Адриан Голдсуорти - The Fort

Tettius’ eyes flicked around the room. ‘I do not need much, but would be grateful for what you can offer. Most of my people will remain outside in the carts or stay in the vicus .’ The collection of a few decent buildings and plenty of shacks outside the fort was scarcely worthy of the term, which was usually reserved for the more formal and organised communities around a base. ‘Some of the carts are well suited to our business.’

‘You will not be short of customers, especially for your girls. I trust that the prices are clear and fair.’

‘Of course. All as they should be, approved by the legatus Augusti, and all recorded so that taxes will be paid. After a few days I intend to press on with some of my people, but wondered whether ten of the girls should remain? I would wish my property to be under your protection.’

‘Give a statement at the principia, with witnesses to vouch for its truthfulness.’ Ferox was relieved that this was a straightforward request, easy to grant. ‘Will they stay at the tavern?’ In smaller outposts, it was common enough to hire a prostitute and give her a room in a barrack block to ply her trade. Men in a bigger base liked the relief offered by walking out through the gates to take their pleasure, where they felt free of the army for just a short while.

‘Yes. The owner will watch them – after all he works for me.’ Tettius gave a thin smile. He had thick hair, which hung down almost to his eyebrows. Once or twice he brushed it with his hand and touched a pale scar that was concealed the rest of the time. He did so now, and Ferox could not decide whether this was sheer habit or a mark of nervousness. ‘You have had trouble I hear.’ The change of subject was abrupt. ‘Men killed, I mean.’ Again his fingers pushed hair out of the way and scratched the scar.

‘There has been an incident,’ Ferox conceded, wondering how the man had learned of this.

‘Julius Dionysius told me,’ Tettius explained. ‘Do not blame him, I beg you. I am going that way so naturally I asked if all was safe. I have a few men in case of trouble, but no real protection against bandits or worse.’

‘You travel over the pass and to Sarmizegethusa?’

‘Yes. My girls will find plenty of work with the garrison there and I have luxuries for the officers and the royal courts – as well as other business. It is a great deal to ask, but I wondered whether an escort might be possible?’

That was it then. It was a significant favour, although not an unreasonable one for a man with so many friends willing to speak on his behalf. ‘Certainly. Although they must rest at Sarmizegethusa for no more than a day before they return. Unless you are ready by that time, you shall have to find other protection for your return journey.’

‘That is more than generous, and I thank you.’ The merchant raised his hand and pressed it against his own mouth, presumably a gesture from his homeland, for Ferox had never seen it before.

‘In turn, I hope to purchase a few things from you,’ Ferox said, ‘for as you may have noticed, my hospitality is meagre.’

Tettius made a dismissive gesture. ‘I assumed merely the disdain for luxury of a simple soldier.’

Ferox began to explain what he wanted. ‘All in all, something more appropriate for my rank and responsibilities is now necessary, not least because a senior officer is soon to pass this way.’

‘The legatus of I Minervia? Do not show surprise, it is my business to know things, so that I am best placed to provide services and goods as they are needed.’ He scratched the scar again, as if in thought. ‘Yes, yes, and it is no ordinary senator, but Publius Aelius Hadrianus, cousin to our princeps. You did not realise?’ Tettius must have sensed the surprise although Ferox did not think he had betrayed it. ‘Well, once again it is good for my trade to know such things. He is a man with high standards, although not too demanding beyond the requirements of military discipline. Is there good hunting at this season? I hear that he is fond of the chase. Well, well, I am glad to repay your services to me so easily. Let us consider what you need. How well do you wish to entertain the noble legatus?’

‘Sufficient for courtesy,’ Ferox said. ‘And please understand that I mean to pay. Your escort was a duty, not a favour.’

‘I would not insult you by suggesting otherwise, noble Flavius Ferox. But I can give my personal attention to this matter, so tell me what precisely you want.’

THEIR LITTLE CAMP was a shambles when they returned, the blankets scattered, bits of food everywhere and the horses wandered off to crop the grass. In the centre the girl sat by the dying fire, staring out blankly. She had a thick woollen blanket pulled around her and was clutching it tight just as she clutched her own knees. She shivered even though the sun was now very warm.

One man lay with his hand in the fire, the skin long since blackened and the smell of cooked meat heavy in the air, mingling with the reek of blood. Another corpse had its trousers down around its ankles and a great gash across the chest. The third was barely recognisable for once having been a man for it had been hacked into pieces where it lay.

The captive tried to raise his hands to touch the amulet around his neck before remembering that they were tied to the horn on the saddle. He whistled in amazement. ‘That Chrauttius? And his brothers? They were a tough bunch of lads.’

Three spears had been driven into the ground and on top of each one was a severed head.

‘You said that you trusted these men,’ Bran said bitterly.

Sosius shrugged. ‘I was wrong. I thought that they would want what I had promised them enough not to do anything stupid. And I thought that she could handle them.’

Bran leapt down from his horse.

‘We got the man we wanted, and she’s alive,’ Sosius said. ‘That is enough. It was a gamble, but no real harm done, is there? Without them we’d never have got what we wanted.’

Bran paid no heed to the freedman and walked slowly towards Minura as she sat. She gave not the slightest sign that she saw him or the others, so he sat down beside her.

Minura stopped shivering and became still, and that was almost more unnerving, as she stared out at something no one else could see. Bran could see that she had bitten her lip and the blood had dried on her chin.

‘I am here, sister,’ he spoke each word softly, as if to a child, although the woman was a fearsome warrior and older than he was by several years.

‘Reckon he might kill you,’ the captive said, watching them. ‘The lad’s good with a sword.’

‘She’s better,’ Sosius said, knowing that it was best to keep back for the moment.

Bran reached over and touched Minura’s hand softly.

‘I am here, sister, you are not alone anymore.’

Her hand moved and her fingers closed tightly around his.

‘And you are avenged on them,’ he said.

‘The joy of revenge is brief.’ Minura did not look at him, but her words were steady. ‘I am glad that I killed them, but I should not have been taken off guard. They were bad men, and such men never believe that a woman can fight and at first I could not.’ The words started to pour out and Bran sensed that she was on the verge of tears. ‘One was joking, trying to get me to drink with them while we waited and he seemed a harmless fool. Then another grabbed my arms from behind, and although I jumped and kicked the one in front, the other then caught my legs and they wrestled me down.’ Bran could see her torn tunic lying on the ground. ‘They took me, one after the other and I screamed and screamed for my courage left me, and when they were done, they cast me aside and sat around the fire as if nothing was happened.’