this edifice.”
“Whoever is responsible for these deaths has withdrawn to their warren beneath the hot sands. Leave them be, lest we also meet our deaths in this scorching hell,” Hortensius said. “Retreat appears to be best option.”
“No,” Lucius said vehemently. “Our brothers could be captured or lost within the ruins. We will descend and bring them back alive.”
“They are lost and dead!” Hortensius shouted. “We are next!”
“Calm yourself, Legionnaire,” Augustinus commanded. “We are Roman soldiers.”
Lucius turned to Hortensius. “Torches and ropes are needed for descent. Find our brothers. We will enter through this passage. Unsling your shields, prepare plumbatae and calm yourself to do as trained. Whatever ambushed our people will now meet our shield wall head on and feel the bite of our blades.”
“Message received, Lucius,” Hortensius said. He turned reluctantly and headed back up the small steps.
“Augustinus, your skills are needed elsewhere before we descend into this Hades,” Lucius said emotionlessly. “Someone needs return to Memphis, to get message to Prefect Gaius Cornelius Gallus about what has been encountered here, and to bring reinforcements. You need to go back towards the Nile.”
“I will not abandon my fellow legionnaires in the face of combat with the unknown,” Augustinus said angrily. “We stand or fall together, as one.”
“Augustinus,” Lucius said firmly. He placed his hand on his fellow’s shoulder. “Whatever occurs here, one more sword arm will not sway the scales. But other legionnaires who may come here in the future can be warned, be prepared for these events.”
Augustinus looked into the passageway. “Please Lucius, don’t make me choose…”
“Brother,” Lucius interrupted. “All was risked at Actium. Do not make our sweat and blood shed for naught. Warn others, and then return marching at the head of a Legion if the Prefect truly wants this place pillaged and ancient riddles deciphered. If all fall, hard-won knowledge will also fall with us. Carry the story to ears willing to listen.”
The Augustinus continued to stare into the darkness. “Message received, old friend. I fear protesting will only prolong this argument, making rescue of our fellows more difficult.” Then the Posterior held out his hand. “May the gods bless the epic task ahead.”
“No more epic than your journey back across the scorching sands alone, but it must be made. Now go, before my mind changes.” Lucius smiled bravely and shook his comrade’s hand, then pulled a ring from his finger. “If you return to Rome, please give this to my mother. Now go.”
Augustinus took the ring then turned and moved back up the strange steps. He lingered on the top of the ruins for a minute as the other soldiers assembled outside of the entrance in the wall. Lucius looked up one more time and nodded to his old friend as the legionnaires fitted themselves for descent into the structure. Augustinus shouted down into the courtyard. “Give it to your mother yourself after we are reunited near the cool waters of the Nile. Farewell, my brothers!”
Lucius looked into the blackness. He thought for a few minutes, and his eyes adjusted to the dark.
“Was the slave, Anok Sabé still alive?” Lucius whispered, then glanced back to the top of the ruin. His heart sank when Augustinus turned away and disappeared from sight down the other side of the smooth stone.
“Nowhere to be found, that one,” Hortensius said. “It is possible death claimed him during the night.”
“Mayhap,” Lucius said quietly.
The soldiers wrapped rope into coils, lit torches, and hefted pilums.
“What plan of attack do you present, Lucius?” a
“Whoever is responsible for these deaths has withdrawn to their warren beneath the hot sands. Leave them be, lest we also meet our deaths in this scorching hell,” Hortensius said. “Retreat appears to be best option.”
“No,” Lucius said vehemently. “Our brothers could be captured or lost within the ruins. We will descend and bring them back alive.”
“They are lost and dead!” Hortensius shouted. “We are next!”
“Calm yourself, Legionnaire,” Augustinus commanded. “We are Roman soldiers.”
Lucius turned to Hortensius. “Torches and ropes are needed for descent. Find our brothers. We will enter through this passage. Unsling your shields, prepare plumbatae and calm yourself to do as trained. Whatever ambushed our people will now meet our shield wall head on and feel the bite of our blades.”
“Message received, Lucius,” Hortensius said. He turned reluctantly and headed back up the small steps.
“Augustinus, your skills are needed elsewhere before we descend into this Hades,” Lucius said emotionlessly. “Someone needs return to Memphis, to get message to Prefect Gaius Cornelius Gallus about what has been encountered here, and to bring reinforcements. You need to go back towards the Nile.”
“I will not abandon my fellow legionnaires in the face of combat with the unknown,” Augustinus said angrily. “We stand or fall together, as one.”
“Augustinus,” Lucius said firmly. He placed his hand on his fellow’s shoulder. “Whatever occurs here, one more sword arm will not sway the scales. But other legionnaires who may come here in the future can be warned, be prepared for these events.”
Augustinus looked into the passageway. “Please Lucius, don’t make me choose…”
“Brother,” Lucius interrupted. “All was risked at Actium. Do not make our sweat and blood shed for naught. Warn others, and then return marching at the head of a Legion if the Prefect truly wants this place pillaged and ancient riddles deciphered. If all fall, hard-won knowledge will also fall with us. Carry the story to ears willing to listen.”
The Augustinus continued to stare into the darkness. “Message received, old friend. I fear protesting will only prolong this argument, making rescue of our fellows more difficult.” Then the Posterior held out his hand. “May the gods bless the epic task ahead.”
“No more epic than your journey back across the scorching sands alone, but it must be made. Now go, before my mind changes.” Lucius smiled bravely and shook his comrade’s hand, then pulled a ring from his finger. “If you return to Rome, please give this to my mother. Now go.”
Augustinus took the ring then turned and moved back up the strange steps. He lingered on the top of the ruins for a minute as the other soldiers assembled outside of the entrance in the wall. Lucius looked up one more time and nodded to his old friend as the legionnaires fitted themselves for descent into the structure. Augustinus shouted down into the courtyard. “Give it to your mother yourself after we are reunited near the cool waters of the Nile. Farewell, my brothers!”
Lucius looked into the blackness. He thought for a few minutes, and his eyes adjusted to the dark.
“Was the slave, Anok Sabé still alive?” Lucius whispered, then glanced back to the top of the ruin. His heart sank when Augustinus turned away and disappeared from sight down the other side of the smooth stone.
“Nowhere to be found, that one,” Hortensius said. “It is possible death claimed him during the night.”
“Mayhap,” Lucius said quietly.
The soldiers wrapped rope into coils, lit torches, and hefted pilums.
“What plan of attack do you present, Lucius?” a
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