Gods in Londinium by John Drake

Author:John Drake [Drake, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2022-11-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

The headquarters of the Twentieth Legion’s fort was its principia. It was strongly built in heavy Roman architecture, because Romans lack imagination to build any other way. So the principia stood within high walls, centred on a massive, multi-storey block, and was approached through a fortified gatehouse, beneath a statue of the emperor with the letters LEG XX picked out in gold leaf beneath his imperial majesty’s feet.

On the evening of the day when Morganus and I interrogated Blephyrix, we were standing in the principia’s assembly hall, with the legate Africanus and his legionary officers, plus officers of cavalry and auxiliaries, each unit with its note-takers. Also there were liaison officers from the other Britannic legions, and every soldier present was in battlefield kit, not parade armour.

At sunset large, multi-flame lamps were lit by orderlies, then hoisted up on lines to enable work to continue into the night. Such was the urgency of the occasion, such was Roman efficiency in the face of a vital need for late work, that all present had already listened to a report from Morganus of our investigations.

“I thank you, Leonius Morganus Fortis Victrix,” said the legate Africanus, when Morganus was done. “The army is grateful to you, for all that you, in your diligence, have learned.”

He did not even mention me.

Then he went to a huge map of Britannia, which hung from hooks. The map showed towns and cities, roads and rivers, mountains and tribal areas, and icons representing formations of Roman troops. The icons were pinned to the map, so they could be moved as the troops moved. Also, the map showed the boundaries and capitals of the Celtic client kingdoms.

There were seven of these: semi-autonomous tribal states, ruled by their own laws under their own monarchs, each monarch living in a palace built to Roman standards of luxury. These kingdoms were encouraged by Rome, as a demonstration to the Celtic aristocracy of the excellent rewards for good behaviour, as opposed to the slaughter that would fall upon them if they rebelled. So the client kingdoms flourished, as long as they kept within strict borders and raised no armies. That was Rome’s policy for the tribes, and it had worked since Boudicca. But now things were changing. So Africanus took up a long white rod, and pointed to the map.

“We are here,” he said, “the Twentieth Legion, at Londinium with auxiliaries and cavalry.” The pointer moved high up the map. “The Fourteenth Legion, with cavalry and auxiliaries, is here by the city of Deva on the river Dee, which is ten days’ march from Londinium.” The pointer moved on. “Further north, the Second Legion is at Eboracum, six days’ march from Deva.”

He paused and looked around. “And so to Maligoterix,” he said, and there was angry murmuring. “Maligoterix,” said Africanus, “high druid of all Britannia, safely hidden for many years … here!” The white rod tapped the tribal kingdom of the Regni, forty miles south of Londinium. “We are informed,” he said,

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