On Campaign with the Legions by Richards Mark

Author:Richards, Mark [Richards, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creative Publishing
Published: 2022-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XV

I t was early afternoon the following day. The skies were bruised with the hint of rain in the near future. Lucan’s mood mirrored the weather. They were in the process of razing yet another Chatti settlement. He leaned wearily on his shield, wiping the soot—the product of the many fires set in the various Chatti villages—from his face. Beginning at dawn, the legions had fanned out from the river road, pillaging and razing any Chatti settlements, and there were a lot of them in their path. The fertile river valleys supported many crops to sustain the Chatti nation.

“At least we are not under assault,” Junius said. “I was kind of expecting them to attack in force.”

“Perhaps they have given up and retreated into their forests,” Aelius said.

Junius frowned. “Let me ask you something, Aelius. If this was your home, what would you do?”

Regulus snorted, “What a stupid question, Junius! I know what I would do.”

“Shut up, Regulus,” Junius said. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

“Oh yes, you were. You were addressing everyone. So stick your snide response up your arse.”

“I was only suggesting what everyone is hoping for—that we have an unimpeded path to our new fortress. That is all. This discussion has turned into something else,” Aelius said.

Lucan sighed, “Enough. Just listen to yourselves. All of us are on edge. You sound like I don’t know what,” he said, searching for the right words. “‘Petty,’ that is the word I’m looking for. It is not for us to ponder the strategy of the Chatti. We need to stick together. That is what is important. We have no one else but ourselves—oh shit, here comes the centurion.”

Before anyone could respond, Vinicius strode into their presence. “You have nothing to do? I see plenty of huts that require burning. Now get to it before it starts raining.” He watched as they rambled off to a hut about fifty paces away.

***

The feared attack came later that afternoon. The Roman column was on the move once again. Although not unexpected, the suddenness and ferocity of the charge startled the men of the Eighteenth Legion. The Chatti thundered directly at them from out of the forest and across a small open field.

“Shield wall, brace,” Vinicius roared.

Lucan, now in the first line, shed his pack and dropped his solitary javelin in a heartbeat. There was simply no time for spears. He needed to get the shield up and draw his gladius . The Chatti were almost upon them. Bracing against the impact, Lucan absorbed the weight of the warrior who had smashed into his shield. Everywhere around him there were loud crashes and grunts as the Chatti surged against the Roman shield wall.

The German to Lucan’s front jabbed with his spear at Lucan’s legs. Lucan slid his shield downward and blocked the thrust. The German quickly withdrew the spear and slashed wildly at Lucan’s head. This was a poor choice of tactics on his part. Not only was it ineffective, it left the warrior’s entire torso exposed.

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