‘But it’s at least in reasonable shape.’
‘For the most part yes, apart from the breach.’
Cassius’ frown deepened as Barates continued.
‘It’s behind the barracks. A few months ago a pair of pack horses were startled by something and bolted. They hauled a cart half the length of the fort and it overturned as they rounded a corner. It made quite a hole and over time the area above has collapsed. Perhaps if I show you?’
‘Later. How big is this breach?’
‘Eight feet across, about the same in height.’
‘Why wasn’t it dealt with?’
‘It happened after all the locals had left. The clay they use here is unusual and, well, I suppose we just never got round to it.’
‘You mean to tell me there’s no one here who can repair a wall?’
‘No one volunteered their help. Needless to say I’ve had other things to attend to.’
‘There’ll be someone,’ interjected Strabo. ‘I’ll ask around.’
‘Do so. Right then, the walls.’
At a nod from Cassius, Simo made his first note.
‘Two — water and food,’ continued Barates. ‘Although this lot have done their best to get through the contents of the granary, I should say at least three-quarters remains. There’s grain, pork, fish, plenty to see us through. Water too — the spring under here must be huge. Even in this season, the well still gives us all we want and what comes up is remarkably pure in taste and colour.’
‘Enough for drinking,’ said Cassius. ‘But we’ll need a good deal more if attacked.’
He had received basic instruction on the art of the siege and knew it was likely the Palmyrans would try to fire the buildings before mounting an assault.
‘There’ll be enough,’ answered Barates. ‘We have barrels sitting empty in the granary. I’ll have a detail fill as many as they can.’
‘Right,’ said Cassius as Simo made another note. ‘What’s next?’
‘Three — weapons and equipment,’ said Barates.
‘We’ll have a good idea about that after muster, won’t we?’ Cassius said.
‘True, as far as personal arms go. There are also perhaps fifty or sixty of the light javelins. They might prove useful.’
‘Perhaps if we had five or six hundred,’ replied Strabo. ‘I could chuck fifty myself in the time it takes you to cross the square. Anyway, a lot of good they’ll do us against oven men.’
‘Oven men?’ Cassius asked.
‘Palmyran cavalry,’ said Strabo, leaning forward and thumping his elbows theatrically down on the table.
‘They cover themselves and their mounts in a coat of iron. Workmanship you wouldn’t believe: joints that move with their limbs, metal hardy enough to deflect any sword, their only vulnerable point a tiny opening for each eye. I spoke with a man who saw them hit the Persian flank at Callinicum. He watched one of their lances go clean through a horse — in one side and out the other.’
Strabo illustrated the blow with a jab of his finger and leaned back, still holding Cassius’ gaze.
‘Wonderful horsemen. Worth twenty infantry each at least. The only time they lose is when they faint from the heat.’
‘But surely cavalry are ill-suited to a siege,’ said Cassius optimistically.
‘Has happened. To punch a hole at a weak point. And you’ve seen our gate.’
‘Which should be our next area of attention,’ said Barates. ‘It needs reinforcing.’
‘And the gatehouse?’ queried Cassius.
‘If the enemy bring artillery they’ll knock it down in half an hour,’ said Strabo.
‘Siege warfare is not their speciality as well you know,’ replied Barates. ‘They prefer to move quickly and there’s little suitable material for artillery in these parts. More likely they’ll attack in numbers, try to fire the buildings, use ladders for the walls.’
Cassius checked that Simo was keeping up. The ink was a tad watery but the Gaul had written concise notes in a large, clear hand.
‘Didn’t we have some artillery around somewhere?’ asked the Sicilian, drawing a look of dismay from Barates.
‘As well informed as ever, Strabo,’ he answered, taking his own turn at sarcasm. ‘There was a light onager and a pair of scorpions but they went east with the legion. Not that we have a trained crew anyway.’
‘Do you have any horses?’ said Cassius.
Barates shook his head.
‘The pair that bolted were our last. Both had broken legs and had to be killed.’
‘There are no other horses here?’ asked Cassius, incredulous.
‘No. We have three camels though,’ said Barates. ‘Difficult beasts, but we have a boy here who takes care of them.’
Strabo laughed. Barates continued.
‘With his help I’ve been able to mount the odd patrol. Evil creatures to be sure and an uncomfortable ride, but they can get us out to the crest and back in a couple of hours.’
Barates answered Cassius’ next question before he could ask it.
‘A small rise a couple of miles east. It gives a commanding view of the area and several hours warning of any approach.’
‘Excellent,’ said Cassius, relieved to hear a piece of good news. ‘We shall post a permanent guard there. You can show me it after muster.’
‘I shall tell Julius to ready the animals.’
‘That boy is a cretin,’ said Strabo irritably. ‘We should have sent him away with the rest of the locals.’
‘He has some trouble with his words, I grant you,’ answered Barates, ‘but there’s nothing wrong with his brain. He’s been a good deal more use to me than anyone else in recent months.’
‘The only reason he is able to deal with the camels is because he has the same level of wit.’
‘Strabo, that boy is worth-’
‘Gentlemen, please.’ Cassius held up his hands between the two of them; it seemed this was a long-running argument. ‘We don’t have time for this.’
‘Sorry, sir,’ said Barates, ‘but I’m still waiting for our esteemed guard officer to offer a worthwhile point to this discussion.’
‘Here’s one for you,’ said Strabo. ‘Probably the most important point of all — the attitude of the men.’
‘And whose responsibility is that?’ asked Barates.
Strabo held up his hands.
‘Fair enough. But remember I never asked Petronius for the job. And the pay is scarcely more-’
‘This is not the time for recriminations,’ Cassius said. ‘Obviously the situation is far from ideal, but if we can’t get the men working and fighting together then everything else is for naught. Let’s start by grouping them into sections. At least then we know what we have to work with. Simo — the century roll. And the pen to mark it with.’
‘What about the Syrians?’ said Barates, making way as Simo fetched the papyrus sheets and placed them in the middle of the table. ‘They could be a great help to us.’
‘You really think they’ll stand by us?’ said Strabo. ‘More likely Kabir will switch sides if he thinks there’s gain in it.’
‘You seem to get along with the locals,’ Cassius told Barates. ‘When we’re done here, tell this Kabir I will visit him first thing in the morning. There’s not time tonight and I think a clear head might be preferable for such a task.’
‘That’s probably wise,’ replied the veteran. ‘There are certain niceties to be observed when dealing with them. And as Strabo said, Kabir’s no fool. His patience has been sorely tested; they’ve been awaiting pay even longer than us. If he thinks he’s being lied to, there’s no telling what he’ll do. To be honest, if things turned nasty, I wouldn’t fancy our chances.’
Cassius noted Strabo’s cynical frown but the Sicilian said nothing, choosing instead to lean forward and examine the roll. Wiping sweat from his top lip, Cassius asked Simo to fetch them some water.
Strabo got to the third page and handed it over to Barates.
‘Well it’s a little out of date, but everyone seems to be there. Including us three, forty five men in total.’
‘Five groups of nine perhaps,’ suggested Barates. ‘For work parties now, sections if we have to fight.’
‘So who is to lead these sections?’ asked Strabo tiredly.