The Legion

'Be careful, Macro. Don't take any risks… Keep an eye on Hamedes.'

The last remark caught Macro by surprise and he turned towards Cato with a puzzled expression. 'What?'

Cato glanced at the priest as he was explaining his orders to the decurion of the nearest cavalry squadron. He faced Macro again. 'I'm not sure how far I trust him any more.'

'Hamedes?' Macro shook his head. 'What the hell are you talking about? He's served us as loyally as any soldier these last months. Besides, you know his story. Hamedes wants revenge just as we do.'

'That's his story,' Cato replied quietly.

Macro let out a sharp, exasperated breath. 'You mind telling me what's brought this on?'

Hamedes had secured two spare canteens and was striding back towards them.

'I can't explain now. Just do as I say. Go with him, find out what you can about Ajax's position, and watch Hamedes closely. I may be jumping at shadows. I don't know, but just watch him.'

'As you wish. But I'm telling you, Hamedes is all right. I feel it in my bones. He's no traitor.'

Macro stilled his tongue as the priest approached and handed him one of the canteens. Macro nodded his thanks and slung the strap over his shoulder, adjusted his sword belt and then looked at Hamedes. 'Ready?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Then let's be off.' Macro surveyed the sides of the gorge and then saw a small cut in an outcrop that seemed to offer a steep climb up to higher ground. 'That way.'

He was about to set off when the sound of hoofbeats echoed up the gorge. A moment later the legate and his staff officers appeared, cantering up the track. They reined in in front of Cato and the others in a cloud of dust and dismounted. Aurelius handed his reins to one of his orderlies and paced over to the three men who stood to attention.

'The archers are half a mile behind me,' Aurelius announced. 'We shall put this business to an end before the hour is up.'

'I'm not so certain, sir,' Cato replied, and explained his intention to send the two men forward to reconnoitre. The legate dismissed it with a brusque shake of the head.

'Out of the question. There's no time for it.'

'But sir, the moment we advance in force, the enemy will go into hiding. If we don't know which tomb they use for cover, it could take us days to find them. Better to spend an hour or so now than risk that, surely?'

Aurelius was perspiring freely from his ride up through the baking heat of the gorge and like most of his officers he had had little sleep for some days.

'You presume too much, Tribune Cato. I told you earlier, I am in command of the mopping up. Not you. You have no right to issue orders for our men to hold position while you send these two forward on some pointless spying mission.'

'Sir, I gave the order while we waited for you to reach the gorge. I did it because you wished to save time. You made it very clear that we must end this part of the operation as quickly as possible and march against Prince Talmis. Your priorities were very much in my mind when I gave the order.'

Aurelius sucked in a calming breath and frowned. Cato could see him struggling with the prospect of concurring with his subordinate's judgement while at the same time retaining his authority. At length the legate nodded curtly. 'Very well, we'll scout their position. But not Macro. It was remiss of you to involve one of my most valuable and experienced officers in such a risky venture. When the time comes to face the Nubians, I shall need Macro at the head of the First Cohort.'

'Sir, it's precisely because of his experience that I chose Macro.'

'Then you must choose another. Better still, I will find the man.' He turned to his staff officers. 'I need a volunteer to scout ahead.'

Tribune Junius took a step forward. 'I request the honour.'

'Done! Brave lad.' Aurelius turned back to Cato. 'Far better to give a fresh soldier the chance to win his spurs than lay additional burdens on the shoulders of those who have already proved themselves. See? That's how a good commander does the job… Tribune Junius!'

'Sir?'

'Remove your armour and go with this man.' He gestured towards Hamedes. 'He will explain the details as you go.'

'Yes, sir.'

The legate looked up. 'There are perhaps four hours of light left. I shall give you two hours to return. That is when I shall give the order to storm the valley.'

For over an hour the two men climbed higher into the rocks that towered above the gorge. They proceeded cautiously as they worked their way towards the small valley at the end of the track, taking care not to dislodge any large stone that might start a landslide and give away their position. Tribune Junius led the way, occasionally turning to Hamedes to ask for general directions. Above them the sun edged towards the jagged summits at the end of the valley and the heat wrapped itself around them like a burning vice so that every breath felt laboured and even the occasional waft of air was warm and cloying. Soon their linen tunics were saturated with sweat and stuck to their skin.

Then, as they crested a ridge that sloped down sharply towards the track, Junius froze and quickly eased himself down against the rock.

'What is it, sir?' Hamedes asked in a hushed voice.

'I see 'em,' Junius whispered, frantically gesturing for the priest to join him.

Hamedes shuffled forward and peered over the rocks, down into the valley. There was a large outcrop above the final bend of the track and four men in black robes sat amongst the boulders, keeping watch. A short distance beyond, the track gave out on to an open space where the horses were hobbled. Dotted around the cliffs were several openings of various sizes. Two men, with shields slung over their backs and armed with lances, appeared from behind some rocks further along and strode towards the horses.

Junius and Hamedes watched for a moment longer, then the tribune gestured towards an outcrop a hundred paces further into the valley. 'Come on.'

The two crossed the ridge as stealthily as possible, all the time watching the lookouts below for any sign that they had been detected. However, the Arabs' attention was firmly fixed on the track and they never once looked up the cliff above them. The two climbed along the rock cautiously, testing every handhold and step as they went. It was exhausting work and by the time they had reached the outcrop they were forced to stop and recover their strength. They took some water from their canteens, and then crept forward on to a flat slab sticking out at a right angle from the cliff. The drop on the far side was sheer and Hamedes felt a twinge of dizziness as he looked straight down into the valley. The two enemy soldiers had reached the horses and sat close by in the shade, foreshortened into heads and limbs from the point of view of those spying on them. There was no sign of anyone else and no clue as to where the rest of the men were concealed.

Junius scratched his jaw anxiously. 'We have to get closer. Somewhere we can see the entrances of the tombs more easily.'

His companion gazed down the cliff and then pointed towards another outcrop where the valley divided, a spur heading off into the rocks to the north. 'There, sir. That should do.'

Junius followed the direction indicated, thought a moment and then nodded. 'Right.'

They were making their way down the cliff when another figure emerged below them, striding towards the horses. Junius opened his mouth to say something then paused and turned to Hamedes.

'Recognise him?'

Hamedes squinted a moment to be sure and then nodded. 'Ajax.'

The gladiator stopped when he had a clear view of the horses and the lookouts in the rocks beyond. He cupped his hands to his mouth and called out, 'Any sign of movement?'

One of the Arabs turned and called back in accented Greek, 'Nothing, sir.'

Ajax was still for a moment, thinking, then he called again. 'They're coming. Sooner rather than later. Be sure to sound the alarm and then make every arrow count.'