Domus Silanus

Following the results of the election, Sertorius comes to call upon Silanus.

"Salve, Silanus."

Curtly greeted Sertorius, who had left his lictors at the door. The Consul knew that an overt show of sympathy or pity would not be welcome - he would feel the same had he both lost the election and humiliated himself in front of the entire Roman citizenry. In fact, best to avoid it entirely.

"I wish this was a social call but alas, I have come to talk business." Sertorius smiled thinly. "Whether to Gaul or elsewhere, I shall soon depart for campaign. Magistrate or not, that leaves you as the senior most of our faction in Rome. Saturninus has the ear of the people, but our dear Tribune has the tendency to be... unpredictable."

Sertorius would not leave Rome only to see his political cause erupt in flames. The Gracchi were both still in living memory.

"We should see to it that he is assigned Gaul for the next few years, then." Quintus drily retorted. Lepidus seemed to be no great political mind. He wanted glory. It would be easy to keep him from Rome with an extended campaign should they so wish it.

"Macedonia would be my own choice. We shall need funds once this war is done." Sertorius helped himself to a fig. "But yes. Allow our friends in the Senate to believe they hold the upper hand. They will let their guard down, and naturally pursue their own ambitions. Then we shall win you the Consulship, my friend."

Silanus grunted. "Gods willing." he replied. "I intend to rectify the embarrassment from my trial two years ago, although recent events have done nothing but diminish me further. I need some sort of victory to keep my name relevant and respected. Convince that fool Lepidus to seek some extended governorship of Gaul I say, let him keep the company of the unwashed Celts in pursuit of vainglory. One so exalted should know that Rome is still where the true power lies. You would do well to put a swift end to the Germans."

"If with any luck Lepidus will not return from the North"

Saturninus said, he did not care a jot about the life of the conservative consul.

"But regardless you are a good man and i will help you with whatever office you will run for next election." It was a gesture out of both friendship and agenda.

"We will. If Marius had lived, we would have victory already." But then neither Sertorius nor Silanus would likely have ever had a chance at succeeding to the Consulship. Fate turned them all in strange ways. "But I digress. I believe Lepidus can be bought to our cause or to turn a blind eye, as you say. Some men wish for nothing more than the adulation of their peers."