That kept her busy for several hours. I rested, thinking. So far, so good; I was still alive and in the custody of someone I knew would take me to London and then to Rome.
I needed to be in London, but not as a slave or captive. I needed a degree of freedom to move freely in order to discover the enemy recruiting agent and training camp. Our agent had pulled out, unwilling to go back in, so I simply had the date of his death to aim for; so I had less than four weeks to work a miracle.
I had two disadvantages: one, they would be expecting the corps to send an agent, and two, I had no real idea of where or who I was looking for. I had two advantages: one, I was female, and they would not be looking for a female, and two, I was a real figure in history, so they would be looking for anonymous persons as would be standard operating procedure. I was not standard, in all sensed of the word.
Our clothing, when finished would win few prizes in Milan or Paris, but they were functional and more or less covered us. Most on the Roman males wandered around showing most of their legs, but women didn’t and wouldn’t until the 1960s.
For two days we were left alone. They fed us and provided water. Once a day, one of the criminals from down below came up under supervision and removed our waste bucket, returning it a few minutes later emptied and rinsed out.
On the third day the sun came out and the Roman garrison were activated into training drills. I watched their infantry train. It was fascinating, for given the restrictions of weapons and technology generally, their discipline was superb. Those in charge gave very few shouted orders, as everything was done to either drum beats or trumpet calls.
I had to admire their efficiency, so there was little wonder that the mighty Roman army had conquered the known world.
At midday, Gaius turned up when the food was brought to us.
“How do you fare?” he asked, as the spotty soldier placed the food on the floor.
“We’re fed and watered, but bored to death. What are you going to do with us?” I asked.
“The Tribune would interrogate you further to discover how it is you speak our tongue and can beat the finest man in the cohort.”
“For what end?” I asked.
“I think he believes he can profit by your skills in some way. He still smarts from your insults.”
“I never insulted him. I simply answered the questions and spoke the truth as I saw it. If he took hurt that’s his problem.”
“You talk like a soldier, and yet your appearance is disconcerting. You speak our language as well as the patricians in Rome, and yet you are as different to what they would have women be as you could get. Are you truly from these festering isles?”
“The inhabitants of these isles will eventually give the world an empire to rival and even surpass that of Rome. But you surmise correctly, I am not native born here.”
“Where are you from?”
I smiled.
“I am not from here and now, but as I am here and now, I will make the best of things.”
“You talk in riddles, woman,” he sounded cross.
“I do not mean to upset you, Gaius, but you would neither understand my answers nor know what questions to ask of me. Just accept that I am here, and you need never fear me, for I am not a threat to the Empire, or to you.”
He glanced at Iona.
“Who is this woman?”
“She is my friend and companion. I trust her with my life.”
“Is she from the same place as you?”
“No, neither was she born to the tribe that you faced. She was taken as a wife and is now a widow, courtesy of your recent action. She has nowhere else to be, so she has decided to stay with me.”
“Are you lovers?” he asked.
“And if we are?”
“I would say it would be a shame and a waste of two beautiful women, but I understand. In Rome, there are few hindrances to men who love men and women who love women. But being a woman is not like here, I think. Men like to feel they control all their daughters and wives. They might rule inside their homes, but in public life, women have no standing to speak of.”
“Even the empress?”
“An empress is only powerful while her husband grants her that freedom; it can be removed in a moment.”
“I am not an empress.”
“What are you?”
I met and held his stare.
“I am a soldier.”
He laughed, nodding.
“Yes, I can believe that. But as in all armies, there are those that lead and those that follow. I don’t see you as a follower.”
“All armies have generals and then those responsible for ensuring the generals’ commands are fulfilled and realised. Like you, I am one of those who do just that.”
“To which army do you belong?”
I smiled.
“That depends on where I am at the time.”
He laughed again, shaking his head this time.
“Pah, more riddles. Come, I will take you to my general.”
Gaius and two soldiers escorted me from the gaol and into a courtyard, where the two soldiers left. I was interested that my passage from there to here caused a great stir amongst the soldiers who saw us pass. Iona’s needlework was making its mark.
“Are you sure he will be safe enough with my hands free?” I teased.
Gaius simply grunted, as Tribune Gallinas put in an appearance in the courtyard.
“Remain, Gaius, if you would. I believe you might have some valuable comments to make,” he said, as he sat on one of the stone benches. He gestured to another, so Gaius sat, looking distinctly uncomfortable.
The Tribune was wearing a very plush white tunic with purple and gold trim, to denote his high rank. His quarters were luxurious compared to many that I had stayed in as a US Marine in the future.
He regarded me, taking in my short tunic-style dress.
“You look more presentable, but hardly the height of fashion. I doubt your clothes would be accepted in Rome.”
“I don’t wear clothes to be fashionable, but to be functional.”
He smirked.
“I would never doubt that. I have had time to consider you and your presence. I now need to decide what to do with you. What would you suggest, Gaius?”
Gaius started, taken by surprise.
“Well, she is not going to be of much value as a serving wench, so to sell her into slavery would probably end in tears, and not hers. She has displayed some keen combat skills that we might find useful. She obviously possesses some outstanding military leadership qualities, as the band of women were effectively recruited and trained within a few short weeks and yet gave us a run for our money. I would respectfully suggest that you consider giving her command of an auxiliary unit to augment our forces. I’d rather have her fighting on the same side than against me.”
I was surprised, as he had obviously given this some degree of thought. As I thought about what he said, it dawned on me that this was one of the Romans’ more enlightened policies. Often, after conquering a people, they would recruit their best surviving fighters into the Roman army as specialists. They would serve under a lengthy contract in lieu of tribute as a conquered people. Instead of paying Rome substantial sums for the joys of being defeated, the tribe or nation would simply provide soldiers to Rome for a lengthy period.
At the end of which, as befitting all soldiers of Rome, those who served their term would be made Roman citizens, so establishing and legitimising them within the Empire. Those who died in service would know their dependents would receive their citizenship and be relatively secure financially.
The Tribune considered this for a few moments.
“I had a similar thought, but I had also thought of the circus.”
“I agree, she would make an outstanding gladiator, but consider this, sir. Do you want her skills on public display for all to see, or would you rather they were retained and put to use for the glory of the empire?”