'We haven't had the inquiry yet,' the General pointed out. 'They might not be found at fault.'
'You'd better make sure that they are. In the end, it's you or them, my dear General.' Narcissus paused to let the threat sink in, then he spoke again, in his quiet, polite, unflustered manner. 'So, might I suggest that you give the necessary orders?'
General Plautius glared at the man, visions of bloody torture and revenge flooding into his mind in rapid succession. The freedman's impudence was breathtaking, but the gulf in social status between a senator and a freedman, who had been a slave of Claudius only a few years ago, was erased by the fact that Narcissus was the Emperor's most trusted and closest advisor. The Emperor ruled Rome, but the Emperor, Plautius had heard it said, was ruled by his freedman. Only now, the freedman had a rival in Messalina, Claudius's scheming young wife, and that made Narcissus an even more desperate and dangerous man to cross.
'I'll give the orders.'
'Thank you, General.' Narcissus resumed his concentration on the skinless pear on the silver plate on his lap, slicing it as finely as possible with the glinting blade of his dagger. 'Send me word when all is ready. I'll wait here.'
Plautius could not stomach remaining in the same tent as the freedman and, grasping the pannier bags, he clapped a hand on to Vespasian's shoulder and led him out of the tent. Outside, in the clerks' tent, and out of the Imperial Secretary's hearing, Plautius spoke softly to his subordinate.
'You'd better get back to your legion. I want your Third Cohort stood to, unarmed, in tunics only and under guard.'
'Why, sir? Why shame them so?'
'Because they need shaming. They need to know that every man in the cohort is held to account, whatever their rank. It'll serve as a warning to the other cohorts.'
'But, sir-' Vespasian's exhausted mind was reeling with the way that the inquiry was being rushed through at this mad speed.'Think of the men's morale. This will bring shame to the whole legion and all the spirit we've built up on the campaign will be pissed away.'
Plautius stopped walking, and turned towards him with raised eyebrows. 'Pissed away? That's an awfully common expression. I think you've been spending rather too long in the company of the lower orders…Perhaps you should return to Rome before you forget who you are.'
'I know who I am,' Vespasian replied coolly. 'And I know what's right and what's wrong. I'm telling you, this inquiry is a mistake. Nothing good can come of it… sir.'
Plautius stared back at him. 'I think you forget yourself, Legate. I've given you an order. Get back to your legion and have everything ready for the hearing. As soon as I've discussed these statements with my clerks I'll ride over and join you and we'll start immediately. If the preparations are not complete by then, I may have to widen the scope of the inquiry beyond the officers of your Third Cohort. Do I make myself clear?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Then go.'
05 The Eagles Prey
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Senior Tribune Plinius filled his lungs and shouted the order. 'Centurions… to the front!'
Outside the headquarters tents of the Second Legion the men of Maximius' cohort stood in well-ordered ranks. They were made visible in the night by the wavering glare of scores of torches held aloft by the legionaries of the First Cohort assigned to guard them. Unlike their comrades Maximius' men were not armed, they were not even permitted to wear their armour, only plain tunics. They were under judgement, and as such might soon be cast out of the camp as a punishment for their failure to hold the ford the day before. Some of the men looked terrified. As well they might, thought Cato as he marched over towards the senior tribune. They would be without shelter from the elements and without weapons to defend themselves against any enemy patrols that might want to take a few easy heads from the Roman invaders. For however long the punishment lasted.
Cato fell into line with the other centurions behind the tribune, and the escort formed up on either side.
'Forward!' called the tribune, and the party marched towards the entrance to the largest tent. The flaps were tied back and an orange-hued light spilled out from the oil-lamp stands inside. Through the flaps Cato could see that the clerks' desks had been rearranged so that a long table was set against the rear of the tent, leaving an open space in front of it. A smaller arrangement of tables ran down one side and a number of clerks were already seated there, preparing their writing materials for keeping a record of the inquiry.
Tribune Plinius marched the centurions and their escort inside the tent and indicated that they were to stand in a line in front of the empty table. The escort formed up behind them, hands resting on the pommels of their swords. The clerks sat beside their tablets, styluses to hand, ready to begin. Then all was still and silent as they waited in the stuffy heat for the presiding officers to appear. Cato, who had never witnessed such an event before, was terrified but determined not to let it show as he stood stiff as his vine cane and stared directly ahead. As they waited, he let his glance slip to the side and saw that Felix's fingers were clenching and unclenching into a fist, over and over again. He suddenly turned his head slightly and caught Cato's eyes. Cato's gaze flickered down momentarily and he gave a slight nod. Felix followed the direction indicated and looked surprised when he saw his hand moving, almost as if it belonged to another. He abruptly stopped the nervous tic and winked his gratitude to Cato before facing forward again. For his part, Cato was relieved to find someone who felt as nervous as he did.
A side flap was thrust open and the camp prefect entered the tent. He stepped smartly to one side and bellowed, 'Senior officers present! All rise!'
The clerks immediately stood up and snapped to attention along with the other men in the room as the legate and the general entered the tent and walked briskly to their seats. There was a brief pause before Narcissus followed them inside and sat beside the general. As soon as he had taken his seat the camp prefect called out, 'At ease!'
General Plautius began proceedings at once. 'Before the inquiry commences I want it entered in the record that the exigencies of the situation require the circumventing of normal procedure in order that the inquiry is completed as swiftly as possible. To that end, I require that sentencing take place directly upon completion of the inquiry process, and that execution of any sentence be carried out as soon as possible.'
The officers of the Third Cohort glanced at each other anxiously at this curtailment of their rights. Any hearing in a settled garrison fortress would be far more protracted, but here in the field it was necessary for justice to take a more direct route. However, this flouting of even the most basic procedures stunned the centurions.
Before anyone could protest the general continued, 'This inquiry has been called to determine whether the performance of the officers and men of the Third Cohort, Second Legion conforms to the standards required of those who serve in the name of Emperor Claudius and the senate and people of Rome. The charges laid before the inquiry are that on the ides of August last, the commander of the cohort, Gaius Norbanus Maximius, failed to obey orders and by such dereliction of duty permitted the escape of some five thousand enemy soldiers. Furthermore, it is charged by Centurion Maximius that Centurion Lucius Cornelius Macro failed to carry the battle to the enemy with sufficient determination in defending the island in the middle of the ford. It is also charged by Centurion Maximius that the Third Cohort failed to engage the enemy with sufficient vigour and determination in its subsequent defence of the near bank of the ford. However, it is my view, after carefully considering the evidence submitted to me, that the Third Cohort and all its officers are equally culpable in regard to all the charges specified. Before judgement is passed, does any officer wish the opportunity to answer the charges?'