Eagle in the Snow: A Novel of General Maximus and Rome's Last Stand

As she turned and walked from the room, I heard her say in a low voice, “And Marcomir will also be sorry for the shame that he put upon me.”

I was startled. I crossed the room and swung her round. “What is that you are saying? Is that true? Did he touch you before I brought you away?”

“Yes,” she cried. “He did. And though I hate him for it, he, at least, is a man. He is not like you. You are only a Roman.” She wrenched herself free and fled from the room. I did not understand. I went back to the table and sat down. I picked up the map of the area and studied it. Maps were easy to read.

The weather broke at last. The sun and the blue sky vanished and we had days of fine, driving rain that left the fields sodden, and which brought with them a cold wind that made us reach for our cloaks each time that we stepped out of our huts into the open. It was on one of these days that a messenger arrived from Bingium. He had ridden all night and he stood dripping water all over my office while he apologised for the delay due, so he said, to a loose horse-shoe. The letter from Fabianus explained his urgency. “Come quickly to the camp of Marcomir,” he wrote. “Only you can prevent a great disaster.”

I left Quintus in charge, took ten men as an escort under Barbatio, and reached Bingium in a little over two hours. There, a boat was waiting for me and, on the east bank, under guard of a group of Fabianus’ men, fresh horses to carry us the remainder of the way. It was still raining when I reached Marcomir’s berg; the stockade was full of armed men, and alarm and anger were the signs I recognised on all the faces that I met. Fabianus, his cloak dripping, met me outside the prince’s hut. Two dozen horses or more were standing there, fully saddled, and many of the men on guard were Alans as well as Franks.

“Well,” I said. “Tell me what is wrong that I must put right.”

He said, in a dead voice, “A party of Vandals raided the berg three nights ago. They came secretly and they went secretly.”

“If it was not a war party what did they want? To spy?”

“They cut the throats of the few guards, but that was all. They went to the women’s side and took the wife of Marcomir from her hut.”

I blinked. “Go on.”

“They had a two hour start before the affair was discovered. Marcomir was away at the time visiting a post that had been attacked the previous day.”

“That was clever of them.”

“Yes. I was in camp. I followed them with two sections and men from the prince’s war band. But we never caught them. The trail ran clear, through a litter of murdered sentries and wiped-out patrols.”

Fabianus wiped the rain from his face. He said, “She was very popular. It was a good match—a fine marriage. It is an insult to be wiped out only in blood. The whole tribe is arming now.”

I said, “He cannot be allowed to go on the war trail. That is what they want. They will destroy him, and then us. And none of it will help his wife.”

“I told him all that. He would not listen to me.”

“Will he listen to me though?”

“That is why I sent for you, sir.”

“Where is he now?”

He jerked his head sideways. “In his hall, holding a council.”

“I shall not see him there. Is he armed?”

“Not yet.”

“I will talk to him in his hut when he arms. It will be best to see him when he is alone. Now get me a dry cloak and some wine. I am very tired.”

I waited under shelter by the stables while men ran past with war-harness and gear, and more and more clans poured into the stockade from the outlying districts. It was cold and I was wet through but it was best that no-one saw me, so I put my cowl over my head and told my men to do the same.

Fabianus squelched through the mud. “Quick. He has gone. Now is the time.”

I nodded and went with him. Outside the hut, with the rain dripping off the porch a light flared suddenly and a bulky figure moved and stood before me. I dropped my hand to my sword and then saw who it was. “Fredegar.”

He nodded, his face streaked with wet. “You have come,” he grunted. “That is good.”

“Have you spoken with him?” I asked.

“Yes. I was at the council meeting. It is all decided.”

“And so?”

“Blood has been spilt. It must be re-paid.”

“I have come to stop him.”

“So. You will be lucky. He will not listen to me.”

“He is mad.”

“Of course.” He glanced at me ironically. “Men are always mad where women are concerned. They let their bellies rule their heads.”

“But you will go with him?”

“Yes. It does not matter what I think. He is my lord and my prince. Your officers would do the same for you.” He smiled with bared teeth.

“Have you no influence? You know what will happen?”

He spat sideways and shook his head so that the rain drops flew from his beard. “Of course. Yet I have ridden too many years at his side not to know that I cannot change the path his horse walks. He goes where he chooses; I follow.”

“What about her father? Does he know? Will he help?”

He shrugged. He said, “She is of us now. It is our matter. Besides, you are here; you will aid us.”