Journey from Exile (A Legion Archer Book 1) by Slater J. Clifton

Author:Slater, J. Clifton [Slater, J. Clifton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15 – Publius Scipio’s Son

The Legion transports and Republic warships rowed out of Marseille harbor. Publius watched his brother’s fleet until it reached the northern horizon.

“Don’t look so long in the face, Senior Tribune,” Publius Scipio offered. “We’ll catch him before he does too much damage.”

“That’s not what’s bothering me, General,” Rabanus said.

“What is bothering you, Senior Tribune Rabanus?” Tribune Urbicus inquired.

The question wasn’t to make frivolous conversation. General Scipio’s head of planning and strategies had good reasons for the inquiry.

“What bothers me,” Rabanus explained, “we sailed for Iberia too late to catch him there. Then, when we land here and march out, he’s gone over the Alps, and we’re running back to Genoa.”

“Do you think we should have chased him into those mountain passes?” Consul/General Scipio questioned.

The eyes that locked lesser men in place and mesmerized crowds in Rome bore into the Senior Tribune’s.

“Our Legion didn’t have the cold weather gear for those higher elevations. You did the right thing bringing us back here, sir,” Rabanus assured the General. “It’s just, he seems to be two steps ahead of us at every turn. No offense, Tribune Urbicus.”

“No offense taken, Senior Tribune,” the head of planning and strategies granted. “General Barca is moving faster than my intelligence reports.”

“You’ve been awfully quiet, Pericles,” Scipio noted. “What are your thoughts?”

Senior Centurion Pericles drove a fist into his open hand. The loud report of the hard punch caused the General’s staff to jump.

“Hannibal Barca and his Punic barbarians might have evaded us before,” the senior combat officer answered. “But now General, he’s up in the mountains and his refuse will come oozing out of the chasms like merda. And we’ll be there with our wash rags and butt sticks to clean up his mess.”

“A little graphic,” Consul Scipio allowed, “but accurate.”

“We should move to the beach, sir,” the Centurion of First Century advised. “The pier will be filled with dock workers soon. I’m worried about your safety.”

“Pulcher, I imagine even if I was turning in for the night at my villa in Rome, you’d be worried about my safety.”

“Yes, sir,” Centurion Pulcher agreed. “Can we move now, sir?”

Consul/General Publius Scipio lifted an arm and indicated the end of the dock.

“Gentlemen, we are moving to the quinqueremes,” he announced.

“First Century, form a tunnel to the General’s five-bankers,” Pulcher directed.

Following Scipio, the staff walked between the shields of First Century. Each protected by a battle-hardened heavy infantrymen.

Battle Commander Tortoris already occupied a section of the steering deck. Next to the Colonel was Cornelius Scipio, the Consul/General’s sixteen-year-old son.

***

Three days after launching from the beach at Marseille, the two warships backstroked onto the sand at Genoa.

“Rabanus, get couriers out with orders to form the Northern Legion,” Publius Scipio directed. “Let’s make Piacenza the rally point. I know it’s a little off center and some Centuries will have to force march to get there. But when they leave the mountains, the Carthaginians will follow the Ticinus river, and land right on our gladii.”

The Senior Tribune called over a few scribes and dictated the commands.

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