Marius' Mules VIII: Sons of Taranis by S.J.A. Turney

Author:S.J.A. Turney
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historical, Historical Fiction, Military, Genre Fiction, War, Literature & Fiction
Publisher: Victrix Books
Published: 2015-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

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Noviodunum was not the thriving military hub Varus had expected to find. For the base of two legions and associated support, it languished quiet and still. The Eighth and Ninth legions were still pouring across the plains behind them, the terrain here south of the Liger River flat and uninteresting. The seemingly endless fields lay dormant through lack of attention, full of unharvested crops from the previous year, rotting down into the earth.

The war had ruined this region of Gaul.

Noviodunum had been an oppidum. The army had fought a determined enemy here. Now that enemy was gone. Long gone. The oppidum lay devoid of Gauls, occupied instead by two legions, who had reused the ramparts and what buildings they found a use for. The few locals who remained now lived in makeshift hovels outside the walls, eking out a sad living by meeting the needs of the occupying force.

But even from here it was amply evident that said force was not currently in occupation.

'What do you make of that?' asked Fabius, astride his dappled grey as the two commanders sat ahead of the approaching army, peering at the ramparts beyond the stream.

'Empty. More or less. Certainly Caninius and his legions are not in residence.'

'And yet Caesar's last report places him here.'

Varus shrugged. 'Situations change and it takes time for missives to cross country. I wouldn't even be surprised if we crossed the path of a courier somewhere on the journey without realising it. What worries me is why two legions should have moved out of their base at once. Must be something fairly major, or the man would have sent a vexillation. A cohort or two would be sufficient for anything short of a war.'

Fabius looked less than convinced. 'Sometimes a legion or two is required to make Rome's point.'

'If that's happened, then we're probably looking at another fight anyway. I don't relish the possibility of a repeat of what happened with the Bellovaci.'

The legate nodded silently and took a deep breath. 'Do you think it's safe?'

Varus squinted and could just make out the insignia rising from the gate top. Not the bronze boar, wolf or horse standards of the Gauls, but small red squares flapping in the breeze - too far away to make out anything other than basic colour and shape. 'I can still see the standards of the legions above the walls, and the bridge is intact, so it seems unlikely there's been any trouble. Plus there are a few columns of smoke, so someone is there keeping themselves warm.'

Fabius sucked in air through his teeth and turned to the junior tribune at his shoulder, a young man with an acne-ridden face and more experience of books than battles. 'Have the men encamp outside the near ramparts, this side of the stream. Varus and I and my guards are going to investigate. Once the legions are in position, have the senior centurions report to me in Noviodunum.'

As the tribune saluted and rode off

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