Two spots of color showed on his cheeks, andhe reacted in a manner that one would expect from a small man.
“Of course I saw that fort,” he snapped. “Itwas the first thing I noticed.”
“And what are your thoughts about how todeal with it?”
“You mean the great Titus Pullus doesn’tknow?”
He gave a mocking laugh, yet surprisingly, Iwas not angry. If anything, I felt pity for the poor fool, knowinghe had no idea. Instead of responding, I simply sat looking at him.We were almost back to the command group by this point, and Primus,seeing I was waiting for an answer, looked trapped, his eyesdarting about desperately as if some help would magically appearfrom somewhere.
“Well,” he stammered, his confidence gone asquickly as it had come. “I think we should ignore the fort. That’snot what we’re after anyway. We should march right past them andbegin work besieging Serdica.”
Despite expecting him to say that verything, I was still slightly disappointed, knowing that I was likelyto have another fight on my hands. I was thinking about the bestway to dispel his ridiculous notion, and unfortunately, he took mysilence to be agreement.
“Good,” he said loudly. Then, before I couldstop him, he called out to the other men in the command group.
“We have spotted Serdica, but there’s afortress in between us and the city. The Prefect and I have decidedthat the best way to deal with it is to bypass it and descend onthe city immediately. If we push hard, we can be there bynightfall.”
Primus turned to look at me, and I saw agleam in his eye. That was when I knew that one more time, I hadbeen duped by a patrician.
Yes, Marcus Primus had done me, neatly. Iwas faced with two choices, neither of them good. I could arguewith him, in front of the Tribunes, Masala, the Evocati, and thePrimi Pili who had come from their spots in the column to find outwhat the delay was about. Of course, that was my natural instinct,and I was about to open my mouth. Then, without warning, it somehowwas like Sextus Scribonius had managed to get inside my skull,because I heard his voice as clearly as if he had been standingnext to me.
“Don’t; that’s what he wants you to do,”Scribonius’ voice said. “It’s a trap.”
So I made the second choice, saying nothingto contradict him in front of the command group. I saw bothFlaminius and Macrinus exchange alarmed looks, then Macrinus raisedhis hand to ask a question, addressing it to me.
“Could you tell us more about this fortressthe Praetor spoke of, Prefect?”
Instead of answering him, I bowed my head inthe direction of Marcus Primus, trying hard not to sound smug.
“I think the overall commander of the armyshould be the one to describe it to you, Macrinus.”
Primus shot me a furious look, the colorreturning to his cheeks. Masala had subtly moved his horse to aspot just behind and to the side of Primus, but I had no idea whathe was up to.
“Thank you, Prefect,” Primus saidsarcastically. “What do you want to know, Primus Pilus Macrinus?It’s a fort. It’s in between where we are right now and Serdica.What else is there?”
I had to turn my head away to hide my smile,quietly thanking Scribonius for his warning, wherever he was atthat moment. Now I could remain silent and let Macrinus walkthrough the door that Primus had just opened. The Primus Pilus ofthe 8th was gaping at the Praetor, unable to hide hissurprise and concern.
“What else? Namely, where exactly is itlocated on this mountain? Is it close enough that whoever is in itcan rain arrows, sling bullets, rocks, and the gods know what elsedown on us as we pass by? If so, how are we going to get throughwithout getting cut to pieces?”
Primus’ eyes had the look of a trappedanimal, yet still he was not willing to give in.
“I’m sure we can pass by safely,” he saidstubbornly. “I didn’t count the number of paces from that fortressto the passage, Primus Pilus, but it looked wide enough to me.”
“Couldn’t we march by with the men intestudo formation?” Masala asked helpfully, and I wonderedwhat his ultimate goal was, since he seemed to be back in his roleof being Primus’ ally.
Macrinus could not hide his scorn, replying,“That’s fine for the Legions, but what about the baggage train? Andyou and the cavalry? How are you going to protect yourselves?”
I still remained silent, content to let thisdrama play out without my participation unless I was forced. It wasMasala’s turn to flush red with embarrassment, but he was smartenough not to try to argue the point, looking back to Primus.
“I tell you, we can pass by,” the Praetoralmost shouted in exasperation. “There’s plenty of room to getby.”
“Is that true, Prefect?” Macrinus asked me,and I had to stifle my groan, now as exasperated as Primus, but forentirely different reasons. However, I was not going to lie, not toMacrinus, or to Flaminius.
“No,” I said flatly. I kept my eyes onMacrinus, hearing the sharp intake of a breath, I assumed byPrimus.
“How could you possibly know that, Prefect?”Primus demanded. “Did you measure the distance?”
“Praetor, as I’ve told you before, I’ve beendoing this for a long time, so when you ask how I could possiblyknow that, I’ll try not to take it as another insult. You know Ididn’t measure the distance, but while my eyes aren’t as good asthey were twenty years ago, they still can see well enough to knowthat if they have any artillery in that fortress, they’re wellwithin range to cause us enormous damage.”
“Ah ha!” Primus shouted triumphantly,pointing a fat finger at me. “You said if they haveartillery, but you have no way of knowing that they do.”
“Praetor, this isn’t the Forum, and you’renot arguing a legal case.” I was working hard to remain patient.Unfortunately, Scribonius’ voice in my head was fading quickly.“There isn’t a jury here that will award you the verdict becauseI’m not completely sure that the Thracians in that fortress haveartillery. We’re dealing with men’s lives, and most importantly,the
