The conquest of Gaul
- Автор: Turney S. J. A.
- Серия: Marius mules #1
- Год: 2011
- Язык: голландский
- Жанр: Исторические приключения
Электронная книга - «The conquest of Gaul». Краткое содержание книги:
“And what did you do then?”
Fronto grimaced.
“I suppose I just shut up. Velius definitely knew what he was doing and I think I was really in far over my head. If you know Velius, you’ll know that if he’s right it doesn’t do to argue.”
Procillus frowned and glanced sideways at Velius.
“I’d not met him before.” He gestured at Velius. “You honestly talk like that to a senior officer.”
Fronto smiled as Velius growled gently.
“Only when I deserve it.”
Balbus cleared his throat.
“I used to worry about Velius’ attitude but I think now that it’s people like him that are the main reason the army works. He’s quite reasonable when you get to know him.”
Procillus shrugged.
“I try not to judge anyone on a first impression. That’s just stupid. After all, if I did that I’d never have invited Mettius to a drink. Look at him. Looks like he fell off an aqueduct and landed on his face.”
Marcus Mettius grunted.
“At least I’m not effeminate.”
Balbus spluttered over his drink.
“Effeminate?”
Mettius grinned.
“He once got dragged off the street into a house and nearly got a nasty surprise on the Aventine.”
Fronto smiled at the two. He’d not met them before, though he’d seen them a few times at staff meetings. They seemed to be quite reasonable for high-class Senatorial officers. Fronto leaned forward in his chair.
“So you two are to be Caesar’s spies then?”
Procillus put his finger to his chin.
“Spy is an ugly word, Marcus. We’re information gatherers, scouts, observers and, at times, diplomats.”
Fronto smiled.
“Perhaps. Caesar seems to think that the two men camped on the other side of the stream are German ambassadors and I tend to agree. He thinks that Ariovistus sent them to apologise and set up a new meeting. I don’t think Ariovistus cares enough to apologise. To my mind, the only reason those two haven’t crossed the dip and come to see us is because they’re worried about whether they’ll be murdered by the soldiers as soon as they do.”
Balbus nodded sagely.
“They’re right, too. The Eighth are ready to tear the Germans limb from limb. I can only imagine how your boys feel, Marcus. I don’t know why Caesar wanted the five of us here, but I think we’ll all be summoned any time now to go see them. If I were the General, I’d send them back with no communications, but he doesn’t think like that. I think you two are going with them.”
Procillus and Mettius glanced at each other and then at their companions.
“Look. We’re going as ambassadors. We can observe and scout while we’re there, but we’re just ambassadors. I can speak three or four different dialects of Gaulish and German, and Mettius has stayed with Ariovistus years ago when we were first in contact with him.”
Fronto nodded, smiling.
“I thought I hadn’t seen the two of you much during the campaign so far. You were pointed out to me yesterday and I didn’t even know you. So have you been creeping around among the enemy all this time, or have you just been being nondescript and hiding among the staff waiting until you were needed?”
Procillus’ face took on a serious slant for a moment.
“Marcus, be very careful. I know you’re only joking, but what we do is very serious, very useful and very, very above board. We’re ambassadors, remember? Nothing more and nothing less.”
Fronto nodded.
“I didn’t mean to wind you up. I’m just intrigued. I’d expected Labienus or Brutus or maybe even Sabinus to do it if there were any more talking.”
Mettius opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the General’s voice from outside.
“Gentlemen.”
As the five of them filed out of the tent, Caesar, astride his white charger and wearing his scarlet cloak, smiled at them.
“Let’s go and make life uncomfortable for Ariovistus.”
The six officers made their way down across the stream and up the other bank to where the two German riders sat patiently waiting. Caesar dismounted and stood among his officers.
“Speak.”
Ariovistus’ men shared a private look and then one of them cleared his throat.
“King Ariovistus want new meeting. Want Roman General to come.”
He sat back in his saddle and made a gesture indicating that he had finished. Caesar shook his head, a stern look on his face.
“After the last conference and the German treachery of breaking a truce I am disinclined to meet with him again except on the field of battle.”
The German looked puzzled.
“King want Roman General to come.”
Caesar sighed.
“I am willing to send ambassadors to speak to your King and to make one last attempt to resolve this peacefully.”
Fronto smiled inwardly. There was no hope and indeed no desire to resolve this peacefully. Caesar had always wanted war and all visible attempts at diplomacy had been just one ruse after another to buy time or to boost morale. He wondered what the General’s ulterior motive was this time. Something that revolved around his two ‘scouts’. Caesar indicated the two with a sweeping gesture of his arm.
“I will send two of my staff. Gaius Valerius Procillus speaks your language and Marcus Mettius was once a guest of your King beyond the Rhine. They may speak for me. If there is a way to end this peacefully and acceptably, they will achieve it. I need to discuss a few matters here, but they will set off shortly. Please be good enough to go and inform your King of their imminent arrival.”
The Germans nodded and, wheeling their horses, galloped off to the north east. Caesar turned to face the officers.
“We need to give them a little bit of a head start. Mettius? Procillus? You know what you have to do. Fronto, Balbus and Velius, you are going follow them with an honour guard of cavalry. I don’t want to provoke an incident yet and I don’t want a skirmish, so I’m only sending twenty men with you. See them safely to the German camp and then leave them alone.”
Fronto frowned at Caesar.
“Shouldn’t Longinus and his men be doing this?”
The general smiled.
“I’ve got other tasks for Longinus right now and the Tenth will make a good honour guard. They were the reason the last conference collapsed, and the Germans have to be aware of that. By all rights they should expect you to go a little mad and kill a few of them. Your presence should discomfit them and I like that.”
Balbus frowned now.
“Why me, Caesar? I’ve nothing to do with the Tenth.”
“But you are a level-headed tactical officer and that’s an attribute that, for all his ability, Fronto sometimes lacks. Go with Fronto and Velius to the camp of the Tenth and pick twenty cavalry who look glorious and have good records. As soon as you’re ready, pick up Procillus and Mettius from the praetorium and get going. Any questions now?”
Fronto and Balbus looked at each other and grumbled, but there was no point in arguing with the General when his mind was made up.
As they wandered off toward the Tenth, Balbus shrugged.
“Pointless.”
Fronto gritted and ground his teeth.
“Not just pointless, but dangerous too. Two senior commanders and a high-ranking centurion just to baby sit ambassadors on the road? It’s asking for trouble.”
Balbus shook his head.
“Not trouble. You heard what he said. There’s to be no skirmishing or trouble. We’re just an honour guard.”
As they crossed the rampart, Fronto shouted to the primus pilus.
“Priscus, get twenty clean and neat men on horseback as soon as you can and send them to the praetorium.”
Priscus raised an eyebrow.
“Just do it.”
A glimpse at the look on Fronto’s face brooked no further argument. Priscus nodded and dashed off into the camp.
Five minutes later, as they stood in the praetorium with Mettius and Procillus, the Tenth Legion cavalry escort arrived, leading their horses. Priscus had done well. Fronto recognised a number of them and knew their courage, but they were also smart, right down to the crests on their helmets.