“More like Vesuvius in eruption,” Dacius said dryly. “Rome is angry enough to leave the Empire, if it could, but Maxentius and Maximian have other ideas. They will soon name themselves joint Augusti and move north with the Praetorians and legions of southern Italy at their backs to seize the Alpine provinces between the Rhine and Danube.”
“That will put them on my eastern border!” Constantine exclaimed.
“And force them to treat with you,” Dacius reminded him. “Else they will be caught between your armies and those of Galerius.”
“Did you learn all this during a brief stop in Rome?” Constantine asked.
“I’ll admit I didn’t see through the whole scheme until I got to Neapolis and Lady Fausta told me her father is joining Maxentius in the venture,” Dacius admitted. “She thinks that if you play the game right, you will come out the winner with the title of Augustus for yourself.”
“And I suppose she refuses to marry me until I am officially named Emperor.”
“No,” Dacius said. “Rut she does think that if you wait, both will soon be handed to you in her own words on a golden platter.’”
Crocus cried
“What a queen she will make!” Crocus cried. “Like that one in the East what was her name?”
“Zenobia,” Constantine said shortly. “But don’t forget that she wound up in chains.”
“As I remember it, the bonds were made of gold,” Eumenius said, “and the lady lived a long and honorable life in Rome afterwards. Even married a senator.”
“Enough!” Constantine was still having trouble keeping his anger over Fausta within bounds. “What did you learn about Galerius?”
“When Severus was made Augustus of Italy and Africa, Daia demanded equal rank,” Dacius said. “Galerius talked him out of it apparently, with the asurance that Severus would have no authority in the East, only in the territory formerly ruled by your father.”
“But not in Gaul!” Crocus looked quickly at Constantine. “Surely you will not allow that.”
“Would the Gallic legions and auxiliaries bow meekly to Severus?” Constantine asked him.
“No, of course not.”
“There is your answer. You yourself named me Augustus and I have no intention of relinquishing the title, whether the rest of the Empire acknowledges it or not.”
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