at once. Like a cat, she pounced. ‘You want to go to war too,’ she whispered. ‘But you can’t, because of your loyalty to Suni.’
Stricken, Hanno stared at the ground.
Aurelia touched his arm. ‘There is no greater love you could show a friend than standing by him in his time of need. It requires true courage.’
Hanno swallowed hard. ‘I should be happy to stay with him, though, not angry.’
‘You can’t help it.’ Aurelia sighed. ‘You’re a soldier, like my father and brother.’
Almost on cue, Quintus came striding over. ‘What’s that?’
Neither Aurelia nor Hanno answered.
Quintus grinned. ‘What’s the big secret? Have you guessed that I’m going to go and find Father?’
Aurelia’s mouth opened in horror. Hanno was similarly shocked, but before either could respond, Suniaton joined them, obviously intent on speaking. Surprised by the Carthaginian’s interruption, Quintus deferred to him. Suni’s words struck everyone dumb. ‘I know how hard it is for you, Hanno. Waiting for me to recover, when all you want to do is join Hannibal’s army.’
Hanno’s guilt swelled immeasurably. ‘I will stay with you as long as necessary. That’s all there is to it,’ he declared. Quickly, he turned to Quintus. ‘What made you decide to leave now?’
‘I have to tell Father about the way Agesandros has been carrying on. Power has gone to his head.’
Aurelia butted in angrily. ‘That’s not your reason. It would be crazy to get rid of an experienced overseer at a time like this, and you know it. Besides, Agesandros hasn’t done enough to warrant being replaced. We’ll have to live with him.’
Quintus set his jaw. ‘Well, I’m going anyway. My training is finished. The war could be over in a few months. I’ll miss it if I just wait to be called up.’
You underestimate Hannibal, thought Hanno darkly.
‘You’re crazy,’ accused Aurelia. ‘How will you find Father in the middle of a war?’
A flicker of fear flashed across Quintus’ face. ‘I’ll reach him before that,’ he declared, full of apparent bravado. ‘All I need to do is take passage to the Iberian port that Publius made for. I’ll buy a horse there, and follow the legions. By the time I find Father, it will be far too late to send me back.’ He glared, daring Hanno and his sister to challenge him.
‘It’s madness to talk about travelling so far on your own,’ Aurelia cried. ‘You’ve never been further than Capua before.’
‘I’ll manage,’ Quintus muttered, glowering.
‘Really?’ demanded Aurelia sarcastically. She was surprised by how angry she felt when she’d known this was going to happen sooner or later.
‘Why wouldn’t I?’ Quintus shot back.
An awkward silence fell.
Suniaton cleared his throat. ‘Why don’t you go with Quintus?’ he asked, astonishing Hanno. ‘Two swords on the road will be better than one.’
Suddenly, Aurelia’s heart started pounding. Shocked by her emotions, she had to bite her lip not to protest aloud.
Hanno saw the flash of hope in Quintus’ eyes. To his surprise and shame, he felt the same emotion in his heart. ‘I’m not leaving you, Suni,’ he protested.
‘You’ve done more than enough for me, especially when it’s my fault that we’re here in the first place,’ insisted Suniaton. ‘You have been waiting your whole life for this war. I have not. You know that I’d rather be a priest than a soldier. So, with Quintus’ and Aurelia’s permission, I will remain here.’ Quintus nodded his acquiescence, and Suniaton continued, ‘When I’m fully recovered, I will travel to Carthage, alone.’
‘I don’t know what to say,’ Hanno stuttered, his feelings fluctuating between sadness and excitement.
Suniaton held up a hand, stalling his protest. ‘I will have it no other way.’
Hanno’s protest died in his throat. ‘I’m still in your debt, Quintus,’ he said. ‘Accompanying you might repay part of that obligation. What do you say?’
‘I’d be honoured to have you as a companion,’ said Quintus, bowing his head to conceal his relief.
Now, Aurelia’s grief knew no bounds. She was going to lose not only her brother, but also Hanno, and there was nothing she could do about it. A tiny sob escaped her lips. Quintus put an arm around her, and Aurelia managed to rally herself. ‘Come back safely.’
‘Of course I will,’ he murmured. ‘Father will also.’
Nervously, Aurelia fixed her eyes on Hanno. ‘You too,’ she whispered.
Quintus’ mouth opened as the two words hung in the air.
Hanno was stunned. Aurelia was promised to another, and a high-ranking Roman at that. Did she really mean what he thought? He studied her face for a moment.
‘I will,’ he said finally. ‘One day.’
Chapter XIV: Confrontation
Massilia, on the southern coast of Gaul
Fabricius stared at the Greek columns on the temples opposite the quay and smiled. ‘Very different to those at home,’ he said. ‘It feels good to be in a foreign land at last.’
Five days before, the Roman fleet and its commander, the consul Publius Cornelius Scipio, had finally set sail. Fabricius and Flaccus had been on board one of the sixty quinqueremes that had left from Pisae, on the west coast of Italy. Hugging the Ligurian shoreline all the way to the Greek city of Massilia, a long-term Roman ally on the south coast of Gaul, the flotilla had arrived not two hours previously.
‘Too many months were spent talking,’ Flaccus agreed. ‘It’s time now to carry war to the Carthaginians, and settle the matter swiftly.’ He eyed Fabricius, who was nodding in vigorous agreement. ‘You don’t like sitting on your hands, eh?’
‘No.’ His recent spell in Rome had brought home to Fabricius the fact that he was no politician. He’d stayed in the capital because he was eager to fight. His desire for action, however, had vanished beneath a wave of debates in the Senate, just one of which could take more than a week. ‘I know that the politicians’ original reasons for delaying were simple,’ he admitted. ‘With most of the army disbanded, it was logical to wait for the new consuls to be appointed before making any far-reaching decisions. But to take so long after that?’
‘Don’t forget the other matters of foreign policy which had to be discussed.’ Flaccus’ tone was reproving. ‘Rome has many concerns other than what goes on in Iberia.’
‘Of course.’ Fabricius sighed. That had been one of the hardest lessons for him to learn.
‘Philip V of Macedon has never been the greatest friend of Rome,’ said Flaccus. ‘But giving refuge to Demetrius of Pharos showed that he really wishes us ill.’
‘True.’ Demetrius, the deposed King of Illyricum, had himself been the cause of much recent trouble to the Republic. ‘Is a month of debates about the two of them really necessary, though?’
Flaccus’ face took on a pompous expression. ‘Such is the Senate’s way, as it has been for nearly three hundred years. Who are we to question such a hallowed process?’
Fabricius bit back his pithy response. In his mind, the Senate would work far more efficiently if only the debates were better controlled. He smiled diplomatically. ‘To be fair, it reacted fast when word came of the unrest among the Gaulish tribes.’
Flaccus looked pleased. ‘And as soon as it became clear that the proposed new Latin colonies at Placentia and Cremona would not be enough, it requisitioned one of the legions from our expeditionary force. While I was stuck in Rome, raising and training the new units that were required, at least you got a taste of action!’ He wagged a finger at Fabricius. ‘Three months of it.’
Fabricius had grown used to the other’s patronising manner, but still found it irritating. ‘You weren’t there. The Boii and Insubres are no pushover,’ he growled. ‘Don’t you remember Telamon? We did well to end it so swiftly. Hundreds of our soldiers were slain, and many more were injured.’
Flaccus flushed. ‘I apologise. I did not mean to belittle your efforts, or those of the men who died.’
