The Legion

'Duly noted,' the legate said flatly. He stared at Cato for a moment before he continued. 'I am pleased that you share my confidence in our men. The Jackals and the auxiliaries have proved they are up to standard. Their mettle is beyond doubt. That is precisely why we can afford to divide the army. Each column will be more than able to look after itself. Moreover, the enemy will not think for a moment that we would dare to divide our army. They know they have the advantage in numbers, and they expect us to go on the defensive and hand the initiative to them.' Aurelius paused as a thought struck him. He smiled faintly as he resumed. 'Which is exactly what I have been encouraging them to think. Prince Talmis has fallen into my trap. That is why he foolishly sent his column down this bank of the river. He never expected us to respond so swiftly, or so effectively.'

Cato coughed. 'Then perhaps we should learn from his mistake, sir.'

Aurelius shook his head. 'I don't think you grasp the… subtleties of the situation, Tribune.'

Cato raised his eyebrows. 'Subtleties, sir?'

'I am always ready to let my subordinates learn from my experience,' Aurelius replied graciously. 'Our enemy has been induced into thinking that we are too cautious to act decisively. He thinks that he can dictate when and where he will give battle. Therefore he has become complacent. It is that complacency which we will exploit. The very last thing he expects us to do now is for us to attack him from two directions. Surprise will be on our side, and it will enhance the advantage we already have in terms of the quality and morale of our men.' Aurelius paused and smiled at Cato. 'Now do you grasp my strategy, Tribune?'

Cato stared back at him, his mind reeling with the myriad risks that the legate was prepared to take. The auxilary column would surely be detected long before it ever crossed back to the eastern bank. Prince Talmis would have all the time he needed to choose which Roman column he crushed first. The Nubians also had lighter forces and could march more swiftly than their opponents. Either column could be defeated long before they closed the trap. There was a further issue, Cato reflected. Less than a quarter of the army had taken part in the assault on the temple. The rest were still in camp on the far bank. They had missed out on the attack and therefore would still be as green as grass when it came to facing the enemy for the first time. Cato well knew that it was hard to predict the behaviour of men facing battle for the first time. Some would fight like heroes. Most would anxiously follow their training and obey orders but be disposed to follow the example of others. Other men would stand in line, hearts pounding in terror, and then their nerve would break and they would run. If enough of them did that, the contagion would spread through their comrades like wildfire and the army would be doomed. He took a deep breath.

'Sir, it is my considered opinion that the risks outweigh the advantages. It might be different with a battle-hardened army. I strongly suggest that you reconsider your plan.'

The legate regarded him curiously. 'Tribune Cato, you have fought in a number of campaigns, haven't you?'

'Yes, sir.'

'I will not ask you to bore us with the details, but you have faced Celts, Germans, pirates, Parthians and rebel gladiators. True?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Then why be so timorous in the face of the Nubians? Surely they are the least of the many foes you have faced? Why fear them?'

Cato felt his pulse quicken. The confrontation had taken a dangerous turn once again. His commander had all but accused him of cowardice. If they had been facing each other in private, Cato could have confronted the accusation directly, but he was aware of the tension that now gripped the officers surrounding him and the legate. If he rounded on the man now, then Aurelius would be forced to apologise to him or dismiss him. An apology would damage his authority irreparably, so the legate would have no choice but to get rid of Cato and send him back to Alexandria. That would remove any opportunity for Cato to change his superior's mind with regard to his campaign plan. It would result in disaster, Cato was convinced of it. He knew that he must swallow his pride, for the sake of army, his friend Macro, and the fate of the province.

'I do not fear the Nubians, sir,' he responded evenly. 'I am merely offering you my professional opinion. Based upon my years of service to Rome.'

'And how many years is that, exactly?'

Cato felt furious with himself. He had walked into a trap of his own making. Fool, he cursed himself. 'Seven years, sir.'

'Seven,' Aurelius repeated with a half-smile. 'I served ten years in the ranks before being promoted to centurion. Then another twelve years acquiring the seniority necessary to become first spear and finally camp prefect. I rather think that I have all the experience necessary to command the army as I see fit. Seven years.' He shook his head and then swept his arm round, gesturing to all the other officers. 'I wonder, is there another man here with less experience than you, Tribune? Well?'

There was no response from the officers and the legate turned back to Cato with a triumphant expression. 'I think that places your advice in the appropriate context… wouldn't you agree?'

Cato did not reply. Anything he said now would damn him either way. He was conscious of the other men watching him closely, waiting for his response. He cleared his throat. 'I have given you my advice, sir. That is my professional duty. The command of the army is yours. It is up to you to give the orders for the campaign.'

'That's right. The decision is made and the time for consultation or dissent is over. Is that clear?'

'Yes, sir. Perfectly.'

'Then I expect you, and every one of my officers, to obey my orders without question from now on.'

Cato nodded.

The legate was still for a moment and then nodded. 'Very well then. You will all receive your instructions once the headquarters staff at Karnak have them ready. In the meantime ensure that your men are ready to advance the moment I give the word.'

The officers nodded and were waiting to be dismissed when a cavalry auxiliary entered the room and strode up to the prefect of the Alexandrian mounted cohort and quickly reported to him. The other officers looked on curiously as the prefect questioned the man and then dismissed him.

'Something to tell us?' asked Aurelius.

'Yes, sir. It seems that some of the defenders managed to escape us, sir. One of my squadrons was surprised last night. They were part of the perimeter we established round the temple. They were killed where they slept. One of the sentries was still alive when they were discovered this morning. Before he died he said that one of the men who attacked them was in Roman uniform and used the night's password to get close enough to surprise the sentries.'

'How did he get hold of the password?' asked Macro.

Junius pursed his lips. 'Perhaps he overheard some of our men use it around the temple.'

The cavalry prefect nodded. 'It's possible. Anyway, the attackers must have been the mounted men we saw at first light. I sent two of my squadrons to pursue them. They made off towards the north, into the hills. I've just heard that they've been caught in a dead end. We have them.'

Macro turned to Cato and muttered, 'That could be Ajax, I suppose.'

'More than likely.' Cato nodded. 'By the gods, that man is like a ghost. A bloody ghost.'

'How far away are they?' Aurelius asked the cavalry prefect.

'No more than four miles, sir. My men are watching them. The leading squadron had the worst of the first encounter. The officer in charge has asked for reinforcements before he tries again.'

Cato stepped forward to intervene. 'Excuse me, sir, but it's possible that Ajax is with them. He could have escaped with what's left of his band of rebels.'