Near Tolbiacum:

Britannicus Junius had led several cohortes through the woods ever since the ambush on Emperor Verus Maximinus' troops by the Osroenian archers. The archers had not made much a dint on the emperor's troops at the border between the Germaniae, but their attempt still managed to enrage the emperor. Britannicus couldn't imagine peace being around the corner. Ever since Alexander Severus was assassinated back in late Martius, there had been one crisis after another. Just a few months ago, Magnus had attempted to get the senate to lead a coup against the emperor and Magnus persuaded soldiers to destroy the bridge between Germania Superior and the Teutonberg Forest where Maximinus was at. The emperor came back and destroyed him. Now, it looked as if Titus Quartinus, the governor (legatus Augusti) of Germania Inferior had also claimed the imperial throne. Recent rumors of the Serapis Cult working with important people in that area only made things seem more risky. No officer knew who to trust and Britannicus would bide his time until he was confident he knew what the answer would be.

"What did you find?" Britannicus asked the cavalry scouts that came back. The three hundred horsemen were in the deepest part of the woods heading to Tolbiacum- still a few days southwest of Colonia Agrippinensis.

"There's a messenger saying he represents the Praepositus numeri of the Osroenian archers," the scout leader reported. He twisted his horse around to parallel Britannicus.

"Who is the praepositus?"

"A man named Macedo. He wishes to make a deal in taking down Quartinus."

"Appealing. First we have to take care of some of the sick," Britannicus said as he eyed the horsemen in the far back. About fifty were slumped over shivering. He wasn't sure they would make it. (To be continued)