Simon Scarrow - The Gladiator

'It didn't happen then, sir. It was afterwards, while he was trying to get the governor's daughter to safety, away from the city.'

Cato swallowed and stared into the optio's eyes, unblinking. He lowered his voice.' The governor's daughter, was she also captured?'

'Yes, sir.'

'How do you know this?'

'The leader of the rebels, that gladiator, had them brought forward in a cage when he tried to talk the governor into surrendering.'

Cato felt a flush of hope lighten his heart. 'So they're alive.'

'Yes, sir. Or at least they were when the gladiator showed them to the governor. That was several days ago though, sir. Last anyone has seen of them.'

Dread flooded back into Cato's heart. He looked down and saw his knuckles were white where he was holding the optio's harness so tightly. He forced himself to let go and step back, and gestured to the cavalrymen. 'Have these men taken to the stables at the governor's palace. Make sure horses and men get fed and find them a place to rest.'

'Yes, sir.'

'Does the governor still have his headquarters up on the acropolis?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Very well.' Cato breathed deeply to ease the tension in his chest.

'Carry on, Optio.'

Leaving his horse in the care of the decurion, Cato made his way through the streets towards the road leading up to the entrance of the acropolis. The townspeople forced to live in the ruins he passed spared him no more than a glance as they prepared for the evening meal. The weary resignation of their spirits was clear in almost every face. Only the children showed any signs of life and contentment as they heedlessly played amid piles of rubble between the surviving buildings.

The moment of hope that Cato had felt when he had heard that Macro and Julia were alive was now dashed by the know -

ledge that they were still in the hands of Ajax. While they served a purpose as hostages they would live, but the moment the enemy judged them worthless their lives would be forfeit. Worse still, if Ajax took it into his head to enact some kind of grisly revenge for the death of his father, then Macro and Julia would be subjected to every imaginable torture and torment before being granted the mercy of death. Cato felt sick at the idea, and had to pause in his stride for a moment before he could continue up the slope to the acropolis.

When he reached the headquarters he found Senator Sempronius in his office, sitting at the window as he stared blankly out across the city. A wine jug was on the desk and he was nursing a goblet in his hand when Cato rapped on the door frame.

'What is it now?' Sempronius said wearily. 'Anyway, I thought I gave orders that I was not to be disturbed.'

'It's me, sir.' Cato spoke gently.

Sempronius turned round quickly and his expression filled with relief.' Cato! I feared we had seen the last of you. Come in, my boy.

Sit you down!'

His words were slightly slurred. Cato could not tell if it was fromexhaustion, grief or wine. Sempronius set his cup down on the table and refilled it before pushing it towards Cato. A small amount slopped over the rim and ran red down the side. The senator leaned forward on his elbows. 'Well, what have you to report?'

'Sir, I've heard what happened to Macro and Julia.'

Sempronius's shoulders sagged. 'Yes.'

'We have to believe they're still alive.'

The governor nodded, and for a few moments both men stared at each other in a shared grief that went beyond words. Then Sempronius cleared his throat and looked down at his hands as he spoke. 'Your report, please.'

'Yes, sir. Legate Petronius has provided most of the men you requested. We landed at Matala this morning. I rode ahead of the main force. The reinforcements will reach Gortyna by tomorrow night.'

'Good.'

'There are also warships and marines at Matala that we can call on. The reinforcements are under the command of First Spear Centurion Fulvius, of the Twenty-Second Legion.'

'Fulvius? Why not you, as I requested?'

'Legate Petronius decided I was too junior for such a command.

He appointed Fulvius to lead the column until the reinforcements reach Gortyna, and then you are to assume authority over them. I had thought that Macro would take charge, sir.'

'Yes, well, that is no longer possible. We shall need a new commander.' Sempronius look ed up.' Do you still have that document authorising you to act as tribune?'

'Yes, sir.' Cato reached for the thong around his neck, and pulled the leather tube out of his tunic and offered it to the governor. 'It's here, together with your ring.'

Sempronius took the tube, pulled off the cap and tipped the contents out on to the desk. He placed his family ring back on his finger and then picked up the roll of parchment and tapped it gently on the desk as he thought. 'Macro is no longer with us. Therefore the command passes to you, Cato.'

'Me?' Cato shook his head in astonishment.' Me? But, sir, I–I…'

Sempronius pushed the document across the table towards Cato.

'There. Your appointment still stands, which means that as tribune you outrank Fulvius. The command of the forces at Gortyna is yours.

That is my decision, and my order. When the reinforcements arrive, I want you to take command of them, find Ajax and destroy his army.

That is your priority, Cato. You are not to let any other considerations interfere with your orders.'

'Sir?'

'There will be no negotiations with the rebels. No deals with regard to hostages.' Sempronius swallowed.' Do I make myself clear?'

Cato nodded. 'And if, in carrying out your orders, the chance to effect a rescue of the hostages does occur…?'

Sempronius stared at him, eyes moist and lips trembling.

'Then you get my daughter back, you hear? And save your friend Macro.'

'I will do everything in my power to save them both,' Cato replied. 'I swear it, on my life.'

The patrols that had been sent out to find and follow the slave army reported back to Gortyna the following evening, just as Centurion Fulvius reached the city with his tired, dusty column of legionaries and auxiliaries. While the men were found billets in the city, Fulvius and the commanding officers of each cohort were summoned to the governor's quarters on the acropolis, where Cato and Sempronius awaited them.

As the legionary centurions and the auxiliary prefects eased themselves down on to the benches set before the governor's desk, orderlies passed amongst them with cups of water flavoured with pressed lemons. Once they were refreshed, Sempronius slapped his hand on the table to bring them to order.

'Gentlemen, I know you are tired, so I will be brief. You have been sent to Crete to destroy the slave rebellion led by the gladiator Ajax.

Our latest intelligence is that he is marching to the east of the island.

He is estimated to have some twenty thousand men with him under arms, and as many camp followers.'

The officers exchanged concerned expressions as they considered the odds. Sempronius coughed. 'That is not the whole story, however.

No more than a fraction of his men are properly armed and only a handful have any kind of military training, or fighting experience.

Your men will have little difficulty in defeating them, provided you can pin them down and force them to battle. Once they are defeated, any last vestige of rebellious spirit encountered in the slaves is to be crushed without mercy' He paused to let his words sink in. 'Any questions?'

Fulvius nodded.' Do we know why they lifted the siege and marched east?'

'Not yet.'

'Do we know where they might be headed?'

Sempronius shook his head.' No. I'm told there are no cities or major ports in their path. Just a quiet strip of coastline, near an abandoned town called Olous.'

'It's possible they may have arranged for some ships to meet them in the bay next to Olous,' Cato added, nodding towards a map of the island hanging on the far wall.