And as Quietus started to clap his hands together the others joined in in a subdued and polite manner, as all eyes turned to look at Fergus.
“So,” Quietus exclaimed as the polite clapping died away, “I have to ask myself, what such a talented young commander is still doing in Hadrian’s service? Maybe you should consider joining us Fergus,” Quietus said, as he stared at Fergus. “I don’t mean physically for you already have, but in your heart. Pledge your loyalty and allegiance to me. If you were to join me, enter my service, I promise you that I will make you into a great soldier. You know I have the power to advance your military career like no one else. But with advancement must come loyalty. This is your chance Fergus. Well, isn’t that what you desire?”
Fergus said nothing as the room around him went silent. Then he lowered his gaze to the floor. So, this was the reason why Quietus had summoned him to Singara. Quietus was trying to get him to abandon Hadrian and instead pledge his loyalty to him. He was trying to poach him. Quietus was forcing him to choose between himself and Hadrian.
“Hadrian sent me to join Task Force Red,” Fergus said at last, in a resigned voice as he calmly looked up at Quietus. “Because he fears you. Hadrian wants to know if you will be loyal to him when he becomes the next emperor. He is concerned that you will start a civil war. I am supposed to find out where you stand. That’s the truth. Those were my instructions.”
The room around Fergus went very still as he finished speaking. Across from him, Quietus stared at Fergus and, as the silence lengthened the mood in the room grew awkward and tense.
“I know,” Quietus said at last. “I have known why you were sent to me for some time. Do you think I am a fool?”
“No Sir,” Fergus replied, slowly shaking his head. “I was just following orders.”
“I am Trajan’s man,” Quietus snapped, “All of us here are Trajan’s soldiers. And I and every man in this room shall pledge their loyalty to the man who the emperor appoints as his successor. That is clear. As far as Hadrian is concerned. I don’t like him. The man is an arsehole and I will never support him. He is no soldier. He will abandon these eastern conquests the moment he can. He doesn’t give a shit about the brave men who have died to win us these lands. If Hadrian becomes emperor he will betray all of Rome’s soldiers. And you will not find a man here who disagrees with that. But now I want to know where you really stand Fergus. I want to know if you are with us or against us.”
Fergus nodded. Hadrian had his answer and he had fulfilled his task set more than a year ago, but he felt no joy or relief at the accomplishment. Quietus had asked him to choose, a choice between loyalty to himself or Hadrian and now he had a decision to make, a big decision with far-reaching consequences. Quietus had proved himself to be a good and honest man and it was true, that if he abandoned Hadrian and joined Quietus, that his army career would gain a massive boost. But by abandoning Hadrian, he would be doing nothing to help and aid his family. Marcus, his father was still on Hadrian’s death list – accused of complicity in the assassination attempt. Fergus groaned silently. It was a difficult decision but there was no question that his first duty was to his family’s safety. He had to persuade Hadrian to remove his father from that death list and if that came at the expense of his army career, then that was the price he would have to pay. Fergus closed his eyes as he made his choice. However much he admired Quietus, he could not abandon Hadrian, not now. Slowly Fergus turned to look up at Quietus and, as he did, he took a deep breath. He was about to destroy his army career – the one thing he had spent his life working on.
“I am sorry Sir,” Fergus said forcing him-self to look up at his commander, “I am a soldier like you, but I gave my word to Hadrian. I swore an oath. It would be dishonourable of me to go back on that. I hope you understand Sir.”
Around him the room remained silent, as the officers seemed to hold their breath. Standing beside his throne, Quietus was gazing at Fergus in disappointment and regret. He seemed genuinely saddened by the decision.
“Get out,” Quietus said quietly.
* * *
Fergus was alone in his quarters when the messenger arrived and quickly and silently handed him the scroll before departing. Outside it was night and the stars twinkled and glowed across the vastness of space. Slowly, he closed the door to his quarters, moved around the small table and sat down. In the dim oil lamp light, Fergus stared down at the scroll for a moment. Then undoing his belt, he placed his sheathed gladius onto the table with a bang. Unrolling the letter, he read the small, neat writing. Then he read the letter again. When he was done he leaned back and sighed. Rising to his feet he strode to the door, opened it and turned to the Numidian soldier, who was standing outside on guard duty.
“I want to see Hiempsal here at once - Hiempsal,” Fergus growled.
Fergus was standing with his hands clasped behind his back, as Hiempsal appeared in the entrance and nodded a quick, startled greeting.
“Sir, you called for me,” Hiempsal said in broken Latin, as he glanced nervously at the gladius, short sword lying on the table.
“Yes,” Fergus said, “I wanted to let you know that I will be leaving the Seventh Cavalry tomorrow at dawn. I have been sacked. A new commander will be assigned to the cohort in due course. Until then, you are to be in command and maintain discipline. I am to return to Antioch.”
“You are leaving us,” Hiempsal blurted out in shock. “But how can this be? What has happened Sir?”
“It seems that Hadrian, my patron wrote to Quietus from Antioch a month ago,” Fergus said quietly. “Hadrian wants me to return to Syria at once and Quietus has now agreed to let me go. I am no longer your commander or in charge of the Seventh cavalry. I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be gone by dawn.” Fergus paused and he searched for the right words. Then he straightened up. “It has been an honour Hiempsal. An honour to have known you and fought alongside you. I shall not forget.”
* * *
Carefully Fergus looked around his quarters but he’d not forgotten anything. Everything he possessed was packed. It was dawn, and over his shoulder his simple legionary marching pack was bulging with personal belongings. From his belt hung Corbulo’s old sword and his centurion’s helmet lay on the table. Sadly, Fergus gazed around the room for the final time. Now that Hiempsal had been informed and he had handed over responsibility to Hiempsal, it was time for him to go. He had not expected that leaving his Numidians would be this hard, but it was. Better to leave quickly and without any fuss. Snatching his helmet from the table, he headed for the doorway and as he stepped out into the cold light of dawn, a deep booming voice suddenly cried out across the Parthian parade ground.
“Soldiers. Attention!”
Fergus stopped in his tracks. Across the courtyard of the cavalry barracks the four hundred or so men of the Seventh Auxiliary Cavalry Ala of Numidians were standing, drawn up in perfect formation and, as he appeared, the whole unit smartly came to attention and saluted. And standing in front of the troops, Hiempsal was staring at Fergus, clutching the proud cohort banner.
“You did not think we would let you leave Sir without saying goodbye,” Hiempsal called out, with a smile on his face. “So here we are. The best auxiliary ala in the army and it is because of you, Sir. It is we who shall not forget.”
And as he finished speaking, Hiempsal suddenly raised the Numidian banner in the air and cried out in a loud emotional voice. “Fergus, Fergus, Fergus!”
The chant was swiftly taken up by the rest of the cohort and soon four hundred Numidian voices were shouting and shaking their raised fists triumphantly in the air.
“Fergus! Fergus! Fergus!”
Chapter Thirty – The Rewards of Loyalty and Duty
Antioch – The Roman province of Syria - February 115 AD
Hadrian seemed to have lost weight and grown fitter and sharper since he’d last seen him at Elegeia some eight months ago, Fergus thought. He stood in his patron’s study in his house, in fron
t of Hadrian’s desk, waiting for Hadrian, who was sitting behind his desk, to finish reading a letter. Old Attianus, standing to one side and looking as dour and stern as ever was studying Fergus in silence with a relentlessly cold and harsh gaze. Ignoring Hadrian’s childhood guardian Fergus turned his eyes towards the window. Outside in the pleasant garden, he could hear the excited shriek of children and the noise tugged at his heart. It had been ten months since he’d seen Galena and his daughters. Had they been informed that he had returned to the city? Upon his arrival, back in Antioch Hadrian’s staff had not allowed him to see his family for unknown reasons.
“You must be tired from your long journey,” Hadrian said at last as he laid down his letter and looked up at Fergus. “Anyway, welcome back.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Fergus replied stiffly.
Hadrian nodded but he did not look pleased and, as Fergus’s eyes glanced around the room, he was surprised to see that Adalwolf was not present. That was strange. Hadrian’s Germanic adviser always followed him everywhere.
“There have been some changes since you were last with us Fergus,” Hadrian said, as he looked down at the table in front of him. “I hear that the war in the east is going well. Nisibis and Singara have fallen and the kingdom of Osrhoene has become a vassal of Rome. Parthamasiris is dead, killed trying to escape. The enemy it seems is on the run on all fronts. The emperor is pleased.”
“The war is going well Sir,” Fergus nodded. “The Parthians are divided and weak. There has been no significant intervention.”
Fergus paused. The time had come to reveal what he knew to the only man who was worthy of the information.
“Sir, regards the Armenian king, Parthamasiris,” Fergus took a deep breath, “I killed him on the emperor’s orders.”
“You were the man who struck down the Armenian king?” Hadrian arched his eyebrows in surprise.
“I did,” Fergus nodded solemnly, “and just before he died Parthamasiris told me something important Sir. Something that I have not revealed to anyone – until now.”
“What did he say boy? Speak.” Attianus growled quickly as he glared at Fergus with sudden interest.
And as Fergus carefully recounted the revelation that Parthian spies and agents were planning to foment unrest and rebellion across Rome’s eastern provinces the look on Hadrian’s and Attianus’s face seemed to change. When at last Fergus fell silent Hadrian and Attianus glanced at each other. Then Hadrian turned his attention back to Fergus.
“Thank you, Fergus, for bringing this to my attention,” Hadrian said giving him a little nod. “I shall deal with the matter personally. Good work.”
“And Quietus?” Attianus said, gazing at Fergus. “I hear that he sent you to command an auxiliary unit out in the desert. That was not part of our plan. But I trust that you accomplished your task. Well?”
Fergus took a deep breath. “It was not easy Sir,” he said in a careful voice turning to Hadrian. “Quietus is a clever man and his popularity with the troops is growing.”
“I don’t give a damn how popular he is with the army,” Hadrian interrupted in a sharp annoyed voice. “Will he or will he not support me, when I am declared Trajan’s successor?”
“He told me that he will be loyal to the man Trajan nominates as his successor,” Fergus said carefully. “But he made it clear to me that he will not support you Sir. He made that very clear. He is not your friend. He despises you.”
Hadrian said nothing, as he glared at Fergus from behind his desk. Then as the silence grew, he abruptly looked away.
“If he is not my friend,” Hadrian said in a harsh voice, “then he is my enemy and I shall treat him as such. Thank you, Fergus for your dedication to your duty.”
Fergus nodded and looked down at his feet. Had his words just got Quietus added to Hadrian’s death list?
“There is another matter that has arisen while you were away,” Hadrian said with a deep sigh. “Unfortunate but serious business, I’m afraid. It is the reason why I wrote to Quietus and recalled you. It involves Adalwolf. He has got himself into trouble and I need you to go and sort it out.”
“Trouble Sir?” Fergus frowned.
“Yes trouble,” Hadrian growled, turning to gaze at Fergus. “A fucking shed-load of trouble.” Hadrian paused, as he sized Fergus up. “But do this next job for me and I shall consider forgiving your father for his treachery. If you do a good job, I will take your father Marcus off my list.”
Fergus’s cheeks blushed and for a moment he didn’t know what to say.
Hadrian and Attianus were watching him carefully. Then before Fergus could speak, Hadrian rose to his feet.
“We shall discuss the details later,” Hadrian said, as his mood seemed to lighten and a little wry smile appeared at the edge of his lips. “In the meantime, I believe there are some people waiting outside who are very much looking forward to seeing you. You should go to them.”
Silently Fergus snapped out a salute and stiffly turned on his heels and walked across the study to the door. And as he stepped out into the hallway of the house, a wild, excited shriek of joy erupted and racing down the corridor, and towards him came his little girls, followed by their beaming mother.
AUTHOR’S NOTES
Emperor Trajan’s wars with Armenia and Parthia from AD 114 -117 saw the Roman empire grow to its greatest geographical extent. The term Armenia Capta is found on Roman coins and commemorates the capture and conquest of Armenia. In doing the research for this novel I used the books, The Complete Roman Army by Adrian Goldsworthy, Trajan’s Parthian War by F.A Lepper, Osprey’s Rome’s enemies (3) and (5) and Training the Roman Cavalry by Ann Hyland as resources and found them all to be excellent.
There has been an ongoing debate for nearly a hundred years now between scholars as to whether Emperor Trajan set out to conquer Parthia from the start or whether he initially had in mind a more limited expansion in the east. In this novel, I have taken F. A Lepper’s view on this matter.
On the 10 th August 2017, it will be exactly 1900 years since Hadrian became Emperor of Rome. And Eustolos of Side did indeed win the Olympic games in 113 AD.
The Veteran of Rome series will extend to nine books in all after which the series will finish. The next book, Veteran of Rome 8 will be published at the start of March 2018.
William Kelso
London, August 2017
MAJOR PARTICIPANTS IN ARMENIA CAPTA
Marcus and Fergus’s family
Kyna, Wife of Marcus, mother of Fergus.
Ahern, Kyna’s son by another man. Jowan forced to adopt him.
Elsa, Orphaned daughter of Lucius, but adopted by Marcus and his family.
Galena, Wife of Fergus
Briana, Fergus and Galena’s first daughter
Efa, Fergus and Galena’s second daughter
Gitta, Fergus and Galena’s third daughter
Aina, Fergus and Galena’s fourth daughter
Athena, Fergus and Galena’s fifth daughter
Indus, Marcus’s Batavian bodyguard in Rome and ex-soldier
Imperial family
Marcus Ulpius Traianus, Emperor of Rome (Trajan) AD 98 - 117
Plotina Pompeia, Empress of Rome, Emperor Trajan’s wife
Salonia Matidia, Trajan’s niece.
Members of the Peace Party
Publius Aelius Hadrianus, (Hadrian) Leader of the peace party
Adalwolf, German amber and slave trader, but also guide, advisor and translator for Hadrian.
Vibia Sabina , Hadrian’s wife
Publius Acilius Attianus, Hadrian’s old childhood guardian (Jointly with Trajan)
Marcus Aemilius Papus, friend of Hadrian
Quintus Sosius Senecio, Soldier and supporter of Hadrian
Aulus Platorius Nepos, Roman politician and soldier
Admiral Quintus Marcius Turbo, close friend of Trajan and Hadrian
Members of the War Party
Gaius Avidius Nigrinus, Senator, leading citizen in Rome
and close friend of Trajan. Leader of the war party and potential successor to Trajan
Lady Claudia, A high born aristocrat and old acquaintance of Marcus
Paulinus Picardus Taliare, One of Rome’s finance ministers, in charge of the state treasury
Aulus Cornelius Palma, Conqueror of Arabia Nabataea and sworn enemy of Hadrian.
Lucius Pubilius Celsus, Senator and ex Consul; bitter enemy of Hadrian.
Lusius Quietus, Berber prince and Roman citizen from Mauretania in northern Africa, a successful and popular Roman military leader.
Marcus , Fergus’s father, senator and supporter of the War Party
Members of Fergus’s close protection team
Alexander, bodyguard to Hadrian
Arlyn, Hibernian bodyguard of Hadrian
Barukh, Jewish bodyguard of Hadrian, recruited in Antioch.
Flavius, Blond Germanic bodyguard and Fergus’s deputy
Korbis, bodyguard to Hadrian.
Saadi, only female and youngest member of Fergus’s protection team
Skula, A bald Scythian (Russian) tribesman. One of Hadrian’s guards.
The two Italian brothers , ex-legionaries and bodyguards to Hadrian
Numerius, bodyguard to Hadrian, recruited in Antioch.
The Armenians and Parthians
Osroes I, King of Kings of Parthia
Parthamasiris, Nephew of Osroes, who became king of Armenia.
Volagases III, rival Parthian king to Osroes, rules in eastern Parthia
Zhirayr, Leader of the Mardi insurgents
The Seventh Auxiliary Cohort of Numidians
Crispus, temporary prefect of Resafa II fort before the arrival of Fergus.
Eutropius, A Greek doctor working for the Roman army
Hiempsal, Numidian officer at Resafa II
Armenia Capta Page 31