The Eagle and the Wolves

'Why?'

'Why?' Macro snorted. 'Why do you think? The little lad here wants to be king. Problem is, your lot already have a king, traitor!'

Tincommius shrugged. 'For the moment, maybe. But Verica will be dead in a few days, one way or another. Then I'm king. I'll lead my people against the legions, at the side of Caratacus.'

'You're mad!' Macro shook his head. 'Once the general hears about this, the Atrebatans will be crushed like an egg under a millstone.'

'I think you seriously underestimate the gravity of your situation, Macro. Our lands lie right across the general's supply lines. In a matter of days we'll be able to hamstring your legions. I reckon you'll be lucky to escape from Britain with your lives. What do you think, Cato?'

Cato did not reply. He could see the strategic situation unfolding in his mind's eye and knew that the Atrebatan prince was right. Here in Calleva, feeling had been steadily turning against Verica, and the Romans he so closely associated himself with. There was a good chance that Tincommius would win enough support amongst his people to lead them in a rising against Rome. And Tincommius was right about the wider effects of such a revolt. The success or failure of the Roman bid to add these lands to the Empire rested on the edge of a blade.

A further terrible thought struck him.

'Verica… You attacked him?'

'Of course I did,' Tincommius replied quietly enough so that only the two centurions could hear him. 'He had to be got out of the way. It wasn't an easy thing to do. After all, he is my kinsman.'

'Spare us the self-pity.'

'Very well. He had to die for the sake of all the tribes of these lands. What is the blood of one old man, against the freedom of an entire race?'

'So it wasn't that difficult, then?' Cato asked quietly, a growing sense of horror swelling up inside him as he realised how totally he had misjudged Artax. 'And you might have killed him… if it wasn't for Artax.'

'Yes. Poor old Artax – and let's not forget poor Bedriacus… More principles than brains – a common failing in my people. I did try to make Artax see where his true interests lay, but he wouldn't have any of it. He came across me just as I was about to finish the old man off. Knocked me down. I didn't have a chance. He got the king away safely, and then you came on the scene.' Tincommius smiled. 'I could hardly believe my fortune when you went after Artax. Of course I had to make sure that he was killed before he could say anything that might incriminate me.' The Atrebatan prince laughed softly at Macro. 'If it wasn't for your unfortunate appearance, I might have killed the king and Cato here as well.'

'Why, you little bastard…' Macro's hand grasped his sword handle, but Cato clamped his hand on his friend's arm before Macro could draw the weapon.

'That's enough, Macro!' Cato said harshly, glaring into the other centurion's eyes. 'Hold still! We need to hear him out; hear his terms.'

'That's right, Centurion.' A smile flickered across Tincommius' face as he looked at Macro. 'Better rein in that temper of yours, if you want to live. You, and your men.'

For a brief while Cato feared that Macro would explode and not rest easy until he had ripped the Atrebatan prince limb from limb with his bare hands. Then Macro took a deep breath, his nostrils flared, and he nodded.

'All right… All right then, you bastard. Have your say.'

'Most gracious of you. I want you and your men to leave Calleva and rejoin the Second Legion. You may take your weapons with you, and I guarantee your safe passage… as far as the legion.'

Macro snorted contemptuously. 'And your word is worth… what? A pile of shit.'

'Quiet!' Cato cut in. 'Why should we leave?'

'You can't defend the walls, not with that handful of legionaries, and whatever's left of the two cohorts. If you try to resist then you will only die, and many of the people of Calleva will die with you. I'm giving you a chance to save all those lives. Life or death. That's what's on offer.'

'What happens after we leave?' Cato asked.

'Surely you can guess? I finish Verica off and tell the people of Calleva that Verica is dead. The council makes me king, and any man who is misguided enough to oppose an immediate alliance with Caratacus is disposed of. Then we tear your supply columns to pieces.'

'In that case, you know we can't surrender.'

'I was rather hoping you'd say that. Still, I'm in no hurry. I'll give you till dawn to make up your minds. By then there won't be many Atrebatans left who'll be willing to fight on your side. Not after I've told them that it was you who attacked their king.'

'What makes you think you'll live long enough to tell them?' Macro snarled.

Tincommius smiled nervously, and took a step back. This was too much for Macro, and he violently shook off Cato's restraining hand and whipped his sword out of its scabbard. 'You little prick! I've had my fill of you.'

Tincommius turned and sprinted away towards the ring of darkness surrounding Calleva. With an incoherent shout of rage Macro charged after him before Cato could react. The young centurion instinctively dived at his friend's legs and drove Macro to the ground. By the time both men were back on their feet Tincommius was no more than a shadow fading into the night. Enraged, Macro rounded on Cato.

'What the fuck are you doing?'

'Get inside the gate!' Cato ordered. 'Quick!'

Macro was having none of it, and raised the point of his sword threateningly. Suddenly, an arrow whacked into the gate close by, then more whirred out of the darkness, splintering the weathered surface of the timbers. Without another word Macro dived back through the narrow gap behind Cato, and the gate was hurriedly closed in the face of the invisible enemy.

'That was close!' Macro shook his head, then turned to look at his young friend. 'Thanks…'

Cato shrugged. 'Save it. We've got to get out of this mess first.'

Then, from out of the night, Tincommius' voice rose up, calling out in Celtic.

'What's he saying?' asked Macro.

'He's inviting the people of Calleva to join him… Telling them, the survivors of the Wolves and the Boars, to desert their Roman masters and become free men once again…'

'Oh! Nice touch. Boy should have been a lawyer. Come on, we have to put an end to this.'

Macro led the way back on to the rampart. They noticed several of the native troops eye them in a guilty, furtive manner and Cato feared that Tincommius was right: many of these men would be gone before the sun rose, silently slipping over the wall to run and pledge their allegiance to a new king. Some would stay; out of duty to Verica, out of duty to their comrades, maybe even out of duty to the officers they had come to respect with the grudging admiration of one warrior for another. Normally Cato disapproved of such sentimentality between men, but not tonight. Tonight he positively prayed for it with every superstitious fibre of his being. Tincommius continued to call out to the men on the wall, promising them a glorious victory over the Eagle soldiers, and a chance to win back the pride of place amongst all Celtic tribes that had once been the preserve of the warriors of the Atrebatans.

'Can you see him?' asked Macro, squinting into the darkness surrounding the ramparts.

'No. Sounds like he's somewhere over… there.' Cato pointed.

Macro nodded to the cluster of legionaries armed with bows and slings along the palisade. 'You there! Try a few shots. Aim for the voice.'

It was hopeless. The odds of hitting Tincommius were little better than trying to toss a pebble down the neck of an amphora at twenty paces, blindfolded. But it might put Tincommius off his stride and undermine his attempt to talk the native troops round. A steady flow of arrows and slingshot arced into the night, and still Tincommius called upon his people. Macro turned back into the town and shouted down towards the supply cart.

'Silva! Get me some trumpets up here, fast as you can!'

'Better hurry,' Cato muttered. 'He's telling them that it was you who attacked Verica.'