Lost Legio IX: The Karus Saga

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  Karus sat back on his heels and glanced over at Amarra, who was standing. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things. Standing next to him, she was gazing at the statue of the High Father in awe, which had returned to its original position. She wore a long flowing snow-white dress that was very different from what she had been wearing when they had entered the chamber. Emblazoned upon the side of the dress from the hip down was Jupiter’s lightning bolt, emanating from the beak of an imperial eagle. Karus corrected himself. It was Jupiter’s eagle, the High Father’s.

  She turned to look at him with impossibly large eyes. She looked radiant … magnificent to Karus. His heart swelled.

  Amarra held out a hand, which he grasped. Once again, he felt the warm, comforting touch of her skin against his callused palm. His heart quickened and Karus knew without a doubt what had been missing from his life. With a firm grip, she pulled him to his feet.

  “I … ”

  Amarra placed a finger to his lips. Her touch felt like fire on his skin.

  “High Father show me where you from, Roman … ” she said, withdrawing her finger. “We do this, you and me.” She clasped her hands together before him, an earnest look upon her face. Amarra brought her hands together a second time, fingers intertwining. “We do, you and me, yes?”

  “Aye,” Karus said with conviction. “Together, that we will.”

  She gave him another smile that warmed his heart more than he wanted to admit.

  “The Horde,” Karus said, thinking through what he had been shown by Jupiter. “It is coming here, still?”

  “Yes,” Amarra said with a curt nod.

  “Karus,” a voice called down to them, breaking the moment. It was Delvaris.

  Reluctantly, he drew away and went to the stairs, looking up at the worried tribune.

  “Thank the gods,” Delvaris said. Karus’s escort was with him, Ipax and another legionary.

  “Sir,” Ipax said, “are you okay?”

  “I am fine,” Karus said and for the first time in weeks realized that he was. He now had purpose and direction beyond that of trying to get home. He knew what needed doing and he had a mandate from Jupiter to get it done. It was now time for action.

  “We heard strange sounds,” Ipax said. “Some invisible force prevented us from coming to your aid.”

  “We were visited by Jupiter,” Karus said. “This is his temple.”

  Ipax and Delvaris straightened up, glancing at each other and then back down at Karus.

  “Truly?” Ipax asked.

  “Yes.”

  “We go,” Amarra said, coming up next to him. She held the scepter. She handed it to Karus, who took it reverently and was surprised by the lightness of the object. Then, she walked up to the High Father’s statue and knelt before him briefly. Karus watched silent as she prayed.

  When she stood, Amarra reached forward toward the god’s stone spear. With a deep grating sound, the statue’s hand released it to her. As she took hold of the spear, it transformed from carved white marble to a spear of azure made completely of solid crystal, with the exception of the wicked-looking point, which was made of a silverish material. Karus realized he was witnessing another miracle.

  The spear flared brilliantly as she took firm hold. A great deep bell rang throughout the chamber, causing dust to fall from the ceiling. The bell tolled a second time. Karus shielded his eyes from the light with his hand as it became intense. After a moment, the light died away and Amarra stood before him, crystalline spear slowly pulsing with power.

  “Sir?” Ipax called down. “What was that flash?”

  Gaze fixed upon Amarra, Karus did not reply. When she turned, there was a dazzling smile upon her face as she held Jupiter’s spear. The ground trembled beneath their feet. Dust and pieces of plaster cascaded down from the ceiling as the floor vibrated. One of the pedestals toppled over, crashing to the floor.

  Karus knew it was time to go. The chamber they were in was unstable. Amarra came up to him, flashed a wink, and then started up the stairs. Karus’s eyes followed her. The men above drew back and away, as if she were a serpent slithering out of a hole.

  Karus turned to look upon Jupiter’s statue. The room around him seemed to be darkening, the shadows creeping up the walls with every passing moment. The floor trembled again.

  “Thank you, great Jupiter,” Karus said. “Thank you for saving my people and for this opportunity. I shall not fail you. Though I do not know how, I will find Rarokan and take it with me when I lead my people from this world. On my life, I swear it.”

  If Karus had expected one, he did not receive a reply. Clutching his prize, he started up the stairs after Amarra. As he climbed out, there was another rumbling behind him, then a crash, which was immediately followed by a blast of dust that blew past him and up into the air above. Karus closed his eyes until the dust cloud dissipated. When he looked back down, he saw that the chamber had collapsed in upon itself and the stairs were now blocked halfway down.

  The men around him had drawn back a few feet and away from him and Amarra. Their gazes shifted from one to the other with frank astonishment.

  “What’s wrong?” Karus asked.

  “Besides that crystal spear?” Ipax said in a near whisper. “I’d say that award on your chest, sir.”

  Karus glanced down and stumbled back in surprise, almost falling down the stairs before he caught himself. A new phalera hung from his armor, just above the others he had won for acts of valor. The newest addition to his collection was gold and made in the face of Jupiter. It shone brightly under the sun, glinting with reflected light. Twin lightning bolts to either side of the god’s face throbbed with light. Karus touched it, and found the phalera was warm as fresh bread. Within a handful of heartbeats, the light slowly faded away, matching the burnished gold of the god’s face.

  “Jupiter, you say?” Delvaris said, looking to Karus.

  “Yes,” Amarra answered. She rapped her spear on the marble with a crack, and it flashed with light. “Jupiter is High Father.”

  “The Ninth,” Karus said, “has been given a holy task by the great god himself.”

  “Gods blessed,” Delvaris whispered.

  There was silence to that, then Ipax went to a knee. His men followed. Only Delvaris remained standing, clearly either too stunned or unsure what to do.

  “Don’t do that,” Karus snapped. “I … ”

  There was a loud flap of wings from above, buffeting them with a strong gust of air. Karus glanced up in surprise as both the green and red dragons, flapping their great wings, slowed their descent. They landed, claws seeking purchase on the ruins of the temple. Karus’s men scrambled back.

  Claws digging deeply into the pile of debris, the rubble shook and shifted under the dragons’ weight as they settled down. Karus looked up at the massive creatures and was awed not only by their size, but their fearsome beauty. As if planned in advance, both lowered their heads to the ground in unison.

  “Hail daughter of the High Father,” the red dragon spoke, but Karus heard it not with his ears, but in his head. The dragon’s jaw opened slightly as the creature breathed in, revealing long rows of serrated teeth, each nearly as tall as a man. There was a jagged tear about three feet long on the dragon’s lower jaw, which bled freely and spilled great droplets of blue blood onto the marble. “Long have we waited for your coming, as our god has commanded. We are ready to serve.”

  End Book One

  AUTHOR’S NOTES:

  A lot of research went into writing this book. As such, there are bunch of historical facts, thoughts, and ancient attitudes thrown in. At the same time, it is also important to note I have taken more than a few historical liberties. I hope you will be kind enough to excuse me for these. It is very easy to lose oneself in the weeds of history. I know some of you would have loved that. However, I wanted to keep the story fast-paced. That required a little trimming and modification of the historical record. I did not want to lose the average reader
amongst Roman ranks, titles, and organizational structures of the legion. I also used javelin instead of pilum to limit potential confusion with too much Roman terminology … again apologies. One day, I promise I shall write such a book. Perhaps a historical fiction around Pompey, or another fascinating figure that helped to shape the world we know today. Until then, I hope the hardcore Roman history fans cut me a little slack and enjoy the Karus Saga.

  Historical Background: The disappearance of the Legio IX is one of history’s greatest mysteries. The Ninth Legion (Legio IX, Hispana) disappeared somewhere in modern day Scotland, along with all of her auxiliary cohorts. This occurred sometime around the year 122 AD, shortly after or just before Emperor Hadrian visited Roman-controlled Britain. The loss of the legion and all of her auxiliary cohorts (the Ala Agrippiana Miniata, First Nervorium Cohort, Second Casconum CR Cohort, Fourth Delmatarum Cohort, and the Fifth Raetorum Cohort) represented a considerable portion of Roman military power in occupied Britain. The men in these formations were highly trained professionals serving significant terms of service. The absolute loss of so many professional soldiers (many of whom were battle-hardened veterans) could not be easily or readily replaced.

  What happened to the Ninth? The most widely accepted theory as to the legion’s disappearance is that the tribes (Celts) in Scotland annihilated the legion along with her supporting auxiliary forces … though it is important to note there is no supporting historical evidence to conclusively determine what actually occurred. The site of a final battle has never been located and perhaps never will be. One moment the Ninth was guarding Rome’s most extreme frontier, and the next, nothing. To give you a little context, she dates to the time of Caesar and Pompey and simply disappears from history somewhere around 122 AD. There is some fragmentary evidence (but not conclusive) she, in her entirety or in parts, may have been transferred to present day Holland. A number of historians believe she was ultimately moved to Judea, where the Ninth was destroyed. This is a distinct possibility, but again, there is no real hard evidence to support such a movement.

  The truth is no one knows for certain what exactly happened to the Ninth, and that’s what makes her plight so fascinating, though if we look hard enough, there are a few breadcrumbs to be followed.

  Additional historical evidence to support a military disaster: The legion’s second in command, Lucius Saturninus, is the last known senior officer to serve with the legion and have a subsequent political career that is specifically mentioned and detailed by classical historians. Interestingly, as senior tribune and second in command, his career was put on hold shortly after his term of service with the Ninth ended. Perhaps his service with the Ninth ended unexpectedly and in a way he did not anticipate? This is all speculation, but what is known for a fact is that Saturninus did not receive a public appointment for the next twenty-five years. His career literally hit a brick wall, while many of his contemporaries flourished.

  Saturninus would eventually go on to the command of a legion. Yet such a hiatus is very unusual, but not without precedent for someone having been involved in an embarrassing military disaster. Saturninus would have to wait for a new, friendly regime (Emperor Pius) before his career got back on track. This is one of the reasons some believe that the destruction of the Ninth was covered up and intentionally erased from history by Emperor Hadrian. The emperor would have wanted news of the military disaster to be kept from the mob in Rome, as it would have reflected badly upon his stewardship of the empire. So, efforts might have been made to silence and punish those who had survived.

  Saturninus’s career path potentially backs this theory up. It is very possible that Saturninus fled from the Ninth’s final battle and was one of the few who survived or perhaps was even captured and then ransomed back to Rome. (Either outcome would have been catastrophic for his career in Roman public service.)

  It is important to note that the Saturninus in my book is purely fictional and a creation of mine. That said, I might have still done the man a disservice. If I have, I am profoundly sorry and apologize to his shade.

  Around the time of the Ninth’s disappearance, Hadrian soon began construction of his famous wall (Hadrian’s Wall) that would see the separation of Roman Britain from the northern unclaimed lands of modern day Scotland. This may have been a reaction to the destruction of the legion and the emperor becoming resigned to the fact that subduing the northern tribes was not worth the expense and trouble. Then again, this may have simply been coincidence.

  Another legion late in 122 AD was transferred, along with supporting auxiliary cohorts, to England. This legion took up the Ninth’s previous post at current day York (Eboracum). It is possible the Ninth was simply disbanded by Hadrian. Yet, with the trouble Rome was having with the tribes, the disbanding of an entire legion, along with all of her cohorts, would not have been likely. At least in my mind.

  Perhaps until some new archaeological evidence is unearthed that sheds light on this mystery, we shall never know the truth. Until then, I, for one, believe a troublesome Dvergran wizard transported the Ninth from Earth to the world of Tannis and set Karus on the path to destiny.

  Best regards,

  Marc Alan Edelheit

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  I hope you enjoyed Lost Legio IX. It has been my pleasure to introduce you to the start of Karus and Amarra’s adventures … A positive review would be awesome and greatly appreciated, as it affords me the opportunity to focus more time and energy on my writing.

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