I gave the dispatch to the courier and now it’s on its way to the emperor. On the morrow I have to escort the remounts and taxes to Durocortorum but for now the deserter, my prisoner needs my attention and I need questions answered.

I approached the prisoner in the cell the keepers were about their tasks - interrogating him. My Lord Aragorn the deserter has fainted, “Has he told you what happened at the estate of Averius yet?” No! Lord not yet! Then don’t kill him yet I want my questioned answered. Wake him up! Then Aragorn turned and faced Prince Vertixongius of the Arverni.

I’ll have my answers first then I’ll execute him, this enraged Prince Vertixongius, I would have had the answers already you Roman dog! If your men hadn’t stopped my men and me for interrogating this Cantabri dog I would have had the answers by now.
Perhaps! . . . Then again perhaps Not! . . . Your methods are sloppy Prince Vertixongius the deserter knew you’re a leader of the Arverni people and he is of the Cantabri people by his tattoos.
Prince Vertixongius, have not the Arverni have had a blood feud with the Cantabri for centuries and has any of them every broke under Arverni torture, as I hear it they die first. Yes! He is Cantabri dog and he and his kind will die for what they have done.
Yes! They will be punished for their crimes, those that have committed the crimes not the whole Cantabri tribe and Roman law will punish them.
That means me! Not you PrinceVertixongius!. . . .Prince Vertixongius, looked angrily at Aragorn then went storming out of the cell, Aragorn turned and looked at the keepers. . . Now get me my answers. The chief of the keepers face paled as Aragorn paced back and fore in the cell waiting on the answers; he had seen Lord Aragorn angry before but never like this. It was never a good idea to have anyone angry with you that had the power of life or death over people, especially not Lord Aragorn.

Lord Aragorn the deserter is coming around shall we start again? . . . No! Wait a moment, I have an idea, . . . Aragorn picks up a pail of water and tosses it on the deserter, . . . Do I have your attention! . . . The chief keeper lifted the deserter’s head. Aragorn pulls his pugio from it’s scabbard places it to the deserter’s throat, . . . Now do I have your attention Aragorn spoke as a few drops of blood runs down the blade.
Yes! I can see by your eyes, I now have your attention, . . . “You’re a deserter from one of the emperor’s legions serving on the Germanic frontier, . . .You are linked to the murders at the estate of the Averius by the booty found on your dead horse.”. . . ”You’re also wearing the same type of legionnaries’ uniform that was worn by the four die bodies of your fellow deserters that you left behind at the estate Averius”. . . “You’re a member of the Cantabri people of NW Hispania and your people and the Arverni have had a blood feud going on for over 300 years.”

“Under Roman law you will be charged with desertion from Roman military service during a time of war, this is – Punishable by Death!”
“Under Roman Law you will be charged with the murder of five members of the family the Averius and the blinding of Lord Averius. The murder of twelve of the workers on his estate and these are only the crimes that we have knowledge of but I suspect there are several more crimes – But for the crimes of murder they are also - Punishable by Death!”
“Under Roman law you will be charged with Inciting Open Warfare among indigenous tribes the Arverni and the Cantabri, . . . You’re wearing a Roman military uniform during such an attack, to made it appear that the raid was an authorized attack by a Roman military unit. Since the Cantabri, your people know that it is again Roman law to attack the Arverni, and so you and your fellow deserters did so in disguised this is – Punishable by Death!”
“Under Roman authority, I am law here in Aquitania and I will determine whether you will live or die. . .Or rather how you will die. . . Do you under stand me.” The deserter opened his mouth to say something but then decided not to do so.
As legati here I have the authority, to send you to a slave galley which is a slow death or the sulphur or mercury mines which is certainly a very slow death and full of hazards.
I also have the authority to turn you over to Prince Vertixongius a leader of the Arverni it was members of his family that you and your fellow marauders and deserters murdered and robbed then burned the estate of, your death here would be very slow and very painful. The deserter’s face paled, YES! You and your fellow deserters have signed a death warrant for everyone of you and if it wasn’t for the Roman authority here and in Tarraconensis for every one of your people also.
Do you know what revenge Prince Vertixongius will take upon you and your fellow deserters and even worst upon your people who are innocent of these crimes. Upon your own families your brothers, sisters, your parents all will die a horrible death, Unless!
The deserter now looked me in the eyes. . . . Unless what? Tell me what I want to know or I will turn you over to Prince Vertixongius for justice Arverni style, a long and slow death. And when you die, the raven will eat of your body parts and your bones will be broken, and spread throughout the countryside. . . . So that you will not be able to enter the Warrior’s Heaven for you will have no head and as a member of the Warrior’s cult that you belong to you must have your Head.
Aragorn spoke once again. . . . “I have little time to waste upon you deserter. . . . Tell me what I want to know, and I will have your wounds cleaned, fresh cloths brought for you, food and drink and you may sleep and for two days you may rest. Then on the third day you will be taken out and behead with the sharpest spatha in Aquitania or you may perhaps die by javelin. When it is finished you won’t have known you had been killed and your head will be with you. But if you refuse I’ll turn you over to Prince Vertixongius, you know what death is certain to await you there but now it is your choice. . . .

NEXT

Blood Upon The Ground – Answers for Aragorn Pt II