“Marios and Helena spoke truly in their letters.” Constantius held his tall son away from him, examining him with eyes that were, like Constantine’s own, a little misted over. “You have grown into a man.”
“I’m nearly thirty, Father. My growing was finished long ago.”
“I’m not talking of stature but of mind. Marios says your wisdom equals your skill as a soldier.”
“I hope it excels, Father.”
“You’re right, of course. Anyone strong and agile can learn to fight well, but a special wisdom is required of those who would rule.”
“We saw much evidence in Gaul that you possess such wisdom,” Dacius said. “Many changes have been made since I was here last, all for the better.”
“Tell me about your journey,” Constantius urged them. “I see that Galerius lost no time in granting my request.”
Dacius had foretold
Constantine began the account with the receipt of the orders at Salonae, relieving him from his assignment as commander of Diocletian’s guard. When he came to where Dacius had foretold that the letters from Galerius would contain a warning about the dangers of the Alpine passes, Constantius stopped him and broke the seal upon one of them. While he read, Constantine studied him more closely than he had been able to do in the first excitement of their greeting each other, but what he saw gave him no pleasure.
The strong ruddy man who had ridden away from Naissus that day leaving an angry and tearful boy behind had aged much in slightly more than a decade. His color was less healthy, Constantine saw, and the broad shoulders drooped a little. His face, too, was beginning to show gaunt lines and the looseness with which the uniform tunic hung upon his body made Constantine suspect that the illness mentioned in the letter to Galerius was much more severe than any of them had thought.
“Ha!” Constantius held up the scroll, marking with his thumb a spot he wanted them to read.
Dacius had prophesied truly when he had warned against taking the northern route directly to Treves, Constantine saw. The warning against the Alpine passes was in the letter, confirming that a trap had been planned for that area and that, after the two of them were killed, the letters would somehow have found their way to Constantius, seemingly absolving the writer of any blame.
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