....seeing Caesar's cadet running around with orders, he decided he'd keep the lad company and make sure the boys all listened to the sprite.

"Kid!"

Agrippa turned. At first indignant, he was at heart a vir militaris, Agrippa knew when to show respect. "Yessir?"

"Mind if I walk with you, son?" asked the Veteran.

"Sure," said Agrippa awkwardly.

"I know you're good with a sword. At least, that's the rumor. But these girls around here won't take that as enough to take orders from you. You look too much like their wives back home."

Agrippa knew soldiers insulted each other as a matter of course, "Right."

"Just hand the orders out and don't say much. They know where the orders come from ultimately, they just dont want to hear you say it. Got it?"

"Right."

They walked. "So," asked the Centurion, shifting his many torcs about, "what do you think, boy? The troops ready?"