Being around Caracalla was never an uplifting experience either. The young caesar had been grateful to Alerio for his help, but not so much that he should think to promote him beyond the rank of centurion.
Alerio watched as his century and the other two lined up on the riverbank, waiting for the final pontoons of the first bridge to be affixed to the north shore of the Bodotria.
A turmae of Scythian cavalry rode up to wait beside them. On the near end of the temporary bridge, Caracalla sat atop a fidgety horse, waiting for the engineers to finish their work.
When one of them waved from the other end of the bridge, Caracalla spurred his horse onto the fresh-cut boards of the bridge and charged across to the other side.
"Forward!" Alerio called out, and all three centuries began to march
