Адриан Голдсуорти - The Fort

‘I am always told that my people are the Romans, my lord.’

‘Don’t be obtuse. You are one of the Silures and they take pride in fighting at night. Don’t look so surprised. Even a tribune can read a book now and then or listen to the tales the soldiers tell of you here. You might get out of the fort, sneak past those enemy left behind and – when the time comes – their main army to reach Hadrian or whoever is coming to our rescue. Or if not get to Dobreta and at the very least take a report of what you and all the rest of us have done here. I’d rather my family know that I have done my duty for the Senate and People – and for the emperor, not that he likes us much.’

‘But, my lord—’

‘No buts. You go or I place you under arrest.’ There was a hardness in his eyes and his right hand strayed to the bone handle of his sword. ‘I doubt that anyone would question if I ordered your execution without trial – and the odds are strongly that I won’t be alive to answer any questions they do raise. You are going, centurion, and if threats do not persuade, then think that this will give a chance to save your friends here. And your wife. If you don’t want to save her then you are a fool. So you go tonight or you die. I have no time or patience for arrest.’

Ferox did not have his sword, for Vindex had offered to hone the edge and he had left the blade with the scout. There was a long stylus on the table, its point sharp enough to drive through the tribune’s throat if he got the chance, and a heavy local bowl in which Piso had washed his hands at the start of the meeting, if he chose to take Vindex’s suggestion and knock the aristocrat on the head. The problem was that he began to think that the fool might be right. Either way, this was not the moment. He relaxed.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Good,’ Piso said, taking this as acceptance. Then I shall write an account of the days since I left the hospital and you will write one of the siege up until that point. Apart from the message you carry in your head, these words will tell our story, so that the truth will be known even if we perish. So go away and write. There will be plenty of time for us to plan how you are to get out of the fort later on. I would suggest taking Ivonercus with you and perhaps some other Brigantes. If you run into trouble they can always pose as deserters and maybe you can all talk your way through. That rogue, Sosius, may be useful too. He is Hadrian’s man, so his words will be all the stronger.

‘And do not look so glum, Flavius Ferox. We may all be dead before nightfall!’

The Dacians did not attack, apart from sending arrows at anyone who moved in the open. With the ramparts and wall towers well above them, a man had to crouch close to the barricades to walk in any sort of safety. At noon the sentry on their own tower shouted down that large bands of Dacians were crossing the bridge, and in the hours that followed the flow continued, with waggons and mules as well as warriors.

Ferox had to admit that Piso was right about that, and the main army was continuing its advance, so he set to his task of writing a day-by-day account of the defence of the fort. The truth did matter, the tribune was also right about that, so he tried to remember every piece of bravery and name the men who had done it. Now and again he went back to read what he had written and struggled to believe that these things had happened.

Philo brought him food as the hours passed, and still he wrote, forcing his weary mind to concentrate and get it all right. He ate one-handed as he lifted one of the wooden tablets and read the tiny words. The door opened again, but he did not look up for it was surely Philo. Then it closed and he heard the key click in the lock. This was normally a storage room for records, and all such places had locks on the door. He was never sure why. Perhaps the army worried that a deranged soldier would break in and tamper with long forgotten duty rosters and reports.

Claudia Enica raised an eyebrow. ‘I never took you for an author.’ She was in her tunic and boots, with her hair loose around her shoulders. ‘Sulpicia and I want you.’

Ferox did his best to mimic her fondness for arching an eyebrow in studied surprise.

‘She would have come as well, but that would no doubt have prompted some lewd male humour.’

‘You’re thinking of Vindex, my lady.’

‘Yes, well, if he did not have that unfortunate face and filthy mind and if he had those few virtues you possess, perhaps I would have been better off marrying him.

‘You’re going to sneak out. Don’t look surprised. I am queen, it is my part in life to know as much as I can about what is happening. In this case it was simple. When we were all dismissed, I lingered at the door and listened. It is a method I have adopted since I was a small child and is often efficacious. There was a sentry, but he did not mind.’

‘Dazzled by your beauty, of course.’

‘Naturally. Well I know what Piso has ordered and I have spoken to Lepidina and Vindex and no one else. We all think that you should go. Am I right in thinking that you were wondering about bludgeoning our noble tribune over the head instead of going? You see, I know you better than you think. You must go because it is our best hope of coming through this. And along with everything else you will take two letters. One is from Lepidina in case it ever can reach Cerialis. The other is from me to our girls. No need to pull that face. I am not wholly uncaring whatever you may think.’

‘I have never thought that.’ He stood up, then hesitated. ‘Why don’t you come with me? You are not a Silure, but—’

‘Thank the gods for that,’ she interrupted.

‘But you are a Sister and move well.’

Claudia Enica wiggled her hips and then became serious. ‘We cannot all go, and I cannot leave the others behind while I am safe.’

‘Safe? The odds are not good.’

‘Yet you want me to come? What sort of husband are you?’

‘A poor one,’ he said, stepping forward so that he could put his hands on her waist. ‘But I try my best.’

‘Hmmm,’ she murmured. ‘And you have not asked why I have not written a message for you.’

‘Because I rather hoped that you would…’ He stopped because she stood on her toes and kissed him.

‘That I would deliver it in person?’ she said after a moment. ‘Now there’s an idea.’

Ferox was mildly surprised that the old and poorly made table took the strain. The chair was a bit sturdier and even that creaked a good deal. The afternoon passed and as far as he could tell the Dacians did not attack.

‘We should get about our business,’ she said, and giggled when he deliberately misunderstood and the table was tested again. Later still, she sat on his lap, bare save for her boots.

‘Why do you like me to keep these on?’ she asked.

‘So you can always run away if you choose to,’ he said, his mind blissfully hazy and unable to think of anything witty.

‘If anyone has been listening to us they will be very jealous.’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘Most of the men fancy me.’ He dodged a slap.

‘Take Vepoc as well as Ivonercus,’ she said, once again the queen.

‘Aren’t they both sworn to kill me?’ Even if Enica wanted to return to business, Ferox was determined to make the most of this moment and started to kiss her neck.

‘Yes, but it will be a mark of faith and trust to take them with you.’

He pulled away. ‘Lovely.’

‘And do not trust Sosius.’

‘I never have.’

‘Then trust even less. He must go for he is Hadrian’s man, but from what I have seen and from what Bran and poor Minura said, he is bad and a very dangerous man.’

‘So I am going then.’