Chapter One - Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Governor of Britannia.

Suetonius stood above the prow of the trireme, his hands tightly gripping the railing, his knuckles white, almost as white as his face. He watched as the galley, with its three levels of oars, ploughed through the choppy, dirty waters of the Tamesis towards his final destination, Londinium, in the land they called Britannia.

He wondered whether the great general Gaius Julius Caesar, who sailed through these waters more than a hundred years before and conquered Britannia, bringing its barbarian inhabitants to their knees and making the Roman Empire even greater still, wanted to empty his guts into the cold depths that insisted on flinging the galley every which way it could. If he didn’t know better, he would have insisted that the Barbarians gods were attempting to prevent him from landing on that wretched, cold, mist covered island.

How he hated travelling by ship, whether it was on the open sea or along a river, swollen by the detritus flung into it daily by barbarians, despite having grown up in the coastal town of Pisaurum, but at least it was warm there and the wine and olives and roasted fish helped to make his home tolerable, if nothing else.

His father, Quintus Paulinus, was not quite rich enough to become a Senator, and as far as Suetonius was concerned, not quite ruthless enough either, but he was rich enough to be an Equite and had land that he rented out to farmers, so money was not an issue. He was also a linguist and taught Latin and Greek and other more exotic languages, including those of the Britons, to the locals of Pisaurum and its outlying villages and consequently, Suetonius was equally as skilled a linguist. Although Quintus had travelled widely when he was younger, by the time Suetonius was born, he had chosen to settle in Pisaurum, with his wife, Cornelia, and build not only his finances, but his waistband as well.

It did not take Suetonius long to get bored there however, and he craved adventure. When the Governor of the Province started to recruit for men to join the Legions, rather than get drafted, Suetonius immediately volunteered, much to the displeasure of his parents who had envisaged a life of academia for their son and rushed into his training with vigour and skill.

He was clearly meant for a military life and his career was exemplary. By the age of thirty he commanded his own Legion in Mauretania and together with a fellow General, Gnaeus Hosidius Geta and his Legio IX Hispana, the two Generals suppressed a protracted revolt and won accolade after accolade.

Seventeen years later, he found himself wanting to vomit into a river and despite looking as though he was about to die, no-one on board thought it wise to joke with him. Quintus Paulinus may not have been ruthless enough to be a Senator, but his son was more than ruthless enough to discourage piss-taking.

It was widely known that he enjoyed crucifying his enemies and had often been seen stabbing newly crucified enemies with his spear and laughing as the life drained out of them. He would sit in a camp chair, sip wine and laugh. He had no real friends. He had no real need for them.

Suetonius watched as the galley sailed closer to the harbour. He had heard how the barbarians in Britannia were not all following the dictates of Rome and now that he had been given the position of Governor of Britannia, he was going to make damned sure they did so.

The banners of Rome flapped wildly in the vicious winds that he was told plagued these lands, and Suetonius could see slaves and seamen loading and unloading other ships moored along the harbour wall. Legionaries were everywhere, keeping a watchful eye on the goings on, and Suetonius smiled to himself. If his predecessor, Quintus Veranius, was as good as he was rumoured to be, and as vicious as he was rumoured to be, this posting should be only a temporary one. He planned on being back in Rome within a year or two.

Suetonius turned as he heard steps behind him. Before him stood Quintus Petillius Cerialis, the Legate of Legio IX Hispana, and Gnaeus Julius Agricola, his Tribune, who had recently been seconded to his staff from the II Augusta. He smiled. These were good men,and he knew he would need those in the battles to come.

Petillius was young, only twenty eight years old, his black hair cut in the roman fashion, and hard eyes that said he had seen too many battles already, but he was known to be a good strategist and yes, he had succeeded his brother, Caesius Nasica, as Commander of the legion, but that was because he was good at what he did, not through nepotism.

Gnaeus Julius Agricola was even younger. At eighteen years old he left the Legio II Augusta and joined Suetonius in 58 CE, already with a reputation for strength and decisiveness. He and Petillius seemed an odd couple, and considering the age difference, even Suetonius was surprised that the two soldiers were close friends, but that was what he needed; two men he could trust with his life and who were not afraid to tell Suetonius if he was wrong.

Most people who did that ended up dead but not these two, these were his men unto death and in this shit hole, he thought, that could easily happen.

The three men held onto the railing as sailors flew past them, leaping onto the quayside and tying ropes onto the pilings. As soon as the ship was secure, Suetonius headed for the gangplank, almost as quickly as if someone had shouted “abandon ship”. He needed his feet on solid ground and a luckless slave who stood in his way, found himself flying through the air, his neck striking the edge of the pilings and his life ending before his brain even registered pain. His body rolled and slid into the water, floating face down. Suetonius did not even look back as he took his first steps on land.

Petillius and Agricola followed the new Governor of Britannia onto land. Petillius glanced at the floating corpse but immediately turned his attention to the contubernium of legionaries who stood smartly to attention. As Suetonius stopped before them, the squad’s Decanus detached himself and swiftly coming to attention, saluted, his right arm thrusted forward, his palm facing downwards. Suetonius, Petillius and Agricola returned the salute and all four lowered their arms.

‘What is your name Decanus?’, enquired Suetonius.

To his credit, the Decanus looked into the eyes of his superior. Despite the reputation of the Governor, he was unafraid. He had faced screaming celts and lived to tell the tale.

‘I am Lucius Marius Drusus, sir’.

‘Well, Lucius Marius Drusus. Where will I find the Legate?’

‘Sir, the Legate of the Legio XIV Gemina is waiting for you in camp, just a short ride west from here’.

Suetonius slowly nodded and turned to Agricola. ‘See that the men and supplies decant quickly from the ship and follow us when able. Petillius, you will come with me’. He turned again to face Drusus.

‘Is it close enough to walk Decanus?’

‘Yes sir, but I have horses at the ready if you would rather’.

Suetonius smiled. ‘No, I need to feel the earth beneath my feet. I have spent too much time on that infernal ship’.

Drusus nodded and turning, walked away from the ship. Suetonius walked beside him as they left the quay and strolled upwards towards the settlement of Londinium.

As Drusus promised, the Praetorium of the Legate was not far. As Suetonius drew close to the large stone building, he saw the banners of the Legio XIV Gemina fluttering in the wind, the emblem of the Capricorn, a horned goat, proudly declaring who was stationed there.

The Legio XIV Gemina had a proud one-hundred-year history, and they were one of the four original legions who fought against the Celts in forty-three CE. Over the next ten years, they say they fought successfully against the Catuvellauni, the Cornovii, the Deceangi tribes, who were easily subdued, the Brigantes and their hardest battles were against the Silures and the Ordovices, who seemed, to the Romans, the most disciplined.

Two Legionnaires stood guard outside of the main doors of the Praetorium, although Suetonius, Petillius and Drusus had had to pass by many more before they got this far. Suetonius was impressed, although he tried not to show it, by the efficiency of the soldiers he passed. He knew that soon they would be moving to their new fortress at Manduessedum, taking over from the legions who had been stationed there for several years, and yet, all seemed calm. Yes, he was impressed.

The guards saluted and Suetonius returned the gesture. The doors opened and the three Romans walked into the large entrance hall. There were tables everywhere and all ranks were in evidence, whether they were Triones, or recruits, or whether they were higher ranks, the Principals, the Optio or the Centurion.

Standing in the centre, overseeing everything, was Catus Decianus, the Procurator of Britannia. Decianus was well known in Rome and had been assigned to Britannia because of his financial skills or, as Suetonius had often been heard to say, he was assigned to Britannia because he was as tight as a duck’s arse and as ducks like to spend time in wet places, Britannia seemed an obvious choice.

There was no love lost between the two. Decianus believed Suetonius to be an animal suited to war and not much else, and Suetonius believed Decianus to be, well, an arse.

Decianus looked up and sighed, loudly.

‘So, you are finally here, Suetonius?’

‘Obviously. I am here to see the Legate and get a lay of the land before I decide what to do next’.

Decianus nodded. ‘Cassius’, he shouted, and a recruit looked up nervously. ‘Well, get here man’. Just before Suetonius had arrived, Decianus was in an amiable mood, but now, just looking at the new Governor of Britannia, his mood has soured and he was going to take it out on the nearest person he could find.

The recruit ran up to him, sweat already dripping from his brow. ‘Yes sir’.

Decianus’ face showed the disgust he felt at the man dripping sweat in front of him. He viciously slapped him across the face and Cassius stumbled back, blood dripping from his nose.

‘Get out of my sight, you animal. Go and tend to the pigs, you’ll feel quite at home’.

The shaking trione staggered to the entrance but Decianus was no longer paying him any attention. He sought out another victim but before he has a chance to take his anger out on someone else, a door at the far end of the hall opened and the Legate of the Legio XIV Gemina appeared, flanked by his second in command, the Tribunus Laticlavius and one of the Tribunus Angusticlavii, the Legion’s Staff Officers.

Titus Flavius Sabinus, was not a particularly tall man but had about him, an air of command. He was considered fair-minded by most people who knew him, but his sceptics also found him to be a little too convivial. He had a wide welcoming smile and his eyes focused on Suetonius.

‘Well, my friend. It has been a long time’. By this time, he was standing before the party of Romans, and he reached out and gripped Suetonius’ right arm.

‘Indeed it has Sabinus, far too long. It may have been even longer if it had not been for Veranius dying before his time’.

‘I doubt the Chieftains of the Silures would feel the same way’, laughed Sabinus, ‘I think they would consider it a perfect time to die’.

Suetonius wrinkled his brow. ‘I am sure they would be happy for any Roman to die but why this time in particular?’

‘We were actually starting to make headway with subduing them. The Cornovii tribe were relatively easy to beat and once we had built the fortress at Viroconium Cornoviorum, right in the centre of their lands, they fell into line. We are going to Manduessedum first but we will send some divisions to Viroconium Cornoviorum to keep the peace’.

‘How did he die? No-one seems to know”.

‘We think it was his heart although he lingered. His last words were that Nero was a True God and given just two more years, he would have conquered the province, even the Druids’.

‘The Druids, they are their priests, are they not?’ questioned Suetonius.

Decianus interjected, much to the annoyance of both Suetonius and Sabinus. ‘Priests, lawgivers, Judges, healers. The Celts wait on their every word, even with their abhorrent sacrifices and savage ways’.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Suetonius.

This time it was Sabinus who interrupted. ‘You have travelled far my friend. I am sure you need food and wine and a bath. We can continue this conversation this evening?’

By this time, they had been joined by Agricola.

Suetonius nodded his agreement and then glanced to his side. ‘That is a fine suggestion. My apologies, I have been rude. These are my closest advisors, Quintus Petillius Cerialis and Gnaeus Julius Agricola’.

Sabinus nodded in greeting to Petillius and Agricola. ‘Well met gentlemen. I heard much of you. Petillius, I understand you are to be the Legate of the Legio IX Hispana’.

‘I am. It was Suetonius’ suggestion. I think he mentioned that it would make a man of me!’ The men laughed and Petillius received an amiable slap on the back from Suetonius.

‘Drusus’ called out Sabinus, ‘Take the Governor and his men to their quarters to rest’.

Drusus immediately came to attention, ‘Yes Sir!’

‘Suetonius, my friend, I have taken the liberty of assigning Drusus and his Contubernium to be your personal guard while you are here. I know you have your own men, but Drusus here knows Londinium well. He can show you around until you get your bearings’.

Suetonius glanced at Drusus and nodded. ‘I would be grateful for his presence. Tomorrow you can take me on a tour of this famed town?’

Drusus nodded. ‘Of course, sir. I would be honoured’.

Sabinus again gripped Suetonius’ arm, and he and his entourage turned and walked back the way they came, followed quickly by Decianus.

Suetonius watched them leave and then turned to Drusus.

‘Well Drusus, take me to food and wine and a hot bath. I need to get the smell of Decianus out of my nostrils’.

As Drusus led Suetonius, Petillius and Agricola to their quarters, he smiled at Suetonius’ comment. He too hated Decianus and how he treated the men. His mood swung from convivial to downright nasty, and he used his position as a shield and a sword both. He knew that one day he would get what he deserved but he wished it would just hurry up.

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Thank you for reading the first chapter of book #2. Have you read the first one? You can get your copy directly from me or on Amazon.