Адриан Голдсуорти - Brigantia

With an easy gesture, their leader flicked up the face mask, which was hinged and rigid enough to stay open. Arviragus smiled. ‘Did you really think I would kill my own sister?’ Claudia Enica laughed, a sweet sound even when it mocked him. Ferox took a step forward, the rage brimming up inside him, as much at his own stupidity as anything else. The bodyguard drew his sword, but Ferox did not stop.

‘Don’t be a fool!’ Crispinus yelled.

Longinus kicked his horse on and swung the flat of his sword, pounding it against the side of Ferox’s head and the darkness engulfed him again.

Ferox doubted that he was unconscious for long, and awoke draped over a horse, wrists and ankles tied and a sack over his head. Soon afterwards they stopped, and someone pitched him off onto the turf.

‘Shall I cut him free?’ The voice sounded like young Cocceius.

‘No. Drag him over there with the others. He can have his hands free to eat, but tie them again until you’re told otherwise. They say he’s dangerous.’ Someone kicked him hard in the side and he groaned as the pain shot through his bruised and battered body. ‘Doubt it myself.’ Ferox rolled up into a ball. ‘See, can’t take it. Southerners are all the same.’

Ferox was lifted rather than dragged, which suggested that the Batavians were the ones doing the work, and set down on the ground. The sack was pulled away. It was dark, but he saw the big shape of Gannascus, someone else behind him and Vindex on the other side.

‘Bit of a bugger, this,’ the scout muttered.

‘Sir,’ Cocceius whispered by his ear. The young soldier was leaning down, pretending that part of the sack had caught on the shoulder buckle of Ferox’s mail shirt. ‘Think she’s the one, sir.’ He glanced nervously to either side, then dropped the sack and cupped both his hands over his chest. ‘Do you get me?’

Ferox gave a tiny nod.

‘Not sure, but reckon it is,’ the lad went on. ‘Could do with another look.’

Brigantus glared down at them, fingers hooked in his belt. ‘Clear off , lad. These prisoners are not to talk to each other or anyone else without my say so. Wait here. Be silent.’ His voice was a whisper, as if his throat had once been badly hurt.

A little later they were brought bread and some weak beer, but instead of freeing Ferox’s arms, the bodyguard sliced through the ropes on his legs. ‘The prince wants to talk to you.’

He was led to a leather tent, one of the larger ones normally given to centurions on campaign. He had noticed that the Brigantes had half a dozen mules to carry their baggage. The bodyguard lifted the flap and gestured for him to go in.

The air was heavy with the smell of stale oil burning in a little lamp and making too much smoke. Arviragus sat on a camp stool, as did Crispinus, his hands no longer tied. Claudia Enica sat cross-legged on a blanket behind them, her baggy clothes and boots giving her the air of a Sarmatian or another of the wandering races as much as a Parthian. They had all just finished a meal, the odour of a fine stew competing with the smoke.

Arviragus smiled and got to his feet, offering his hand, then realising that Ferox was still tied. ‘There is no need for bonds,’ he said, and glanced around.

‘Here.’ Crispinus held out a clasp knife.

The Brigantian prince flicked the blade out and cut the rope. Ferox wondered why neither the prince nor his henchman bothered simply to untie a knot.

‘This afternoon was a regrettable mistake,’ he said. His smile was broad, showing his perfect teeth, but did not extend to his eyes. ‘In days like these we must all be careful, and you have the reputation of a dangerous man, perhaps even an impulsive one. Now that I have had time to speak at length with the noble Crispinus, I believe I understand better.’ He held out his hand once more. Ferox massaged his fingers for a moment and then shook it.

‘Good. Please sit. I fear we do not have another stool. Unless you are stiff and prefer to stand for a while?’ Ferox sat down on his haunches, after the manner of his tribe.

‘Like you,’ Crispinus said, ‘it seems I too am a prisoner.’

‘You may as well explain,’ the prince agreed, taking his seat again. ‘Are you hungry, centurion? I can send for food? No? In a moment then.’

‘No doubt the whole matter will soon be cleared up,’ the tribune said airily. ‘Indeed by the sound of it your innocence is well on its way to being established.’

‘One of Fuscus’ people produced documents implicating him in treasonous plots,’ Arviragus interrupted.

Crispinus smiled. ‘Indeed he did. Our old friend Vegetus, no less. Which would mean that even if you killed the little swine you were doing the res publica a favour.’

Arviragus interrupted once more. ‘Sadly, some of the letters could be interpreted by a malign judgement also to implicate the noble Crispinus. Obviously mistaken or deliberate fraud, of course, but I was sent to take him into custody.’

‘By whom, my lord?’ Ferox was sitting straight-backed, trying to be as formal as possible. ‘If you will forgive my curiosity.’

He was not sure whether there was a flicker of anger before the smile reasserted itself. ‘Of course. And I understand your meaning. No, the legate had not returned. This was early morning of the day after you left. In his absence my orders were given to me by the Lord Crassus. Most of the mounted soldiers in Londinium had gone with the legate or were needed, which meant my men were best suited for the task. I obeyed as was my duty.

‘However, since the legate had confided in me something of your mission and its importance, I judged it prudent to follow at a discreet distance. Only when you went into the mountains did I begin to worry that I might lose you. Prudence dictated that I catch up, and then decide how best to proceed. Unfortunately we came on each other rather more suddenly than I had anticipated, and suspicion led to blows. That German knocked down three of my men with his bare hands, and had to be restrained. At first I had to threaten the tribune until he ordered his soldiers to obey me. It was all deeply unfortunate, but thankfully no serious harm was done.

‘Now, since we have had time to consider the matter, the noble Crispinus has convinced me that we must do our best to accomplish his task on Mona. He has agreed to place himself in my charge until this is done, and then until I bring him to the legate and other matters can be investigated properly. Will you now give me your word to do the same?’

Crispinus nodded encouragingly.

‘What of my men?’

‘They will all be free, as long as you stand surety for them. Come, centurion, let us all serve the legate and our princeps. I have heard that you are a great warrior, and my sister tells me that you treated her with… what was it you said?’ He turned around to stare down at Enica.

‘Surly respect,’ she said.

Crispinus nodded. ‘Sounds about right.’

Arviragus laughed. ‘Well, knowing my sister, I dare say there was a good deal of patience as well.’

‘Indeed, my lord, that was the longest I have known the lady go without speaking.’

The laugh became a great roar.

‘Why is the lady here, my lord?’

‘My sister goes where she wills. If she has not explained her purpose, then I fear I cannot. No matter. We shall all go on this quest together.’

‘That is the will of the gods,’ she said flatly.

‘Of course it is, my dear,’ her brother said like an indulgent parent, ‘so let us not disappoint them. Do I have your word, Flavius Ferox?’

Crispinus leaned forward eagerly. Enica was staring at the floor, apparently paying no heed.

Ferox nodded. ‘Yes, my lord.’