The Fateful Day by Rosemary Rowe

Author:Rosemary Rowe
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781780105932
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2014-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

My presence in the guardroom caused little interest today, though usually there was at least one octio to stare. Now all eyes were on the flamboyant messenger from the provincial governor in Londinium, who was already waiting on the bench when I arrived. Even when he had been shown up the steep stone staircase at the back, which led up to the commander’s offices, none of the junior officers gathered in the room so much as glanced at me. Instead, with one accord they stopped their calculations and their scribblings and seemed to be trying to will themselves to hear the interview – although, of course, that was impossible.

Nobody spoke, but there was an air of suppressed tension in the silence which ensued and I knew that every soldier there was wondering about what was happening upstairs and whether the messenger was bringing a request for military support for the provincial governor against the upstart emperor in Rome, thus forcing decisions about their loyalties.

If so, there could be battles here in Britannia soon.

However, I did not have very long to worry about this. After a few moments Villosus hurried back, now swathed in a handsome military cloak. He was accompanied by a sulky-looking youth in uniform, carrying a tuba – the long straight trumpet which the Roman army uses for signalling.

‘Citizen, if you would accompany us now?’ The auxiliary sketched a bow and opened the door for me to pass. His earlier diffidence had wholly disappeared. His voice was suddenly stentorian and he held his chin unnaturally high – almost pink with self-importance at having been selected for the current escort task. He swaggered proudly beside me to the gate, while the trumpeter trailed morosely after us. ‘Let us pass, please, sentry,’ Villosus almost barked, then seemed to notice that the man on duty was a full centurion, and therefore greatly his superior, of course. ‘We have an urgent mission to perform, special orders from the commandant himself,’ he added, in a more conciliatory tone.

Cerberus looked dispassionately at him, and then at the unwilling tubicen and finally at me. ‘Ah, you, citizen!’ he said, in a tone which made it clear whom he held responsible for this breach of discipline. ‘I should have guessed as much!’ He turned to Villosus. ‘Watchword?’ he demanded.

Villosus gave it – smugly – and the sentry moved aside, though I heard him muttering underneath his breath. ‘A tradesman, an auxiliary and a horn player – who else would be entrusted with an “important mission” by the commandant? The Empire has gone crazy!’ But he let us past.

It was strange to move out of the tension of the camp and into the normal hubbub of the town. The streets were still bustling with the business of the day, the inhabitants oblivious of the dreadful news from Rome. Our little party attracted some curious stares, of course – the young trumpeter in particular was an unusual sight – but people were too busy with their errands and their trades to do much more than gawp and nudge their neighbours as we hurried past.

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