Spilled Blood, page 11
part #2 of Clay Warrior Stories Series
Alerio leaned out of the storage room and pointed down the hallway. The rear courtyard of the inn was crowded with children. Some eating, other playing and a few were sleeping.
“Let’s go find out what the Senate is up to, shall we?” suggested Thomasious.
For the rest of the afternoon, they held meetings with groups of children. Each child was allowed to talk before being released. At the end of the interrogations, a picture of the Senate session emerged.
“Let’s hear what you got from the little ears,” Thomasious ordered.
“Senator Ventus opened the session with a plea to hold the Janus festival. It was overwhelmingly approved,” Alerio reported. “Then, Ventus brought up the deaths of the two recently deceased Senators.”
“Where was the President of the Senate during these discussions?” asked Thomasious.
“He yielded the floor to Ventus at the opening of the session,” Alerio said. “One of the little ears reported hearing a Senator complain about it. Is that normal?”
“The President of the Senate is the leader of the governing body,” Thomasious replied. “For him to yield the entire session to Ventus was the same as making Ventus the President. What else?”
“Ventus asked to be named a temporary Consul,” Alerio reported. “But the Senate voted it down. After that, they passed the Legion restraint bill to clear the city until the murders could be investigated.”
“And that leads us back to the question,” Thomasious asked. “What is Senator Ventus’ end game?”
“I have some advice for the Clay Ear,” Alerio warned. “Don’t publish any of this. Not a story, not a gossip piece, not a biting political commentary. The City Guard and the barbarians control the city. You are not safe.”
“That’s nonsense,” responded Thomasious. “I’m a citizen of the Republic. I have my rights.”
Chapter 32 - The Qart Hadasht
With all the Legionaries assigned to units ordered to leave the city, Alerio wasn’t sure of his own travel status. So he left the inn and walked to the Legion Transfer building.
“Lance Corporal Sisera,” he reported. “I’m checking on the ship to the southern Legion.”
“It’s delayed,” the Transfer NCO replied. “If things aren’t settled in the next few days, we’ll organize a march south. If the Senate reopens the port, you’ll sail. If not, we’ll put together a Century and supply wagons and you can march with them.”
“How long is the march?” asked Alerio.
“Roughly eighteen days,” the Legionary replied. “The march isn’t the problem. It’s having you and the other transferees waiting around until we have enough men to make it feasible.”
“When do you want me back?” asked Alerio.
“In a couple of days,” the NCO replied. “The Centurion should have made a decision by then.”
As Alerio turned for the door, a squad of City Guardsmen marched by. He eased back and waited for them to pass.
“There’s an amphora of merda for you,” the Transfer NCO said while pointing at the squad.
“The City Guard?” inquired Alerio.
“No. The Qart Hadasht launch the guardsmen are meeting,” the NCO replied. “The Senate chases off Legion ships and invites in an enemy Ambassador. It’s just not right.”
“For The Festival of Janus?” asked Alerio.
“Who knows?” the NCO replied. “I have too many friends buried along the coast because of those cūlus to care.”
Alerio left the office and wandered to the warehouses. Using the long buildings and the crowd of workers as cover, he eased up to get a look at the docks.
A smallish ship rowed up the river and smartly pivoted in mid-channel. He had to admire the seamanship when the boat sped towards the pier, and just before reaching the pilings, the rowers reversed oars. The ship went from slicing the river water and leaving a wide wake to gently nudging against the dock.
The launch was narrow with carved images on the fore section and the aft tail. And, it was a true tail. The stern rose until it curved over the pilot where it ended in a point. It reminded Alerio of a scorpion’s tail.
Five large brass shields lined each side of the ship. But twenty oars had raised when the launch reached the dock. If Alerio figured correctly, the ten shields were for Qart Hadasht Marines meaning the ship had ten rowers and ten warriors in its compliment.
As dockworkers caught and secured lines to anchor the boat, a coach pulled by a team of four big horses rolled up. The first person to emerge was Gabrielus resplendent in his Tribune armor.
The northerner marched to the City Guard squad and amazingly began issuing orders. Soon, the squad was in line facing one direction. The bronze shields from the ship were pulled down and ten men in brown armor marched off the ship. They came abreast of the City Squad, halted, and turned sharply to face the guardsmen. In a move screaming of intimidation, the Qart Hadasht squad had turned so they were just a foot from the guardsmen’s faces. Additionally, they were taller which forced the City Guardsmen to stare at the Qart Hadasht squad’s chests. On command, they stepped back in unison for five paces.
Gabrielus signaled someone on the boat before turning and waving at the coach. Senator Ventus stepped down from the carriage as a tall man dressed, in an ornate robe, stepped onto the dock from the Qart Hadasht launch.
The two men met at the center of the ceremonial lines. They exchanged hugs as if they were longtime friends before linking arms and strolling to the coach. Ventus and the Ambassador disappeared into the carriage and the two squads trotted forward to flank the vehicle.
When the coach and the squads left the docks, Alerio was surprised to see the Senator’s bodyguard still standing on the pier. Gabrielus watched the carriage for a long time before turning and walking to the Qart Hadasht boat.
A tall man with long blond hair appeared on deck. When Gabrielus stepped onto the ship, they embraced. Looking closely, Alerio notice the same short nose, high cheekbones, wide set of the shoulders, and matching height. If not brothers, they were certainly related.
The man on the boat was maybe a couple of years older but leaner as you’d expect from a northern tribesman. While they spoke, the tribesman patted Gabrielus’ armored chest and both men laughed. When they sat down and began eating, Alerio eased back from the corner of the warehouse before sprinting away.
He didn’t break stride until he reached the door of the inn’s great room. Rushing to the counter and waving frantically for Thomasious Harricus to follow, Alerio turned and pushed through the double doors.
“What seems to be the trouble?” asked Harricus as he walked into the rear courtyard.
“Senator Ventus is meeting with an Ambassador from Qart Hadasht,” Alerio blurted out between gasps of air.
“That fits with his agenda,” Harricus explained. “I finally collected enough information to figure out his plan.”
“You mean why he’s killing off his opposition?” asked Alerio.
“Now look who’s talking treason,” teased Harricus. “Senator Ventus is a free trader. He believes the Republic will be better served by making peace with the tribes on our boarders. And by making trade deals with neighboring city states and Empires like Qart Hadasht.”
“Master Harricus, my father’s farm is fifteen miles from the border,” Alerio explained. “If not for the Legion, and I mean active heavy infantry, the northern and western tribes would attack and kill every citizen between my father’s farm and the Capital City. How can you make peace with barbarians like that?”
“Well, the barbarians are savages, I agree,” Harricus replied. “But there’s no connection between trading with ocean going cities and the barbarians. Maybe if we made friends and expanded our trading partnerships, we’d have more resources to use for defense against the barbarians.”
“There is a connection,” Alerio stated. “Gabrielus met a northern barbarian on the Qart Hadasht launch. If the Ambassador is here to talk peace, why does he have a northern tribesman with him?”
“This is getting beyond the privy of a simple scribe and innkeeper,” Harricus admitted. “Fortunately, my inn has been serving junior Officers for enough years that a few have risen to Command status in the Legions. Let me send a message to Colonel Nigellus. He’s in town as a Marshal for the Festival of Janus and should be available.”
“What can I do?” asked Alerio.
“Go watch the games. I expect Champ wouldn’t get back to me until he finishes his duties at the Festival,” Harricus explained.
“You call a Colonel of the Legion, Champ?” asked Alerio in horror.
“When I met Nigellus, he wasn’t the third man in charge of an army,” Harricus said with a laugh. “Champ was a broke Centurion with the southern Legion. He supplemented his income by arm wrestling for coin. I believe there are still a few Republic silvers due on his room bill. So, he’s Champ to me.”
Chapter 33 - The Festival of Janus
Alerio was torn. While he wanted to see the festival celebrating the god of beginnings, gates, transitions and endings, he couldn’t chance being seen by the City Guard. It seemed he was doomed to miss the opening blessings. In his room, he looked at the dark cloak and realized he could watch in relative safely from one vantage point.
Before the sun reached its zenith, Alerio shuffled into the Fireguard District. On the street before the earthen berm, he climbed to the third floor, walked through a hallway, and into The Wine Trough.
The pub was crowded, but Alerio managed to find a seat on the porch. It only cost him four silvers to buy out a table occupied by three young men. They left with wicked smiles on their faces. For a few heartbeats, he worried he’d see the three again when he left after sundown. But the festival grounds and the crowds drew his attention to the activities outside the city.
Four Epulones stood around a bull with swords. The crowd stood back as the Priests began stabbing the beast. Alerio knew livestock, and in all his days on the farm, had never seen a bull stand perfectly still for anything. This sacrificial bull was so drugged it was a wonder he could stand. Eventually, the bull didn’t. Amid sprays of blood and the hacking of the Epulones, the noble animal gave up his spirit to Janus and toppled over. While the crowd cried out in delight, a rope was tied around the bull’s legs and he was hauled away by a team of mules.
Butchers stood by and the sacrificial bull was soon in pieces small enough to roast. While the slaughter was taking place, the four Epulones separated and ran to every corner of the festival grounds.
Most people avoided the near naked, blood covered Epulones. Some folks in need of a blessing, reached out to swipe fingertips of sacrificial blood off the Priests. They promptly stuck their fingers into their mouths and sucked off the blood. Alerio assumed they were either hungry or needed Janus to begin, gate, or transitions something in their stomachs.
Once the Epulones had finished marking everything on the festival grounds with bull’s blood, they raced to the reviewing stand. As the Priests raised their hands, men on the stand waved their acknowledgement of the Epulones’ blessings.
Senator Ventus and the Ambassador occupied the center of the stand with other dignitaries spread out on either side of them. Three Legion Officers stood on the far left. They would be the General, the Major General, and the Central Legion’s Colonel. If the big Officer was Nigellus, Alerio could easily see why he won arm wrestling contests.
As Alerio sipped a mug of wine, Senator Ventus remained standing. While his arms waved and his mouth moved, he was too far away to hear any of the words. Despite Alerio’s limited experience, he decided this was the best way to view a political speech.
Bored with watching the antics of the Senator, Alerio shifted his attention to the competition areas. He shivered at the thought of the archery range and smiled at the staggered javelin targets. A blush ran down both arms when he ogled the gladius arena. Maybe someday he would compete. But until he cleared the Cruor bounty, he was limited in his public exposure.
The speeches ended and the Legion Officers walked down from the stand and separated. Each would act as ceremonial Marshal for different competitions before relinquishing the duties to the real Marshals of the games.
Squads of Legionaries were stationed in strategic areas. If anyone got out of hand, they would be subdued, maybe beaten a little before being delivered to the Medical tent. The busiest vendors were the sellers of vino and ale so by evening, the Legionaries would be busy policing the festival.
As the competitions began, Alerio watched as gamblers streamed to and from the betting tents. A Legion NCO wandered between squads, stopping to chat with one before moving on to another squad. Just before the competitions began, the NCO turned full face towards Fireguard District.
Alerio immediately recognized Corporal Gratian of the Capital City’s Western Transfer Post. Apparently, the Central Legion had moved additional Centuries to the festival area. Corporal Gratian was known as an NCO who cared about his men. And, as a man who enjoyed wagering and deal making. Alerio chuckled as he tried to imagine what deal Gratian had made to finagle a duty assignment at the Festival of Janus.
Corporal Gratian, true to form, finished checking on his men before heading to the betting tents.
Alerio watched the gladius fights, the archery shots, and the javelin throws. Tomorrow, the horse and chariot races would begin as well as the ranked competitors in the former games. He decided The Wine Trough was a good venue for viewing. Promising himself to come back for the second day of the festival, he stood and headed for the exit.
Pausing on the top of the stairs, Alerio glanced down at the dark street and the black holes of the alleyways. Somewhere down there, three young men looked to relieve a stranger of his purse. Alerio thought about teaching them a lesson but he was under a time constraint and needed to get back to the Chronicles Humanum Inn. The best deterrent against crime is a show of force. He quickly dropped his cloak, drew both gladii, and put the cloak back on. If the three were brave enough to mug a man brandishing two gladii maybe they deserved a lesson.
There is no sense in carrying two swords if your enemy doesn’t know you have them. At the bottom of the stairs, Alerio began twirling the blades. With spinning steel on either side of him, he causally walked down the center of the street.
He located the three and walked by with a nod of his head. They responded by shrugging as if to say you won this time. In fact, Alerio’s demonstration had possibly saved the lives of the three young men. They just didn’t realize it.
Chapter 34 - Colonel ‘Champ’ Nigellus
Alerio arrived at the inn and headed straight to the baths. After a quick clean up, he went to his room and put on the military tunic. It was the first time since enlisting he’d dressed in something besides armor for a Legion event.
“It’s a nice look on you,” commented Harricus as Alerio marched into the great room. “Come join me.”
The innkeeper was sitting in the silent room with a mug of wine.
“This place hasn’t been this empty, since the day before I opened the inn,” continued Harricus.
“I’m sure you’ll be busy once the Senate allows the Legion units back in the city,” Alerio said trying to console the proprietor.
“Oh you misjudged my meaning,” Harricus replied. “I gave my staff the day off to enjoy the festival. Even hired a few workmen to do some needed repairs. Me? I’m relaxing in the evening for the first time in years.”
A stallion, especially one accustomed to dominating on a battlefield, creates chaos wherever it goes. The first to sense the alpha equine were the penned livestock. Horses whinnied, mules hew-hawed, lambs bleated, and even the hardheaded goats bleated out a warning as the big warhorse trotted into the rear courtyard. If the animal sounds failed to alert you, the stomping of massive hooves and the deep chested snorting and exhaling of a large horse in a confined space was sure to get your attention.
“Champ has arrived,” Thomasious announced with a relaxed smile. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Alerio followed innkeeper. By the time they reached the courtyard, Erebus was walking from the stables.
“Good evening Colonel,” the barbarian said as he approached the horse and rider.
The stallion began to dance sideways while shaking his massive head.
“Erebus. Good to see you again,” the rider replied. “Careful, he’s a little jumpy. Doesn’t care for the crowds in the city.”
“That makes two of us,” Erebus replied as he marched straight to the stallion.
The horse nipped the air three feet above the stableman’s head.
“That will be enough of that,” scolded Erebus as he reached up with both hands.
In one hand, he balanced an apple on an open palm. The other hand reached for the bridle and as the warhorse took the apple almost gently from the palm, Erebus pulled the horse’s head down to eye level.
“It’s alright lad,” Erebus said soothingly to the stallion.
The horse responded by dropping his head and nudging the stableman in the chest. Although a large man, the nudge drove Erebus back two steps. Taking a half step, the horse remained in contact with the stableman.
“I’ll give him a rub down while you’re here,” Erebus offered as he scratched the big head affectionately. “I don’t imagine the grooms at the fancy inns you stay at do it properly.”
“I believe you’re right Erebus,” the rider said as he pulled a foot from the stirrup, swung the far leg over the horse’s neck, and dropped lightly to the ground.
“Thomasious Harricus. You old scoundrel,” boomed the rider. “Are you still antagonizing the women of the Republic with your spicy stories?”
“Are you still skipping out on your bar tabs?” replied Harricus.
“The Tribune was supposed to pay that,” answered the rider.
“Well he didn’t. You still owe me five silvers,” Harricus spit out.
