Legio XVII: Battle of Zama (28 page)

The husband and wife looked at each other and nodded.  Kai led the man to the doorway and handed him off to the couple.  With a last look, he turned and walked away.

He filled his water bag at the first stream he came to and drank deeply.  He washed his face with the cold water and started walking.  As he picked his way back to camp, he tried to understand why he hadn’t killed the Boii.  Then realization washed over him!  The Boii reminded him of his older brother who died three years ago in a hunting accident.  He had stood over his bloody brother that tragic day just as he had stood over the Boii today.  He had ached for his brother to live and transferred that desire to the Boii.  Maybe it was wrong to let him live, but he felt he had made the right decision.

Kai made it back by 5:00 P.M.  He pretty well followed the same route back to the camp, running whenever the terrain permitted.  By the time he arrived, he was exhausted, but proudly delivered his report.  “Warin, I counted between 20 and 25 thousand men.”

“Kai, welcome back!  You did a good job.  I’ll tell Nasua what you did when we get back to Innsbruck.  You’re a brave man, Kai,” he congratulated patting him on the back.  “While you were returning, the entire enemy camp, Taurisci, Boii, and Eravisci, packed up and began marching west to Rosenheim.  We need to get our report back to Nasua as soon as possible.  In the meantime, get something to eat and rest.  I look forward to hearing about your trip later.”

“Thank you.  I’d like that,” said Kai. “I ran into a Boii hunter by Ainring and had to fight him.  I’ll tell you about it tonight.”  NEW!!

That same day, Sereti received word that the army was moving to Rosenheim.  He immediately informed his superior that he still had a man out hunting in the mountains.  “I’d like to take my squad and go look for him.  We can join the column on the march.”

Sereti led his men directly to Ainring, assuming Magalus couldn’t be more than a few miles away.  When they arrived, Sereti stood in the center of the settlement and called for the people to come outside.  Slowly, the doors opened.  The faces of the people were etched with fear.  “We are looking for one of our men who went hunting this morning.  He came through here.  Did anyone see him?” he yelled to be heard.”

The old man who had taken the Boii said, “The man you are seeking is in my hut.  He had an accident and we are caring for him.”

Sereti rushed into the hut and saw Magalus lying in a bed.  The old couple had washed the blood off his forehead revealing a deep three inch gash.  Sereti asked the old man, “Where did you find him?

“I didn’t find him,” responded the man.  “A young boy brought him here and asked us to take care of him, which we are doing.”

Sereti grabbed Magalus by the shoulder and shook him.  “Wake up,” he said harshly.  Magalus’ mouth moved, but no sound came out.  “Has he said anything?” Sereti snapped as he glared at the old man.

“No sir, he’s been like you see him now.  We got a little water into his mouth, but he’s been unconscious the entire time.”  Sereti summoned his squad who quickly made a stretcher out of the bedding and carried Magalus out of the hut.  The Boii squad carried Magalus downhill to rejoin the marching army.  They never said “thank you” or “good bye” to the couple.  Their gift to them for caring for Magalus was they were allowed to live.

*******

On June 10th, Warin and his men made their way through the forest back to the open valley at Bad Reichenhall and began the return trip to Innsbruck.  They arrived on June 15th.  Bethica, the Council, and Nasua now knew they were facing an army of about 30,000 men.

Timo’s couriers heard the report as it was given to Nasua and Bethica.  They departed for Trento the same day.  When they reached Bauzanum on June 20th, they were stopped by troops manning a road block.  They learned that the King and Army Commander, Sethre, were no longer in Trento and were now at Bauzanum.  The couriers were amazed at what they saw.  Wagons crowded the road coming from Trento and were all going west towards Merano.  They could see troops pushing broken down wagons off the road and other troops helping the owners with repairs.  The line of wagons stretched far into the distance and never stopped moving.

The new Raeti Command Center was spread out among several abandoned huts not far off the road.  The couriers were directed to Army Headquarters, which was the center of intense activity.  Couriers were coming and going, staff officers were pouring over maps, and Sethre was right in the middle of it.  He had never been so busy.  He had riders still out notifying people to evacuate; troops were stationed at key areas along the route to assist the people; and teams scoured the area for spare wagons, wheels, and axles.  When Sethre was told that couriers from Innsbruck had arrived, he said, “Bring them in.”

Upon seeing them, he said, “What’s the news from Innsbruck?”

“Sir, Suevi scouts found and identified the mercenary army.  They are comprised of approximately 30,000 Taurisci, Boii, and Eravisci troops.  On June 10th, they departed Salzburg for Rosenheim, which is at the mouth of the Inn River Valley and leads to Innsbruck.  The Suevi estimate that they will arrive at Innsbruck at the end of June.  The eastern most area of Suevi territory was looted and captives were taken.  The people at Rosenheim and throughout the valley have evacuated.  Queen Bethica and her Army of 15,000 are in a defensive posture at Fort Seefeld on the road to Munich.”

“Thank you for a thorough report.  Rejoin your unit.”

Sethre gathered a few staff officers and walked over to the King’s hut.  “Sethre, what’s the latest? asked Timo.  “Have you heard from Innsbruck?”

“Yes we have.”  Sethre then repeated the couriers’ report and added, “If they arrive in Innsbruck as scheduled, they could be here in two weeks, July 5th.”

“Have all the people been notified?”

“Yes, the cavalry has performed a systematic search of the area.  The people in extremely remote areas have mostly elected to stay put, but everyone else is on the road.  Scouts have informed me that our lead wagons, to include Queen Rosa and the royal household, will arrive at Nauders Valley within a few days.  There have been no incidents.”

“That’s good news.  When do you think the last of the wagons will pass us here at Bauzanum?”

“I estimate we need another two days to completely clear this area.  By the time the mercenaries arrive, our last wagons will be 12 to 13 miles west. I’ve had the staff prepare plans for a series of ambushes from the sides of the cliffs that line the road just in case the enemy decides to pursue us.  We can’t stop them, but we can slow them down and make them pay a very high price.  Where the road narrows and is flanked by cliffs, the Army is prepared to block the road with boulders and hurl rocks from the heights  It will be painful for them to try to force a passage.”

“You’re doing a good job Sethre; when should I leave?”

“I recommend you depart tomorrow. It will be good for the people and the Army to see you along the road with them.”

*******

Bad Tolz, Innsbruck, Rosenheim, Salzburg
(Google Maps)

Aze and Lugius led their 30,000 Taurisci, Boii, and Eravisci out of Salzburg and headed due west.  Four days later, they arrived at Rosenheim and rested for a day.  The two Commanders then led their men south to Kufstein, Worgl, and through the Inn River Valley where they expected to find a large population of Suevi ripe for plunder.  Instead, they found empty huts, barns, and a few old people who were too frail or stubborn to leave.  They were mostly spared, but did give up information about the Suevi Army and Bad Tolz.  They learned that the Romans had built a large camp at Bad Tolz that was now occupied by Suevi refugees who had been driven from their homes by the Cimbri/Teuton invasion.  To Aze and Lugius, a large camp of civilians meant food and valuables, and they were in need of food.

Nasua’s cavalry had ridden through the area a week earlier and spread the alarm.  Depending on where in the valley individual families lived, they went northwest to Munich or south to Innsbruck.  The enemy foragers found some food, but not enough to maintain an army of thirty thousand.  They could last another week or so with the food they found at Salzburg, but the Commanders were concerned.

Three days later, the long column arrived at Jenbach, near Schwaz, and turned north.  On June 20th, they arrived at Bad Tolz.  Aze, Lugius, and Haggith were amazed at the size of the fort and its formidable looking defenses.  They hadn’t expected a professionally built fort!

Aze and Lugius developed a plan to march their troops completely around the fort as they came up the road from Jenbach.  The Taurisci were sent to the right side and the Boii and Eravisci to the left.  Most of the men had marched all night.  As the troops settled into their positions, they ate and slept.  The leaders allowed them to rest the next day while they talked with the leaders at the fort.

The 10,000 Suevi Auxiliary force, as well as every able-bodied male over 15 years of age, watched the fort slowly being circled like a giant snake circling its prey.  Many of the women also came up to the ramparts to see what was happening.

*******

Kuno, 24, and his wife Alina, 20, were among those who watched from the walls.  After a while, Kuno took his wife gently by the hand and said softly, “Let’s go back.”  They climbed down the ramparts’ steps and walked to their hut.  Kuno was deeply concerned, not so much for himself, but for his newly pregnant wife.

Four years earlier, they were part of the mass exodus of refugees that came south to Innsbruck when told about the Cimbri/Teuton invasion. As newlyweds, they had lived comfortably with Kuno’s parents in Augsburg.  That life ended when they evacuated.  Despite the danger, his aged parents decided to stay.  The hardships the couple endured while traveling to a new land seemed to end well for them when they settled at Bad Tolz.  As one of the early arrivals at the fort, they picked a large, sturdy hut with a big stone fireplace, and life began anew.

When they entered the hut, Kuno retrieved an old spear given to him by his father.  It was about six feet long with an eight inch metal tip and still in good condition.  He planned to take his place with the other men on the wall.  Kuno was of average height, and built as solidly as the fort around him.  He was used to working from sunup to sundown, and never seemed to tire.  He was the oldest of three children who were now scattered throughout the Inn Valley.  Taking responsibility came naturally to him.  When an ox stepped on his father’s foot breaking several bones, he easily assumed the mantle of man-of-the-house.  His good looks, work ethic, and good nature won him the respect of all he met.

As Kuno opened the door to leave, he stopped and turned to look at Alina.  Her face contorted with fear. “Don’t worry about me,” he assured her, “I’ll be fine.  Here take this.”  He drew his dagger from its sheath and handed it to her. “Put this in your belt.”  Then he turned and left.

She felt so alone.  Kuno made all the decisions, and before him, her parents guided her.  She was totally dependent on him.  Alina was essentially Kuno’s opposite.  She was short in stature and appeared frail.  She was the youngest of five, and used to being cared for by her parents, siblings, and now Kuno.  She knew how to cook and manage a household, but making even simple decisions was difficult for her.  She was more comfortable letting Kuno assume the leadership role.

The one thing they both shared was an intense love for one another.  They believed they were the luckiest people on earth to have married each other, and were overjoyed when Alina realized she was expecting.

*******

The leaders inside the fort began debating what to do.  Even before hearing the demands of the mercenaries, they knew they would want food and valuables.  One faction wanted to fight.  Others said to give them what they wanted.  A third group said to give them only food.  With no effective leadership, the arguing, proposals, and counter proposals continued for several hours with no agreement on a way ahead.  There was no effective leadership.