Fortunately, for them and for me, they wereboth alive, though Libo had a deep gash down his sword forearm.Both of the young men were still trying to calm down after theexcitement of all that had happened, but I was pleased to see thatLibo had the self-possession to issue orders to his Decurion incharge to tally up the butcher’s bill, send the wounded to the aidstation, and to dispatch the horses.
“At least we’ll have fresh meat,” I said,and they both made a face, reminding me that my taste for meat wasunusual with my fellow Romans. Turning to the matter at hand, Idebated internally about what to ask about first, deciding thatbecause they would both be fairly bursting to tell me about thefight, I would start with that.
“How did it happen? I thought I told you twonot to engage the enemy if at all possible.”
Both Tribunes had similar reactions,flushing slightly and exchanging furtive glances, telling me thatwhatever had happened, it had been with both their consent.Sighing, I said, “Tribunes, as old as I may be, I do remember whatit is like to be young and spoiling for a fight, so I suggest thatyou cut the nonsense, and just tell me the truth.”
Libo spoke, as was proper, his first wordsbeing, “I want you to know, Prefect, that I take fullresponsibility for what happened. Tribune Lucullus had no part indisobeying orders.”
“That’s not true,” Lucullus protestedimmediately, shooting Libo a furious look. “I am just as guilty asLibo. It was a mutual decision by both of us.”
“Your loyalty toward each other iscommendable, but I will be frank with both of you.”
I leaned forward toward the two young men,turning my face into a hard mask, my lips tight against my teeth tolet them know I was serious.
“I don’t give a brass obol if you two wantto fall on your swords for each other. What’s done is done, and ifI decide to punish you, I promise that it will be equally applied.Now.” I took a deep breath. “Tell me what happened.”
The story came out from both of them in fitsand starts, which was to be expected, their nerves still raw andtheir blood running high after the fight that had just occurred.They followed the road north, where it indeed did turn to the eastfor a short distance, following the contour of the land beforeturning south again to lead directly to Serdica. Where it turned,however, was at the junction with another road, just like I hadfeared, leading directly up to the fortress, the slope gentleenough that the roadway could run relatively straight to it. Therewas another gate in the north wall, except this one was smallerthan the western gate, yet it was still large enough that afull-sized wagon could pass through. However, Libo and Lucullus hadarrived just in time to see a force of five hundred archers thathad been sent from Serdica marching to the aid of the fortress.
“I know your orders were not to engage,Prefect. But I knew that if they could bring more archers to thefortress, it would cause us all sort of trouble.”
“We had to hurry to cut them off, becausethey were almost to that road up to the fortress,” Lucullus putin.
“We knew that if they got to where the roadturned off from the main one, they would be within range and havecovering fire from the fortress,” Libo continued.
“Because the main road on the northern sideof the fortress is definitely within range of artillery, andarchers as well, even though it’s extremely long range for thearchers.”
“So we managed to cut them off before theycould get there,” Lucullus picked up the story. “And we ran themall down. We didn’t leave anyone alive, but while we were doingthat, they saw what was happening from Serdica, and sent their owncavalry after us.”
Although they did not say so, I could fillin the blank spots well enough. Both Tribunes, along with thetroopers, had been so busy enjoying themselves running archers downthat they weren’t paying attention until it was almost too late. Itwas true that they had disobeyed orders; still, I could not faultthem for showing initiative, because Libo was absolutely correct.Augmenting the fortress garrison with five hundred archers wouldhave made our task even more difficult, and would have cost us morelives in the process.
“I’m surmising from what you just told methat you didn’t have the time to do the job I sent you to do,” Isighed.
Both young men looked extremelyuncomfortable, and suddenly they did not seem quite as anxious tostand up for each other.
Finally, Libo cleared his throat, sayingawkwardly, “No, Prefect, we didn’t. But we got a good look at theground, and I’m sure we can answer your questions.”
“We’ll see,” I told the both of them, whileneither of them looked very hopeful.
As it turned out, they did a fairly good jobof providing me with enough information to make a decision aboutwhat to do next. They had already confirmed that there was anotherapproach to
