Clay Warrior Stories Boxset 1

by J. Clifton Slater

  Chapter 49 – False Assault

  Alerio jogged to the roving squad in the garrison and called to their squad leader.

  “We have an enemy force of thirty Syracuse soldiers to our north,” he said pointing to the far-off hilltops.

  “We always keep watch on the goat trail and the paths leading to the base of the hill,” the Decanus assured him. “We haven’t seen any sign of movement in the trees or around the farms.”

  Alerio glanced back at Bovesia. From here, no sound, other than the trumpet high up in the tower could reach the far end of the garrison. Certainly, no signal from the beach could be seen either. A messenger could go from the beach to the hills in the west. But it would require circling a swamp, and climbing hills far to the west before trekking back to a point north of the garrison.

  “If they join the Illyrians on the beach, it’s just more warriors against our main body,” Alerio considered. “But, if they come at our backdoor and in the dark climb the hill, they will be a problem. Alert the other sentries.”

  “We always share intelligence, gladius instructor,” the squad leader assured him.

  Alerio agreed with sharing information. He informed them of the Centurion’s death and the elevation of Cephas to Garrison Commander.

  “Are there really ten thousand pirates on the beach?” a Private asked.

  “Commander Cephas says it’s more like five hundred and twenty-five,” Alerio replied.

  “Is that a lot?” a very young Legionary inquired.

  “Anything less and it would be insulting,” his squad leader answered. “Fall in. We’ve got rounds, and we’re wasting daylight.”

  As Alerio jogged back to Bovesia, he reflected on his fear that Corporal Cephas wouldn’t be accepted by the Century as the officer in charge. It was groundless. The Century already respected the Tesserarius’ leadership style.

  Alerio reached the plaza to find Commander Cephas deep in conversation with Hyllus and Helicaon.

  “You’ve no room for foot work for your infantrymen on those steps,” Helicaon the Spartan pointed out.

  “I know Hyllus speaks highly of you, old man,” Cephas said. “But I don’t have the manpower to start a construction project.”

  “Hyllus and I will start it,” Helicaon volunteered. “We’ll need a few men for the installation.”

  “Fine. Get it to where I can see the value and I’ll give you the labor,” Cephas agreed. He acted as if he was beat down from arguing with the Athenian and the Spartan.

  “What’s with them, Commander?” Alerio asked as he fell in beside Cephas.

  “I never realized that being an officer meant that everybody and their brother came at you with big ideas,” admitted Cephas. “And, like a magistrate, you have to waste time weighing and judging the merits of each.”

  They arrived at the edge of the roof. From the vantage point, they looked down on the two lower plazas and Bova Beach. Standing at the large pavilion were the three Illyrian Captains. They faced another Captain and the Illyrian Sergeant. Pholus stood shoulder to shoulder with the large Captain, as if they stood against the other three.

  “That’s why I think Pholus acted,” Cephas offered. “The pirates have been here all day without advancing. I think they are…”

  Cephas stopped talking when he noticed Alerio shaking and staring daggers at the group on the beach.

  “Lance Corporal Sisera. You seem as if you’re staring into the mouth of Hades,” offered Cephas.

  “Oh, excuse me, Commander. In a way I am,” Alerio exclaimed. “The big man next to Sergeant Pholus is Martinus Cetea, Navarch of the Illyrian Navy.”

  “That explains who ordered four warships to attack here,” Cephas suggested. “But it doesn’t explain why. It’s something beyond the value of treasure from the merchant ship.”

  “Merchant ship?” questioned Alerio.

  “While you were upriver, an Egyptian merchant was herded here,” Cephas explained. “It’s odd. They could have boarded her at sea and taken the treasure. It’s almost as if they wanted the merchant’s cargo here. But, I can’t figure out why.”

  “Someone planned this operation,” Alerio remarked. “The Syracusan Raiders were inserted weeks ago. This is the second time Martinus Cetea has attacked the Republic. He sailed into Occhio village and captured a treasure and an Egyptian in a gaudy robe from another merchant ship. There can’t be enough gold and jewels in one chest to make those ventures profitable.”

  They were interrupted by several blasts from a trumpet on the beach. In response to the signal, the Illyrian soldiers picked up their shields and shuffled into ranks at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Standby,” Cephas shouted.

  “Standing by, Commander,” came the response for the Legionaries on the third level.

  As the Illyrian soldiers moved into position, Cephas pointed at the beach.

  “They don’t seem pleased,” he said as the three Captains stomped away from Navarch Martinus Cetea and Sergeant Pholus.

  Their shoulders were slumped, their feet pounded the sand, and their chins were tucked into their chests; obvious postures of unhappy men.

  “Attacking a prepared Legion Century isn’t their usual fare,” ventured Alerio. “Don’t pirates favor soft targets like undefended merchant ships?”

  “True. So, who wants this fight?” asked Cephas. He stepped behind the double line of shields. “Lance Corporal Sisera. Grab a shield and a javelin from the medical area. We’ve stacked extra gear there. Back up Third Squad on the stairs. I’ve pulled their squad leader and made him my Optio. Procopius, his Right-Pivot, is a good man, but it’s his first time in command.”

  “Yes, sir,” Alerio said.

  Lance Corporal Sisera was frustrated at not having time to go to his quarters to collect his armor. But Illyrian soldiers were already marching up the steps. The few arrows sent down by the Legionaries impacted uselessly against their shields.

  ***

  After grabbing a helmet, a shield, and three javelins, Alerio jogged down the staircase and joined Third Squad on the steps. On either side, the buildings created close-in walls that bracketed the infantrymen.

  “What are you doing here, gladius instructor?” Procopius, the temporary squad leader, questioned. “Don’t think we know how to hold a shield wall?”

  “I’m sick of teaching,” confessed Alerio as he leaned back against the side of a building. “I asked Commander Cephas where he put his sheep, and where he put his wolves?”

  “And what did he say?” another infantryman asked.

  “He said you can stand on a roof and repel pirates,” Alerio replied. “Or, you can join my best on the stairs. Then he warned me...”

  Heartbeats ticked by. When it appeared Lance Corporal Sisera wouldn’t finish his thoughts, someone asked, “Warned you of what?”

  “That if you fight your way into Hades with my wolves,” Alerio replied. “You better have the cōleī and the skills not to slow them down.”

  The nine men around Alerio straightened their backs.

  “Third Squad, Second Century, standby,” Procopius shouted.

  “Standing by, Decanus,” Alerio and the infantrymen responded to the acting squad leader.

  “Wolves?” another Legionary asked.

  “That’s what Commander Cephas said,” Alerio replied.

  “Third Squad, brace,” Procopius shouted.

  To Third Squad on the stairs, in the space between the buildings, where the walls created a canyon, the plaza to their front disappeared. The iron shields, helmets, and spears of Illyrian soldiers replaced the view of clay pavers and shops.

  The attackers slammed into the Legion shields. They were stopped as if they ran into a granite wall. Spear and javelin shafts poked back and forth between the lines. Men screamed, urinated themselves, released watery merda and dropped, either dead or injured.

  A spear jutted under a shield and a Legionary’s ankle shattered. As he collapsed from pain and loss of support, he
was pulled back off the front line. Another Legionary stepped forward to seal the breach.

  Alerio help throw the injured man to the stairs behind the second rank. While stretcher bearers climbed down to pull him out of the canyon, the battle continued.

  Frustrated by the necessity to hold the stairs and not advance, Alerio retrieved a second javelin. He began to growl as he thrust both weapons at the shields facing the first rank. Suddenly, the remaining eight Legionaries defending the stairs picked up the animal sound. No longer screaming or cursing, Third Squad reached into their guts and uttered piercing howls. Along with the sound, they gelled into a unified killing machine.

  From unaligned strikes, they began to deliver blows in unison. Almost as if controlled by a single mind, the infantrymen on the stairs hammered the Illyrians. Unable to withstand the cohesion of the javelin thrusts, the soldiers of Illyria made a fatal mistake. They stepped back half-a-step.

  “Front rank, draw,” shouted the inexperienced squad leader.

  Five javelins fell to the ground and five gladii snapped from the Legionaries’ sheathes.

  “Advance and step back,” he ordered.

  The front rank of Third Squad shoved with their shields, and for the first time since the assault started, they took the fight to the enemy. Five gladii found room between Illyrian shields and five soldiers dropped to the pavers. While they fell, the five Legionaries stepped back between the building walls. As they sheathed their gladii, javelins were handed to them and Third Squad reset preparing for another assault. The attack never came.

  The Illyrians grabbed their dead and wounded and retreated down the steps on the far side of the plaza. When the last shield vanished below the top riser, Alerio looked around to see smiling faces under the helmets.

  “Wolves in Hades,” he announced.

  Third Squad responded with howls.

  “Lance Corporal Sisera. If you are finished entertaining Third Squad,” Cephas said from plaza level at the top of the stairs. “I’d like a word.”

  Alerio winked at the blood splattered infantrymen and slapped Procopius’ shoulder.

  “I’ve got to go. Third Squad, it’s been a pleasure,” Alerio said as he started up the steps. Then he paused and turned to face the temporary squad leader. “Procopius, for a jumped up Right-Pivot, that was a gutsy move calling for an advance. You should know, you can be my squad leader any day.”

  Procopius nodded in recognition of the compliment. The six healthy infantrymen of Third Squad roared their confidence in the temporary squad leader. Procopius answered them with a growl.

  ***

  At the top of the stairs, Alerio joined Cephas as they both gazed up at the burning watch tower. Flames leaped from the wooden platform while smoke rose high into the air.

  “Would you call that a signal to the Raiders?” questioned Alerio.

  “The whole attack was a farce,” Cephas explained. “Their soldiers focused on the stairs. It was an attempted break through but not the purpose of the attack. Behind the soldiers and a few pirates, their archers loaded up arrows with flaming pitch and targeted the tower. So, yes, it’s a sign to the Raiders.”

  “You said only a few pirates, sir?” asked Alerio.

  Someone handed him a ladle of water. After rinsing out his mouth, Alerio took a drink before pouring the rest over his head. As the water dripped off him, it ran red. Alerio spit into the bloody water on the pavers before looking at Cephas.

  “They have over five hundred pirates on that beach,” Cephas responded. “Yet, only about a hundred accompanied the soldiers.”

  “Let me guess, Commander. Most of the pirates came from Martinus Cetea’s ship,” ventured Alerio.

  “All right, what are you getting at?” inquired Cephas.

  “I don’t think those three Illyrian Captains want to be here or in this battle,” Alerio suggested. “They aren’t committed. The only two that seem to want this are Martinus Cetea and Pholus.

  Lance Corporal Sisera’s eyes closed and he inhaled deeply. Thinking he was exhausted from the fight on the stairs, the Garrison Commander started to excuse him.

  “Give me five men and I’ll remove the Navarch,” Alerio stated.

  “There’s no way I can spare a single Legionary,” Cephas declared. “I’ve got to protect Bovesia and guard the garrison.”

  “You know Commander, you’ve been in charge for less than half a day,” teased Alerio. “And you already sound like an officer.”

  “It’s making decisions that affect the future of too many people,” admitted Cephas. “It makes you over think everything.”

  “You told me earlier that the reason for the garrison was to protect the town and to keep the beach safe,” Alerio reminded him. “Now, you have a force moving in from your rear and a larger force to your front. Why protect the garrison when you have limited resources?”

  “You are suggesting, I desert the garrison, and consolidate my forces in defending Bovesia?” Cephas exclaimed. Before Alerio could say anything, the Commander held up his hand for silence while he thought. After a long pause, Cephas nodded and asked. “What do you need to cut the head off the Illyrian snake?”

  “Private Lupus couldn’t have said it better himself,” replied Alerio.

  Chapter 50 – The Difference Between Mad and Daring

  The sun dipped low and as it faded below the mountains to the west, a column of Legionaries marched from Bovesia, trekked the hill to the garrison, and then, loaded down with supplies, reentered the town. Other than those on watch at the north end of the garrison, and a few on the rooftops and stairs, everyone else hauled, toted, or pulled equipment.

  After his fourth trip, Alerio went looking for Helicaon. He found the Spartan hammering a chisel through the end of a log. Two others lay nearby, already notched.

  “Building a Spartan training pit?” Alerio asked as he sat on one of the logs.

  “No, Lance Corporal Sisera. I’m building a stand,” the old man said as he tapped out a slice of wood creating another notch.

  “For where? I don’t think the Commander will start rebuilding the watch tower just yet,” ventured Alerio.

  “When you fight on uneven surfaces, you’re limited in your footwork,” the Spartan explained. “Grab a couple of logs and follow me.”

  They had to squeeze by the squad guarding the stairs but once on the last step, Helicaon lay down his log. He picked up a stick squared on the sides, and fit the stick into the notch on the log. After another square stick was placed in the notch on the other end, he and Alerio picked up the log.

  The log fit snugly between the walls with the sticks resting on the step two tiers higher. When they fitted two more logs on top of the first, the stack created a short wall between the steps and the second level plaza.

  Commander Cephas arrived and after consulting with the Spartan, he directed men to fetch dirt and begin filling in the space behind the short wall. Soon, there was a flat surface from the top of the log wall back to the height of the third step.

  “Now you have a fighting platform,” Helicaon announced. “When the Illyrians come back, you’ll be fighting down at them and they’ll be straining to reach up and fight you.”

  “I’m surprised you went for it, Commander,” Alerio observed as Helicaon directed the dumping and compacting of the dirt.

  “Lance Corporal. If you ever have a command, I hope you remember this,” offered Cephas. “Out of all the bad ideas offered, one will save the lives of your men. Hopefully, you will recognize which one. Speaking of bad ideas, how is your plan shaping up?”

  “Just waiting for it to get darker, sir,” Alerio said. “Lupus assures me he can hunt in the dark. Helicaon has volunteered to row. And I found four archers who are good swimmers. How about my diversion?”

  “It’s odd. I told the squads about your mad idea. After talking to them, except those defending the stairs, and Third Squad, who I excused,” Cephas said. “They all volunteered. Then, Third Squad growled at me and d
emanded to spearhead the diversion. They mumbled something about wolves in Hades. Any idea what that’s about?”

  “Not a clue, Commander,” replied Alerio.

  ***

  Lance Corporal Sisera climbed the stairs and crossed the plaza. At the alleyway, he found Lupus squatting against the wall.

  “We’ll find out who has the gift tonight,” the Private said. He raised his face in the lantern light. His teeth and eyes reflected the light making him seem to be made of glowing eyes and sparkling teeth.

  Before Alerio could respond, four men came out of the darkness. They rattled, not from their armor. They wore none. Rather, they rattled from the bundles of arrows slung around their necks.

  “Lance Corporal. When do we leave?” one asked. “Because, if we’re going to the Fields of Elysian tonight, we’d like to have a hot meal and a mug of vino first.”

  “Make it two mugs,” advise Alerio. “The water will be cold.”

  The four walked away in the direction of the closest pub. After they left, Alerio looked around for something to do. Although it was dark in the shadows, the sky still held the last vestiges of daylight.

  Alerio sat down next to Lupus and rested his head on his knees.

  “When I was a lad, three bullies beat and robbed me almost every day,” he said. “I got lucky and learned the gladius. If it hadn’t been for them, I might still be on my father’s farm. This time of year, we make cider and butcher hogs.”

  “Feeling melancholy and homesick?” asked Lupus. “Missing the ole hearth and home?”

  “No, Private. There is no place I’d rather be than here,” Alerio replied. “Because the farmers at Occhio aren’t having a good year. And I plan on butchering the hog who ruined it for them.”

  ***

  A long time later, as full darkness closed in around Bovesia, Helicaon came out of the darkness. Spying Lupus and Alerio, he squatted down in front of them, pulled out a comb, and began running it through his hair.

  “Nervous old man?” Lupus asked.

  “Not since I was eighteen years old and stood in my first shield wall,” Helicaon declared. “It’s when I learned to depend on the men on either side of me. I feared for their safety. I fought hard so they would live. Me. I was too busy fighting a naked brute with bad breath, and worst body odor. But I did learn one thing.”