Bedrock of Empire

by Thomas M D Brooke

  Her face hardened. ‘It might also get him killed. He’s only seen fourteen summers – barely knows how to use that falcata he proudly carries.’

  Both Audax and Rafa carried the same weapon on their waists. The Spanish falcata, similar in size to a gladius but single-edged and slightly curved, with a hook-shaped grip. Made from the finest Spanish steel and wielded by someone of requisite skill, it was a formidable weapon. I held up my hand to placate her. ‘I understand. He’s too young for the legions. When he comes of age, he can be taught to fight properly. Too many centurions turn a blind eye to an eager recruit’s age. You were lucky they turned him down.’

  Viviana gave me a fierce glance as she walked purposefully by my side. ‘That was only because I followed him into the camp and threatened the legate.’

  I gave a laugh. ‘I saw. I don’t think you need worry about any centurions taking him on in that camp anytime soon.’

  She turned to me. ‘Will you make sure you do the same in the other camp? Will you tell them in Legio? You’re supposed to be an important Roman – they’ll listen to you.’

  I nodded, but said softly, ‘I’ll do my best, Viviana. But you can only protect him for so long. If he really wants to join the legions, you won’t be able to prevent him forever.’

  She looked down as she walked by me. ‘I know, but I want him to have at least a few more years of innocence.’

  I sighed. ‘Then I promise to speak to the legate of the Sixth on your behalf.’

  She gave me a smile and it lit up her face. ‘Thank you, Quaestor. That is kind of you.’

  I shook my head, remembering the young face of Macarius, the Thracian cavalry commander who’d died in the Teutoburg. ‘No, it’s just common decency.’

  ‘Cassius, Cassius!’ shouted Aulus from behind me.

  I turned round to see what my brother-in-law wanted. ‘What is it?’

  He pointed up at the sky. ‘Look! There are two eagles flying above us. That’s a lucky omen!’

  I laughed. ‘I thought you said the augers are all charlatans?’

  Aulus continued staring above him. ‘Well, the augers might be, but what a magnificent sight!’

  I turned round to see what my new guide thought of my eagle-loving friend, but she’d already walked on, catching up with the young cousin she was so protective of. I shrugged and turned back to my brother-in-law. ‘You appear to be enjoying yourself, Aulus?’

  He nodded, looking around at the hills surrounding him. ‘You know what? I think you’re right. Who’d have ever thought that this wild landscape would suit me?’

  We trekked for a couple more days, heading in a north-easterly direction, just skirting the staggeringly beautiful mountains that dominated the countryside to the west of us. The days were long and hot, but not unpleasant. Aulus seemed to be relishing the outdoor life, his fitness growing daily, and there was a new vitality to his gait. Blasius joked and cajoled the Praetorians, whilst Audax ranged ahead of us, warning of any strangers on the road. Mostly these turned out to be shepherds, but occasionally we’d pass a farmer or a poor pedlar. Of warriors or bandits, however, there were none. So I was content as we slowly followed our guide and her young cousin.

  We stopped on a small clearing on the side of a hill the evening before we were due to reach Rafa’s village. We had an established regime by this stage in our journey. My eight Praetorians would look to secure the area, finding a suitable lookout spot where they could observe our camp and the surrounding countryside. They’d take turns on watch throughout the night, so those not on first watch would help gather wood for the fire. Audax and Blasius would normally prepare the fire and dinner. Audax was the most adept of hunters, so it was rare for him not to supplement our cookpot and the normal marching rations with a mountain hare or rabbit, even once spearing a small deer that frequented these parts. Viviana and her cousin were not bad hunters either, and often contributed themselves. This time Rafa was pleased with himself, after landing a large trout from a nearby lake with a hook and line. Aulus would normally take an evening run, something that surprised even the fittest amongst the Praetorians, as we were normally too tired to consider further exercise after a day’s hard walking. He’d come a long way from the officious lawyer from Rome. I wondered whether Antonia would like this change in his character or be dismayed by it.

  After finishing our fine meal of stewed trout supplemented with lentils and eaten with hardtack biscuits from the soldiers’ marching rations, I lay back by the banked fire. Viviana was next to me and the boy Rafa. Communication was still difficult with him, due to his lack of Latin. But he’d gradually relaxed around us and seemed to have forgiven his elder cousin for dragging him back from the recruiter’s office. I asked Viviana, ‘What I don’t understand is why he travelled all the way to Asturica to join the legions. Surely with another Roman camp on his doorstep, that was the obvious destination?’

  Viviana gave a crooked smile. ‘He’s tried that before. So his mother knows where to send the men of his village to pick him up before he reaches there. This time he tricked them and went in the other direction.’

  I gave her a grin. ‘Clever. How did you realise you’d all been tricked?’

  Viviana gave a light laugh. ‘When we realised he’d emptied the pantry of all he could carry. He’d never need such a large amount of food for such a short trip to the local camp.’

  I laughed. ‘So his stomach gave him away?’

  She arched an eyebrow. ‘It often does with young boys.’

  He was evidently aware we were talking about him, as he gave us a bashful smile.

  Maris came and joined us by the fire, leaning his oval shield next to him as he sat down and warmed his hands. The days were hot, but the evenings could be cool up in the hills and we were pleased to have the comfort of a fire. ‘That’s me done for tonight. The other boys will keep watch now. Any of that fish stew left?’

  I smiled. ‘Plenty, Maris. Help yourself. What’s happened to Blasius and Audax?’

  He shook his head. ‘Oh, you know those two. Off together somewhere. Drinking that skin of wine they picked up from that pedlar yesterday, no doubt.’

  I laughed. I wasn’t concerned where they were; I’d let things become pretty informal on this trip. As long as they were unaffected the next morning, they could get up to what they wanted.

  Rafa asked Viviana something in their own language. She shook her head and answered something back.

  I enquired. ‘Does he have something to say?’

  Viviana rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, it’s nothing. He was just asking about the scorpion design on your guards’ shields. I told him it was probably just a device they use to scare other warriors.’

  Maris shrugged as he helped himself to stew. ‘Well, you’d be wrong. It’s much more than that. It represents the honour of the Praetorians, so we wear the scorpion emblem with pride.’

  This piqued my interest. ‘Really? I didn’t know there was a story behind the scorpion emblem?’

  Maris sat back with his stew. ‘Well, not many do, and some doubt the truth of the tale.’

  I looked at Viviana and then back at Maris. ‘Well? Are you going to tell us?’

  He shrugged again between mouthfuls of stew. ‘I guess it can’t hurt. it’s not a secret as far as I know. It dates back many years, well before my time, to when Augustus first formed the Praetorian Guard and he welcomed his new family into the home he’d built on the Palatine.’

  Viviana looked confused. ‘New family?’

  I explained. ‘His wife Livia used to be married to someone else, a man with whom she’d borne two sons. She divorced him to be with Augustus and took the two boys to live with her.’

  Viviana looked shocked. ‘You can do that in Rome?’

  I smiled. ‘I think you’ll find the imperial family can do what they like.’

  Maris inclined his head. ‘Well, anyway, one of the young boys, Tiberius, was playing in the newly built palace when a scorpion ran out from behind
a pillar and tried to sting him.’

  Viviana sucked her teeth. ‘A poisonous one?’

  Maris smiled. ‘They never found out. One of the Praetorians saw the scorpion, and before it had a chance to sting the young prince, he speared it with his pilum.’

  Maris looked proudly at the shield. ‘Augustus told his wife Livia – “You see, my Praetorians have a far more deadly sting than any scorpion. Your boys will be safe in my home” – and we’ve worn the emblem ever since.’

  Viviana explained the story to the young Rafa whilst I told Maris, ‘I never knew that story, and I served under Tiberius in Germany.’

  Maris gave a tilt of his head. ‘Well, as I say, some doubt the truth of it. But I like the tale. Besides, it’s true, we are more deadly than any scorpion.’

  Chapter Twenty

  As we approached Rafa’s village the next day it was bathed in sunlight and looked a cheerful enough place. It was the normal collection of Celtic roundhouses with conical thatched roofs that hung down nearly to the ground. They had an Iberian slant to their architecture, such as a slightly more pointy roof than I would expect in Gaul, and the walls were stone rather than wattle and daub. But overall, the only difference between this settlement and any other was the absence of a wall surrounding it. This was no accident. Rome had struggled for two hundred years, laying siege to settlements just like this one whilst trying to gain ascendancy in the peninsula. In the end, they realised the only solution was to ban the construction of walls in the first place. The wars were eventually won and as far as I knew the ban lifted, but most settlements I’d seen so far were still wall-less as a result.

  As Rafa approached the village, it was easy to see the excitement growing in him. No hint remained of the moody and sullen young man I’d met in Asturica less than a week ago. He ran the last quarter mile to his village, leaving us behind. I remarked to Viviana, ‘You’d think he’d be embarrassed about returning after all the trouble he put you through.’

  Upon arrival, Rafa was greeted by some friends close to his age. They clamoured around him, vying for his attention. Viviana smiled. ‘Oh come on, Cassius, he’s just a boy, after all. He now has a story to tell his young friends, and no doubt they’ll envy him for it.’

  As we walked into the village, I saw someone had clearly informed his mother. Rafa was now wrapped up in a mature woman’s ample bosom as she wailed in gratitude at having him returned to her safely. Viviana left me and went to join her kinswoman. I waited patiently for the two of them whilst they made their greetings, and I looked around the central clearing in the centre of the village. Several men sat there drinking under a large and ancient oak tree. They were surrounded by their horses, which were still laden with their saddlecloths and bridle. What surprised me was that one of the men – drinking from a wineskin they were passing around – was my scout Audax.

  He stood up and came over to greet me.

  ‘So this is what you get up to when I send you on ahead?’ I asked him, annoyance rather than concern in my voice.

  He gave an apologetic grin. ‘They offered me a drink whilst I waited for you to turn up. What was I supposed to do? Refusal often offends.’

  His cheeks were ruddy and flushed; clearly it had been more than one drink. ‘I hope you can still ride your horse? I don’t intend to stay here. We’ll be on the move soon.’

  Audax nodded vigorously. ‘I think I can help you there. A man here knows the location of the mine you seek.’ He turned around to the other men under the tree and waved to them.

  I felt the first onset of uneasiness when I realised that the men he’d been drinking with were all warriors, dressed in leather armour and all heavily armed. They looked as out of place in this village as the Praetorians and I did, and judging by how the other villagers reacted around them – eyeing them as suspiciously as venomous snakes – they agreed. There were six of them in total, and they stood up from their place under the shady tree as one of them walked over.

  I quickly scanned the rest of the village to check there weren’t any more members of this group. I saw no one except a few scared villagers, who peered out of the doorways of their roundhouses, and a scowling Viviana, who eyed the unknown warriors warily – that in itself wasn’t a good sign.

  ‘What have you got me into, Audax?’ I hissed, but really I blamed myself. I’d been far too lax with Audax’ and Blasius’ behaviour on this trip.

  Audax looked aghast that I thought something was amiss. ‘What? We’re all friends here.’

  I eyed the stranger as he slowly sauntered over to me. He was lithe and supple, like a mountain cat prowling closer to his prey. He appeared to be friendly, a smile slanted across his handsome but worn face as he slowly walked over. However, his eyes and body told a different tale, and although he appeared relaxed, I could tell that his muscles were primed for fast action.

  ‘Sorry, Cassius,’ asked Aulus, coming up behind me and making me jump nearly out of my skin, ‘do you think you could ask these villagers if I might purchase a new pair of sandals off them? Mine have become very worn.’

  I turned round in irritation. ‘Not now, Aulus. Go find Blasius, and take Audax with you.’

  Audax blustered, ‘But, Cassius, I only wanted to—’

  ‘Go,’ I snapped.

  Audax and Aulus backed off as the stranger approached me. ‘Greetings, Roman. I’ve heard from your friend that I may be able to help you?’

  I eyed the warrior. He was around my height, tightly muscled, but thinner, with an angular face and a thin wispy beard. I forced myself to smile. ‘I’m afraid my scout, Audax, has overindulged himself with the wine today. We’re not in need of any assistance.’

  He stood in front of me. ‘But your friend seemed so sure?’

  I narrowed my eyes and hardened my voice. ‘He was wrong.’

  The warrior looked me up and down. ‘You’re dressed strangely for a Roman. A plain mail shirt and tunic, like a common legionary. But I know that coloured band on your tunic signifies something? And that sword by your side, which you appear itching to draw, has never seen service in the lower ranks. Are you a man of importance, Roman?’

  I looked behind him, to his friends, who were all now standing. They were all carefully watching the encounter between their leader and me. My Praetorians were doing the same, fanning out behind me. No one had drawn a weapon yet but all looked ready. I stood up straight and tried to exude confidence, but something about this man was dangerous, his confidence disturbing, and my stomach gave a slight turn. ‘You notice a lot of details, but so do I. You’re not from this village, are you?’

  He smiled, but his dark eyes were as hard as iron. ‘My home is the mountains. I live and travel where I choose. No hearth can claim me.’

  I motioned to reply, but he interrupted me with a rasping whisper. ‘And no master rule me.’

  I’d had enough of him trying to intimidate me. ‘Then you should return to your mountains, as I have no use for you here.’

  He looked at me and there was an uncomfortable silence. Finally he laughed. ‘You must be important, Roman. You give orders as if you own this place.’

  I eyed the falcata by his side. It was beautifully crafted from Spanish steel, more highly decorated than any I’d seen before, the grip carefully worked into the shape of an eagle’s head. ‘It is time you were leaving.’

  He gave me another smile. ‘Very well, Roman. But remember, I came to you in friendship.’

  He turned his back to me and slowly walked back to his men. I stood where I was, not moving until he rejoined his small group of warriors. They rounded up their horses and started mounting similar light horses to the one owned by Audax. Just before they left, the warrior pranced his agile sorrel stallion into the clearing and made sure I met his eyes. They were dark and cold, and smouldered with defiance.

  I stood my ground, but I’ll admit it wasn’t easy. He gave one last insolent grin before waving his arm and signalling the others to leave. They rode out of the village
at a hard canter.

  I turned around and nodded at Maris and the other Praetorians in respect. They’d kept their ground too, something I was grateful for. ‘We’ll not be staying here long, but make sure you stay alert in case they return.’

  Maris nodded and started issuing orders to the legionaries, stationing them around the village.

  I walked over to the others. Audax ran over to me. ‘Sorry, Cassius, I thought they meant no harm. They welcomed me when I entered the village and said they were friends to—’

  I cut him short. ‘Save it, you’ve let your greed for wine cloud your judgement. Any fool could have seen that something was amiss. You should know better.’

  Audax stumbled another reply, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen to any more of his whining. ‘Enough.’ I looked over at my lictor. ‘Blasius, take your friend to that stream we passed on the way in and make sure he gets in it. I want him sober enough to ride before the sun starts to drop. We’ll be marching late into the evening.’

  ‘Of course, Cassius. Straight away.’ He pushed Audax out towards the stream.

  I shook my head as I watched the two of them walk off to the stream arguing. I was angry with Audax, but really I knew the fault to be my own. I’d been treating this trip too lightly and had let discipline become far too lax, especially with those two.

  Aulus walked up to me. ‘That looked a pretty unpleasant encounter.’

  I shook my head. ‘As soon as Audax saw there were armed men in the village, he should have come back and warned us. What other use is he?’

  Aulus sighed. ‘Wine is often to blame for an error in judgement. He probably meant no harm. After all, this was supposed to be a friendly village.’

  Viviana came up behind me and put her hand on my shoulder. ‘You did well to face that man down.’

  I turned to her. ‘Do you know him?’

  She shook her head and looked in the direction they’d rode off. ‘No, but I don’t have to. I know a bandit when I see one. Apparently they rode in last night and demanded food and wine. They have been here telling tall tales and drinking under that tree.’