At the foot of the Rock Aengus moved back as the bodies fell, soon followed by lumps of rock and stone. He grimaced. So, the gods were not with Catamones this night. Maybe now was the time to agree to leave this place. The spirits were starting to move in the favour of the Romans and the Gaul’s luck had started to run out. It was the way of the Gauls to know when it was best to move on, and Aengus walked slowly towards his cousin who was standing with his hands on his hips and frowning as his latest attack on the Roman hill had failed determined to talk his Cousin into leaving Rome.
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Chapter 16
Comminus felt a burst of emotion as he cleared the forest and saw the city of Veii ahead of him. He had marched through the day and his feet were shredded with cuts as he limped along muttering to himself like a demented madman. His eyes stared at the walls and his feet shuffled mechanically as his body pushed itself on to its goal. It had been nearly two days since he had had any sleep and he had only eaten stale bread and wild berries as he had taken the long route away from Rome and onto the roads through the hills which led to Veii. He had nearly stumbled into a Gallic war band as they foraged the land but had laid low in a thick bush as the men had passed by without seeing him. He’d thanked the gods for his luck and pushed on as soon as he was clear of them and he was now rewarded with the sight of his goal.
The guards waved as they saw him approaching and within minutes two horses were racing across the ground towards him, others following as slower riders headed out into the clear ground before the walls of the city. He felt his body lifted onto the horse as his tiredness washed over him and his eyes closed.
Noises woke him as water was splashed onto his face and he was forced to drink. Cold liquid bit into his throat and he coughed, the liquid coming out of his nose as he spluttered awake and gasped for breath.
“Fool, you’ll kill him, man” shouted a voice as a clatter suggested someone had been given their marching orders.
“Here, Comminus” said the voice again. “Drink this slowly. It will revive you.” Comminus sucked in the herbal smell as he sipped the tepid liquid and his eyes looked up, blood shot and weary, into the face of Caedicius, his face a picture of concern. Brutus was behind him and more featureless faces surrounded him. He drank more of the liquid and felt a sudden warmth start to spread through his tired limbs, his sense of smell suddenly coming back to him as the taste of the liquid hit his tongue in some strange delayed reaction.
“Thank you” he croaked, his voice coming in a strangled gargle before he took another deep draught of the liquid and stared with wide eyes as the room began to flow into focus.
“You will be alright for about twenty minutes but then you need to rest” Caedicius said as he moved back from Comminus.
A sharp pain bit into Comminus’ back as he remembered the naked man who had jumped at him from the bridge, the frantic fight in the water, the slice from the blade which caught his back before he had thrashed out with his legs and caught the Gaul in the face before swimming off into the freezing cold water. The man had followed him, tracked him as he had struggled to reach the banks by the Aventine Hill. He’d eventually given him the slip in the old mines along the base of the Aventine, using his local knowledge of the long thin caves to exit back into the river via two short drops, and had then swum silently across the river as he heard the Gaul screaming his anger blindly into the night from across the water in the darkness. It had taken all of his energy to run into the hills and then set off north towards Veii.
He looked up and started to recount the story to the assembled men, their silence showing that they hung on every word. As he finished and pulled the sealed tablet from the bag, he had tied to his back he winced and saw that the tablet was covered in fresh blood.
“He’s bleeding” said Brutus, “Get the hero a medic” he said as the men around him burst into short cheers for Comminus, their expressions melting in his vision as he started to slip back into unconsciousness.
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The streets were filled with children, small scruffy faced urchins and lanky teenagers, all with straggly long hair and grins across their faces. They saluted their leaders as the men marched along the slow rise towards the Capitol Hill. A group of women, their green and brown shawls wrapped around their shoulders, gossiped idly as the clump of feet passed them by. As they reached the foot of the Hill Belinus looked up at the noise of feet shuffling hastily into some sort of order as the guard, fifty of the biggest warriors from each clan, jumped to attention. Belinus prowled along the line of fierce looking Gauls, their thick rectangular shields brightly painted as the sun shone strongly onto the waiting men. At the blockade to the Capitol Hill Brennus turned to face the tall buildings and narrow alleyways which had evaded every attack his men had attempted over the months they had been in the city. He stood with Aengus and shook his head as he saw blood stained rocks, a bent dagger and a dented helmet in amongst the rubble at the foot of the alleyway. A clatter from the narrow, rock filled, alleyway announced the arrival of the Romans and Brennus turned to watch as the first men clambered warily into view.
“Romans” called Brennus. “Welcome to my city” he laughed as the line of Gauls who could speak the common Greek language laughed with him. A second burst of laughter and a small cheer followed quickly as one of the Gauls translated the words for the rest of the men. Brennus turned and his red beard split with a broad grin as his men continued to laugh at his jest. Aengus smiled silently but watched the Roman leaders as they climbed up on to the top of the rampart.
“See Cousin they are not as thin and unfed as we thought they were” Aengus said in Gallic as Brennus frowned at the leading men. “It seems the slave Damos may have been telling the truth when he told us they were giving extra food to the soldiers after all” he added as he stroked his forearm where a fresh red burn showed.
“Well he screamed a lot about food and hidden treasures before he went to the gods” Brennus said coldly.
Aengus nodded thoughtfully before he turned to the approaching Belinus and greeted him warmly. Several other Gauls were standing at the foot of the Capitol for the hastily arranged meeting called by Brennus after Damos had informed them that the Capitol contained all the gold and jewels from the temples of Rome and as much as each of the families own personal treasures as they could carry as well as enough food for many more months on the steep sided hill. He’d babbled on about land deeds and jewels hidden in the streets, but Aengus had ignored this, land deeds were of no interest to the Gauls who would simply take what they wanted.
Several Romans were now standing abreast the top of the rampart of stones with a number of well-dressed soldiers behind them, spears and slings at the ready. Brennus smiled at the show of force from the little group and wondered whether to simply charge at them and kill them all, a small victory but one that would remove the head of the Roman beast. He decided that Aengus’ counsel had been wise and he shouldn’t be so rash. The continued deaths from whatever the illness was that the Gauls were suffering and the boredom that the tribes were showing, there had been three deaths from local tribal conflicts in the last week alone, meant that the gods were telling them they should move on. The tribal elders had agreed that they should talk to the Romans and demand a ransom to leave the city. They would then go back to Clusium, sack the town and settle in the lands that the gods had shown them previously. The land was fertile and ranged for miles along the foot of the mountains, it would be a good land for the Senones to settle in.
“Romans” shouted Brennus as he stepped forwards with his arms wide, followed by Belinus, Aengus, Astonus and several other clan leaders, each dressed in fine wool with their golden torcs shining from their necks. “Speak with us” he said as he moved forward and sat on the floor at the foot of the rubble, his legs crossed and his hands resting on his bent knees. Two young girls came forwards with a tray of drinks and placed them in the centre of the men. Brennus took a silver goblet and held it up to toa
st the watching Romans before sipping the liquid slowly. The rest of the Gauls joined him in taking a cup of wine as the Roman leaders bent their heads together and started chattering, some clearly believing this was a trap. “Brother” Brennus asked “take the guards and move them further back” he ordered with a sigh to his brother who nodded and stood before wandering slowly away towards the back of the group and ushering the noisy troops back along the road.
As the troops moved the Romans had braced themselves for an attack before they realised that the Gallic warriors were moving away. As Belinus strolled back and sat on the floor three Romans stepped gingerly down through the rubble that guarded the alleyway to the Capitol, the blood of many attacks dried into the stone so that much of it appeared reddish brown in colour. The three Romans moved forwards and saluted the seated Gauls, the bearded warriors nodding to the Romans as they closed in on them.
The Romans stood over the Gauls, their armour brightly polished and leathers all oiled and wiped. Brennus was impressed. “Sit” Brennus gestured to the spaces, backs to the Capitol, which had been left for them. As nobody moved, he continued. “You are under the truce of nations” he said as he looked up nonchalantly at the leading Roman. “We won’t break it as you did” he said with a sardonic smile which he saw angered the Romans.
The three men sat, their faces stern as two of the men glanced around the Gallic contingent whilst one held Brennus’ gaze. “I am Lucius Furius Medullinus” said the thin man, his clean-shaven face giving his eyes a deep, hollow, look. “This is Marcus Curtius and” he nodded left and then right at the two men sat either side of him “and Gaius Fabius Durso, Senators of Rome and emissaries of the remaining state of the people of this city” he said as Brennus huffed and half laughed as the words were spoken.
“The people of this city are all around you Lucius Furius Medullinus” he responded quickly with his head shaking slightly as he shrugged. “This is our city now, and your people are prisoners, rats in a cage” he said jovially, his blue eyes becoming fierce as he stared at Lucius.
Lucius nodded and bent to pick up a goblet of wine, the liquid sweet in his mouth as he took a moment to savour the taste. Replacing the goblet, he squared his shoulders and spoke. “For what reason then have you called this discussion, Brennus, leader of the Senones and conqueror of Rome” he said flatly.
Brennus sat up as Lucius finished speaking, his face breaking into a smile as the leaders mumbled at the Romans words. “Ha” he said. “Conqueror of Rome” he nodded appreciatively and looked at the assembled men. “I like it” he added loudly. “But” he snapped as his eyes locked on Lucius “this city has lost the favour of the gods. The streets crawl with rats in the night, the stench of the dead is more than any man can take and the people of the Senones, the Aedui, the Biturges, the Ambarri” he was nodding to the leaders around the circle of men as he spoke and Lucius watched as each man nodded with respect towards their leader as he announced their tribal names. Brennus finished with a look to his brother and said the final words “and our glorious kinsmen, have agreed that this place is no home for our tribes. So, Roman” he said with a sneer “we offer you the choice to gain back your stone walls and pretty painted houses.” He nodded to an older man who turned to face the three Romans.
“I am Astonus, elder of the combined tribes under the leadership of Brennus of the Senones” he stated as Lucius’ mind was racing ahead. The man looked like a lawyer and had the guise of a man who was used to bartering and trading. “We have consulted with our gods and agreed that for a reasonable price, recompense for our losses, we will leave this city” he said, his blue-grey eyes blinking slowly. Lucius narrowed his eyes at the words. “We know that you have much treasure on that Hill of yours” he said. “We demand payment of two thousand pounds of gold for which we will leave your city. We will give you six hours to discuss this with your leaders.” He finished abruptly, catching Lucius off guard as his thoughts were running through what this offer meant.
He nodded to Astonus and then returned his gaze to Brennus, whose expression looked as if he was suddenly bored by the conversation and didn’t want to be there. Lucius knew the look, the deal had to be brokered with Astonus.
“Astonus” Lucius said as he glanced to Durso and Curtius. “I don’t know where you gained your information, but there is not two thousand pounds of gold in all of Rome. Much of the wealth of the city was taken out before you arrived, you must know this?” he asked.
Astonus shrugged. “We have heard your women are carrying their small treasures and that your store of gold from the temples is with you on the hill” he said with a calm efficiency which Lucius noted. “Our terms remain, two thousand pounds of gold” he said nonchalantly.
Lucius turned to Durso and the Romans began to talk in their Latin language, the Gauls smiling at the faces of the men as they conversed. Eventually Lucius looked back to Astonus. “In principle we agree to your offer” he started as Astonus began to smile. “But” he said, his dark eyes glancing to Brennus as he continued “we can only offer one thousand pounds of gold. It is all we have, if not more than we have” he quickly added.
Astonus shook his head. “One thousand five hundred” he said coldly.
Lucius looked weary as he shook his head. “Astonus of the Gauls, you must know that most of our treasures were removed. We can manage one thousand pounds of gold and no more. We will need to discuss this with the Senate of Rome before we agree though” he said as he sat straight and stared at the older Gaul, the man not blinking or flinching as he stared straight back at him. A long silence began to stretch as the two men seemed to be trying to read each other’s minds. Astonus broke the spell first as he held out a hand, his little finger half missing from an old battle. “We accept” he said firmly. “You have one day to agree to our terms or they will be removed. If you do not agree we will remain in the city and starve you off your hill” he said with a smile. Lucius took the hand and both men squeezed tightly as the Gauls turned and started to move away before they had even let their hands fall apart. Lucius frowned as the Gauls ambled away from the meeting, laughing and joking as if they had simply met at the crossroads and passed the time of day.
With a deep sigh he turned to his two fellow Senators and, together, they turned back to climb over the rubble into the city.
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“Take the strain by using your thighs, like this” Marcus said as he shifted his weight and Narcius bounced off the larger shield that he was training his men to use. “Then lift” he shouted as Narcius floundered on the wooden board “and stab” he said as he punched the wooden sword forwards in a sharp thrust, avoiding contacting the stricken Centurion. “Then back to the wall” he said as he clashed his shield into the man next to him. “Try it” he said as seventy faces turned back to their fronts as Narcius’ men lined up awaiting the order to run at the shield wall.
Stepping to the side Marcus watched as Narcius moved across. Narcius’ men waited for a whistle from their Centurion before charging, screaming, into the shield wall, the defenders trying desperately to balance the heavy wooden shields as they angled them down, then up slightly and tried to lift their adversaries to get a clean strike at them. Inevitably several of the men dropped their shields as the impact hit them, but in most cases the attack was defeated and the wall of shields remained intact.
“That’s better” Marcus said as the screaming died to laughter as the fallen men withdrew, slapping each other on the back as they went.
“Better but not perfect” Narcius said, his appraising eye already spotting a few weak points. It had been two weeks since the delegation to Ardea from Veii had departed, time in which Marcus had begun to retrain his men to deal with the threat of the Gallic style of fighting. He knew that the initial wave of running men was the biggest danger to the Roman phalanx, this had certainly been the case at the river Allia. But he also knew that Brennus was no fool. He ran shield walls in behind the initial attack, thick boards of rect
angular shields which were used to hold the opposition whilst the second wave of running attackers, usually with heavy axes, charged at their foes. He also knew that the Gallic cavalry fought on horseback, where the Romans tended to race into position on their mounts and then jump to their feet to fight with spears. It was these tactics that had won the day at the river and had seen any attempt to stop the Gauls end in defeat. These cavalry had enormous broadswords which could cleave a man in two, through his armour, if left unchecked. The latest training drill had gone well and his forces were starting to grow as stragglers from other villages had rallied to Ardea following the small victories that Marcus had gained against the Gallic raiding parties over the last few months.
“How are the cavalry doing?” he asked as he turned to Mella, just as the officer was chewing on a juicy apple. Mella frowned as he chomped quickly, Narcius half-laughing at his surprised face.
“Good, good” he mumbled before swallowing. “As we discussed, they are getting used to fighting on horseback, but it isn’t easy and the spears are a little longer than they are used to” he said.
“We need them to be fast, hit the Gauls hard and retreat, nothing more” Marcus said. “The shock of the attack will be their strength. If they do it right” his eyes half-closed as images flashed through his mind “and if Fortuna is with them, then they will cause enough damage for the javelin throwers and slingers to do the rest” he said as Mella nodded.
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