Spilled Blood, page 19
part #2 of Clay Warrior Stories Series
“Shields,” he stated while shuffling sideways. He moved past Iacchus and tucked in beside Nereus.
The Private looked quizzically at Alerio. With the gladius gripped in his left hand and the shield secured on the right arm, the Lance Corporal’s arrangement went against their training.
“Can you fight left handed?” asked Nereus.
“Yes! Shields,” Alerio said sharply.
As the two Legionaries put the edges of their shields together, Iacchus’ voice came loud and clear from behind them.
“Forward, march, left, stomp, left,” the Lance Corporal ordered.
Alerio chanced a glance around to find Iacchus nestled in tightly behind their shields. In his hand was the misguided spear.
With eyes barely over the top of their shields, Alerio and Nereus moved almost blindly. It was Iacchus who popped up, quickly analyzing the barbarian’s position before ducking to avoid a spear tip.
“Lateral right,” Iacchus ordered.
As well trained Legionaries, Nereus and Alerio angled their shields and their path to the right without thought. It was, after all, Iacchus who had risked his life to get a fix on the enemy. They accepted the squad leader’s direction and stomped heavily across the room. Under their feet, beds, chairs, and amphorae were splintered and crushed by the hobnailed boots and the Legion’s stomp.
At first spears hit and stuck in their shields. These they ignored, as there weren’t enough men in the unit to allow for falling back and dislodging the spears. When the spears stopped coming, they set their shoulders in anticipation.
“Advance!” shouted Iacchus. He stood upright and jabbed over the two Legionaries’ shields with the spear.
For half a heartbeat, the barbarians smiled. One of the Legionaries stood up behind the others. They stepped forward and ran their iron tipped spears at his helmet. Unfortunately for them, they either didn’t know, or had forgotten what ‘Advance’ meant.
Nereus and Alerio followed the preset movements. They thrust their shields forward slamming and shocking the barbarians. As the extended shields were pulled back to their chests, the Legionaries stabbed out with the gladii. In the time it took for the one-two action, both barbarians were gutted and more dead than alive as they fell.
“Lateral right. Forward!” shouted Iacchus.
Nereus and Alerio still blind to the front, stomped the bodies as they adjusted and stepped forward. Two rapid steps later Iacchus repeated the killing order.
“Advance!” he commanded.
To the three remaining barbarians, the shields were an arm’s length away. They poked at the shields and over the top trying to find flesh. They found no soft targets as the Legionaries behind the barriers stayed low. Suddenly, the shields were in their faces. Blood began running from two of them with broken noses. Before they could fall back to tend their wounds, the shields withdrew.
Not a half breath later, while the barbarians were still in shock, the gladii shot forward and the nosebleeds were forgotten. Their chests lay open to their hearts. They fell to the floor.
The last barbarian raced around the falling bodies of his fellow tribesmen. Hoping to slip around the shields and reach the front door, he jumped sideways. He actually made it around the edge of Nereus’ shield. With the door and safety just across the room, he focused on his goal, squared his shoulders, and took a step.
The shield came from his periphery. He didn’t see Iacchus’ shield until the weight smashed into his shoulder. Toppling over, the barbarian ended up sprawled on the floor.
“Private Nereus. He’s yours. Afterward, guard the door,” instructed Iacchus. “Sisera, you’re with me. Let’s check that room.”
As Alerio and Iacchus reached the gaudy door, they heard a knife being drawn followed by a gurgling sound.
“I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed,” announced Nereus.
“That’s why he’s nicknamed the Wet One,” explained Iacchus. “Every sword fight seems to end with his opponent’s throat slit. Effective, but always such a mess.”
Chapter 61 - A Cubiculum Fit for an Insubri Prince
The room was large, taking up a full third of the single story building. In the center was an oversized bed with furs for bedspreads. Suspended over the bed by four posts, carved with tribal images, was an animal skin canopy.
One side of the room held a dresser and a writing desk. The Empire built furniture looked out of place. It was the other side of the room that matched the décor of the bed. Furs and quilts of animal skins were draped over a seating area and on the floor. Above the furs, more shields, spears and several long swords were mounted on the wall.
“You could take most of this room, transport it to the north, and it would look like every other room of the Insubri,” proclaimed Iacchus. “Except, there would be more jewelry. I wonder where Gabrielus keeps his torcs, bracelets and arm bands?”
“I was told he stores his trophies and jewelry in a chest,” said Alerio as he began pulling up furs and tossing them to the side.
Iacchus started removing furs then stopped. He slowly scanned the room. After looking intently at a section, he shook his head and shifted to another. Alerio ignored the Lance Corporal. He continued to turn over the boxes and chairs he uncovered.
“Tell me Sisera. If you were a barbarian Prince living in a hostile city, where would you keep your valuables?” inquired Iacchus.
He walked to the dresser and shoved it over. The floor beneath it was good Empire tile. Iacchus stomped on the tiles testing to be sure they were solid. The desk followed. Alerio caught the meaning and began to duplicate the testing on his side of the room. After fruitlessly hammering the floor with their boots, they met at the foot of the big bed.
The Legionaries reached down and pulled the furs off. When they attempted to lift the bed, they discovered it was constructed of massive timbers. Together with the four posts, the bed was as heavy as a block of granite.
“Maybe I was wrong,” complained Iacchus.
Alerio pulled his hip gladius and using the hilt, he began tapping along the side timbers. When he shifted to the other side of the bed, the wood rang hollow in one place.
Iacchus leaned over and tested the slats. Most were solid. Three moved. He slid the three to the side and looked down at a small section of discolored wood. Using his gladius, he smashed the hidden door. It cracked revealing a passage into the timber sideboard.
“What exactly are we looking for,” asked Iacchus as he reached into the opening and pulled out a handful of broaches and rings.
“It’s an amulet of Luna,” explained Alerio. “It was described as a gold half-moon against a blue sky of crushed sapphires with moonstones as stars. It depicts Luna driving a two-yoke chariot pulled by a team of charging bulls across the sky.”
Iacchus pulled out a heavy gold bracelet and tossed it to Alerio.
“What’s this?” Alerio asked as he stared down at the piece of jewelry.
“Spoils of war,” Iacchus replied as he shoved another bracelet into a pouch.
“We’re here to find an amulet,” scolded Alerio. “Not to rob the place.”
“This one’s for Nereus,” continued Iacchus as he pitched over a thick gold ring embedded with a precious stone.
“Are you deaf? We’re here for evidence to tie Gabrielus to the death of Senator Faunus,” complained Alerio. “Not to fatten our purses.”
“Oh, the Prince wouldn’t be needing any of this,” Iacchus exclaimed as he held up the Amulet of Luna. “He’ll be up on the wood by sundown for the murder of Senator Faunus.”
“We should go,” advised Alerio.
“We should,” acknowledged Iacchus.
Chapter 62 - The Signal to the Qart Hadasht Fleet
Alerio and Nereus went out first. They separated and split the lawn, each watching their side for threats. Their mission now was to deliver the witness, Iacchus, and the Luna amulet to the Senate.
A haze hung over the compound, which wasn’t there when they entered the single story building. Alerio sniffed at the aroma of burning wood, but didn’t see the source in the immediate area. Ignoring the smell, they started across the lawn.
Four barbarians armored in City Guard attire appeared from the side of the villa. Their gladii drawn and shields held high, they came fast, ready for battle.
“Lance Corporal Iacchus. Don’t engage,” warned Alerio. “If you get the chance, go around.”
“You’ll need my gladius,” suggested Iacchus.
Iacchus and Nereus shocked their heads in disbelief. Alerio had tossed his shield to the side, reached up, and pulled both gladii from over his shoulders.
“The Colonel needs your testimony and the amulet more,” Alerio stated as he began taking long strides towards the barbarians.
Nereus aped the long, distance closing steps, although, he kept his shield. Expecting a coordinated attack, the Private gasped when Lance Corporal Sisera ratcheted up his pace from a fast march to an all-out sprint.
Thanks to Senator Ventus and the City Guard, the barbarians had trained in Legion tactics. In practice sessions with a full squad, they were adequate. A Legion unit would have created a moving front with one Legionary falling back to provide leadership. But that took full Legion training to instill the discipline and skill. These four didn’t have the benefit of intense training by Sergeants of the Legion.
Alerio’s weight punched one of the barbarians out of line. When another turned to chase and kill Alerio, he discovered his neck was pumping blood onto his shoulder armor. He completed the turn, and watched as the Legionary dispatched his downed partner before sinking to his knees. By the time he slumped over onto the grass, Alerio had rushed to help Nereus beat down the final two barbarians.
“Lance Corporal Iacchus. We’re moving,” shouted Alerio. After snatching up his shield, he ran to the corner of the villa.
With no other threats in sight, the three Legionaries marched to the front of the compound and through the front gate. There was no traffic on the usually busy thoroughfare.
The Capitol grounds were a different story. In the distance, lines of City Guardsmen and armored barbarians stretched across the lawn and disappeared as the ranks wrapped around the building. A couple of the Ambassador’s Qart Hadasht guards were visible behind the rear ranks. With the Capital grounds guarded and the City Guard headquarters on the boulevard to the south, the three Legionaries turned north.
They reached the first intersection. Before crossing the thoroughfare, Alerio glanced to his right to check the street for oncoming traffic. He froze in place. Iacchus and Nereus were a step ahead before realizing Sisera had stopped.
“They’ve set fire to the Fireguard District,” Iacchus said staring at the rolling smoke and flames pouring out of the slums. “There should be bucket brigades to prevent the flames from spreading to the rest of the city. Where is everybody?”
“At the Festival of Janus and locked outside the gates,” ventured Alerio. “Let’s hope Tribune Harricus was successful.”
“Successful at what?” asked Nereus.
“Stopping the Qart Hadasht fleet. Burning Fireguard was the signal for the fleet to row on the Capital City,” replied Alerio. “If Harricus failed, the invaders are on the way. We may be too late.”
“Late or never, it doesn’t matter,” exclaimed Iacchus. “We have a job to do. We’ll circle around the Capital building, come in from the backside, and meet up with Colonel Nigellus.”
By the time their right feet hit the stone pavers, the three Legionaries were in step and powering away at a Legion jog.
Act 8
Chapter 63 - A Diamond for the Colonel
After seeing Tribune Harricus and Lance Corporal Sisera off, Corporal Gratian left the courtyard and headed back to the great room. He found Colonel Nigellus and Centurion Kellerian in a heated discussion.
“I can reach the Senate before anybody knows I’m there,” insisted Nigellus.
“And without backup, you can disappear, just as anonymously,” suggested Kellerian.
“Corporal. What’s your opinion?” the Colonel inquired when he spied Gratian coming through the double doors.
“Sir. I was out of the room and missed the topic of conversation,” admitted the Corporal.
“The Colonel is under the impression, after much thought, that he can simply ride to the Senate, meet the High Priestess, and Lance Corporal Iacchus,” explained the Centurion. “Then, the three of them will waltz into the Senate and accuse a Senator of treason. We’re looking for another opinion.”
“Sirs. I don’t know anything about politics,” reported Gratian. “However, I know gambling and hedging a bet. If I had to place a wager on people who have murdered two Senators and invited war by enemies of the Republic; versus a single man, the bet would be obvious. Now, if the man had thirty-five Legion heavy infantrymen, an experienced Centurion, and a Corporal with him, I’d place all my coin on the Colonel.”
Kellerian turned, shrugged, and waited for Nigellus. There are only four elements in the Republic more powerful than the Colonel of a Legion; The Major General and the General of the Legion, the sitting Consuls, and the Senate of the Republic. At this point, the arguments were over. The Centurion and the Corporal waited for the Colonel’s decision.
“Corporal. Based on your superb analysis of the odds,” stated Nigellus. “Have the men ready to march at first light.”
“Sir. We’ll put you in a diamond formation,” Gratian explained. “That’ll leave two guards on the Insubri Prince and another Legionary free to act as your personal bodyguard. Centurion Kellerian, and I, will command the sides of the diamond. If that meets your approval, sirs?”
“Why not a square formation?” challenged Kellerian.
“In a diamond formation, the narrow front can fold back and form a testudo to protect the Colonel,” replied Gratian. “If we had five squads, I’d have suggested the square.”
“A diamond straight up the boulevard to the Capital building,” Nigellus stated. “That will work.”
“Actually, Colonel. We’re going to turn on the east-west boulevard,” corrected Kellerian. “If the City Guard forms up across the north-south boulevard, we’ll have to fight our way onto the Capital grounds. Then we’ll be in contact as we fight our way around to the front of the building.”
“You want to take a side road and approach the building head on,” confirmed Nigellus.
“Yes sir. A frontal attack and a direct approach are preferable. It’ll prevent us from having to maneuver laterally,” advised Kellerian.
“Corporal. Ready the men,” ordered Nigellus.
Chapter 64 - Maneuvers to the Capital Grounds
Thirty-two Legionaries shuffled into a diamond formation on the road in front of the Chronicles Humanum Inn. The Insubri Prince was lead out and place within the formation. Centurion Kellerian and Corporal Gratian walked the bowed lines of infantrymen and told each the mission and the route. When all the preparations were complete, Kellerian waved at the inn and Colonel Nigellus joined them.
As the Colonel took his place in the center of the formation, a tall Legionary stepped in front of him.
“I take it you’re my bodyguard?” quizzed Nigellus.
“I swear by Mars,” replied the Legionary. “No man, no sword, no spear will pass my guard and reach you. My shield and my life are yours.”
Nigellus looked over his right shoulder and nodded his approval at Kellerian. Kellerian glanced across the diamond and held up a finger.
When the Centurion dropped the finger, Corporal Gratian shouted, “Squads One, Two, Four and Five of the Third Century, Central Legion, stand by.”
The thirty-two heavy infantrymen lifted their shields and right feet. They slammed their boots into the ground, and shouted. “Ready! Corporal.”
“Foreword, march,” commanded Gratian. “Left, stomp, left, stomp...”
The air between the inn and the Cloth Seller’s shop reverberated with the echo of boots on stone. For anyone within earshot, the sound demonstrated the power of a heavy infantry unit on the march.
At the center of the north-south boulevard, Gratian called, “Right face, march.”
The Legionaries turned and began marching to the north. Without another word, each adjusted until the diamond was again pointed in the correct direction. Everyone flowed to the new position except for Colonel Nigellus. He was the center of the diamond before the turn and after the turn to the north.
The formation drew closer to the fountain with the rearing horses and the roundabout where the north-south and east-west boulevards converged.
Gratian eased across the diamond to Kellerian.
“Looks like they were alerted,” he said to the Centurion.
Blocks beyond the fountain, where the City Guard headquarters’ building started, were ranks of guardsmen and their barbarian auxiliary. The lines stretched across the boulevard and onto the Capital grounds.
“Pretty ranks,” Kellerian replied. “I almost feel sorry about disappointing them.”
As Gratian moved back to his position, he shouted, “Lead element. Follow the line.”
The City Guard’s mounted Centurion watched as the Legion unit moved into the roundabout. He was set to have his Sergeant ready the ranks. Just before he ordered it, the Legion unit began turning as they followed the curve around the fountain. When the front of the unit vanished behind a building, he realized his Century was out of place.
“Sergeant. They’re heading west,” shouted the Officer. “Move our ranks.”
“Sir. Move where?” the NCO asked. “There are three main roads leading to the Capital from that direction.”
“Divide your Century into thirds and cover each,” ordered the Centurion.
Chapter 65 - A Guest Speaker at the Senate
Gratian glanced back to be sure the last of his Legionaries were out of sight of the City Guard.
