Legionary

Chapter 36

At the boatside, Pavo’s stomach rumbled in protest at being left empty and in torment as his eyes followed another droplet of cold sweat falling into the swell below. He had spent the rest of the first day and night at sea by the boatside and now his body seemed to accept that there was nothing else to eject. The waters were choppy again as the sun dipped into the western horizon and the Aquila bucked and swelled, promising another night of no sleep whatsoever.

He slumped down, resting against the vessel side. He had replayed lovemaking with Felicia in his mind more times than he could count, and now it was just frustrating. While the veterans were snoring blissfully, most of the recruits of the first century had given up trying to sleep and had gathered in a circle in the centre of the deck. After a few deep lungfuls of cool air, he groaned as he pushed himself to his feet and then wandered over to join them. They were talking in hushed tones around a candle.

‘The Goths up there are different. A trader in Durostorum told me; they ambushed a trade caravan and didn’t spare a single one of them. Man, woman, child; slaughtered without mercy,’ one of them said.

‘It’s the forests; they hide in the trees and sink arrows into you from above, so you don’t even know you’re dead till you find yourself wandering in the realm of Hades,’ another said.

Pavo cocked an eyebrow, the hair on the back of his neck standing straight. He had fought against a small warband of Goths and that was it as far as battle experience went. That was in friendly territory, where enemy numbers were limited. Here this straggling band of border legionaries was wandering into the jaws of the unknown.

‘…aye,’ another legionary blurted out, a little too loud, ‘but I heard there are these people who have moved into the peninsula, too. Dark riders. More fearsome than any of the Gothic warriors. They celebrate their victories by eating the dead children of their enemies.’ Then, unnoticed until now, Gallus coughed and the group jumped as one and the young legionary emitted a high-pitched shriek.

Gallus surveyed the group. ‘Choppy waters tonight isn’t it, lads?’

Looking around at each other, they nodded and agreed. Pavo noted the stonier than usual look the centurion wore and stood back, keen to stay out of his glare.

‘Usually I tire myself by walking the deck. If that doesn’t do it then I find that a session on the oars helps.’ The legionaries looked at one another again, agreeing this time less readily.

Gallus sighed and again looked round each of them. ‘Whatever you do to get through this voyage, let’s keep it light, eh? Now try to get some rest instead of winding yourselves up like this.’

But Pavo couldn’t hold his words in. ‘What is it like there, sir? Bosporus?’ He asked, stepping forward. All heads turned to him. At once, his skin prickled with the dry heat of embarrassment.

Gallus turned to stare at Pavo, who braced for some form of rebuke, but there was none; instead, the centurion’s eyes sparkled in interest.

‘I just mean, perhaps if we knew some of the reality of the situation in the old kingdom, we might be able to focus, to set our minds at rest?’

Gallus nodded very slowly. ‘It’s a fair question,’ he began. ‘I’d like to tell you nice things about what happened to us when we carried out our reconnaissance of the peninsula, I really would.’ Pavo watched as the centurion’s eyes narrowed. He wished he had stayed in the shadows, as the centurion seemed to lose himself in some silent, dark memory. ‘However, the reality of war is something that a soldier cannot afford to dwell on. We need to focus only on us, how good we are, how strong we are. Each of you might still be feeling like fish out of water,’ he paused as the ship rolled again, ‘if you pardon the expression, but the veterans think the same thoughts, feel the same fears. The only difference is that they’ve learned to deal with it.’ He nodded to the slumbering heaps spread all over the deck.

Pavo watched keenly now as he saw the centurion’s stare loosen. There was something there, a sadness. He actually has feelings!

Gallus’ voice trailed off momentarily and the recruits shuffled in discomfort.

‘Thank you, sir, I understand,’ Pavo offered.

‘Just remember, lads, no matter what this mission throws at us, every single one of us will be there by your side, sword in hand, ready to bleed for you,’ he leaned forward, the candlelight flickering in his eyes, ‘to die for you.’

The huddle of legionaries welcomed the statement with a unified roar of approval. Those who had been asleep in their beds groaned rather more disapprovingly. Gallus nodded to Pavo then turned and left them. It was a stony, cold nod, but Pavo’s chest bristled with pride.