As I announced in my other Eagle story, this will be a series of one-shots from Marcus point of view. It will be a companion to "The Passage" in some ways. So expect to sometimes read the same scenes again. This starts a bit sooner though.
I wanted to incorporate Cradoc, who is in the book, but just sparsely seen in the movie (even though he was in the credits).
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DISCLAIMER: These characters and this world does not belong to me. They still belong to the wonderful Rosemarie Sutcliff and of cause the makers of The Eagle.
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The small ship landed at the pier. From here it would not be long until he took up his first command. This had been his choice. Britain.
As they asked him where he would like to get his first command he had been absolutely sure. They had not asked questions why he chose Britain, but the centurion had simply smiled. He had known the history of his family.
Marcus looked at the men that where following him to Britain. To become a part of the second legion. About twenty men who would take the places of the ones who would follow the old commander or of those who where dead or injured.
From here on he and the officers would ride to Isca Dumnoniorum, the men would march to their new post. They had organised the horses and a small carriage to transport some of their things. Like his cuirass. How would his life go on from this moment on? He could only guess.
When his men where ready, he got on his horse, put his centurion helmet on and gave the sign to start marching. His new life could finally begin.
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This fort needed to be brought up to standard again.
The problem lay not only in the latrines as Lotorius had mentioned. The wall itself was lacking. So was the moral of the legionaries. No laurel at the cohort standard, no honour of a won battle whatsoever. Only the officers had enough food to not go hungry every day.
He had started to work on it. And at least the fort was improving over the last days. The moral of the men did not.
Hearing the whispered talk behind his back, he noticed that they saw him as a bad omen. So they had heard of his father and his dishonour. Their trust in him had to wait until they would be in the first battle together. But he hoped that that would wait for some time.
He had other things to worry about, like how to get enough wheat for the men.
Today he would be riding out, going to the village that was situated near the fort. He wanted to meet these people, testing how they responded to Romans. The Briton tribes where still a mystery to him. He could not yet understand how they worked and whom they followed. As far as he did know, there had to be some clan chieftains; how many to each tribe he could only speculate on. And they followed the old religion with the Druids as religious leaders.
He mounted his horse and then went through the gates. He had decided to take none of his legionaries with him and not don his armour. This should not be seen as a aggressive gesture and he doubted that the villagers would attack him. They did live of the fort.
As he reached the first hut a man left it.
"Greetings legionary. What can I do for you?"
Marcus got down from his horse. "Greetings. My name is Marcus Aquila. I am the new commander of the fort. I came to speak with the elders of this village."
The man looked searching at him. Finally he nodded. "My name is Cradoc. I will lead you to the elders." He picked up a spear at the door of his hut and begun walking. Marcus followed him with the reins of his horse in his hands.
While walking Cradoc started a conversation in an unassured but articulate Latin. He obviously did not speak it often.
"Where are you from, centurion?"
"I am from the province Etruria. I arrived here a few days ago."
"Your predecessor never bothered to come to our village. We had only seen him when we went to the fort to bring in some vegetables or fruits. The elders will be honoured to see you."
"And I will be honoured to see them."
Cradoc stopped at one of the houses. "I will leave you here with the elders and go hunting." After a pause he continued. "If you wish so, I would be honoured if you came back to my house and be my guest."
Marcus nodded."Thank you, I will take you up on your offering."
With one last glance Cradoc left and Marcus entered the house.
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He went back to Cradocs hut one week later. As he arrived on his horse he was greeted by two dogs. Behind the hut was some cattle. And he could see two horses. Then Cradoc came out. There was a tentative simile on his face.
"Greetings again, Centurion. You came to take me up on my offer?" He hesitated for a moment. "Come in and be my guest."
With that, Marcus was allowed into the hut.
It was sparsely decorated. Some skins hung at the wall. In one corner there where some spears and a bow. So Cradoc must be a hunter. There was a woman at the fire, caring for a baby and preparing a meal.
"Would you like something to eat?"
The woman brought some of the bread and dried meat, then went to fetch some water. After that she left with the baby. The dogs followed her.
"I hear you conversation with the elders went well."
"Yes, we have spoken of the village and how the harvest will be this year. They say that it will not be good."
Cradoc nodded. "Yes, it will be the third bad harvest in as many years. The people go hunting to feed their children even if they are farmers. There is not much we can sell to the fort these days."
"I see you go hunting yourself?"
Cradoc leaned back, taking a sip of his mug. Then he smiled.
"Yes, the members of my family never where farmers. We always where hunters or held some stock. And what of your family?"
Marcus leaned back. "You can say that my family was in the legions for generations. My father died here in Britain."
Cradoc nodded and some silence fell over them. Before it became awkward Marcus got up.
"I thank you for your hospitality. I will leave now."
Cradoc followed him out of the hut. Before Marcus mounted his horse he said. "Maybe you would like to join me on my hunt tomorrow. I will leave early, just before dawn."
Marcus smiled. He already liked this man. "I will be honoured and be here tomorrow before dawn.
Then he left, riding back to the fort again. His thought where already back to the problems of fortifying the defences of the fort.
XXX
He went hunting with Cradoc the next day. And found that he enjoyed it as a contrast to his life in the fort. Here he could be just himself. Not be the commander of the garrison.
Cradoc lent him the necessary spears and showed him the places to hunt. He even got one doe on his first hunt. Half of it went to Cradocs woman the other half to the kitchen in the garrison. It was a fine meal.
And the next time he was free to go, he asked Cradoc out on a hunt again.
After the hunting they sometimes just sat at the fire in Cradocs hut and talked about the hunt, the customs of the tribes, the harvest and sometimes even about his life at the fort. Cradoc became his only friend here in Britain and he trusted him in many things. One day Marcus was even allowed to guide the team of horses, that pulled Cradoc chariot. They where fine horses to have and he congratulated Cradoc on then.
After that he went back to his fort to go on with his normal life. He still had to come up with a plan to get enough food for the men. And the announced wheat supply was still due. This was getting urgent, because the people in the village had hardly enough for themselves. They could not sell anything to the Romans.
He had to sent out a patrol to investigate in this matter.