Bedrock of Empire

by Thomas M D Brooke

  That was the problem with the walls being removed from the settlements. It left them vulnerable to marauding robbers and bandits. I looked around at the other villagers, who looked concerned that I might blame them for the episode. ‘I suppose no harm was done, no steel bared.’

  Viviana looked at me in concern. ‘But we will need to be careful when we travel to the mine.’

  I looked at Viviana and Aulus. ‘I’ve been thinking about this. We won’t go to the mine straight away. We’ll go to the military camp first and visit the mine on the way back.’

  Aulus raised his eyebrows. ‘That should throw any troublemakers off our scent, but why the change of heart?’

  I sighed. ‘I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. I just have a feeling that I need to find Flavus, and quickly.’

  Aulus held his chin in his hand. ‘That will mean taking a prisoner with us to the mine. That might not look good when we turn up.’

  I shook my head in irritation. ‘I couldn’t care less how it looks any more.’

  Viviana said, ‘In that case I will point you to the road to Legio and wait for you here. Return after you’ve found what you came looking for and I’ll take you to the mine. I’ll learn the way from Rafa.’

  I looked at her. ‘It might be dangerous. Can’t someone else take us?’

  She gave me a hard look. ‘I will take you myself, Cassius. Those bandits didn’t scare you, and they won’t scare me. These mountains are my home, and I won’t let them dictate where I can and can’t go.’

  Chapter Twenty-one

  We left the village after the time needed for Audax to plunge into the cold water of the mountain stream and for Aulus to buy himself a new pair of sandals from a local leather worker. He was pleased with his purchase, remarking on the softness of the leather.

  I wasn’t interested. I made sure my small unit of eight men were organised for the next part of the journey properly. One walked in advance of the rest of us, whilst two others were taking up the rear – making sure we weren’t taken by surprise. A cowed Audax had been sent on ahead, given strict instructions to report back anything unusual and on no account to fraternise with any locals.

  I walked in a temper, annoyed by the unpleasant scene in the village and remaining wary of meeting the same warrior again. Aulus soon found my difficult mood tiresome and gave up trying to make conversation with me. Blasius, on the other hand, decided to put in a word for his absent friend, Audax. He was making excuses for Audax’s mistake. ‘He really is sorry. He said they seemed so friendly, and he thought their offer to take us to the mine was genuine.’

  I scoffed. ‘He didn’t think it strange, six armed warriors?’

  Blasius shrugged. ‘They claimed to be guards for a merchant caravan that came this way, selling goods to the Roman camp.’

  I sighed. ‘That might be the case. Maybe those men wanted to do little more than make a few coins by taking us to the mine. The point is he should have ridden back and reported it to me. Then I wouldn’t have walked in completely unprepared.’

  Blasius gave a gesture of dismissal. ‘That’s you, the soldier, talking.’

  I turned to him. ‘So what’s wrong with that? We are soldiers!’

  Blasius shook his head. ‘Audax isn’t. He was paid to be just a guide. He hasn’t had any military training. He just happened to be the only man on the governor’s staff that was from northern Lusitania. He works in the stables and travels back and forth to buy new mounts for the governor.’

  I hated to admit it, but Blasius had a point. ‘That doesn’t excuse him getting drunk when he was supposed to be scouting the village.’

  Blasius gave me a look. ‘Have you ever done something you shouldn’t?’

  I’d done a lot worse. I gave a deep sigh. ‘Alright, you’ve made your point, Blasius. I won’t reprimand him any further.’

  Blasius said cautiously, ‘Audax is worried you might report this incident to Livianus when we return. It won’t be the first time he’s been in trouble due to wine.’

  I shook my head dismissively. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not in the habit of reporting people behind their back. Audax has been very useful on this trip, hunting and providing fresh meat. But you must keep him away from the drink. No more sneaking off in the evening and sharing a wineskin.’

  Blasius gave a sigh of relief. ‘I will, thank you, Cassius.’

  His relief looked genuine. ‘You’ve become firm friends with Audax now, haven’t you?’

  He nodded. ‘Yes, I guess I have.’

  I looked around the countryside we were walking through. We were surrounded by sun-browned grassy hills interspersed with a little woodland and dissected by pleasant streams and rivers that ran down from the mountains to the west of us. ‘Could you see yourself staying here after the mission is finished? You could make a good life in Spain.’

  Blasius shook his head vigorously. ‘No chance. I’m a city man, always have been. The countryside is all well and good, but give me the paved streets of Rome any day. Already I miss it. I couldn’t live anywhere else and be happy.’

  ‘I suppose that’s understandable after so many years in the Praetorians. You’ll be back there soon enough.’ So would I, if the gods were willing. Back in the arms of Numeria.

  There was a wistful note to Blasius’ voice. ‘I hope you’re right, Cassius. I really do.’

  As I’d earlier promised, we marched on late into the evening before making camp. I told the men to make sure they stayed alert through the night, just in case we’d been followed from the village. The night passed uneventfully however, and we left the foothills and marched along a flat plain towards the Roman camp. By late morning, Audax reported that the Roman camp was in sight. I sent him onwards to warn the legate that we were coming. Pancratius hadn’t been overly pleased by me turning up unannounced so I thought I better not make the same mistake again. My previous foul mood dispersed as soon as I arrived at the camp. It was situated by a swiftly flowing river that was fed from the many mountain streams in the area. It looked to be remarkably well set up. The defensive trenches and high wooden ramparts were far higher and deeper than regulations dictated, and once inside, I noticed that most of the wooden buildings had been replaced by those of stone. It looked like the Roman presence in this area was here to stay. We walked down the Via Principalis until we reached the large stone headquarters.

  Here a tribune was waiting to meet us. ‘Quaestor Aprilis, this is an honour. The legate has asked me to bring you straight into his company. Your messenger said your business was somewhat urgent?’

  I nodded. ‘Yes, it is. Can someone look after my lictor and guards? They have been on the road for days, and could do with some refreshment and a chance to freshen up.’

  He nodded. ‘Yes, of course.’ He signalled to a nearby centurion, then asked me, ‘Would you like to follow me?’

  I told Aulus, ‘You better stay with the others. I’ll see the legate alone,’ before following the tribune into the headquarters. This was clearly a military camp used to being on a war footing. The speed and urgency of the staff made a good impression. It was reassuring to be surrounded by professionals again.

  The legate was a man named Idmus, with light brown hair and a large strong physique. He welcomed me in but didn’t waste much time on niceties; he wanted to know what had brought me to this area of the Roman world. ‘I know you’re not here on a social visit. No one comes to this remote outpost without special need – especially with only a few guards. Tell me, what is it?’

  I was pleased by his straightforward approach. It made my job much easier. I explained about Flavus, the family he was from, and how there might be a traitor in their mix. The legate looked concerned and growled an expletive. He asked his tribune, ‘Calix, do you know the centurion he speaks of?’

  Tribune Calix shook his head. ‘No, he must be one of the junior centurions. I’ll find out which cohort he serves in.’

  Calix popped out of the room and returned shortly aft
erwards. ‘Flavus Arminius serves in the eighth cohort. He was promoted three years ago and his record is said to be good. He is marked down for the long patrol you ordered to the west.’

  I was troubled. ‘If he’s left, we’ll need to bring him back at once.’

  Legate Idmus shook his head. ‘Don’t worry. The patrol isn’t due to leave until tomorrow.’ He turned to his tribune. ‘Send a few men to take him into custody. However, do so quietly. Don’t give any indication of what he’s wanted for. I’d prefer it if the men just thought he’s guilty of nothing more than a minor infringement at this stage.’

  Calix left, and I explained to the legate, ‘If he is complicit in his brother’s treachery, he may have allies here already. He might have already started sowing the seeds of division.’

  Idmus gave a brisk shake of his head. ‘Not in this legion. I’d have heard about it if there had been any discord amongst the men. This is a tight unit, the men’s loyalty strong. If anything was happening in my legion, I’d know about it.’

  It wasn’t worth arguing with him; some legates were very touchy when it came to their legion. I’d just have to wait and question Flavus himself when they brought him to me. I paced back and forth whilst I waited; meanwhile, Idmus read through a number of reports on the centurion in question. ‘From these reports, he looks to be a model soldier. No serious misdemeanours marked against him’

  I paused my pacing to look at the legate. ‘His brother Julius was a model soldier too.’

  Idmus grunted and continued reading. ‘Oh!’

  ‘What is it?’ I asked.

  The legate rubbed his chin. ‘There is one oddity on his record. Apparently, just over a year ago, he put in a request to be transferred to the governor’s private guard.’

  I frowned. ‘What? Livianus’ guard?’

  Idmus nodded. ‘It was turned down of course, but it’s a strange request.’

  I tried to think this through. ‘Why was the request turned down?’

  Idmus gave me a look of bafflement. ‘Because this is the Roman army. Centurions can’t request where they’re posted. The governor, or the commander of his guard, request who they want and we comply, not the other way round.’

  I was annoyed with myself. ‘Of course, that was a stupid question. But this might mean something. Could he have been trying to get closer to the centre of power in Spain?’

  Idmus was prevented from replying, as Calix returned. ‘Legate, we might have a problem. The patrol has already left.’

  Idmus stood up from his desk. ‘What! They weren’t supposed to leave until tomorrow?’

  Calix looked embarrassed. ‘Apparently, the centurion in charge of the patrol was eager to leave, so the praefectus castrorum saw no reason to keep him back. He left with his full century of legionaries.’

  A cold dread ran down me. ‘He might have got wind of me coming when I sent my messenger this morning. He could have left when he realised what my coming meant.’

  Idmus punched the desk with his fist. ‘Send the auxiliary cavalry to bring him back. Two full alae. They are to escort the patrol back to camp – all of them.’

  Calix left to fulfil his orders, leaving Legate Idmus to grumble. ‘Don’t worry, they won’t let him get away. My cavalry are a crack unit from Cisalpine Gaul, used to travelling quickly over mountainous terrain. He won’t get far.’

  I shook my head in dismay. ‘I hope you’re right, Legate. I’ve come an awful long way to get this man. I don’t want to lose him just when he looks to be in my grasp.’

  We heard the cavalry leave the camp: a pealing of trumpets and horns before a thundering of hooves as they left at a fast canter. I fretted terribly whilst we waited, the tension playing havoc with my nerves. Needless to say I blamed myself for sending warning of my coming. Had I given Flavus a chance to escape?

  The delay did at least give me a chance to get a feel for the lay of the land, as the legate explained the position of the VI Victrix and their current circumstances. ‘Pancratius holds seniority over me, and he sent me here to set up a permanent camp. We chose this flat plain due to it being close to the river whilst still close enough to the mountains to send patrols and armoured units into the high terrain.’

  I forced myself to sit down on the stool opposite the desk where Idmus worked. ‘And is there much need for the military here?’

  Idmus nodded. ‘Unfortunately there is. All the main tribes have now made peace with Rome, but there are still several groups of bandits that plague these mountains. In particular, an outlaw named Aleixo. He’s far more dangerous than the rest.’

  I frowned. ‘Why, what marks him out?’

  Idmus gave a very slight shake of the head. ‘Most of the other bandits are nothing more than petty villains, keen on robbing or killing an unwary traveller or two but otherwise are little more than a nuisance to a large body of men like we have here.’

  ‘But Aleixo is different?’

  Idmus nodded. ‘Yes, he has a committed force of men he has brought to his cause. They are idealists and fanatics, far more dangerous than the usual groups of mercenaries, deserters, and wanted criminals. There are a host of rumours over his identity. Some say he is descended from the kings of lost Numantia, others that he is the grandson of the last Gallaecian chieftain to stand against Rome. Some even suggest that he’s descended from Hannibal Barca.’

  I gave a small laugh of derision. ‘Hannibal? But that’s ridiculous. Hannibal never came anywhere near Gallaecia. Never mind that it was two hundred years ago.’

  Idmus shook his head. ‘I know it’s ridiculous, but there it is. He is said to be a man of considerable charisma, and he is beginning to garner some support from the local villages. He sends men to recruit local boys with tales of past glories, and some are foolish enough to believe them.’

  I felt my sword arm twitch. ‘I think I might have met one of these recruiting parties on the way here. Six armed men with horses. They were in a local village and didn’t look like any friends of Rome.’

  Idmus gave me a sharp look. ‘You’re lucky they didn’t attack you. The people he sends to recruit are some of his best warriors.’

  I gave a grunt of agreement. ‘That sounds like them. They were confident, I’ll give them that, especially their leader. But they were only six, and there were ten of us.’ In actual fact there were eleven of us, but I didn’t count Aulus.

  ‘It sounds like Aleixo’s men. We think there are at least five hundred of them hidden away somewhere in the mountains. We haven’t located his camp yet, but once we do we’ll finish him. That was what the patrol was sent out for. We think his camp is far to the west, but I wanted to see if I could find out exactly where. Once we know, I will hit him with everything I have.’

  I raised my eyebrows at that. ‘That seems excessive for such a small force?’

  He shook his head. ‘He might not have many now, but he is growing all the time. Fanaticism can appeal to young impressionable minds. I know he’s planning something big. He wants to get himself noticed. Then he hopes others will flock to his cause.’

  A cloud passed over my thoughts. ‘Could Flavus be in league with this outlaw? He sounds like just the sort of fanatic that would appeal to his brother.’

  Legate Idmus didn’t like the sound of that. He stood up and started pacing. ‘We’ll find out soon enough when my cavalry returns.’

  So we waited.

  And waited. Time moved slowly as we awaited news of the patrol. I grew tired of the stifling heat in the legate’s office and asked if I could wait outside with Aulus and Blasius. He let me go, and I went and explained what was happening. My Praetorians brought me some food from the headquarters’ kitchen and then settled down to relax under the shade of one wing of the courtyard. Blasius meanwhile was his normal unconcerned self and used the opportunity to take an afternoon nap, something that a few passing tribunes clearly disapproved of, but my presence prevented them from saying more. I was too preoccupied with my own worries to bother waking Bl
asius, and even Aulus grew tired of the wait.

  ‘If you don’t mind, Cassius, I think I will see if I can dig up anything from the records office?’ he asked me wearily.

  I turned round to him in distraction. ‘What? Well, if you want. What do you expect to find?’

  He stood in front of me with his hands on his hips. ‘I’m not sure, but if there’s one thing the Roman army is good at, it’s keeping records. You never know what I might find.’

  I waved him off. ‘You may as well, you can’t do anything here.’ I probably should have joined him, if only to give myself a distraction from the waiting, but my stomach was in knots and I doubted I’d have the patience to search through endless rows of records.

  I sat on the veranda of the legate’s office for what seemed like an eternity. It wasn’t until the sun started to fall below the distant mountaintops to the west that I heard the telltale trumpeter’s signal from the gates. I stood bolt upright and ran out of the headquarters to watch the cavalry return.

  They rode down the Via Principalis to the main parade ground in two groups, one ala of five hundred riders in the first, the second ala to the rear. And the gods be praised, in the centre was the century of legionaries they’d been asked to escort back to the camp. ‘We have him!’ I said in triumph, punching my hand into my fist.

  I went back into the headquarters to find the legate. Much as I would have liked to run over and confirm Flavus was there, protocol needed to be observed. This wasn’t my legion, so I needed to tread carefully. I asked to be re-admitted to the legate’s office and I was let back in, to find Idmus donning his armour. He looked up when I entered. ‘Do they have them?’

  I smiled. ‘They do. You were right about your cavalry.’

  He nodded and picked up his helmet. ‘I told you. Now, let my men handle this. There is no need to let the other men know what this is about, as yet. As far as they’re concerned, they’ve just been brought back because they left the camp early.’