Far out to sea, the square sails of three Qart Hadasht warships came over the horizon. Mesmerized as the sails grew until the upper decks of the ships came into view, Harricus forced himself to brake from the sight. He searched to the northwest one more time for a signal.
Thick black clouds nineteen miles away hung low over the city in an otherwise clear blue sky. Looking closely, he realized a funnel stretched from the clouds down below the landscape. He shuddered as he realized what the signal was and where it was located.
Chapter 55 - Ballista Love
The Qart Hadasht quinqueremes drew closer and Harricus could finally get a detailed view of them. Oars, like tentacles on a sea creature, rose and dipped propelling the large ships at high speeds.
“At that pace, they can punch through the merchant vessels and the patrol boats,” suggested Harricus. “How many oars are they using?”
“Thirty-one on the top row, twenty-seven in the middle and twenty-seven on the bottom row,” Seneca replied before turning around to the assortment of Legionaries standing behind him. “Signalman. Stand by one and two.”
The man waved two flags. On the adjacent roof, the signals were mirrored by another set of flags. A reply came from a rooftop overlooking the Tiber.
“Release one and two,” ordered the Centurion.
The flags dropped and there were twangs as if a lute player had struck two strings. Except, the strings would have to be as big around as your wrists to deliver the deep bass throb of these strings. Accompanying the sound was a view of two rocks arching high into the sky.
The Qart Hadasht warships adjusted so they were lined up with the Tiber. As if a geyser sprouting water suddenly appeared in the sea, first one of the rocks, then the other splashed down in front of the lead ship.
“We missed,” Harricus complained.
“Those were to get the range. And, to let make the Qart Hadasht ships understand, we know what we are doing,” explained the Centurion. “Signalman. Ready three and four.”
“Ready sir,” the man replied after another round of flag waving.
“Release three and four,” Seneca commanded.
This time the ships were closer. Before the deep twangs faded, two rocks dropped neatly onto the deck of the second quinquereme. Sailors began running to aid injured oarsmen.
“Five and six, ship one. One and two, ship two,” the Centurion ordered.
The signalman waved at two separate areas before announcing, “Ready, sir.”
“Release all,” Seneca commanded.
Four rocks arched through the sky and fell onto the decks of the second and first warship. Suddenly, the water churned white as one side of each ship began rowing in reverse. Both ships carved a white wake in the blue water as they turned away from the mouth of the Tiber.
“Will they come back?” Harricus asked as the Qart Hadasht ships sped away.
“I don’t know,” admitted Seneca. “But if they do, we’ll drop the big rocks on them.”
“Those weren’t the big rocks?” Harricus exclaimed in surprise.
“We use smaller rocks for hits of about five hundred yards,” the Centurion explained. “With the big rocks, our ballistae will only reach the mouth of the Tiber. But anyone within those two hundred fifty yards will have a really bad day.”
“I’ll relay your competency and your Centuries’ readiness to Colonel Nigellus,” promised Harricus. “Now, I must return to the Capital.”
“Take a cavalry escort,” advised Seneca. “With all that’s going on, you never know what you’ll run into on the road back.”
Chapter 56 - The Luna Team
Alerio had already downed half a bowl of stew when Erebus and the three Legionary oarsmen carried the litters through the courtyard on their way to the Tiber. He was on the second when his meal was interrupted.
“Lance Corporal Sisera,” announced a Decanus with a prominent nose and piercing wide set eyes. “I’m Iacchus and this is Private Nereus. We’re your team. What’s the mission?”
The members of the Fourth Squad shifted uneasily at the mention and sight of Private Nereus. Alerio held up a finger signaling for Iacchus to wait. He took his time and savored the rest of the stew. After handing the empty bowl to the night’s cook, he stood to address the squad.
“Thank you, Fourth Squad,” he said before looking at Iacchus. “We’re going to pay a visit to Senator Ventus’ villa. Hopefully, he won’t be home.”
“We’re going to break into a Senator’s Villa?” asked Iacchus with tension in his voice. “Couldn’t we just announce ourselves and ask permission. Come to think of it, why aren’t we? We could get into a lot of trouble.”
While Alerio and Iacchus talked about invading a Senator’s home, a smile began to spread across Nereus’ face. His was slightly built with a chest protruding as one would see on a gamecock. The comparison of the man and a rooster ended with his arms. Both of the limbs rippled with wiry muscles, especially his right forearm. It bulged as if someone had inserted a rock under the skin. Both arms and his hands were crisscrossed with knife and gladius scars.
“We’ll be searching for an amulet of Luna,” Alerio responded. “If it’s in Gabrielus’ room, we can tie him into the murder of Senator Faunus.”
“What’s the problem, Lance Corporal? Afraid of sullying your reputation?” teased Nereus.
“Some of us have plans for the future,” replied Iacchus. “Plans that don’t include a whipping post, or a crucifixion, or dying on someone’s blade.”
“I haven’t met the man yet, who could best me with a blade,” sneered Nereus.
Sensing a confrontation developing between the Legionaries, Alerio said, “Let’s get started.”
He turned and Nereus caught sight of the dual gladius rig.
“What’s that on your back, Sisera?” challenged Nereus. “A second gladius in case you get scared and drop one?”
Alerio’s hands shot to his shoulders. As he bent his knees, he pivoted and drew both gladii.
Before Nereus could react, the tip of one blade was at the Private’s throat. Tucked inside the armor under Nereus’ armpit was the tip of the other blade.
“Would you look at that,” declared Alerio running his eyes along the lengths of his blades. “I was so busy eating I forgot to clean my blades. Filthy. Bad form, wouldn’t you agree?”
Alerio nodded his head downward directing Nereus’ attention to the blades. The steel on both gladii was streaked with dried blood. Ignoring the fact that both tips were positioned to kill the Private, Alerio continued.
“You don’t think it’ll be a problem, do you?” asked Alerio in a conversational tone. “I’d hate to have them ground down too much. They’re nicely balanced as they are.”
Nereus slowly raised his eyes from the blades and peered at the Lance Corporal’s face. The eyes were open and inquisitive; instead of a threatening scowl, the mouth was slightly open as if they were having a dialog; and the head was cocked to the side as if he was actually waiting for a reply.
“I don’t think the blood will be a problem,” ventured Nereus tentatively. “As long as you get them cleaned and oiled by the afternoon.”
“You know, I really worked up an appetite when I was killing all those trolls,” replied Alerio. “I neglected cleaning them. Thank you for your opinion.”
Around them, Legionaries were watching intently. Nereus had prodded Sisera and they expected to see bloodshed. When Lance Corporal Sisera drew and placed his blades, everyone tensed. They lost interest as Alerio began having a conversation with Nereus instead of slitting his throat. At the mention of trolls, however, their interest returned.
“Trolls. He did fight trolls,” announced a Legionary from Fourth Squad.
“You were fighting trolls?” asked Nereus.
“Trolls? Rowers? Who knows what surrounded me on that Qart Hadasht ship?” Lance Corporal Sisera said while withdrawing the gladii.
As if preoccupied with the dirty weapons, he backed up to exami
ne them in the light of a lantern. Although he appeared to study the blades, he was, in fact, watching Nereus out of the corner of his eye. If the Private went for his gladius, there would be blood spilled.
“Don’t we have a mission, Lance Corporal Sisera?” Nereus asked respectfully.
“We do have a mission,” Alerio agreed.
Alerio wind-milled both blades and while they were still a blur, he raised them over his shoulders and with no hesitation slammed both into their respective sheaths. Then he looked directly at Nereus.
“Lead us out Private,” directed Alerio. “Northward and stick to the alleyways. We need to avoid the city guard.”
“We’ll use the alley beside the vino merchant,” suggested Nereus. “I had the opportunity to, ah, to observe it last year.”
“You were casing the wine merchant’s compound,” stated Iacchus. “Looking for a weak spot so you could rob it. If it hadn’t been for Fifth Squad’s Decanus…”
“Iacchus. You are a spoilsport,” Nereus declared. “From the alley, we’ll use the gate wall for cover before crossing the boulevard.”
“Sounds good to me,” Alerio concurred. “Were you really going to rob the wine merchant?”
“Let’s just say, the Lance Corporal caught me on my second trip,” Nereus chuckled. He turned and walked towards the corner of the inn.
“We shouldn’t bring him,” warned Iacchus. “He’s going to be trouble.”
“Isn’t that what you said about this mission?” replied Alerio while he followed Nereus out of the courtyard.
Chapter 57 - Arrow Loops
Nereus reached out in the dark and stopped Alerio with a hand to his chest.
“I’ll take a look,” the Private whispered. “With all the people heading for the gate, we should be able to cross without the guard spotting us.”
They were standing beside the interior defensive wall. On either side of each city gate, low walls extended into the city. If an enemy breached the gate, they would be confined in a space the width of the boulevard. At the end of the interior defensive walls, the attackers would be met by the shields, javelins, and gladii of the city’s defending Legionaries. Through the arrow loops, holes where defenders could shoot at an advancing enemy, Alerio heard people talking. Citizens, walking or riding wagons were crowded between the defensive walls as they shuffled towards the gate on their way to the Festival of Janus.
“A patrol just passed by,” Nereus reported when he returned. “Now is as good a time as any to cross the road.”
“Go!” ordered Alerio. He reached back and slapped Iacchus on one armored shoulder, “We’re moving.”
Nereus, Sisera, and Iacchus walked around the end of the defensive wall. Under the lantern hanging on the wall, they stood straight, looked both ways for guardsmen and scanned the crowd.
“Make way,” Nereus ordered as he picked a spot behind a wagon piled high with barrels of wine. “Make way.”
The crowd parted and the three-man team marched across the boulevard unnoticed by the city guard. On the far side, they faded back into the alleyways. A few twists and turns later, they slipped into Fireguard District and relaxed. It was rare for the city guard to patrol the district so the team felt safe staying on the main road.
For once, Alerio didn’t have to worry about sneaking between the wooden buildings. As the three armored Legionaries strolled down the street, the rogues, thugs, and thieves scurried away to hide in the dark alleys.
The team weaved their way down dead-end streets, through lanes, and soon reached the north end of Fireguard. Alerio signaled for a stop.
“We’re early,” he advised Nereus and Iacchus. “We’ll need to stay in the district until near first light.”
“We could always act like a city guard patrol,” suggested Nereus.
“And do what when we run into a real guard patrol?” demanded Iacchus. “Bludgeon them to the ground? Cut their throats? Just what do you propose we do?”
“I was thinking we could wave and turn down a side street,” Nereus offered. “But if you’re so fired up about killing and bloodletting, Lance Corporal, I’m fine with that as well.”
“You two belay the argument,” ordered Alerio. “At the first sign of light, we will act like a patrol and head the seven blocks to Senator Ventus’ villa. Any suggestions as to how we get inside?”
Iacchus remained silent except for a snort of disgust.
“The Senator has a garden on the southeast corner of his compound,” Nereus stated.
“And how would you know that?” demanded Iacchus. “Did you case his villa as well?”
“No, Decanus Iacchus. I was drinking with a forester who delivered pine trees and shrubs from the north to the villa,” replied Nereus. “The forester was quite proud of his work at building a mini forest for Senator Ventus.”
“If we get over the wall, we’ll have cover,” Alerio proposed. “I think it’s best if we don’t wait for first light.”
Chapter 58 - A Northern Forest in the City
They marched down the center of the streets between high villa walls. At the corner of Ventus’ villa, the trio crossed the intersection. Then they stepped to the side and leaned against the wall. After checking to be sure the streets were empty, Iacchus and Sisera grasped the ends of a shield. Nereus jumped up on the shield and the two Lance Corporals launched him into the air. He caught the top of the wall and pulled until he could see inside the compound.
Nereus scrambled to the top and spun around. He hung an arm down while gripping the other side of the wall with his other hand. Iacchus, aided by a lift from Alerio, jumped up and caught the arm. Once the Lance Corporal was securely on the wall, Nereus eased down into the inside of the compound.
Alerio grabbed the first shield and handed it up to Iacchus. Iacchus slid the shield over the wall and dropped it to Nereus. After the three shields were inside the compound, Alerio looked to be sure the streets were still empty. Backing up for four paces, he quickly retraced the four steps and leaped for Iacchus’ outstretched arm.
While Alerio brought his lower body onto the top, Iacchus dropped into the compound. Soon he and Nereus were joined by Sisera.
As a farmer’s son, Alerio had never appreciated the aesthetics of mood lighting. Beyond the broad limbs of a pine tree, lanterns lit a gravel walkway. Each lantern had a cover to allow light to fall on the path but not on the trees. The effect gave a person strolling among the pines in the evening a sense of being in a deep forest. The covers blocked the light so the trees and the wall behind the path were in darkness. Alerio, Iacchus, and Nereus huddled in the shadow next to the wall.
Chapter 59 - Dawn at the Ventus’ Compound
Only once had a house guard appeared along the path. He stopped, inhaled the pine scent, and continued on his rounds without looking into the shadows. The Luna team knew the household was awakening when the smell of breakfast cooking drifted through the pines.
As the morning brightened, Alerio crawled to the edge of the forest to get a look at the rear of the compound. Across a trimmed lawn from the main villa, a single-story building crowded the northeast corner. A carriage house and stalls occupied the side of the villa closest to the pine forest. Between the villa and the carriage house, a fountain bubbled happily in the early morning.
Alerio shoved back under the branches on his way to report the layout to his team. On the second push, when the branches partially hide him, the door of the single-story building opened.
Gabrielus stepped out and turned. He growled to someone inside before turning back to the front. His Tribune armor looked newly polished and he had a wide smile on his face. There was something else he’d added since the last time Alerio saw him. A gold Insubri torc ringed his neck. The barbarian walked rapidly to the villa and disappeared through a back door.
Alerio pushed back the length of four pine trees.
“Gabrielus is quartered in the building on the northeast corner,” he whispered while he drew a map in the dirt. �
�Once the Senator leaves, we’ll go have a look.”
“You’re going to stroll across a city block of lawn, in daylight, and expect to not be seen by the staff?” asked Iacchus. “We’d be better off knocking on the front door and announcing ourselves.”
The noise of horses being harnessed and men rolling a carriage out of its shed carried around from the front. Alerio crawled back to his vantage point to observe.
Four barbarians dressed in city guard armor came from the single-story building. They marched across the lawn, by the fountain, and disappeared around the side of the villa. After some talk and the pawing of hooves, a man cracked a whip and wheels crunched gravel as they rolled, accompanied by marching boots. The sounds faded signifying that the Senator had left the villa for a busy day in the Senate.
Alerio crawled back and announced, “Let’s go.”
“Go? Go where?” demanded Iacchus.
“Now!” Alerio replied as he and Nereus stood up.
While Iacchus climbed to his feet, the other two Legionaries secured the shields to their left forearms. They pushed through the trees and followed the path.
“The building is over there,” Iacchus stated. His arm pointed behind across the lawn to the corner building.
Alerio ignored the directions. The walkway curved between the pines until it wrapped around and met a short garden wall. While the gravel path continued along the wall, the Legionaries choose to step over it.
The back of the carriage house sat ten feet away and the Luna team crossed the area swiftly.
“Are we leaving?” Iacchus asked hopefully.
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