Legatus Legionis: Book Two in the Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy (8 page)

Most of the Iazyges did not know what was happening at the front and they pressed forward. Occasionally the horn would blow and a more significant fall-back would be carried out, more Iazyges would surge forwards, again make a minor gain, then find themselves at some disadvantage. While the third cohort quietly carried out its orderly retreat, the Iazyges continued to shout encouragement while they pressed forward, at the same time pushing the front line into close contact with the Romans, which was exactly what the Romans wanted. What the Iazyges did not realize was that this enthusiasm from those not actually fighting was taking away what advantage there was for those that were.

The third cohort worked its way around the bluff, gradually expanding the breadth of its lines as a higher fraction of the troops were brought into the action. The retreat was now proceeding faster, and the Iazyges were pressing forward more furiously, totally confident of victory, but their column was also becoming more extended, and more importantly, the front had turned around the bluff and was out of sight of those at the rear.

Gaius now gave the signal. The first had divided into two, and two wedges now marched down the slope, but on different angles such that the bluff prevented most of the Iazyges from realizing there were two attacks. With no choice, the Iazyges turned to face the Romans descending on them. Their open file to this flank meant that most of the two flights of
pilii
struck victims, and before the Iazyges could regroup, the two wedges embedded themselves into the column.

The horn blew again, then those at the front noticed, for the first time, that the retreat in front of them was not through fear but was part of a plan. Now the wall of locked shields began its advance, closing the gap so that the shields were thrust into the bodies of the Iazyges and the remorseless thrusting recommenced. Those Iazyges at the front had no alternative but to fight for their lives, but those behind them had time to look around. Retreat was difficult now that some other attack was proceeding behind them. Some began to panic, and ran in the only available direction other than their own reserves. These found the Roman cavalry.

Then Gaius, from his position on the hill, noted the party at the rear with the enemy chief. He signalled for two cavalry detachments, and rode forward along the ridge, then led the charge downhill.

The Iazyges in total outnumbered the Romans three to one, but in this tiny sub-battle, the odds were reversed, and in the initial charge, most of the Iazygian horsemen saw this and simply turned and fled. The leader tried to stand his ground, but was soon surrounded, his remaining soldiers dispatched.

"Surrender now!" Gaius ordered, "and stop the slaughter."

"You'll kill us anyway," the chief offered, and added, without much conviction for the prospect, "It is better to die in battle."

"It is better to live with your family!" Gaius countered. "Surrender!"

"And if I do?"

"If you wish to continue fighting," Gaius announced, "we raze your villages to the ground, and take your food, women and children back as tribute or as slaves. If you offer to live in peace and pay tribute then we can forget what has happened, and you can act for Rome, as a buffer. You may cross the Danube at designated points and trade at our markets. Choose."

"Pay you tribute?" the chief growled.

"I already have more than enough," Gaius pointed out. "What I am offering is to give you your village back, with some but not all of your possessions. I shall also take the families of your leaders. They will be treated well, and live as they please, and be educated in Roman ways, if you wish."

The chief thought for a moment, then nodded agreement. He knew his eldest sons would be hostages for his good behaviour. The procedure was not unexpected, and the fact that Gaius already had possession of all that he was proposing to take meant that the tribute was less important.

Gaius immediately ordered the horn signal for the troops to accept surrender. Immediately the Roman shield walls fell back, the thrusting stopping except in defence. The chief rode towards his men, and yelled out his instructions. His men began to lay down their arms and, seeing the Romans had ceased fighting, were able to tend to their wounded. The battle was over.

* * *

The Iazygian weapons were gathered and placed on carts, which Gaius ordered to be sent immediately to the village, together with the Iazygian supplies, the chief and some of the men. Gaius suggested that these men, together with those captured, construct further huts and gather firewood. They would be given axes, and the harder they worked, the better would be the huts in which they would have to live for as long as it took the Romans to safely depart, and the warmer would be their night. Any treachery, and the entire village would be crucified.

The chief nodded, and promised no treachery. He knew he had been beaten, but he also knew that this outcome was much better than any he could have hoped for, given that he had lost. Meanwhile, the Roman medical men began helping those wounded Iazyges who had more chance of living.

About two hours later, many carts started to arrive to take the wounded from both sides back to the village, while the remainder began marching back

That evening, Gaius invited the chief, his family, and some additional Iazyges to dine with him. Patiently, he outlined what he wanted from them in the future. There would be a standard tribute in gold or coin, but this could be earned if the Iazyges cared to sell food to the legion, or for that matter any other goods to anybody within the Roman domain. They would have freedom to cross the river at any time, provided tribute was up to date, and they were also expected to offer free passage to anybody from the Roman domains.

What Rome required was order. If the Iazyges themselves were attacked or raided by those from outside Rome's control, they were free to defend themselves, and provided they were not the cause of the problem, Rome may well help them. If they behaved like allies, they would be treated as allies.

The chief accepted this, and swore there would be no further hostilities.

* * *

The following day, Gaius sent the tribute and the wounded back to the river, and two days later a scout returned and informed him that both had reached and crossed the river without incident. Accordingly, the next morning the Romans marched out, together with three young Iazyges as hostage, and the Iazygian weaponry. They stopped overnight at the first village, then the following morning they marched to the river, leaving much of the Iazygian weaponry behind. As Gaius had told the chief, the taking of the weapons was simply a precaution, but he had no intention of leaving the tribe defenceless through the winter. The chief seemed genuinely grateful for this.

Four days later the two cohorts recrossed the Danube. Again, the crossing took most of the day, the mechanics of which Gaius felt he could safely leave in the hands of the Centurions and Tribunes. He returned to his formal headquarters, announced that he had returned, then on learning that there was nothing especially pressing, he left.

Chapter 7

As he explained, not entirely telling the full truth, he had visited to ensure that she was being well looked after, that she was safe, and . . .

"The legion, or the river, kept the barbarians at bay," she smiled, then she shuddered, and added, "and Little Boots is far away."

"I'm sure you're exaggerating the problem," Gaius tried to comfort her.

"He's quite a vile beast," she shuddered. "You don't know. You're not a woman, and you're not in Rome."

"And neither are you," Gaius said, then hastily added, "in Rome, I mean."

"You noticed the other?" she said, then suddenly she became more serious as she realized that he had gone out on a limb for her, and she added, "I'm sorry! I should thank you for your kindness, and not . . ."

"I can ignore a pretty lady once," Gaius interrupted, "and that's careless, but to ignore her twice, to discard her to the vilest of the little or big boots, that is, well . . ."

"In Rome, it's what's called 'playing it safe'," she reflected sadly. Then she decided to change the subject. "How did your expedition go? How many barbarians did you kill, how many villages did you burn, how many . . .?"

"We killed those we had to," Gaius replied simply, "and we brought back the minimum required tribute. Rather than pillage, I tried to make the local villages semi-allies. I see no reason to kill or destroy for no reason."

"I'm sorry," she frowned. "Neither do I, but that view is not commonly held. Tell me, what are they like, these barbarians."

"They're not barbarians," Gaius corrected her. "They're civilized, in their own ways. They dress differently, they don't inflict shaving on themselves, they don't wash as much as we do, they pray to different Gods, but they make quite intricate metal ornaments." He paused, then added, "I've brought members of the family of the chief back. They speak Latin. Why don't you ask them what you want?"

"Prisoners won't . . ."

"They're not prisoners, and they're not slaves," Gaius interrupted. "They will be treated as chief's sons and daughters, and eventually they will return to their tribes, to lead them. They are to return with the feeling that Rome is good."

"Even if in some ways, it isn't," she muttered.

"Look, I'm sorry for your problem, but I promise you, you're safe here."

"Even you can't refuse Little Boots," she warned. "If he orders me back to Rome . . ."

"I'll say you're unavailable."

"He's hardly likely to believe that," she snorted. "He'll come here for me personally, probably kill you, and . . ."

"If you're polite and look after our guests from across the river," Gaius shrugged, "you could always escape across there. I can't see Little Boots going after you himself."

"Living amongst the barbarians could be nearly as bad," she said. "There'd be nobody to protect me, and . . ."

"On the contrary," Gaius interposed, "if the chief gave his word, you'd be quite safe. But it mightn't come to that. Let's try to enjoy the present and let the future take care of itself. Will you join me for dinner?"

"I'd like that," she smiled.

The dinner was small, informal, but Gaius had ensured that the cook understood that he wished to impress his guest. Vipsania was impressed; even Gaius was impressed. Since he was aware that Vipsania's father was interested in wine, he had found some older Pannonian wine that had been stored in a small cask for some time.

"This's marvellous," Vipsania said, after tasting it for the first time.

"Those in the know only buy old casks," Gaius said. "Most people drink fresh wine."

"I thought old wine turned to vinegar," Vipsania frowned.

"That's the downside of buying old casks," Gaius agreed. "If the air gets in, it's awful."

They ate, they drank, and when Vipsania asked him about dropping rocks into rivers, he took her hand and invited her outside. It was cold, and he wrapped a cloak around her and drew her close to him. She put her arm around his waste, and almost snuggled against him.

"Look up there?" Gaius said.

"Stars?" Vipsania asked. "I know some of the constellations."

"Do you know what the stars are?"

"Just stars? What do you mean?"

"Aristarchus thought . . ."

"Who's Aristarchus?"

"A Greek philosopher," Gaius explained, in what he was to reflect later was an overly serious tone. "He said that the Earth is a planet like Mars, and goes around the sun. Other Greeks thought the stars are other suns, in which case there could be other planets going around them."

"And you believe that?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know," Gaius said. "What I do know is that because heavy objects fall at the same rate as light ones, it's at least possible, which is why I got so carried away when I saw a sword, a shield and a body hit the water at the same time. As you said, I was so excited, I ignored you."

"I suppose that was important," she said doubtfully.

"So I'm not forgiven?"

She looked into his eyes and said, "I've always wanted to meet a philosopher, so yes, you're forgiven. But don't do it again!" she added with a smirk.

"I don't think that's likely," he said, and drew her more tightly to him. Her arm also drew him more tightly towards her.

Chapter 8

A week later, under leaden skies, the Legion, apart from the fifth cohort, whose turn it was to be left behind to maintain a frontier presence, marched towards the coast and their winter quarters. The march was uneventful, but Gaius noted that Vipsania was becoming more apprehensive as the time approached. Burnum was near the coast, and that meant that a boat could take her back to Rome.

Gaius had already sent Timothy ahead to secure a villa for Vipsania and her family. When they arrived, he found that Timothy had done well and had secured a small villa about two miles from the town itself, but not that far from the formal residence of the
Legatus
. He had told nobody what it was for, or who would be in it, and officially the villa was in Gaius' name. As Gaius assured Vipsania, anybody who wanted to find her would have to do it through him.

For the next five weeks, it was unlikely that Gaius had any deep philosophical thoughts. Since the administration of a legion was essentially carried out by the Tribunes, and in this case only they knew enough about Burnum to make sensible purchases, and since there were no uprisings, barbarian attacks, or any other discernible problems, Gaius had little to do other than to be with Vipsania. Winter storms were howling, and it was very pleasant to sit together beside log fires, tending to crackling roasts and drinking more fine Pannonian wine.

The Iazygian families had settled with reasonable grace and were in frequent contact with their families. Vipsania was fascinated by Iazygian jewellery, so Gaius purchased several items for her, and as a consequence of her wearing them, the "hostages" became friendlier towards her. She ordered a number of scrolls from Rome, and began to teach them to read. Timothy noticed this, and he acquired copies of some of the Greek plays. Then, when the weather broke, Gaius would take Vipsania on horseback rides. Because of his rank, a small detachment of cavalry would follow them, at a very discreet distance. And so, despite the cold and the bitterness of the weather, Gaius felt as happy as he had ever felt.