Chapter XXXV
The sounds of a penna scribbling furiously filled the surrounds of an austere study, words imposed upon the pages of a book that had been half filled. Private thoughts, doubts and concerns, philosophical musings, they all filled these pages. 'Is there a God?' These four words started a new page, an anguished look colouring Corialanus Phocas' weathered face as he wrote them. Inside him was turmoil, his faith in God crashing against the rocks and threatening to break apart. 'I appeal to Him as a supplicant, to seek guidance but I fear He does not hear my prayers, as if He is displeased at me!' For a moment he stopped and looked upwards, then angrily pushed aside the manuscript, scattering some other books and knocking a candle to the floor. He sighed heavily. 'Does thou not care for His flock?' he wondered aloud. He looked back to his desk and then grasped for another manuscript. His eyes settled on the title, 'De Re Militari'...It had taken him many months of pain staking work to write this book, in between his role as Dux and that as the Master of Soldiers in Gallia, a title bestowed upon him by Julianus prior to making for Constantinople. Julianus occasionally sought out the advice of Phocas in military matters, for none possessed a keener understanding of war. Hence, the manuscript he had undertaken at the behest of the Emperor with the sole aim of it to be used as a model in which to train the Empires forces.
He reached for several messy looking sheets of paper and begun reading them. Satisfied at their accuracy, he begun to write into the manuscript on the chapter entitled 'Quae ipso die procuranda sint, quo publica committitur pugna' Phocas copied the rough draft quickly and was so caught up in his work that he did not notice a man enter his study, unannounced and unasked. When he did noticed this intrusion, he kept on writing. The man looked over to Phocas and his writing, glimpsing the words on the page. 'Yes indeed, good points...many a battle has been lost because a general has misread the sentiments of his men' Phocas simply kept up his scrawling without looking up. 'True, yet how many generals have not given proper care towards motivation of their men? That I'd hazard would play a great role in such situations, as much as he who fails to understand their mood, relying solely instead on their supposed skills to carry the day'
'How goes your day Prefectus?' the Magister asked politely. 'It so far has been positive, all appears to be in order' The Prefect nosed his way throughout the study of Phocas, as if it were normal thing to do, perusing the private collections of someone else. Phocas placed his penna on the desk and leaned back into his chair. He studied the Prefect casting an appraising gaze upon the works of Polybius. 'What exactly can I help you with?' He didn't answer for a moment as he flipped through the pages of Histories. 'Prefect?' Phocas asked again, growing impatient at the Prefect's seeming aloofness and intrusiveness. 'Oh, my apologies, such a fine collection of writings you house here Magister, I was just marvelling Polybius' 'Histories'. He quickly shut the book and placed it back on the shelf. 'Your business as to being here is?' Phocas again asked with little disguised irritation yet it appeared to go unnoticed in his guest. 'Yes, yes, I am here about your administrative roles within the province.' He made a move to sit down. ' Whilst our functions as Praefectus and Magister exist separately, I have come here to relieve you of your duties as Vicarius Viennensis.. It will allow you to function better as the Magister of the Gallic armies'
Phocas sat back. 'A Prefect dictating to a Magister, that's interesting' he said with a smirk. 'Yet you are right. Judicial processes and appeals and all that are piling on top of me along with my duties at Magister. Who do you have in mind?'
'Oh, just an old friend and mentor of mine, Gratianus'
'Really?' Gratianus wasn't the most trustworthy of individuals. In fact, Julianus had cast aside Gratianus commanding Gallic armies in favour of another officer, not trusting the Romans intentions. 'Yes, really. Do you suspect he could be treacherous?'
'Well yes, I do. He may be getting old but a leopard does not change its spots. Having him in charge of administrative functions is not wise. He could cause all manner of chaos'
'Nonsense. Your concerns are unfounded' Valentinianus sniffed imperiously. 'Besides it is my decision, as Prefect of Gallia to appoint whom I choose to administrative duties in Gallia. Do not concern yourself of it'
'It does not concern me' said Phocas 'Yet it may concern the Emperor, reinstating a man that he personally removed from all important posts. He did not even trust him to garrison some backwater fort in Mauretania' Phocas waived his hands dismissively. 'Enough of the matter, its your head on the block after all'
Valentinianus grumbled. 'Has not the Emperor called for more responsibility to be displayed by those loyal to him?'
Phocas had went back to his writing, clearly having had enough in conversing with the Prefect 'He has. Within reason though....' Valentinanus looked at the Magister with increasing hostility. You think that you are the adopted son of Julianus, you can be so dismissive with the Prefect of Gallia! Valentinianus went to get up and leave but halted for a moment. A . 'Do you know that the Emperor has called Decimius Valens to Constantinople?'
Phocas did not react to his question at first but finally replied. 'I did hear something of the sort. What of it?' Valentinianus stared hard. 'As prefect I do hear much things. I am told that he plans to make Valens his Caesar, forcing Marcellus Barbatus to stand down' Phocas did not see where Valentinianus was heading with it. 'I fail to understand what you are driving at'
'You two have been adopted by the Emperor as possible successors, as he has had the most awful luck concerning children. Yet for some reason' Valentinianus said with a look of wonderment at the conundrum in his mind 'he has chosen Decimius Valens as the man to succeed him! Why has he done so?' Why is Valens so special when he is little more than some uncouth brute from the backwaters of the Empire, dirty and despoiled by life among the Caledonians and with out an ounce of intelligence in that thick head of his?'
'Careful Prefect...' Phocas warned but Valentinianus ventured onwards. 'Yet here we have you, Corialanus Phocas, pre-eminent military tactician, the Magister of the Gallic field armies, famously courageous and admired by many, seemingly looked over to be Julianus' successor! Most strange don't you think?'
'Enough of your waffle Prefect. What exactly do you hope to achieve with such divisive words?' Phocas had stood up angrily. 'Don't think that because you are essentially one of the most powerful men of the Empire, out of the careful gaze of the Emperor, that you can foment trouble for whatever perverse gains you seek'
Valentinianus feigned a look of surprise at Phocas' angry attack. 'I seek no trouble, Magister, with God as my witness! I merely ask why that Valens is to be successor and not you? Is that question too difficult to confront? Did you know this was the case?'
Phocas softened a little. His mood was not helped by his crisis of faith that caused him a great degree of anguish. He also did not like Valentinianus very much. No doubt, he had never shown a single act and spoken words of disloyalty, which was vouched by many but he believed that Valentinianus would always look after Valentinianus first and foremost. He did not trust the increasing zealous streak developing within him. 'No, nothing has been communicated to me by the Emperor, it is solely his decision as to who becomes his nominated successor and I do not and will not concern myself with it. Now, I have much work to do, I must travel to Augusta Treverorum...no doubt I will see you there' he said with disguised disgust 'and whilst there there shall be a reorganisation of the armies of the region. You yourself, much like you stripping my Dux title from me, shall lose the auxillia army under your command. As the administrator of the region, it seems pointless for you to have an army as such'
Valentinianus was not happy about this but hid his feelings well. 'You are correct, of course...I have spent too much time pandering to the soldiers instead of judicial process'
'Very good. I am glad we are in agreement on this' said Phocas. 'Given that there appears to be some treachery afoot across the river that threatens the stability of the region, your administrative flair will be required no doubt to manage additional provinces, yet that you will no doubt take into consideration as the time comes'
'Ah yes, the Saxons' nodded Valentinianus. A great opportunity presented itself with the growing hostility and power of the Saxons, who caused havoc by invading Frankish lands with constant raids and weakening the fragile hold on the region that the Franks had. 'So it is certain then, a military expedition across the Rhenus?' asked the Prefect. 'Yes, in correspondence with Julianus it has been agreed that the best course of action is to impose our will upon the Saxons. Firstly through diplomatic means, however military action is a strong possibility for the Saxons will no doubt prove to be intractable at the diplomatic table'. Frankish power must be maintained in the region, no matter how loathsome they are'
Valentinianus now had no say over the future military plans of the region, with Corialanus Phocas stepping in to direct the campaigns. The Prefect wisely kept to himself the fact that he and Tiberius Secundus had planned on launching their own raids across the river, based on flimsy pretexts, to both further their power in the region. 'Very well Magister, I shall be on my way...I will inform Magnus Drusus to ready a diplomatic envoy to the Saxons' the Prefect informed, silently cursing the best laid plans becoming obsolete. 'May God protect you'
Phocas watched the Prefect glide from the study. God? What God? Phocas thought bitterly...