The Pompeius from Picenum cognomated Magnus sat quietly, musing in his 'convelescent' military wagon. Several conversations with his wife, and Cicero's letter, had brought him to a final decision.

"Call my son to me," he said to his secretary who had been taking dictation, and was waiting patiently until his master came back from his reverie.

"Sextus I would like to talk a bit. I have been doing a lot of thinking, about where the family is going, and where we have been. A lot has passed under the bridge since we last talked, and political life is very different now than it was when you became a man.”

Sextus smiled, glad to get some direction at last. “Of course, father.”

Pompeius cleared his throat, an unusual action. “As you know I had a tumultuous path through Rome's rigid political ladder when my career was young. Our family was officially ennobled when my father attained the consulship through the cursus honorum. His path was traditional by every shibboleth in the mos miaorum, but he remained an unpopular man considered un-Roman. His conduct in the Italian Uprising was proof that he was un-Roman.”

Pompieus snorted. “ I make no excuses for his conduct. The conflict was exhausting all Italy and had to be brought to an end. He did nothing Sulla didn’t do. Sulla couldn’t have won without him. Sulla couldn’t dare leave Rome without him. Yet he was desecrated at his death, and he was un-Roman, Sulla Roman.”

“ I was infuriated by this. I swore that I would prove to Rome they needed me like they needed my father. They would give me the consulship without being in their snotty Senate. Most of that came true. When Sulla returned from the east, I met him with my father’s legions, and we broke the last Italian resistance at the gates of Rome. On the VERY spot the Roman’s had dragged my father’s body. I became consul with that greedy grubber Crassus without being a member of the Senate. All my wives except the first were first class wives. After Sulla and Caesar, the very Romans who spat on me gave me Rome’s highest born with Cornelia.”

Sextus smiled slightly. “ Yet, I think, you are still dissatisfied.”

“More concerned. For you. Cicero is a new man like me. He was in the field with me. He knows me. I know him. He too, needed me, in his way. He should understand. Yet he throws an old nickname at me after all these years and my service to the Republic.”

Pompeius smiled, an unpleasant smile. “ So for you. It must be different. You have already distinguished yourself. But now, you will proceed up the cursus honorum in a way no one can question. You will do everything in your year. No one can ever be allowed to challenge that you ‘played by the rules.’You’ll get into the Senate as a Tribune of the Plebs. You are handsome and fit, so you should poll at the top. Youwill have the best and most tasteful of games. I am a vulgar man, but you will not be. You will pratice your oration and become known as a defender of the people. Money is not an object for you. In public, you will be the Plebian Caesar.”

“Jupiter father, you want me to be a demogogue.”

“ Remember I was admired as the rising sun. I had a natural charm with my wives and the public. You have this as well. Make your name in the forum and the field, you will be first man in Rome.”