Nero reread the lines. Like Bolt, he was young for a tribune, and not sure he was cut out for the military. But it was a stepping stone to better things, and they both would have to make their way in the world. Neither of them would ever be emperor. Caligula already had that in his fist. Nero put the letter away as their ship glided into the harbor.
"Here goes nothing," he said.
.....
Julius opened Beaky's letter.
....I do not mind posting to the Guard. Really, I do not. I have some field experience, now, and one battle. I even have two scars to show. That is sufficient and I know Lepida wants to be back in Campania for awhile....
Julius put the letter away, deep in thought. He wondered why Tiberius had ordered his son into the Praetorian Guard and why Sejanus and Macro both seemed so against it. He was beginning to have his doubts about Sejanus. The new castrum for the Guard and contration of Rome's most elite Legion in the capitol made Sejanus' intentions clear. A messenger from the Curia interrupted his thoughts. 
"Old Proculus and Piso's brother have just been arrested," he said.
"What on earth for?" Julius demanded
"No one knows, Sir," the messenger said.
"Not in the Curia, I hope," Julius said.
"At home, Sir," the messenger said.
Julius made up his mind and called for his litter. Senators had immunity from arrest at the Curia, but nowhere else. He found his jackal's head dagger and wore it openly on his belt, but he had two other military pugii concealed in the folds of his toga. He had no idea why these men had been arrested, but he was determined to find out. At the Curia, he could see several of his colleagues standing in small groups, talking amongst themselves. Even Cicero was worried. 
"Aetius is in custody, too," Cicero said 
"The old General, what in hades for?" Julius said.
"No one knows," Cicero said. "It was ordered by Sejanus." 
"Damn his hide!" Julius snapped.
He looked around. Both Consuls were missing. In the absence of any leadership, he and Cicero stepped forward. 
"I don't know what's going on, but the answers lay with Sejanus," Julius asked. "Is the August One aware what has happened?" 
"We have no idea," another Senator said.
"I can find out," Julius said.
He scrawled a letter to Tiberius on a tablet and called a messenger.
"Get this to Lady Antonia. Have her send it as from herself to the Emperor."
The messenger ran off as Julius turned to Cicero. 
"We stay here," he said. "No one leaves. As soon as we do, any of us could be next."
"Agreed," Cicero said. "But he could come after us here. And he has the Guard now concentrated in Rome."
"I'm not intending to confront him directly," Julius said. "But we can start a damn good riot if we have to." 
Cicero looked skeptical.
"Marcus, my grandfather perfected this shit," Julius said with a mischievious grin. "Trust me." 
He sent messages to several town cryers and lower civil administrators that the Senate was sponsoring a rally in honor of the Emperor to take place on a date to be announced, hoping they would understand his real meaning. As he and other Senators worked their contacts, Quintus Macro came into the room, saw the Senators scurrying about, and guessed they were planning resistance. He advanced on Julius.