Empire Under Siege Read Online Free Page B

Turbis’s gaze unflinchingly. “I ask for no special treatment, sir. I only ask that you judge for yourself.”
    “Judge for myself? Well, young man, I have a report in front of me from Father Dunnas. He states that the tribesmen attacked whilst the legion was fortifying for the night. The attacking force was light and little damage was done, the tribesmen easily fought off. Your cohort was standing ready to take the watch and thus you were ordered to give chase and run them down.” Turbis leaned forward. “What else is there to judge, eh?”
    “It was a feint, sir.” Martius raised an eyebrow, eyes still fixed on Turbis. He gave no indication of stress, despite the fact he might be arguing for his life. “A trick. The attack was light because it was their intention to get us to follow. We know the tribes have united under a new leader and many say that he has served in the legions. If so, he knows our tactics. They would have led us into a trap and destroyed us.”
    “And you believe your assumption gave you the freedom to mutiny?”
    “I did not mutiny, sir. I simply asked Father Dunnas to reconsider his order.”
    Turbis’s hackles had risen at the insubordination, “You asked a legion father to reconsider his command! You are a cohort commander, not a general. What gives you the right?”
    Martius seemed unfazed. “I believe that listening is a key aspect of sound leadership, sir. If one does not listen to one’s men, then disaster is certain to follow. I have a duty to the men under my command and I will not lead them needlessly to slaughter.”
    Turbis had sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. It had been a long day and the damned fool standing before him seemed hell bent on sentencing himself to death. Turbis had shuddered at the thought of delivering the sentence to one so high born - a distant relative of the Emperor himself. “But the fact is that you disobeyed an order, I have the statement here right in front of me from Father Dunnas.” Turbis had waved a hand toward a parchment on the desk. He recalled debating whether to end the conversation there, sending the young officer off for punishment. But something in the man’s demeanour had stayed his hand. “Tell me… what did Father Dunnas do when you disobeyed?”
    “He had me confined to quarters last night, and this morning I was brought before you for judgement. I believe he sent two cohorts after the rebels rather than one.” Martius paused, for the first time seeming uncertain. “General, may I speak freely?”
    “Go on, go on. I probably can’t stop you in any case.”
    “I do not believe that Dunnas is a capable officer… He is out of his depth.”
    Turbis had slumped down in his chair, despairing that Martius had not used the proper title when referring to his commanding officer, “You disobey an order and now you see fit to criticise the father of your legion? Tell me, Commander Martius, what am I supposed to do with you?”
    At that moment a messenger had entered the tent and, upon seeing the general was not alone, stood awkwardly at attention. The messenger’s chest heaved from recent exertion.
    “What is it?!” Turbis finally gave vent to his frustration, slapping his right hand down on the desk, almost upturning his ink well in the process.
    “Sir, I have an urgent message from Father Dunnas of the Eighteenth.” The messenger moved forward to hand a parchment over.
    “Forget the damned parchment!” Turbis snapped, noting as he did that Martius had an eyebrow raised, “What’s the bloody message, eh?”
    The messenger hesitated, “Sir… Father Dunnas asks for support. He says two cohorts went missing last night. He has taken the Eighteenth out of camp to investigate.”
    “He’s done what?” Turbis’s heart had pounded a dread beat, “The damned fool!”
    Within five years of the incident, and with no lack of support from Turbis, Martius had risen to command his own legion and gone on to defeat a rebellion