The Eagles Prophecy c-6 Read online

  'This is Centurion Marcus Licinius Cato. He can't help it. Now then, as I was saying…'

  The barman waved Macro towards the counter. 'Take a seat and have a drink, sir, and close the door.'

  Once the filthy weather had been shut out, the two newcomers stood dripping on the threshold, under the silent gaze of the other officers. Out of the corner of his eye Cato noticed a man rise from one of the tables against the far wall. He hurried over to a side door and disappeared down an unlit corridor. The barman set up two cups and filled them carefully from a large jug. 'There you go. Come and drink, and we can talk without spoiling the evening for my other customers.'

  As the two centurions leaned up against the counter the barman shouted for one of his slaves and a thin child with a pinched face scurried out of the storeroom, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

  'Take these officers' packs to one of the rooms. When you've done that, come back for their cloaks. They'll need drying. Now go.'

  The slave boy nodded meekly, scurried round the bar and headed for the two packs by the door. As Cato watched, the boy hefted his pack with a strained expression and staggered from the room under the weight.

  'Now then, sir,' the barman was saying to Macro, 'if you want to drink in my establishment, then you'll behave, understand? Otherwise, I'll have to ask you to leave.'

  'What makes you think I'd leave?' Macro smiled sweetly.

  Without taking his eyes off Macro the barman called out, 'Ursa. Out here, now.'

  A huge shadow filled the entrance to the storeroom and then a great blond head ducked into the bar. When the man stood up, his straw locks seemed to brush against the rafters. His arms were thick and hard, and his tunic stretched tightly around his huge chest and over his broad shoulders.

  'Master?'

  'Stick around while I talk to these gentlemen.'

  Ursa nodded, and switched his gaze to the two centurions at the counter, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. The barman turned back to Macro.

  'If I say leave, you leave. Got that?'

  'Oh, absolutely,' Cato nodded.

  Macro shot him a look of disgust before he turned his attention back to the barman. 'Well? The carriage?'

  'Belongs to a senior officer. On his way north. If you want to know anything more you'll have to speak to those men over there.' He pointed towards the table from which Cato had seen the man depart moments earlier. The remaining three customers watched the two centurions closely.

  'Speak to them, by all means,' continued the barman,'but keep it civil or I'll have Ursa sort you out.'

  'Fair enough,' Macro replied. 'And thanks for the drink, friend. Come on, Cato.'

  They eased their way through the room as the other officers started to talk again, low voices swiftly rising to the former level of drunken good humour. Macro drew up in front of the table and nodded at the men seated on the far bench. 'Evening.'

  They nodded back.

  'Chatty lot, aren't you? Mind telling me who you are? Who you work for?'

  They exchanged glances before one of them cleared his throat. 'We're not at liberty to discuss that, sir.'

  'Let me guess.' Macro cocked his head to one side as he appraised the men. 'Too well dressed to be common legionaries. And too afraid of a fight to be anything other than Praetorian Guards. Am I right?'

  The man nodded, then spoke quickly. 'Yes, sir. And you know the regulations. We raise a fist against a superior, even one from the legions, and we're dead men.'

  Macro smiled.'What do you say we go outside and settle this without any question of rank? Just us and you three.'

  'Settle what exactly, sir?'

  'This.' Macro indicated the mud plastered to his tunic.'A little souvenir from the ditch you madmen forced us into back on the Flaminian Way a couple of hours ago.'

  The guardsman's eyes widened as he recalled the incident. 'That was you? I thought you two must be tramps. Please accept my apologies, sir. No harm done.'

  'Not yet. Now then, are you going to settle this like a man?'

  'Settle what, Centurion?' a voice called from the doorway leading into the dark corridor. Macro and Cato turned round and saw a dim figure emerging from the shadows. The man paused.

  'Well, well. It is a small world indeed. Wouldn't you agree, Centurion Macro?'

  'Vitellius…' Macro whispered.

  'That's right.' Vitellius chuckled lightly as he emerged into the full glow of the mess room. The guardsmen leaped to their feet, the bench grating across the floor beneath them as it was forced away from the table. 'But I would prefer it if you addressed me by my proper rank. I take a dim view of insubordination. You'd do well to remember that.'

  'Oh, really… sir?'

  'Yes. Really.' Vitellius fixed him with a cold stare for an instant, before the calculating smile returned to his lips. 'I gather you wanted a word with me. Something to do with my carriage, I understand.'

  'Your carriage?' Cato's eyebrows rose in surprise.

  'Yes, mine. Good evening to you too, Centurion Cato. Good to see you here. Both of you. Just like old times. We must have a drink. Barman!'

  'Yes, sir?'

  'A jar of your best wine and three goblets. Goblets, mind.'

  'Yes, sir.'

  Vitellius waved a hand at his bodyguards. 'Get up and leave us alone. Make sure my friends and I are not disturbed.'

  The guards saluted and hurriedly made for another table nearby, yet not so near as to permit them to overhear what was said between Vitellius and the two centurions.

  'Sit down please, gentlemen.' Vitellius waved at the vacant bench.

  Macro shook his head. 'No thank you, sir.'

  'That wasn't a request, Centurion. Now sit down. Both of you.'

  With a pause just long enough to mark their distaste and a measure of defiance, Macro and Cato took their seats. Vitellius smiled at them and then eased himself down on the bench opposite. The barman arrived with the drinks and poured the wine into three silvered goblets, before setting the jar down on the table and leaving them to their discussion.

  Macro spoke first. 'What are you doing here, sir?'

  'I'm on my way to take up my next appointment.'

  'Appointment?' Macro frowned. 'You're returning to active service? Which legion is going to be cursed by your treachery this time, Tribune?'

  'Tribune?' Vitellius put on a shocked expression. 'What makes you think I'm resuming that rank? I've moved on to bigger and better things now that Claudius himself is my patron.'

  Macro leaned forward and lowered his voice.'If he knew how far you had conspired against him…'

  'Well, he doesn't. And he's never going to find out, gentlemen. He has complete trust in me, and so does Narcissus. So don't start getting any ideas about telling them any stories. You'd never be believed, and I assure you the consequences would be far worse for you than for me. Do we understand each other, gentlemen?'

  Macro nodded slowly. 'Fair enough, sir. So tell me, what are you doing here?'

  'Like I said, I'm on my way to take up a new appointment. '

  'Where's that then?'

  'Really, Centurion, we're going to have to work a little harder at formalities. Especially as I am about to become the new prefect in command of the fleet at Ravenna…'

  'You?' Cato stared back, open-mouthed. 'It can't be true.'

  'It is. I assure you. Granted, I have no experience of naval operations, but I can rely on others for that. My real mission is far more vital, and I'll need every measure of cooperation from you two to see it through. I want that understood.'

  Cato rubbed his brow. 'You're the one Narcissus told us about.'

  'I am. From now on, you two are under my command. Both as officers attached to the fleet, and also as agents acting for Narcissus. I'll be watching you closely. If you give me any cause to doubt your loyalty to the Emperor, and to me, I'll have to report back to Narcissus. And we know what that means, don't we? A short interview with the palace interrogators and a nasty, obscure death.
You won't be missed, I can assure you. Meanwhile, your lives are in my hands, gentlemen. Serve me well and you'll live. I'll come out of it something of a hero. You'll have your lives. You can't have everything. But I can, and one day I will. On that day, you had better be on my side.'

  'I can't believe this,' Macro muttered to Cato.

  'We'd better,' Cato replied, struggling to hide his anxiety. 'He's quite serious.'

  Vitellius smiled. 'Your little friend has it right, Macro. Now that we understand the situation, and each other, I think it's time for a little toast.' Vitellius picked up the jug and filled each of their goblets to the brim. Then he raised his and smiled at them across the glimmering surface. 'Gentlemen, I give you partnership! At last, it seems, we are on the same side.'

  He raised the goblet and drained it steadily, his eyes fixed on the two centurions. When he had finished he set the cup down and gazed at the two goblets standing untouched on the table in front of Macro and Cato. He smiled.

  'As you wish, gentlemen. I'll indulge your insolence on this occasion. But mark my words well. The next time you give me one shred of defiance or discourtesy, you'll pay for it.'

  06 The Eagles Prophecy

  CHAPTER NINE

  The column assembled in the yard at dawn. A centurion, assisted by a team of optios, had been appointed to lead the marines across to Ravenna. These officers stormed into the general barracks and began turfing the men off their sleeping mats and screaming abuse into their faces. Amongst the marines terrified recruits hastened out into the cold dawn air, many half dressed and shivering. Dazed by their rough handling, the men stumbled into line, some still struggling into their clothes. As they readied their packs for the march, Macro cast a critical eye over them.

  'Not exactly an impressive bunch, are they?'

  Cato shrugged. 'No better or worse than the batch I joined the Second Legion with.'

  'And you can tell, of course.' Macro shook his head. 'Trust me, Cato. I've seen 'em come and go for years and this lot are from the bottom of the barrel.'

  Cato turned towards him. 'Is that experience talking, or prejudice?'

  'Both,' Macro smiled. 'But we'll see who's right soon enough. I'll bet you that we lose a quarter of these men before we reach Ravenna.'

  Cato looked over the men gathering by the wagons. The majority of the recent recruits certainly looked like poor specimens. A few had no boots at all and most were thin and drawn, and clothed in little more than rags. They were, as Macro had said, the dregs of the city: men with little hope of employment and no prospects for a better life. And now, in an act of desperation, they had volunteered for the marines. No legion would have had them, that's for sure, Cato reflected. And a good few of them would still be thrown out of the marines before training was completed. So this was their last chance. Men in such circumstances either caved in quickly, or found some last reserve of strength and determination from deep inside themselves. As Cato once had. He turned back to Macro.

  'How much?'

  'You'll take the bet?'

  Cato nodded.

  'More fool you,' Macro smiled. They had made wagers before, and Macro had won more often than not, his experience triumphing over Cato's attempts to rationalise the odds. It was typical of the lad to persist, and Macro was touched by Cato's confidence in his own judgement. But not touched enough to refuse the chance of easy money.

  'All right then. The first month's pay.'

  Cato stared back at him.

  Macro arched an eyebrow. 'Too rich for you?'

  'No. No. Not at all. A month's pay it is.'

  'Done!' Macro grasped his friend's hand and shook it firmly before Cato could think of changing his mind.

  A shout from the centurion in charge of the convoy drew the marines up in their ranks and they stood silent and shivering as the optios strode down the column and dressed the ranks with their long wooden staffs, clipping the odd unfortunate who failed to move with sufficient alacrity. Macro and Cato made their way over to the front of the column. They had already introduced themselves to the centurion, a skinny veteran by the name of Minucius. He was a friendly enough man and told them that he had transferred back to the marines, with a promotion, after a stint in the auxiliaries many years before. Clearly, Minucius had remained true to the hard training of his former service arm and showed no pity for his new charges. Once the introductions had been made and Macro and Cato had shown him their orders, Minucius offered them space in the lead wagon. There was one vehicle in front of the recruits and another three behind, carrying rations and tents for the journey, a small chest of money for expenses and a parcel of letters.

  Cato looked round.'Where's Vitellius?'

  Centurion Minucius glanced at Cato. 'Gone. He left an hour ago, with his escort. Seems that the prefect is in a tearing hurry to take up his new command. So, I'm afraid we'll be denied the pleasure of his aristocratic company for the rest of the journey. Shame that.' He grinned.

  'You don't know the half of it,' Macro said quietly.

  Minucius looked at him searchingly.'Something I should know?'

  'No,' Cato interrupted. 'It's nothing.'

  'Nothing?'

  'We've served with Vitellius before. Back in Britain.'

  'And?'

  Cato frowned. 'And what?'

  'What's he like?' Minucius observed the two centurions as they exchanged a wary look. 'Come now, lads. We're grown-ups. We'll be serving together for months, maybe years. If you've got some information on the prefect you should share it. After all, who's going to show you the ropes when we get to Ravenna, eh?'

  Cato coughed.'Let's just say that we didn't see eye to eye with Vitellius on a few issues.'

  'Didn't see eye to eye, eh?' Minucius looked at the other centurions shrewdly. 'He's a thorough-going bastard then?'

  Cato pursed his lips and shrugged.

  'You could say that,' Macro said softly. 'But you didn't hear it from us. Right?'

  'Got you.' Minucius winked good-humouredly.'Forewarned is forearmed. I'll watch my back around our new prefect.'

  'Yes,' Macro added, as Minucius strode off to make sure that the convoy was ready to set off, 'so will we all.'

  From Ocriculum the Flaminian Way led north, the landscape became more hilly, and the column marched through great vineyards that rolled down the hillsides either side of the road. Everywhere, the stark brown of leafless trees and shrubs of winter looked bleak and depressing, and frequent showers of icy rain lashed down on the hapless recruits. But no one dropped out of the line of march for the first few days, much to Macro's frustration.

  On the fourth day after leaving Rome, the column reached the foothills of the Appennines, and crossed torrential streams that fed into the upper reaches of the Tiber. The road then wound its way up to the town of Hispellum. The villas of the rich were closed for the season and would not open again until the summer heat drove the owners up into the cooler air of the mountains, so the streets were quiet as the column tramped through the town to the barracks beyond the far gate.

  From the situation of the barracks and the unfriendly glances from passing townsfolk, it was clear that the good people of Hispellum wanted little to do with passing military traffic. Not that Cato could blame them. The soldiers of the Emperor were inclined to regard themselves as being above the law in some respects, a view that was encouraged by the emperors themselves, who had been wise enough to realise that the military were the ultimate guarantor of their power and authority. The odd theft, drunken brawl and non-payment for goods or services were overlooked – mostly because any victims of such crimes were loath to make things worse for themselves by seeking recourse to the law. The people in the towns that lined the main military routes just kept their heads down each time a column appeared, and prayed that it would pass through without causing too much trouble.

  The barracks outside Hispellum were well maintained by the town council and, having spent the previous two nights in goat-leather tents, the recruits and their off
icers were glad at the prospect of a warm and dry night's rest.

  As night fell the officers met in the small mess where a slave had laid a fire and the town council had sent several jars of wine and some cured sides of venison to the new arrivals. No doubt they hoped that the soldiers would get drunk in the barracks and not need to venture inside the town walls. The officers were joined by a merchant, who said that he had been unable to find a room in the town. He sat apart from them and watched in silence as the soldiers talked.

  'Any more drop out today?' Macro asked hopefully.

  Minucius nodded. 'One. An old boy. Claudius Afer. He collapsed on the road this morning. I told him if he didn't catch up he was on his own. Looks like that's one we can scratch off the intake.'

  'How many so far?' Macro asked.

  'Aside from Afer, let me think. Eight. And we'll lose more as we cross the mountains. We always do. There's no more shelter for three days after Hispellum and we'll spend two nights high up. At this time of year there'll be snow and ice, and the new boys will hate every moment of it. By the time we reach Ravenna we'll have winnowed out most of the weaklings. Those that are left should make good enough marines. Cheers!'

  As he raised his cup and drank deeply Macro was busy doing some mental maths. Eight men down, from a total strength of a hundred and fifty, was, on the face of it, disappointing. They'd need to lose another thirty-odd for him to win the bet safely. He looked up as Minucius emptied his cup and reached for the wine jar.

  'How many do you expect to lose before we get clear of the mountains?'

  'How many?' He puffed out his cheeks. 'Usually something like a fifth to a quarter of the new recruits. I'd expect a lesser proportion if these were men destined for the legions. The fitness test sees to that. For marines, alas, the standard is somewhat lower.'

  'A fifth to a quarter,' Macro mused with a smile, and caught Cato's eye.'Better get used to the idea of a quiet first month in Ravenna.'

  'We're not there yet,' Cato replied.'So don't go spending my money before it's yours.'

  Minucius looked at them with a confused expression. 'Now, what's that all about?'