Afranius walked up the stairs into the villa seving as the Governor's residence of Asia Province.

Slapping at his leather and tunic to get off the dust, he walked past the stweard and into the governor's office.

"Pompieus. My scouts intercepted this." He handed a scroll over to the oldest son of Pompieus Magnus. While Pompieus read it, Afranius helped himself to the flagon of wine on a sideboard.

" Well, that toad always was Caesar's man to the core. Let him solve his own problems," Pompieus Jr said finally.

" It does mean this dry spell will have consequences possibly even for Rome. In other provinces even. Your father ...."

"...was responsible for the grain supply. Yes, I know. And I don't intend to let the family name suffer. He was - is- the master of logistics. I intend to write him for advice on this matter."

A rare smile broke out on Afrianus' crusty face. " So, you have heard from him? He recovers?"

Pompieus gave a rye smile." Actually, no, I haven't heard from him. But I have heard quite a bit from Sextus, and my stepmother. At least, I did, until she was involved in some sort of an accident accident involving flying crockery."

Afrianus blinked, then said delicately." You know, I never took her for that sort of lady. She's a bit too ...well....Patrician to have tantrums flinging crockery."

"It wasn't her who threw the crockery," Pompieus responded with a short laugh. "It was Sextus. And he hit her square on the side of her head. Wish I had been a fly on the wall too. She's such an over-bred column of marble..." He brke off when he saw Afrianus' raised eyebrows.

" Well, she and Sextus always got on much better, I suppose. She's also very intelligent and competent at handling households and money. I just can't stand the way my father dotes on her pedigree, and she does too."

Uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, Afrianus glanced at the scroll. " Do you intend to pass it on?"

" I do not. Let the toad cry to Caesar. I'll keep this province in order regardless. I don't really need him."