Tribune's Oath (Clay Warrior Stories Book 17)

by J. Clifton Slater

  Elephants as war beasts can backfire. Historian Cassius Dio recorded that at Beneventum, Italy in 275 B.C., a wounded elephant calf threw off its rider and went searching for its mother. The other war elephants grew turbulent and created chaos in the ranks of Pyrrhus army while looking for the calf. The Roman Legions took advantage and defeated the Greek King, ending his invasion of the Republic. All because of a young wounded elephant.

  Xanthippus, the Spartan Tail-Leader (officer in command of a phalanx), had been hired by Carthage to train their army. Although I understand the martial power of the Spartans, I couldn’t uncover what he was teaching the mercenaries. Then, I looked closely at who accompanied him to the Capital of the Empire. He took 40 men of a Spartan Enomotia, which translates to a Spartan phalanx. Therefore, Xanthippus was teaching the tightly packed phalanx formation when he was overheard disparaging the Carthaginian Generals.

  At his trial, Xanthippus turned a sure conviction into being hired as the supreme commander for the Qart Hadasht army. I don’t know how he did it, but being a writer, I created a scene where he turned the Special Branch and made it part of the story. As the Legions were only ten miles from the city walls, the Spartan’s demand for gold payment was readily accepted. However, after the victory, Carthage leadership planned to assassinate the Spartan Commander and reclaim their gold. When Xanthippus heard about the strategy, he escaped with his Enomotia and the gold to Sparta. Hopefully, I did his story justice in this book.

  The use of foundation walls and footers to support buildings dates to sometime after 644 B.C. For all the modern knowledge we have of material stresses and engineering practices, ancient builders were aware of the importance of transferring loads from the superstructure to the ground. Just as Naevus, the foundation mole described.

  Hybris was the Greek Goddess of insolence, hubris, violence, reckless pride, arrogance, and outrageous behavior. While her blessings were seen as things to avoid, Alerio’s song turned them into characteristics needed for the fighting escape.

  In 255 BC, the Republic sent a fleet to extract the Legions from the Punic Coast. It’s unclear if they knew that only two thousand of the original fifteen thousand men survived the Battle of Tunis. One answer to the question was hinted at by the size of the Republic fleet. Three hundred warships and two hundred transports vessels seemed excessive for the rescue of only two thousand men. I suspect they thought there were more survivors of the expedition. After defeating the Empire fleet, the transports boarded the survivors and sailed away from the Punic Coast. Off the coast of Sicily, the fleet encountered a severe storm. One hundred thousand auxiliary troops, Legionaries, Marines, sailors, and oarsmen drowned. Only a third of the fleet returned to Ostia.

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  I am J. Clifton Slater and I write military adventure both future and ancient. Until we once again step forward and take our place in a Legion’s assault line, Alerio and I salute you and wish you good health and vigor. Euge! Bravo!

  Other books by J. Clifton Slater

  Historical Adventure – ‘Clay Warrior Stories’ series

  #1 Clay Legionary

  #2 Spilled Blood

  #3 Bloody Water

  #4 Reluctant Siege

  #5 Brutal Diplomacy

  #6 Fortune Reigns

  #7 Fatal Obligation

  #8 Infinite Courage

  #9 Deceptive Valor

  #10 Neptune’s Fury

  #11 Unjust Sacrifice

  #12 Muted Implications

  #13 Death Caller

  #14 Rome’s Tribune

  #15 Deranged Sovereignty

  #16 Uncertain Honor

  #17 Tribune’s Oath

  Fantasy – ‘Terror & Talons’ series

  #1 Hawks of the Sorcerer Queen

  #2 Magic and the Rage of Intent

  Military Science Fiction - ‘Call Sign Warlock’ series

  #1 Op File Revenge

  #2 Op File Treason

  #3 Op File Sanction

  Military Science Fiction – ‘Galactic Council Realm’ series

  #1 On Station

  #2 On Duty

  #4 On Guard

  #5 On Point