searched the camp. It only took a few minutes to find a pair of tracks that led away to the east. Lucius and Augustinus stood over Martinus’ corpse, long since stiff from the hot day. “This happened hours ago, most likely not long after our journey west began. After our march here, there is no way we can run the two down who did this. Even if we had a chance of catching the fiends, it would endanger our charge to keep the forward camp supplied with water. We cannot risk losing more men.”
The decision not to pursue the murderers did not sit well with the other legionnaires. They grumbled about a lack of retribution. Cena was hastily prepared and the troop buried Martinus while waiting for the meal. The soldiers said a few words around the grave on the north side of the ruins, and Lucius stuck the dead soldier’s gladius in the sand near where the head of their dead man lay. He gently set the helmet on the pommel of the sword and quietly watched as the galea swayed from side to side, as it found an eerie equilibrium. When the helmet stopped its ghostly rhythm, Lucius turned to the others. “Regardless of death, regardless of circumstance, Martinus was a loyal soldier of Rome. The gods will welcome him in the afterlife. He will see the Elysium Fields.”
The other legionnaires affirmed the statement, and then returned to the camp for cena. Dinner was loaves, salted dried fish and an ampule of wine. The circle of soldiers ate and passed around the jug in silence. They took long draughts and stared into the cook fire attended by the two slaves that remained. Augustinus noted the Egyptians’ barely contained hatred. His eyes met Lucius’ who watched, and nodded in agreement. “These two have been loyal. To lose them would further compromise our mission. Tonight, we will double the watch and stay close together for safety. We are legionnaires. We will overcome these difficulties.”
“The more watches there are, the less sleep we will have,” Hortensius Julius grumped. “This assignment will be the death of all.”
“Vitus made it clear that there is no turning back. In the Primus’ absence, we forge ahead. Desertion from the Legion would put a price on one, hunted like a dog throughout the Empire would be final days,” Lucius said. “We are here to stay…”
“Or until our blades are found buried in the sand, scripted with bloody cipher,” Hortensius interrupted. “We are dead men.”
“We are Romans!” shouted Lucius. “Our forces overcame at Actium against the odds. Evidence of our missing brothers was found, against the odds. Survival in this inhospitable place is against the odds. Now find your spine and harden to the duty that is yet to come. In a few weeks as we rest in Memphis, this will seem like a distant bad dream.”
“Or nightmare,” Hortensius mumbled.
The slaves were bound with stout leather cords to prevent their escape during the night. Once Lucius checked and rechecked the bonds, he slowly wandered over to the coals of the cook fire where Augustinus was on the first watch. The Posterior was crouched by the pit, finishing the last drops of wine from the ampule, as a second armed and armored soldier wandered the perimeter of the camp.
“Watch ends when you wake in a few hours to take the burden. Best get some sleep. Today was a long, tiring chain of calamities one after another,” Augustinus grumbled. “I fear that our assignment here has become the errand of fools.”
“Careful. The example we set is duplicated by others. Experienced legionnaires set the tenor for how others behave,” Lucius answered. “Our orders are clear. Doubt must be removed from our hearts.”
“Mayhap on the morrow these events will be understandable,” Augustinus said.
“Perhaps,” Lucius said before he quietly retired to his tent. The dreams this night of were not the distant waters of the cool Nile but enclosed spaces and the sounds of angry winds.
Lucius and Augustinus stood over the
The decision not to pursue the murderers did not sit well with the other legionnaires. They grumbled about a lack of retribution. Cena was hastily prepared and the troop buried Martinus while waiting for the meal. The soldiers said a few words around the grave on the north side of the ruins, and Lucius stuck the dead soldier’s gladius in the sand near where the head of their dead man lay. He gently set the helmet on the pommel of the sword and quietly watched as the galea swayed from side to side, as it found an eerie equilibrium. When the helmet stopped its ghostly rhythm, Lucius turned to the others. “Regardless of death, regardless of circumstance, Martinus was a loyal soldier of Rome. The gods will welcome him in the afterlife. He will see the Elysium Fields.”
The other legionnaires affirmed the statement, and then returned to the camp for cena. Dinner was loaves, salted dried fish and an ampule of wine. The circle of soldiers ate and passed around the jug in silence. They took long draughts and stared into the cook fire attended by the two slaves that remained. Augustinus noted the Egyptians’ barely contained hatred. His eyes met Lucius’ who watched, and nodded in agreement. “These two have been loyal. To lose them would further compromise our mission. Tonight, we will double the watch and stay close together for safety. We are legionnaires. We will overcome these difficulties.”
“The more watches there are, the less sleep we will have,” Hortensius Julius grumped. “This assignment will be the death of all.”
“Vitus made it clear that there is no turning back. In the Primus’ absence, we forge ahead. Desertion from the Legion would put a price on one, hunted like a dog throughout the Empire would be final days,” Lucius said. “We are here to stay…”
“Or until our blades are found buried in the sand, scripted with bloody cipher,” Hortensius interrupted. “We are dead men.”
“We are Romans!” shouted Lucius. “Our forces overcame at Actium against the odds. Evidence of our missing brothers was found, against the odds. Survival in this inhospitable place is against the odds. Now find your spine and harden to the duty that is yet to come. In a few weeks as we rest in Memphis, this will seem like a distant bad dream.”
“Or nightmare,” Hortensius mumbled.
The slaves were bound with stout leather cords to prevent their escape during the night. Once Lucius checked and rechecked the bonds, he slowly wandered over to the coals of the cook fire where Augustinus was on the first watch. The Posterior was crouched by the pit, finishing the last drops of wine from the ampule, as a second armed and armored soldier wandered the perimeter of the camp.
“Watch ends when you wake in a few hours to take the burden. Best get some sleep. Today was a long, tiring chain of calamities one after another,” Augustinus grumbled. “I fear that our assignment here has become the errand of fools.”
“Careful. The example we set is duplicated by others. Experienced legionnaires set the tenor for how others behave,” Lucius answered. “Our orders are clear. Doubt must be removed from our hearts.”
“Mayhap on the morrow these events will be understandable,” Augustinus said.
“Perhaps,” Lucius said before he quietly retired to his tent. The dreams this night of were not the distant waters of the cool Nile but enclosed spaces and the sounds of angry winds.
Lucius and Augustinus stood over the
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