Simon Scarrow - The Eagle In the Sand

'No?' Macro smiled.'What about Postumus there? I'm sure that Narcissus has men who are more than capable of getting information out of him.'

'Assuming he was still around to be interrogated.' Longinus smiled back, and then glanced towards Postumus. 'I mean, of course, that he might flee, or go into hiding before he could be questioned.'

'I'm sure that's what you meant,' said Macro.'After all, you wouldn't want to dispose of such a loyal servant.'

'Quite. So where does that leave us?'

There was another silence as Macro pondered the question. There was no firm evidence against the Governor and everyone in the room knew it. Just as they knew it was clear that he had been plotting against the Emperor. It was Cato who spoke first.

'What if we accept for the moment that Narcissus cannot move against you?'

Longinus raised his eyebrows. 'What if we do?'

'The very fact that we were sent out to investigate the situation means that he must have some grounds for suspecting you, and he will be taking every precaution to ensure that he undermines any plan you might make to turn against the Emperor.'

'So?'

'So there's no chance that you will be given any reinforcements. No matter how much you present the situation as dangerous to Roman interests, Narcissus will not send you extra forces. In which case, any plot there might have been would be doomed to failure. Wouldn't you agree, sir?'

'Maybe. Assuming such a plot existed.'

'On that basis, there is still some advantage to be wrung out of the situation.'

Longinus stared at Cato, and then made an open gesture with his hands. 'Please explain yourself.'

'Yes, sir.' Cato concentrated for a moment and then spoke again. 'You already know the danger we face from Bannus. If his uprising spreads beyond this immediate area, then the whole province of Judaea could turn on Rome. What you may not know is that we have heard rumours that Parthia has offered to assist Bannus. With weapons, maybe even with men as well. If that is the case, then the stakes are even higher. Apart from having to crush the revolt in Judaea you would need to confront the Parthians and persuade them to withdraw their aid. If they had any doubts about your loyalty to the Emperor, the presence of a maverick Roman general on their borders might cause a diplomatic confrontation that Parthia might use to trigger a new war with Rome, sir.' Cato paused for an instant, worried that he had given his imagination too free a rein. 'At least it's a possibility, sir.'

'It's more than a possibility.' Longinus frowned. 'My spies have been reporting that Parthian troops have been spotted moving up the bank of the Euphrates towards Palymra. Their ambassador says they are carrying out exercises. It could be an unfortunate coincidence.'

'It could be, sir. But it would be rash not to make preparations to counter the threat.'

'If there is a threat. How could they know about Bannus' planned uprising?'

'I'm sure they have spies just as we do, sir.'

'You said there was some advantage to be gained,' Longinus reminded him.

'Yes, sir. If you send us reinforcements to help find and destroy Bannus, then the danger in Judaea can be averted. That leaves you free to confront Parthia.A strong show of force should discourage them from breaking the peace. When everything has settled back down, you can report your achievements to the Emperor and the Senate. I'd say they will regard you as something of a hero. Certainly enough to remove any doubts over your loyalty, sir.'

Longinus considered the prospect Cato had envisaged for him, and then looked at the young officer with a cool smile. 'You have a devious mind, Centurion Cato. I would hate to have you as a political opponent. Worse still, as one of Narcissus' lieutenants. Then you would truly be a man to be wary of.'

'I'm a soldier, sir,' Cato replied stiffly. 'That's all.'

'That's what you say, but this document gives the lie to that.There's far more to you and Macro than meets the eye. But no matter.' Longinus tapped his fingers on the desk for a moment and then nodded. 'Very well, let's do as you suggest. But there's one thing that still puzzles me.'

'Sir?'

'I'll accept that the Parthians could have got some intelligence about Bannus, but how could they come to know of Narcissus' suspicions about me? They would have to have spies right in the heart of the imperial service. That, or spies on my staff…' A brief startled look flashed across the Governor's face, but before he could continue there was a strident blaring from a trumpet, the notes blasting out across the fort from the direction of the west-facing gatehouse.

Longinus looked at Macro. 'What's that?'

'The alarm signal, sir.' Macro turned to Cato.'We have to go.'

'Wait!' Longinus rose from behind the desk. 'I'm coming too. And you, Postumus.'

Outside, men were still tumbling from the barracks, clutching equipment as they hurried to take up their positions along the walls of the fort. They stood aside to let the officers trot past and Macro and the others reached the watchtower sweating and breathing heavily. On both sides the auxiliary troops were forming up in sections, sun glinting off their polished helmets as they fastened or adjusted the last items of equipment and then raised their shields and waited for orders. Several sections had been armed with compound bows and they were hurriedly stringing them, one end braced against a boot as the men strained to bend back the other end and attach the loop of the bowstring. The officers in the tower lined the parapet and stared out along the track to where, some distance off, a handful of mounted men were galloping towards the fort. Behind them raced a much larger force.

'Who the hell are they?' asked Longinus.

The two parties of horsemen were still too far away to be certain but as they approached the fort Cato strained his eyes and made out enough details to recognise them for what they were.

'It's one of our patrols.' He turned away, hurried across the tower and called down to the section of soldiers at the gate. 'Open up! Those are our men in front.'

Macro had also summed up the situation, and was issuing orders to the officers on the wall. 'Get some archers ready to cover the patrol! Shoot the moment those bastards behind our men are in range!'

As Macro and Cato returned to the Governor's side, Longinus turned to them and asked, 'So who are those men pursuing your patrol?'

Cato felt a chill feeling in the nape of his neck as he replied. 'I think they're Parthians, sir.'

07 The Eagle In the Sand

'Parthians?' Longinus stared back at him. 'Nonsense! How could they be Parthians? Have you ever seen one?'

'No, sir,' Cato admitted. 'I've read about them. Heard them described.'

Longinus sniffed with contempt and the officers turned back to watch the desperate chase across the desert towards the fort. As the horsemen drew nearer Centurion Postumus glanced at Cato before saying quietly, 'I'm afraid they are Parthians, sir.'

They were clearly visible now and all those in the gatehouse could plainly see the conical helmets and the saddle tassels flapping in the wind. Every so often one of the riders would take careful aim with a bow and loose an arrow after the fleeing survivors of the Roman patrol. But the range was long and the horses galloping at full stretch and only one of the arrows found its mark as the officers in the tower looked on. One of the horses suddenly reared, nearly throwing its rider, and Cato saw the dark shaft of the arrow protruding from a hind leg. As the horse stamped, the shaft caught on the other leg and was ripped out in a bright gush of blood. A major blood vessel must have been severed for the blood continued to spurt from the wound as the rider tried in vain to spur his mount on towards the fort. After several increasingly faltering steps the horse's legs buckled and it sank on to its chest. The rider quickly dismounted and turned to face his pursuers, crouching behind his shield as he drew his sword. They came on, and at the last moment flowed round the man and his dying horse. There was a brief flurry of arrow shafts and the auxiliary spun round under the impacts, and crumpled to the ground.