by Peter Tonkin
‘The same will be said of you, I’m sure,’ said Felix as the pair of them strolled down the Via with the laden legionary following just behind. ‘In the meantime, I think I can still find an amphora or two of Falernian for later. And, before you ask, you can bunk down in my quarters. There’s plenty of room at least, though not so much of anything else – as you’ve already guessed! We’re just praying that things don’t get too desperate before Antony and young Caesar arrive.’
‘Or Brutus and Cassius arrive,’ said Artemidorus.
‘Precisely. And that’s the problem. Nobody has the faintest idea where the opposing armies actually are or what their next moves are going to be.’
iii
Felix was surprised that the briefing room had become so crowded so quickly. Was that a reflection of the importance of Septem’s work and potential information, he wondered – or just of boredom and borderline desperation. Seeing the two generals, their staff and the senior officers of eight legions assembled in the room, the legionary carrying Artemidorus’ armour stopped at the door, understandably nervous about entering. Felix gave him a series of murmured instructions and Artemidorus’ kit went off to Felix’s quarters with a message to his legionary slaves about preparing another bed. But not before Artemidorus had reclaimed the saddle-bags with Publius Casca’s commissions in amongst everything else. Norbanus called him to the head of the table and moments later Artemidorus and Felix were standing between the two generals. ‘Make your report Septem. We’ll try not to interrupt and save our questions to the end.’
‘Very well, General. But I’m afraid I must warn you all that I do not bring good news. My journey from Dyrrachium to Alexandria established that Brutus and Cassius have a firm grip on the east, while – as you must already know – the Via Egnatia though Macedonia and Thrace is by no means secure, particularly from local tribes and bandits. The so called Libertores have seventeen legions, though not all of them are at full complement. They are all well-armed, and, because of the severity with which Brutus in particular has taxed the cities under their control, they are well financed. They also have large numbers of cavalry. They are well-supplied, with access to as much grain and livestock as they need. As well as the municipal wealth of local cities, they have the war-chests and military supplies of the legions who have gone over to them, which now includes every legion originally stationed east and south of here. They have marched as far south as the border of Egypt and it is only by the benign working of fortune that Cassius has not conquered Egypt as well; a conquest which would have supplied an enormous amount more gold while at the same time removing a powerful ruler whom he cannot trust to obey and support him – quite the contrary, in fact.’
‘He doesn’t need to get rid of her,’ came an anonymous voice. ‘That whore has let Antony down at every turn. You would think that the memory of Divus Julius would make her more willing to help. Not to mention that she has borne his child…’
‘I believe she has done everything she could,’ said Septem, his voice level, his tone cold, though the officer’s observation and its sneering tone angered him. He mentally admitted that he, like Caesar and Antony had fallen under Cleopatra’s spell. ‘She sent all four of her legions under Aulus Allienus to help Antony’s ally Dolabella but they joined Cassius instead; which adds yet another reason why he was tempted to conquer her country for it was relatively defenceless – especially against legions that had been stationed there and knew the lie of the land. The only things that stopped him, I believe, are the things that have also constrained her – the Nile has not inundated for some years and the population are starving and on the edge of open revolt. She has access to enormous riches but most of her fabulous fortune is currently committed to buying grain from Parthia and having it shipped to her people via her system of municipal and religious granaries. Moreover, there is a plague rife in the land which neither the priests nor the physicians have any means – or hope – of controlling. Just as Cassius realised it would be a fatal distraction from his primary task to take all of this on, so it has been a powerful distraction to the queen. Nevertheless, despite everything, she built and commissioned a navy of many hundreds of vessels – the merest rumours of which, I understand, have caused Cassius to recall Admiral Murcus and his fleet to be stationed south of Greece. Which, I believe is why you all made it safely over here. But Queen Cleopatra’s fleet was destroyed by a massive storm. I was there. I saw it happen and I am very lucky indeed to have survived.’
*
Artemidorus rode the silence that followed his words for a moment, then he continued. ‘Since managing to stay alive and having been taken aboard a passing vessel, I have learned more up-to-date information which is, frankly equally worrying. You will be aware that Brutus and Cassius met at Sardis – Cassius being called to that meeting just at the very moment he was making his final decision about invading Egypt. They have massed their legions together – except for those that are with their fleets and those they have sent ahead – as Antony and young Caesar have sent you ahead - as vanguards. The Casca brothers are in Neapolis. Antistius Labeo is on the island of Thasos and Tillius Cimber with his fleet and extra legions is there too. The Casca brothers are very close to Brutus in particular. They were with him when he burned Xanthus and slaughtered most of its population. As were Valerius Messala Corvinus and several others who have escaped the proscriptions in Rome and now command Libertore legions. Antistius Labeo is busy setting the island of Thasos up as a massive supply base - presumably under orders from the Cascas who are in turn acting under the direction of Brutus and Cassius. It is only a few hours sailing from Neapolis and is perfect for the job. Neapolis itself is under martial law, completely overrun by the Libertores’ advance guard. As is Philippi but to a slightly lesser extent.’
‘We know about the frontier along the Gangites,’ said Felix.
‘Yes. There are two centuries there and they’re patrolling along the river from the mountain to the marsh. It’s as tight as can be. I only got through it with false papers and the soldiers chasing me were halted at the Gangites bridge because they didn’t have the correct passes. I assume the border is absolutely closed against you, but still occasionally lets squadrons of Libertore cavalry through to make life difficult for your scavengers.’
‘As we have learned to our cost,’ nodded Norbanus.
‘In the mean-time our supply lines are cut,’ snarled Saxa. ‘We are blockaded by sea and we can learn nothing about either of the two matters that are of most importance to us.’
‘When to expect Antony and Caesar or Brutus and Cassius,’ nodded Artemidorus. ‘But I would suggest that things might not be quite as desperate as you calculate.’
‘How so?’ demanded Saxa, by no means mollified.
‘The line from Neapolis to Philippi is effectively the limit of the Libertores’ major preparations – with a safe area stretching out as far as the Gangites, I’ll allow. Clearly Brutus and Cassius know no more than you do about when Antony and Caesar are to be expected, but neither of them has Antony’s propensity for gambling. Nor are they particularly widely experienced as battlefield commanders. Brutus has had very little direct battlefield involvement. He served in an administrative capacity with Pompey, handed himself over to Caesar without a fight at Pharsalus and governed Gaul after Caesar had pacified it and gone to Africa, chasing after Cato and ultimately settling Cleopatra safely on her throne. Fair enough, Cassius led the survivors safely out of Crassus’ disastrous defeat at Carrhae but he too has had limited experience of full scale all-out frontal assault. They are likely to be a little hesitant, therefore. Defensive. And Philippi is the perfect defensive position with steep hills leading up to Philippi itself and the Temple of Dionysus on one hand and that huge swamp on the other. Lines can be drawn at the top of the considerable slope which lies between the Gangites and Amphipolis, up which anyone attacking from the west would have to climb and down which their armies on the eastern side can rush with added speed and powe
r. I have travelled the length of the Via as have you, and if there is a location more suited to a defensive battle between here and Dyrrachium, I never saw it. Did anyone here?’
Once again there was silence – a thoughtful silence this time as all the soldiers there considered his analysis. Then heads began to nod in agreement.
‘If and when Brutus and Cassius arrive,’ he continued after a moment, ‘I would wager they will settle there, fortify their position at the top of the slope, on the ridge between the hill and the swamp astride the Via Egnatia and then just wait for Antony to get here with his legions tired and hungry after a long march with limited supplies - while their forces are rested, well-supplied, fed and watered.’
‘What about us?’ demanded another of the senior officers. ‘Surely it makes sense to get rid of us while they’re waiting…’
‘It might do if they were gambling men and happy to wager that they would be finished with you before Antony arrives,’ answered Artemidorus. ‘But even with the number of legions, cavalry and vessels they have at their command, it would be a siege, wouldn’t it? And potentially a lengthy one at that. They wouldn’t be able to walk in here and destroy you like they did in half the cities of the east. It would be a protracted undertaking and the Cascas, Labeo and Cimber must all know this – and be ready to tell their two generals when they arrive. Just think of the position they would find themselves in if they were engaged in an all-out assault on Amphipolis when Antony and his legions came marching down the Via behind them. It’s what happened to Antony himself at the battle of Forum Gallorum in Aprilis 711 when he thought he had stopped even the Legio Martia commanded by young Caesar and Consul Pansa only to find Consul Hirtius had arrived behind him with the fresh troops of the Legio IIII Macedonica. Again, I was there and saw it happen: how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory – a lesson widely learned. And Antony only survived through the kind of leadership that puts even Cassius after Carrhae in the shade.’
iv
‘There’s still one thing we need to know above everything else,’ said another officer, invisible amid the throng crowding round the map table. ‘And that’s when Brutus and Cassius will get here – whether or not your assessment of their likely actions when they arrive is correct.’
The second part of the observation was almost lost beneath the rumble of agreement from his colleagues.
Norbanus also nodded, while Saxa said, ‘Yes. That is the most important thing. If Antony’s not going to appear anytime soon, then we can start a tactical retreat westwards, moving from one defensive position to the other. But if we decide to do that, the critical calculation is still whether Brutus and Cassius will be in any position to come after us. If they’re anywhere nearby we dare not move, even if we are close to starvation here. And if Septem’s assessment of their likely plans is less than accurate and they are willing to come past the Gangites, then they can wipe us out without too much trouble wherever we are. Their legions may be undermanned, but they are still the veteran legions who trained with Pompey and Divus Julius who were settled here after Pharsalus. And the Libertores still command ten more legions that we do. So if they are close enough to catch us in the open as we retreat to the next city westwards – Stagira, say, it will make the slaughter at Carrhae look like a walk in the woods.’
‘You see where this is headed,’ said Felix under his breath.
‘Yes,’ answered Artemidorus. ‘I got through the war-zone and came out in one piece. I, therefore, am the very man to send back in to find out where Brutus and Cassius are at the moment and how long it’s going to take them to get here.’
‘You do have the magic papers,’ said Felix.
‘And as a matter of fact,’ answered Artemidorus spitefully, ‘I have a spare set so that if I go, I’m not going alone.’
‘It seems to me…’ continued the anonymous voice, ‘that if the spy Septem managed to get out through the Libertores’ lines, then he’s the very man to send back through them…’
‘Here we go,’ said Felix wearily.
*
Saxa and Norbanus sat at the map table. Artemidorus and Felix sat opposite them. The briefing was over and the other officers had all gone about their various duties. All four men nursed goblets of well watered wine as they talked.
‘You understand why we have to ask this of you,’ Norbanus was saying. ‘Fortuna has placed you here – the very man we need just in the place and at the time we need him most.’
‘I see that,’ said Artemidorus. ‘If our positions were reversed, I’d be asking the same.’
‘So you’ll go?’ demanded Saxa impatiently.
‘Not just like that, General, no.’
‘What then?’
‘I’ll need to prepare. Plan. Weigh up alternatives. Get organised. Spying is just like every other aspect of warfare – if you rush in without planning and preparation you are almost certainly heading for disaster.’
‘I thought the first thing that fails in battle is the plan,’ sneered Saxa.
‘It doesn’t often survive the first assault, granted,’ said Artemidorus. ‘But there needs to be one at the outset nevertheless.’
‘Very well,’ said Norbanus. ‘Let us start sketching out a plan at once. The objective of the mission is clear enough: find out where Brutus and Cassius are and alert us as to when they will get to Philippi.’
‘Agreed,’ nodded Artemidorus. ‘Therefore I need to get back past the border at the Gangites – or round it.’
‘Through the marsh, you mean?’ demanded Saxa.
‘Perhaps. I certainly can’t risk trying to climb across the hillsides, though there are some woods up there. Next I will need to be able to move freely along the Via Egnatia through enemy-held territory.’
‘You have the pass that got you here,’ said Saxa. ‘Use that.’
‘In the last resort, perhaps. But it would be better if I can move invisibly – by which I mean as one person amongst many other similar people.’
‘As a soldier?’ suggested Felix.
‘Perhaps. I came out disguised as a cavalryman and that was effective enough in the short-term, but it was severely limited in a range of ways – not least because other soldiers keep asking about legions and alae while officers want to know whose command you’re working under. It gets complicated; slows you down. I’d rather be unremarkable but self-sufficient.’
‘We’ll have to think that one through,’ said Felix.
‘True. But many of the alternatives turn on how or where I cross the border at the Gangites. That’s where the details of the plan begin.’
‘Perhaps we should look at that first, then,’ suggested Felix.
‘Perhaps.
The conversation ended there. The generals dismissed the two centurions, but just as they were going through the door, Norbanus called Felix back. ‘You seem to be taking it for granted that you will go with Septem,’ said the general. ‘Why would you want to take such a dangerous risk?’
‘Because I’m not just his colleague,’ said Felix. ‘I’m his friend.’
‘And what does that mean?’ asked Saxa.
‘Well, in this situation, General, it probably means that I’ll be there to make sure neither of us has to die alone.’
v
Artemidorus and Felix left at sunset, their horses cantering easily along the Via as they headed east, eyes everywhere as they kept on the lookout for enemy patrols. ‘Of course, we could just wait until a patrol has passed then ride across the river behind their backs,’ suggested Felix.
‘Two problems with that,’ said Artemidorus, his mind clearly elsewhere. ‘First, in spite of the drought, the Gangites is full and fast-flowing. Second, we could only risk it in any case if we were happy to proceed on horseback, relying on scavenging and so-forth. I really do want to be as self-sufficient as possible.’
‘You want to take a wagon. Supplies…’
‘If I can. I’m having one made in the legionary workshops.’
&n
bsp; ‘So you have to rule out the hill-slopes to the north; you’d never get a wagon up there. And you wonder whether you could smuggle something like that through the marshes.’
‘Exactly.’
Three hours later, just after moon-rise, they led their mounts off the road and down the slope onto the parched grass of the plain at the top of the rise that contained the marsh. They hobbled the horses but left them free to graze on whatever they fancied among the desiccated vegetation. Each of them pulled a lamp from his saddle bag – not the sort that usually lit dark rooms in villas with their naked flames but the more practical sort used by men who worked in the dark. Their flames were guarded by thin sheets of horn which, when the lamps were lit, seemed to multiply their brightness and give it a restful, reddish tinge. The lamps took a while to light but eventually the job was done. Then they crept forward. Shading the red gold glimmers from view with careful hands. But, thought Artemidorus, they should be safe enough. The nearest enemies seemed to be the patrol riding south from the centuries’ camps beside the Gangites bridge, and they had turned back and ridden north at the northern edge of the marshland the better part of a mile away, calculating with a great deal of accuracy, thought Artemidorus, that no-one in their right mind would be likely to try and get through here. Especially not at night.
Artemidorus’ observations of the marsh at one time or another established its shape and size pretty accurately. It was a very rough tear-drop shape with the largest lake at the widest part, the smaller where it began to narrow and Felix and he were now at the narrowest point of it. It stretched ahead, by his calculation, for the better part of ten miles. They were probably wasting their time here, but his sense of duty meant that they at least had to try.