King??

Antony pursed his lips and whistled. Decimus Brutus, he and Gaius Matius, were assembling the legionary lists for the remainder of the Parthian move. Some to be transported by boat from Brundisium - of course, the majority already stationed in Apollonia. Caesar intended, in the end, taking 22 legions to Parthia - food, clothing, equipment, transport, for 100,000 men and more. It took a lot of work.

Decimus looked unhappily at the floor. "That's what I've heard," he said. "Not king in Italia, of course - but in the eastern provinces, where our allies are."

Gaius Matius said nothing. Perhaps, of all of them, he was the closest to Caesar, and the most loyal. But no one ever suggested him for a position outside Caesar's staff . . . he was the follower deluxe.

Antony laughed. "Wonder if the old man will go for it? It might be very helpful in a military sense, but Cicero will go ballistic. Can't you hear him now?" He laughed, but stopped when the silence reached him.