Simon Scarrow - The Eagle In the Sand

'How can you be sure?'

'I can't. Not until the mounted patrols return. I ordered them to scout the area. They should be back today. Then we'll find out if they've located Bannus. If they have, then you'll need to find some way of forcing him into battle, sir.'

'That won't be easy,' mused Macro. 'You know how these brigands fight. Hit and run. That's their style. So? Any bright ideas?'

Cato tilted his head to one side and considered. Before he could respond there was a clatter of boots outside the room and then a sharp knock on the door.

'Come!'

An orderly stepped through the door and saluted. 'Report from the duty centurion, sir.'

'Well?'

'There's a column of horsemen approaching the fort, sir.'

'That'll be one of your patrols then, Cato. Good.With a bit of luck they'll have some news of Bannus.'

The orderly interrupted. 'Begging your pardon, sir, but the horsemen are approaching from the north. The patrols went to the west.'

'From the north, eh?' Macro began to get a sinking feeling in his stomach. He turned to Cato. 'We'd better have a look.'

By the time they reached the fortified tower above the northern gate, the small column of horsemen was less than a mile from the fort and flashes of light glittered off polished armour and helmets. Cato shaded his eyes and squinted and made out the flicker of a scarlet standard above the head of the column. 'They're ours. Roman, at least.'

'Then what the hell are they doing returning from that direction?' Macro asked.

'I don't know.'

They watched in silence as the horsemen drew closer, and then at last the identity of the party became clear and Cato felt a chill in his guts as they reined in and walked their horses the short distance to the gates. At the head of the column rode a man in a burnished breastplate. He wore a red cloak and an ornate silvered helmet with a red plume.

'It's the Governor,' Macro muttered.'Bloody Longinus in the flesh.'

'Yes, and look who's riding beside him.'

Macro's eyes flickered to an officer on a horse a short distance to one side and slightly behind the Governor and he took a sharp intake of breath. 'It's that bastard Postumus.'

07 The Eagle In the Sand

Cassius Longinus was shrewd enough to wait until they had reached the privacy of the prefect's quarters before he turned on Macro. As the orderly closed the door, the Governor of the province of Syria crossed over to the desk and eased himself down into the chair. He looked up at Macro and Cato standing to one side of the room. Postumus had sidled across to the opposite side and perched on the window frame so that his shadow was thrown across the floor. Longinus regarded Macro for a moment before he spoke.

'Centurion Postumus has told me that you have unlawfully taken control of this cohort. And that you threw him and Prefect Scrofa into a cell. Is this true?'

'If that's what he told you then Postumus is a damned liar, sir.' Macro smiled. 'Of course, now I wish I had actually thrown him bodily into the cell. Then he might not have been able to sneak off at the first opportunity.'

A smile flickered across Longinus' face. 'That's not a very constructive attitude. If we're going to get to the bottom of this then you're going to need to be a bit more cooperative, Centurion Macro. I've been in the saddle for the last two days, and since I have a province to run, I'd like to sort out this situation and get back to my duties.'

'I'm sure you would, sir.'

'I hope I don't detect a note of insolence in your voice.'

'No, sir. It's just my way. I've been a common soldier for too long.'

Longinus stared at him closely.'Don't try to mock me. I will not tolerate it… I understand that you have a certain document. One that you claim entitles you to dismiss the prefect I appointed, and to assume his office instead.'

'That's right, sir.'

'In which case, I'd like to see it.'

'Very well, sir.' Macro indicated a small chest next to the desk. 'If I may?'

'Be my guest.' Longinus leaned back in the chair as Macro strode over, lifted the lid of the chest and took out the leather case in which the scroll had been replaced to protect it. He flipped the lid back and extracted the document and then placed it on the desk in front of Longinus. The Governor casually picked up the parchment, unrolled it and scanned the contents. Then he placed it back on the table.

'Well, Centurion Macro, and Centurion Cato, your credentials are impeccable. The document appears to be authentic, in which case you are fully within your rights to act as you did.'

Postumus, who had been watching with a faintly smug expression, started at this, and pushed himself away from the window frame.

'Sir, I protest! You are the Governor of Syria, appointed by the Emperor himself. They have flagrantly defied the authority of your office!'

Longinus tapped his finger on the scroll.'By the terms of this document their authority supersedes mine. Therefore they have acted lawfully, and I'd be obliged if you'd shut up and wait until you are addressed from now on, Centurion Postumus.'

Postumus opened his mouth to protest, thought better of it and closed it. He nodded and stepped back awkwardly towards the window frame.

'That's better.' Longinus smiled. 'Now then, Centurions Macro and Cato, this is something of an unusual situation. It is not customary for officers of your rank to pop up in a far-flung province with the Emperor's permission to act as you please tucked up your sleeve. So, I'd be grateful if you could explain what is going on here.'

Macro turned to Cato and cocked an eyebrow. It was an awkward situation.They had been sent from Rome to quietly investigate the Governor of Syria and their mission had been dogged by bad luck from the moment they had entered Jerusalem. If only Macro had not lost his original letter of appointment then this present situation could have been avoided. Instead, they had been forced to use the Imperial Secretary's document and thereby reveal that they were acting directly on Emperor Claudius' authority. Cato realised that there was nothing to be gained by denying the truth.

'Sir,' he said softly to Macro,'I think we'd better come clean.'

'What?' Macro shrank from the suggestion. How the hell could he just come straight out and tell one of Rome's most senior officials that the Emperor suspected him of treason? 'Are you mad?'

'Centurion Macro,' Longinus interrupted, then feigned a look of embarrassment. 'I do beg your pardon. Prefect. I think it would be best if we spoke openly. There's nothing to hide any more. I think you should begin by explaining exactly what you are doing here in Judaea.'

Macro swallowed. 'All right then, sir. Since you want it straight. Narcissus had obtained information that you were planning to provoke a revolt in the east in order to gain reinforcements for your army.The same source then said you were intending to use your enlarged army to depose the Emperor and claim the purple for yourself.'

There was a long silence before Longinus produced an amused expression. 'What an astonishing notion. I rather think someone must have been playing a joke on our friend Narcissus.'

'Then he's not seeing the funny side of it, sir. That's why we were sent out here. To see if that's what you are planning to do.'

'And what is your conclusion?'

Macro cleared his throat. He had not felt so nervous in a long time. 'From what we've seen so far, I'd say that your conduct would seem to support the accusations being made against you.'

'Would you now?' Longinus responded tonelessly. 'If that's what you think, then you'd better be able to justify your conclusions. Because if you can't then you're going to make Narcissus look a fool. In that case I would not like to be in your boots. So what evidence have you got against me, Macro?' Before Macro could respond Longinus held up his hand to silence him, and continued. 'Let me tell you what you have got. Nothing. Nothing more than suspicion and coincidence.There are no documents to back up your version of events. And no witnesses.'