"Magnus!" Caesar had to grab his shoulder to arrest his movement. Pompey spun round looking ready to fight. "What do you think you can do? Run after his horse? He left this morning and it is nearly noon. He is gone." Pompey relaxed only slightly. "Besides, he is my problem now." Again Pompey was not relaxed.

"I wanted him punished whilst I was present."

"I know you did, friend. But the situation is what it is now. I will have to sentence him myself. He will stand trial in Rome, where he thinks he has found refuge. He will be put up for execution, no doubt. But as he is my client I will defend him and see the punishment lessened. Perhaps exile. That would be best, I think. I surely do not want him around for a while."

Pompeius looked offended, "He should be dead!"

"Well, if that was to be his fate, I would have left him in your hands." Caesar arranged his tunic and brushed his hair forward with his hand. "My patronal obligation will be fulfilled by his lessened sentence. My obligation to Rome by my instigation of his trial."

"I see," said Pompey unsatisfied.

"Come, Magnus," he took his arm, "It is time we both got back to our duties. I promise you the government will be well organized when your term ends. And I can assure you that my engineers will be in Tarraco hot on your heels." Caesar smiled.

"Right, engineers." Pompey was already thinking about military operations against the Vasconi. Caesar could see the malice in his eyes.

"Don't kill them all off...we may have need of them in the future."

"Of barbarians?!" asked Pompey indignantly.

"Now you sound like a Bonus. You should know as well as me that if something works you use it. Roman or not. We've done it before and we shall continue to do so."

"Mmm." Pompey once again drifted to thoughts of logistics. He had much work to do. "Listen Caesar, I'm off. I'll keep in touch with you as much as possible." He extended his hand and Caesar took it.

"I shall see you at the end of the year, when your term is up.*"

*OOC: I have had difficulty determining the length of Pompey's term. My memory told me it was a five year appointment to check Caesar. I read somewhere his term was two years (?). But honestly, Im at a loss to find actaul dates of appointment. Perhaps his term was inclusive of the Consulship he held in 52. I think maybe, also, his term could have been 5 years, if he had himself appointed in 52 at his third Consulship, which (INCLUDING 52) would have his term end at the end of 48. Unless, of course, he took office at the end of 52. In which case it would end at the end of 47. :) See what I mean. Ive been using this Consul list for reference [http://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/Consuls.List.html] and piecing the rest from miscellaneous websites. I am inclined to have him as Consul-without colleague in 49, as well as 2-year governor of Spain (which I assume the Republicans would've agreed to, in order that he had legions). Then, when Marcellus was made dictator in ATL, he retained only his governorship, which terminates this year. Blah. :P Tell me what you think Pub. Or anyone else that knows something about this. :)