The Legion

The centurion looked mildly surprised.

Cato shook his head. 'There's no time for formalities. I have to see the governor, at once.'

'Formalities?' The centurion gestured to his waiting men. 'I think you misunderstand, sir. We've not been sent to greet you. I've been ordered to place you under arrest. Both of you.'

'Arrest?' Macro glared. 'What the bloody hell are you talking about. Arrest?'

'Wait!' Cato held up his hand. 'Whose order is this?'

'Comes straight from the governor, sir. Soon as he had word that the ships were entering the harbour. You're to be taken to the watchroom and held there until further orders are issued. If you'll follow me, sir?'

'Why?' Cato stood his ground. 'What are the charges?'

The centurion stared at them. 'I should have thought that's obvious, sir. Murder, and piracy.'

CHAPTER FOUR

They were left alone in the watchroom. The door remained open and four sentries stood guard outside. The room itself was well-proportioned with high ceilings and ventilated by large windows high up on the walls. The distant sounds of the city outside the palace merged into a constant low drone.

Cato was sitting at a table, drinking a cup of water, savouring the fact that he no longer had to limit himself to a small ration.

Macro glanced out at the guards and crossed the room and sat on a stool opposite Cato. 'What the hell is going on? Why are we under arrest?'

'You heard him. Murder and piracy.'

'What kind of crap is that?' Macro fumed. 'We're officers of the Roman army. And you, you're a prefect.'

'Glad you've noticed.'

'How dare they treat you like this? By the gods, some fool will pay for this, and pay dearly.'

'Macro, there's obviously been some mistake. It'll be sorted out. There's no use flaring up, you're just wasting your energy.' Cato filled another cup and pushed it across the table towards his friend. 'Here. Have a drink.'

Macro gritted his teeth as he controlled his temper. Then he took the cup and drained it quickly and set it down with a sharp rap. 'Another.'

This time he drank more slowly then pushed the empty cup away. 'That's better. Bloody tongue was starting to feel like a strip of old boot leather.'

'I know what you mean.' Cato nodded. 'I hope water's been provided for the men on the ships. They're still out there in the sun.'

Macro frowned at him. 'I think you should be concentrating on our predicament rather than theirs.'

'Why? Didn't you always tell me that a good officer thinks of the well-being of his men before his own? You used to be quite adamant about that when I was your optio.'

'Did I?' Macro grumbled. 'What good is that doing you right now, eh?'

'It's taking my mind off being stuck in here with a firebrand who is storming around the place like a caged bull.'

Macro's weathered and scarred face creased into a smile. 'Sorry. I just don't take kindly to being called a murderer and pirate. A killer and plunderer, yes. That goes with the job.'

'To some minds that would seem to be a distinction of degree rather than category, Macro,' Cato replied wryly.

'Really?' Macro raised his eyebrows. 'Then fuck 'em, I say. I'm no murderer.'

Cato had become well used to the rather rough and ready nature of Macro's soldier's sophistry and simply shrugged.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of boots in the corridor outside the watchroom and a moment later the guards stepped aside to admit the centurion in charge of the arresting party, as well as the governor of the province and a scribe. The centurion stood to one side and bowed his head as he announced, 'His Excellency, Gaius Petronius, governor of Alexandria and the province of Egypt, and legate of the Emperor.'

Cato and Macro stood up and bowed their heads as Petronius strode to the centre of the room and stopped, hands on hips, a dark expression on his face. He snapped his fingers and pointed at the corner. The scribe hurried over, sat cross-legged, and took a waxed tablet and stylus from his satchel.

Petronius rounded on Cato. 'I let you take my forces to Crete to quash rebellion, not to spread it about even more widely. You two have a lot to answer for.' Petronius glared at them. 'You've got the entire delta region up in arms and not just them. The merchants' and traders' guilds of the city want your heads. I'm tempted to give due legal process a miss and let the mob tear you to pieces, before their mood boils over into open revolt.' He folded his arms. 'So please, in the name of all the gods, tell me just what the hell you two think you are up to?'

'Up to, sir?' Cato shook his head. 'I don't understand.'

'Bollocks! I've been getting reports for the best part of a month that you have been terrorising the coastal villages. Landing, demanding supplies and killing those who refuse to cooperate. I've even heard that you have been stopping ships, torturing their crews for information and then killing almost everyone on board before you move on.'

Macro and Cato exchanged a quick look.

'Oh, don't deny it!' the governor raged. 'I have reports naming you. And a handful of witnesses that you have been kind enough to spare. More than enough evidence to have you nailed to a cross before the day is out. So,' he forced himself to control his temper before he continued, 'I ask you again, what do you think you have been playing at? According to the last despatch I had from Crete, you had been sent to track down a renegade slave. Not to foment yet another rebellion here in Egypt. I'm not sure who poses the greatest threat to peace in the Empire, a renegade gladiator, or the two moronic thugs sent to track him down. To add insult to injury you are using my men, and my ships, to carry out your dirty work. Don't think that has escaped the notice of the mob either. One of my patrols was stoned as it passed through the streets yesterday. I lost an optio and one of the men. All thanks to you two and the heavy-handed way you have gone about hunting down this character, Ajax.'

'But we've done nothing, sir,' Macro protested. 'None of it's true.'

'Tell that to the witnesses.'

'Then they're lying. Someone's put them up to it.'

'We shall see. My prosecutors have been taking statements, gathering evidence. I shall take every possible step to put you two on trial as soon as I can. Then, a public execution. That might just be enough to satisfy the mob and calm things down here in Egypt.'

Macro snorted with derision. 'You're having me on! It's utter shit, all of it.'

'Trust me, Centurion, that's exactly what is going to happen. What's more, the Emperor, and that snake of his, the imperial secretary, Narcissus, will approve my action without a moment's hesitation.'

Cato had been listening to the heated exchange in silence. Now, as understanding dawned, he smiled without humour.

'What in Hades are you grinning at?' asked the governor. 'I see no cause for amusement.'

'It's Ajax, sir. He's responsible for all of this.'

'Ajax?'

'Of course. He's been covering his tracks. Better than that, he's been stirring up the locals in his wake.'

'What do you mean?'

'We came across a ship, adrift, a few days back. All the crew dead, save one who told us that it was the work of Centurion Macro.'

Macro snorted. 'Which came as something of a bloody surprise to me, as you can imagine.'

'It also explains why those villagers fled when we landed on the coast the day before,' Cato continued. 'He's been a busy lad, our gladiator.'

'I assume you can prove this?' said the governor. 'Can this survivor of yours testify that the man who attacked his ship was not Macro?'

'Unfortunately not, sir. He died soon afterwards.'

'How convenient.'

'Not for us, it seems. Nonetheless, you produce your other witnesses and see if they can identify either of us as their attackers. That should prove our innocence.'

The governor was silent for a moment and then nodded. 'Very well. You have a point.' He paced to the door and clicked his fingers at one of the guards standing outside. 'You, go and fetch that temple priest, Hamedes. He's being held over at the palace barracks. I want him brought here at once. Don't tell him anything about these two officers. Understand?'