The ground was sodden with more puddles than solid ground, but at least the waters had receded and it was possible to walk around again. Marius stood a few metres outside the fort and surveyed the damage. Standing here now in the cold light of day, it didn’t look so bad, but last night it had been a different story. They’d been close to total annihilation; yet, looking at the few burnt-out buildings, it seemed unbelievable that they’d almost burnt to death. If the water hadn’t come when it had, more buildings would have caught and the conflagration would have spread through the settlement and into the buildings inside the fort.
The water had been devastating. He could see the trail of havoc it had left behind; homes and possessions were ruined, but at least people were alive.
“Sir, when do you want the men ready for your journey to the caves?” It was Celer, eager as ever and always thinking ahead.
Marius turned around. “Give the men a couple of hours yet. We’ve got all day and it was a hard night. I’ll leave one century here with you, Celer, and you can oversee the Thracians and the clean-up operation. Get the locals to help, but also let them out to salvage their things.” He studied the burnt buildings. “Maybe wait a bit before you do that, let things settle a bit out here first?”
“Yes, sir,” Celer replied. “I’ll tell the men not to rush their food.”
Marius was about to turn away when a thought struck him. “Do we have a number yet?”
The young Tribune bit his lip. “Twenty-nine, sir.”
“Get your men to give them an honourable send-off. And tell the scribe to add Tribunus Laticlavius Marcus Junius Silanus to the list of dead.”
“Sir, I wondered what had happened to him. I haven’t seen his body.”
Marius shook his head and fiddled with the heavy ring he had put on his own finger for safekeeping. “You won’t. He realised what those bastards were up to and sneaked out before the fire began. He opened the weir for us. I don’t think we’ll ever find his body.”
“He died saving us, sir. That’s the highest honour for a Roman soldier. He was very brave.”
“Yes, Celer, he was.” Marius turned indicating that he didn’t want to say any more and then heard the splashing footsteps as the young man respected his wishes and made his way back inside the fort.