Hostile Territory by Jerry Autieri

Author:Jerry Autieri [Autieri, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

15

Varro stood before Consul Cato’s command tent, staring at two burly guards he had never seen before. He even wondered if these men were from the legion or local brutes fitted with Roman helmets and given Roman gear. Their impassive eyes met his, but they did not move. Instead, they held their spears at rigid attention.

As the sun set, the camp remained active. The reunion of weary men to their home units made for a minor celebration. The count of the dead and injured dampened this mood, but Varro still heard laughter and animated conversations echoing in the cool evening air. A heavy stench of cabbage emanated from within Cato’s tent.

Having been summoned alone, and having not yet seen Curio, Varro knew his fears were about to be realized. His only consolation was that he had no legitimate way out of what he expected next. He had led the column back in triumph, been greeted by Tribune Manius and Consul Cato, and provided a debrief to them. By now he had gone so long without sleep that he no longer felt tired.

His hesitation drew a frown from one guard, who then pulled aside the tent flap to allow Varro entrance.

He ducked into a warmly lit space, where Consul Cato sat at his desk as if he had never moved since the last summons. He had stacked a pile of wax tablets to his right side to show he had reviewed these, while a smaller stack sat to his left. The consul looked up from his reading, the lamp on his desk casting a thick light over the folds and dips of his face. His expression of disgust at least flattened out when he addressed him.

“Centurion Varro, please enter and be at ease. We’ve important matters to discuss.”

Varro stepped into the tent and the scent of boiled cabbage filled his nostrils. A plain bronze bowl sat beside the tablets with a wooden spoon sitting in the remains of a cloudy broth. Cato pushed it away as if someone would clear it, yet only he and Varro were in the tent.

“I must congratulate you again, Centurion. You handled the barbarians magnificently. Centurion Longinus made it clear that he is only alive through your heroic efforts. Truly, such daring is rare in the ranks.”

“Thank you, sir.”

His mouth was tacky and his stomach burned. Cato seemed genuine in his praise, making the next moments even more terrifying for him.

“Well, time for your report. You have brought the results of Tribune Galenus’s investigation?”

“Yes, sir.” Varro looked around. “But I thought Tribune Manius would be present?”

Cato waved the slate in his hand before setting it down.

“Once you share your findings, we can review them with him if necessary. Please, we have only limited time.”

Varro cleared his throat and produced the wax tablet that contained his summary of the investigation. He set it with a soft clack on Cato’s desk, but the consul did not move to touch it.

“Sir, a triarius by the name of Placus under

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