“Erebus. Good to see you again,” the rider replied. “Careful, he is a little jumpy. Doesn’t care for the crowds in the city.”
“That makes two of us,” Erebus replied as he marched straight to the stallion.
The horse nipped the air three feet above the stableman’s head.
“That will be enough of that,” scolded Erebus as he reached up with both hands.
In one hand, he balanced an apple on an open palm. The other hand reached for the bridle and as the warhorse took the apple almost gently from the palm, Erebus pulled the horse’s head down to eye level.
“It’s alright boy,” Erebus said soothingly to the stallion.
The horse responded by dropping his head and nudging the stableman in the chest. Although a large man, the nudge drove Erebus back two steps. Taking a half step, the horse remained in contact with the stableman.
“I’ll give him a rub down while you’re here,” Erebus offered as he scratched the big head affectionately. “I don’t imagine the grooms at the fancy inns you stay at do it properly.”
“I believe you’re right Erebus,” the rider said as he swung the far leg over the horse’s neck and dropped lightly to the ground.
“Thomasious Harricus. You old scoundrel,” boomed the rider. “Are you still antagonizing the women of the Republic with your spicy stories?”
“Are you still skipping out on your bar tabs?” replied Harricus.
“The Tribune was supposed to pay that,” answered the rider.
“Well, he didn’t. You still owe me five silvers,” Harricus spit out.
“That’s good,” the rider stated as he walked to the innkeeper. “It means my tab is still open.”
The rider towered over the innkeeper. He had to bend down to embrace Harricus.
“Don’t touch me,” Harricus ordered as he quickly hugged the rider before pushing him back. “Thank you for coming.”
“Your message sounded urgent,” the rider replied. “Why don’t you tell me about it over a mug of vino?”
Erebus dropped his hand from the bridle and turned his back to the stallion. As Harricus led the rider into the inn, the warhorse docilely followed Erebus towards the stables. The scene was reminiscent of two relatives returning home for a visit.
***
“And who are you?” the rider asked as he peered over a mug of wine.
“Lance Corporal Alerio Sisera, gladius instructor. Formerly of the eastern Legion,” Alerio replied. “In transit to the southern Legion, sir.”
Alerio finished reporting and slammed a fist into his left chest.
“Colonel Nigellus of the Central Legion,” the rider responded. He looked from the Lance Corporal to the innkeeper before adding. “All day long, I put up with poppycock politicians, Priests with body odor, crowds of drunks, and foreigners who make my skin crawl. So why am I here? Other than to enjoy this delicious vino?”
He was taller and almost as heavily muscled as the younger Legionary. There was a briskness to his movements and his manner of speech correlated to his position as second in command of a Legion. At no time in Alerio’s short military career had he been this close to a command level senior officer. Now he stood drinking excellent vino in the great room of an inn in the Capital with a Colonel. After the short introduction, Alerio stood holding his mug while standing at the position of attention.
“Colonel Nigellus, do you remember the time General Florus stopped by for a drink?” Harricus asked.
“I was a newly commissioned Centurion. After buying my armor, I was embarrassingly short of coin,” Nigellus replied. “I was drinking on a tab and in walks the Consul. I remember it as if it was yesterday. You sent a mug of your finest wine to General Florus with my compliments. Then, you introduced me to him.”
“And how did the Consul/General respond to a new, untested Centurion?” prodded Harricus.
“He was gracious. And while I stammered, he guided the conversation making me feel relaxed,” Nigellus contemplated. Slowly, he looked at Alerio who stood stiffly holding an almost full mug of wine. With a smile spreading across his sun creased face, the Colonel said. “Decanus Sisera, stand at ease. The southern Legion you say? I served there. It’s a fine posting. Take some time to learn boat handling and mooring. It’ll serve you well in the future. Now that we’re all friends Thomasious Harricus, can we get to the purpose of this gathering?”
“As you know, Legion units have been temporarily banned from the Capital,” Harricus explained. “What you may not know is three squads of northern barbarians have been sanctioned by the city guard.”
“That’s impossible,” the Colonel responded. “The guard is technically part of the Central Legion except they’re under the direct control of the Senate. And, only citizens are allowed to join the Legion.”
“It gets more improbable,” Harricus exclaimed. “A barbarian Prince has been commissioned as a Tribune in the Guard by Senator Ventus. The same barbarian met with a fellow tribesman on a Qart Hadasht launch while the Senator was showing our city to the Ambassador.”
“You speak of high treason, innkeeper,” Nigellus warned sternly.
“That’s what Lance Corporal Sisera keeps telling me,” replied Harricus. “Nevertheless, it’s true. Tomorrow, while the festival is going on, the Senate is meeting to discuss a treaty with Qart Hadasht.”
“But Consuls Regulus and Libo are in the field with their Legions,” Nigellus said in shock. “The Senate will never pass a treaty without the Consuls.”
“They can if Senator Ventus is voted in as an interim Consul,” Harricus offered. “With the city guard and the barbarian squads backing him, the Senate will do anything he requires.”
The sound of a horse moving fast on the street in front of the inn reached them. It stopped and footsteps on the front risers echoed from the stomp of riding boots as someone pounded up the stairs. Nigellus, Sisera, and Harricus turned as a dusty Legion courier burst through the front door.
“Colonel Nigellus. A missive from Legion headquarters,” the Legionary stated as he crossed the room while digging into a shoulder bag. “The duty Centurion said to wait for your reply.”
Nigellus took the parchment, unfolded it, and studied the words.
“Harricus, I need writing implements,” Nigellus said.
“In the alcove behind the counter,” the innkeeper replied. “You know where it is.”
But Harricus was speaking to the Colonel’s back. Having already vaulted the marble counter, Nigellus sat at the desk.
In the time it took Alerio to drink down his mug of wine, Nigellus with an arm extended, handed the courier a reply over the counter.
“Stop at the Legion Cavalry tents on the Festival grounds,” the Colonel ordered. “I want you to have an escort on the way back to the Legion.”
“Yes, sir,” the courier replied as he shoved the parchment into his bag. “Is there anything else Colonel?”
“No. Away with you,” Nigellus ordered before pointing at Alerio. “Lance Corporal Sisera. I have a mission for you.”
“Yes, sir, I’m at your disposal,” Alerio replied while snapping to attention.
“I want two squads of Legionnaires in the city before sunrise,” Nigellus spoke rapidly as if thinking out loud. “I’ll write you a note. Find a Sergeant and...”
“I know Corporal Gratian of the Western Transfer Post,” Alerio volunteered. “He is at the Festival.”
“Alright. Locate Gratian and have him trickle in two squads,” Nigellus ordered while handing over a second parchment. “Here’s my authorization. Harricus can you hide them here?”
“Of course, but the city guard will never let armored Legionaries in, even if they come through the gate one or two at a time,” the innkeeper suggested. “We’ll need Tomas Kellerian to armor them.”
“I know Kellerian. He’s a patriot and was once a fierce Legion Centurion,” Nigellus said relaxing for a second as he remembered a different time. “He was one of my instructors when I joined. I believe I s
till have bruises from his gladius training lectures.”
“What did the message say?” asked Harricus. “If it’s not a secret.”
“Tribes along our western and northern frontiers are gathering,” Nigellus reported. “And reports from the east state the rebels are increasing their attacks. It’s as if they were coordinating their movements.”
“Or someone or some Empire is orchestrating an attack on the Republic,” suggested Harricus. “An Empire like Qart Hadasht?”
“Sisera. Tell Gratian, I want four squads in the city,” Nigellus ordered after weighting the new information. “I’m speaking to the Senate before the session starts and I want Legionaries at my back.”
“Yes, sir. By your leave Colonel?” Alerio asked.
“Yes, go and get my Legionaries, Decanus,” Nigellus replied. Turning to Harricus, he added. “Tell me more, Clay Ear, about what’s going on in the Capital.”
As Alerio pushed through the double doors, the innkeeper began explaining everything he knew about the murders of Senators Faunus and Ferox. And, Senator Ventus’ entanglement with the Fireguard Brigade gang.
In his room, Alerio stripped off the green military tunic. Before slipping into the gray ill-fitting tunic, he coiled the silk scarf around his waist and hips to protect his wound. Once dressed, he pulled on the dual rig and topped the outfit off with the dark cloak.
Chapter 35 - The Festival by Night
The sacrificial bull plus other delicious roasting meats were slowly turning over low fires. In the morning, almost the entire city of nearly one hundred thousand would stream from the confines of the walls and join in the Festival of Janus. They expected to eat, drink, and celebrate the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, doorways, passages, and endings. It would turn ugly fast if there wasn’t enough sacrificial meat for everyone to enjoy the feast.
While the bulk of citizens would come tomorrow, the festival grounds were far from deserted. Performers, vendors, competitors, and attendees who had traveled to the event were camped around the fringes. On the far end, the Legionaries assigned to the festival had pitched their tents.
“Halt,” challenged the Legionary on guard duty. “This is a restricted area citizen.”
“I am Lance Corporal Alerio Sisera. Get me the Sergeant of the Guard and Corporal Gratian,” Alerio stated. “I have a message from Colonel Nigellus.”
The Legion had been fighting to protect or expand the Republic for over two hundred years. From one end of the Republic to the other, only military discipline had allowed them to win battles or come back stronger than before after a defeat.
Even in a temporary camp where the duty was watching citizens celebrate, the Legion’s ethos was strong. At the mention of their Colonel, they responded with the night’s full guard command.
The Sergeant of the Guard, the Corporal of the Guard, and the Duty Centurion plus a four-man quick response team in full armor arrived shortly after the guard’s shout.
“Name and unit,” demanded the SOG.
“Lance Corporal Sisera. Formerly of the eastern Legion,” Alerio replied while holding out the note. “I’m in transit to the southern Legion. This message is from Colonel Nigellus.”
“Can anybody vouch for him?” asked the Corporal of the Guard. He took the message and handed it to the Optio. Then he ordered, “Take off the cloak.”
The Sergeant and the Centurion were huddled under a brazier studying the note by the flickering light. They looked up at Alerio as the cloak fell away.
“What’s that on your back?” asked the SOG.
“A dual gladius rig, Optio,” explained Alerio and added to prevent a lesson in left-handed swordsmanship. “I’m a weapon’s instructor. The second gladius is for my students.”
“That’s not Legion regulations,” the Tesserarius declared while leaning around to eye the rig. “Looks like civilian junk or maybe barbarian gear.”
“Colonel Nigellus needs four squads in the city by morning,” explained Alerio, “He sent me to...”
“Shut up. I’ll let you know when to speak,” the Sergeant ordered. “All we have is a note saying a Decanus Sisera speaks with my authority. Signed by someone as Colonel Nigellus. Now I don’t know who might want us to run afoul of the city guard. Or, go against Senatorial orders but I’m not about too without some kind of confirmation.”
Alerio stood helplessly under the stern gazes of the seven Legionaries and their officer. It was a standoff with no solution until a voice called out from between the tents.
“Recruit Sisera. Are you causing trouble, again?” called out Corporal Gratian.
He marched into the light of the guard post and right up to Alerio. A hard slap to Alerio’s right shoulder rocked him.
“This is Recruit Sisera. The man who defeated Daedalus in our games last year,” Gratian explained.
“You vouch for this man?” asked the Centurion
“Yes, sir. Sisera is one of my favorite kind of farmers,” Gratian announced.
“What kind is that, Tesserarius Gratian?” asked the officer.
“One who can fight, sir,” Gratian replied. “One who can fight.”
The Centurion waved the parchment from Nigellus in the air.
“Gratian you’re lead NCO on this,” the Centurion ordered. “Get the Colonel what he needs. I don’t care what it takes. I’ll okay it with your Centurion and we’ll back you. Now people, don’t we have guard patrols to perform?”
As the guard command broke up and dispersed in every direction, Gratian took Alerio’s elbow and guided him back towards the Corporal’s Century.
“It’s not Recruit anymore,” Alerio explained as they walked. “I’m a Lance Corporal and a gladius instructor.”
“Well look at you,” Gratian teased. “The eastern Legion must be desperate for NCOs.”
“It had more to do with the Raider Century I was assigned to,” Alerio began to explain as they reached an intersection between six tents.
“What does the Battle Commander need?” asked Gratian.
“The Colonel is speaking at the Senate tomorrow. He’s afraid the city guard may try to prevent him from getting there. He wants four squads of heavy infantry in the city before morning,” Alerio replied. “I don’t think the city guard will allow you to just march in.”
Gratian cocked his head and looked askew at Alerio. “With the Raiders, were you?” the Corporal asked before turning away and speaking loudly. “Century on the street for orders. Move it people.”
Two heartbeats later shouting from the squads’ Lance Corporals had everyone in the tents moving. By the time Alerio counted to fifteen, sixty Legionaries were standing in the road.
“First, Second, Fourth and Fifth, get dressed in your war gear,” the Corporal ordered, “Third and Sixth, you are in a supporting role. Round up ropes, ladders, and breaching gear. Squad leaders on me.”
As the Legionaries went to collect their equipment, six Decani converged on Gratian. From the shadows, an Optio appeared but only waved a go ahead.
“What’s up, Corporal?” one asked.
“We’re going to sneak forty heavy infantrymen into the Capital,” Gratian said with a smile. “Right under the city guards’ noses.”
“We could march through them,” one suggested. “I can’t see the guard stopping us.”
“No. Colonel Nigellus wants backup not fighting in the streets,” Alerio corrected. “He’s speaking at the Senate tomorrow and wants infantrymen around him.”
“He’ll have it,” another vowed.
Gratian huddled the squad leaders together and began issuing specific instructions. After the last Decanus rushed off to organize his squad, the Sergeant wandered over.
“Anything I can do?” he asked.
“I could use a diversion at the east gate,” Gratian answered. “A small riot of drunken Legionaries should do it. Any orders Sergeant?”
“You’ll have your riot,” promised the Optio. “Get to the Colonel and protect him. Tha
t’s all the Centurions said.”
The Sergeant left to collect men from other Centuries for the riot and Alerio turned to the Corporal.
“How are you going to sneak four squads and their gear into the city?” he inquired Gratian.
“We’re going to walk in, Lance Corporal Sisera,” Gratian replied. “Now here’s what I need you to do.”
Chapter 36 - Securing Transportation
The eastern gate was normally slow late in the evenings. Although a few wagons left each night while farmers delivering food to the Capital arrived, the traffic only required a couple of guardsmen. With the Festival entering a full day of competition in the morning, wagons, riders, carts, and individuals on foot exited the city or waited in a long line to enter.
Alerio waited, shuffled forward, and waited again as six city guardsmen searched every vehicle. After being inspected, a Corporal collected a tax and passed them through the gate. Five wagons, two carts, and six walkers later, Alerio stepped up.
“Reason for entering the city?” asked a guardsman.
“I am staying at the Chronicles Humanum Inn,” answered Alerio. “Just heading back for a mug and my bed.”
The guardsmen studied his face in the torch and lantern light. Alerio feared the sentry was on the watch for him and was prepared to lie if the guardsman asked for a name. Thankfully, there was no further questioning; the guardsman simply waved him through the gate.
Alerio waited until he was a block from the gate before picking up his pace. Six blocks later, he turned left and maintained the speed for another three blocks. He actually didn’t slow down. His forward momentum ended when he collided with the thick wooden door with the iron bands.
“Master Kellerian,” he announced as he rapped the knocker on the door. “I must speak with you immediately.”
An iron strip slid back and Tomas mumbled, “When I was young, like you, I didn’t sleep at night either. But now that I’m older and wiser, I value my rest. Come back in the morning.”
The iron strip slid closed. Alerio stepped back and looked at the façade of the Historia Fae. There was no way to climb in so he marched back to the door and knocked again.
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