“If they figure out where that blast fromthe horn comes from, you’ll have your hands full for a few momentsbefore help arrives. It won’t be long, but you won’t want to bestuck in that box, so I suggest that as soon as you blow thesignal, you get out of it.”
He looked scared out of his wits, but henodded his understanding.
“What if they have some sort of arrangementto send a signal to abort?” Macrinus asked. “I’m sure that they’lluse some sort of smoke to signal the city, but it’s just as likelythat they have another one to signal that treachery is afoot.”
I thought for a moment, then sent forCapito, who was in the camp with his auxiliaries.
“I’m going to need some of your slingers,” Itold him, explaining what their mission would be.
Immediately upon Caldus sounding the signal,they would have to be the first out of hiding to scour the rampartof the men sending the all-clear message to the Serdica garrison,before they could counter it when it became clear that we werestill present. The slingers would be in the storage building,giving them the shortest distance to a point where they had a clearshot at the rampart, finally deciding that ten would be enough, orso we hoped. Ladders for the men in the cisterns were built, andfinally a hole was knocked in the southern wall of the fortress, onthe opposite side from Serdica, out of sight from the city. Thescouting party would see it, but we were gambling that they wouldthink this had been part of the original breach. Then all was readyfor that part of the operation.
The next challenge was finding a place wherethe rest of the army could hide away and still be within a shortdistance of the fortress. Fortunately, the mountainous terrainhelped, the surrounding ground riddled with draws and pocketvalleys nestled in between the hard shoulders of the large mountainand the nearby lower elevations. The Tribunes and the Primi Piliwere sent out, in search of possible hiding spots, and so it was upto the remaining Centurions to break down camp once thepreparations at the fortress had been completed. While all thiswork was going on, I was left with not much to do, so I took amoment of that time to try and find Masala. I found him supervisingthe breaking down of Primus’ household in the barracks building,and I marveled at the amount of baggage that the Praetor had forcedhis slaves to unpack. Granted, he had thought we would be hereconducting a siege, yet as slaves passed by carrying couches,tables, and even some statuary busts and one full-size statue, allI could do was shake my head. Masala saw my expression, giving achuckle that did not sound amused in the slightest.
“This is only part of it,” he told me. “Italked him out of unpacking one entire wagon containing nothing butartwork.”
“Our Praetor does love his comforts,” Iagreed, then turned to the reason I had come to see him.
“When we were talking about the assault, andI mentioned the idea of sending for more men, I thought Primus wasgoing to swallow his tongue. What was that about?”
I had spoken in a low tone, but even so,Masala glanced over his shoulder. Taking my arm, he pulled meoutside. Once clear of prying ears, he began talking.
“We’ve received a courier from Rome,” Masalatold me. “But before I tell you the contents, I must insist thatyou give me your oath, on your honor as Camp Prefect and Centurion,that you will not breathe a word of what I’m about to tell you toanyone.”
The only person I would have discussedanything with was Scribonius, who was no longer with the army,enabling me to give him my promise with a clear heart.
“Word of what Marcus Primus is doing hasreached the ears of Augustus, and a message was sent, under theauthority of the Senate of course, recalling Primusimmediately.”
I stood there, too stunned to speak for afew moments. Finally, I thought to ask, “When was this?”
Now Masala looked nervous and, when heanswered, I knew why.
“Two weeks ago.”
That meant before we had taken the fortress,and before we conducted the surprise attack on the confederation ofthe three tribes.
“Two weeks? Pluto’s cock,” I said,incredulous at this bit of information. Masala bowed his head toavoid my gaze.
“So a lot of men died for no reason?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Masala soundeddefensive, as well he should have. “The Praetor is sure thatthere’s been some mistake, and he sent a courier directly to thePrinceps to clarify matters.”
“But that letter he showed me was a forgery;you said so yourself. How can he expect Augustus to agree to let uscontinue if that’s true?”
Masala could do nothing but shrug, sayingonly, “Who knows what runs through the Praetor’s mind? He seemssure that whatever he said in the letter will be enough to changethings.”
I was regretting giving my oath, but I wouldnot betray the young man, since I had come to at least respect himsomewhat, along with being sympathetic to his plight. From what hehad told me, and I had no reason to disbelieve him, he had been putin this position by an ambitious father, who had latched ontoMarcus Primus because of his proximity to Octavian. This wasnothing new, and has been in practice since long before I was born,and will be going on long after I am gone, but it still had to behard for Masala.
“In the meantime,” Masala continued, “heplans on going through with this campaign.”
“I imagine that he’s also betting that thespoils from Serdica will smooth over any difficulties.”
That reminded me of the Praetor’s obsessionwith this city.
“What does he know about Serdica? Or thinkshe knows that makes him so intent on taking this city?”
I was sure that Masala knew the answer tothat question, which had been eating away at me for some time, butif he did, he was still not willing to reveal it.
“I have no idea,” was all he would say witha shrug, yet there was something about his manner that convinced mehe did indeed know.
Masala had revealed a great deal
