Legatus Legionis: Book Two in the Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy (7 page)

"It's not very important, though," she shrugged. "Not knowing that's made no difference to my life so far."

"It's got you back out on this bridge," Gaius pointed out. "I would have hoped that otherwise you would have stayed safely back in Lussonium."

"I know. You think I was silly going out here . . ."

"In fact I can think of something even more important," Gaius interrupted. "If those weights hadn't fallen equally, nothing remarkable would have happened on the bridge, and instead of you chiding me for ignoring you, you might well have ignored me, in which case you'd be heading back to Rome."

Vipsania shuddered a little, and added, "To Little Boots."

"It wouldn't be that bad," Gaius shrugged. "You're from a very well-connected family."

"What do you mean?" she frowned.

"I assume from the Valerius Messala that you might be related to the Valerius Barbatus Messalinus?"

"A distant relation. Everyone's forgotten that now."

"Well, his daughter's married to Claudius. That must mean something."

"I don't know anything about Valeria Messalina, and forgive me for saying this but I don't think her being married to Claudius will do me any good. Nobody takes any notice of Claudius."

"He was a Consul," Gaius pointed out.

"Maybe, but I don't think Little Boots takes any notice of him at all."

"I think he takes quite a bit of notice, actually," Gaius said. "Little Boots seems to be perpetually afraid of Senators plotting to kill him. I'm fairly confident he doesn't fear Claudius, so he will listen to him."

"Perhaps, but that wouldn't save me."

"You think he fears your father's plotting?"

"Little Boots is lashing out unpredictably at anyone of Senatorial class."

"I doubt it, but if you're worried, stay here!" Gaius said. "I promise you'll be safe."

"I'd like to," she said, "but my father has to agree."

"I think he'll agree," Gaius offered, "otherwise you could make his life hell!"

* * *

Her father approved of her staying behind under Gaius' protection. In fact, he seemed to go out of his way to thrust Vipsania onto Gaius. A few days later, Vipsania found a way to see the ceremony of the formal transfer of authority for the Legion, and some days later she presented Gaius with a drawing of him in full uniform.

"That's remarkable!" he said. "Thank you so very much!" Impulsively, he leaned forward and kissed her. He then pulled back, his face slightly red, as he said, "I'm sorry! I promised your father . . ."

"Forget that!" she said, and leaned wrapped her arms around him.

Chapter 6

Four days later, Gaius led the first cohort from the legionary headquarters towards a collection of rafts and what seemed from a distance to be rather small boats. Close up, they seemed to be very small boats. They were, however, all that were available right now, although a safer boat could be provided for the
Legatus
. . . Gaius quickly shook his head. He had been assured by the river people that these were quite sound, and there would be no problem in crossing the river. Gaius could see that the soldiers were extremely suspicious and he could not blame them; he was not exactly comfortable either, but there was one thing he knew above all else: having brought the troops this far, they had to cross the river, find the enemy and win. It would be a very poor start to order his men into one sort of boat, then take himself on a safer one.

He handed his horse to one of the river men. The horses were to be transferred by the larger rafts, under the care of these river men whose life involved moving animals up and down the river. He then ordered a number of men into the smallest boat, he joined them, and immediately pushed off. The two Tribunes were to ensure that the remaining men crossed.

It was when they reached the broader current that he realized how strong the current was. However, the soldiers were experienced rowers, and irrespective of their feelings, when given a job to do, the Roman soldier did it. They stared at the water, which seemed to them uncomfortably close to the point of swamping, but Gaius merely grinned at them and pointed out that the fact the boat was a little overloaded was a good reason not to rock it. Eventually, to everyone's relief, they reached the clearing on the far side. A detachment of
exploratores
and the third cohort of heavy infantry had crossed the previous day and had secured a perimeter. Some men began rowing back, to collect more men, while the remaining men quickly began to fan out, to ensure there were no enemies. Back out on the river were a number of similar boats. Virtually all the troops would cross before any attempt was made to bring the horses or the heavier equipment across.

The crossing took most of the day, and the evening fortifications were constructed only a few hundred meters from the riverbank. Small groups of
exploratores
were sent out next morning to determine whether there was any opposition. A small squad was also ordered to take possession of a rather large hill that offered a good view over the countryside, and which could also be used to relay messages through mirrors or smoke.

The main body then set out, following a reasonably well-made track through a thick forest. The weather was cool, now, and most of the leaves were gone, so apart from the undergrowth, the view was reasonably open. The troops marched at a good speed, as much to keep warm as through extreme urgency. That evening large fires were lit to keep warm. There was a similar large fire on the hilltop, and according to agreed procedure, signals could be exchanged by shading the fire.

The question was asked, and the answer received: those on the hill could see no other fires.

The next day was colder. The wind was now from the north, the sky leaden grey, and a light sleet was falling. The men marched on, a grim determination now pervading the party. It was cold, unpleasant, but it had to be endured.

Late that afternoon they struck the first village. This had been abandoned recently, and the soldiers were only too pleased to have proper shelter from the now bitterly cold rain. Fortifications were constructed, and the watch set. A few comments were made about those freezing on the hilltop. Gaius had no sympathy for them. If by now they had not constructed both fortifications and a shelter, then they were lazy and deserved what they got.

Next day, the first of the winter snow began to fall. Gaius thought about this and decided to stay put. If he were being watched, let the watchers freeze. When the storm was finally over Gaius waited a day, then the two cohorts marched again. The ground was now slush, and again the men had to endure. However, the track was wide enough for the men to march four abreast, which was comforting, and the fur wrappings around the feet, but inside the boots, at least kept the feet dry.

It was about half way to the next village when one of the scouts reported men ahead. The scout assured Gaius that he had almost certainly not been seen, and the men were somewhat noisily setting up an ambush. Gaius waited for other scouts and established that the ambush was set only on one side of the track, and it comprised about a hundred men. This was more likely to be a "hit and run" raid than an outright ambush.

Gaius ordered a small detachment of men into the forest, to circle behind the ambush. Then, after the appropriate time, the men marched on. The ambush, when it came was not effective. An opponent stood up to signal the attack, but immediately a Roman horn blew. Immediately shields were locked, and the volley of arrows fell harmlessly. Then the wall of shields began to advance.

Once into the forest, the shield wall had to break, but at that very instant when the first tree had to be passed, a second horn blew, there was a considerable noise from deeper in the forest, and for the first time the ambushers realized there were men behind them. Uncertain as to which way to go and half-frozen through their wait, the attack collapsed. Fifteen Iazyges were dead, and about eighty dispirited others had formed a rather sad looking huddle, while some of the wounded were left lying in the snow. Three Romans were slightly wounded.

They marched into the major village, this time occupied by women and children who were promptly escorted to the village hall. The Iazygian men were given tent materials and were corralled outside in the freezing cold to build their tent between two huts, which they could also use, while the soldiers occupied the other dwellings when not on watch. For three days nothing happened, except more snow fell.

The fourth day was clear and crisp, and a pleasant covering of snow lay everywhere. Gaius sent out bands of
exploratores
with instructions to find tracks, and if they found them, to locate the camps and burn supplies. However, nothing was seen. It appeared as if the men of this village had fled, possibly to get help.

On the eighth day word came that that interpretation was almost certainly correct, and help was coming in the form of a large band of Iazyges advancing towards the village down a small valley. They would arrive approximately at noon. Gaius consulted the map he had had drawn through the efforts of the
exploratores
, then gave a satisfied nod. Signals from the hilltop confirmed that his rear was safe, and there was nothing between the village and the river. This approaching force was large, and since there were no significant villages in three directions, this should be the only attacking force.

Fortifications had already been constructed around the captured village, and a skeleton detachment was to be left behind to maintain control while the rest marched out. The third cohort was ordered to march forward to meet the enemy at a position where a small bluff forced the track to narrow and make a right-angled turn, then broaden out again. The first cohort was to advance by broad flanking movement to the top of this bluff, on the right of the advancing Iazyges. The auxiliaries would take a position to their left, out of sight, also following a very broad flanking movement.

The enemy sent out scouts, but only to scout the area immediately before them, and accordingly all they saw was pristine snow. Gaius smiled to himself at the surprise awaiting them when they passed the bluff, and ran into the third cohort.

Nothing happened for some time, which meant that the Iazygian scouts must have been all captured, then eventually the sound of the enemy approaching could be heard. About twenty minutes later the first of them came into view. They were marching forward following the tracks of their scouts, and these tracks only led forward. Presumably the scouts would report only close to the village.

The Iazyges had no formal structure to their march; they jostled along full of the swagger men have when the fight is still well in the future. They knew how many Romans there were, they knew they outnumbered the Romans about three to one, and while the Romans would be behind their fortifications, these would be of wood and could easily be burned. Roasted Roman seemed just about right.

Accordingly they were a little surprised when they saw the third cohort march into view from behind a bluff. What the Iazyges saw was a column of men marching, then stopping, to hurriedly form a battle line. What they did not know was that this marching had been precisely timed through scouts in the trees on the top of the ridge.

Not that they cared. They had somehow caught some of these Romans outside the fortifications, and this would be a good time to despatch them. There were yells, and a ragged charge began. The charging men ploughed through the snow, thus, as Gaius noted later, ensured they were half exhausted even before the fighting was to begin. The Roman wall stood fast until the Iazyges were rather close, then a wall of
pilii
flew through the air, quickly followed by another. Dozens of Iazyges fell to the ground and the charge faltered. Then the Roman shield wall advanced.

For a moment the Iazyges doubted, and in that moment the shield wall pushed them back and the stabbing gladii dispatched many of those doubters. That triumph was temporary. A loud roar went up as the main band of Iazyges charged forward, swinging axes, broad swords, thrusting spears. The hill to one side, and the drop into a small gully on the other, however, negated much of the advantage of these numbers. The Roman line was no more than twenty-five men wide, and it was not possible to flank it on flat ground. Accordingly, the Iazyges with their vastly superior numbers were forced into a long column.

Following the plan, the Roman advance halted, then, on the sound of a horn, every second man on the front line fell back behind the man to his left, while fresh soldiers advanced into the gap. The new front line immediately closed shields and began thrusting, stabbing, and at the first opportunity, the second of the fresh men relieved the remaining original men in the front line. This terrain had been carefully selected, and it was precisely correct for these line changes for the third cohort, as the terrain widened slightly as they fell back, making a little room for the interchange. The Romans could easily fill the widened line, but the choke point behind the Iazyges made it more difficult for them. Accordingly the Roman line could fall back quickly at a time judged by the Centurion in order to present a larger fresher full line to greet the advancing Iazyges who were forced to spread out, or be attacked from the flank on the edge. Because of the choke point, this gave the Romans a temporary minor advantage that was a considerable irritant to the Iazyges, who did not have the disciplined training to get the correct numbers where required in an orderly fashion.

The retreat was not without cost, however. When the Iazyges worked out when the Roman line would move backwards, instead of following they made better use of the space and their heavy axes and spears often struck home. It was also difficult for the Romans to rescue a wounded soldier, particularly if the wound was in the leg and the soldier could not fluently make the interchange with a soldier behind him.