Legionary: The Scourge of Thracia (Legionary 4) by Gordon Doherty Page B

however meekly spoken, clearly had no delusions of overblown strategic nous. His logic was simple and flawless. Gallus chided himself for judging Saturninus on appearance just moments ago.
    ‘Only while they remain on the northern side of our ramparts are we safe. And it must remain that way until the Praesental Armies of East and West arrive in the south. Only then will we have forces numerous enough to engage and defeat the Goths.’
    Gallus’ thoughts darkened, imagining the shadowy faces of the Speculatores that would come with the Western Emperor and his army. His heart thudded a little harder and a frisson of ire swept across him. He dug his nails into his palm to shake off the dark thoughts, focusing on the crude earth map, imagining the great distances and mustering efforts required to bring the two Praesental Armies to Thracia. ‘Yet they will not converge on these lands until spring. Can the passes hold out that long?’
    Saturninus’ face grew longer. ‘They have to, Tribunus. They have to.’
    Gallus’ eyes were drawn to the section of earth north of the five passes where the Goths were currently camped: Moesia. ‘But the Goths will be starving before then. They will spare no effort in tearing these stockades down to flood south. There must be a secondary plan.’
    ‘There is,’ Saturninus’ face lifted in a laconic half-smile. ‘Can I trust you, Tribunus?’
    ‘It depends on what you are about to tell me,’ Gallus replied flatly.
    Saturninus smiled again, this time it was truly wry. He tapped the area north of the five passes. ‘I heard word, little more than rumours, that Fritigern was open to the notion of peace talks. Now many say the time for talks has passed, but few have lived on the edge of the war as I have for the last half-year. So I despatched an embassy north along the ridge path, down into the Moesian plains where the Gothic horde gathers. They were to engage in an opening dialogue with the Gothic Iudex and his council of reiks.’
    ‘How long ago?’ Gallus asked, immediately pitying the poor souls in that party.
    ‘A fortnight,’ Saturninus said, ‘and the Gothic camp is but a day and a half of marching from here along the ridge path.’ He pointed off over the north wall.
    ‘You have heard nothing from them?’ Gallus asked and Saturninus shook his head gravely. He frowned, a fresh night breeze searching under his armour and robes. ‘Not even a ransom . . . not even a severed head tossed to the walls?’
    ‘Nothing.’ Saturninus shook his head again. ‘Hence, the proposed foray north of the blockade. I need to know the fate of the embassy. A reconnaissance group could cross the mountains to gather this information. As I said, the V Macedonica is populated with natives of southern Greece, well-drilled in manning this blockade but without great knowledge of these mountains and little knowledge of the Moesian plains. But your legionaries know that land well, do they not?’
    Gallus nodded. ‘I agree in principle, but surely a handful of equites would be best placed to ride north in less than half the time it would take my infantry?’ He looked around and located the small lean-to stable sheltering two grazing geldings.
    ‘Ah,’ Saturninus smiled, ‘I did try such an approach, but the riders were pelted with Gothic arrows further up the ridge path and driven back. No, this group must travel unseen. This broken trail I spoke of is the only viable route, and that is not a path for horsemen. Not at all.’
    Gallus nodded, then looked up and over to the now erected XI Claudia tent, seeing Quadratus groaning, stretching his back like an old man, heard Sura flop onto his bedding with a groan and saw Zosimus sitting cross-legged, tongue poking out, attempting to lance a blister on his ankle with the end of his spatha.
    ‘Very well,’ he said with a cocked eyebrow. ‘My men will be ready to move out tomorrow.’
    Saturninus stood and Gallus did likewise. ‘Excellent. Now let me