The Last Battle

by Nick Brown

He turned to the two officers, neither of whom spoke. Chares also remained quiet.

  Cassius turned to the crowd. 'Livius first. Set out the issue as you see it. The rest of you – remember what I said about speaking out of turn.'

  'Thank you, sir,' said Livius as he passed the torch to someone close by.

  'It's to do with my daughter, Claudia. She was pledged to marry Galenus, who is the son of Bion.' He gestured to the other concerned party. ‘Claudia and Galenus made the announcement last spring, just after the festival of Parilia. Permissions were given by the parents and the date was fixed for this year. A dowry was also agreed upon by all parties. That sum was twenty gold coins. Unfortunately, last month – just before the wedding – Claudia asked that it be called off on account of Galenus’s actions.'

  'Alleged actions,' countered Bion.

  'You'll get your turn,' said Cassius. 'Livius, continue.'

  'My Claudia wouldn’t make such accusations without reason. She saw Galenus walking with another girl, hand in hand, in the field behind the old temple. As is only right, she now has no wish to marry him. I might add that he has not protested much.'

  Bion spoke up again. 'That's because he now realises the girl’s prone to unfounded jealousy.'

  'I won't tell you again,' snapped Cassius. 'Perhaps you would prefer it if I simply found in your opponent's favour? No? Then keep your mouth shut.' He paused to collect his thoughts. 'If the marriage is off, and both parties wish it that way, I assume the problem relates to the dowry.'

  'Yes, sir,' said Livius. 'It was agreed that Galenus would come and live with us. A new room was needed for the young couple. Perhaps Bion would like to take up the story as the next part involves him.'

  Cassius could not believe that almost a hundred men had gathered on a cold mountainside to discuss this; the parochial, petty nature of provincial life was truly astounding. Nonetheless, he gestured for Bion to speak.

  'I have a friend down in Augusta with a share in a small quarry. He offered me a good rate on building stone. I mentioned this to Livius and we agreed it was too good an opportunity to turn down. I bought the stone – with my own money – at a cost of ten aurei, accounting for half the dowry. It was delivered to Livius’s property, where it remains. There is to be no marriage and no new room so I want my money back.'

  Cassius asked, 'And what do you believe would be fair recompense?'

  'Ten aurei,' said Bion, as if it was obvious.

  'And you, Livius?'

  'My girl is sure of what she saw. We were all ready for a fine wedding and a long marriage. I can't be held accountable for young Galenus’s infidelities.'

  Bion shook his head. 'My son swears he did not hold hands with the girl! They were merely walking the same path and happened upon each other. No one else in Maredia has ever seen them together. It is well known that Claudia has caught the eye of some young officer down in Augusta and that-'

  The atmosphere changed in an instant.

  'You take that back!' Livius got very close to Bion before his men restrained him. Bion's friends shoved them away and soon a pushing match broke out.

  'Stop that at once!' ordered Cassius. 'Back to where you were!'

  Thankfully they listened and the groups soon separated.

  Cassius turned to the officers, amazed they had not intervened.

  'Why are you just standing there?'

  Guard Officer Paulus put his hands behind his back and kept his eyes on the ground.

  Optio Hortensius at least spoke up. 'I am sorry, sir, but this is … difficult for us. If we go down there, we have to stand with our own.'

  'By the gods, you can expect Centurion Camillus to hear of this.'

  Cassius turned back to the crowd. 'Now listen and listen well – anyone who lays a hand on my two men will have me to answer to.' He turned to Simo and Indavara. 'That means you – get down there, make a gap.'

  Neither looked particularly enamoured with their assignment but it was telling that Simo went first. Cassius reckoned the old Indavara would have already taken his fighting stave from his back.

  'Two yards, at least,' added Cassius. 'You men, move apart! I want to see a clear space.'

  He ordered Simo and Indavara to cross the bowl with their arms stretched out to form the gap. A couple of trouble-makers insisted that they were entirely neutral but Cassius yelled at them to move. He stationed Simo in the middle, Indavara on the far side.

  'That will do. Livius, Bion, there will be no discussion of what did or did not happen; who said what; who did what. The matter at hand is this: Bion acted in good faith and is now out of pocket. Some recompense is required.'

  Bion raised his hand. 'Some, sir?'

  Livius still looked angry from the earlier sleight on his daughter's name. 'We are the wronged party. We acted in good faith.'

  'I will not address rumour and opinion,’ said Cassius. ‘I will resolve the issue of the debt and that will bring an end to the matter. If you two cannot accept that, I shall have you both arrested immediately and the century can proceed in the morning without you.'

  This gave rise to numerous noisy complaints.

  'Quiet there!' Cassius shouted. He could feel control of the situation slipping away. 'I give you my word as a Roman officer that I will make a fair judgment. You two will give me your word that you will abide by it and not speak of the issue again until you return from campaign. Bion?'

  Cassius thought it sensible to ask him first as he seemed the more reasonable of the two. If Bion gave his assent, Livius would be under considerable pressure to comply.

  'May I say one thing, sir?'

  'You may.'

  'Ten aurei is a lot of money. Money I've saved from the wages I've earned fighting for Rome.'

  'I understand that. You will also understand, I'm sure, that paying out before the marriage was premature, if very well-intended.'

  Bion gave a reluctant nod. 'I give my word – I will abide by your decision.'

  'Livius?'

  Cassius could hear the auxiliary’s compatriots whispering to him.

  'It is you who shall pay the price if this isn't resolved, Livius – not your talkative associates.'

  'Sir, it is also a question of honour. I have my family name to consider.'

  'By the gods, you are trying my patience, man! Do you give your word or not?'

  'I give my word.'

  'Good. Now listen carefully.' Cassius addressed the councilman without turning. 'Chares, can I entrust you with finding a buyer for this stone within a month?'

  ‘Of course, centurion.’

  'Good. Kindly do so and keep the money until these men return. They will receive half of the proceeds each. That will bring an end to the matter.'

  Bion's hand shot up. 'Sir, I will lose out!'

  Livius also couldn't help himself. 'And this is all I receive? After my daughter and my family have suffered such ill-treatment?'

  Their associates shouted their support.

  Cassius did not have to manufacture his rage this time. 'Silence! Every last one of you – silence!'

  He waited until he had it.

  'You are both dissatisfied – the very definition of a just settlement. The matter is over. I suggest you all turn your minds to a far more pressing issue – the soldiers of the false emperor who you might face in a few days. You shall wait to be dismissed.'

  Cassius again spoke without turning.

  'Optio Hortensius, which "side" is yours?'

  'The Maredia folk, to the left.'

  'Go down then, and lead out those to the right.'

  Hortensius didn’t move. ‘But, centurion-’

  'I shall not repeat myself.'

  'Sir.' Hortensius walked past him and down into the bowl. He turned to the men. 'Double file, marching pace – follow me.'

  Indavara and Simo returned to Cassius as the soldiers filed away towards Maredia. There were a few murmured comments but no evidence of further aggression. Cassius waited for the last of them to disap
pear until dismissing the other side, under the guard officer. Paulus had the nerve to thank him on the way past.

  'A pity you couldn't solve such a pathetic problem yourselves.'

  Chares was full of thanks as they made their way back across the bowl. Cassius was glad to hear that the soldiers were billeted in various parts of the village, reducing the chance of further trouble. He felt a moderate surge of satisfaction, also realising that one thing he might miss about the army was the power afforded a man wearing a crested helmet and a scarlet cloak. At times, it was intoxicating.

  The incident also gave him a little confidence about joining Venator's staff. There could be no guarantee that the dispute might not rear its head again at some point but he’d done all he could.

  'Good work, sir,' said Simo. 'That was looking nasty for a moment.'

  'Thank you, Simo – and for your help. You too, Indavara.'

  'Can we go to bed now?'

  Back at the Mercury's Watch, it was the serving girl who let them in. Cassius saw no sign of Mellisa and retired to his room. Once undressed, he lay in his bed, unable to sleep as the bizarre events of the evening swirled around his mind. The noise of Indavara's snoring from beyond the thin wall beside his bed did not help.

  He could see a portion of the sky through a window. The moon and six bright stars. Cassius couldn’t remember much astronomy these days but he reckoned one of them was Venus. Like the other astral bodies, the planet moved around Earth.

  To him, the moon always appeared dead; grey and lifeless. But apparently Venus was red, like a desert. Cassius had been to many deserts and he knew there was life there: plants, insects and animals. People too. He often wondered; could there be creatures and people on the other planets? It was said that before the gods there was Chaos – a shapeless black nothingness from which creation came. If the gods created humanity on Earth, could they have created it elsewhere?

  He remembered asking this of Jupiter, who one such planet was named after. Cassius had received no answer. When he’d put the question to his parents, his father had warned him against such curiosity, reminding him that it wasn't even known what lay on the far side of the Ocean Sea. Corbulo senior suggested his son might drive himself mad if he thought about it too much. Cassius's mother contended that if he concerned himself with worship instead of science, he was more likely to achieve peace of mind.

  Cassius's grandmother had once told him that the best way to sleep was to think of nothing. Cassius had told her that was impossible. She countered that it couldn't be, because she did it all the time. Grandfather's response had earned the old man a vicious rebuke.

  Still, Cassius knew he wasn't helping himself by considering the great questions of existence so he turned over, away from the window. As he did so, he heard something. Indavara had stopped snoring and wind outside had died. He heard it again; it was the softest of knocks on his door.

  Cassius pushed his blankets aside and stood. The room was utterly dark but he could see a little light in the corridor. Given the events of the previous year, he always kept his dagger by his bed. He now took it with him to the door, fearing some aggrieved party from earlier on might have decided to take action.

  He lifted the latch and opened the door to find Mellisa outside, holding a candle, a shawl over her nightdress. Her eyes were inquisitive and anxious. She said nothing but when Cassius opened the door further, she stepped inside. He watched as she placed the candle on the bedside table and turned to him. He closed the door, subtly ditched the knife and walked over to her.

  'You surprise me.'

  'I surprise myself.'

  Cassius put a hand on her shoulder. 'I'm glad you came.' He kissed her softly on the cheek. 'Very glad.'

  'Now listen, I just want to lay with you. I'd just like to be warm and close with a man; a good man.'

  'I cannot claim to be especially good but last time I checked I was definitely a man. May we at least kiss?'

  'Yes. You promise nothing more?'

  'I promise.' Cassius was clad in his sleeveless sleeping tunic. He pushed back the blankets and gestured to the bed.

  Mellisa took her shawl off and got in. Cassius blew out the candle and lay beside her. She pushed his arm up so that she could lay beneath it and put her face on his chest. She made a little noise.

  Cassius could not deny that this was pleasant. But soon he was kissing her lips, then her neck, then her breasts.

  'You promised,' said Mellisa, the only suggestion of resistance.

  'Yes, I did.'

  V

  The uneven ground was littered with pine cones and piles of fallen needles. There were also a number of low hanging branches and thick, bulbous roots ideal for catching a foot. When the trio finally reached a small gap between two trees close to a vertiginous precipice, all were cursing.

  'Two hours ride then an hour and a half of this?’ spat Volosus. ‘It better be worth it.'

  Bibulus held a branch aside and ushered his master forward.

  'Apologies, sir. All other vantage points are too close to enemy positions.'

  'I shall take your word for it.'

  Volosus wiped his hand across his brow and took a moment to compose himself. He then moved as near as he dared to the precipice and looked to the south-west. About four miles away, the waters of the Rhone glittered in the morning sunlight. Volosus could clearly see the hamlet on the near side, the arched bridge, and the larger village on the far side – Lavona.

  This section of the Rhone marked what was commonly referred to as “no man's land” – a strip of territory of varying widths that separated Aurelian’s advanced troops from Tetricus’s forces. Crossings were of course essential and both sides had already seized several. This one had been in enemy hands for many months.

  The odd skirmish was inevitable but until Aurelian had all his legions and auxiliary detachments where he wanted them, Tetricus had a little time. The intelligence gathered by Volosus and his subordinates estimated this at between one and two weeks.

  It had taken three days to travel down from Cavillonum and he had spent the morning collating that intelligence before despatching a written report to his emperor. But for now – and the next few days – he was concentrating on what he considered to be his absolute priority.

  'Where is the encampment then?'

  'They have been quite clever, sir,’ said Bibulus. ‘I slipped across last night and saw the lights but by day it is not visible; certainly not from this far away. Do you see the isolated stand of trees about half a mile directly behind Lavona?'

  'I do.'

  ‘The forest behind that contains a clearing created especially for the camp. Two centuries of the Third Italian Legion under a senior centurion named Ampelius. If Dolabella is still heading south, it seems likely he will inspect the encampment and the crossing. They send patrols across to our side every day but don’t stray too far.'

  'If we’re fortunate, they don’t know just how weak our lines are in this area. They could probably advance twenty miles without meeting any resistance.’

  Bibulus continued: ‘Sir, Dolabella has inspected sites far less significant than this and if he continues to follow the river, he must stop in Lavona. He was in Resontio yesterday. Given the distances and his pace to date, I reckon he’ll arrive either tomorrow or the day after. If he follows previous habits, he’ll inspect the camp and survey the surrounding area during the day, then stay overnight and move on in the morning. He usually visits a local establishment in the evening with the officers.’

  ‘And what about those establishments?'

  Lavona looked to contain less than fifty buildings. Volosus could make out only a large temple in its own grounds and a taller structure upon what seemed to be the main street.

  'There are no brothels, two inns and two taverns. I wasn’t able to find out any more. Sorry, sir.'

  'We can make some enquiries in town and establish ourselves in one of the inns. If Dolabella surprises us, we shall simply have to impr
ovise.'

  Volosus turned to his new employee, who had left his great axe down with the horses and seemed untroubled by the climb. Gutha wore a sleeveless tunic which revealed the massive dimensions of his arms. Volosus had never seen such hands either; they looked big enough to grip the entirety of a man's head.

  'Anything to add?'

  'Did I hear something about a cavalry detail?'

  'Eight men,' confirmed Bibulus. 'They take it in turns to escort Dolabella when he's on foot. At least two, sometimes three or four. They're all hand-picked. Excellent soldiers.'

  'Then we seem to be a little outnumbered,' replied Gutha.

  'If we go in mob-handed, we’ll raise too many suspicions,’ said Volosus. ‘We must rely on stealth – and the precise application of force when necessary.'

  Gutha nodded. 'The bridge?'

  Bibulus answered: 'Two guards at either end. They’ll be on the lookout for spies but with our papers we shouldn’t have a problem.'

  ‘Papers?’

  ‘Letters requesting free passage,’ said Volosus. ‘Complete with a stamp from the governor of Lugdenensis. I have a long-standing relationship with the best forger west of Rome.’

  Gutha peered down at the bridge. 'And if they pursue us back across. What’s our escape route?’

  Bibulus replied: ‘Other than the main road there is a track that runs north-west to a village then connects with another road after about five miles. It’s wide enough for the carriage. Looks like the best bet.'

  'How exactly do we ensure that this “honey-trap” works?' asked Gutha.

  'The details can be worked out once we're down there,’ said Volosus. ‘The most important element of any such trap is the quality of the honey.'

  By the following morning, all the arrangements had been made. At the second hour, Volosus rode out of the inn where they had been staying. He guided his horse onto the wide, paved road and waited for the others. He’d been over everything with Bibulus the previous evening and consulted Gutha once more. The man was indeed considerably more than a mercenary; he seemed eager to understand all the issues related to their assignment, particularly the intricacies of the coming conflict. Though he possessed only a limited knowledge of the political situation in the west, his grasp of the Roman army and how it operated was impressive. Bibulus seemed a tad put out by Gutha’s swift ascent to trusted adviser but had the sense to say nothing.