Masters of Rome by Robert Fabbri Read Free Book Online Page B

pointed to the foot-holes. ‘Yes, and that’s how he got away.’ He climbed up the vertical bank and peered into the bush; there was a narrow path cut through it that went on for thirty paces down the hill. He crawled down its length and came out into a dell in the hillside, deep enough to obscure him from both the walls above and the auxiliary cohort on station at the base of the hill.
    â€˜He could have got to here unseen,’ Magnus said, peering over the edge and down to the troops at the bottom, ‘but the rest of the way down is open ground; our lads are bound to have seen anyone coming out of here.’
    â€˜Let’s go and ask them.’
    Vespasian and Magnus jogged over to the auxiliaries; their prefect strode forward to meet them. ‘The fort is ours, legate?’
    â€˜It is, but we’re missing one vital component, Galeo. Did anyone come out?’
    The prefect looked confused. ‘Just the man you sent an optio to bring out: the spy.’
    â€˜What spy? What optio?’
    â€˜The young lad seemed too young to be an optio but it was hard to tell under all the grime on his face.’ He pulled a scroll from his belt and proffered it to Vespasian. ‘But he had written orders with Plautius’ seal on, giving him permission to get our agent out of the place before it fell, so he wouldn’t get killed in the chaos of the assault.’
    Vespasian glanced at the scroll, knowing immediately that it was a forgery. ‘When was this?’
    â€˜Just after the attack started.’
    â€˜Where did they go?’
    â€˜They rode off, around the fort heading for our camp.’
    â€˜Are you sure that they didn’t turn away and ride off?’
    â€˜I don’t know; I didn’t pay them any attention once they’d gone.’
    Vespasian’s fists clenched. He felt like pummelling the man although he knew that it was not his fault; he had been duped. ‘This optio, did he give his name?’
    â€˜Yes, sir; Alienus.’
    Vespasian raised his eyes to the sky. ‘I might have guessed.’
    â€˜So he was from you?’
    â€˜No, prefect, he was not.’

CHAPTER II
    â€˜W E PICKED UP their trail, sir; they doubled back and headed west.’ Lucius Junius Caesennius Paetus, the young prefect of the Batavian auxiliary cavalry ala, reported in clipped patrician tones, standing to attention on the opposite side of the desk to Vespasian in the praetorium tent. ‘Judging by the tracks, they were a good two hours ahead of us. After five miles or so they met up with a group of at least thirty horsemen and changed direction to just north of west. By that time the light was fading and we had to turn back.’
    â€˜Thank you, prefect. Maximus, have you had the legion’s casualty list?’
    â€˜I’m just waiting for the second, third and fourth cohorts’ reports; they suffered the most scaling the walls. I’ll bring it to you when it’s complete.’
    â€˜Has there been a report of an optio going missing just before the attack?’
    Maximus looked surprised. ‘How did you know, sir?’
    â€˜A guess. Well?’
    â€˜The optio from the sixth century, ninth cohort went missing just before the assault started as the cohort moved into position.’
    â€˜Thank you, Maximus.’ Vespasian looked over to Cogidubnus, seated to the right of him next to Valens. ‘How long is it since you’ve seen your cousin Alienus?’
    â€˜Verica’s grandson? Why?’
    â€˜Because I believe that he was the man masquerading as the optio who got Caratacus through our lines.’
    The Britannic King thought for a few moments. ‘Not since he was a boy, well before he went to Rome, say six or seven years. Why?’
    â€˜Could you identify him?’
    â€˜I doubt it after all this time; he’d be a man now and I only saw him a few times as a lad.’
    â€˜A pity.’ Vespasian looked at