Varus and Vala were walking back to where they had left their horses when Varus’ gaze chanced upon a group of men standing off to his left, close to the workers digging the municipal building’s foundation. The newcomers – they hadn’t been there a few moments before, Varus was sure of it – stood in sharp contrast to Aelwird and his fellows in their Roman clothing. Every last one was clad in traditional tribal dress. Some were bare-chested, but what alarmed Varus was that they were all armed. The dwellings near Porta Westfalica didn’t quite constitute a town yet, and therefore didn’t have the law that prohibited weapons inside the settlement limits, yet few residents carried more than a knife. No doubt they had spears and so on in their houses, but they weren’t evident on the street, like this. ‘D’you see that lot?’ he asked Vala.
‘Just spotted them, sir,’ Vala replied, his eyes narrowed. ‘I was wondering whether to summon your escort.’
‘Don’t. It would give the wrong impression. We get to our horses, and then pretend to take our time adjusting saddlecloths and reins.’ Varus glanced back at the council. ‘Aelwird? Another word.’
Aelwird hurried over. ‘Yes, governor?’
‘Those tribesmen. The ones staring at us,’ said Varus, without looking. ‘Do you know them?’
Aelwird’s eyes moved to the group. ‘They’re Cherusci. I know a few of them, governor, yes.’ He scowled, hesitated, but said nothing more.
‘What is it?’ demanded Varus.
‘It’s idle gossip, governor, nothing for you to be concerned with.’
‘I’ll be the judge of that. Tell me.’
‘The group is visiting the town to trade. They’ve been camping nearby, and drinking in the taverns each night. A few of them have been boasting about how …’ There was a slight pause before Aelwird went on. ‘… how they’re going to ambush your legions.’ He cast an unhappy look at Varus and then Vala. ‘I would have mentioned it, except I didn’t think it worth troubling you with, governor. Their boasts are nothing more than what you might hear in any inn, or around a campfire, on any night of the year. You know how it is when men have drunk too much.’
Could anyone fawn so much and not be genuine? Varus wondered. He threw another glance at the tribesmen. ‘Are any of them of rank?’
‘Not a one, from what I’ve been told. They’re young warriors, out to impress. Full of piss and wind, if you’ll excuse the expression.’
Varus stared for longer than he had before, seeing that most of the warriors were smooth-cheeked. He glanced at Vala, who shrugged. ‘They don’t seem dangerous, sir,’ he muttered.
The warriors were the exception rather than the rule, thought Varus. The majority of the locals were content with being Romanised – he only had to look at the construction going on to see that. ‘It’s the way of all youths,’ he said to Aelwird. ‘I was no different, on a day. No doubt you were the same, Vala?’
Vala grinned. ‘I won’t argue with you there, sir.’
Aelwird looked relieved. ‘If I had drink taken, I was known to exaggerate when I was younger, yes – even to lie about what I had done.’ He leaned a little closer to Varus. ‘If you wish, I could have a few of them rounded up and questioned. A thorough beating and we’d know one way or another if there was any truth to their story.’
Varus toyed with the option before he shook his head. ‘That won’t be necessary. Arminius – you know him?’ Aelwird nodded, and Varus went on, ‘He’s an ally of Rome, but he’s also Cheruscan. According to him, there hasn’t been as much as a whisper of discontent among his people towards the empire these past months.’
‘I’ve heard much the same from other auxiliaries,’ said Vala.
Aelwird beamed. ‘That’s certainly the feeling amongst my tribe. With Augustus’ rule comes peace and prosperity. Yes, we will all have to pay taxes to the imperial treasury, but the benefits of becoming part of the empire far outweigh those costs.’
If there had been any doubt left in Varus’ mind about the need to question the group of warriors, Aelwird’s last comment saw it vanish. Those who said that the Germans were complete savages had closed minds, he thought. Within a generation, the whole region would be but another prosperous part of the empire, like Hispania or Gallia. He swung himself up on to his horse. ‘My thanks again for the tour, and commendations on your plans for the town. Submit your application to form a council before the harvest is taken in, and I’ll see that it’s approved in the shortest time possible.’
‘You have my undying gratitude, governor.’ Aelwird all but kissed Varus’ boot.
Varus waved a benevolent farewell as he rode away. By the time they had reached his escort, the group of tribesmen had disappeared down a side street. It was proof to Varus that there was no cause for concern. If one century puts the fear of the gods into them, what would three legions do? he wondered.
XVI
‘Where in Donar’s name are they?’
It was the morning after Varus’ trip to see the site of the new forum in Porta Westfalica, and Arminius was in a foul mood. He had just returned to the camp after two days away. Was that too long to expect that things might proceed as planned? He paced the small sun-dappled clearing, over and back, around its perimeter, across it again. A dozen of his men stood well back among the beech trees, out of his way, watching in silence. It wasn’t far to the town, but the group was deep enough in the woods to mean they couldn’t be spotted from the road that led southwest, towards Pons Laugona and other Roman settlements. Their horses were tethered nearby, also out of sight.
He glared at Osbert, who was nearest.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Osbert in a calm voice.
‘It’s been too long. Go and look for them,’ ordered Arminius. ‘No! Stay where you are,’ he snapped a heartbeat later. ‘I don’t want a Roman officer wondering what one auxiliary is doing on the road on his own.’
Osbert hadn’t moved. ‘Aye. The less reason to arouse suspicion, the better.’
‘Something forgotten by the young Cheruscan fools who’ve been flapping their lips in Porta Westfalica’s inns. Word of what they’ve been saying reached Varus’ ears, you know that?’
‘Aye, you said.’ Again Osbert kept his voice level.
‘It was pure luck that Varus chose to regard them as loud-mouthed drunkards and nothing more. If he’d taken them in and interrogated them – if my prick of a brother Flavus had heard anything of this-’
‘Except Varus didn’t. And Flavus is none the wiser,’ said Osbert. ‘Calm down.’
Arminius took a step towards him. ‘What did you say?’
The air grew tense, yet none of the others interfered. It was a warrior’s right to challenge his chieftain at any time, but few lived who dared to cross Arminius.
‘You heard me, Arminius,’ said Osbert. ‘Losing your head now won’t achieve anything.’
‘I wouldn’t take that from most men.’ Arminius’ voice was light, but there was an ice-cold timbre to it.
‘I’m not most men,’ replied Osbert, sticking out his chest.
A heartbeat, two heartbeats’ pause, and then Arminius said, ‘You’re not, and in this case, you happen to be right. If there was ever a time for self-control, it’s now. I want to cut the fools’ balls off when they arrive, and make them eat the whole bloody lot, but I won’t.’
Men laughed, and the atmosphere eased. ‘Maybe they’re not coming,’ Arminius continued. ‘It’ll be obvious enough that I know – or suspect – that they let their mouths run away with them, and that that’s the reason I’ve summoned them to a meeting.’
‘If they go to the Romans-’ Osbert began.
‘If that happens, we might have to leave the camp in a hurry. But I doubt that it will. They’re youngsters, less steady than you or I. Maelo will have put the fear of the gods into them. Knowing that you’ll be hunted down and put to death with a wicker hurdle convinces most men to obey.’ Arminius cocked his head. ‘Listen! They’re here.’ As silence fell, he put a hand to his ear. The unmistakeable sound of riders and horses reverberated from the direction of the road. Although they could not be seen, everyone tensed, laying a hand to his weapon.