Galerius reached for a scroll lying on a small table beside him and handed it to Constantine. “Here are your orders. They authorize you and Centurion Dacius to obtain horses at the stations of the Imperial Post and draw rations and lodging at the mutationes along the way.” His voice became studiedly casual. “How soon would you like to leave?”
“At once, Augustus. Dacius and I have hardly unpacked since we came from Salonae.”
“Tomorrow will be soon enough,” Galerius assured him. “My scribes are busy preparing some letters for you to take to Constantius. They will be delivered to you as soon as they are ready. By the way,” he added, “Emperor Maximian didn’t clear the Alpine passes of brigands too well, when he ruled from Milan, and Caesar Severus has not yet had time to finish the job. Be careful in that area.”
“Dacius and I will be on our guard all the way,” Constantine promised.
In their quarters, Constantine seized Dacius by the shoulders and danced him around. “I have orders for both of us!” he cried. “We’re going to join Father in Gaul and accompany him on an expedition to Britain to put down an uprising among the Piets.”
Dacius warned
“You’ll not be quite so happy after a month or two in that climate with winter coming on,” Dacius warned. “In the morning the fog is so thick you have to feel your way through it. And your clothes rarely get a chance to dry, except when they freeze.”
“I don’t mind, just so I can be with my father and have a chance to do something besides act as a nursemaid.”
“You’ll see enough fighting to please you,” Dacius promised. “When Constantius discovers how able you are, he’s sure to make you a general and then your future in the West will be assured.” “We’re not there yet.” Constantine forced himself to be calm. “Uncle Marios thinks an attempt will be made to kill us on the way
and Galerius himself just warned me against the danger of brigands in the Alpine passes.”
Dacius had been reaching for a flagon of wine to pour a cup for himself. He halted now with his hand still short of its mark. “Was anyone else there?”
“An aide and two scribes. Why?”
“Just enough witnesses to absolve Galerius of any accusations, when we are set upon and killed,” Dacius said crisply. “Let me see the orders.”
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