“Your words convey the harsh but factual truth,” replied Nigellus. “It would be my pleasure to escort you into the Senate.”
The Priestess rested her hand on the cocked arm of the Colonel. As they walked towards the entrance, Nigellus indicated with his head for Iacchus to follow.
Chapter 69 - A Traitor by Any Other Name
Iacchus took half a step and stopped. He looked at Alerio, at the Legionary’s blood splattered armor, which was much messier than his shield.
“Leave the shield,” Iacchus instructed. Deciding he might need evidence of the struggle to procure the amulet, he said. “Come with me.”
Together, the Legionaries walked through the doors and entered a wide, curved hallway. The Insubri Prince was shoved in after them. Following the Colonel and the Priestess, the Lance Corporals walked through a second door and into the Senate of the Republic.
The circular chamber rose from a central dais in progressively higher tiers. On each level, curved benches provided seating for the Senators. Sturdy arms divided each seat allowing a sitting Senator enough room to relax, turn and talk, or to pound on the arms.
A short, older man stood at the dais. Senator Ventus occupied the space on one side and the Qart Hadasht Ambassador on the other. None of the three were talking; unlike twenty or so Senators who were talking all at once from every tier.
On the far side of the chamber, Gabrielus leaned against the wall. Although in the shadow between lanterns, his city guard Tribune armor gave him away.
A tall, thin man waving his arms frantically rushed up to Nigellus.
“Colonel. You can’t be here,” the man explained. “This is a closed session and important issues are being discussed. If you’ll wait in the hall, I’ll alert the President of the Senate of your arrival.”
As he talked, he held out his arms and made shooing motions at the Legionnaires.
“Lance Corporal Iacchus. You have something to show the Priestess?” asked Nigellus. “Bring it to us now.”
Iacchus began digging in a pouch as he crossed the distance between them. He held out the amulet in front of the Colonel and the Priestess.
“Can you identify this piece of jewelry?” Nigellus inquired.
The Priestess’ hand trembled as she reached out and plucked the amulet from Iacchus’ palm. Tears filled her eyes as she caressed the talisman.
“Oh, Lavina. May you rest gently in the Goddess’ embrace,” the High Priestess exclaimed with a sob. “I know this amulet. Tribune Faunus came to me and asked me to suggest a gift for his wife before he went to war. The Amulet of Luna was the gift.”
“Thank you, High Priestess,” Nigellus said softly before spinning and shoving the tall, thin man out of his way. He strutted down the aisle between rows of benches and marched towards the dais.
As he walked, he bellowed so all the Senators could hear, “I am Colonel Nigellus of the Central Legion. And, I accuse Senator Ventus of Treason; his henchman Gabrielus of the murder of Senator Faunus; and the Qart Hadasht Ambassador of being a spy.”
“This is preposterous,” exclaimed Ventus. “Sergeant at Arms. Have this man and his rubble removed from the chambers.”
From the barely understandable speeches of just over twenty Senators, the chamber exploded when over a hundred began voicing opinions.
Nigellus, a man experienced in commanding men in the heat of battle, raised his voice. The voice that moved Legionaries and won battled. A voice that silenced the Senate of the Republic.
“Fireguard burns; a Qart Hadasht fleet rows up the Tiber to take our Capital; and the northern Legion is in combat with the Insubri,” he thundered. “And, you squabble?”
During the silence, Senator Ventus demanded, “What proof do you have?”
Nigellus turned and held out his hand. “High Priestess of Luna. If you would bring the amulet?” he asked inviting her to join him.
At the mention of the amulet, Gabrielus pushed off the wall and ran for a side door.
“Lance Corporal Sisera. I want that barbarian’s head,” commanded Nigellus. “Go!”
Chapter 70 - A Chase Through Smoke
Alerio sprinted by the Colonel, the Ambassador, the dais, and a stunned Senator Ventus. He hit the aisle and climbed the steps two at a time. At the top tier of benches, he grabbed a bench back and used it to swing in a new direction. Spying the door used by Gabrielus, he raced for it.
The hall outside the chamber was empty. On a guess, he made for the east entrance. There was no broad porch, just a simple set of clay brick steps. He leaped over the steps, landed on the pathway, and ran towards the smoke rolling in from Fireguard.
Halfway across the Capital grounds, Alerio spotted the Tribune armor in the haze. Gabrielus had slowed, figuring he’d made a clean escape.
Over the boulevard at the first villas, the figure vanished.
Alerio slid to a stop at the intersection. Looking both ways, he peered into the smoke trying to separate out a shape from the rolling gray soup. Gabrielus had disappeared.
“Where did you go?” Alerio asked himself as he turned from one side to the other. Then, he tried to think like a barbarian Prince in a hostile city. “I’d need a horse and the city guard stables were only a few blocks away; with the rank of Tribune, the guards would open any gate; and as an Insubri Prince, I’d head north.”
Alerio whirled around and jogged back to the north-south boulevard. At the thoroughfare, he set a fast pace northward heading to the gate. Eight blocks later, the villas decreased in size and were soon replaced by tradesmen compounds and shops. He jogged and studied the types of businesses. A few blocks from the north gate, he saw a merchant’s shop that suited his purpose.
The door was thick and locked. He bounced off the wood on his first charge. Pulling the hip gladius, Alerio shoved the steel tip into the metal lock. Steel beats iron and the rivets on the metal snapped and the front plate fell away. Using the tip of the blade, he rotated the gears and the door popped open.
Alerio rushed through the whip maker’s shop and into the back room. On a wooden dowel suspended an arm’s length overhead, strips of leather hung almost to the floor. He hooked an arm through the strands and ran along collecting hundreds of the thin strips.
***
The clop, clop, clop of a horse and rider could be heard coming from the smoke. Two heartbeats later, Gabrielus emerged into the hazy air. The barbarian had a lot of ground to cover once outside the city; with no apparent pursuers, he held the horse to a gentle canter.
Alerio waited for the horse to reach the far end of the compound. Then he pulled back his arm and tossed the iron plate from the lock. It whirled end over end arching up and over the awning of the whip maker’s shop. When it clanged loudly to the pavers of the boulevard behind the barbarian, Gabrielus snapped his head around to investigate the noise. There was no one chasing him and he relaxed.
Next Alerio heaved the armload of thin leather strips. They uncoiled as they sailed through the air. Being a city guard horse and trained to avoid crowds, wagons, carts and other city obstructions, the mount danced sideways. If it had reared up, the barbarian would have easily maintained control. But, the mare jerked to her left and Gabrielus was thrown to his right. Too busy trying to regain his balance, he failed to notice the Legionary dashing from the corner of the whip maker’s compound.
On his last step, Alerio sprang up and wrapped an arm around Gabrielus’ helmet. Already off balance and with the weight of a fully armored Legionary hanging around his neck, the barbarian came unseated. They tumbled to the clay brick pavers of the boulevard.
Chapter 71 - Battle on the Boulevard
Gabrielus landed on Alerio knocking the breath out of the Legionary’s lungs. It’s why the barbarian was able to gain his feet first.
“Die Republic scum,” Gabrielus screamed as he drew his gladius.
It’s all in the training or lack of training. The lack was what saved the Legionary. Rather than stab his enemy, Gabrielus use two hands t
o raise the gladius as if it were a long Insubri sword. When the blade fell, Alerio rolled away from the short blade. He rolled twice before raising to a knee.
“Gabrielus. Colonel Nigellus wants you,” Alerio explained to the stooped over barbarian. “Come with me and stand trial.”
“I’ve watched the Republic’s justice for years,” explained Gabrielus as he straightened. “It always ends in a crucifixion; not me. I’m going to gut you then ride to my people. I’ll be back in a few weeks with an Insubri army. Then, it’ll be your Colonel Nigellus dying with a roof top view.”
Alerio reached over his shoulders and slowly drew the gladii. Gabrielus dropped his right hand and reset his grip on the hilt with his left hand.
The last time Alerio had fought a left-handed fighter, he’d been fresh off the farm and fighting under arena rules. Even if the rules were trashed by Corporal Daedalus as he attempted to collect the Cruor syndicate’s bounty. This wasn’t a contest with betting and medics; this was a battle and rules did not apply.
The two combatants circled. Gabrielus to his left, keeping the gladius low and his feet balanced. Alerio to his right acting as if he favored his right arm.
Gabrielus shuffled forward and brought his blade up trying to nick the underside of his opponent’s sword arm. To protect the arm, Alerio jerked it to almost shoulder level. This left his side unprotected and Gabrielus immediately brought his blade down as he lunged to take advantage of the opening.
It’s difficult to back up faster than a foe can lunge forward. Both fighters knew this and Gabrielus was confident he’d won. Except, he didn’t see Alerio’s left gladius. The Legionary’s blade swished across body and sparks flew as the barbarian’s blade was driven off the line of attack.
With his opponent’s gladius out of the way, Alerio snapped his right blade downward and smashed the top of Gabrielus’ helmet. The barbarian staggered back while slicing his blade through the air to prevent a follow up attack.
“Surrender Gabrielus. I don’t want to carry your body back to the Senate,” explained Alerio. “It’ll be much easier on me if we walk.”
“I’m not walking anywhere. After I kill you, I’m riding to join my people,” Gabrielus replied. “Your cities and towns will burn and your people will suffer. On that, you have my word.”
As Gabrielus spoke, he pulled a dagger. With his right hand and no aim, he flipped it at Alerio’s face. The concept of the attack called for the thrower to charge while his opponent was occupied dodging the dagger. Gabrielus rushed forward with his blade tilted so the tip was on a line to Alerio’s chin. He was dedicated to the kill and failed to notice when Alerio’s left blade tapped the dagger in midflight. It tumbled harmlessly off to the side.
Alerio watched the steel tip grow as it approached his face. Inches from his chin, when the barbarian was fully committed, the Legionary raised his left blade to meet the attacking blade. The two steel blades grated against each other. Alerio allowed for the crossed blades to slide two inches before spinning to his right.
His right gladius whirled around with his body. Just before he released the pressure with his left blade, the right gladius completed the circle and buried its sharp edge into the back of Gabrielus’ neck. With the muscles and tendons detached, the barbarian’s head lulled as his legs folded up.
After passing through the muscles and tendons, the blade chopped into the vertebrae severing Gabrielus’ spinal cord. The Insubri Prince would never reach his warriors or extract his revenge on the Republic.
When her rider fell, the mare whinnied, turned and trotted off to the west. Presumably to complete a circuit of the Capital before returning to her stall at the city guard stables. Alerio watched as his ride and transportation for Gabrielus’ body pranced proudly away.
Chapter 72 - Emergency Measures
Corporal Gratian’s boots clicked on the granite as he paced the porch of the Capital building. The blue-gowned Luna celebrants stood dignified on the stairs. His men remained in their lines leaning on their shields. Centurion Kellerian had long ago been escorted into the Senate Chambers by Lance Corporal Iacchus. Throughout the grounds, the guardsmen and the auxiliary stood or sat in ranks.
The city guard Centurion had dismounted but waited beside his horse at the foot of the stairs. Periodically, he’d cast evil glances at Gratian. The Corporal didn’t take it personally. The guardsmen’s officer would naturally resent any Legionary NCO, or line officer, who ignored his orders and Gratian was handy.
Heels, clicking on granite, announced the arrival of several people from the building. The High Priestess of Luna, Colonel Nigellus, and Lance Corporal Iacchus came through the doorway.
“Tesserarius Gratian. I’ll need an escort to the Chronicles Humanum Inn,” the Colonel announced. “Lance Corporal Iacchus’ squad will provide protection to the High Princesses and her Ladies. After seeing them safely to the temple, he’s going to the harbor to set up a blocking force.”
“Yes, sir,” Gratian replied. “What about the rest of the squads?”
“You’re to wait here for the Senate’s decision,” Nigellus replied. “You did a good job Corporal. I appreciate all you’ve done. And while I’d like to stay in the Capital and help you defend the city; the Legion needs a Battle Commander. An experienced Senator will take command here.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s been my pleasure to serve you,” Gratian stated. Then turning to the lawn announced. “First Squad, fall out. Reform for escort duty.”
As the First Squad moved off the line and re-formed, Lance Corporal Iacchus descended the steps and gathered the Second Squad. He spoke with his men and soon they were spread around the High Priestess and her blue-gowned attendees.
They were a study in contrasting styles; the armored and helmeted Legionaries marching across the Capital grounds with the stately blue-gowned followers of Luna.
Nigellus strolled down the stairs. Instead of going to where First Squad waited, he headed for the city guard Centurion. They exchanged salutes and the Colonel leaned in close and spoke to the officer for a long time. When he leaned away, there was a horrified look on the Centurion’s face.
The Colonel stepped back from the line officer, turned, and jog towards his escorts.
“First Squad. I need two things,” Nigellus announced as he reached them. “Get me to the inn on the double. And open the east gate. Can you do it?”
“Colonel Nigellus. Ready, sir,” the squad yelled back.
“Take us out Lance Corporal,” Nigellus said as he stepped between the shields.
“First Squad. Double time, march,” the Lance Corporal shouted.
The squad and the Colonel trotted off leaving Gratian alone on the porch. He started to order his last two squads to relax but worried about what the guardsmen Centurion would think. Glancing down to where the officer had been, he was surprised to see the Centurion out in front of his ranks surrounded by his NCOs.
There were a few raised voices from the NCOs but hard words from the Centurion hushed them. After a long meeting, the guard officer stood scanning the ranks as the NCOs strolled back to their squads. A Sergeant and a Corporal walked to separate sides and took up positions in front of the lines. The command staff watched as all the city guard squads gathered around their Lance Corporals.
Gratian got antsy and strolled down to the lawn. With hand signals, he called the last two of his Decani over.
“Something’s up with the city guard,” he warned. “Pull the squads into a loose formation so we can defend ourselves if it gets ugly. Do it slowly and don’t draw attention to us.”
Nonchalantly, the Legionaries picked up their shields and meandered to a defensible place beside the speaker’s outcrop of the building’s steps. Gratian climbed to the area as if looking over his Legionaries. He was actually keeping an eye on the movement of the guard.
The guardsmen, squad by squad, slipped between the second line, placing them to the rear of the barbarian auxiliary.
Gratian peered
across the Capital grounds to where the surviving Qart Hadasht Ceremonial Guards were being held. The guardsmen there hadn’t moved or responded to the movement of their fellow guardsmen.
When the city guards pulled their gladii, Gratian snapped his head around and whispered to his Legionaries, “Stand ready.”
Suddenly, the city guards attacked the barbarian auxiliary. Outnumbered five to one, the barbarians were swiftly subdued. Some lay dead, some were bleeding but most surrendered and were disarmed.
Stripped of their armor, the barbarians were marched towards the guard’s headquarters. As the line of near naked barbarians moved away, Gratian told his Legionaries to sit down and relax. He walked to the top step and sat down to wait on the Senate’s decision.
Chapter 73 - A Change of Command
From the northeast quadrant of the Capital grounds, Gratian noticed a single Legionary march onto a path. As the Legionary drew closer, Gratian could make out the helmet tucked under one arm and a basket tucked under the other. After a few more yards, he recognized Sisera.
“Lance Corporal Sisera reporting mission successful,” Alerio said from the bottom of the stairs.
Gratian remained on the top step as he studied the young man.
“What mission?” he asked. “I thought you were in the Senate Chamber?”
“Gabrielus ran at the mention of the amulet of Luna,” replied Alerio. “Colonel Nigellus sent me after his head.”
“And the basket?” inquired Gratian with a grin.
“Gabrielus’ head,” answered Alerio. “Like I said, Corporal, mission accomplished.”
“Come up here and have a seat,” Gratian said while patting the granite beside him. “You can tell me about it while we wait for the Senate to decide. Don’t ask. I have no idea what they’re deciding.”
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