When the sun broke the horizon, its rays found Cornelia and Pompieus Magnus already passing down a n a narrow path bordered by ancient oaks and hickory. In times past it had served the more ancient folk, predecessors of Picenum, Gauls and Celts, in some religious pass, but now it served their woodcutters, boar hunters, and swine herders. Though it was late spring, it was still quite chilly, and their breath added to the low lying mist soon to be burned off. Side by side they rode, occasionally trotting, crossing a few streams, and once the had a canter that turned into a brief gallop. No servants accompanied them, so their sounds were limited to the occasional snort from one of their horses, and the rythmic thudding of their hooves on the soft heavy ground. Neither spoke; Cornelia fascinated by the sounds of the teaming life; Pompieus because he was so pleased this supremely cultured Matron of he highest aristocracy born and raised in Rome appreciated his 'rural' fiefdom. He had expected her to be an efficient and tasteful household manager, but rarely did such ladies embrace the country for more than a few weeks. His 3rd wife Mucia had rapidly become bored, but not Cornelia Metella Scipionis.

“Keep his head up on this decent Cornelia,” Magnus said breaking the silence. Instinctively his hand reached to grab her horse's bridle when it's left hind slipped almost to the point of sitting on the steep slope; Cornelia slapped it away with one of her haughty looks made impotent by a rare sparkle in her eyes. They reached the bottom with no mishaps, and 15 minutes more had them at an old hunting cottage not used since Sextus was a boy. Too much had happened to have time for such things.

Gently Magnus handed his wife down, letting his hand linger for a moment on her back, smoothing her hair with the other. In the past she would not have allowed it, but these last several months had seen a change. He handed her his saddle bags. “Go inside while I take care of these two.” By the time he returned, she had a fire going in the opening in the back. “Dry wood ready laid...”she said simply to his raised eyebrows.

“So what are you thinking regarding Sextus and Porcia?” Magnus asked, swallowing heated wine an hour later.

“Thinking in what way? You know it isn't the match I would have chosen, but that's water all down the aqueduct.”

“Well, I meant more along the lines of the daughter. Her name.”

Cornelia gave her husband a slight frown. “I don't think we should fuss about that right now. I don't approve, but you know how tenuous life is at this stage. It seems very healthy, but Fortuna can be unpredictable. Porcia has a hard enough time with me, I would avoid an unnecessary battle.”

“It isn't her place to argue with you, “Pompieus said with a slight frown.

Cornelia blinked. “No, but one picks ones battles. You know exactly what her father was like, and I bet you humored him on more than one occasion in the command tent for peace.

Rubbing the back of his neck like Sextus told Cornelia she was right. “It does seem very strong and healthy, as shouldn't surprise me with one of mine,” Pompieus said with a thoughtful smile.“ Alright, we'll leave it for now, if you like. Now. Your father.”

“Yes. Tata.”

“I interviewed your father's batman while you were down, though not to great detail. From what I gather, your father showed he was wilier than people thought. Not only is he alive, while prisoner of the Parthians he made some interesting acquaintances with some old Romans. As you know, some of the legions survived Carhea. Some went to earth, some to serve some Oriental satraps. The Centurians went on to form a personal bodyguard for the King of Parthia. Your father got to know these Centurians very well, and not only did they help him escape, they went with him and helped him reform many of these loose survivors into an understrength legion. They dug in close to the border of Syria when the Parthians caught up. They have survived because Armenia has been skirmishing on the Parthian border and taken the King's attention.”

Cornelia brought her eyebrows down. “These details are military. Wouldn't you rather talk with Cassius, Sextus, and Cneaus?”

“Cassius Longinus?”

“Yes. He has been appointed by the Senate to lead a force to relieve my father. But he has been granted no war chest. He wrote me.”

Pompieus grunted. “I can see that a lot has happened since I have been down, busy lady. I know I haven't been in hurry to race back to Rome, I am a Picenum man.”

Cornelia focused on her hands. “I know my position and place husband.”

“It's been enjoyable spending this time here, with you,”he went on, studying his wife's frozen profile. “I have never been able to truly share Picenum with any of my other wives. It was like I was locking them up. With Julia I had to stay in Rome.”

“It is no displeasure to do my duty,” Cornelia said stiffly.

Pompeius heard the stiff tone, and gave her a slightly sad look. “I had rather hoped that duty was not the sum total.” He reached out and lifted her face with his hand under her chin, looking into the changeable gray eyes under the heavy brows that he had come to know. “ Don't be afraid. I am not angry. Sometimes the boundaries of duty change to meet the needs, and because our motivations are a bit more than just traditional duty. Alright?”

Cornelia nodded, and Pompieus smiled. “Good,”he said briefly. “Who else have you heard from, or talked with?”

“Labienus, several times. Servilia routinely. Cicero inquires from Cilicia, the prude. I expect to hear from Brutus based on this last Senate appointment. And of course some of my lady friends.”

“Why didn't they award Cassius a war chest, I wonder?” asked Pompeius scratching his chin thoughtfully.

“Caesar, I expect. It's certainly not unusual for a General to be expected to recoup some of his expenses through victory, but to have no war chest at all. But Caesar has always wanted to be the one to avenge Crassus' death.”

Pompeius stood up and poked the fire, then stared at it for a long time, thinking. Cornelia waited patiently, knowing full well the time might have come for her husband to return to the field. Finally he turned back.

“What are your wishes in this, Cornelia?”

“My wishes?” she asked with honest surprise. Depend on her though he might for family and household matters, she had always though career would have been out of her province.

“Yes,” he said, looking at her intently.

“My father was very loyal to you. He didn't give you grief in the command tent during your brief time with the Republican cause. His career is ossified, though he will of course sit in the senate as one of the venerable consulars of the Republic, perhaps become Censor. He will help you.”

“so you want me to stamp my foot, and support Cassius in the field.”

“No.”

“No?” Pompeius asked, a strangely eager light coming into his eyes.

“No. Parthia is a cursed place for me. I lost a husband there, it has almost swallowed my father. A Pompeius must be involved, but it doesn't need to be you.”

“Think I am past it, do you wife?” the Great man growled, though inside he was getting giddy with joy.

Cornelia let her gray eyes meet his bright blue ones. “No more than Caesar is past it. And he is in Rome. Rome needs you. I.....need you.”

“Well, then its settled.” Pompieus said grabbing his wife by the head and kissing her on the nose. “It all fits in rather nicely too. We'll go on letting Rome wonder if I am past it. You'll keep doing what you are doing...for now. I had thought to encourage Sextus to run for Tribune of the Plebs, but that can wait a year or two.”

“Don't you want to go back to Rome? “Cornelia asked, starting to pack up the remainder of the food.

“Oh yes, we will. For a bit. For me to be seen, including in the Senate. Let's let them wonder if it's a token appearance. Keep Caesar off his guard.”

Cornelia was quite while Pompeius helped her back up on her horse. “When?”

“Oh, about a month. That gives us some time before Rome breaks up for the late summer holidays, and Porcia plenty of time to recover. I want you to keep your eye on her, so she has to be able to travel. Write Cassius, Brutus, Labienus, see if they'll be passing by this way. And of course, Servilia; feed her anything you feel pertinent for the charade.

Together they started off into the noonday sun, their conversation and laughter ringing out, unaware they were being watched......