Marius' Mules

by S. J. A. Turney

  Caesar frowned.

  “Then what do you expect to do?”

  Balventius grinned and shrugged, wincing only slightly at the new stitches.

  “If you take this position away from me, I’ll take my honesta missio, give it to my brother and then head off for the nearest centre of recruitment and sign up with someone else!”

  Caesar’s eyes widened and he stared at the man. To one side, Balbus burst out laughing.

  “He’ll do it too, Caesar. Fine, I withdraw my request.”

  The beginnings of a smile began to creep across Caesar’s face.

  “Very well, Titus Balventius. You may return to the Eighth as their primus pilus and I’ll have the papers seen to. They’ll be only one-year papers though, and this tablet is yours for the keeping. I would suggest that you go to your new estate over the winter and put it in order. Let your wound heal properly and then come to Vesontio when called next spring.”

  The veteran centurion frowned and then nodded, accepting the tablet the General had continued to proffer. He sat, sighing with contentment.

  Fronto leaned to Balbus and whispered loud enough to be heard across the camp.

  “I’ll bet he stays here anyway. S’a bet?”

  Balbus nodded and shoved Fronto into a more upright position. Caesar drew a deep breath and then turned to other matters.

  “As of tomorrow, the legions are being stood down for the winter, unless or until Labienus and Crassus require them. Anyone who intends to spend the winter in Rome, I will be leaving after lunch tomorrow and I would suggest we travel together with our appropriate entourages.”

  A number of the officers nodded, smiling.

  Balbus glanced over at Fronto, who was now fully slumped in the chair, his eyes shut. He smiled and turned to Caesar.

  “General, I will travel with you as far as Vienna at least, but I return to my family in Massilia. The legates Fronto and Crispus, I believe, have other plans also.”

  Caesar nodded, glancing once again with mild disapproval at the slumped bodies of Fronto, Crispus, Varus and Sabinus.

  “Quintus Pedius and Quintus Tullius Cicero, I’m afraid I will need you to report to me as soon as the midwinter festivities are over. You will find me in Aquileia.”

  The two officers nodded.

  The General stretched and then sat back.

  “I believe that’s everything, then. Unless anyone has a question?”

  He was greeted with a snore. Balbus elbowed Fronto sharply in the ribs. And then swore and rubbed his elbow.

  “Why does he attend late-night briefings in armour?”

  * * * * *

  Balbus kicked the cart’s wheel.

  “Fairly sturdy, I suppose. Don’t think I’d trust it all that way, though.”

  Fronto growled. His head still thumped like the hammering of Vulcan on his anvil.

  “It’s only carrying our gear. We’ll be on horses.”

  Balbus shrugged.

  “Still, I hope it’s light gear!”

  Crispus looked up over the edge of the cart.

  “We’ve hardly overburdened ourselves. Marcus is familiar with the locale, so it’s only the necessities of life on the road. And Longinus’ goods, naturally.”

  Balventius, standing close by and leaning upon his vine staff, raised an eyebrow.

  “Where are you both going?”

  Fronto turned to the grizzled centurion and smiled.

  “I’m going to take Crispus here to Spain and deliver Longinus’ stuff to his family. They’re building a Villa near Tarraco, and I’m sure we’ll find his family there. Besides which, I’m dying to show Crispus Tarraco and my favourite drinking pits. I’m going to drive that well-bred cleverness out of him with excessive carousing.”

  Crispus grinned over the cart and Balbus laughed out loud.

  “Don’t forget you tried that the last couple of days. He’s still just as nice and clever and verbose, but somewhere along the line he lost a valuable sword and helmet.”

  Crispus waved a finger at his older friend.

  “Ah, no. Waves of recollection hit me this morning. I’m certain that I sold my helmet in order to… to… do something or other. I’m not entirely sure what. I found my sword this morning. Almost severed my arm with it in fact. Must have left it in bed.”

  Balbus raised his eyes skywards and turned to Balventius.

  “Gods, he even sleeps with his sword now. I swear that Fronto’s becoming a bad influence on him.”

  “Or a good one.” Balventius smiled.

  Fronto finished securing a line and then glanced past Balbus at Balventius.

  “What about you? Are you staying here, or checking out the nice little retirement nest that Caesar hand-picked for you?”

  Balventius shrugged.

  “Going to have a look. It’s on the Rhone, just south of Vienna, so I can go with this lot. Big place, mind you… big place. I’ll probably have a bit of a look round and then come back to Vesontio. Don’t like to leave the lads alone too long. They go soft, like fruit.”

  Fronto pointed over toward the rest of the camp.

  “Don’t rush back. Crassus’ll probably have you all over Gaul in search of glory over winter. Unless Labienus stops him, of course.”

  Balventius grinned.

  “I’ve had a word with my juniors. I’d like to see any bastard get them moving without my say so, let alone that pompous prat. What about yours? Don’t you worry about the Tenth?”

  Fronto returned the defiant smile.

  “I’ve left Priscus, Tetricus and Velius in charge. Can you imagine them doing anything they disagree with?”

  “I suppose not. Well, I’d best get back. I’ve only got ten minutes and I need to find that idiot stable master.”

  Fronto frowned as Balventius left, and turned to Balbus.

  “What’s he doing with the stable master?”

  “He bought a horse.”

  “Why didn’t he speak to Varus and borrow one?”

  Balbus grinned.

  “He doesn’t trust ones that have been used in combat. Reckons they’ll keep charging into trouble. He’s a great primus pilus, but he’s not exactly a confident horseman. I take it you haven’t heard about Varus, then?”

  “No. What?”

  The grin on Balbus’ face increased to a wide beam.

  “After the meeting, when I brought you and Crispus back, Varus and Sabinus went back into town. Sabinus got into a bit of a ‘thing’ with one of the local girls. It all went a touch wrong and Sabinus ended up getting punched in the face. It might have broken his nose.”

  “And Varus?”

  “He didn’t come back last night. We were about to send out a duty unit to looks for him, but Sabinus stopped us. When we asked why, he just kept laughing and saying ‘he’ll be fine.’”

  Fronto smiled.

  “Ah. Fraternising with the locals, I suppose.”

  “I believe so.”

  Tightening the last of the ropes, Fronto patted the horse on the flank.

  “Well, that’s it. We’re ready for the off. We’ll be heading for Narbo first on the way to Spain. The Aedui have offered to give us a small cavalry escort until we’re back in the Empire’s borders. I guess we’ll see you next spring. Unless you get bored of Massilia and fancy Tarraco for a while. We shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

  Balbus smiled.

  “I think Corvinia’ll want to go to Rome not long after I get back, and then out to the countryside. Anyway, I’d best keep my harpy daughters away from you. They were practically drooling over you at Geneva. I’m too young still to have you for a son, Marcus!”

  Fronto frowned and then looked around to see the bemused question on Crispus’ face.

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  Balbus clasped hands with Fronto and then, shrugging, the two embraced before Fronto climbed onto his horse. Balbus grasped the reins for a moment.

  “Take care of yourself. I’d hate to think how dull
and straightforward next year would be without you.”

  Smiling, Fronto looked round at Crispus and nodded. The younger man checked the securing of the cart reins to his own and then returned the nod.

  “Ready.”

  Fronto looked down at Balbus.

  “I’ll be fine. Same as always. Send my love to Corvinia and we’ll see you next year.”

  With a slapping of the reins, the two set off amid the buzzing of bees, the whistling of the wind and the song of avian life to the duty of delivering Longinus to his family, for the relaxation of the winter months, and for the delights of Imperial Spain.

  END.

  Full Glossary of Terms

  • Actuarius: Clerks, both civil and military. In the legions, Actuarii existed from the very top command levels, down to century levels, where excused duty soldiers served in the role.

  • Amphora (pl. Amphorae): A large pottery storage container, generally used for wine or olive oil.

  • Aquilifer: a specialised standard bearer that carried a legion’s eagle standard.

  • Burial Club: A fund looked after by the standard bearer that each legionary pays into to cover costs of funerals and monuments to fallen colleagues.

  • Caligae: the standard Roman military boot. A sandal-style of leather strips laced to above the ankle with a hard sole, driven through with hob-nails.

  • Capsarius: Legionary soldiers trained as combat medics, whose job was to patch men up in the field until they could reach a hospital.

  • Carnarium: a wooden frame covered in hooks for hanging sides of meat.

  • Cornu: A G-shaped horn-like musical instrument used primarily by the military for relaying signals. A trumpeter was called a cornicen.

  • Corona: wreath or crown awarded as military decoration.

  • Cursus Honorum: The ladder of political and military positions a noble Roman is expected to ascend.

  • Decimation: the worst (and fortunately rarest) form of Roman military punishment, saved generally for insurrection or cowardice of a whole unit. The entire unit would be lined up; the officer would walk down the line and mark every tenth man, who would then be beaten to death by his comrades.

  • Decurion: 1) The civil council of a Roman town. 2) Lesser cavalry officer, serving under a cavalry prefect, with command of 32 men.

  • Equestrian: The often wealthier, though less noble mercantile class, known as knights.

  • Equisio: A horse attendant or stable master.

  • Fossa: Defensive ditches, such as those constructed round a Roman camp or fort.

  • Furca: T-shaped pole carried by legionaries which held all their standard travelling kit.

  • Galician: Breed of horse from the north of the Spanish peninsula, strong, hardy and short, bred from a mix of Roman and native Iberian horses.

  • Gladius: the Roman army’s standard short, stabbing sword, originally based on a Spanish sword design.

  • Haruspex (pl. Haruspices): A religious official who confirms the will of the Gods through signs and by inspecting the entrails of animals.

  • Honesta Missio: A soldier’s honourable discharge from the legions, with grants of land and money, after a term of service of varied length but rarely less than 5 years.

  • Immunes: Soldiers excused from routine legionary duties as they possessed specialised skills which qualified them for other duties.

  • Latrunculi: Roman board game involving stones of two colours on a board, resembling the Chinese game of Go.

  • Ludus: 1) a game, 2) a Gladiatorial School.

  • Magna Mater: The Goddess Cybele, patron of nature in its most raw form

  • Marius’ Mules: nickname acquired by the legions after the General Marius made it standard practice for the soldier to carry all of his kit about his person.

  • Oppidum: The standard Gaulish hill town of the pre-Roman period. A walled settlement, sometimes quite large.

  • Optio: A legionary centurion’s second in command.

  • Patrician: The higher noble class of Rome, often Senatorial.

  • Phalanx: Greek/Macedonian infantry tactic in which rows of men form a veritable hedge of long spears, backed with a shield wall.

  • Phalerae: (sing. Phalera) set of discs attached to a torso harness used as military decorations.

  • Pilum: the army’s standard javelin, with a wooden stock and a long, heavy lead point.

  • Plebeian: The general mass and populace of Roman citizens.

  • Praetorian Cohort: personal bodyguard of a General.

  • Praetorium: The area in the centre of a temporary camp reserved for the tent of the commander and where the legion’s eagle and the signifers’ standards were grounded.

  • Primus Pilus: The chief centurion of a legion. Essentially the second in command of a legion.

  • Pteruges: leather straps that hang from the shoulders and waist of the garment worn under a cuirass.

  • Scorpion, Ballista & Onager: Siege engines. The Scorpion was a large crossbow on a stand, the Ballista a giant missile throwing crossbow, and the Onager a stone hurling catapult.

  • Signifer: A century’s standard bearer, also responsible for dealing with pay, burial club and much of a unit’s bureaucracy.

  • Subarmalis: a leather garment worn under armour to prevent chafing and rust, to which the pteruges are attached.

  • Tabularium: The records office. In Rome the Tabularium is in the Forum, though each fort had its own based in the centre of the camp.

  • Tarpeian Rock: Cliff on the Capitoline Hill of Rome from which traitors were hurled.

  • Testudo: Lit- Tortoise. Military formation in which a century of men closes up in a rectangle and creates four walls and a roof for the unit with their shields.

  • Tolosa: Roman town in southwest France conquered at the end of the second century b.c., now Toulouse.

  • Tribunal: A platform, carefully constructed in forts, or temporarily made from turf or wood, from which a commander would address or review troops.

  • Turma: A small detachment of a cavalry ala consisting of 32 men led by a decurion.

  • Valetudinarium: The military hospital in a camp.

  • Vexillum (Pl. Vexilli): The standard or flag of a legion.

  • Via Decumana: The main street running east-west in a Roman town or fort.