The Eagle's Vengeance Read Online Free PDF Page A

repair to the transit barracks for a more private discussion?’
    He peered past Scaurus at the five men behind him, and the tribune turned and raised a hand to invite them forward.
    ‘My apologies, I was distracted by being greeted off the ship by a colleague of such distinction. Allow me to introduce the First Tungrian Cohort’s first spear, Julius, and my aide, Centurion Corvus. Julius is my intended temporary replacement in the event of any mishap, and Corvus would in turn step up into his boots as senior centurion should the need arise, which is why I tend to take them everywhere and make sure that they know everything I know. As to the others, this is Centurion Dubnus, the long-haired gentleman is my slave and bodyguard, Arminius, and the centurion bowing the gangplank under his weight is Titus, the commander of my pioneer century.’ He turned back to the mist-covered waters. ‘And since I’m guessing it will take several hours for my command to straggle into port, I’ll leave the last three here to make sure that our men are handled appropriately when they stagger off the transports. As you suggest, let us decamp to somewhere both private and a little warmer?’
    Turning away from the dockside he shot a hard glance at the German, raising an eyebrow and staring significantly at the heavy chests that were being craned over the warship’s side with ostentatious care by the crew. As each one touched the quayside a party of six heavily built men attached thick ropes to its carrying rings and hauled it over to where another half-dozen marines were guarding those that had gone before it, their demeanour that of men who knew how painful life could get were they to fail in their duty, and all conducted under the watchful eye of the close-lipped official who had accompanied them across the ocean. The camp prefect led them across the dock and into the fortress that loomed over it, walking swiftly to a transit barrack from whose chimneys lines of grey smoke were rising. Once they had taken off their cloaks and gone through the usual ritual of warming their hands at the glowing stove while the camp prefect thrust another log into its cherry-red belly and bid them to take their seats, Scaurus addressed the subject that had been raised at the quayside with the same note of concern in his voice.
    ‘So tell me, gentlemen, now that we have our privacy, is your news bad? Legatus Equitius was both a colleague and a friend to all three of us, and a good man besides.’
    Prefect Castus looked to his colleague, who merely shook his head and beckoned him to continue with the tale.
    ‘You’re wondering if the legatus has been killed? It’s nothing that simple …’ He took a seat before continuing, gesturing to the other men to make themselves comfortable. ‘This will take some telling. You’ve been away in Germania for what, a year or so?’
    Scaurus nodded.
    ‘Fifteen months. My cohorts’ initial mission to Tungrorum in Germania Inferior resulted in our being sent halfway across the empire to Dacia in defence of an imperial goldmine. It’s taken us half a year to make it back here, mainly due to the Danubius freezing solid for the best part of two months.’
    Castus smiled knowingly, winking at Sorex.
    ‘Ah, there it is, just as I told you, Fulvius Sorex, Pannonia in the winter. Did you lose any men to the cold?’
    Julius nodded, his face hard with the memory.
    ‘A few, until we learned not to put sentries out after dark during the worst of it.’
    ‘Yes indeed. Anyone foolish enough to make a move on you under such conditions would be stiff as a plank themselves long before they were in position to attack. But I digress. Suffice to say that a lot has happened in Britannia while you’ve been away. The Brigantes’ rebellion south of the wall was suppressed easily enough, given that the tribes to the north had been put down so hard before it started. I believe you played some part in that?’
    ‘We had a hand in it. Do