=================================================
Roman vessel, close to the shores of Asia Minor
=================================================

Brutus removed the balled toga covering his face after a moment of intense screaming. Three days now Lucius was travelling back to his post in Asia, after the operation in Samos. While the most journey has been pleasant, there were times of the day where the Quaestor would isolate himself in his quarters, thinking of what has transpired this last year. It was times such as these, that Brutus completely lost his self-control. Being tormented constantly by guilts for causing the deaths of so many people to no avail, both the crews of the sunk Roman vessels and the people of Rhodes, for lying to the Senate by presenting this his incompetence as victory, for dishonouring his name, the Quaestor often found comfort at being alone, mourning. The letter he had sent some weeks before to his friend Quintus Vitulus did little to take away the psychological devastation he found himself in, although it did took a troublesome burden from his shoulders. He had said the painful truth; at least to someone. Whether that was a good decision remained to be seen as Lucius had considered the possibility this letter finding the wrong recipient -- or worse, Vitulus speaking to the wrong people. It was a risk he had to take though, to rest his soul; even for a little while.

As Lucius Brutus was resting upon his bed, he remembered the time where all were peaceful. When he had not such responsibility over his head as the devastation of the Roman fleet or the destruction of Rhodes - or the death of Rhodes's Governor-Archon, if Priscus accomplished the task, that is. He thought of the time when he was resting in his villa in Lavinium along with his friends and colleagues, drinking wine and talked small. Why did he ever decided to leave his peace and quiet and chase after glory? Why didn't he chose to stay in a peaceful province where he could squeeze some denarii out of the pockets of honest and upright citizens? Ah yes!, Lucius Brutus remembered why; It was for the good of the Family!

Since his childhood, Lucius Brutus remembered both his Father and his tutor, Servilius Ahala, using this phrase to force him into doing something he didn't want to. It was for the good of the family, they said, that Brutus should leave Rome as a boy to go to Athens and there study the art of rhetoric; it was for the good of the family that Brutus decided to run for Quaestor; it was for the good of the family that Brutus had chosen Asia as his posting. It was for the good of the family that Brutus tried those risky night manoeuvres that got killed hundreds of people; it was, finally, for the good of the family that Lucius Brutus had severed off the heads of the pirates and sent them to the Senate of Rome; and for the same cause did he claimed a non-existent victory! Well, for the good of the family no more!, Brutus resolutely thought. He would serve out his term in Asia and then return, a private citizen, back to his villa in Lavinium, where he would plough his fields and drink his wine with his associates and friends, in peace. He might even attend the Senate once or twice -- maybe take a court case in the courts, too -- but by Juno Inferna, he was done with politics! No more lying, he confirmed his decision.

He remembered again the words of Servilius Ahala; "That's why he will never make it to Consul, Lucius! Because he doesn't have the stomach to do whatever needs to be done!" he said for his glorious Father. Servilius was right, indeed; he did died a Praetor in Macedonia, never making it to the Big Seat itself. But really, was it worth it? No -- it's not worth it!, Lucius argued.

================================
Some days later, in Asia Minor
================================

Lucius Brutus disembarked with his retinue close to the city of Pergamum. There the three legions he had asked for were waiting for his command, providing that the Proconsul had not grown weary of his late disappearance and taken matters into his own hands. Landing into the Asian shore, Lucius sat down by a shrine of the Greek goddess Hera, the Greek counterpart of Juno. As he was kneeling there with his hands raised to the blue sky, he prayed to the great Goddess and patron of his family since time immemorial.

"Mater Juno, to you who protected our Eternal City at our time of need, to you who have bestowed your divine blessing upon my family for many generations, to you who along with your divine Husband rule the world and sky and the lives of mortal men, I make this pray."

"Mother Juno, bless me with your fortitude and wisdom to withstand whatever misfortune has and will find me in the future; help with your divine hand, as you have helped Achilles of old here in the same shores, to defeat the rebels that infest this sacred land. Finally, forgive me for all the bad things I have done; for I have chosen to live dishonestly and by that decision I have offended the Immortal Gods. Mother Juno, Patron of my family, I promise to you, by my sacred oath, that if you make it so I will honour you with Games worthy of your divine Majesty; further, I shall construct a Temple to you with my own resources in Rome. This, Juno, I promise to you!" he said. When done, feeling much better, he climbed back on his horse's back and begun the long road to the city of Pergamum.



I. I have announced in a previous post(Rhodes: Death contract) that I would be leaving immediately for Asia Minor, in case you were wondering how I got here. :P