The Last Battle

by Nick Brown

  When the Maze was far behind them, Cassius called a halt and they all drank water.

  Simo approached him. ‘Sir, I’ve just realised most of our money was in one of the saddlebags we had to leave behind. My apologies.’

  ‘Not your fault, Simo. We didn’t exactly have a lot of time. I expect some soldier has already nabbed all those coins.’

  When Ioanna and Amarante began talking loudly, Enca snapped at them to whisper.

  ‘We have a decision to make,’ the scout told his superior. ‘In order to reach the Christian house, we must either pass through Cravana or cross the road that runs into it.’

  ‘We cannot risk the village.’

  ‘Even though we might find a boat there, sir? Get across quickly.’

  ‘Too risky. With all the troops around, everyone will know about us. There’ll likely be a squad there.’

  ‘They will also be watching the road.’

  ‘They couldn’t watch the whole wood; they can’t watch the whole road. We’ll cross it, press on to this house.’

  Simo took advantage of the pause in conversation. ‘What’s this Christian house?’

  ‘They call it a retreat,’ muttered Enca.

  ‘I’ve heard of such places in the east,’ said Simo. ‘Communities that seclude themselves from others, try to live a pure existence.’

  ‘Like a church-house,’ said Indavara.

  ‘Not quite,’ replied Simo. ‘Those people return to their lives after worship. Others believe they must remove themselves entirely from-’

  ‘Fascinating, I’m sure,’ said Cassius. ‘But I’m afraid they have something we need and there will be no argument about it.’

  ‘Sir?’

  ‘We’re going to steal their boat.’

  Volosus reined in, cursing his mount as it skidded clumsily. Behind him were Gutha and Bibulus, before him the two officers he had arranged to meet at the crossroads. Some of their men were carrying torches, providing sufficient light to see the gathered faces. Volosus knew the centurion, a man of Greek heritage named Thaddeus. The decurion, Hadrianus, he had not dealt with before.

  ‘What news?’

  The messenger bird had obviously reached Prefect Clemens directly because a century arrived at Hawkhaven shortly after they finished the lift repairs and finally reached the ground. Volosus had spent the day organising the hunt for the young spy and his compatriots. Around midday, news reached him that Dolabella had been found dead; and that five of the enemy had been killed in a skirmish. The death of the general did not change his determination to find those who had ruined his operation.

  ‘My cavalrymen have followed the search pattern you suggested,’ replied Hadrianus wearily. ‘No trace of those you seek has been found. Another hour and then I shall recall them.’

  Volosus urged his horse closer to the decurion. ‘You most certainly will not. This search goes on as long as it has to. I’m sure the prefect told you that I am here on the orders of the emperor.’

  ‘Indeed. But as you well know, the enemy is on the move; certainly to the north and possibly here. My cavalry will not be of much use to the prefect if they’re exhausted and scattered across half the province. Given the amount of time that has passed, we should probably assume that those you hunt have crossed the river.’

  ‘Unlikely. I have covered every crossing.’

  ‘And every boat?’

  Volosus forced himself to avoid provocation. ‘Centurion Thaddeus?’

  ‘We are still watching the Maze and I have patrols manning the roads and crossings, as instructed. My optio thinks they’re still in the wood somewhere but it’s no more than a hunch.’

  ‘What about the dogs?’

  ‘The man we previously used has apparently gone west to avoid the fighting. We could find someone else but, like Decurion Hadrianus, I must return my men to our encampment tomorrow morning. If you do not approve, I suggest you take it up with the prefect.’

  Volosus took a breath to calm himself. In truth, there was no strategic justification for taking the units away from their legion.

  ‘Very well. I assure you both that your efforts are appreciated.’

  ‘Good,’ said Hadrianus. ‘If you need me, I will be at the way-station in Divora.’

  ‘You did despatch riders to Lavona, Taricum and Cravana? I need to be informed immediately of any development.’

  ‘I did. If there’s any message?’

  Volosus was tempted to spend the night hunting but the centurion and the decurion had dozens of units out. There was no point in them trying to find leads if they couldn’t find him.

  ‘I shall be at the Libio tower.’

  With that, the two officers and their parties departed, leaving Volosus alone with his attendant and bodyguard.

  ‘You’ve done all you can, sir,’ said Bibulus.

  ‘What do you think, Gutha?’ said Volosus after a time. ‘Are they still this side of the Rhone?’

  ‘With the general dead, time is less important. They might try to wait it out, even head west and find a safer way back.’

  Volosus felt his face grow hot as he thought of the letter he had earlier passed on to an imperial courier. Within hours, the emperor would know he had failed. It was not that Volosus had never suffered reverses but this was nothing less than a humiliation; one caused by an agent just like him yet half his age.

  No. No. No.

  Even though he now had little chance of affecting the forthcoming battle, he would find another way to tip the balance in Tetricus’s favour.

  But before that, vengeance.

  ‘What else do you know of this agent and his bodyguard?’

  ‘Nothing more than I told you,’ replied Gutha. ‘But in Arabia they and their troop stole the Black Stone of Emesa and it appears they have won a similarly unlikely victory again. I do not recall his name but he is clearly exceptional. You might just have to admit defeat.’

  Bibulus snorted. ‘And you might just have to keep your mouth shut, big man, if you expect to get any more gold coins. Master Volosus won’t rest until he has them dangling from a rope. That cheeky whore too, if she’s with them. Isn’t that right, sir?’

  ‘Hanging? No, no, Bibulus. Too swift and painless. I’m sure we can come up with something far more imaginative.’

  XIX

  Once over the road, Cassius felt his spirits lift a little. They’d had to wait some time for a lone rider to pass. Whoever it was, he was moving slowly towards the village and it seemed to take an age for the sound of hooves to fade. Now the six were descending the far side of the ridge, skirting the rear of Cravana. In the moonlight, only the high bluff and some of the larger buildings were visible.

  Spying some other structure ahead, Enca veered left until they were close to the woodland that separated grassy fields from the riverbank. Amarante announced that she and Ioanna ‘needed a moment’ and they retreated to a nearby tree.

  ‘Don’t go far,’ warned Enca.

  ‘I saw torches in Cravana,’ said Cassius.

  ‘Probably soldiers, as you said, sir.’

  ‘It’s so strange. The Twenty-Second was raised by Caligula for the invasion of Britannia. A noble legion. My great uncle was a tribune with them. Now they’re our enemy.’

  ‘You only just noticed?’ said Indavara. ‘I don’t know much history but it’s not exactly the first time Romans have fought Romans, is it?’

  Cassius could see little of the darkened faces around him but he sensed approval from Enca.

  ‘Indavara, must I remind you again that you are a citizen of Rome?’

  ‘I did ask you not to.’

  ‘Water, sir?’ Simo offered the flask to his master. ‘I’m afraid we haven’t much left.’

  ‘Don’t worry, we should be able to-’

  They all spun around as a figure approached.

  ‘She’s gone,’ said Amarante. ‘Ioanna’s gone.’

  ‘What?’ demanded Cassius.

  ‘She went a bit past me. Af
ter I … finished, I went to look for her but-’

  ‘Gods. Just what we bloody need.’

  Enca was already moving. ‘Sir?’

  ‘Go ahead. But don’t risk yourself.’

  The scout sprang away into the darkness.

  ‘Shit!’ Cassius kicked the ground. They were still close to Cravana. If she ran, she could be there in minutes. ‘Why?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Amarante. ‘She was scared but I didn’t think she’d go off on her own.’

  ‘She said she didn’t want to cross the river,’ interjected Simo. ‘She must know she has a better chance if she’s not caught with us.’

  ‘You’re right,’ said Cassius. ‘I should have seen it. Will she betray us?’

  Amarante did not answer, which seemed an answer in itself.

  ‘Shouldn’t we all go after her?’ suggested Indavara.

  ‘And risk blundering into someone’s vegetable patch or waking some dog? Bad idea.’

  Enca returned a minute later. ‘Sorry. She must have run.’

  Cassius had expected as much. ‘Onward then. All of you take a drink – we cannot afford to stop again.’

  At several points, they were close enough to the river to hear it. The proximity of safety continued to taunt Cassius, who reckoned he’d have been able to swim across on a calm day. Simo might have made it too. Indavara, however, possessed a mortal fear of deep water and Enca had earlier confessed that he too could not swim well, admitting that it was a failing in a scout.

  But the man more than made up for it with his ability to navigate. Cassius was again hugely impressed by the way he led them efficiently across the ground, despite the patchy cloud now obscuring the moonlight. They were at least moving away from danger; and Cassius tried to assure himself that Ioanna had been taken in by some kindly family; that she would quietly slip away in the morning.

  From there, his thoughts turned to Dolabella. He knew Indavara was right; there had been no other choice. But it was one thing to kill an enemy in the heat of battle, another to sink a dagger into the heart of an ailing old man. But he forced himself to remember that the general had accepted his fate; he’d known it was the only way. Cassius knew this would become another awful memory he would have to place in an imaginary box. He knew too that he could not stop those boxes springing open, unleashing horrific memories that could wake him from sleep and stop him in his tracks. But he had become accustomed to this too. And while such moments did affect him, he’d built his defences against them. He could always reassure himself with two unassailable truths:

  I have always done my best.

  I have done my duty for Rome.

  He thought of Iovius and the cavalrymen. He pledged to himself that he would write a full account of their actions for Prefect Gratidius. He hoped that every man would be posthumously honoured for their courage. A cavalryman might expect to sacrifice himself on the field of battle but, with their unit routed, they had then dutifully followed a ‘grain man’ and given their lives for Rome and Aurelian.

  Cassius was also regularly haunted by the memories of those who had lost their lives while assisting him during his missions for the Service. The list had grown terribly long.

  He was snapped back into the present by a warning from the scout.

  ‘A hollow there, sir. Careful.’

  Cassius waited for Amarante and the others to pass on the warning. As the pair of them followed Enca down a slippery slope, she took his hand. He enjoyed the experience for a moment but then felt a familiar weight upon him. Though they had accomplished their mission, he was now responsible for delivering his two friends, this admirable girl and the loyal Enca from danger.

  Almighty Jupiter, god of gods. Grant a worshipper a request. Let us be across the river by dawn.

  Within the hour, they reached a tributary that ran down to the Rhone.

  ‘Ah,’ said Enca. ‘Now this I remember.’

  Though small, the stream was at the bottom of a twenty-foot ravine. They had emerged onto a rocky platform and the opposite side was about eight feet across, the far edge just visible in the gloom.

  ‘Is there an easier way?’ asked Simo.

  ‘Unfortunately not,’ replied Enca. ‘That’s why I remember it. I was with another scout. We headed inland but the ravine runs quite a way. We returned here and jumped across. But that was in daylight.’

  Amarante spoke up. ‘We can’t follow it down to the water?’

  ‘Very steep, as I recall. And then we’d have to swim around.’

  ‘It’s only two or three yards,’ said Cassius, trying to sound more confident than he felt. ‘That’s nothing with a run up.’

  They stood there in silence for a moment. The lapping of the water below was gently ominous.

  ‘Amarante, can you do it?’

  Her answer was quick and resolute. ‘I can.’

  ‘Very well. I shall go first. Simo, give me the pack.’

  The attendant handed it over without a word.

  ‘You’ll be all right,’ added Cassius. ‘You’ve a long stride.’

  ‘I’m not as athletic as you though, sir.’

  ‘It’s not far. You’ll clear it by a yard.’

  With an encouraging slap on Simo’s shoulder, Cassius pulled the pack on. He swiftly checked that his boots were secure and tightened his belt. The top of the ravine was free of obstructions and his run up clear.

  ‘I’ll stand by the edge to mark it,’ said Indavara.

  ‘Good thinking.’

  Cassius didn’t even attempt to run. He just took five smooth strides and pushed off with his right foot. As predicted, he cleared the gap easily and landed on level ground. But he was six and a quarter-feet tall and light on his feet. He knew it would not be so easy for the others. Removing the pack, he positioned himself at the edge opposite Indavara.

  ‘Simo?’

  ‘Perhaps Amarante would like to go next?’

  ‘Please wait a moment,’ she said.

  ‘Of course,’ said Cassius.

  She had to do something with the long tunic that reached all the way down to her ankles.

  ‘Ready.’ She retraced Cassius’s steps, took a couple of breaths then set off.

  Her pace seemed so slow that he almost shouted at her to speed up; but Amarante leaped elegantly, covered the distance with ease and landed with barely a sound.

  ‘Well done,’ said Indavara.

  ‘Ever considered an athletics career?’ added Cassius.

  He couldn’t be sure in the darkness but suspected that drew a smile.

  Looking back across the ravine, he saw that Simo was retreating quite some way.

  ‘Is that really necessary?’

  ‘Leave him be,’ advised Indavara.

  Simo took at least ten steps, puffing hard. He seemed to take off very early but he’d built up considerable speed and cleared the edge by a foot or so.

  ‘Thank the Lord.’

  Despite his age, Cassius had seen enough of the nimble Enca to know the ravine wouldn’t cause him a problem. The scout also took a short run-up and approached the jump confidently.

  But something went badly wrong as he launched himself off the edge. His impetus was lost and he seemed to drop like a stone. With a desperate cry, he threw his flailing arms forward. The darting Cassius clutched at his left hand. Neither man found a grip here but Enca somehow got his right hand across and clamped it onto Cassius’s tunic.

  The scout’s legs thumped into the ravine wall and he cried out. But by then, Cassius also had hold of his sword belt which pulled tight under Enca’s armpit. For a moment, he held his full weight but the scout was by far the lighter man. Cassius dragged him over the edge and dropped to his knees as Enca collapsed before him.

  ‘Gods. That was close.’

  Enca drew breath sharply, both hands shooting to his right knee.

  ‘Are you hurt?’

  Simo knelt beside Cassius but they could see little in the darkness.

  �
�Smashed it against the side,’ said Enca through gritted teeth.

  Indavara landed a few yards away then joined them. ‘I think the rock gave way as he jumped.’

  ‘Sorry, sir. My fault.’

  ‘I’ll hear none of that,’ said Cassius. ‘Could have happened to any of us.’

  ‘May I check it?’ asked Simo.

  ‘Please,’ replied Enca. But the strain in his voice told Cassius all he needed to know. This was not a man to make a fuss.

  ‘We have some medicinal wine, don’t we, Simo?’

  ‘In the pack there, sir.’

  Amarante passed it to Cassius and he swiftly located the flask. Enca was now sitting up. He took only a few sips.

  ‘More, man,’ said Cassius, ‘or it’ll have no effect.’

  ‘Very kind.’

  Simo’s examination clearly caused Enca more pain and his sips turned to swigs.

  ‘How bad?’ he asked after a minute or so.

  ‘The knee has a cap at the front,’ explained Simo. ‘The impact has broken it – feels like only one fracture but it’s quite severe. You won’t be able to walk on it.’

  Though this was the last thing he wanted to hear, Cassius told himself to try and make the best of the situation.

  ‘How far to go, Enca?’

  ‘Three or four miles, I think.’

  ‘I’ll strap it up, sir,’ said Simo. ‘Won’t take long.’

  ‘I can carry him,’ offered Indavara.

  ‘We can take it in turns,’ added Simo.

  Enca drank more wine. ‘Very kind.’

  Negotiating the opposite slope took some time and Cassius was glad when they again reached level ground. The next mile or so was easy going, Indavara carrying Enca the whole way. Cassius guessed there were no more than three or four hours of darkness left but he was reassured to have not heard nor seen any sign of pursuit.

  Perhaps because of the pain he was suffering, Enca failed to recall the series of creeks they then encountered. None were particularly wide or deep but all were surrounded by mud. By this point, Simo had taken over the carrying duties but Indavara stayed close to assist.