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‘No.’ She shook her head almost fiercely. ‘This is just how I imagined it would be.’
Imagined? He wrinkled his brow at the wistful note in her voice. She sounded as if she’d spent a lot of time imagining it, as if it were more than just common interest. A vague memory came back to him from their very first day together. I’ve always wanted to see it... She’d been talking about Hadri
an’s Wall—the same wall she’d asked if she could see from Coria, that she’d seemed so excited about when he’d told her they were going to Cilurnum yesterday...
‘This way.’ He mounted his own horse and led their small procession out through the gates, impressed by her skill in the saddle as she guided the horse with a mere tap on the shoulder.
‘I told you I grew up in the country.’ She must have noticed him looking because she gave a small smile. ‘I rode most days when I was a girl. I always enjoyed it, but my husband...’
‘Didn’t approve?’ He finished the last sentence for her. He was starting to wonder if there was anything her husband had approved of.
‘He preferred a carriage, but I’ve always loved riding.’ She leaned forward, patting her horse’s neck as if to prove it.
‘Then you’ll be pleased to know that Cilurnum is a cavalry regiment.’
She sat up straight again. ‘But I thought you said all the forts on the wall were manned by auxiliaries?’
‘They are. These are auxiliary cavalry soldiers.’
‘I didn’t know there was such a thing.’ She sighed. ‘I’m starting to think I have a lot to learn about the Roman army.’
‘I feel the same way at times. Most of the forts along the wall are manned by infantry regiments, but a few are mixed and four of them are cavalry only. They’re organised differently to the legion. For a start, they’re called alae and they’re divided into turmas, not centuries. Each turma has thirty-two riders.’
‘As opposed to eighty soldiers in a century?’
He nodded approvingly. ‘You’re learning.’
‘So what’s the difference between an auxiliary and a legionary? Apart from auxiliaries not being Roman citizens?’
‘They get less pay and less training, but there are some advantages. Fewer rules, for a start, and not so much hard labour. It’s a better life in some ways.’
‘You sound as if you want to join.’
‘Some days I think so, too, but it doesn’t work that way. Every so often, a decurion gets promoted to the legion, but not the other way round.’
‘So how many men are there in Cilurnum altogether?’
‘About five hundred riders, give or take.’
‘Just in one fort? That seems like a lot.’
‘It’s a long wall.’
‘So why are we going there? I mean, I know why we’re going, but I mean why there in particular? Why to a cavalry regiment when you’re an infantry centurion?’
‘Because Nerva’s finally given permission for me to take a patrol north and we can cover more ground on horseback.’
‘What?’ Her voice sounded higher-pitched all of a sudden. ‘He said it was too dangerous!’
‘If I were on my own then he’d probably be right, but I’ll have men with me.’
‘But what if you’re right and the tribes are planning a rebellion?’
‘Then we’ll find out once and for all.’ He felt stirred by the note of concern in her voice. ‘I’ll take care, don’t worry.’
She fell silent for a few moments after that, though he could still see her chewing her lip. ‘So it’s not a punishment, then?’
‘What do you mean?’
