by Ken Farmer
He was giving the tale, common in the past times, of the taking of men in their polluted cups for use on merchant ships. The unfortunate would wake with a groggy sickness, to find himself at sea and waged to a vessel, and the coin for his voyage in the hands of the crimp. The evil practice had been outlawed before Julius was born, and the punishments for such were severe.
"...woke in a strange city, accused of desertion from the Legion..."
"Aye, Cumae, we were told. Before a judicium that was far enough away from Capua that the tale of a big Thracian would not be heard."
"And thus, I found myself sold to the fighting school." The talk continued into the night. "...the Exercitor, giving charge of the fighters, was deficient in his watchfulness. As the gate was opened to allow for a new levy of unfortunates to enter, we gave our desire to depart. Alas, the Trainer was unable to answer, as his head was twisted to look backwards..."
The noble Captain knew that there was far more to the story being told as a jape. Romans had long learned how to keep prisoners secure, and to breach the defenses of a ludus gladiatorium, that had such experience in keeping men in bondage for longer than living memory, had taken much planning and instant actions by the condemned. Finally, Julius gave his reasons for the request of the meet. "...come to the coast, anywhere that you select. The Petrel can take you to safety back to Greece - or the far land of Numidia, if you wish. And with all the coin that you have accumulated in my service."
Melglos spread his hands. "Alas, I cannot just take ship as if a boy fleeing from the patéras of a Kóri with a fat belly. My men would take it amiss, but the gods would be less forgiving, as it was my plan to escape our bondage."
"Nay. You left the employ of the putrid Batiatus with less than a hundred men, to my knowledge. Two of our merchants can take any that wish to accompany you."
The Thracian gave a mock expression of sadness. "Sadly, your numbering is defective, but such can be seen on the morrow, in the light of day. Alas, I fear that my destiny is to be found in this land, whatever might come."
"Melglos! You have done well - indeed, were it my place to make the offer, you should be given the position of Dux for a Legion. Your skills in leading men are great, whether natural or learned." Julius was trying to pick words that were not disdainful, but with the need to give realization of what was to come. "And you might prevail again, and more, with the fools that the Senate seem to think are commanders with skill, but if Rome feels threatened, the veteran Legions will be brought from Hispania and Pontos. You cannot think that any number of escaped slaves could prevail against such."
The big man nodded. "Aye. My sense of greatness from my newly elevated position from slave to commander of an army is not so bloated as that. Even I know that to bring such a force will take many months." He smiled. "I have hopes, by then, to be far from here, leaving these wilderness lands empty of slaves and myself." Now he rose, saying, "But the morrow is another day, and we can speak again. For the night, you are my honored guests." He called out the open doorway, and the two men were guided back to the empty house for their rest.
Chapter 40
"Julius! Ngozi!" The call came from behind, but both men knew the owner of the voice. They were sitting in the 'palace' of the Thracian, in the early light of day and for their morning meal. The Captain rose and turned just as the femina launched herself at him. There was a long moment of embrace, then she turned to the grinning black man to give the same greeting.
Julius looked at the girl with an expression of interest, saying, "It would appear that our ship's boy is even now changing into something different." Indeed, the bumps now appearing on the front of her plain tunic were full indication of the eminent transformation from a mere puella into an unfledged femina. "But," he said with mock severity, "she is not so budded that I cannot use a cane to give my displeasure at a Korítsi wandering the wilderness without my consent."
The girl turned to him, giving a look of penance. "You were away, Julius, gone on a voyage and without schedule of return. I could not allow our shipmate to rove a strange land alone."
Now Melglos nodded and said, "Aye, just as you, my friend, the first thoughts when she suddenly appeared at our campfire, was to chastise her backside and with some severity, then deposit her at the gate of Capua, bound hand and feet." He spread his hands in mock futility. "But she gave assurance of immediately returning, even were I moving across the Alpis mountains." A pause, then, "And you know of her stubbornness, even in the face of any displeasure or rebuke." Seriously, he said, "But, I will give gratitude if you can give convince to her to wait out the coming... events in the safety of Capua."
"Nay!" retorted the girl, her mouth pursed to thin lips "I will not abide in a land with such evil men, to seize and slave good men for no reason."
Melglos looked at the girl with some sadness, then said, "Alas, such men are not confined to the Roman domain. You can find many such scum in our own birthland."
He tossed his meatbone to the platter, then said to Julius, "Come. I will give answer to your offer of refuge from the last night." Through the village, now apparently a supply storage for his men, they came to a tree-lined path leading up a shallow slope. "I know of your distaste - and that of your family - for the use of men in bondage and I will ask your forgiveness for my pillage of the land of your ancestors in freeing such from their chains." The word was merely an allusion to the despicable custom. Few slaves in Latium wore chains - such were usually restricted to criminals and miscreants of evil deeds. "But..." he continued, "Know that I have given strict forbid to the harm of citizens and houses, even as we take their chattels and property."
Pontika spoke up, but not in her usually ebullient tone. "Aye. And he has had several men shortened by a head for the violation of women."
"You may destroy the usance utterly, to my thoughts," said Julius "And with my blessing, but I fear that the practice will long endure after we are no more than dust in the wind." The family of Clavius had bought men in slavery over the generations, but always with the idea of freeing such and with giving opportunity. A slave was a man - or woman - with no loyalty to any but themselves, useless unless driven by fear of punishment. Any of the servants in the household, and freemen employed at the many merchantries of the family, gave labor that was twice or thrice that of a bondman, and with contentment in their lives.
And now, after the passing of Lydia, the Grand Domina, his grandmother, Julius was the only person in the wide of the world that knew that such slavery was the original lot of the family. Myron, the founder of the Clavius dynasty, had been bound as such in his youth.
The top of the rise overlooked, not a valley as such, but a large depression between hills. But it was not the topology that took the attention of Julius, but the sight of people. A myriad of such, and as to cover the ground with their tents and leantos, and huts made of sticks and straw. The usually reticent Ngozi gave a low exclamation in his native tongue. The words meant nothing to any but him, but the meaning was easily understood by Julius as he gazed over the thousands of men - and women - in the encampment.
"By the gods! Where..." The sight was unbelievable. He tried to estimate the numbers, reaching a putative total that was impossible. But, his disbelief was merely starting.
"Aye. It is impressive, is it not? I had five thousand men on the mountain - all men of arms, but after the victory the swarms began to arrive as if locusts onto the ripe grain. Men, women, and even whole families, and not just those in slavery. About half of what you see are free men, tired of their produce and work being taken for taxes by bloated magistrates, or lost to moneylenders for a short crop in a season." He waved vaguely to the south, then continued. "My two locumtenentis, Crixus and Oenamus, each have as many in their camps."
Lieutenants? The realization of the meaning of the revolt was beginning to dawn on Julius. Rome - or rather, the land of Latium - had seen two previous rebellions by slaves, both on the island of Sicilia and horrendously bloody and violent
in both rise and suppression. But, this was the first on the mainland itself.
In the distance, he could see several masses in movement. Without doubt, men in training for battle. "This is your drill ground, as well."
"Aye. Few of the men are trained in arms, although there are a considerable number of older men who were once in the Legions of Rome, or one of their associated domains. They have been put to teaching farmers and scribes and porters enough of the martial arts that they can understand simple maneuvers - and not slice off a foot when they swing their weapon." They watched for a while, although the units were far enough away to show nothing but movement. "The battle around the mountain was ours because of surprise, taking a sleeping camp from two directions, but I quickly saw that had our foe been a disciplined force - even one of Tyros - my flailing urchins would have been cut to pieces."
"You have arms for so many?"
Melglos shook his head. "Nay. Not even for a quarter. We looted the gladitorium armory and also the dead at the battle of the mountain and that gained us enough for twice a thousand men. Other weapons have been gained in our forays around the countryside, and many men have brought their own. Still, most will enter battle with a butcher's cleaver, or a grain scythe and such."
More looking and thought, then Julius asked, "How many are in your force, if I may ask?"
"Of men of fighting age?" replied Melglos. "I have no Censor in the camps, but we can give gauge of mayhap forty thousand."
Forty thousand? That was more than the count of every armed man in the cities of Rome, even if the law-keeping men of the Aedilis and Vigilis were included. Only if the Legions returned from the far lands, could such a number be met.
Melglos waved his hand in the direction of the multitude. "I fear that even your family could not find the ships to give us transport to some golden land across the sea."
That was a true statement, and without doubt. It would take all the ships around the Great Sea to give a berth to just those he could see, and to the words of the big Thracian, this was just the third part of his forces.
Melglos gave the two men some time to gaze over the multitude, then turned to lead them back to the village. "My plan is not to carve out a kingdom here in Latium, but to lead all across the land of Illyris in the north, then beyond the Alpis into the wilds beyond. There we will be far from any retribution of Rome and free to build our own lives." He paused, then continued, "But, as you know, it is far too late in the season for any such move. We would be caught in the snows of the mountain range, or even blocked from passage by such. Thus, we must wait until the warming season for our trek."
Grimly, Julius answered, "Then you will be required to wait in place for several months. And such a delay is not likely to be pleasant."
"Aye. We have heard of the Legions being built for our suppression. One hopes that they are not in any rush. To encourage their delay, we have not given any raids toward Rome itself and we will only forage to keep the people in food for the cold season. Mayhap, they will also wait until a more moderate part of the year for their campaign." Reaching the round building, he waved his guests inside, then asked, "What do you know of this Praetor Publius Varinius, supposedly the Commander of the expedition?"
Julius shook his head. "Very little. I myself only heard the name shortly before, but I know that he has no reputation as a great Dux."
"How did you choose your new nomen?" This was Ngozi, breaking his almost complete silence since their arrival.
Melglos laughed. "I did not choose it, as you said. In the gladiatorium, the Exercitor was somewhat insulting to a man from the far lands of Thrace. After giving to his demand of my genesis, he chose a corruption of my birth-city for my nomen, thus Sparatokos became Spartacus, which rolls off the Roman tongue with more facility."
He stopped as a man appeared at the door, then stood to say, "This is Oenamus, a man like myself, from another land - Gaul, although I know nothing about such northern climes. Like myself, he was taken for the training and use in the amusements of the Circus. What news?"
The man was looking at Julius and his comrade, and without any indication that he was preparing a spiel of friendship. Finally, he moved his eyes to his leader. "The Exploratoris have sent word that the Romana soldiers have not yet left that city."
"Aye. Then keep your training and require the men to take a goodly rest at end of day, rather than spend half the night in games of bones." The man nodded and left. "He is one of my two locumtenens, having about ten thousand in his charge."
"Who are the Exploratoris that he spoke of?" It was interesting that even a slave army had use of scouts.
Melglos waved a hand for a woman to enter with the usual jug and cups. "Shepards mostly, and some men who were drovers or packmen for caravans. They know the roads, and conditions of such and distances. The few horses that we have taken are used by them to run their observations back to myself."
Part of the day passed in talk, the finally Melglos said, "I leave for the camp of Crixus on the morrow. He is a goodly fighter, but has desires that far exceed the ability of his motley force. I wish to make certain that he is not planning any attempt that will alarm your Senate and bring woe to our band. You are welcome to accompany me and make your own determination of this sore in the belly of Rome."
Julius shook his head. "Nay. We will return to Capua. I will give them your assurance that you plan no assault on the city. Such may quiet the need of sending soldiers - or rather, give excuse to hold any campaign because of the oncoming wet season." Lowering his voice, "I would take Pontika, if you will." She had left the round building earlier, bored with the talk of campaigns and soldiers. "Our household will be a far more comfortable abode for a femina than a rough camp in the inclement time of year."
Melglos nodded. "Aye... I will speak to her alone later. Mayhap some sense can be given to her stubbornness."
"If she is obstinate still, give that I may have need of her for a voyage to Antioch, in conference with Antiochus and the Queen Mother." He grinned. "The Petrel is as great an attraction to her as to myself."
Book V
Regions on the Peninsula.
These had no legal standing and were not as precisely
defined as drawn here, being only rough domains
named for the peoples that once inhabited the area
before the rise of Rome.
Chapter 41
The travel back to Capua was without incident, taking only an easy day of walk. Surprisingly, the young femina had agreed to accompany the two men rather than staying in the camp of the rebellious slaves. Julius suspected that her lack of fiery resistance at leaving was twofold - she knew that her big friend was safe and his own man, but mainly, from a surfeit of boredom in a camp with little for a woman without family or mate to do, besides merely exist. And, there was the promise of a voyage again, on the Petrel.
The two brothers sat on their rooftop terrace and concocted a tale that would allow for the knowledge of Julius to be given to the leaders of the city - and Rome, if they enquired. And without admitting that the man responsible for the third slave revolt in less than the lifetime of an ordinary oldster was brought to Rome as a crewman in one of the ships of the Clavius family.
"Forty thousand men?" was the incredulous question from the elder. "Can Rome itself raise so many without calling back the Legions."
"Nay," replied Julius. "It is no mean force that Melglos has collected, but still, it is not an army. Not as yet. There are the few gladiators escaped from the school, and far more of older men who served their time with the Legions in past wars - mayhap three or four thousand in total. Those would be formidable soldiers, if not with the wind and sinews of their service in youth. All the rest are slaves and Plebeians that have fled their bondage and lives as laborers. They can be trained - they are being trained - but I have doubt that such will be transformed into a hardened army."