This is to certify that the Silver Torque for Valor has been awarded to Legionary Titus Artorius Justus for valorous conduct…
…is hereby promoted to the rank of Decanus / Sergeant of Legionaries.
…awarded the Florian Crest for the elimination of the rebel leader, Julius Florus.
As a testament to the valor, fidelity, and superior leadership capabilities, Titus Artorius Justus is hereby promoted to the rank of Optio.
There were others, and it brought a sad smile to Diana’s face to read them. How could one who had given so much to Rome fall so suddenly? It sounded as if he had acted in self defense, to say nothing of protecting a stricken legionary. She then started shaking once more, fearing that there would be no justice for him. The world was a cruel, unforgiving place, and it was almost never fair or just. She finished tidying up, laid the scrolls reverently in his chest for safe keeping, and then walked over to his bed, suddenly very tired. She pulled the blankets back and lay down on her side, while still fully clothed. She pulled the pillow into her face, breathing in his familiar scent, and began sobbing uncontrollably.
Prince Klaes joined Tabbo this day as he headed towards the Rhine bridges once more. He had not seen the Romans for some time, not since Idistaviso. It was a cloudy morning, with a biting chill in the air.
“I take it my cousin was awestruck when she saw the legionaries from Flevum,” the prince said as they came to a clearing by the bridge.
“She said she did not know there was so much iron in the entire world,” Tabbo replied with a laugh. “I confess I still stop and stare when watching them on the march.”
“What I would like is to get my hands on a suit of their segmentata plate armor,” Klaes mused. “Granted it’s a bit heavy, but still the protection offered is excellent. It’s perfect for the type of close-in fighting we train for, don’t you think?”
“I suppose if I were ever struck in the torso or shoulders I would prefer to be wearing something that protected well,” Tabbo agreed. “I’ve never given it much thought, though. Even when we fight in close, I still like the flexibility that comes from not being encumbered by all that extra weight. Besides, you know our people could never afford to outfit even a fraction of our army like the Romans. We’ve always had to rely on more than just discipline and sound protective equipment.”
As they sat down on the hill, they were joined by a warrior named Olbert, who was a good friend to both men. Like Tabbo, he was also devoid of facial hair, though his face was marked by scars. Unlike most of the warriors in their tribe, he was bald, with just a trace of bristling hairs about the sides and back of his head.
“Watching the toy soldiers play, are we?” he asked as he knelt down next to them, an ever-present grin on his face.
“Studying them,” Tabbo replied. “And you would do well to do the same.”
“What for?” Olbert asked with a shrug. “My axe will cleave any one of them in half if need be.”
“I forget you’ve never witnessed the Romans in battle,” Klaes said with a sigh. “Even if you did manage to breach their shield wall, your axe would bounce off their armor if you tried to cut one in half.”
“Not to mention the man’s companions on either side of him would run you through,” Tabbo added. Olbert took his axe out and slammed it into a nearby stump.
“You two sound like a couple of old women!” he growled at them. “If you’re so scared of the Romans, then why not go down there and offer to suck their cocks, lest you provoke them!”
“Mind your tongue!” Tabbo retorted. “And don’t mistake respect for fear. Rome may not be our enemy, but it is still good to learn how they fight. We must never forget that it was only a generation ago that we faced them, and gods forbid should we have to again. I do not wish for us to suffer the same disastrous consequences.”
“This trial is now brought to order,” Master Centurion Calvinus spoke, his voice echoing throughout the hall. He was reading the formal charge brought forth by a magistrate named Pinarius, who was also present as the prosecutor. “The charge is that Optio Titus Artorius Justus did willfully commit the crime of murder against a superior officer; that he did so with malice and without sufficient provocation. He is further charged with gross insubordination by preventing his Centurion from exercising his right to discipline a legionary.” Calvinus looked as if his guts were being turned inside out.
From the report given to him by Vitruvius it was clear that Artorius had only acted in defense of a fellow soldier, and subsequently himself. Still, there was much that he did not know about the incident, and he needed to get all the facts out in the open before rendering a verdict.
Artorius stood in the barricaded stand at the center of the room, facing the tribunal. The Tribunes would act as a type of jury, giving their votes to his guilt or innocence to Apronius. While he could overrule a verdict of the Tribunes, to do so would reflect very badly on him, and the Governor General scarcely knew who Artorius was, other than he had won the Legion Champion tournament, fighting other legionaries in what amounted to a game with wooden swords. The Tribunes were all young politicians doing the required six months of compulsory military service that Rome demanded of them. Artorius did not know if they were out for justice, or if they would vote in whatever way seemed politically expedient. After all, since Fulvius had had friends in the Senate, it might do well for a young Tribune seeking a magisterial position to vote in the way particular senators wanted.
Master Centurion Calvinus was the only person on the tribunal that Artorius had any real faith in. However, he was a nonvoting member and was only there as an advisor. As powerful as he was within the army, the opinion of a Centurion Primus Pilus meant little to an Equestrian who was already looking ahead to the next step in his political career once his mandatory service was complete.
“I now wish to address the defendant before we move on to witnesses,” Pinarius said, to which Apronius nodded in approval.
The man stalked back and forth in front of the stand, like a wild beast mocking his prey. He was a weasel-looking man, slight of build and walking with a partial stoop; yet he seemed to somehow be able to turn his nose up at the Optio behind the short barricade. Artorius thought that it must have made the man feel good to wield power over one such as him. His expression seemed to cry out, all your muscles can’t save you now!
“Optio Artorius,” Pinarius said, not bothering to hide the disdain in his voice. “You have already confessed to the killing of your superior, Centurion Fulvius, and yet you wish for the court to believe that it was due to extenuating circumstances. Please do explain.”
“Centurion Fulvius was using excessive corporal punishment against a legionary…” he started to say before Pinarius cut him off.
“You speculate on what is excessive, but that is not your place!”
“The man was lying face down in a pool of his own blood,” Artorius retorted while trying to maintain his composure. “He’s been confined to the hospital for a month. If Fulvius had been allowed to continue, the man would be dead.”
“Are you a medic? Again, a presumption on your part,” the prosecutor retorted. “How are we to know that the Centurion, exercising what is legally his right, may I remind you, wasn’t finished exacting punishment before you barged in and assaulted him?”