To Spare the Conquered by Stephanie Plowman

Author:Stephanie Plowman [Plowman, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction
Published: 1983-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

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22

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Episode at Lincoln

The infantry auxiliaries had been actually parading for inspection before moving off to the south when the news reached Lincoln. It was a sunny afternoon, but here, at any rate, with a north-east wind sweeping in from the North Sea, bitterly cold. Cerialis addressed the assembled tribunes and centurions.

Well, gentlemen,’ he said briskly, ‘I think you all know that a message got here from Colchester half an hour ago. There’s been trouble in the south. The Iceni are in rebellion, the Trinobantes are joining in, and that’s probably only the beginning. I’m not over-hopeful about what’s happened at Colchester since the message was sent; my idea now, in view of the worsening situation, is to go down not only with auxiliaries, but with every man I can lay hands on, but it’s my duty, of course, to listen to any alternative suggestions you can make. But for God’s sake make them short and to the point!’

There was a brief silence; most of his hearers were still shocked by the news brought in so recently. The wind, rising outside, gave an eerie shriek; Cerialis sat like a rock, inwardly cursing the convention of holding a council of war, so much waste of time, useless, no, worse than useless, since most suggestions made in them verged on over-timidity. Well, he (Cerialis) wouldn’t follow a timid course, wouldn’t have to, either, for his centurions, he knew, were with him, and would outvote the tribunes — a queer lot, those, chiefly appointed because strings had been pulled in Rome.

‘Sir,’ said the senior tribune, ‘we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of trouble from the Brigantes.’

‘True,’ said Cerialis curtly, ‘but we happen to have a treaty with them, and on this occasion we have to hope they’ll honour their obligations.’

Another tribune said, ‘General, we’re here at Lincoln to keep an eye on the north. What happens in the south....’

‘Isn’t our business?’ flared the chief centurion, as eager to get off as Cerialis himself. ‘Not our business when the whole province is in danger?’ He turned to Cerialis. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘as you said, we can always expect trouble from the Brigantes, but you can expect far less than most. If respect for any man can make ‘em keep the peace, you’re the man, and we could get down to Colchester in half the time it would take the Governor.’

A senior centurion chimed in, ‘And why should it be the job of the Fourteenth and Twentieth to look after the southeast from Anglesey?’

The standard-bearer, the most laconic of men, stood up. ‘In any case, the Ninth’s in it already — if it’s not just a rumour about Gaetulicus being one of those who sent a warning from Colchester, and stayed there themselves, sir.’

‘It’s no rumour,’ said Cerialis, his eyes very hard. ‘He is there with the Chief of Staff, the chief centurion of the Second, and two hundred unarmed recruits the Procurator sent from London when asked for help.’

‘We could never lift up our heads

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