Macro sighed softly. Such was the stuff of which his new command was made. He leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table as he addressed Fortunus. ‘Have the men moved into their barracks?’
‘Yes, sir. Just about.’
Cato had assigned them to the blocks closest to the stables, where the camp followers had been lodged, but Macro had a different view of arrangements.
‘Then herd ’em up to the barracks opposite headquarters. I want them moved there as soon as you are dismissed.’
Fortunus looked puzzled. ‘Move them? Again?’
‘That’s what I said. I want them where I can see ’em. And I don’t want them anywhere near that rabble in the stables until they are off duty. Even then, the men will sleep in their barracks. Is that understood?’
‘Yes, sir. But is it necessary?’
‘Are you questioning my orders, Centurion Fortunus?’
‘Of course not, sir.’
‘Then you will do as I say. This is an army outpost, not a bloody veterans’ colony. I want your men to act like proper soldiers, even if they fall rather short of being proper soldiers. That’s where Diodorus comes in. I have chosen him to help me knock them into shape.’
Fortunus bridled. ‘The Eighth Illyrian are a good unit, sir. We’re not raw recruits. You saw the battle honours on our standards.’
‘I did. So tell me, how recently were those awarded?’
Fortunus shifted his weight on to the other foot. ‘Before my time, sir.’
‘I see. Then when were you and your unit last in a fight?’
‘Back in Pannonia, sir. A few years before we were ordered to Britannia.’
Macro’s brow creased briefly in concentration. ‘I don’t recall hearing about any war in Pannonia.’
‘It was not a war as such. The cohort was ordered to quash an uprising, sir.’
‘Oh? Tell me more.’
‘There were some villages who refused to pay their taxes. We were sent in to restore order.’
‘So you knocked a few heads together, razed the odd building and so on, right?’
Fortunus flushed. ‘You could put it that way, sir. But as I recall, the locals were very hostile indeed.’
‘I dare say they were. Let me guess. They shouted insults at you and followed up with lobbing a few stones, or turds, and you chased them off.’
Fortunus opened his mouth to protest, then paused, thought a moment and pressed his lips together in a thin line.
Macro nodded. ‘Thought so. This is no place for a glorified town watch. We’re right on the frontier, facing an enemy who will fight to the last breath. And they’re wily buggers too. Somewhat more of a challenge than a bunch of surly taxpayers. The gods only know why some idiot at the imperial palace selected your unit to be sent to Britannia. Though it does explain why you’ve been kept back with the reserves. But you’re here now, and you have to be fit and ready to fight properly. I’ll see to that.
‘First thing you need to know is that I am far from happy that you’ve arrived with camp followers in tow. In different circumstances I wouldn’t have let them inside the fort. But being where we are, that would be tantamount to leaving them to the mercy of the enemy. So I am stuck with them. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be subject to the same discipline as the garrison. I want you to appoint a leader of the civilians. Someone reliable and preferably trustworthy. He will be responsible for seeing that they abide by the fort’s rules and regulations. Do you know any likely candidates?’
Fortunus and Appilus exchanged a look before the latter spoke.
‘What about Venistus? Most people look up to him.’
Fortunus nodded. ‘He’s the best man.’
‘Venistus it is, then,’ Macro announced. ‘You can break the good news to him and tell him to come and see me at once, so I can explain his duties.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Then I want a barrier set up across the fort to keep the civilians in their area. No one is to move to or from the civilian blocks unless they are on duty or have authorisation.’
‘Sir, some of the men have families . . .’
‘Not according to military regulations they don’t. The army does not allow marriage, or families, for rankers. Your men might need reminding of that.’
‘That may be true, sir, but it’s a long-established custom.’
‘Not in my fort it isn’t,’ Macro responded tersely. ‘And if they don’t like it, then they’re free to make their own way back to Viroconium.’ He sat up. ‘That’s all for now, gentlemen. You’re dismissed. Diodorus, stay behind.’
Fortunus and the others saluted, then left the office. When the door closed behind them, Macro turned his attention to Diodorus.
‘What do you think?’
The legionary’s expression remained neutral. ‘Sir?’
‘You’ve seen the officers and the men of the Illyrian cohort. Thoughts?’
‘If I may speak freely, sir?’
‘Please do.’
‘They’re a useless shower. They don’t march in step, they don’t look after their kit and they don’t look after themselves. Some of them are old enough to be my grandad, and others are young enough to be my son. Gods forbid, but if it comes to a fight, the only danger they pose is that the enemy may die laughing at the fucking spectacle presented by Centurion Fortunus and his men. Other than that, they’re a fine body of men who do the emperor proud, sir.’
Macro smiled. ‘My thoughts, more or less. They’re shockers right enough. But now they’re your problem, Optio Diodorus.’ He saw the brief flicker of confusion in the legionary’s eyes before the sestertius dropped. ‘That’s right, I’m giving you a field promotion. You know the drills. I want you to begin working the Illyrians from tomorrow. Get ’em fit first. Then move on to weapons training. I want Fortunus and his layabouts ready for action as soon as possible.’
‘You think we’re likely to be attacked, sir?’
‘More likely than ever, Diodorus. You can count on it that the enemy will know about the change in the garrison here. They’ll be aware that the fort’s strength has been reduced. Once the legate opens his campaign, they’ll also know that there will be no relief column marching to our aid from Viroconium in the event of an attack. It’ll be as good a time as any to try to take the fort.’
The optio nodded. ‘I see, sir.’
‘Then you’ll also see why we have to toughen the Illyrians up as soon as possible. Much as I like training soldiers, I’m not just doing it to keep myself entertained. If it comes to a fight, we need to know that Fortunus and his men can be relied upon. And that goes for the civilians, too. Any man there who is fit enough to train is to join the auxiliaries. Pray that we don’t need them. But if the enemy does try to seize the opportunity, then they’ll face as many swords as we can find to man the fort’s walls.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I’ll do what I can to help, but until I can get rid of this bloody crutch, it’s up to you to train those bastards. I think you’re the right man for the job, Diodorus, but do you?’
The legionary drew himself up to his full height. ‘I won’t let you down, sir.’
‘Glad to hear it. Dismissed!’
They exchanged a salute, and the newly appointed optio turned on his heel and marched out of the room. As Macro listened to his steps echoing through the main hall of the headquarters block, he smiled. This was what proper soldiering was about. Training men for war, and then, if need be, putting that training into practice. It was what he was born to do.
More footsteps approached the office, and one of the handful of clerks Cato had left behind knocked on the door frame and entered. He was carrying an armful of waxed tablets.