The Last Battle

by Nick Brown

  ‘How many might be around at this time?’ asked Cassius.

  ‘Most. Probably playing dice. Unless the officer’s got some work for the optio. Our relief might be sleeping before their shift.’

  ‘Who’s the officer?’

  ‘I believe his name is Volosus. He arrived yesterday with a prisoner. Also has an attendant, a bodyguard and two women with him.’

  Cassius exchanged a look with Indavara and Enca.

  ‘Describe this prisoner.’

  ‘Old. Fat. Apparently, some important general though they haven’t told us his name. They’ve been torturing him. There were terrible screams today. Nobody seems to know why.’

  Cassius felt a tremor of excitement. He’d found Dolabella.

  ‘You don’t know what he might have told them?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You’ve been most helpful,’ said Cassius. He turned to Indavara.

  ‘I won’t be long.’

  He ran back to the others and was relieved to hear that the second sentry was cooperating. This man, however, had a different tale to tell.

  ‘Six men. Only four with us down here.’

  ‘Anyone else?’ asked Cassius. ‘Any visitors?’

  ‘No,’ said the sentry.

  ‘What does the other man say?’ asked Iovius.

  ‘He’ll never say anything again,’ replied Cassius. ‘That bloody fool Enca slit his throat before I could get anything out of him.’ He approached the sentry. ‘I saw the bell. How long should we ring it for to summon the lift?’

  ‘A count of twenty. They’ll answer with twenty, lower the lift and bring you up. Any different and they’ll know something’s wrong.’

  ‘Really?’ Cassius felt certain he was lying and that this would in fact alert those in the fortress. If they got the signal wrong, they had no chance of getting up there.

  He sped back around the corner of the formation once more. Indavara was now questioning the cooperative sentry about the weaponry of his compatriots.

  ‘Your name?’ asked Cassius.

  ‘Tubertus.’

  ‘Well, Tubertus. I must tell you that your friend is not in a good way but he did at least tell us how long we must ring the bell – the correct signal for summoning the lift. You have one chance to give me the right answer. One. And if it doesn’t match your friend’s, I’ll have Enca here slit your throat.’

  ‘For a count of ten.’

  ‘Thank you, Tubertus. I shall take your word for that. Right, hold him here.’

  ‘Shouldn’t we just kill him, sir?’ asked Fimbria.

  ‘Oh no,’ said Cassius. ‘We’re not done with him yet.’

  Indavara followed Cassius back to the other group. ‘Even if they pull us up, they’ll be suspicious. We’ll be sitting ducks coming up on that thing.’

  ‘Quite so.’

  ‘You have an idea then?’

  ‘I do. And it might even work.’

  Volosus hadn’t bothered to check what was going on in the cellar. He could think of only one thing now and having roused Aphrodite, he led her into his quarters.

  ‘I believe young Ioanna might be a little jealous,’ he said as he lit the lamp beside the bed with a candle.

  ‘She’s frightened,’ said Aphrodite, arms wrapped tightly around her shawl.

  ‘Perhaps both.’ Volosus poured some wine into a mug and handed it to her. ‘Not the best but it will help put you at ease.’

  Despite the look on her face, the girl took it and drank.

  Volosus sat on the bed and began to unlace his boots. ‘Come to the light. Let me see you.’

  She drained the mug and put it down, then approached him.

  ‘You must have known this moment would come. Perhaps you have decided it will not be so bad, after all.’

  ‘I will never think of it again,’ she said. ‘It will be just like the other times. Like all nightmares. Horrible while it’s happening but forgotten soon enough.’

  ‘Oh, come now. It will not be horrible. I will make sure of it.’

  She shook her head. Even in the grainy lamplight, even though she had made no effort with herself, her beauty shone through.

  ‘As you wish,’ said Volosus, though in truth he resented her attempts to darken the mood. He stood, removed his belt and pulled his tunic off over his head. ‘But I can assure you that, whatever your attitude, I will enjoy myself. Take off your clothes.’

  Cassius thought it only right that he took responsibility for ringing the bell himself. He was surprised by the noise it generated and was very careful with his count of ten. There was a short delay, then came a brief but clear response from far above.

  ‘That means it’s coming down,’ said Tubertus, who was still being guarded by Enca.

  ‘Will anyone be on it?’ asked Cassius.

  ‘Probably. We’re between shift changes. It’s unusual.’

  ‘You ring again to signal them to pull up?’

  ‘Yes, sir. Another count of ten.’

  Cassius retreated a few steps. ‘Tubertus, you strike me as a sensible man. Remain sensible and you will survive. And do bear in mind that there will be a javelin aimed at your back. If there’s anyone on the lift, you tell them that your fellow sentry has disappeared. That’s why you called for help.’

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘Good. Do be sensible. Come, Enca.’

  Cassius and the scout moved away from the formation until they reached the others twenty paces away. The second sentry had in fact been gagged once more and stowed in the stable. Iovius and Ambustus were the men charged with watching Tubertus.

  ‘Ready with that javelin?’ asked Cassius.

  ‘Yes, sir,’ replied Iovius.

  ‘Good, I call your name – throw.’

  ‘Got it.’

  ‘Enca, your bow, please.’

  The scout handed over the bow and quiver. ‘I didn’t know you were an archer, sir.’

  Cassius wasn’t actually that bad though he preferred the javelin. ‘It’s not for me.’

  He passed the bow and quiver to Indavara – who had left his own weapon with Simo – and guided him a few yards away, so that he had some space and a clear view of the lift. Cassius could have left this job to Enca but felt this was an opportunity to bolster the bodyguard’s flagging confidence.

  ‘When the lift gets close, nock an arrow. If there’s someone on it, don’t take your eyes off them. I call your name, you shoot.’

  ‘Understood.’

  Cassius waited beside him. After the debacle in the forest, could he really rely on Indavara? Based on current evidence, any one of the battle-hardened cavalrymen might prove more useful. Cassius had given him an important task but perhaps there was a more fundamental way to motivate him. If he was going to rediscover his former self, it had to happen now.

  Cassius spoke quietly: ‘It will be difficult, I know. Iovius and the others seem very impressed; they know you were a gladiator. But if you agree it’s for the best, I won’t object.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Well, you could stay here. I don’t wish to be harsh but there’ll be no time for hesitation or doubt up there. There’s no shame in it. We always knew it would take time-’

  ‘I’m going, Corbulo. That’s it. You don’t have to worry about me.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  Indavara’s reply was angry. ‘Of course I’m bloody sure.’

  ‘Very well.’

  They heard the lift before they saw it. There was still a light breeze and it seemed to knock the wooden structure against the rock face as it descended. The moonlight illuminated the pale rock and by the time the lift was fifty feet from the ground, Cassius could see there were two dark figures upon it. They were standing together in the middle, holding on to something. The lift rattled around and descended in jerky movements, dropping several feet at a time.

  When it was three yards from the ground, a voice rang out.

  ‘Cilo, what’s going on?’
The speaker moved to a corner of the lift, holding himself steady on one of the ropes. ‘Tubertus, you there?’

  Thankfully, the sentry continued to cooperate. ‘Sir? Optio Manilia?’

  ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Sir, something’s happened to Cilo. I can’t find him.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  Now certain there was only the two, Cassius knew it was time to advance. He kept his orders quiet. ‘Iovius, men, with me.’

  ‘Tubertus, where are you?’ demanded Manilia.

  The next movement dropped the lift to the ground and the impact unsettled both of the occupants.

  ‘Now!’ Cassius sprang past Tubertus, sword at the ready. Leaving the second man to the others, he ran straight at the optio, who was already reaching for his blade.

  Cassius leaped on to the lift and soon had tip of his sword inches from Manilia’s face. ‘No, you don’t.’

  Quadratus and Ambustus grabbed the optio and pulled him off the lift, closely followed by Iovius and Cordus with the second man. Iovius untied the belts holding their swords and daggers and threw them aside.

  Manilia unleashed a stream of bitter curses. ‘Tubertus, you told them the count? You weak-minded son of a whore!’

  He was dissuaded from further comment by a crack on the head from the hilt of Iovius’s sword. Manilia tried to pull free but a second blow – this time a punch from Quadratus into his stomach – ended his resistance.

  ‘Two more for the stable?’ asked Iovius.

  ‘Please.’

  As his men escorted the pair away, Iovius remained behind.

  ‘We’ve evened the odds, at least,’ said Cassius.

  ‘Yes, sir. Can I ask – how old are you?

  ‘Twenty-three. Why?

  ‘It just seems like you’ve done this type of thing before.’

  XVI

  According to Tubertus, eight was the maximum allowed upon the lift and the ascent was slow. The weight did at least stabilise the structure but it still tilted and shifted alarmingly. Cassius was not particularly concerned by heights but Enca and the cavalrymen cursed as they were pulled higher and higher into the darkness. He had never known anyone less affected by perilous situations than Indavara and he just hoped that the bodyguard would hold his nerve when they finally reached the fortress. The first few moments would decide everything.

  Tubertus stood between Iovius and Quadratus and had been informed that any failure to cooperate would result in being flung off the lift. He had begged Cassius to free him if he assisted the attackers. He said he’d been considering desertion and wished to return to his family in Belgica.

  ‘Not far now,’ said the compliant sentry.

  ‘You all know what to do,’ said Cassius, trying to sound confident despite the gnawing hollowness in his gut.

  He and Indavara had rope around their wrists; barely tied but sufficient to give the impression they were prisoners. They would also appear unarmed but their scabbards were tucked into their belts at their backs. With Cordus stationed on the ground, Iovius, Fimbria, Ambustus and Quadratus were to masquerade as cavalrymen of the Twenty-Second. Enca was to be their scout, and he had his bow at the ready. Tubertus had been briefed on what to tell the defenders. Cassius didn’t expect the deceit to last long; merely long enough for them to strike and seize control of the fortress. Though he now knew the layout, much could not be predicted: particularly where the remaining soldiers might be, and their important guests.

  Despite the slow ascent, when the angular silhouettes of the platforms appeared, the distance closed alarmingly quickly. Cassius had Indavara to his left, Enca and Tubertus to his right, with the four soldiers behind them. With no more than ten feet left to go, one of the cavalrymen issued a quiet appeal to Jupiter, god of gods.

  There were several lanterns alight, casting a yellow glow across the guards. The strained breaths of the men operating the winches were loud and the machinery squeaked and groaned with every turn. Cassius established quickly that there were four of them.

  ‘Shit me, how many are there?’ complained one when the lift was only a couple of yards short.

  Two more men then appeared at the edge and peered down at them. Despite the threat, Cassius was glad that all the remaining six members of the small garrison were within view.

  ‘Optio?’ asked one of the new arrivals, his tone suspicious.

  ‘It’s me, Tubertus,’ said the sentry. ‘The optio’s gone to look for Cilo.’

  ‘Who are this lot?’ asked the same man.

  ‘These two are prisoners. More enemy spies for Master Volosus. These men are cavalry from the Twenty-Second.’

  Fortune favoured the attackers. A last turn from the winch-men lifted them a crucial extra foot.

  ‘Stop,’ said the suspicious man, his hand moving to his sword-hilt.

  The four soldiers obeyed him, every one still breathing hard. Cassius heard two clicks as levers were lowered to clamp the ropes in wooden teeth.

  ‘Why didn’t Manilia come up?’

  The attacker’s chests were level with the platforms: vulnerable if they were struck first. Which meant they had to strike first.

  Cassius nudged Iovius and Indavara at the same time. In a flash, the guard officer drew his sword and slashed up at the suspicious defender, cutting across his shins. With a shriek, the man fell. His compatriot stepped back as he reached for his own weapon, giving Enca time to land an arrow in his chest.

  Hearing the rasp of swords being drawn all around him, Cassius took two steps forward and sprang upward. Indavara landed beside him a moment later and they scrambled on to the cold rock. Cassius moved forward to clear the way for the others and somehow tripped on the suspicious defender. He delivered two sharp kicks then drew his blade.

  Something flashed across a lantern to his left and he heard a roar as one of the defenders came at him. He tried to turn and raise his blade.

  Too slow. He could only avoid the slash.

  But it never came. Still on the lift, Enca loosed another well-aimed arrow again and the guard fell at Cassius’s feet. Cassius was about to hack down at him when Enca and Iovius dragged the unfortunate off the platform by the ankles. Winded by his fall onto the lift, the defender was then booted in the face and sent screaming to his doom.

  Knowing there were now only three defenders on their feet, Cassius saw that number drop to two as Indavara cornered the remaining man on the left side of the platform. The other three cavalrymen had by now pulled themselves up and they moved swiftly to block the remaining two.

  ‘All right,’ said one of the defenders, dropping his blade and raising his hands. His compatriot followed immediately. Cassius guessed the fact that their foes all wore mail-shirts had contributed to their decision.

  The brief engagement was over. Iovius helped Enca, then Tubertus up off the lift. The traitor now seemed rather ashamed of what he’d done.

  As the others gathered the defenders together, Cassius approached the shadowy stairway that led up into the fortress. He was relieved to see no one there and even more thankful that none of his allies had been wounded. He took no pleasure from seeing the injuries of the defenders; the three without wounds were already helping the other two.

  Leaving Ambustus and Fimbria to watch over them, Cassius waited for Indavara to join him then led Enca, Iovius, Quadratus and Tubertus upward. Once past the top step, he stayed clear of the single lamp and peered inside the first of three doors. It looked like the guardroom and seemed to be empty. As Indavara and Enca came up beside him, he spied movement to his right – a figure darting out of the third doorway. The lamplight caught the started expression of a middle-aged man, barefoot and wearing only a sleeping tunic.

  ‘Stay right where you are,’ said Cassius, thankful that Enca already had an arrow pointed at him.

  ‘I’ll check in here,’ said Iovius, heading into the guardroom.

  Cassius heard movement from beyond the second doorway but he could see only steps leading dow
nward and a dim light below. He knew from Tubertus that this was the cellar.

  ‘Who in Hades are you?’ asked the grey-haired man. He was of average height and quite slender, his face angular and handsome.

  ‘I could ask you the same,’ countered Cassius.

  ‘His name is Volosus.’

  The female voice came from behind him.

  ‘Shut up, whore.’

  ‘Indavara, grab him.’

  The bodyguard hurried around Enca, held Volosus by the collar and dragged him from the doorway. Keeping hold with his left hand, he used the right to place his blade at the agent’s neck.

  ‘Watch yourself,’ hissed Volosus.

  Cassius could see the young woman in the shadowy doorway, a shawl over her own tunic. ‘You come out of there.’

  She complied, eyes narrow as she surveyed those in front of her.

  ‘Come, Ioanna.’

  A second woman followed her out and took the hand offered to her. She didn’t dare look up and was already shivering, despite having her own shawl.

  ‘Down to the lift, please,’ said Cassius.

  With a last glance at Volosus, the first woman led the other down the steps.

  Cassius approached the agent. Despite the circumstances, there was little panic or fear in his eyes; he simply seemed curious.

  Cassius aimed his sword at the cellar. ‘I dare say the general is down there. Who else?’

  ‘What’s your name?’ Volosus’s accent was refined, his tone calm.

  His expression changed when Indavara moved his blade lower.

  ‘Answer the man or I’ll tickle your ribs – from the inside.’

  ‘Two of my men are in there.’

  ‘Tell them to send Dolabella out. Alone.’

  Volosus spoke loudly. ‘Bibulus, Gutha – send him up.’

  No reply came.

  ‘Not sure he can walk,’ added Volosus.