The Fall of Veii- Part 2

by Francis Mulhern

  “I must find the ways in which Veii is being helped, and that my trusted friends is where I need your help. I’ve been thinking about the fortifications and the camp at Veii” he said as he leant back on his chair and reached for a heavily laden leather sack. Pulling out a series of closed wooden tablets and a vellum map he laid them on the table as all the men moved closer. “I wish Scipio was here” Marcus said as he looked at the vellum and began to unroll it, a picture of the siege works and the city behind them appearing before the men.

  A short silence ensued as the four men perused the document. “From the reports I have read and the stories I hear” he started “the siege works are attacked every night, but the defences are also attacked by skirmishers from either within the city or from outside, somewhere in these woods, maybe” he pointed to an area on the map.

  “The ramp being built to assault the walls is over three hundred paces long and seventy paces wide at the front but has, in five years, moved no more than ten paces forwards. Something cannot be right” he stated as he looked up at the men, their nods agreeing with him. “I too thought that the omens were bad and the gods favoured Veii, but I began to think it through” he spoke mainly to Caelio. “How many men have left the siege works, hundreds?”

  “More” came Mella’s glum response.

  “And this water” he shook his head “is that a divine message?” he looked at the men who glanced to each other without speaking, their silence testament to their belief that it was indeed a divine message. Looking back at the map in front of him he pointed to the lake. “The Alban Lake is here” he tapped the lightly coloured area which marked the water. “Here are the fields of Veii, stretching for many many miles” he added. “How long would it take for the water to build up if it was not being used on the land, I assume that these Cuniculi are used for that” he added with a frown.

  Mella looked at the map and then back to Narcius his face confused before he spoke. “Surely it is not that simple” he said as Caelio stared open-mouthed at him.

  “I don’t know Mella” Marcus replied honestly. “But I need you men to find out everything about the lake, the water and the reasons the men may think it has risen. It has been a strange summer and winter, with drought in Rome, heavy snow, long rainfall and then dry months. This could all add to the mystery of Veii. Maybe the gods are posing us a puzzle which we must solve before we over-run Veii. A test, if you like” he said pleased at the instant effect his words had on the three men.

  “A test” Caelio said, a smile starting to spread across his face.

  Marcus smiled a reply. “We must work to understand the issues at Veii because I am certain they lie in the mortal world more than the divine. If we have been set a test by Juno, mother goddess, then we must rise to it. Juno resides in Veii and it is my wish to complete the work of Servius Tullius and raise a Temple to her in Rome upon defeat of the city.”

  All three soldiers sat in silence at these words. Tullius had dedicated a temple to Mater Matuta many years before following considerable successes in the field, but at each turn his political enemies had stalled the funding of the building. Marcus had known this from his years as a Camillus and, following lengthy discussions with his brother, had alighted on the scheme to raise the hopes of the men at the camp. They needed a talisman, something to work for, Lucius had said. Marcus had used the words of his prophecy to suggest the removal of the statue of Juno, whom many also called Mater Matuta, the earth goddess, from Veii. A powerful symbol Marcus had said as Lucius beamed at the idea. But, of course, they needed to get into the city first, and that was the tricky part. Marcus was working through his thoughts as Narcius, usually quiet at such meetings, spoke.

  “Sir” he said quietly. He glanced to Caelio and then back to Marcus. “The prophecy” he said as Mella turned urgently to him and then looked at Caelio. “Does it say anything about this?”

  “Prophecy?” Caelio said with a deep frown.

  Marcus looked to Caelio. Narcius and Mella had known of the words spoken by the augur Antonicus years before and had, as sworn by oath, not spoken of it to anyone. “It is a long story Centurion” he replied “though many seem to know of it in these troubled times.” He pulled a small tube from a string around his neck and handed it to Caelio. “Here, read the words for yourself and then we will begin to plan how we will change the siege works at Veii and conquer the city” he said.

  ****

  Four days later Marcus was sat in the wooden hut which was used as the command centre for the siege. Around the square building a marching camp had grown into a fully fortified fort, deep ditches and spike traps set out around the high wooden walls. Extending to the left and right were the long wooden lines of fortifications which hemmed in the great walls of the city. Marcus had ridden the entire length of the defences, noting weak points and attempting to match the reports he had read to the locations and people he visited. The men cheered as their new commander appeared, his presence had created a lift in the spirits along the thin lines of defence.

  As required by the Senate he had held a feast for Honorius before setting the man on his way back to Rome with a bodyguard of heavily armed Eques.

  A knot of officers and Centurions sat or stood in the room and Marcus had not, yet, looked up to greet any of them. The door opened and two more men entered, their helmets and feathers denoting their rank. They saluted and joined a group by the low window on Marcus’ right.

  More men entered and Marcus looked up momentarily at each footstep.

  “All present, Sir” came the words from the Optio stood to Marcus’ side as he tapped the wax tablet with his stylus and closed the wooden panel.

  Marcus stood, his eyes looking out over the men.

  “Today is the first day of my command at Veii” he said as he watched nervous flickers in the eyes of the leaders of the siege camp. He looked to the Optio who produced another wax tablet, larger than the last and handed it to Marcus as some of the men shuffled more nervously. Narcius watched the men, a slight grin appearing on his face before he wiped it clean and stared at his commander.

  “The candle is lit” Marcus said “and the devotion has been poured” he motioned to the small silver dish and white cowl, the mark of a Camillus, which he had used to prepare for the meeting.

  “This” he held up the tablet “is a list of the changes I will make at this camp. Changes that are necessary if you men are to help Rome to a successful victory here.” He looked at the men, seeing anger in some faces and nods of agreement in others. Narcius, Mella and Caelio had given him the names of the officers the men liked or disliked and the reasons why. He knew which men were slacking in their duties and he knew those who were trying hard to keep the morale despite the long siege. He also knew which men were running the gambling tents and the prostitute tents, his anger at finding that many of the prostitutes actually lived in the city of Veii and came to the camp at night having to be calmed by Mella who stated that if Marcus acted too quickly the leaders would not be found. Agreeing, but not happy, he had simply fallen back into the quiet role of watcher, allowing the leaders of the camp to carry on with their activities unabated, hoping they would find him to be a soft fool like Honorius.

  Some of the Centurions moved closer together, a few whispers coming from across by the window where Marcus now glanced before speaking again.

  “These changes” he said “include a series of measures which will make this camp fit for the purpose in which it was created, to defeat Veii.” His eyes grew dark as he motioned to the Optio, who stepped forwards.

  “Officers, please move into line East to West as the forts of the defence are aligned one to ten” he said as a few frowns greeted his words but men started to shuffle into a line. The defences were split into ten forts ranging across the front elevation of the city, the furthest bordered by rocky cliffs or deep woods which fell into a deep ravine. As the men started to line up in the order in which they commanded each fort several men stood to the side,
the baggage command, the medical Centurion and so on. The Optio urged them away to the right of the room, handing them a red ribbon which they looked at in confusion before the Optio said that the colours would relate to the new orders. Narcius stood with them and happily took a red ribbon of cloth, his smile making some of the men around him seem to relax as they knew he was close to the new commander.

  After a minute or two the movements all stopped and the men returned their gazes to Marcus. Moving in front of the table Marcus looked at the men. On his left was the officer and leaders of fort one, their leader a Centurion the size of a bull, his stretched stomach hard under his thick tunic. “Spurius” he said as the man stood taller and responded with a salute and the words “Sir.” Marcus noted the glances from other officers who were waiting to see what would happen next.

  Marcus opened the wax tablet the Optio gave him and looked at the words, then back to the man, a drip of sweat falling along his temples as his eyes stared into the distance over Marcus’s shoulder.

  “An excellent record of achievements in the service of Rome, five years here at the walls” he said with a nod as the man simply stared at the wooden wall as if he found it fascinating. Marcus smiled at him. “You have lost no men to desertion in that time” he said, noting a sudden nervous shuffle from the centre of the room, “How is that?”

  “Discipline, Sir. Just good solid soldiering and discipline” came the deep voiced reply.

  Marcus fell into silence as he perused the tablet he held in his hands and walked along the line of men, stopping to look at one or two officers before smiling weakly and moving on. As he approached the far right the men holding the ribbons stood taller, each man glancing around the room before setting their gazes into the corner of the wooden building.

  “Discipline” Marcus said as he motioned to the Optio, who moved quickly to the door and opened it to a sudden flurry of sword wielding Eagles, each man hand-picked by Narcius. As they entered Narcius drew his blade and stepped in front of Marcus, who remained calm as he watched the Centurions and officers start to draw their swords and stare around the room.

  “Drop your weapons” Narcius called to the officers who were standing in the room, repeating the order as some failed to move, their angry calls coming quickly as they stared with indignation at their new commander.

  Moving quickly to pick up and remove all the weapons the men of the Eagles withdrew to stand behind the officers, swords still drawn.

  “Men of Rome” Marcus said, his eyes moving to Spurius’ furious face and smiling, a confused frown coming to the man’s face. “This is a necessary evil I must do to you at this time.” As he spoke he moved to the men with the red ribbons, some of whom had thrown their cloth to the floor angrily. “You men have nothing to fear” he said “but you will remain to listen to what I have to say” he added coldly.

  “This camp is lax” Marcus said as he moved across to his left “and I intend to change that.” Shuffles came from the centre of the room, at which Narcius turned and levelled his sword.

  “You have no right” a Centurion with a thick beard and deep brown eyes said, his tongue flicking out to lick his lips as he spoke.

  Marcus looked at the man with an icy stare. “I have every right, soldier” Marcus said, not using the man’s name deliberately. “As Tribune and commander of this camp I hold the power of life and death over every one of you and every man under your command. As Tribune of Rome my word is sacrosanct here” he said slowly and deliberately as his eyes roved the room.

  “Basus” he said, turning to the officer standing next to the vocal Centurion. “I believe you run the prostitutes tents” he said as the man nervously looked to his friend and stepped back slightly.

  “It’s a lie” he said quickly, his eyes darting to the sword of Narcius. “I have sworn statements here that you have entered the city of Veii on several occasions in the past few months to pick the women who work for you” Marcus said coldly as the men nearest Basus parted from him as if he had the plague, the man floundering as his head twitched from side to side.

  “Is that the act of a true Roman? We will find out what information you were giving to the Veientine leaders whilst you were in city. Take him” he said as the man launched himself at Marcus, a snap of Narcius’ wrist sending him sprawling back as his sword hilt smashed his left eye into a bloody pulp and three soldiers grabbed him and pummelled him before dragging him into the corner and tying him with ropes.

  The action caused mayhem in the room, men started to move around and some shouts came, but the Eagles closed ranks and shouted their officers back into a line as Basus was dragged away.

  “Lokitius” Marcus said as a thin man, his clean shaven face and short hair making his eyes appear to dominate his facial features, almost whimpered at the change of atmosphere in the room. Lokitius had a short scar along his forehead which seemed to dance as his eyes bulged and his eyebrows creased.

  “Gambling” he said as Lokitius’ mouth opened and closed without speaking. “Not a bad crime” he added as a moment of hope came to the man’s face. “Yet fort three has had over sixty defectors. I hear that you have a list of men that owe you more than a years pay and you administer punishment as if you were the paterfamilias of your villa” he said as the man started to cringe, his hands wringing together. Again a parting of the ways occurred as men shifted from his side, his eyes glancing to the man who had spoken up at the start of the meetings sudden change in direction. A sword pushed into the small of his back and he turned, his hands swinging out as another soldier stepped forwards and gripped him around the chest before two more shuffled him backwards as the man let out a yell “Amelius” he called as if calling for his mother.

  “Amelius” Marcus said slowly, turning to the thick bearded man. “Centurion of the fifth fort, the very one in which we stand” he smiled. The man looked back at him levelly and his fists balled as if he was going to strike at his officer. Marcus smiled at the man, bringing a look of hatred to his eyes. “Camitius” Marcus said, looking to the right and cocking his head as another man stepped back, one the officers beside him shoving him with a grin on his face, as he stared malevolently into his face.

  “Hold, Maximus” Marcus said loudly as the man looked at him in surprise. “I know what he has done to you and your men, you will get a chance to repay the hurt he has given you” he said calmly as the surprised man turned and saluted smartly. “Yes, Sir” he said as another two Eagles gripped Camitus’ arms.

  “You patrician bastard” Amelius called as he leapt forwards, Narcius and Marcus both reacting instantly and catching the man in the stomach and face before he was dragged backwards by a mix of the Eagles and those men closest to him, some raining kicks into his prone body as he fell to the floor, Marcus allowing it to last a few seconds before he called the officers back from the Centurion.

  “Take them out” Marcus said as the Eagles dutifully trussed up Amelius and then dragged him outside.

  All eyes returned to Marcus.

  “As I speak the junior officers of these men who are culpable along with them have been arrested and imprisoned.” He stared at the men, seeing some flinch and others grin, before he returned to his desk and sat in the chair, a sudden relaxation coming to the group of men standing in front of him.

  “Amelius and his men are like a plague. I know, I have served in a camp where the leading officers condone such actions. I know how hard it is to stand up to them when the Tribune turns a blind eye” Marcus said, his memory of Postumius flashing through his mind.

  “However, gentlemen” he looked at the officers. “I am sure I have not wheedled out all the bad fruit and I will not allow anything to stop Rome defeating Veii. Spurius” he said looking to the heavily set man. “You are promoted to camp prefect” he held out a tablet from a pile on the table to the astonished man. “I want your discipline to rain on these men like the gods have opened the heavens” he nodded to the grinning face of the man. “Your orders are there
. Don’t thank me” Marcus replied as the man’s face seemed to move into one of great joy. “The job is the hardest and most difficult you will ever face, this camp is a mess and you and the other officers will face my wrath if it is not sorted out within a month.” The man saluted and stepped back, nervous glances coming from along the line of officers.

  “Manucius” Marcus said. “I knew your brother” he added with a smile “a fine officer and I believe doing well as a magistrate” he added to the nodding head of the junior patrician who had stood with his mouth open at all the happenings in the room. “I hear you are good with numbers and logistics, so you will support Spurius as his deputy” he stated as the man looked across at his new boss and nodded, his mind already working through how pleased his father would be at this promotion. “I need everything listed and bolted down and I do not want any more deserters” Marcus added with a cold look at the newly appointed camp deputy.

  As a silence fell into the room, Marcus moved a few of the tablets around the table before picking up a darkly coloured one, his eyes flicking into the remaining men in front of him. “Within the hour I will call a full camp meeting and address the men” he said “no doubt the news of the arrests has caused a commotion among them” he added with a look to Narcius.

  “I will tell them that I am removing four of the forts, we do not need so many men spread so thinly along the defences. I will also be setting off to the woods at the Eastern end of fort nine to root out the skirmishers who constantly harry our defences for food and water. As I understand it these men are actually most of our deserters who have set up a camp there” he looked to Spurius who nodded his agreement. “I will drag them all back here and pin them to the walls” Marcus added with his jaw set firm. “The men must see that desertion is punishable by a slow and painful death. If the men are not afraid of their own officers how can they be afraid of the enemy” he added as he looked into the faces of the assembled group of men.