Scaurus raised an eyebrow.
‘Stay here, Governor? Surely the Third Gallic should be based at Raphanaea, or up at Zeugma, strengthening the watch on the border with Osrhoene?’
Dexter waved a dismissive hand.
‘Osrhoene, Legatus, is a client of Rome. The risk that King Abgar might invade the province is only slightly greater than that of a revival of the Republic, which is to say none at all! I decided at the start of my tenure that Antioch would be best protected by the presence of its own legion, permanently available to safeguard the city. A detachment from the Third Parthian more than suffices to keep watch on the Euphrates at Zeugma, and in time of need my Gauls could be marched to reinforce them quickly enough. After all, we’ll have plenty of warning from Abgar’s scouts, should the King of Kings make the unlikely decision to move against us.’
‘But the city can only be attacked if an enemy manages to cross the Euphrates, which is why the fortress at Zeugma-’
Dexter shook his head briskly.
‘Your predecessor Legatus Lateranus and I decided that the position at Zeugma is far too easily bypassed by an enemy as cunning as the Parthians, so we centred our defence of the province’s north on Antioch instead.’
Dexter turned away to look out over the city again.
‘You can discuss the military ins and outs of the matter with Lateranus when he returns from leave, if you’re still here, of course.’
Scaurus stared back at him for a moment before answering.
‘Leave? When do you expect his return?’
Dexter shrugged, his face professionally expressionless.
‘I have no idea. We received word of his father’s death only yesterday, and so of course I sent him back to Rome immediately. He’ll be gone for months, I’d imagine.’
The legatus stared levelly at his superior for a moment.
‘I see.’
‘I’m sure you do. After all, you’re no less a gentleman for only being an equestrian. So serious a family matter must take precedence.’
Scaurus nodded.
‘I think I understand the urgency of my predecessor’s departure only too well, Governor. With your permission I’ll go and take command of my legion, since it’s here?’
Dexter nodded, turning back to his view across the city.
‘By all means, Legatus. I’m sure you’ll find your deputy Gabinus Umbrius has a firm grip of matters. I’ll have your orders written up and sent over to you this afternoon.’
The two men bowed and left him staring over the rooftops, making their way out of the palace in silence. Scaurus stopped at the top of the steps and looked out at the city with a small shake of his head.
‘Half the legion. Five cohorts against a Parthian army. We’ll all be dead before we get within sight of Nisibis if that order stands. Let’s go and break the good news to Julius.’
2
Legatus and tribune found Cotta standing outside the Third Gallic’s fortress, alongside a tall, thin man who was equipped in an almost identical version of his centurion’s uniform. His long faced was heavily lined, and his hair completely grey, but his demeanour seemed steady enough at first glance. The legion officer seemed to be remonstrating with their colleague in a lively manner, but both men snapped to attention on noticing the approach of senior officers.
Cotta strode forward, speaking quickly to Scaurus in low tones calculated not to carry to the legion officer.
‘The legion’s records are as they should be, Legatus, properly maintained and fully detailed. Apart from the fact that there’s a lot of men away on leave, it looks clean enough.’
He extended a hand to introduce his colleague.
‘Legatus, this is First Spear Quintinus. We served together in the last war with Parthia.’
The legion man snapped to attention and saluted.
‘Legatus! First Spear Gaius Quintinus at your disposal! We will do what is ordered and at every command we will be ready!’
Scaurus and Marcus returned the salute, the legatus choosing to acknowledge the first spear’s obvious look of disgruntlement when it was suggested that Cotta might be best employed finding barracks to accommodate the Tungrian cohorts, waiting until the veteran officer was out of earshot before turning to his new senior centurion.
‘Is there a problem, First Spear Quintinus?’
Quintinus shook his head.
‘It’s not right, Legatus, not when we didn’t even know that Legatus Lateranus was being replaced. Cotta and your Decurion simply barged into the camp and made their way to the headquarters building, and when they were challenged by the duty centurion they simply handed him your written orders and refused to take any more notice of him. You’re lucky that none of my officers decided to push the issue.’
Scaurus considered him levelly for a moment before replying.
‘But they didn’t, did they? Which speaks volumes for both my men and your officers. But it’s just as well.’
He lowered his voice, forcing the first spear to lean closer to hear his words.
‘Any man who chooses to disregard my orders can expect to find himself roped to a post with his back hanging off. Any man. It would have made for an interesting fight though. I believe Centurion Cotta’s famously short temper would have gone up like a signal fire doused with naphtha if he’d felt that his long service with this very legion wasn’t being accorded the right degree of respect.’
The first spear nodded angrily, clearly holding onto his own temper by a narrow margin.
‘And that’s another thing, sir. In this legion appointments to the rank of centurion are approved by a committee of centurions. Cotta may well have done his time wielding a vine stick, but he left the Gauls ten years ago, and under a cloud of suspicion to do with the death of an emperor. An emperor, Legatus. Under the circumstances I don’t think that the centurions will-’
Scaurus shook his head, his eyes narrowing with anger, raising a finger to forestall any further complaint.
‘Two points, First Spear. Firstly, the emperor you’re talking about was no more an emperor than you are. This legion acclaimed Gaius Avidius Cassius as ruler for the simple reason that the officers of the day expected to be handsomely rewarded for their loyalty. In removing Cassius’s threat to the legitimate emperor, Centurion Cotta did no more than was his duty, and he did it under the command of a tribune who had been placed in his role by Marcus Aurelius himself, and for precisely that purpose. A wise emperor knows where threats to his rule will come from, and positions the right men in the right places to deal with them as required. And Marcus Aurelius was no fool.
‘Furthermore, First Spear, Cotta’s suspected role in Cassius’s death will remain no more than suspicion, if you’re still keen to be carrying your vine stick for the rest of your career.’
He stared at Quintinus for a moment before continuing. ‘And secondly, First Spear, to whom exactly do you imagine that this legion belongs? To you and your brother officers, or to the people and the senate of Rome?’
Quintinus looked at his superior for a moment before replying.
‘To the people and the senate of Rome, Legatus.’
Scaurus nodded.
‘Exactly, First Spear. The people’s will is enacted by the senate, among whom the emperor is primus inter pares, First Spear, very much the first among equals. And when the emperor awarded me the singular privilege of commanding this legion, he made no mention of having to run any of my decisions past committees of centurions!’