Bedrock of Empire by Thomas M D Brooke

Author:Thomas M D Brooke [Brooke, Thomas M D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

The journey back to the surface seemed to take even longer than the descent, and I almost screamed with relief when I was finally pulled free from the entrance by two strong slaves. They were different from the two who lowered me, and the sun was now low in the sky approaching early evening. I’d been down that pit into the bowels of the earth most of the day, and I had no wish to ever return. I knew now, without a shadow of doubt, that there truly were worse fates than death. I thought I’d seen the depths of human depravity in the heart of the Teutoburg forest, when the victorious German tribes sacrificed the Roman survivors to their bloodthirsty gods, but this horror under the rock and earth of the Gallaecian mountains ran it close. I shuddered in revulsion before greeting Blasius, who was waiting for me where I left him.

I coughed up some of the dust from the mine. ‘Sorry for keeping you so long.’

Blasius looked at my dirty and soiled tunic and filthy face. ‘Was it bad?’

I spat on the ground but decided against telling Blasius any details. What would be the point? It’d just increase his phobia and guilt. ‘Nothing I couldn’t handle. There was no trouble this side?’

He shook his head.

‘Good, go and tell the others that I returned safely. I’m just going to wait for Tomas.’

He gave a sad smile. ‘Glad to have you back, Cassius. I’m sorry about earlier.’

I dismissed it with a nonchalant wave of my hand. ‘You guarded my back whilst I was down there. That’s what I needed.’

He inclined his head and thanked me, but I could still sense the shame in him. Was there anything I could say to help him? I wasn’t sure. No words ever helped me.

He left me whilst I waited for Cadmus’ slave to come up the shaft.

Once Tomas arrived, we wandered down to the settlement, tired and exhausted. The heat of the mine had a draining effect. We passed through the stockade and reached the settlement at the bottom of the path. There was a large pool of water from a stream that ran near my rooms. On an impulse, I jumped in it. I was still fully clothed but I didn’t care. I needed to wash the filth and sweat of that place from me, and I was unconcerned what others thought of my actions.

Tomas stood by the side of the pool, his impassive face not betraying anything. ‘Would you like me to find Cadmus? So you can tell him your thoughts?’

I submerged my head and rubbed the filth from my hair before surfacing. ‘No, leave it for tonight. I’ll see him tomorrow. You can go now, Tomas.’

He nodded and motioned to leave, but before he did I told him, ‘And thank you, Tomas.’

He looked at me in surprise. ‘What for?’

‘For taking me down there. It can’t have been easy for you either.’

Tomas looked at me thoughtfully. ‘I’m used to it now, Quaestor.

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