Simon Scarrow: The Eagle In the Sand

'Can't say I'd be sorry to be shot of all this paperwork, sir.'

'You seem to be doing a fine job. You can carry on with it until tomorrow.'

'Yes, sir.'

'Is there anything I should know before I get some sleep?'

Parmenion nodded.'The hostages have been returned to the villages, as you ordered, and there's a dispatch from Governor Longinus. It arrived yesterday, addressed to the prefect, in confidence. I didn't think I should open it.'

'You're the acting commanding officer, Parmenion.'

'I know that, sir. I just thought that I should wait. Until we heard something.'

'Where is it?'

'Just a moment, sir.' Parmenion crossed to the desk and opened a cabinet under the table. He took out a sealed package and handed it to Macro.

'I'll read this in my quarters. You'd better come with me, Cato.'

As they were leaving the office a thought struck Cato and he turned back to Parmenion. 'Centurion Postumus – what happened to him?'

'No one knows. After the battle I sent a patrol to look for him. We found his men, all dead, shot down with arrows. But no sign of him. Strange that.'

'Yes,' Cato said uneasily. 'Very strange.'

'I'm sure he'll turn up.'

'I imagine he will,' Cato replied as he left the office and strode off to catch up with Macro.

Macro opened the package as soon as they reached his quarters. The message was brief enough and he handed the document to Cato. It was an order from the staff of the Governor. The Second Illyrian Cohort was ordered to prepare to quit the fort at Bushir.They were instructed to proceed to Syria to join the army concentrating to counter the latest threat from Parthia.

Cato smiled. 'Seems that Longinus wants to keep a close eye on us.'

'I bet. Now that he knows that we're on to his game you can be sure he won't miss a chance to get rid of us. We're going to have to be careful out there, Cato.'

'Very careful. In the meantime there's work to be done. The cohort fought well enough, but they're not ready for a campaign season just yet.'

'No rest for us, then,' Macro grumbled as he poured two cups of wine and passed one to Cato.'And we've got to write a report for Narcissus at some point.'

'I can handle that, if you like.'

'What should we tell him? That threat to the Empire. Was it Longinus, or Bannus? Either way, we've put a stop to it. Now we've just got Parthia to deal with. Shit, I could do with a nice long rest.'

'Look on the bright side, sir.'

'Bright side? What bright side?'

'At last you're going to see Syria. That's what you've always wanted, as long as I've known you.'

'Syria…' Macro mused contentedly and drained his cup. 'There is that.'