Decimus nodded and silently went to rouse the rest of the section. Artorius was immediately alert and raced to Valens’ side without taking time to don his helmet. He signaled for Gavius and Magnus to hide behind the small barricade on the opposite side of the road, javelins at the ready. Carbo and Decimus ignited their torches and followed Artorius out onto the road. The rider was at first taken aback, but then gave an audible sigh of relief.
“Thank the gods I have found you,” he said.
“What business brings you out this way? Travel along this road is forbidden after sunset,” Artorius replied.
“My name is Julius Indus, and I bring an urgent message for your commander,” the rider replied. “Please, my time is short, and it won’t be long before they notice that I am gone.”
There was no mistaking the nervousness in his voice.
“Indus. . you’re one of Sacrovir’s men, aren’t you?” Artorius asked.
“That is correct. Please, I beg you. Take me to Master Centurion Calvinus without delay. My message is urgent and cannot wait.”
Artorius nodded and motioned for the rest of the section to rise to their feet.
“Leave your weapon with my men and come with me,” he said.
Indus nodded and dismounted his horse. He immediately unbuckled his sword, which was taken by Valens. Artorius signaled for Indus to follow him. As they entered the small building that Calvinus was using for the detachment’s headquarters, an orderly inside rose up from behind the desk in the center of the room.
“I need you to fetch the master centurion. Tell him it’s urgent,” Artorius told the legionary, who nodded and went into one of the rooms in back. Moments later Calvinus walked into the room, having hastily thrown on his tunic, and was wiping his eyes of sleep. Artorius stepped off to a corner by the front door and stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Indus, what the hell are you doing here at this hour?” Calvinus asked. He knew that the Gallic nobleman would not have come all the way to their outpost without reason.
Indus did not hesitate to explain. “I only regret that it has taken me this long to get my message to you. I ask that you forgive my delays. However, it is only this night that I have been able to get away without rousing suspicion. Honorable Centurion Calvinus, I regret to inform you that you have been betrayed.” Calvinus’ face hardened at the remark, twitching slightly as he cinched up his sword belt. His instincts had told him this would happen. Hence, he had already sent dispatches to Silius, urging him to place the rest of the legion on alert.
“The entire uprising you have helped to quell was nothing more than a ruse,” Indus continued. “Sacrovir and Florus planned the entire rebellion as a diversion to draw attention away from them and to lull Rome into thinking of them as allies. As we speak, there are six thousand prisoners of war who are being freed under Sacrovir’s orders. He intends to explain to you that it is simply an act of mercy, to show compassion to the people. In truth, he is sending these men to join his army at Augustodunum. They have been rallying their forces for many months. He intends to soon make himself master of Augustodunum and to declare the province free of Roman rule.”
“And he intends to do this right underneath the noses of Roman soldiers?” Calvinus asked.
“With the freed prisoners, Sacrovir now has an army numbering well over thirty thousand men. He has made himself popular amongst the youth of our nobles in Augustodunum and intends to arm them as well. This will add perhaps another five to ten thousand men to his ranks. Florus has been sent to rally the remnants of the Turani, as well as subverting my own cavalry at Augusta Raurica.
Sacrovir thinks, given the overwhelming odds, your men will simply go home or face annihilation. He is also counting on the Emperor’s unpopularity in the accusations of conspiracy concerning the death of Germanicus to paralyze your forces from being able to move against him.”
Calvinus’ face was hard, his anger rising at these last remarks.
“Sacrovir has underestimated the Emperor, as well as the resolve of the legions! I take it all auxiliary forces have sided with him?”
Indus nodded affirmatively. “They have, with the exception being my own cavalry. But I must tell you. This uprising does not have the popular support of the people. Sacrovir had hoped, by this point, to have an army numbering around one hundred thousand. Instead, he has only a third of that. His army is that of debtors and thieves mostly, led by impoverished nobles with outstanding financial debts to Rome. We must strike at him fast, before he is able to swell his numbers further. As I said, Florus is looking to rally both the remnants of the Turani, as well as our own Treveri.”
“His ‘army’ is nothing more than an unorganized rabble,” Calvinus said, disgusted. “I saw how his gladiators fought. They do not intimidate me. All the same, if the only forces I have in this area amount to my four cohorts, then Sacrovir, potentially, has me outnumbered forty to one, even without the Turani and Treveri. I need you to give me written details of Sacrovir’s plans. I will send them with you on to Legate Gaius Silius, who is only about a week’s march from here with the remaining six cohorts of the legion. I’ll send riders out to other legionary forces within the region as well. Their numbers add up to three additional cohorts. If Silius is able to bring the First Legion, Germanica with him as well, that will improve the situation dramatically.”
“I agree your men should be able to break Sacrovir’s ranks quickly, though be advised. His men are not well-disciplined, however they are well equipped. He intends to arm the young nobles of Augustodunum with suits of metal armor that will completely encase them, making them impervious to javelin attacks. They will not be very mobile, but they will create an obstacle he intends to use to break up the formations of your legions. We also have an opportunity to take out Florus before we even engage Sacrovir.”
Calvinus held up his hand, silencing him for the moment. “You and Florus are both of the Treveri, are you not?” he asked. Indus nodded affirmatively. “We both share similar ancestry. However, I am a Roman first. Florus is nothing but a traitor to the Empire and to our people.” “Alright,” Calvinus replied. “I’m going to send Aemilius and some of our cavalry to escort you to Silius. What of your own troops?”
“They are encamped at a forest pass not too far from Augusta Raurica.”
“That’s right at the base of the Alpes,” Calvinus observed. “Augusta Raurica is a prosperous trade center, as well as a place of leisure for our troops.”
“That is where Florus intends to meet with them. The survivors of the Turani have already started rallying there. I admit I do worry that Florus may be able to sway some of my men into betraying us. No doubt he intends to wipe out the traders there as a message to the rest of us.”
Calvinus closed his eyes and exhaled audibly at the thought. The massacre of loyal Roman citizens would be a disaster they could ill afford.
“I’ve ordered my men to delay Florus as long as possible,” Indus continued. “My deputy is to meet us here in five days. I can be back from delivering my message to Silius before then. From him, we will know for certain if our forces have remained steadfast in their loyalty.”
“You seem to have doubts about the fidelity of your own men,” Calvinus remarked.
Indus shook his head.
“My men are fiercely loyal to me. I do know that Florus will promise them much in gold and valuables if they should turncoat. I do not doubt that as a whole they will remain true to their oaths. However, we must prepare for the worst.”
“Alright,” Calvinus nodded. “I’ll get a letter to send to Silius myself. Can you ride tonight?”