***
They left Doclea and passed into Moesia Superior, though the change was only recorded on the map as the countryside remained as intimidating and mountainous as ever. At Naissus, they joined with a convoy of traders who were on their way to the main market town at Viminacium.
The new men chattered in Latin and told jokes and laughed, which made the journey shorter and much less tense. At night they would sit around the campfire and gossip about politics and events in Rome.
Marius felt himself relax with these new people around them and the uneasy feeling that had persisted since sighting land, finally eased off and he felt comfortable again.
Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for Junius who, it appeared, had inherited Marius’s misgivings. He still rode at the back but refused to join in with the laughter, keeping himself away from the chatter. The men quickly understood the situation, picking up on his birth and rank and so made no efforts to befriend him, knowing instinctively that their overtures would be repelled. Marius was the only person he regularly spoke to and even then he was withdrawn and hesitant, but wouldn’t or couldn’t say what was troubling him.
As he rode, Marius felt someone pull in bedside him; he glanced over to see Titus the trader from Doclea smiling over.
“Forgive me if I’m speaking out of turn, but has the Emperor sent his personal guard to hunt for mushrooms?”
Marius flinched, then collected himself, but Titus continued. “I’ve heard that there’s an issue with them further north, but the general dismisses the concerns.”
Marius glanced over and took a deep breath. “You’re a wheat trader, aren’t you, Titus?”
The man nodded, his dark eyes sparkling. “I am indeed and loyal to the Emperor. It’s my job to ensure that wheat is distributed throughout the Empire.”
“Frumentarii?” Marius asked quietly.
Titus nodded. “Which I presume is why you’re here. The Emperor’s heard about the issues, which the general is trying to keep quiet. It’s been my pleasure to disclose the information.”
“What do you know?” Marius asked. This man joining their convoy wasn’t a coincidence, he decided. The Frumentarii had eyes and ears everywhere, and though they couldn’t intervene they could update the men sent to investigate which is what Titus was going to do now.
“I am aware that the general has been buying cheap grain this year and of a substandard quality.”
Marius glanced over frowning. “And so?”
Titus laughed. “Where have you served, Marius Tullius Varens?”
“I don’t see what that has got to do with our investigation?”
Titus sighed. “A lot, my friend. I take it that you’ve never been to Britannia or Germania and this is your first time to Moesia?”
Marius nodded, bemused.
“You’ve lived in warm, dry counties where there’s little rain and hence not much mould.”
Marius was still confused. “That’s true, I’ve avoided the rain. So far,” he added, smiling.
“You’ve been fortunate, my friend. In wet counties like these, there’s a disease which infects healthy people after a particularly rainy period. It causes nausea, spasms and madness. If left untreated the person becomes covered in blisters and his toes and feet turn red, then black and fall off.”
Marius nodded. “Some of those symptoms are mentioned in the reports.”
“Exactly,” Titus replied, nodding. “Traders in grains such as myself are aware of this illness and ensure that our stock doesn’t contain the infection, but others are not so scrupulous. The quaestor has bought cheap grain and this has led to an infection amongst the men.”
Marius was curious. “Why don’t you tell him? Does he know?”
Titus shook his head. “I would imagine that his accounts indicate that he’s paid the full price and the general himself is fully aware of the situation. They probably don’t realise that the grain is the cause of the ailments.”
A bird flew out of a tree making Marius’s horse shy, but with an effort he managed to regain control. Titus waited patiently, then spoke again. “We know the disease is present if there are purple heads amongst the kernels. It’s been known about for years and some people have cultivated it for the effects it can induce in victims before ritual sacrifice. Of course you Romans live in warmer climes, so have hardly come across it. But we know about it. I believe that this is the real mushroom that you’re after, not one in the woods. One found in rye or even on wheat.”
Marius considered. “But that’s not in the reports you’ve sent.”
Titus shook his head. “I only found out about the quaestor’s actions recently. It’s been wet, Marius, and that makes it the perfect conditions for this mould to thrive and infect people.”
Marius nodded at Titus. “I understand, now I need to speak with Junius.” He told the spy and manoeuvred his horse to the back of the group.
That night as the men around the camp drifted off to sleep, Marius felt much easier in himself. Titus’s explanation seemed logical and sensible. The man knew his business and had his eyes and ears open. Admittedly, he’d never heard of this malady, but then he’d never served in a cold, wet country and Rome had its wheat shipped in from Egypt, where this mould had little chance of growing. Junius had also pointed out that rye was the staple grain in the provinces and as it was darker than wheat, the purple kernels would have been harder to spot. Like him, Junius had agreed that this seemed the most likely cause of the affliction and his friend had even smiled for the first time in days.
As Marius settled down his gaze fell upon Junius who was sitting away from the fire, perfectly still in the low moonlight, where he was taking the first watch. Now at least both of them might sleep a lot easier knowing that there was a rational and logical explanation for events.
Somebody shook him. Marius woke hastily, grabbing his sword as he did so. One of the guides was crouching over him, urging him to rouse. Quickly he sat up, frowning at the man, who muttered and pointed over to the far side of the camp.
Marius looked and instantly realised what was happening. He nodded and walked quietly over so as not to wake anyone else then bent down next to Junius who was murmuring and clearly agitated.
Marius had seen this before, and knew what to do. Gently he woke his friend, who blinked a few times and frowned back at him. Then Junius rolled over and curled himself into a ball and went back to sleep. Marius watched for a moment making sure that Junius was really settled. He hadn’t had any bad dreams like this since they’d left Rome, so to have one now when they’d believed they’d solved the puzzle was worrying. Marius made his decision. He retrieved his roll of bedding and placed it next to Junius. Then he settled down next to his friend. It was the only way he could guarantee that they would both have a decent night’s sleep.