Vae Victis

by Francis Mulhern

  “Nevertheless, Senator you need me to protect you now more than ever.” Manlius nodded to the items Javenoli had taken from the underground hiding place. “Is it all there?” he asked hungrily, something that Javenoli saw and responded to with a gleam in his eye.

  “Yes” he said slowly.

  Manlius smiled malevolently. His jaw stretched as a broad grin spread quickly across his face. “Then we need to get you into the heart of the city where there are more people. It’s too dangerous out here.” As if to emphasise his point several voices suddenly shouted from an adjacent street, the Latin voices followed by a series of metallic clashes before the sound of feet pounding the streets was heard.

  Javenoli nodded and picked up the last of the items, using the side of his foot to replace the flagstone before he turned to Manlius. “Once we are back with the Senate you must get out there and prove your strength once again. You must show the people that the gods favour you more than Camillus” he said as his eyes locked onto Manlius. Shout your name” he said, noting the questioning look on Manlius’ face. “Capitolinus” he said with a sigh. “The men will shout it too. They love a good leader” he smiled. “Get them to chant and shout as they attack. Offer them patronage and a share of your own spoils. You need the people on your side” he added as he started to move back towards the corner. “Your time is for action, Capitolinus” he said. “Mine is for thinking.” With that the two men disappeared off towards the Forum, Javenoli explaining the next step of their plan as they went.

  ************

  Chapter 23

  At the gate which led across the marshland Marcus watched as several hundred Gauls beat a retreat in good order, their shield wall holding well as they stepped backwards, the slingers and velites sending endless missiles at the attacking Roman forces. The front rank of Romans surged in short bursts at the wall of shields, but the thick rectangular boards, multi-coloured and embossed with bronze, held firm. The noise was tremendous. Dust swirled as the road changed to packed dirt, dried from the day of warm sunlight. Marcus saw Narcius leading the charge and nodded his approval, the man was a killing machine, but better than that he was a disciplined one, his charges were short and fast, the men trained to hit and run and therefore lose the least number of lives possible. It was expertly done and started to whittle down the front row of Gauls as he watched. He cast his eye along the road, as much as he could see. The Gallic flow was littered with oxen, horses, goats and wagons. They had clearly not been prepared for the Roman attack. He fingered the eagle pendant around his neck and whispered a low prayer to Fortuna, noting several men around him glance to him as he mumbled. Picking up their glances he spoke.

  “I thank you Fortuna” he said as he nodded appreciatively at the men around him. “I thank you Mars, god of war” he added as he filled his lungs and spoke more loudly. “I thank you men of Rome for your skill, your strength and your courage” he added as he looked around for a face he recognised and latched onto a younger man, a patrician who was the son of a lowly family who had been through hard times before the Gauls had taken the city. “Crassus” he said with a beaming smile as the man’s head rose as he was identified. “What a day for your family” he said as others looked at the young man, barely into his twentieth year and wearing armour that was cheaper than his grandfather had worn only fifty or so years earlier. “You have fought like Hercules” he said, not knowing if this was true or not, but seeing that the boy was spattered with red spots and his sword was glistening with dark running grime it was a good guess, and one which would certainly not be missed by the majority of the men around them. “Surely the gods have given us their favour again” he asked as he looked at Crassus. The boy nodded numbly as Marcus looked at him, hoping for a stronger show from the younger man.

  “Yes. Sir” stumbled the faltering voice as his eyes raced around the men who were all staring at him. Marcus held his breath for a moment. “The gods have breathed their spirit into us” Crassus said, his eyes suddenly sparkling as Marcus let out a quiet sigh of relief that the boy was not a dullard. “With your leadership, Dictator” he added more loudly “we have regained our city.” He turned to look across at the scene which stretched across the city. “They are fleeing. We should chase them and destroy them in the name of all the men who lost their lives at Allia” he said as his voice grew stronger and a short cheer rose from the men around him.

  Marcus stepped forward. “Yes. Crassus take these men and support Centurion Narcius” he snapped as the boy’s eyes widened. “But tell Narcius that I don’t want him to engage the enemy army beyond the bridge” he added. “There will be another battle that we must win” he said coldly as Vetto nodded at his words.

  “Go” Marcus said, placing a hand on Vetto’s shoulder to hold the man back. The soldiers cheered as they ran, Vetto calling several older veterans to wait with him so that Marcus was surrounded by twenty or more leather clad soldiers. “My friend” he started. “We must search for news of Mella” he said as the grey-haired man nodded his understanding. “I need to set up a command centre in the Forum. Send men to all the officers and tell them we are to hold the gates but under no circumstances should they risk chasing the Gauls too far beyond the city. We must regain our strength and follow the Gauls in better order” he said as he looked back at the fleeing army. His vision turned back towards the Capitol where the chariot of Jupiter shone in the cool blue sky. “and we must send prayers to the gods for our deliverance.”

  ************

  Manlius shot an angry look at the Centurion, his face grim and determined. “I will take command” he said with gritted teeth. “I am the senior officer” he snapped quietly but with venom and authority in his voice.

  Narcius bridled at the words, his eyes boring into Manlius as a scream rent the air and warm spots of blood hit his cheek. “There is no time for this. Camillus gave me orders to chase the Gauls out of the city” he said slowly and angrily.

  “And I respect those orders” Manlius replied, his voice calm now that he felt he had the upper hand. Another scream made Narcius twist his head to the front. “And I will lead the men forward” Manlius said, his body already turning towards the front line where he saw the brown, red and blue painted shields no more than twenty paces ahead of him.

  Narcius bit back his reply. As a member of the older families and Senator of Rome, Manlius was correct, he was the senior man. He tightened his lips into a thin line and narrowed his eyes as he snapped a sharp salute and watched Manlius step forward. Thirty, dirty and ill-equipped, men pushed through the well-ordered eagles of Narcius’ front line and started to cheer as the Gauls moved back at the fresh attack from the Romans. The eagles turned and looked at their Centurion. Narcius shrugged and called “Eagles, second row, hold the line.” His men did as ordered, efficiently enough for Narcius to smile at some of them as they shook their heads at the pushing soldiers who had already taken a few casualties as the Gauls saw their chance to attack quickly as the Romans split their front line.

  Manlius cheered “Capitolinus” and Narcius looked up to see what he meant. The soldiers behind Manlius called the name too, their voices screaming it into the faces of the Gauls who were continuing to hack at the rabble of men who were fighting them. “Capitolinus” came the cheer again as Manlius pushed his sword into the face of a Gaul who had stepped out of the shield wall, his face exploding into a red mist as his body slumped to the floor and another cheer went up from the men. Narcius wondered what the cheer meant, but kept his mouth shut. Something didn’t seem right but his role was to keep the city safe, so he would follow behind the Senator until he was called upon to do his duty.

  “Capitolinus” cheered the soldiers as they forced the Gauls back another five yards.

  ************

  Aengus sat on a rock next to his leader, who was tugging thoughtfully at his beard as he watched the Romans surge forwards at his men who were holding the road and giving his wagons the time they needed to clear the city. He
pulled the curved blade from his belt and looked at it, running his finger along the length of the blade.

  “There he is” Brennus said, a tone of relief in his voice. Aengus stood slowly and stretched his neck to see back along the road, the slope allowing them just enough of a view of the line of soldiers as to be able to see the Gauls close to the front. The dust haze made it unclear from where Aengus stood, but Brennus, sat atop his horse, could see more clearly and was pointing at a large figure who was now striding back through the Gallic lines.

  Standing on the rock Aengus saw the dark shape of Belinus as he waved towards his brother, his face indistinct in the dust cloud, but clearly him.

  “Connix” Brennus called as the Aedui leader pushed his knees into his mount and it ambled across. “Set the meeting for one hour. We will see what these Romans do next before we slaughter them like the sheep they are” he said dismissively. Aengus glanced at his cousin as he continued to run his finger along the blade.

  Connix turned his horse and called two men forward to give them the order before he returned to watch the slow and steady retreat of the Gauls. Brennus looked back over his left shoulder and contemplated the line of men and wagons which was moving slowly towards the trees away behind him. “How far until the flat lands?” he asked without looking to Aengus.

  “Two, maybe three, hours” Aengus said without looking up from his blade.

  Brennus huffed, his head moving backwards as he made the noise and he cast a long look back at Rome. “The gods are with us?” he asked.

  “Indeed” Aengus said, stepping up to stand next to Brennus. “See how your brother strides like a giant amongst men as he comes back to you. Could such a man not be beloved of the gods?”

  Brennus nodded.

  “See there” Aengus pointed towards the city, where a fire had broken out close to the river and men were running to and fro as Gauls splashed into the Tiber and thrashed hectically across the river, some swept away with the current but many stroking to the near bank. “The grain we couldn’t carry has been destroyed as you ordered” said the druid.

  Brennus’ face showed a satisfied smile. “Then we have done the gods will. Great Teutates will be pleased with the Senones” he asked as he nodded slowly.

  “They favour Brennus and Belinus above all men” Aengus said as he replaced his blade and crossed his arms. “The Romans will believe they have regained their city and their gods favour them. They are arrogant and will pursue you, as would any warrior. When they reach the land of the olive trees, as I have stated, they will fall into your trap.”

  Brennus slapped his thigh, his enormous hand causing the sound to startle his mount as he rocked his head back and laughed a growling bark. “Death to these Roman dogs. The Senones will halt them for a second time” he added with a snort. Aengus looked up at the leader of the tribes and his head moved up and down in agreement.

  “The gods have ordained death to these fools” he said. “I have seen it in my dreams.”

  “And this Camillus?” Brennus said, a hint of tension in his voice.

  Aengus shrugged as he turned to look at Brennus, the man staring into the distance. “He is arrogant, like the men at the river” he began. “He did exactly as you expected him to do when his soldiers entered the city. If we had not moved most of the men out of the city earlier, we would have slaughtered them all” Aengus said smoothly. “Our tactics are clearly superior to theirs and their men are like children; small and thin.” As he spoke, he picked up a twig from the ground and snapped it in his hands. “They will snap like this stick when our warriors hit them” he shrugged “as they did at the river, cousin” he finished.

  Brennus grinned. The gods were surely with them.

  *************

  An hour later the Gallic chieftains were milling around waiting for Brennus to appear. He had ridden ahead to check that no Romans were trying to get around his front to cut them off and had been delayed as his horse had stood in a rut and damaged its leg. The Gauls were discussing the retreat, slapping themselves on the back for such a victory and telling tales of individual valour as Brennus appeared on a fresh horse, his bare chest glistening with sweat as he reined in and leapt from the mount with his arms wide and his teeth grinning through his red beard.

  “I am here at last” he laughed, the men jeering him as he strode into the midst of them. He picked up a bucket of water and up-ended it over his head, blowing air out of his mouth in a fine spray of water as he rubbed the grime off his face and then did the same with his hair covered chest. A woman came forward and threw him a cloth, which he dabbed at his face before coming to stand next to Belinus, who was grinning from ear to ear. “My apologies” he said as he nodded to all the leaders of the clans, each man smiling happily. “What news?” he asked Belinus.

  “The Romans stopped following us at the lowland beyond the stream” Belinus began. “As you said they would” he added with a smirk. “They have scouts following us but no soldiers, as far as we can tell, who are trying to get to our front and block our way.” He threw a water pouch to Brennus who caught it easily and drank long and nosily as Brennus continued. “Bellosenos and his men held the line well, and lost a handful of men, taking ten times as many Romans as they lost themselves” he said as the Gallic leader merely grunted his agreement.

  Brennus nodded happily to the man. “You will be rewarded” he said to the smug face of the tall, muscular, Gaul who was looking back at him with pride in his eyes.

  “We have stopped the wagons to rest the oxen and moved the horse to the rear, as you asked” he smiled again to let the words sink in, emphasising the leadership of his brother. “And we have set out rations for the men. We will move again in half an hour as ordered” he shrugged as if he expected no other outcome than that which Brennus had ordered earlier that day.

  “Excellent” Brennus said loudly. “Our druid has stayed to check the land where we will camp and entice these Romans to come to us, for surely they will. Send riders back to check on their scouts and run them off the road. Make it look as if we are fleeing. I want the camp to be disorganised, the men and women to seem as if they are unsure what to do” his eyes darkened. “Then we will slaughter them all for the gods and bring greater glory to the tribes than has ever been known. Tell your men to prepare for another slaughter like we did at the river. Then we will march on Clusium and take the land that the gods ordained as ours” he snarled. The leaders cheered and nodded as he stalked around the group and gripped many by the shoulders.

  “But before that” he shouted to make himself heard above the noise. “I, Brennus of the Senones, will share out the spoils of war. I give you gold, my friends. More gold than you have ever seen. Tribute for your tribes and for our glory” he said as he waved at several men who stepped forwards and dropped wrapped cloths filled with gold at the feet of the leaders, each man turned with glee to their leader and cheered his name at the top of their voices.

  Brennus smiled.

  ************

  Chapter 24

  Marcus smiled warmly at Lucius, their arms clasping each other in a deep embrace as they held each other for a moment. Marcus noted the sunken eyes of his older brother, the grey hairs in his eyebrows and the cracks which lined his lips, all evidence of the deprivations that had occurred on the Capitol Hill. Lucius sat heavily on an upturned cart, a wheel smashed beyond repair was discarded a few feet away, its sorry state representative of the state of the city.

  “Marcus, I am so glad to see you” said the older brother, his face falling into his hands as he closed his eyes and let his breath out slowly from his lungs. “We thought” he started, his eyes opening slowly as his heavy lids seemed to be yearning to close and let the tired man sleep. He caught Marcus’ gaze and tightened his lips. “Of course, you’d come” he seemed to say to himself rather than any of the men who had arrived in the Forum where the Roman Senate were setting up their war council. Marcus didn’t reply, the words telling him more than if his
brother had started a long diatribe at how the Senate expected him to arrive months earlier. He bit his tongue as he stared hard at the broken wheel before tearing his eyes away and fixing them on several men who were calling joyously to the Dictator, asking the gods to bless the soldiers and thanking them for saving them from the Barbarians. Others joined the calls, some shouting “Patres” at the top of their voices, the meaning clear to all around them. Marcus ignored them all.

  “Gentlemen” he said loudly as faces turned to him. “We must set order to our men, clear space, draw water, find food and set out our plans to either attack the Gauls or defend the city. I favour an attack” he said quickly, before any of the Senators could speak. “But I will hear your views before I decide.” His words brought nods of appreciation from the tired faces around him.

  “Let’s hear from the man who pushed them from the city” Javenoli said loudly, his words causing a few grunts from some of the Roman leaders. Ignoring them all Javenoli spoke again. “Capitolinus, what do you say?” Javenoli asked.

  Marcus wasn’t sure who he was speaking to, and was surprised when Marcus Manlius spoke, his voice strong and decisive. “We should watch them but we are not strong enough to attack them. They still outnumber us more than two to one. They have food and weapons” his expression grew dark. “Our own weapons” he added glumly before continuing. “Our first cause is to look to our own, to ensure we have supplies and weapons which can defend the city. We should then agree which steps we will take and elect new leaders now that Camillus has done his duty, somewhat later than expected” he added coldly “but done nonetheless.” Angry comments were muttered but he ignored them and continued speaking as Marcus furrowed his brow at the unexpected words. Manlius waved his hands at the dissenting voices. “The Gauls remain too strong for us. We must set our men to defending the city and saving what is left of the people” he said quickly. “Set out the laws, give new men positions of power and let us start again as a stronger nation.” Several people cheered the words as Javenoli clapped loudly, a few Senators glancing to each other as the speaker finished.