Fortune Reigns

by J. Clifton Slater

  “Centurions. Get them off their rumps and in line,” Carnifex shouted to the officers of the Third. “We are on display and I demand a good show.”

  “Yes, sir,” one of them replied as he began ordering his men up.

  Soon the Third stood behind their shields. Hidden by the shields, men squatting down distributed the javelins evenly across the field.

  ***

  For the most part, the Qart Hadasht General wasn’t concerned with less than seven hundred of the Republic’s troops. His army numbered in the thousands and he was content to post a couple of companies to prevent a reoccurrence of the morning’s raid.

  “General. Why would they send so few to attack you?” questioned the diplomat. “Could it be their main force is occupied on the south side of Messina. Possibly fighting King Hiero’s forces?”

  “And if they are?” inquired the General.

  “Then it is as if an Impala held up a pride of lions,” suggested the diplomat. “We laugh at their pitiful force because it is no threat. However, while we wait, the Syracusans may take Messina and claim it as part of their Kingdom.”

  “Just the other day,” pondered the Qart Hadasht General. “Weren’t you suggesting we wait to attack?”

  “Then, I was proposing we wait for word from King Hiero,” offered the diplomat. “This seems to be a delaying tactic on the part of the Republic. And, a broken alliance by the King.”

  “What do you think I should do?” inquired the General.

  One of his Captains nudged his horse between the diplomat and the General.

  “Sir. We crush this insult and take Messina for the Empire,” the young field commander stated as he shook his fist in the direction of the Legion lines. “My men are embarrassed. We request, no General, we demand the satisfaction of butchering those wild beasts who attack in the night.”

  ***

  “I wasn’t sure the General wanted any part of us,” commented a Centurion as the group of Legion officers watched the General and the man in the fancy robe talk.

  “I don’t think he did until tall, dark and angry inserted himself in the negotiations,” another added. “He seems to be my kind of man.”

  “I didn’t know you had a kind of man,” teased another Centurion.

  “What I meant was, someone who isn’t afraid of a fight,” the line officer said in defense of his statement.

  The hot-headed Captain wheeled his horse and shortly after leaving the General’s side, trumpets blared.

  “Are we ready for this?” shouted Sanctus Carnifex.

  A roar went up from the Legionaries and the conference of line officers ended as each Centurion marched back to his Century.

  ***

  It started when six ranks of heavy infantry appeared at the wall. Easily fourteen hundred men strong, they looked imposing with their midsized shields, tall helmets, shiny breastplates, and spears.

  Assault commander Carnifex observed the Qart Hadasht infantry scrambling over the stone wall. While he watched, the line officers watched him.

  “Let’s make them mad. And bloody them up a little,” Carnifex announced as the fourth rank climbed over the stone wall. “First maniple. One javelin. Throw.”

  The first was his experienced veterans and in three heartbeats, two hundred and forty javelins arched over the twenty paces. It was a long throw for the heavy weapons so only the first and second ranks of the Qart Hadasht soldiers caught the iron tips, leaving the rear, unorganized ranks ignorant of the danger. But the attack got the attention of their Lieutenants.

  Suddenly, the Qart Hadasht infantry organized into thirty-five units of seven columns and they marched towards the Legionnaires. The movement showed them well trained and probably superb at field maneuvering. Except the field was narrow and only one hundred forty shields wide. All of their knowledge and experience couldn’t overcome the geographical restrictions of the battlefield. They stacked up with no way to spread out and circle around the smaller force of Legionaries.

  Assault commander Carnifex watched them bunch up creating a thick target.

  “First and second maniples. One javelin. Throw,” ordered Carnifex and the air filled with shafts. Being closer, the soldiers deeper in the ranks of tall helmets fell. “First maniple. Back five steps.”

  As his veterans backed up, Carnifex called for another flight of javelins from the second. This time, they only targeted the front rank of the Qart Hadasht infantry. But the second maniple had used their last javelin, as had the first maniple. This fact didn’t escape the Lieutenants or the Qart Hadasht Captain.

  Orders in a language most Legionaries didn’t recognize resulted in actions they understood. The first two ranks of Qart Hadasht infantry lowered their spears.

  “Second maniple, fall back to the third,” Carnifex shouted. Now, with the second backing up to join with the third, his veterans stood alone waiting for the Empire’s soldiers. “First maniple. Draw.”

  ***

  Centurion Carnifex waved his arm and forty Velites sprinted from the swamp. Their legs and light armor caked with splatters of mud, the skirmishers resembled clay brick makers instead of light infantrymen. Without being told, they fell in behind the third maniple reaching the line just as the second arrived.

  “Take the spears,” bellowed Carnifex as the Empire’s heavy infantry marched towards the Republic’s heavy infantry. His orders filtered quickly through the first maniple.

  The Qart Hadasht Empire dominated the known world through its sea power. Land warfare to them meant forming a large army of mercenaries and crushing any city-state or tribe resisting the edicts of the Empire. For this, they depended on their spearmen to intimidate and eliminate the offending party or preferably bring them begging to the bargaining table. Long, thin shafts with sleek iron tips made the weapons light and deadly to unarmored foes. Or so numerous, armored troops were overcome by the sheer number of Empire soldiers. Unlike the heavy tipped Legion javelins, the spears weren’t meant for throwing.

  “Take the spears,” was on the lips of the first maniple and their officers and NCOs when the spear tips reached out for the Legionaries. Rather than wait until the shields touched and the spear tips stabbed into armor or flesh, gladii swept up and chopped into the shafts. Not all of the shafts broke. But enough cracked that the first rank of Empire soldiers stepped back to rearm and the second rank rotated forward.

  “Step. Advance. Advance,” ordered Carnifex.

  The veteran Legionaries stepped in, disrupting the rotation. Their shields shoved forward and they stabbed with their blades. Soldiers fell and were stomped as the shields shot out again.

  “First maniple. Fall back. Fall back,” Carnifex commanded.

  While the Empire officers attempted to organize their third rank, the Legionaries, still holding their shield wall, backed away and kept backing until they filtered through the third maniple.

  “I’d say they are good and mad, Sweet Butcher,” commented the Centurion from the Second Century using the weapons instructor’s nickname. He and Sanctus Carnifex walked back through the lines of Legionaries.

  “Not mad enough,” replied Carnifex. “I can see the end of their unit and daylight to the stone wall. Let’s see if we can get them to commit another company or two. Javelins!”

  From the deep grass, the seven hundred and thirty-five Legionaries scooped up javelins and held them at shoulder height.

  “Stand by to throw one,” he commanded. “Throw!”

  The Empire company had taken casualties from javelins and gladii. Their Captain jumped around yelling at his Lieutenants. His anger caused by his company’s inability to inflict more injuries on the Legion’s infantry. During his tirade, the sky filled as if a flock of birds was flying overhead. But the black dots were heavy iron tips with shafts that arched over and fell among his troops. Not all the javelins killed. Some were deflected by shields, others missed completely but, a lot of them found flesh and maimed soldiers.

  Of the fourteen hundred and
forty who came over the stone wall, five hundred and ten soldiers of the Qart Hadasht Empire were dead or wounded. Only fifteen Legionaries had been seriously injured.

  “That almost evens us up,” remarked a Centurion.

  “That’s what I was thinking,” replied Carnifex. “Third and second maniples. At a jog, forward.”

  With their Centurions and NCOs shouting to keep the line straight and shields tight, the maniples raced across the open ground. There was no need for any orders from assault commander Carnifex. As he ran, keeping pace with his lines, he scanned the Lieutenants and their Captain. As he hoped, the Qart Hadasht commanders hadn’t expected an offensive move and were out of place to warn those further back in their columns.

  At the initial surge, the big Legion shields deflected spear tips and drove the first two ranks of soldiers back. Gladius blades hacked and hobnailed boots stomped as the Legionaries fought their way into the soldier’s formation. But the aggressive tactic took a toll.

  “Disengage. Fall back,” Carnifex ordered when eighteen of the third maniple toppled back from spear thrusts. “Second, give the third cover.”

  Dragging the eighteen injured, the third ran for the first’s line while the second maniple back stepped, keeping their shields towards the soldiers. As the Legionaries pulled back, Qart Hadasht trumpets sounded from behind the stone wall.

  “I believe they have called for reinforcements,” suggested the Centurion from the Thirteenth Century. “I noticed you’ve saved the Second. Is there a reason?”

  “Yes. And the reason is coming over the stone wall,” Carnifex answered. “Not to worry, you’ll earn your rations today.”

  A seemingly never-ending wave of Empire soldiers were jumping the stone barrier.

  “Second maniple, you have the rear guard,” Carnifex shouted as he reached the Legion line. “First back them up. Third maniple and Velites disengage.”

  The second maniple, shields still locked, stepped back while watching the gathering of Empire companies. Close behind them, the first also backed up while the third and the Skirmishers picked up the wounded and jogged towards Messina.

  The assault detachment had completed their mission of rousing the Qart Hadasht army and bringing them out from behind the stone wall. All they had to do now was survive the retreat.

  Chapter 16 – Sweet Butcher

  Centurion Sanctus Carnifex glanced back to see the injured, the inexperienced Legionaries, and the light infantry disappear in the distance. Swiveling his head around, he surveyed the narrow spit of land in front of his retreating formation. Starting at twenty paces in front of the second maniple, Qart Hadasht soldiers and mercenaries filled the landscape to the stone wall with more coming over.

  Twice several ranks of Empire heavy infantry had charged forward. Twice, the second maniple had left ranks of dead and dying soldiers in their wake. Unfortunately, several of Carnifex’s Legionaries also died with them.

  ‘This can’t go on,’ the assault leader thought as he motioned a Centurion from either side to come to him. Carnifex looked to his right rear. Tall grass on mostly flat land ran to the waters of the Messina Strait. Not directly, there was a drop about the height of a man to the deep water. He’d need to station several men there in case the Empire sent swimmers to attack from the rear. Then he noted a pair of trees in the distance. Their branches offered some protection from arrows and would give his Legionaries a focal point for their defensive formation. “I’m going to order the first to flake off the line in squads. I want them heading towards Messina until the last squad is off. Then, they head for those trees and set up a defensive half circle. On my command, the second maniple is to turn around and run after them.”

  “That will put our backs to the Strait,” offered one of the line officers.

  “At least we can wash off afterward,” added the other. “Better than sucking mud from the marshland.”

  “Inform the command line,” instructed Carnifex. “I don’t want to order it until we are ready.”

  The Centurions strolled behind the maniples stopping to casually chat with every Corporal, line officer, and Sergeant. When they reached the ends of the lines and started back, Centurion Carnifex glanced right and left and, pointed at his officers and NCOs. Forming fists with his hands, Carnifex extended his thumbs and jerked his hands over his shoulders.

  “Execute!” he shouted. After issuing the command, the assault commander stood calmly and relaxed. The Empire officers were watching him trying to get a hint of his intentions.

  Along the Legion line, nothing happened at first. Then as if a strip of bark was peeled off a tree trunk, the last Legionary in the first maniple turned around and marched off the line. Then the adjacent man about faced and fell in beside him. By the time fifteen Legionaries formed lines moving away from the front, the Qart Hadasht commanders took notice. But the second maniple’s solid line of shields remained in place. The Goddess Tyche blessed the Legion detachment and the Empire didn’t attack.

  The staggered squads of the first maniple drew parallel with the pair of trees and their Centurions shouted, “Break.”

  Until that moment, the Qart Hadasht commanders assumed the Republic forces were falling back towards Messina. It was the direction they wanted to go in and they were satisfied with quick attacks while following. When the Legion squads turned and ran towards the trees, they realized their mistake. Fighting a retreating line maintained their forward movement. If the Legionaries formed a defensive position, the army of the Empire would have to stop. They couldn’t leave an active enemy force at their rear. Besides, this Republic unit had embarrassed them and must be crushed.

  “Second maniple, turnabout and run!” cried out Centurion Sanctus Carnifex.

  Along with the other training, Legionaries sprinted. It provided conditioning and was required for quick maneuvering tactics. With a twenty-pace head start, the right wing of the maniple easily outran the charge by the Qart Hadasht infantry. But, the far reaches of the left wing had to cross the field at an angle and sprint twice the distance.

  “First maniple, Javelins,” ordered Carnifex as he ran towards the trees. He slid to a stop in front of the shields and allowed Legionaries to run by. Ignoring the Empire soldiers bearing down on him, the Centurion focused on those converging with his men racing across the field.

  Two squads were caught. Shoved sideways, they stopped running and defended themselves. Although they moved as they fought, Empire soldiers began to flow around them.

  “Punch them a hole. Throw,” commanded Carnifex.

  Two hundred javelins tore into the tightly packed soldiers standing between the trapped Legionaries and the defensive circle. For a moment, a path cleared and half the Legionaries scrambled over the impaled bodies on the ground. A clamshell opened in the defensive line and slammed shut once the ten men entered the half circle. The other ten Legionaries disappeared beneath jabbing spears and hacking swords. Sanctus Carnifex shook his head at the loss and walked between the shields.

  “Your defensive circle is too big,” he called out. “Pull every third man back and close up.”

  The first maniple complied, shifted and locked shields just as the Qart Hadasht infantry smashed into them. Shields clashed, javelins and spears dueled at shoulder height, and men crowded together in a crush of bodies attempting to murder the man across from them.

  ***

  In the chaos of a shield wall, things stood out. A man ignoring cuts while splashing drops of blood around as he continued to stab at his foe. When Sanctus Carnifex observed those, he’d rotate the injured Legionary back for treatment. Or, three or more adjacent Legionaries falling into a rhythm and carving up the soldiers across from them. Those he simply watched in appreciation of their teamwork. Small instances of heroism, sacrifice, and selfishness were the little things unseen by most of the combatants.

  Then, there were the big events that could momentarily halt a fight.

  ***

  A Legionary’s body fell i
nside the defensive circle and his split shield was tossed back landing on his lifeless form. Centurion Carnifex noticed the cleaved shield from across the defensive formation. When another body and another split shield joined the first, the assault commander rushed to that section of the arc.

  Towering above his fellow Empire soldiers, a giant of a man swung a two-handed sword with one arm. A piece of Legion shield flipped into the air as the huge warrior drew back his great sword for another strike.

  “Shields forward, defensive posture,” Sanctus shouted as he snatched up an abandoned shield and fitted it to his arm.

  This time the massive sword smacked against and rattled the faces of overlapping Legion shields. It created little damage but while the Legionaries were defending, they couldn’t stab or slash. In the absence of offense, Empire soldiers crowded forward.

  “Rotating up,” growled the weapons instructor as he drew his gladius. “Protect my flanks.”

  Carnifex shouldered aside two Legionaries and joined the defensive line. In front of him stood a massive warrior. Seeing the Legionary with the bright comb on his helmet, the soldier raised his sword and smiled.

  The idea of killing an officer, any officer, pleased the giant. Now he had one from the Republic in arms reach and he wanted a one strike kill. He was already counting the bounty as the sword chopped downward.

  Sanctus Carnifex bent his knees to allow the bottom of his shield to rest on the ground. Anchoring his body with his shield arm, he braced and raised his gladius horizontally. As the long blade descended, Carnifex powered out of the squat just as the blades clashed. The giant’s sword slid along the Centurion’s gladius and was guided off to the side. Momentum carried the redirected blade around and it chopped into the Empire soldier fighting beside the giant. As the soldier and his split shield flew back into his own company, the fighting in that sector stopped. A personal duel between champions constituted an event.