Chapter II
"Anger is a short madness." - Horace
I was late. I clutched my kit in my hand and ran. There was a dawn mist as I jogged along the road out of the city. I found my column without difficulty for we were in the van. Being late for the first muster of the march was a disaster. I thought back to Calvus telling me that he would be watching me and thought perhaps that I had now wrecked everything, by my tardiness.
'Veridius!'
The sound of my Optio's voice gave me a feeling of anger and frustration with myself, but I knew that even one second with Hypsicratea was worth a thousand field punishments.
'Decided to join us have you?' he glared at me, 'As Decurion you should have been here early to muster your men for the march. Perhaps you would be better as a ranker. It is possible to descend the ranks in this army as well as climb them!'
'Sorry sir, I had no means of knowing the time and I was delayed getting my stuff from the billet.'
'I told you to be ready in time. How a kid your age ever got promoted beats me. A few minutes more and I would have had you down for a deserter. What's her name?'
'Who?'
'There is only one thing that delays a good soldier from starting his duties apart from a hangover in my experience. Was it a good night?'
I looked him in the eye. I could not stop myself smiling, for an image of Hypsicratea as she was when we parted, came into my head.
'Yes,' I said, 'Wonderful.'
'Well this time, since you seem to be so in love, you can have the latrine duty when we make camp. You can supervise the men digging them and you can help fill them in when we leave. If that doesn't stop you thinking of her nothing will, clear?'
'Yes sir.'
'Join the column.'
It was a hard, long march that morning. Junius was on the other side of our column and in marching order; we were formed up four abreast. I had no chance to talk, except to Titus who marched on my left. I was disinclined to talk in any case. I was tired, having had no sleep and my heart was sore for Hypsicratea. As I scratched my unshaven face, I could smell her on my hands and I felt pain as I went over every second of the night before. It was grief in one sense but also a feeling of elation. I could not get the images to budge. She never left my thoughts.
'Damned wooden stakes,' Titus said, ripping me back to reality as we marched.
'What?'
'These damned wooden stakes we all have to carry for the camp wall.'
'What about them?' I said.
'I don't see why each soldier has to carry them. This one's rubbing me raw and it's heavier than that fellow's.'
'They can't go in the wagons. If the wagons were delayed or unable to go over rough ground, where would we be?' I said, 'we would end up making camp with no fortifications and be exposed to the Gods know what.'
'I know, but there's no harm in complaining. All soldiers complain. It's our duty,' smiled Titus.
'Maybe, but fighting off barbarians with no palisade is a whole lot more to complain about.'
'Well you might be right. Do you think we'll be fighting this time? I'm sick of guard duties.'
'Yes, Titus, we will be fighting. The Armenians have a huge army. There is a rumour that Lucullus wants to go on after and challenge the Parthians.'
'Parthians? Not with this lot, I can tell you. Most of them are veterans and close to retirement. I think they'll dig their heels in and refuse. If you were only a year off finishing your stint with the army, would you take on a long foreign campaign?'
'If I was ordered to, yes,' I said.
'I heard some of the lads say they weren't happy about this campaign let alone starting another one. Are all seven legions going to Armenia?' Titus said.
'Well one stayed behind in Sinope. One is going under Sextillius to harass the Armenian army as it forms and a third under Murena is due to move ahead and besiege Tigranocerta according to Calvus. We had a briefing two days ago and it looks as if the Armenians are drawing their army together at Taurus in the mountains and we hope to wrong foot them by arriving before they're fully mustered. That means we have five legions, cavalry and auxiliaries. Did you see the Thracian cavalry? Thousands of them, but only lightly armoured. I wouldn't like to be them, meeting Cataphractii. Our five legions will be enough anyway. A bigger army would be ungainly and hard to feed I think, but the General knows what he is doing.'
'I heard the Senate is against him.'
'Yes. I heard the same but they haven't recalled him so maybe they don't mind?'
'I suppose if they did recall him then we could avoid the mutiny.'
'Mutiny?' I asked.
'I told you, the lads don't want to fight and die so close to retirement. They could easily mutiny. Not our legion, the veterans who have been with Lucullus all the time, I mean.'
'I thought they loved Lucullus.'
'Aulus, you have a lot to learn about the army. In a tight spot they're very loyal but when it comes to pay or pensions they would kill anyone,' Titus said.
We marched on in silence. I thought about what he had said, in between ruminations of Hypsicratea. I wished I were in Sinope.
We stopped, rested, and ate around midday. It was a massive campsite. Almost seventy thousand men and horses and all in one place. The noise and bustle of the place was extraordinary. Junius and I made a fire and cooked wheat porridge, which is the main diet of soldiers on the march. It provides energy and there is little risk of dysentery.
I was eating when I saw a tall officer on his horse approaching us.
'Aulus Veridius?’ he said to no one in particular. I stood to attention and replied.
'That's me sir.'
'I'm Procillus your Tribune.'
'Sir,' was all I found to say for I was sure he was not there to pass the time of day.
'You are the Decurion?' he said frowning slightly, 'I was expecting someone older.'
'Aulus Veridius Scapula sir.'
'Any relation to Gaius Ostorius Scapula? I know a chap of that name. Jolly good chap he is. His father was a consul and he swore he'd become one too. Bit of a lad really.'
'No sir. Different Scapula I'm afraid.'
'Probably have to rub shoulder blades with lots of them then?' Procillus laughed at his own pun but I found it difficult to understand. His laugh was high pitched and it reminded me of a horse in pain.
'The commander has asked to see you. You and the other Decurion, oh, what's his name?'
'Junius Sinna was it sir?'
'Yes that rings a bell. Follow me will you.'
Procillus dismounted and walked his horse towards the area where the officers were resting and eating. Junius and I followed. We threaded our way through the camp between tents and men. The men raised their voices at times, laughing at others but the atmosphere was relaxed. We all knew it would be months before we fought the Armenians and soldiers seldom think that far ahead.
Procillus was a young man and like many tribunes in the Roman Legions had entered the army to further his political career. He had held the post of Aedile the year before being commissioned and during that time, had done much to earn the respect of the people of Rome.
He had re-built a library dedicated to Jupiter at the Forum Boarium and many ordinary people including me remembered his name.
He was tall and thin but there the resemblance to my cousin ceased. Procillus was pleasant, fair and had a sunny disposition. He smiled a lot and although he never let anyone take advantage of him, he was not a martinet.
When he had lived in Rome, he had attended every social function he could. He once told me that and I am sure he told the truth, for we all noticed he liked a drink and he was rarely alone at night unless we were on the march. I had no idea whether he would be a good leader in battle but that experience was yet to come.
Lucullus sat in front of a small tent and they had tethered his white stallion nearby to a tree. His sunburned face looked tired and there were dark lines under his eyes. A worried man seemingl
y. An Orderly was pouring the General wine, when Junius and I arrived. There was a bench in front of the table, at which he sat and he squinted against the sunshine as he looked up at us.
'We meet again, Decurions!' he said with a smile.
'Yes sir,' we said together standing to attention.
'You may stand easy men,' he said and indicated a bench in front of the table.
'Wine?' he indicated the Orderly to pour us each a cup of watered wine and dismissed him. He leant forwards on his elbows conspiratorially, across the table then looked over his shoulder at our Tribune.
'Procillus, you may go. Make sure there is no one within earshot of my tent, there's a good chap,' He looked back to us, 'You two didn't do very well last time I asked you to do something for me did you?'
'No sir,' I said reluctantly for I did not share his opinion but also knew it was useless to argue.
'Well I need some people who I can trust to do a little accommodation for me. Can I trust you?'
'Even if the result of the last mission was not as you desired, we were at all times trustworthy, sir.'
'Yes, quite. That was what I thought. I want to give you a chance to redeem yourselves by gathering information.'
'Information sir?'
'Yes, you see, the legions at my disposal are made up of older veterans, many of whom will have served their time in another year or so.'
'I think I know what you are going to say,' I said for it was after all, common knowledge that there was a degree of unrest in the legions. Titus had indicated as much.
'You do?'
'I presume you want us to find out if there is going to be a mutiny and pass on the information.'
'You're sharper than I thought, Decurion,' Lucullus said regarding me with a serious expression, which I dared not hope indicated respect.
'We can ask around, sir, but we're in the Ninth Legion and that is the one most recently arrived. There is no talk of sedition in our ranks at all. Some complain, but that is a soldier's lot I think.'
'Yes. I will authorise you to liaise with the other legions. You could form an inspection team or something like that. Can either of you write?'
'I can write well enough in Greek and Latin sir,' I said with pride.
'You seem to surprise me every time you open your mouth Veridius. I hear you are handy with your sword as well, according to Procillus. Something to do with a sword contest?'
'Yes sir, Meridius beat me in the final bout, but I think I was only lucky to get that far, sir.'
'He was a good man that.'
'Yes sir.'
'Very well, I will ask Procillus to accompany you on an inspection and you will be released from your normal duties for the time being.'
'Is that all sir?'
'Yes, you are dismissed. Oh and Veridius?'
'Sir?'
'I have heard other accounts of the fight in the alley which dispute the story I heard from your cousin. Do you want me to pursue it?'
'No sir. If you can overlook the outcome I see no point.'
'Very well, dismissed. Procillus!'
Junius and I walked back to where our cohort was resting. We had marched six hours and could look forward to at least another four hours march before we had to make our fortifications for the night's camp.
I found my Optio, explained that I was on special duty, and that I would unfortunately be unable to help with the latrines. He was less than pleased, but when I explained who had requested us, he had little choice.
'Why is it that every time we are confronted by a General you do all the talking?' Junius said.
'I suppose it is natural that the most educated and intelligent person should be spokesman,' I said, looking at my friend with mock seriousness.
'You what?' he said with a look of fury upon his usually smiling face.
'You fell for that one,' I said pointing at him with my index finger.
'I'll kill you by mistake one of these days if you make a joke like that again,' he shook his head as he spoke.
'Sorry, it was a poor joke. I suppose I end up doing the talking because I am better looking.'
He looked sideways at me and we both laughed. As ever, it relieved the tension we both felt, for neither of us relished the idea of spying on our fellow soldiers, even though we knew it was important.