Sword of Rome(14)

‘We won’t get proper uniforms, nor proper pay, until we’re a proper legion and we’re not a proper legion till we’re trained. I don’t know about you, oarmates, but I wouldn’t much fancy taking on a legion. We’re tough enough …’ he waited until the roar of agreement had subsided, ‘but some of us have seen those boys at work and being tough and brave didn’t do the opposition much good. I think they’ll use us to garrison Rome while we’re hardened up for land fighting. The regular legions can defeat the traitor, the way they beat the Gauls. As long as we’re to eventually follow the eagle, I for one will be satisfied with that.’

‘Aye.’ The man opposite, a bearded brick wall with an accent from somewhere up on the Danuvius, nodded. ‘Juva is talking sense as usual. We will fight if we have to, but we must be patient for our eagle.’

A pause in the conversation gave Valerius his opportunity. ‘Perhaps I could offer you gentlemen a drink?’ he suggested. ‘It would be an honour to help slake the thirst of Rome’s protectors.’

‘Are you laughing at us?’ the Danuvian demanded, his red-rimmed eyes threatening. ‘I don’t like the stink of you, or your dangerous-looking friend.’ He turned to his mates. ‘I think we should take them out the back and drown them in the piss barrel.’

The proposal was greeted by roars of approval and Serpentius reached for his knife as the bulk of the sailors rose to their feet, but Valerius placed a restraining hand over the Spaniard’s and the Nubian Juva growled at his shipmates.

‘No. He’s right. If we are to be soldiers, we should act like them. With discipline. We are here to protect Romans, not do them harm.’ He turned to face the two men. ‘But why should you want to buy us a drink?’

Valerius shrugged. ‘There have been rumours that a new legion is being formed from the navy. From what we’ve heard it sounds as if it’s true. You men are sailors; I’m interested to know why you should volunteer to fight on land.’ He pulled back his sleeve to show the walnut fist. ‘I have fought on land and sea and I know there’s a big difference.’

Juva studied the artificial hand. ‘Perhaps not a good enough fighter on either.’ He grinned.

Valerius met his eyes with an unblinking stare. ‘Good enough to be still alive, my friend.’

The Nubian froze. For a moment he looked like a great panther ready to spring. Then he laughed. ‘Where is this wine we were offered?’

They waited until the owner had served up jugs of wine, and while his comrades took up their filthy refrain once more Juva joined Serpentius and Valerius by the wall. He picked up his cup and drank deeply, slurping in appreciation. Valerius refilled the cup and the Nubian nodded his thanks.

‘Why do we fight? You think it is for money?’ the big man growled. ‘True, a year at the oars pays less than half what a soldier earns for a year behind the eagle, but why would a man die for money? No, it is partly pride. Who would want us as we are, the dregs and scrapings of a dozen ports? Peregrini. Orphans and bastards and the abandoned. A sailor is despised, except by his own kind,’ he waved an expansive hand that took in his roaring shipmates, ‘while a legionary has the world’s respect. But even that might not be enough. So there is more. Divine Nero in his wisdom has decreed that all, even the lowest among us, even a former slave, will become a Roman citizen on the day his enlistment expires, and that enlistment will be deemed to have begun the day he first took ship. Can you understand what that means, Roman? In just ten years, if I live, the byblow of a Mauretanian pirate and a Nubian house slave will be permitted to wear the toga.’ As he spoke, his eyes glistened and his voice rose. ‘No man will have the right to raise a hand to me and I will have the right to stand in judgement over other men.’

‘Then I congratulate you, Juva of the Waverider, and I will pray that you live to see that day. But for now, what do your officers have planned for you?’

‘That is a spy’s question.’ The eyes narrowed further, but Valerius was ready for the accusation.

‘Not a spy’s.’ He lowered his voice. ‘A question from one with a family and friends who fear for the future. You spoke of garrisoning Rome while others fight, but I fear that is not to be. The reason the naval legion exists is because the Emperor’s generals have deserted him. You are all he has left.’

‘There is the Guard,’ Juva said defensively. ‘They are oath-sworn to their Emperor.’

Yes,’ Valerius agreed, wincing internally at having to deceive an honest man. ‘There is the Guard.’