Read Online Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt (The Artorian Chronicles) by James Mace - Free Book Online Page B

meeting, he made his way towards the door.
    “Sergeant Artorius!” the tesserarius called after him.
    Artorius closed his eyes and for a moment froze in place, thinking he was in trouble. The room emptied as he walked over to where Statorius still sat on top of the desk. He clasped his hands behind his back, waiting for his superior to speak.
    “I see you are catching on,” Statorius began.
    “It’s coming along slowly but surely, sir,” Artorius replied.
    “Come off it , Artorius, you don’t have to act so formal around me,” Statorius replied. “I heard you impressed Macro with your conducting of weapons drill with the recruits.”
    Artorius shrugged at that. “I spent so much time out there with Vitruvius that it all kind of came naturally. To tell you the truth, I’m a bit nervous about everything. I have the men’s trust, though I feel I’m putting up a front of false confidence most of the time. Was it that way for you?” Artorius was indeed feeling overwhelmed by his duties. Before, when not on details or mandatory drills, he had had quite a relaxing time when the legion was in garrison.
    The operations tempo had slowed considerably since the wars against Arminius and the Cherusci had come to an end. Now, when most of his soldiers were enjoying leisure time, he was working on training schedules, detail rosters, and conducting lesson plans for the recruits. He truly cherished his off time, and he was finding that as a decanus he had much less of it.
    “It took some time,” Statorius answered. “After a while I got used to it. I admit I was not tasked nearly as much as you. Remember, I did not have any additional duties, like you do. Things will slow down once the recruits finish training. How much longer do they have?”
    “Six weeks,” Artorius replied. “They’ve only just started working with me.”
    “Y ou need to let me know when they are ready to move past the training stakes. I need to put that time on the duty roster as well, so that we can assign sparring partners for your recruits.”
    Artorius made a note of it on his tablet. Just one more thing to try and remember, he thought to himself.
    “Now that you mention it, I’ll have to get with Pilate and see when he can schedule a time to conduct basic artillery training,” he said out loud as he made more notes. As he started towards the door, Statorius grabbed him by the shoulder.
    “Hey, don’t think you have to do this alone,” he remarked. “You can delegate some of your duties to your more competent troops. Magnus is probably your best bet. Decimus is good, too, though he lacks Magnus’ ambition. And if you need anything, you know where to find me.”
    Artorius nodded in reply. “Funny you should mention that. Macro said the same thing. In fact, he directed me to have Magnus act as section leader while I train up for the Legion Champion Tournament. Of course, I’m sure he will be one of my primary sparring partners, so his days will be full as well.”
    “He will manage,” the tesserarius replied. “I know you are new to the position, but it is never too early to start training your successor.”
    “So how are your new duties?” Artorius asked , wanting to shift the subject off himself.
    Statorius shrugged. “I spend a lot of time with Flaccus. He was tesserarius for more than seven years, so he knows the position better than any. And speaking of which, I have to get this over to him and then it’s time to do my patrol of the rampart sentries.” With a wave he dismissed the sergeant. Artorius left without a word. As he walked out the door, he saw Praxus was there waiting for him.
    “Statorius chew on your backside a bit?” he asked.
    “No,” Artorius laughed, reviewing his notes as he walked, “though I thought for certain he was going to, for whatever reason.”
    “He expects a lot of you, as does everyone else.”
    Artorius stopped reading and looked at him.
    Praxus was quick to explain. “Because of your