The Imperial Coin Maker by Anthony Watt

Author:Anthony Watt [Watt, Anthony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wotco
Published: 2020-06-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

When the slaughter in Alexandria finally ended, we left our underground refuge and made our way carefully to the fleet. My group, now comprising Adela, Testudo and the remaining apprentices, had little difficulty reaching the Great Harbour. Josephus had assembled a group of thirty well-armed zealots, who shepherded us through the devastated Jewish quarter. Adela was by now dressed as an auxiliary, posing as a man to ensure her safety. The captain of the Isis welcomed me back aboard; once I was settled, he weighed anchor and followed the ponderous larger ships to Ostia. The prevailing winds aided our swift return, after which we made the three-day journey overland to the Legion’s permanent headquarters.

Sited to the north of Rome itself, the headquarters were immediately busy re-equipping and re-provisioning. It was anticipated that an expedition north towards Germania would set off soon. Almost immediately, I received a visit from Varus. He asked that everyone else leave the tent the apprentices had hastily erected. Noticing the auxiliary loitering in the background, he called.

‘You. Find my guard outside and have them stand watch, ensuring that there is no-one listening. Then be off yourself.’

The ‘auxiliary’ did as she was bid, before returning to the tent, then standing to attention. Though I could not see it, I imagined a smile on her face at receiving his peremptory commands.

‘All is arranged, sir,’ she said. ‘I believe, however, Carisius desires my presence.’

As he prepared to show his anger, Varus noticed that the auxiliary had removed her leather cap. He smiled grimly then.

‘Carisius no doubt desires more than your presence, Germani. Join us, then. But do not stand behind me.’

‘Afraid of assassins, general?’ I said.

‘Assassins, spies, Imperial poisoners, Germani, Parthians… and Armenians. Only a few who might desire my death. There is news within the camp of Caracalla’s military plan. The emperor intends to travel north to Rhaetia, close to Germania, where the tribes have broken through Roman lines and slaughtered whole garrisons.’

He noticed, as did I, that Adela reacted to this news. Her eyes widened; her cheeks reddened. He went on, no doubt to elicit a further reaction to her. ‘You know where that is, Carisius? To the south of Greater Germania?’ Again, he looked at Adela whose face had flushed more obviously. Her face was more animated than I had ever seen. At that time, I did not understand why.

‘He intends to put an end to the Rhaetian uprising. He enjoys exerting and then extolling what he calls his military prowess, particularly after the success against an enemy of helpless Egyptian merchants and politicians. Whether he will find the natives of Germania so easy to subdue is open to debate. There is more. Two things.

‘The emperor has become obsessed, with the Great Alexander, as indeed did Julius Caesar himself. He believes himself to be the reincarnation of the Macedonian conqueror. He has begun to dress and speak in that manner. Do you realise what this might mean for you? With your gift from Julia Domna? He may have forgotten its existence, for now.

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