At the metallic command, both lines turned slightly at full gallop, passing through each other’s ranks so closely that Constantine felt tin’ breath of Crocus’ charger on his cheek and saw the fire of excitement in his friend’s eyes, as each struck the other on the small shield with the blade of his sword. The whole troop did the same and the clash of metal against metal was like a single stroke upon a brazen gong ringing out across the field.
At a second blast from the cornu, the two ranks wheeled to race Ihmiigh again, this time with such a clang of metal against metal Ilial they could hear the echoes returning from the hills around the I mining field, as they reformed into the traditional solid mass of i he lutvuie and swept across the field to come to a dirtplowing slop before the throne upon which Galerius sat.
A roar of applause came from the massed rank of the spectators at Mils demonstration of equestrian and military skill. Expecting some sign of appreciation or approval from Galerius, Constantine WHS startled by the cold look of hostility in the older man’s eyes In the Instant before Crocus gave the command to withdraw and he two turmae of horse trotted off the field to where the soldiery assed, watching the spectacular exhibition. There Constantine loo swung down from his horse and handed the reins to one of lho troopers, while Crocus came over to pound him happily on the back with a huge fist.
“Well ridden, my friend!” he cried. “No Goth or Frank could have done better.”
“That is praise indeed. And you deserve likewise.”
In their exuberance of spirit over the success of the exhibition, neither of the young men had noticed a runner leave the area near the throne and cross the field to where Dacius stood a little distance away. Still happily discussing the success of the exercise, they waited for the military review to end, so they could return to the barracks and dress for the social side of the Augustalia, an afternoon and evening of feasting and ogling the young ladies of the court and the town.
“Constantine! Crocus!” Dacius called. “Come here.”
Constantine saw that his craggy face
Both of them hurried over to where the centurion was standing. Constantine saw that his craggy face was concerned.
“Is anything wrong?” he asked.
“You did well perhaps too well. Caesar Galerius has ordered a further exhibition by the leaders of the two ranks who just took part in the exercises.”
“What kind of an exhibition?”
“Fighting from horseback.”
“But why?”
“Perhaps he likes the sight of blood. You’ll be hard put to keep from spilling some; he has also ordered the use of battle lances.”
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