Avenger of Rome by Douglas Jackson Page A

situation became clearer in the morning.
    Serpentius offered him a drink from one of the skins, but he refused. ‘It can’t be long until first light. We’ll issue a ration then. But I want you to stay close and make sure no one else touches it.’ He left the Spaniard and walked across the soft sand to where Domitia sat. One of the slave girls was tying a bandage round her ankle.
    ‘I hope it’s not too painful, my lady?’
    She looked up. By some miracle the girls had managed to make her hair and clothing presentable. ‘It barely hurts at all, tribune, although it is a little swollen.’ He smiled at the lie. ‘I must thank you for what you did,’ she continued. ‘If we had stayed on the ship we would all have drowned. I was wrong to delay you.’
    ‘Sometimes it is more prudent to retreat than to stand your ground, but the decision is never easy, especially for a soldier – or a soldier’s daughter.’
    She nodded at the compliment, and in the pause that followed they could hear the sound of timbers shattering as the breakers continued to hammer the ship. ‘How long are we likely to be here?’ It was a foolish question, a little girl’s question, and he experienced a moment of irritation. Already, he felt crushed by the weight of expectation. Unless they were very fortunate he would soon have to take decisions that would mean the difference between life and death for every stranded survivor; decisions founded on the most basic of knowledge. He didn’t know how well equipped he was to do that, but whatever happened in the coming hours or days it was vital to keep their spirits up.
    ‘Perhaps a few days.’ He kept his voice confident. ‘We will know better in the morning. We may have landed on the Judaean coast, but we have no real idea. We were driven far south and I think even poor Aurelius would have struggled to place us. If we
are
there, it is a fertile area and we should be within walking distance of some sort of settlement. In the meantime, please rest. It could be a long day tomorrow.’
    ‘And if we are not?’
    ‘Then we must endure and survive until help comes, my lady. Sailors have many useful skills and we are fortunate to have resourceful men with us. I do not fear for our future.’
    It was surprising how easily the lie came. He knew there were things he had to do, but first he called Tiberius across. ‘You were right to kill the lookout. Thank you.’
    ‘I was only doing my duty, tribune.’
    ‘No, Tiberius, it was more than your duty and I want you to know I appreciate it. If I can ever return the service …’
    ‘Of course, sir. Perhaps you might commend me to General Corbulo,’ Tiberius said seriously. ‘This posting is a great opportunity for me and I would not want to waste it by being sent to some obscure outpost in the mountains.’
    Valerius fought the urge to laugh. Here they were stranded only the gods knew where with barely enough food and water to last a week and Tiberius was concerned about his career. ‘I think the general will find a better use for a man with your qualities. Julius, fool that he was, called you a fighting cock and he was right. You could be a great soldier some day. I have served with great soldiers and I recognize their qualities in you.’
    The young man was clearly embarrassed and Valerius regretted being so forthright. He sounded like a foolish old veteran polishing his armour by the fire for his retirement parade. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Tiberius suddenly grinned shyly and reached for his belt.
    ‘I found this lying on the deck.’ He handed Valerius a legionary
gladius
, the one Suetonius Paulinus had presented to him in the aftermath of the British rebellion. ‘I did not think you would want to lose it.’
    Valerius had thought he would never see the sword again and he’d resigned himself to its loss, but now he had it in his hand he felt its power running through him. Still. He held the blade out hilt first to the younger