From Darkness

by C K Ruppelt

  After the deals with the slave traders had been finalized for thirty thousand captives, he had them, their teams and the slaves escorted south for a few miles before partially dismantling the bridge to deny their opponents an easy way of crossing back.

  The southern gate opened to let the Roman cavalry forces ride out to position themselves between the wagons and the Helvetii. Caesar saw that the Numidians and Cretans had their bows drawn, ready to fight it out. I am glad I followed Pompeius example with the auxiliaries, they are worth their weight in gold.

  He looked back at the enemy. They held at a distance and sent out a small group of envoys to the camp, the riders holding their shields above their heads as a signal for parley.

  “Let them in!” he called down. “But stay ready for anything.” Several cohorts formed a square around the gate before the doors opened to receive their guests.

  ***

  Divico saw the strong fortifications of the Romans and knew that attacking it would be costly if not futile. Still, he figured he might find out exactly what they were up against. Though risky, the best way for that was to visit the camp for a parley. He rode in the middle of the small group of his chieftains toward the closest Roman gates. The doors opened, and they rode through into a mass of Roman soldiers standing ready. Looking over their heads, he took in the massive space on the inside of the camp. Incredible. The sheer size of it, filled with row after row of tents.

  Caesar had at least five, maybe six or more legions. No difference, he would draw them to open battle and annihilate them. A Roman officer with a big plume on his helmet stepped out between the men. “Ave, the Proconsul will speak to you in his tent. Please follow me.” They were led to a magnificent tent, though once inside he was surprised by the sparse furnishings. And there he is, the man that murdered so many of my people and sold more into slavery. Hate is too small a word.

  Divico stroked his long white beard in an effort to keep calm and appear civil. The Roman opened his mouth first. “I am Gaius Julius Caesar, proconsul governor of Roman Gallia and friend and ally to the Aedui, on which land you currently reside. Why did you come to our camp?”

  Divico took a deep breath, finally calm enough to speak. “I am Divico, war king of the great nation of the Helvetii. I have come to ask you for all our people: Name a location that we can go and where you will leave us in peace.” Would you ever let us go now? I think not.

  “How about you go back to your mountains?” Caesar replied. “I cannot guarantee peace in any other location.” The man looked at Divico’s group, his eyes coming to rest on Bricio. “First we need to exchange hostages. I suggest we start with some of the people you brought.”

  Divico laughed. “We are a powerful nation, used to receiving hostages, but never giving any in return. Leaving our people with you is not a practice I can condone under any circumstances.” I’ve seen enough, time to leave.

  He turned to move out of the tent but stopped one more time on the way, looking back at Caesar. “We will fight, and I want you to think about the Roman army that perished at the hands of the Tigurini. I, Divico, War King of the Helvetii, was the one that led them to victory. Now I lead three tribes, enough to kill all your people twice over. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  ***

  The next morning, the Roman army followed the Helvetii trail and came upon their abandoned camp. It became clear that the enemy had moved up the old road leading to Bibracte and the Aedui heartlands. Lucius Cornelius Cinna rode behind his friend Quintus Titurius Sabinius and the five other legion cavalry prefects following the young cavalry commander Publius Licinius Crassus. Caesar had sent them all ahead to harass the Helvetii’s rear if possible. “What do you think of Divitiacus and his friend Liscus?” a brooding Cinna asked Sabinius while watching the two Aedui riding in the midst of their people.

  “I have to admit I like them both better than Dumnorix. That man gives me the shivers.”

  Cinna nodded in response. “I am glad I’m not the only one who feels like that. I don’t think Crassus should have let the man ride ahead with his hundreds of warriors. Divitiacus explained that his brother got rich through trade but considering that the master druid himself has only twenty retainers, I can’t help but wonder.”

  “I guess you’re right. Divitiacus was Vergobretus of the Aedui at least a couple of times, and he’s a master druid. You’d think he would have a lot more warriors than his younger brother,” Sabinius mused in reply. “The way he looks at us, you’d think he dislikes us much more than he does the Helvetii. Someone should keep a close eye on that one.”

  Cinna smiled at Sabinius in reply. Looks like we’re in agreement.

  His eyes wandered over the groups around him. In addition to the Aedui noblemen, the cavalry officers consisted of the higher ranked decurions of the mounted auxilia archers and the latest arrival, a Celtic cavalry commander named Lucius Aemilius. The latter was a chieftain of the Volcae nation in the southwest of Gallia Transalpina, full of pride over his Roman name and in charge of a thousand fresh recruits he had brought from the south this very morning.

  A rider emerged from a small wood at the top of a nearby hill and galloped straight for their group. “It’s one of our scouts!” Cinna said loudly in response to some swords being drawn. As the rider came close enough to be recognized, he added: “Not just any scout, it’s Ventidius Bassus from the Ninth.” The last swords went back into their sheaths.

  “Ave!” Bassus shouted, reining in at the last minute. “There is a big group of Celts approaching. It could be part of the enemy.”

  Crassus raised his hand. “Signal all halt!” he told the liticen. The signal blown, the group of officers rode out close to the edge of their host to get a good view. Soon, a thousand riders showed on the hill crest, with many more people walking behind, including many children.

  “These are our kin!” Divitiacus shouted. “It’s Elsed, leading his people to join the fight as he promised.” The master druid and his friend Liscus rode forward to greet the group. Crassus followed after a brief hesitation, and Cinna and Sabinius joined as well.

  “Welcome, and well met!” Crassus shouted, reaching out his hand to the young Aedui chieftain. “I am glad you made it.”

  “Where do you want us?” Cinna heard Elsed ask while shaking Crassus’ hand, the man’s wife and brother reining in next to him.

  “Why don’t you join us towards the middle. Just have your warriors fall in,” Crassus answered. “We should have plenty of warning if the enemy shows, Divitiacus’ brother Dumnorix and his men are our spearhead.”

  Cinna and Sabinius shared an uncomfortable glance until Sabinius shrugged. He’s right, not much we can do right now, and with these warriors, our cavalry just swelled to over four thousand.

  A far cry from the Helvetii, which had many tens of thousands, but nonetheless, double from just two days ago.

  696 AUC (58 BC), summer

  Eighteen miles southwest to ten miles south of Bibracte, Free Gallia, Nation of the Aedui

  “I can’t believe this, I just can’t. How could I be so blind? And worse, none of you said anything about your suspicions to me!” Caesar screamed. Three weeks of a game of cat and mouse had been played between the Roman forces and the enemy on the road to Bibracte, all to no avail. Caesar was livid, and he didn’t particularly care that his friend Hirtius was carefully tip-toeing around him. “First, we lose a perfect opportunity to ambush the Helvetii at night when trusted old veteran Publius Considius tells me he saw the enemy on the hill we thought was held by our own Labienus and his legionaries. I call the ambush off, only to find out from Labienus that Considius had been gravely mistaken, and I send the man home in disgrace. Now, Liscus tells us in confidence that Dumnorix is sabotaging his brother’s efforts to get us food, and that it was one of Dumnorix’ men that had lied to Considius about who held the hill.” He took a deep breath. “I call that betrayal of the highest order by Dumnorix. That man is finished.” The night ambush would hav
e worked perfectly, with Labienus holding two legions on a hill behind the enemy camp and myself storming in from the front.

  The food issue had reared its ugly head again and again. The stores had finally shrunk to only a few days’ worth of rations. Liscus had been informed by a loyal council member that Divitiacus’ brother had bribed other councilors into delaying the food collections and the transport of what was already gathered and available. I don’t understand why he would do this. What does the man gain by helping their enemies? Or is it that he just wants to sabotage us?

  “Go and tell Divitiacus and Dumnorix to come see me,” he told Hirtius. He turned to his lictors, “and I need you to be ready to arrest either of them if necessary.” The men fanned out through the tent, prepared for anything. Half stayed in Caesar’s vicinity, the other half moved closer to the tent entry.

  Hirtius walked back in ten minutes later with Divitiacus in tow. “One of Dumnorix’ warriors told me he is not available to meet. I was alone, so I decided not to push the issue.”

  Caesar saw Divitiacus eyes grow big when he heard Hirtius’ comment and waved for him to sit down. “Old friend, I am very disappointed. I will come straight to it. We know there’s no food coming and that your brother has sabotaged all your efforts,” Caesar barely kept from shouting in his rage. “I will have your brother arrested and punished harshly for his betrayal, but I am more disappointed in you for not telling me about the problems with the food deliveries and your brother’s actions the moment you found out.”

  Divitiacus shoulders slumped and he dropped his head into his hands. When the man finally looked back, he had tears in his eyes.

  “I am sorry that I have failed you, and I am ashamed for my brother and my own inability to overcome his treachery. He has undermined and weakened my position in the council for some time. I only found out a few days ago that he married a daughter of the Helvetii chieftain Orgetorix years ago, obviously after having made some kind of deal or alliance for money. My brother had kept her and their children hidden from me all this time. With that piece of information, I finally figured out why he’s been working against me, or should I say, helping the Helvetii all along.” The once so proud Vergobret and chieftain dropped on the floor and prostrated himself. “Please show mercy. Dumnorix is my only remaining family. Punish me if you must, for my inability and for not telling you of my own account, but I beg you, do not hurt him.”

  They remained in silence until Caesar realized his anger at Divitiacus had vanished. He shook his head in wonder, remembering how he would have given anything to have more time with his wife or his father. If the situation were reversed, he would have fought with everything he had for a close loved one to be spared. What else in life is as important as family? I understand the difficult situation you are in.

  “I can see the pain your brother’s actions are causing you, and I give you my word that I will not harm him by my own account. Though I will need to confront him over his actions and employ spies to follow him. Trust is a commodity I can no longer rely on.” Caesar walked up to Divitiacus and helped the man up from his knees.

  “Thank you, you are a much better friend then I deserve. You have my eternal gratitude,” Divitiacus said, unable to hold eye contact.

  Caesar put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “I can’t help but feel sorry for you. Please leave me now, I need to figure out what my next steps need to be.”

  After watching the Aeduan leave, Caesar turned to tribune Hirtius. “Take a heavy escort with you and bring me Dumnorix. Make it at least five centuries so he knows he has no choice—that man has given me his last excuse. Though first, please have somebody find tribune Crassus for me.”

  A few minutes later the young tribune’s head popped in through the flap. “Proconsul?”

  “Come in, I have an urgent request for you. We need to head to Bibracte, and I need details about the lay of the land between here and there. We need to leave the Helvetii behind for the time being and march to get food. We only have a few more days of rations.”

  ***

  The council members around him were in an uproar over what was just said. I can’t believe myself what I just heard.

  “Let me restate what you just said,” Divico told the young scout. “The Roman army, after toying with us for three weeks all the way from the Arar, after harassing us just to retreat to their camp when we fight back, packed up their camp this morning and is now marching away from us?”

  “Yes, exactly. They took the road to Bibracte.”

  Several councilors let out gleeful laughter, and many chieftains tried to speak at the same time, all wanting to voice their happiness to be out from under the Roman threat. The tent had suddenly become too crowded and too small for Divico. He stood up and raised his hands. “Quiet! Please!” he shouted. Once the table calmed down, he added: “I would like to tell you what I think our options are.” He looked into the round.

  “Let’s hear it, Divico,” Bricio shouted. Divico had acted as a mentor for the young council member and was always grateful for the gratitude Bricio had shown him since.

  “Thank you, my friend. Yes, without the Romans chasing us, we could now simply keep moving west, leave the Aedui lands and conquer the weaker nations at the coast as we had planned. However, in my opinion, the Roman province will never be far enough away from us. If not Caesar, then some other future Roman general will come after us.” He added a dramatic pause. “I believe that we must give this army of theirs a sound thrashing. Yes, I want to punish them for what they did to the Tigurini, to my people. More importantly, though, we need to make the Romans fear us if we want them to stay away. We will never have a better opportunity for that than to follow this army that is already on the run from us. What say my fellow councilors?”

  One after another the other chieftains rose in support. “Let’s go after them!” Bricio shouted in approval.

  “It’s decided,” Divico said. “Bring wine, we’ll drink to defeating the Romans!” a few minutes later he made a silent toast into the direction of Bibracte, raising his horn. Soon you and your dogs will be dead. I can’t wait to put your head on my spike.

  696 AUC (58 BC), summer

  Twenty-five miles southwest of Vesontio, Free Gallia, heartland of the Sequani Nation

  “Come here, girl. Sit down, sit down!” Ariovist’s first wife commanded her. Aina sat down and put Nara on her lap, both pointedly staring at the big main room of the great hall rather than look at the hated woman on the other side of the table. The king’s men took Nara away from her at night, but they were allowed to spend the days together. Aina was able to keep herself clean and properly dressed, if only by Suebi customs. The woolen skirt was nice enough, though would become annoying if she was ever allowed to ride again, and she would have preferred to wear a little more cloth on her upper body.

  “I will never understand what my husband sees in you,” Aina heard, “or why in the gods’ names he would need to marry you. He has no need for a third wife, his first and second together are already more than he can handle.” The woman made a gesture with her hands indicating her comment was meant sexually and laughed heartily at her own joke.

  Aina ignored the voice as best she could, looking straight to where Ariovist lounged on the throne-like chair in the middle of the room, receiving his retainers and supplicants. At least he’s waiting with the marriage until fall. Whatever his reason, I am grateful for every extra day.

  Her glance to the side showed her that her ever-present shadows were guarding her, even in the middle of Ariovist’s great hall. Where my future husband reigns. The thought alone makes me sick.

  She suddenly looked up when she heard angry voices. Four wealthy looking Sequani farmstead owners stood in front of the throne, loudly complaining about the brutality with which the Suebi warriors forcefully relocated their fellow Celts from their ancient lands. “Theft, rape of wives and daughters, and outright murder of servants and slaves. This cannot continue!” She heard one of
them shout. So at least some of you have some courage left, though I think it’s too little too late.

  At first looking pensive and thoughtful, she saw Ariovist’s face suddenly brighten. “You think that it is your right to ask for consequences or recompense,” he spoke out, loud enough that the entire hall could hear him. “I tell you that you do not have that right, as you and yours do not have the same value to the gods as my own people. Though I will be merciful.” With a wide grin, he waved at his men to either side of his chair. “I will keep one of you alive. Keep them from leaving!”

  She heard the murmur of protest from the other people mingling around the great hall, Suebi and Sequani alike. Ariovist stood up. “You four, give these brave men your spears.” His men handed over their weapons to the bewildered Sequani. “Take them,” he commanded.

  “There is no need for this,” one of the Sequani protested in fear. The Suebi warriors stepped back from the dais and formed a loose circle.

  Ariovist drew his sword. “Oh, but there is. You wanted consequences, here they are. I am giving you a chance to punish me for what my men did.” Aina saw the four older men arrange themselves defensively around the king before he exploded into motion. I’ve seen the man spar, there’s not many that stand a chance against his speed.

  Aina turned Nara around to hug her tight, keeping her from observing the scene that was about to unfold behind her. I have only a few more months before I am to be this man’s wife.

  “Please Esus, Toutatis, and Taranis, haven’t our people sacrificed enough of their blood for you yet? Can you start to intervene?” she whispered. “I do not ask for myself. Just give me a chance to get Nara away from here.”