Free The Horse Changer by Craig Smith Page A

Caesar rode north along the Appian Way with veterans of the legions joining him as he went. Perhaps because of his popularity with the plebs, very few of the great families offered the lad hospitality. It is said that Marcus Tullius Cicero received him at his villa in the south, albeit without offering him either a bed or a meal. Octavian pretended not to notice the slight and laid out his plans to Cicero in clear and simple terms.
    Cicero pretended to approve of Octavian’s ambitions and sent him on to Rome with much encouragement. Of course Cicero expected Antony to dismember the young fool in short order, and Cicero was almost never wrong in his assessment of things political. But, like everyone else, he was wrong about our boy Octavian, badly wrong.
    In Cicero’s defence, no thinking person could imagine Octavian was up to the challenges of political and military leadership. Only passion could stir men to support such an unlikely hero, but it was not a time for clear thinking. The plebs wanted revenge for Caesar’s murder and backed the only man who promised it.
Rome: 5 th May, 44 BC
    Octavian’s veteran legionaries settled on the Camp of Mars one morning in early May. They made no show of force against the city; they did not have armour, just swords and knives for personal protection. Armoured or not, their presence won Octavian a meeting with Rome’s consuls, Mark Antony and Cornelius Dolabella. Octavian had declared in advance of the meeting he desired two things: the assassins of his father brought to justice and the inheritance Caesar’s will had promised. Having nothing to give the lad, Antony and Dolabella might have hesitated granting a meeting, but Antony insisted on bravado. ‘Best to put the lad in his place,’ he declared. ‘If he returns to his army empty-handed, the men will lose their enthusiasm for him. No soldier adores a man who proves too tender for the fight.’ It was sound advice then and seems so even now. Certainly delay in granting a meeting or a pointed refusal to talk with him could only stir up trouble with the veterans.
    There was no plan to assassinate him. For one thing, he wasn’t worth the trouble. The subject did come up for discussion but only as one discusses killing a pestering fly. Whether Octavian feared the event or only thought to be prudent I cannot say, but he demanded hostages from Antony and Dolabella and offered his sister and mother and several of his family in exchange. All parties agreed to an honour guard of friends to stand in attendance; these men were to keep their daggers politely concealed. For his escort Octavian brought Marcus Agrippa and a handful of young thugs loyal to Agrippa. Cilnius Maecenas also stood with Octavian, though I seriously doubt he bothered to conceal any kind of weapon. Maecenas had a fine talent for political intrigue even in those early days, but no one ever accused him of military accomplishment. In a fight, Maecenas was always the fellow hiding behind the largest column, right next to Octavian.
    I stood with a dozen other men at Dolabella’s back. Antony surrounded himself with family and a few of his favourite pleb drinking companions, all good men in a brawl. In addition to the principal parties and their escorts, several senators were present to witness the event. We met at Caesar’s former house, the Regia. The atrium was barely large enough to accommodate our number; in all there were some fifty men standing about. But a public building would not do; it was essential to avoid any appearance of conducting a formal meeting. This was a matter to be settled among family and friends. Hinting otherwise only served Octavian’s cause, but of course everyone knew Octavian had forced the meeting and the entire city awaited the outcome. What they expected the lad to accomplish I could not imagine.
    As I had neither met nor seen Octavian prior to this occasion, I was anxious to have a look at the young man. I can tell you I was