. Libo had seen his feet, he swivelled, and they faced each other again.

Gaius stepped forward, pushing his shield to the outside of Libo's sword and thrust fiercely, but Libo had moved to his left and his sword struck nothing. Gaius pulled his shield downwards as hard as he could, anticipating the kick he sensed was coming. Libo swore, and momentarily seemed off balance. Gaius thrust with everything he had, but Libo still managed to parry. Gaius saw the eyes flicker, he realized his exposure, so he leaped back, bringing his shield across to parry the blow, at the same time bringing his boot around to catch the knee he had previously struck with the shield edge. Libo swore again, then swore again as Gaius smashed the edge of his shield into Libo's side.

Libo advanced, pushing forward with the shield, to take advantage of his superior weight and strength. Gaius again leaped to the right, and struck with his sword towards the knee, but this time Libo parried.

They danced around for several minutes, Gaius now opting to use his superior fitness and mobility. Libo, however, ignored this, and taunted him for being afraid to get on with it.

"Old windbag!" Gaius retorted.

Libo gave a flicker of a smile, charged forward, then dived to his left to get a clear sight of Gaius' right, but Gaius anticipated and drove his shield into Libo's body, at the same time thrusting his sword down at Libo's knee. Libo parried, but was not quite quick enough, and again he swore. When he thrust forward again, Gaius simply retreated, then, noting the slight limp, waited until the weight was coming onto that knee then he leaped forward, sword arm raised. He knew the shield would raise, and the thrust come around; he leaped to his left, advanced a pace, and as Libo struck, he swung his shield across to block it and brought his sword around inside his shield to thrust viciously up into the base of Libo's now exposed ribs.

Libo swore, nodded at Gaius, and threw his wooden sword over to the heap of equipment. "Good strike!" he grunted. "Even under the leather, I'll have a bruise to show for that! You've learned all I can teach, young Gaius. Come and have some wine."

"Thank you so much. Perhaps you can tell me whom I should go to next."

"You're wrong!" Libo said flatly, and slapped him on the shoulder. "I'm stopping because you've had enough."

"But . . ."

"Gaius," Libo said softly. "Listen to me, and just for once, stop arguing. I've taught you all I can about technique. The rest you've got to do yourself. First, you did well then and I was trying. But that was practice. Can you do it when it counts?"

There was a silence, and as Libo's eyes bored into him, Gaius replied, "I believe so. I suppose I can't be sure until . . ."

"You can," Libo smiled. "You've been trained by the best. In battle, the enemy is within as much as opposite you. You kill or wound before they kill or wound you. Don't stop and think!"

"Do you tell everyone that?" Gaius asked curiously.

Libo laughed. "No, I don't, and anyway, I don't teach all that many. I've taught you because even though your father's not exactly popular, he's been good to me and my family."

"He likes you."

"I know," Libo replied. "The second reason is you're a thinker. No, don't apologize! Most of the time it's good, but don't overdo it in combat. In every combat there are a number of tiny openings. You make some; the opponent's carelessness makes some. Being a left-hander will give you more than most would get, and being unusually tall will give you some more, so take advantage of them."

"I try."

"Yes, I know. In practice. Why did you keep bashing away at my knee. I can hardly walk on it."

"I'm sorry, I . . ."

"Don't be! That was combat. Now, why?"

"The first blow just happened. After that I thought I could slow you down and . . ."

"Good!" Libo said, and poured more wine into Gaius' cup. "Drink up! If you want to get soldiers on your side, you've got to drink with them! Now, Gaius, the first blow didn't just happen. That was one of those moments when I was slightly off balance and you made me pay. That's what I mean by taking advantage of a moment. Then you decided I had a weakness and you went to exploit it. That's good. Now, explain your end-game."

"Well," Gaius said slowly, "I started off trying to keep you off my left side, and when I succeeded I kept closing in on the right with my shield until I could get you on the weaker knee, then I feinted to distract you and went left so . . ."

"Well constructed," Libo nodded. "That's your strength, so build on it. Now, another weakness! You called me an old windbag."

"Well, yes, I suppose . . ."

"I barely heard it!" Libo snorted. "Remember the value of taunts in battle. If you make your opponent mad, you make him careless. Try to fight on your terms, not his."

"I'll try to practice," Gaius smiled and took a good swallow of wine.

"Another thing, you're not very strong yet. That's a matter of age, and exercise. Try to strengthen yourself, but if you get into a fight, try to keep at a distance and keep moving. Don't let yourself get boxed in. Use your reach, and your movement."

"I am spending some time doing the strengthening exercises you gave me," Gaius said, "but I'm not planning on getting into any more fights than I can help."

"Good," Libo smiled, then the smile went. "Now, I've taught you to kill, because either you kill them or they kill you. Kill if need be without a moment's hesitation, but never kill for the sake of killing. Do you understand?"

"I've already promised," Gaius said simply.

"That I believe you is why I taught you," Libo smiled. "This will be the last time we meet, I think, and I must give you some more advice."

"The last time? But . . ."

"Your family leaves tomorrow for Capreae?"

"The
Princeps
has required that we attend . . ." The boy paused.

"I know," Libo nodded. "Your stub of the Claudian
gens
has not been one of the favourite ones. Senatorial rank, and on the wrong side of every major issue."

"I know," Gaius smiled wryly. "Leaving aside such matters as our position on the Gracchus issue, and opposing the dictatorial powers of Sulla, we opposed Crassus' campaign against the Parthians . . ."

"Correctly! That was a disaster."

"True, but we opposed it before it was a disaster. Then one of us fought with Gnaeus Pompeius at Pharsalus . . ."

"A lot of Romans thought a lot of Pompeius."

"But not the other Claudians when they united with the Julians!"

"Trying to make up by supporting Antony was not exactly the brightest move either," Libo grinned.

"Nor was maintaining a low profile later," the boy agreed, "although keeping our mouths shut about a return of the Republic when Tiberius offered to decline the position of
Princeps
was probably a step in the right direction."

"It was not," Libo snorted. "Unlike Augustus, Tiberius the soldier didn't bullshit! I think he'd have supported a return to the Republic."

"Not now," Gaius shrugged.

"Probably not," Libo agreed, "but that's outside our concern. Now, listen to me. When you see Tiberius, stand up straight, look him in the eye, tell the truth, and don't be ashamed. Be respectful, don't be a smart-arse, and don't be intimidated." Libo paused, and Gaius remained silent. "Good! Don't let your mouth run away with you. If Tiberius wants to hear your opinion, he'll ask. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut, and whatever happens, don't show fear. The Tiberius I knew was never happier than with soldiers. Even if you're not one, look like you could be one. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"If the worst comes to the worst, and only then, tell Tiberius I'm calling in a debt."

"What do you mean?" He coughed as, in his surprise, wine went the wrong way.

"I once saved Tiberius' life," Libo said. "He promised me he would grant me whatever I wanted. I never got around to asking, so in an emergency, and only then, try that. Understand?"

"Thank you."

"Now, suppose you get to a legion. Because your family's of senatorial class, you'll start as
Tribunus Laticlavius
." He turned to the boy and growled, "Think you deserve it?"

"That's unfair," the boy nodded.

"That's not what I asked," Libo growled again. "The question is, do you deserve it?"