Infinite Courage

by J. Clifton Slater

  “An interesting tale of opposing cities,” Hiero observed. “Do you really believe Syracuse will fall as rapidly? My military as easily defeated and the profits as high?”

  Before the Legion General answered, both flaps on the tent were thrown back. Captain Lith and a Lieutenant marched to the center of the tent. Following the two officers, two large soldiers dragged a man in and stood him upright. Bruises and cuts marred his face, and he seemed to have a gash on his forehead, based on the bloody rag he held there. The prisoner sagged and if not for the soldiers, he would have toppled over.

  “What is the meaning of this?” demanded Hiero II when he saw the uniform of a Legionary.

  “Sir, this man was spying,” Captain Lith answered.

  ***

  “Is this how you treat members of a delegation?” General Crassus challenged. He jumped to his feet and stepped away from the discussion table.

  Momentarily, the confidence left Centurion Megellus and he sagged against the wall of the tent. He recovered his composure and straightened up. Then he stepped away from the edge and began asking questions.

  “Does my Corporal have a tablet or parchment where he marked down the sights he saw? Did he speak to anyone about the defensive procedures?” Megellus asked. “Did he attack anyone, insult an officer, act suspiciously? Tell me, Captain Lith, how was he spying? And how did he get the marks on his face?”

  A silence fell over the tent. Taking advantage of the stillness, the Senior Tribune inserted his opinion.

  “Corporal Sisera. What mischief have you gotten into?” demanded Nictavi. “I told you this was an important meeting. Now, look at what you’ve done.”

  Alerio didn’t reply. He grimaced as he smiled at the Senior Tribune through cut lips.

  “Captain Lith. I as well would like an answer,” King Hiero commented. “How was the Legionary spying?”

  “Sir. I will let Lieutenant Papyrus of the Syracuse Artillery explain.”

  The artillery officer stepped forward, saluted his King, and indicated Alerio with a jerk of his thumb.

  “Corporal Sisera is a breaching specialist for the Legion,” Papyrus informed the room. “I first saw him in the flat before the gates of Adrano as we started the defensive launchings.”

  “You were in charge of the oxybeles and lithobolois at Adrano?” Fenoris Megellus shouted while starting to leap at the Syracusan officer.

  In anticipation of violence, the King’s guards lowered their spears. Before the infantry officer leaped, an arm wrapped around Megellus’ waist holding him in place.

  “Stand down, Centurion,” 1st Centurion Lichenis advised. “Let this play out. No good can come of throwing your life away.”

  “We stand for the lost men of the 25th, sir,” Alerio offered. He braced, even though the pain of standing rigidly erect showed on his face.

  Megellus stood upright, shook off the 1st Centurion’s arm and repeated, “We stand for the lost men of the 25th.”

  Silence settled on the interior of the tent until the King spoke.

  “Please continue Lieutenant Papyrus.”

  “Thank you, sir. I watched Corporal Sisera strolling through our rain of iron and rocks as if it was a spring shower,” the artillery officer related. He indicated Megellus. “That officer ran to his side and fell with an arrow in his leg. Sisera picked him up and walked him to the blind spot in front of the main city gate. There I lost sight of the Legionary.”

  “When did you see him again?” coached Lith.

  “Shortly after the Legion breached the gate,” the Lieutenant described. “We were resetting to repel the next wave when Sisera came along the wall. Brandishing two swords, he leaped on a line of spearmen. He was in the process of killing them when a squad of Legionaries arrived.”

  “Hold on Lieutenant,” Hiero interrupted. “You’re saying this Legion Corporal attacked a line of spearmen, single-handedly?”

  “Yes, sir. As I said, he is a breaching specialist,” Papyrus insisted. “Surely, his skin has been forged by Hephaestus. When I saw him within our walls, I knew why he was here. Preparing a plan to breach the walls of Syracuse.”

  “General Crassus. Do you truly command men with weaponized skin?”

  “King Hiero,” Crassus responded. “It has been rumored that some Legionaries have been blessed by the God who forges weapons for the Gods of Olympus.”

  “I have much to consider,” Hiero stated while standing. Before leaving the tent, he added. “There is no doubt, the Republic is formidable. But so is the Qart Hadasht Empire. Can either defeat the other without destroying themselves?”

  Once King Hiero II and his advisor left, Captain Lith indicated the opposite exit. Following General Crassus, the Legion delegation walked out and took the road to the gate.

  ***

  “Corporal Sisera. You have to hold still so I can finish,” the medic complained.

  He waved the thin silver needle and waxed sheep intestines thread in front of the NCO’s face.

  “I have to get this drawn while it’s still fresh in my mind,” Alerio replied. “Sew somewhere else, if you must.”

  “Only the cut on your forehead requires sutures,” the medic informed him.

  “Put a compress on it for now,” Alerio ordered.

  Drops of blood dripped onto his cheek, rolled off, and fell onto the sheepskin parchment under his hands.

  Across the commander’s tent, General Crassus and Colonel Bacaris studied Centurion Megellus. Behind them, Senior Tribune Nictavi glared at the infantry officer.

  “I propose charges be brought against Fenoris Megellus,” Nictavi suggested. “His scheme put you at a disadvantage during the negotiations, General.”

  Crassus thought for a heartbeat then called across the tent.

  “Corporal Sisera. We are waiting for proof that your Centurion isn’t a complete fool,” Crassus warned. “If you want to save his career, I suggest you show us the value of his imagination.”

  Alerio drew a final line, marked a distance on it, and leaned back.

  “Sir. We now have the defensive positions for that part of the Syracusan wall,” he announced.

  “Bring it here and explain what you’ve drawn,” instructed the Senior Tribune. “We don’t have time to decipher scribbling. But I’m sure you can describe what’s on the parchment.”

  Alerio used two hands on the skin to prevent it from folding and smearing the fresh ink. He crossed the room in step with the medic who held a cloth over the gash. After placing the map on the Colonel’s camp table, he took control of the compress and backed away.

  “What do you think Bacaris?” Crassus asked the battle commander.

  Bacaris touched a few places on the map, allowed his finger to trace ink from a gate to the weapons’ platforms, then to an onager position.

  “With this map, I can plan a breach and plot safe lanes of attack for our infantry,” the Colonel stated. “It’s excellent intelligence, General.”

  “Centurion Megellus. You and Corporal Sisera are excused,” Crassus said releasing the two.

  “Thank you, sir,” Fenoris replied while taking Alerio’s arm and guiding him towards the exit.

  They were two steps from the opening when the Senior Centurion burst into the tent.

  “King Hiero has sent a representative to the Legion staff area,” Publius reported. “He wants to talk.”

  “More negotiations?” suggested Nictavi.

  “According to guards accompanying the King’s advisor, Hiero said the Qart Hadasht Empire doesn’t have breaching specialists with weaponized skin,” Publius replied. “I don’t know any army that does. But it sounds like Syracuse wants to make peace with the Republic.”

  “Will you go to the treaty talks, General?” Colonel Bacaris inquired.

  “No. I have duties to attend to in the Capital,” Crassus answered. “For political reasons, it’s best if General Mesalla handles the details.”

  ***

  Fenoris Megellus tightened his gr
ip on Alerio’s arm and pulled him out of the tent.

  “It seems the Sicilia campaign is all but over for this year, sir,” Alerio commented as they walked towards the 25th Century’s area.

  “That may be true for the marching Legions,” the infantry officer observed. “But sixty towns and cities signed treaties with the Republic and they need to be enforced.”

  “It sounds as if you aren’t leaving the island, sir.”

  “I’m not. The Senate will authorize garrisons and I’m going to request one,” Megellus informed the Corporal. “It’ll make it easier to select the position I want for the next campaign.”

  “As a Construction Officer, sir?” asked Alerio.

  “Before the Legion breaks up, distribute the funeral funds and extra coins to the men. Then I’m detaching you to the Capital for a couple of things before you’re released from the Legion.”

  “What things, Centurion?”

  “Open an account for me at the Temple of Mercury,” Megellus instructed. “Then see Senator Maximus and deliver a chit and a letter.”

  “I can do that,” Alerio informed him. “But you never answered my question. What duty will you request, sir?”

  “Infantry officer for a Century of heavy infantrymen,” Fenoris Megellus stated.

  “I’d be proud to serve with you again, sir.”

  “And I’d be proud to have an NCO of your abilities, Corporal Sisera,” Megellus replied. “Now get over to medical and get that gash stitched. As it is, it’ll probably leave a scar.”

  Chapter 37 – Rare Coins of War

  When Alerio reached the Capital, he rented a coach. Not because he didn’t enjoy walking around the city. He did. But it was dangerous to stroll around with sacks of gold coins. He stopped at a temple and deposited the Centurion’s money before taking the carriage to Villa Maximus.

  “I didn’t expect this,” Senator Spurius Maximus stated while waving two chits around.

  “But you said the Legion provides an opportunity for glory and bonuses,” Alerio remarked. “If I remember correctly, sir. You said, if you do a heroic deed, you’ll receive two things; a bonus and the chance to do another difficult mission. We did a near-impossible mission, then another, and were awarded bonuses. What’s not to expect, sir?”

  They were seated across from one another in the Senator’s office. The chits in question had been issued by the Temple of Mercury. One was for the Senator from Ambassador Octavius Sergius via Centurion Fenoris Megellus. The second draft was to be forwarded to the father of Fenoris Megellus. Both showed large sums on deposit with the Temple’s head priest.

  “The truth, Corporal Sisera, is few Legionaries are ever in a position to reap glory and coins from their deeds,” Maximus explained. “Those that do are usually put in the lead of the next assault so they may die gloriously. And while they do set an excellent example for the rest of the Legion, no bonuses are paid to the dead.”

  “I apologize, Senator. I was under the impression that bonuses were common,” Alerio ventured. “After all, you fronted the coins for the Century. I thought that you planned to turn a profit on the investment.”

  “And I will earn one. But from the trade with towns in Sicilia not from bonuses,” Maximus proclaimed while waving the chits in the air. “The Legion’s Senior Centurion and Tribune, the battle commander, and the General have shares of the spoils from conquests. And a smaller portion goes to a few Legionaries or Centuries that lead assaults or perform exceptionally well.”

  “The 25th did that, sir,” Alerio bragged. “because you invested in the Century.”

  “I can see the results,” Maximus admitted. He gazed at the vouchers and then across the desk at the Corporal. “And yet, I am surprised. For you see Alerio Sisera, it’s rare for the men doing the fighting to earn coins directly from war.”

  The End

  Infinite Courage

  Author Note

  Infinite Courage is book #8 in this series. In each of the books, I include historical events, ancient technology, lifestyle items, Legion details from the mid Republic era, and ancient Gods, all thoroughly researched. I love history and want my readers to as well.

  One reader wrote to me, “First books based on Roman History that I have really enjoyed.” A big thank you to that reader, and to you, for making Clay Warrior Stories a success.

  Infinite Courage takes place in 263 BC. After the intense fighting between Carthage and Rome at the start of the First Punic War, it’s surprising that the Carthage Empire disengaged in the second year. This allowed Rome to consolidate its hold on the eastern half of Sicily.

  I am currently researching for book #9 set in 262 B.C. when the Carthage Empire reengaged.

  There was no Ambassador Sergius or General Periander but, the tale of Centuripe and Adrano presents a puzzle. Why did a wealthy city like Centuripe, with a powerful army, sign a treaty after a brief siege by the Legion? Contrast that with a poorer city like Adrano that during a siege, angered the Legion enough to be attacked and depopulated. For those who follow Alerio’s routes, I use the current names of the cities so readers can map the topography, settings, and locations used in the stories.

  Writing adventure and staying close to history is sometimes frustrating. I really wanted to write a major battle at the walls of Syracuse. But King Hiero II signed a treaty with Rome in 263 B.C. before the battle started. A good move for Syracuse, and a letdown for this writer.

  If you have comments or want to contact me, please e-mail me. Your input is always welcome. Or follow my Facebook page for book updates and my historical ponderings.

  E-mail: GalacticCouncilRealm@gmail.com

  Facebook Page: Galactic Council Realm & Clay Warrior Stories

  Thank you for reading the historical adventures of Alerio Sisera.

  I am J. Clifton Slater and I write Military Adventure both Future & Ancient

  Military Adventure both Future and Ancient

  by J. Clifton Slater

  Clay Warrior Stories series

  Clay Legionary

  Spilled Blood

  Bloody Water

  Reluctant Siege

  Brutal Diplomacy

  Fortune Reigns

  Fatal Obligation

  Infinite Courage

  Call Sign Warlock series

  Op File Revenge

  Op File Treason

  Op File Sanction

  Galactic Council Realm series

  On Station

  On Duty

  On Guard

  On Point