“Don’t worry, on that score, you’re pretty damn big. In fact, I’m amazed your nose isn’t bigger than his.”
Gallinas had laid on a sumptuous meal for the corps that evening, with amphorae of wine thrown in. It seems that my ploy had worked. We were now part of Trajan’s Dacian expeditionary force.
Later, after we had eaten and drunk rather more than we should, and Gaius and I had not used the tradesman’s entrance, we lay together on the ground in my tent. The bed was wholly too small for our combined sizes.
“Are you content?” he asked.
I smiled.
“About what?”
“What you have achieved.”
I nodded in the darkness, realised my mistake and so replied.
“I think so. I’m frustrated at how long everything takes.”
He was quiet for a while. I sensed he was trying to fathom out what I really was and from where I had come.
“Is your world very different?”
“Yes and no. People are people regardless as to from where or when they come. The technology is simply a means by which things can happen more expeditiously.”
“Do you have anyone waiting for you?”
“Gaius, please don’t go there. I’m here and that’s all you need worry about.”
“I’d like to know.”
“I don’t, all right? Now, please don’t bring it up again.”
“How long are you here for?”
“Until it is finished.”
I sensed him nodding in the dark this time.
“Look, I have no idea how long this will take, but I promise to tell you when I am going, all right?”
“Why can’t you stay?”
“I might. It all depends on things.”
“What sort of things?”
“The sort of things that I don’t know about until they happen. Now; enough, please!”
“Now that I have found you, I don’t want to lose you.”
“Hell, Gaius, have you changed that much? Where’s the cold-hearted Roman Killing machine?”
He stroked my hair.
“He’s found a woman who has exceeded all his dreams. I love you, Layla, and I never thought that I’d say that.”
I was silent, swearing to myself. Sex was a real complication, as was love. Was I falling for a man again?
Damn!
“Gaius, I’m not a stayer, I’m sorry.”
“I know that, but while you’re around, I’ll be right next to you.”
“That’s not the safest place to be.”
“Hey, I’ve been a soldier for so long, who the hell wants safe?”
“There’s probably a little woman out there who’d sell her eye teeth to be your wife.”
“Yeah? Well, I’ve news for you, while you’re around, what chance has she got?”
I gave up arguing.
“Don’t come running to me when it all goes sour.”
“I won’t.”
Chapter Thirteen
105 AD
Dacia
The Romans had crossed into this land a few weeks previously, for the third time. We, however, had remained, just to keep an eye on things.
This area had troubled Roman thought for over a decade with the unfavourable (and to some, shameful) peace negotiated by Emperor Domitian’s ministers with the powerful Dacian king Decebalus.
According to the provisions of this treaty, Decebalus was acknowledged as Rex Amicus, that is, client king; nevertheless, in exchange for accepting client status, he received a generous stipend from Rome, as well as being supplied with technical experts. The fact that the Dacian kingdom – unlike the Germanic tribes – was an organized state that could develop a network of alliances of its own made strategical considerations one of the motives for Trajan's decision to make war on it.
The first campaign had not been as decisive as Trajan had hoped or expected. The legions were mauled, yet managed to beat Decebalus to the point where he retreated from the battle at Tapae.
It had been a bloody encounter, in which the superior discipline and tactics of the Legions had given them a marginal success.
However, both sides left the battlefield to lick their wounds. Trajan retired back across the Danube to regroup and review his strategy.
So too, Decebalus took the opportunity to regroup. Indeed, he took the initiative in winter and, against the counsel of all Trajan’s military advisers (except me), the Dacian King counter-attacked across the Danube further downstream, supported by Sarmatian cavalry, forcing Trajan to come to the aid of the troops in his rear-guard.
My little corps of women had been used to good advantage in the first campaign, simply as spies. We were sent out in small groups, dressed as I was now, as local women. For most, this was a risk, for none could speak the language. So the policy was to only observe and avoid contact where possible.
We had been successful, bringing in useful intelligence so that the marginal victory was achieved when defeat was probably more likely. However, it only frustrated me, as we were capable of so much more than sneaking about spying on the enemy.
I was torn between actually getting stuck in as a military unit and undertaking my primary task - to locate and deal with the secretive archers. My main reason for holding back was that so far these archers had not shown themselves. I had to remember that the enemy were also able to study history, so could choose the most opportune moment to deploy.
It had been five years now since I had landed in Britain. The women’s corps was now two and a half centuries in strength and I had been promoted accordingly. Apart from occasional skirmishes, we had not really been deployed properly. Finally, we were given the opportunity to undertake what we trained for in the Battle of Adamclisi.
The Dacian invasion was repulsed after two battles in Moesia: in Nicopolis and Adamclisi. It was just before the latter that Trajan called for me personally.
He was feeling in a good mood, having defeated the enemy once, and was eager to finally complete the job.
I reported to him in his command centre, a requisitioned mansion close to the river.
He was dressed in his uniform, content with the trappings of war.
“Ah, Commander Layla, how are your girls?”
“Ready to go to work, sire.”
“Excellent, come here,” he said, moving across to a table upon which various maps were strewn.
He stabbed his finger at a place name – Adamclisi.
“This is where I want to finish this. I have a problem with some traitors who gather at Decebalus’ feet; some men who I sent to him in good faith to help him become a loyal servant of Rome. These men and others, deserters and more traitors stay in the promise of wealth and land from this man’s hand.
“They are building siege engines and ballistae to kill soldiers of Rome, and I need them stopped before we engage them in battle. I want you to infiltrate their lines, seek out these traitors and destroy these infernal machines.”
“And the traitors?” I asked.
“I want to make an example of them if at all possible. Bring me back as many as you can, but for those you cannot take captive then give them their just desserts.”
I saluted and turned to leave. He called me back.
“Tell me, how will you do this?”
“Professionally and thoroughly,” I said with a smile.
He grinned at me and waved for me to go.
The girls were excited, for finally we were to do what we wanted to do. This time we were all mounted and lightly equipped for speed and stealth. I had surveyed the area into which we were to venture, so knew the lie of the land. It was hilly and forested, so we planned to circulate to behind the enemy forces, to where the Emperors believed the enemy were collecting the heavy weapons.
The journey went smoothly, slow, but smooth. We rode in single file through the forest, along well-used tracks to come to the banks of a small river. On the other side we could see the encampment. It was my hope that I would find the archers here.
I split the party into two groups. Iona took one and I the other.