by Griff Hosker
Drinks were brought and Marcus used the opportunity to let the men talk amongst themselves. He noted with satisfaction that Gaelwyn was leaning to one side, the better to eavesdrop. Marcus took a swallow of the liquid which was a honeyed beer. “Good”, he said to Ferdia’s wife, who this time smiled and nodded.
The conversations petered out and although Marcus had not understood much of what they had said he had not heard raised voices which made him optimistic. “We accept your peace.” He stood up, as did all the other men and held out his right arm. Marcus stood up and clasped his arm.
“You are a wise man. For now we will leave you but, in the spring we will return with men to build and to find what you need. What of the other villages, there are two close by?”
“Briciu is close by and he is a good man, he walks the way of peace these days. He will listen but Sulian; he calls himself chief, likes war and likes power. He has attacked us many times. He has a stronghold.”
“Thank you Ferdia for your honesty and your hospitality.”
As they rode back to the Roman camp the prefect turned to Gaelwyn. “It looks like Briciu must be the next village along the valley and this Sulian the hill fort.”
“It makes life simpler for you prefect for you now know when to war and when to talk.” He grinned up at the prefect. “At least the food is better than the camp.”
“It is that Gaelwyn.”
The following day Marcus called a meeting of his decurions. “Yesterday went well. They want peace, which suits the general and it suits us.” Seeing Macro’s face he added,” Don’t worry Decurion Macro, some of them will be stupid enough to fight.”
“Thank you sir!”
“Today I will take Gaelwyn and the signifier. Decius send out one turma to scout the hill fort and another to be out of sight of the next village but within buccina call. We scared them a bit yesterday. Gaius must have given them a dirty look.” The ever affable Gaius started to protest and then realising it was a joke he joined in.”The rest of you can remain in camp but I would like a crew for the bolt thrower, we may need it. Assemble it and hold a competition see who can fire it effectively. The reward can be no sentry duty for the team during this patrol. Right let’s get on with this campaign.”
As Marcus rode away Decius turned to Gaius. “This general is the best thing to happen to our prefect in a long time. He is like a new man.”
“Aye Gaius, he is as he was when Ulpius gave the orders.”
“You are right, you are right. Let’s get the patrols out. Agrippa, scout the hill fort. Julius baby sit the prefect.”
The village was almost identical to that of Ferdia. Perhaps they had had word sent or the three men posed no threat; whatever the reason the headman, Marcus assumed it was Briciu. He too was short and squat with a tonsure of red hair cascading over his shoulders. In his youth he would have been a powerful man and Marcus could see the scars from battles and combats. “Welcome Roman. What can my humble village do for you?”
The second delivery of the speech was easier and by the end Marcus was convinced that there had been contact between the two villages for there was almost instant acknowledgement that they too would cooperate.
“Sulian now, he is different. He will fight you and if he beats you Ferdia and I will suffer.”
“You need not fear, Sulian will not beat us. We have taken hill forts before and we have beaten bullies before. Briciu we are here to stay.”
Decius was surprised to see him return so quickly. “We have only had half the turmae training with the bolt thrower. Most are bloody useless but there are a couple of likely lads. Agrippa isn’t back yet.”
“I wouldn’t have expected him. Decurion Demetrius your turma is mounted. Gaelwyn scout the next valley. We’ll deal with Sulian tomorrow and then move on.”
“Well that is at least three days in the same camp. The lads’ll be happy.”
Agrippa arrived back shortly before Julius. “We will hear your reports while we eat. Macro went out hunting when he found he was worst bolt thrower in the ala. We have some fine deer and some salmon.”
“That lad is a good provider, “added the quartermaster licking his greasy lips after having sampled the quality of the venison. He was so happy he provided an amphora of wine to wash it down.
“Right Agrippa. How does the land lie?”
“It won’t be easy. The hill fort has a good site. There is a ditch and a palisade. There is just one gate with two small towers. When they saw us they hurled a few insults, manned the walls and began to fill the ditch with spikes. I think we can safely say that they are belligerent.”
Macro looked at Julius, who just said, “They want to fight.” Macro beamed and continued gnawing on the leg bone.
“We rode around the site. It is quite large but because they only have one gate it makes assault a little easier. The only way out, apart from the gate is to climb over the palisade and we could run any of them down.”
“How many warriors?”
“There seemed to be quite a few. I would estimate six hundred or so.”
“A large force. We outnumber them but winkling them out is always expensive in terms of losses. It is a good thing we have been training on foot. It will come in handy.”An involuntary groan emanated from Decius. “You’ll be so fit when we finish Decius you’ll be able to enter the running race. How about the crew for the bolt thrower? We will need that.”
“We have two sir, the actual team and a backup in case they get hurt or we manage to build another one.”
“Build another one?”
“Yes sir. I have a couple of lads in my turma who reckon they could knock one up.”
“Good man Vettius. Two would be handy. You might see if the can manufacture bolts. We may be out on patrol for some time. Now Julius what did you and the cheerful Gaelwyn find?”
“He listens well sir.” Julius looked around as the decurions fell about laughing. He had not intended it as funny.
“Ignore them lad, they are just plebeians. No sense of dignity.”
“Well sir there are two villages in the next valley. I took the liberty of speaking to the headmen.” Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Gaelwyn gave me the gist of what you said. I thought it might save time…” he tailed off lamely.
“Don’t apologise son. Initiative is a good thing. I approve. And…?”
“They are happy to cooperate. Seems the wars cost them crops and people died of hunger; women and children mainly. They seem very family orientated sir.”
“Good. Anything else?”
“They did warn me about the next valley. They said the clans there were very bell… warlike and I got the impression they were looking forward to us pacifying them.”
“Excellent. Tomorrow is an important day. Our men will be using new weapons and new tactics. Do not berate them for our mistakes. Anticipate where they will make mistakes and eliminate them before they happen. I am hoping to take it tomorrow but whatever the outcome we will return here tomorrow night.”
The next day the prefect led his column the short distance to the fort. The bolt thrower was kept a discreet distance away for Marcus wanted to try diplomacy first.
Armed warriors lined the defences and a large man shouted, “What do you want Roman?”
The manner and tone of the question left all could hear it in no doubt, these Novontae were up for a fight. The palisade bristled with armed and armoured men. “We have come to bring peace to this part of the Roman Empire.”
Marcus got no further. “This is not part of the Roman Empire and never will be. You may have been the women who call themselves Brigante but we are Novontae and your bones will bleach white on the green grass of my stronghold.”
“Know this Chief Sulian that if you fight us you are dooming your people to servitude. If you embrace us we will provide baths, schools, building, indeed all the trappings of civilisation.”
“The only thing I will embrace that is Roman will be the dead bodies you leave in my v
alley and we spit on your civilisation.” With that he dropped his arm and a shower of arrows flew towards them. Every Decurion shouted shields in the same instant but the troopers were well trained enough to protect themselves. What they could not protect was their horses and a few fell, pierced by the barbs. Marcus heard the gasp of anger and knew that it was Sergeant Cato.
“Fall back.” They fell back to the jeers of the villagers. “Agrippa take your turma and Vettius’ guard the rear and sides. Keep out of arrow range. Just stop them escaping. Decius get some men to bring forward the bolt thrower. Gaius and Lentius get your turma to form a shield wall within bow range of the gate. Metellus and Domitius bring forward your archers behind the shield wall and clear that gate. The rest of you assign horse holders for the turmae and bring the rest in a line one hundred paces behind Gaius and Lentius.” He turned to see the assembled bolt thrower being manhandled into position. “Let’s see what our new artillery can do. I want you to batter the gate. If you can hit in the same area it will weaken it. When the gate is destroyed then target the towers.”
“Yes sir.” The men raced off eagerly and placed they weapon in the centre of the shield wall. Already the superior Roman bow was having an effect for they were able to fire not only at the palisade but beyond it. They could the cries of pain as the arrows found targets. All the while the barbarians were taunting and jeering but it was noticeably less confident after a few volleys. The jeering stopped altogether when the first bolt whizzed from its thrower. The gate shuddered as the bolt went straight through. The men gave a minor adjustment and the next one landed almost next to the first and this too went through.
“That’s got the buggers thinking,” smirked Decius. He was correct for they could see the defences they thought had been effective crumbling before their eyes. Four bolts later and the gate was a ruin. As the bolts targeted the towers the archers began to fire directly through the gate and soon the inhabitants learned to avoid showing themselves.
Decius rode up next to Marcus.” Agrippa’s in place. This is the easiest assault I have even seen.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself Decius we still have to climb the ditch. Are the logs in place?”
“Yes my lads brought them up.”
The plan discussed late into the night was to demolish the tower and gate, keep the defender’s heads down, run up with logs to fill the ditch either side of the gate and race in. It had all seemed very easy when they were in their cups. Decius and Marcus were now looking at the slope up which their men would have to run and brave the missiles which were bound to be hurled from the fort.
A very self satisfied voice said, “Towers gone. Both of them.”
“Well stop feeling so proud of yourself and start on the walls wither side of the gate.” Turning to Marcus Decius said, “Better get the lads in position. You lot go and get the logs.”
The middle part of the fort had been turned into a charnel house filled with the limbs and bodies of those hit by the bolts as they carried on through the walls and into people. The palisades on either side of the gap were still filled with the angry barbarians but the middle sixty paces was defenceless.
“Archers and shields move left and right to clear those palisades.”
As soon as the troopers moved the defenders increased their rate of fire but the Romans still had the protection of their shields, wood reinforced with leather and metal; the barbarians had no weapons which could penetrate them. The log carriers were moving up the hill preceded by two turmae with shields and javelins. They were under strict orders to keep their javelins and not throw them; once they came to the palisade they could be the deciding factor. The crucial time was when the troopers with the logs had to throw them into the ditch for when they did so they were defenceless. Fortunately either the archers had run out of arrows or they were not in the right place for only a couple of troopers suffered wounds. As soon as the logs crashed down onto the sharpened stakes they rendered them useless as a defence. The two turma ran at the palisades and hurled their javelins. At the same moment Decius ordered the rest of the ala, including the shield wall and archers to attack. The demoralised defenders were overwhelmed. The troopers ruthless hacked down the last of the defenders and then made their way through the stronghold butchering anyone they found who presented opposition. They had learned in Wales and Stagh-Herts that women could be just as deadly as any warrior.
Marcus remained with the bolt thrower, confident that his ala could deal with the tribesmen. A rider raced towards him and Marcus recognised him as one of Agrippa’s men. “Decurion Agrippa would like to report that the barbarians tried to escape over the wall. We killed a lot of them and a lot more surrendered. They are women and kids mainly. He wants to know what to do…sir”
Smiling the prefect could understand the decurion’s uncertainty. Killing warriors who surrendered was one thing but he knew his men they would baulk at women and children.”Tell the decurion to secure his prisoners.”
Inside the fort the last of the warriors who remained had retreated into the central part near to the chief’s hut. The chief stood there with his last few guards around him. Decius signalled to the archers who drew back their bows. There was no point risking his men when they could kill them at a distance.
“You cowards is there no one who will face me alone, man to man!”
Macro caught Decius’ eye and nodded. Decius just said, “Kill his men.” In an instant every warrior lay dead and Chief Sulian looked stunned.
Marcus stepped out his spatha held easily in his hand. Behind the chief the remaining women and children cowered as they watched their leader face the huge Roman. Roaring with rage Sulian threw himself forward slicing his two handed sword at Macro’s head. The decurion’s head moved just before the blow connected and Macro punched the chief, who was off balance, in the side with the boss of his shield. He fell in an undignified heap on the floor which made him even angrier. He stabbed forward and Macro deflected it, slicing into the top of the chief’s leg as his guard dropped.
“Macro! Stop pissing about and kill the bastard!”
Looking like the cat who has had had his mouse taken away from him Macro seemed to dance forward in a series of punches from his shield and stabs with his blade. Suddenly it was over and the chief lay there riddled with six or seven mortal wounds.
Patting him on the back Decius said, “Glad you are on our side old son.”
Later that afternoon as the stronghold bunt a sorry stream of prisoners was herded by Agrippa towards their camp. Marcus sought out Julius. “Find that marine. We have some orders for him. Decius, hobble them and make sure they can’t escape. Get a corral or something built. Cato should be able to help you. Gaius give me a casualty count. Lentius collect up all the weapons and take them to the two friendly villages. Say it is a gift.”
Decius stopped giving instructions to Quintus Augustus and said, “Are you sure that is wise? Arming them? They could turn nasty.”
Marcus shook his head, “No I have met them and they will not besides can you think of a better way of showing that we trust them? They have no defences if they did rebel Macro could take them with one turma and not suffer a casualty. Trust me Decius this is the right way.”
“Sir?”
The marine stood before Marcus. “Sorry we haven’t got to use you before but we need a message sending to the fleet. Can you do that?”
“Yes sir. They will be off that point,” he gestured to the south, “tomorrow morning.”
“Good I want you to go there and ask them to take these slaves off my hand. I’ll send the prisoners and guards with you.”
“Yes sir.”
Later that night Marcus wrote up his report for the general. So far it had gone better than expected; if the fleet could take the prisoners off his hands then that would free him up to continue his pacification of the Novontae. Decius joined him with two beakers of wine. “Think we deserve this sir.”
“What was the butcher’s bill?”
“Six men dead. Twenty wounded, two seriously.”
“Too many Decius, too many.”
“But sir we killed over four hundred warriors.”
“We may have to do this ten, twenty times. Do the sums, that would mean we would lose one hundred and twenty dead and four hundred wounded. Could we operate effectively then?”
“But reinforcements sir.”
“You know how long it takes to train a recruit and that is when we are in a permanent camp. Here we are on campaign we can’t afford the time. Next time we use two bolt throwers and double the archers. It might take us a little longer but the barbarians are not the most patient of enemies, I suspect they would not bother to wait for us to attack, they would attack us.”
“Perhaps you are right sir. It just seems a funny way to win the war.”
The next day after Quintus and Vettius had escorted the prisoners to the fleet Marcus and the rest of the ala headed west. As they passed the four villages which had accepted the peace Marcus was pleased to see them waving. It was a good sign. He suspected that word would have spread from village to village about Sulian’s demise. In one way that was good for it gave out the right message about opposing Rome, on the other hand it warned the two hill forts in the next valley of their imminent arrival. They could have more time to prepare for the Romans and create more problems.
Chapter 11
They had just finished the camp when the two turmae returned with the marine. “Any problems?”
“No it went well. We got some supplies from the captain and we gave him your reports.”
“Good get yourself some food and then come to my tent afterwards to discuss the next phase of the campaign.”