forces with my sons-in-law after they inherit. Between us, we might yet put together a villa that will last.’
‘But if you fail to?’ Gaius breathed.
‘I won’t consider that till it’s upon me, which the God forbid. At worst, I’ll never do what too many broken curials have, slunk off under changed names and become underlings, even serfs. No, your old man will die a Gratillonius.’
‘I would help you if I could. I hope you know that, father. But … I’m bound afar, and what will happen to me I cannot foresee.’
‘Let’s go on,’ said Marcus. A while of walking passed until he remarked, ‘You’ve told me nothing but that you’re off to Gallia on a special mission for the Duke. Crossing the Channel before equinox – Did he give you the funds you’ll need to persuade a skipper to take you?’
Gaius smiled. ‘Better than that. A writ letting me commandeer a naval transport. And I mean to cross by the shortest way, from Dubris to Gesoriacum, where one can scarcely get lost in anything less than an oatmeal fog. Cutting out that hazard makes the added overland travel worthwhile.’
‘Then your march will take you through Londinium,’ said Marcus, also trying to lighten the mood. ‘Give the fleshpots a workout for me.’
Gaius shook his head. ‘We won’t stop after today, except for sleep. We’ve this breadth of Britannia to cross, and then it’s more than four hundred miles over Gallia, and … the task is urgent.’
Marcus squinted into the wind. Some distance off, Gaius’s legionaries had pitched their tents in a vacated field. That was all they had done, being too few for the labour of constructing a standard camp, but they haddone it properly. The leather was drawn so taut over poles and guys that the air got no purchase on it but must be content with flapping a banner.
Metal gleamed on statue-like sentries. Men detailed to camp chores were in plain tunic and trousers, but neat. The rest were outside in full battle dress, drilling. When they hurled their javelins, it called to mind a flight of bright birds. Tethered pack horses stood placidly, used to the sight, but the centurion’s mount and remount, more spirited, stirred as if impatient for action.
Tour tents,’ Marcus counted. Thirty-two men, eh? Not much.’
‘I chose them carefully, the best I have who aren’t bound to wives. Most are Britons; we’ll understand each other’s thinking. I didn’t order them to follow me but offered them the privilege of volunteering. They’re eager. Over-eager, maybe, but I think the march will shake them down into a crack unit.’
‘Still, I can hear in your voice you’d have preferred a larger force.’
‘Maximus sent direct word to my commandant that I was to have no more than this. He … can’t spare many.’
‘So I’ve been suspecting … But he obviously doesn’t expect you’ll meet serious opposition.’
‘No. Yonder fellows will be my bodyguards and, um, the presence of Rome. That should suffice.’
‘Where?’
‘Father, I’m not supposed to tell –’
‘Four hundred-odd miles of Gallia. Not south, because that’s where the main action will be. Also, your experience has been with Armorica, as Maximus must know. Westbound, you’ll fetch up at Gesocribate, or else fairly close. But Gesocribate already has an ample Roman presence. And I don’t think the Duke of the ArmoricanTract would welcome troops dispatched by the Duke of the Britains – certainly not before he knows which way the cat is going to jump. Therefore he’s doubtless not been informed, nor is he meant to get the news until too late for him to do anything about it.’ Marcus nodded. ‘M-hm. Your task is to secure a critical area and thus help assure that Armorica will stay safe – for Maximus.’
Gaius’s bark of laughter flushed a hare from a briar patch. It lolloped off as if a fox were at its tail. ‘Father, you’re too shrewd!’
‘I told you I get word from outside.’ Marcus Weakened.
‘But if you fail to?’ Gaius breathed.
‘I won’t consider that till it’s upon me, which the God forbid. At worst, I’ll never do what too many broken curials have, slunk off under changed names and become underlings, even serfs. No, your old man will die a Gratillonius.’
‘I would help you if I could. I hope you know that, father. But … I’m bound afar, and what will happen to me I cannot foresee.’
‘Let’s go on,’ said Marcus. A while of walking passed until he remarked, ‘You’ve told me nothing but that you’re off to Gallia on a special mission for the Duke. Crossing the Channel before equinox – Did he give you the funds you’ll need to persuade a skipper to take you?’
Gaius smiled. ‘Better than that. A writ letting me commandeer a naval transport. And I mean to cross by the shortest way, from Dubris to Gesoriacum, where one can scarcely get lost in anything less than an oatmeal fog. Cutting out that hazard makes the added overland travel worthwhile.’
‘Then your march will take you through Londinium,’ said Marcus, also trying to lighten the mood. ‘Give the fleshpots a workout for me.’
Gaius shook his head. ‘We won’t stop after today, except for sleep. We’ve this breadth of Britannia to cross, and then it’s more than four hundred miles over Gallia, and … the task is urgent.’
Marcus squinted into the wind. Some distance off, Gaius’s legionaries had pitched their tents in a vacated field. That was all they had done, being too few for the labour of constructing a standard camp, but they haddone it properly. The leather was drawn so taut over poles and guys that the air got no purchase on it but must be content with flapping a banner.
Metal gleamed on statue-like sentries. Men detailed to camp chores were in plain tunic and trousers, but neat. The rest were outside in full battle dress, drilling. When they hurled their javelins, it called to mind a flight of bright birds. Tethered pack horses stood placidly, used to the sight, but the centurion’s mount and remount, more spirited, stirred as if impatient for action.
Tour tents,’ Marcus counted. Thirty-two men, eh? Not much.’
‘I chose them carefully, the best I have who aren’t bound to wives. Most are Britons; we’ll understand each other’s thinking. I didn’t order them to follow me but offered them the privilege of volunteering. They’re eager. Over-eager, maybe, but I think the march will shake them down into a crack unit.’
‘Still, I can hear in your voice you’d have preferred a larger force.’
‘Maximus sent direct word to my commandant that I was to have no more than this. He … can’t spare many.’
‘So I’ve been suspecting … But he obviously doesn’t expect you’ll meet serious opposition.’
‘No. Yonder fellows will be my bodyguards and, um, the presence of Rome. That should suffice.’
‘Where?’
‘Father, I’m not supposed to tell –’
‘Four hundred-odd miles of Gallia. Not south, because that’s where the main action will be. Also, your experience has been with Armorica, as Maximus must know. Westbound, you’ll fetch up at Gesocribate, or else fairly close. But Gesocribate already has an ample Roman presence. And I don’t think the Duke of the ArmoricanTract would welcome troops dispatched by the Duke of the Britains – certainly not before he knows which way the cat is going to jump. Therefore he’s doubtless not been informed, nor is he meant to get the news until too late for him to do anything about it.’ Marcus nodded. ‘M-hm. Your task is to secure a critical area and thus help assure that Armorica will stay safe – for Maximus.’
Gaius’s bark of laughter flushed a hare from a briar patch. It lolloped off as if a fox were at its tail. ‘Father, you’re too shrewd!’
‘I told you I get word from outside.’ Marcus Weakened.
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