“You need to carry on as you are untilthe very last moment. I’m going to keep the extra men we’ll need inthe camp. They’ll join us here once we’re ready tomove.”
He had recovered himself enough to nod, thenstep back and offer a salute, which I naturally returned, thenwalked back to Ivomagus.
“I have some items to attend to in ourcamp,” I told him. “If you need me, you can find methere.”
He did not acknowledge me; instead,something flashed across his face that was explained when he said,“I know it was not your intention, Centurion, but thank you forreminding me that I have some things that need to be done as well,before my brother returns.” Before I could respond, he added with asmile, “Cogidubnus wants me to arrange a feast for you and yourofficers that will be held the night before you depart. And,” helaughed, “my brother has an…extravagant streak. He said he issparing no expense.”
I was not sure how to respond, and I know Isounded awkward. “Ah, yes. Well…thank you, that’s very kind. Wherewill it be?”
“At Lord Segovax’s hall,” he answered,which was where we had held the first meeting once we arrived inPetuar and I knew that the king, his brother, and entourage hadcommandeered the hall as his own residence for his stay here, butthen Ivomagus offered with a sigh, “which is where I am going now.If I am needed, I have a rider here.” He turned to indicate a man Irecognized as belonging to Cogidubnus’ bodyguard. “All you need todo is tell him, and he will ride to the hall and getme.”
With that, our conversation wasconcluded, but most importantly, I had been given an opportunitythat I did not plan to squander, thanks to Ivomagus. I walked withhim to where his horse was hitched, and for a moment, I was worriedhe would ride next to me as I returned to the camp, but thankfully,he went to the trot and was soon out of sight, allowing me to breakinto a trot of my own. When I entered the camp, I was relieved tosee that the men of both Centuries were either already formed upalong their street or were in the final stages. As I ordered, theywere fully armored, with shields and pila, giving every appearance of being ready tomarch into battle, which was exactly the intended effect. Not everyman, however; there were ten men who were going to be remainingbehind, wearing only their tunics, although they did havetheir balteae withtheir gladius andpugio, and most importantly, theyeach carried an axe. Perhaps if someone with a keen eye had beenpresent, they might have noticed a similarity between them…and me,being the largest, strongest men from both Centuries.
Cador and Motius were still in my tent, as Ihad directed, and when I entered, I said only, “Go get the shipready.”
They were already moving, both of thempushing through the flap and moving at a quick pace, heading forthe dock where the ship was still moored, leaving just Alex and mealone, and he helped me don my armor, then handed me my helmet.
“I hope this works,” he saidgrimly.
“So do I,” I answered readily, butthen I grinned at him as I said, “but if it doesn’t, I’m going tosay it was all your idea.”
As I hoped, this made him laugh, but then,there was nothing left to wait for, and I moved to the flap. To mysurprise, Alex came with me.
“What are you doing? You don’t need tobe there,” I told him.
Instead of answering directly, he pointed atmy armor.
“You’re not going to be needing that,”he answered, “but you can’t just leave it there.”
He was right, I realized, and I nodded,leaving the tent together. Saloninus was standing in the tiny forumarea in front of my tent, saluting as I approached.
“First and Second Centuries, minusdetachments, is ready to march, Pilus Prior,” he said, rapping outthe standard response we use to inform our superior that we areready to go.
“Very good, Pilus Posterior,” I saidthis more loudly than needed; I had adopted my father’s practice ofemphasizing the rank of a newly promoted man in front of others,and while his expression remained unchanged, I saw the look ofpleasure in his good eye. “Take your post at the head of theSecond, and I will lead the march.”
From that, it was all a matter ofingrained habit, and I led the two Centuries out of thePorta Praetoria, marching at aslightly quicker pace than normal, though not at the shuffling runthat we often use. The men were clearly baffled, since none of ushad given them any idea what was happening, so the only sound wasthe tromping sound of hobnailed caligae, the clinking of metal bits; the normalsounds of a Legion on the move. We reached the row of huts outsidethe wall before one of the townspeople noticed our approach, awoman who was carrying a basket of what I assumed was wash from theriver, and she came to a stop, her mouth open in surprise, but itwas when she dropped the basket and turned to flee down the streetback towards the river that something occurred to me.
“Pluto’s balls,” I muttered. “Shethinks we’re coming to slaughter them.”
As we quickly learned, that wasexactly what the assumption was, and suddenly, the street wasfilled with panicking townspeople who seemed to be rushing in everydirection except towards us, but it was the noise that was mostconcerning. No, I did not think that the shrieks of a few hundredterrified people would carry all the way to Ivomagus, who waspresumably already at the lord’s hall, but it was unnervingnevertheless. Fortunately, their hysteria actually aided usbecause, in their scramble to get out of our path, we had thestreet to ourselves. Also, the civilians, who were presumablyfleeing for their own dwellings, which is the most common response,were instrumental in delaying the hundred or so warriors who hadcongregated at what I suppose passed for the Briton version of thelone taverna, which was onthe edge of the town on the downriver side, hard against the wall.In terms of timing, it went perfectly; Motius and Cador dropped theplank onto the dock when
