Free Flame of the West by David Pilling Page B

the countryside, bypassing numerous towns and villages and small farms. Most of the occupants fled in terror at the sight of our banners, but we left their settlements untouched. The army was well-supplied with provisions, and Belisarius kept driving us on at a furious pace.
       Fermo is a pretty little town on a hill overlooking the Adriatic coast. It lay on the junction of roads leading to several Roman towns, making it an important strategic location, and had once been the permanent home of the Fourth Legion.
       The legion no longer existed, but Fermo was still important , and commanded a spectacular view of the sea and the surrounding countryside. Narses had chosen his new headquarters well, and spotted our advance from several miles off.
       He sent a party of officers to greet us on the western road. They were all smiles and good fellowship, and greeted Belisarius like a conquering hero, smothering him with compliments on his recent victories.
       Belisarius was having none of it. “Save your flattery,” he barked, “and tell me this. Does your master hold Fermo against me?”
       Their leader looked shocked. “Against you, general? Why would you say that? He holds the town for you, and for Rome.”
       “Then he will have no objection to opening the gates, and allowing my troops into the town.”
       “None, sir. He is waiting to greet you now, and has set aside food and accommodation for your men after their long march.”
       Belisarius remained suspicious, and marched on Fermo in full military array, as though he meant to storm the place.
       However, the gates stood open, and the soldiers on the battlements cheered and blew trumpets in celebration of our arrival.
       “If there is treachery he re, it is well-hidden,” said Procopius, who had managed to snatch a moment away from the general, “watch your back, Coel, and keep that old sword close by your side.”
       “I always do,” I replied .
       Our vanguard rode through the streets, with Belisarius at the head, surrounded by his Veterans. He wore his golden parade armour, making him an easy target for any archers lurking on the rooftops, but there were no assassins in Fermo.
       Narses was too subtle for that. He received Belisarius at the governor’s mansion, and invited him and his chief officers – and me – to dinner. Belisarius brusquely refused and demanded an immediate council of war instead.
       “Of course, general,” said Narses with one of his bland smiles, “whatever you wish. You are in command, after all.”
       I expected the council to be a difficult affair, with Narses blocking the designs of Belisarius at every turn, but all went smoothly. Every officer present agreed on the necessity of relieving Rimini, and deplored the folly of John the Sanguinary in refusing to give it up.
       Narses attempted to defend the actions of his friend, against those who called for his arrest and trial. “John is young and rash,” he said, “and eager to prove his worth. Too eager, perhaps. He was only recently entrusted with a major command, but he has great ability. We should not be too harsh on him.”
       “Harsh?” shouted Hildiger, “the little turd refused a direct order, and threatened to shoot me into the bargain.”
       He appealed to Belisarius, sitting at the head of the table. “Sir, are we to tolerate this sort of behaviour from mere subalterns? In the days of Trajan, he would have been flogged to death before the assembled legions. How we have fallen away in these latter days. Leniency breeds insubordination!”
       Some cried approval of this, including myself, but Belisarius looked wary. He was already out of favour with the Emperor, and might fall further from grace if he punished John as the man deserved. On the other hand, if he let him off, he risked losing the respect of loyal officers like Hildiger.
       He dealt with the issue by avoiding it. “Enough of this wrangling,” he