The Emperor's Blood (e-novella) by Hume M. K

Author:Hume, M. K. [Hume, M. K.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2015-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER V

An Unexpected Trickery

We live, not as we wish to, but as we can.

Menander, The Principal Fragments

Before midday, the troop had left Cabillonum at a ground-devouring canter. Behind the horsemen, a light wagon was making good time, although it was burdened by a covered object that had excited considerable curiosity among the mixed Roman and British column that was following the captain. The men were replete with good food and beer. One wag suggested that the doomed men had eaten a last, hearty meal, but he had been howled down by his friends. The men’s spirits were high, in response to Conanus’s obvious satisfaction and the resolution in Andragathius’s eyes that promised that a hated enemy was about to die.

The lower ranks amused themselves with gossip about their superior officers and no man was a more favoured subject than Andragathius. His undoubted ability on the battlefield had been mitigated by his lowly birth and his devotion to Flavius Magnus Maximus, another brilliant strategist who was ruled unworthy by the aristocratic classes whose offspring dominated the promotional processes. The cavalrymen felt sympathy for their captain, although his manner could be abrasive, demanding and ruthless.

‘He’s one of us,’ one man from northern Gaul pointed out to his fellows. ‘But he’s got a temper on him and I wouldn’t willingly try his patience.’

‘And nor would I,’ one of the Britons responded. ‘He’s a hothead all right, but there’s no man I’d rather follow into a tight spot, even a suicidal pursuit like this one.’

As the cavalcade was riding in almost-companionable harmony, Conanus attempted to extract some information from his commander concerning his intentions. The night had found the Briton unable to sleep as he fretted over the strange wagon, his leader’s secretive habits and the impossible odds they would face when Gratian was before them.

‘I’m not quite ready to give you the details of my plan, Conanus. However, I’ll be able to tell you everything when we reach some high, protected place where we can overlook Gratian’s camp and develop my strategy. I’ll explain all you need to know when we get there, so have some patience. I’m still considering the finer points of how we’re going to complete this mission and extricate ourselves.’

He grinned boyishly and showed his friend an uncharacteristic streak of his humour.

‘At that point, you’ll be able to consider the whole plan for yourselves.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Good!’ Andragathius clapped his junior officer on the shoulder. ‘For my part, I’ll be content if I die after we’ve killed Gratian. If I do perish, ensure that you lead as many of our lads back to Maximus as possible and tell him the good news in person. While we’re on this subject, I have one last task that I want you to carry out for me. Check that our fat informant in Cabillonum kept to his word. You’ll know what to do if the vows of Septimus were false and he has taken revenge on his guards.’

‘You’re not planning to leave me out of this adventure, are you?’ Conanus asked suspiciously.

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