Chapter 115 Gathering Evidence Part I

While Constantinus had travelled all the way to Constantinople in an attempt to negotiate a proper end to the border dispute between the eastern and western roman empires. Sigefrida had dispatched a group of frumentarii to the location where the conflict had occurred.

By now enough time had passed that the eastern roman empire had properly covered their tracks. However, Sigefrida still felt as if there was some evidence that could be gathered. Currently, her trusted agent, Falconius, was leading a team of frumentarii to investigate the site.

These men were posing as merchants and travelled with a small caravan filled with goods. They were protected by a Contubernium of western roman soldiers who were posing as mercenaries. Eventually, their caravan stopped as they came upon the site where the skirmish had previously taken place. Falconius got down from his wagon and began to thoroughly inspect the site. It had been weeks since the conflict had taken place, and by now the eastern romans had picked the area clean.

However, there were still tracks to be followed and because of that, the veteran agent of the frumentarii scouted the area, searching for any sign of evidence they could use to pin the blame on the eastern romans. While the rain had washed blood away, and the bodies were removed from the scene of the crime. The tracks of the eastern romans were still visible to the trained scout’s eyes. It did not take long for Falconius to come to a conclusion, which he voiced aloud for his team to hear.

“One thing is abundantly clear. The eastern roman limitanei approached the caravan. Unlike what Constantinople claims, this was anything but a random encounter… The limitanei came from the north, most likely from a nearby castra. If we want answers, they will be the ones to speak to.”

One of the members of Falconius’ team nodded his head in agreement. Though he accepted Falconius’ claims, he was concerned about how they were going to get the locals to speak of the event. The fact that the limitanei were acting as brigands was a closely guarded secret, and anyone who had taken part was likely keeping their mouths shut. Thus, he was quick to voice his concerns.

“That may be true, but how exactly are we going to get these bastards to talk? We don’t even know if there were any survivors. Unless we have a man who was there at the scene of the crime, willing to testify, then we will not be able to convince the eastern romans to budge on their demands.”

Falconius scoffed when he heard this response before tossing a bag of coins to the agent who doubted him. The man instantly opened it to reveal several large gold coins. With a smirk on his face, the Falconius expressed his opinion to the naysayer.

“The Imperator has given us quite a bit of gold to coerce any potential witnesses into speaking up. If that isn’t enough, he has given us the ability to negotiate their defection to the west. One of these poor bastards is going to talk. It’s just a matter of negotiating the price. Now shut your trap and get on the wagon. We’re heading for the nearest castra.”

The agent who voiced his opinions quickly silenced himself before following Falconius’ orders. He did not expect the Imperator to go to such lengths just to resolve this dispute. Ultimately, the team of agents would travel in disguise on the northern road before coming across the most fortress from where the patrol had originally deployed from.

Outside of this castra was a small town, whose villagers watched warily as the small caravan of merchants strolled into their village. After reaching a safe distance, Falconius protected his cover by appearing as if he was selling goods. He called out to the nearby group of men in a tone that a street hawker would use.

“I come bearing wine and bread. Are there any takers?”

A few men quickly approached and handed off their coin in exchange for the food and drink, which they hastily devoured on the spot. The village folk appeared to be in rough shape, as if a famine had struck the east. They were lucky that these westerners came and fed them with such reasonable prices. Falconius was awestruck by this reaction and quickly inquired about what had happened to cause such a scene.

“Woah there friend, go easy on the bread and wine. There is more where that came from. I don’t understand why you all look so famished. Isn’t the eastern half of the empire supposed to be the breadbasket?”

Only one of the five village men quit stuffing his face long enough to answer Falconius’ questions. Things had not been going well for the village lately. Since the incident at the border, the local Dux had severely punished the men who had taken place in the pillaging by severely limiting their rations. Since most of the villagers were also part-time soldiers in the limitanei, the whole town ended up suffering as a result. Among these men was one foolish enough to voice his grievences at the first given opportunity.

“It’s the damn fault of the Dux. Ever since that bastard Rufius ordered our unit to rob those merchants, we have all had to suffer as a result. That old cunt is dead, and now we all have to pay the price for his misdeeds. Most of us didn’t want to rob the caravan to begin with. We were just following orders!”

Immediately after the young man said this, the man’s superior, who was standing next to him, smacked him across his the back of his head before scolding him.

“Quiet! We are not supposed to talk about that event. If the Dux finds out you said something, you will get us all killed! If you want to die, leave me out of it!””

However, Falconius’s interest was piqued. These disgruntled soldiers were the perfect men to turn against Constantinople. If they were to defect to the west, and testify against the eastern roman empire, then Marcellus would be able to use a position of strength in the negotiations over the border dispute. Thus, the veteran agent was quick to manipulate the men by asking questions.

“You’re saying you were ordered to rob a merchant caravan like common highwaymen? Do you have any proof of this?”

The boy looked at the disapproving look of his fellow soldiers and remained silent. However, Falconius would never let him do so, not after learning that these guys were witnesses. He quickly pulled out more bread and wine to entice the men to give him the information he was after.

“If you tell me the truth, I will reward you handsomely. I can bring you back west, where you can serve out the rest of your days in the Western Army. You will be paid well and fed even better. Prove your worth and you can even rise the ranks. All you have to do is give me some proof of what you claim!”

、 Upon hearing this, all four of the men immediately spilled what they knew about what happened the day of the border clash. Ironically, the superior officer who had smacked the kid across the head was the first to speak.

“Of course, we have evidence of this. I’m the tribune of this fortress. I’m the damn fool who has to write up the reports about the incident. I can get you these reports, but you have to promise to take me and my family back west. There’s enough of you here that you should be able to hold your own if the Dux tries to retaliate. However, I’m going to need some certainty that you can accomplish what you claim. After all, how will a mere merchant like yourself get me in a lofty position in the western roman army?”

Falconius decided to take a risk, and show the tribune some identification. He quickly handed over a golden coin, which symbolized him as a member of the Frumentarii. These men had heard of the shadowy agents of the Western Imperator and immediately knew what this coin stood for. However, Falconius explained his position anyway.

“We are frumentarii, agents of the Imperator sent to collect evidence on the wrongdoings of the east. If you can give me these signed reports, I promise to not only bring you and your families to safety in the west, but I will give you each 100 solidii as payment for your services.”

Upon hearing such a promise, the four men immediately defected to the west. After all, a chance at a new life in the western roman army as professional soldiers was a better deal than working in the fields all day, and going off to fight once in a new moon. Thus, these five soldiers were about to embark on a dangerous undertaking which would give Marcellus the leverage he needed to free his people, and demand compensation from the east.