Legio XVII: Battle of Zama (47 page)

A week later, cavalry scouts reported that the troops returning from Rome were a days’ march out.  They reported that Calvus was leading them.  Calvus told the scouts not to tell Manius that Lucia and Titus were in the convoy.  He wanted to surprise him.

As the troop column approached Lake Benacus, the two Cenomani Legions broke off and headed to Brixia.  The Raeti and Suevi Legions continued walking to Trento and Innsbruck, respectively.  Their Legates, the Suevi Odo, Arruns the Raeti commander who replaced Lugano, and the two Cenomani Legates Gervasius, and Bricius followed Lucia’s carriage into the fort to visit the Praetor.

The carriage carrying Lucia and Titus entered the camp through the south gate.  Word of their arrival at the camp spread like wildfire and the Legionaries of Legio XVII turned out to greet her and Titus.  Those standing guard on the wall started cheering.  The men in the Legion camp went up on their rampart and added to the swelling noise.  Manius was in his tent, which was in the center of the camp.  He turned to Cassius, “What are the men cheering about?”

Cassius said, “Sir I’ll go check it out.”  He ran from the tent to the rampart and saw a carriage on the 20 foot road way between the camp’s ditch and the west wall rampart.  He spotted Titus hanging out the window waving to the Legionaries.  Then he saw Lucia as she too looked out and waved.  He could see they were going to enter through the porta principalis sinistra gate and proceed down the Via Principalis to the Commander’s Tent.  He ran back to Manius and said, “Sir, we have dignitaries arriving at the sinistra gate.  I’ll help you with your armor.  Here’s your sword and helmet.  Quickly sir, go out to meet them.”

“Who is it?”

“I couldn’t tell.  I’ll have the trumpeters sound the Fall-In.”  Cassius stepped outside the tent and told the horns to play “Fall-In.”  The sharp call brought the Maniple-on-Duty running to line the roadway and the Tribunes and honored Centurions racing for the Commander’s Tent.  The signum bearers took up their emblems and stood behind and to the side of Manius.  The Tribunes lined up behind the bearers.

Manius donned his gear and took his position at the edge of the road way in front of the signums. He stood tall and straight.  Cassius and Modius stood slightly to his rear.  As the carriage came down the roadway, the Legionaries who were off duty moved closer to the Commander’s Tent to get a better view.

Lucia said, “Titus get inside the carriage and pull the curtains.  We want to surprise your father.”  As the carriage turned down the Via Principalis, Polona was applying the finishing touches to Lucia hairstyle and makeup.  Titus was wearing the full armor of a Legionary.  Titus and Lucia lifted the curtain and could see the Legionaries lining the road in full battle gear.  Titus was mesmerized at the sight.

When the carriage drew even with Manius, Lucia said, “Titus, you step out first and put the footstool on the ground, but keep your back to your father.  He’ll think you’re a soldier.”  The driver reined in the horses and Titus hopped out with the footstool in his left hand.  He set it on the ground and extended his right hand to help Lucia step down.  He had watched the soldiers do this.  As Lucia stepped out, Titus turned around to face his father.  He and Lucia were both smiling broadly!

A thousand things raced through Manius’ mind. At first, he didn’t recognize Titus.  “That can’t be Lucia,” he said under his breath.  He took a step towards her.  “Lucia, Titus!  How did you get here?  How did this happen?”  Then he saw Calvus who was smiling.  “You had something to do with this!”  He took Lucia hands and looked at her.  “You are beautiful.”  He kissed her cheek.  “Let’s go inside.  Calvus, dismiss the troops.”  Lucia and Titus waved at the Legionaries as they entered the meeting tent.  “Cassius help me get this armor off.”

The four Legates waited outside and talked to the Tribunes and to Quintus to get an update on Manius’ health.

“I can’t believe you came all this way!” said Manius.

“Once I heard you were wounded, the place of a good Roman wife is with her warrior husband.  I had to come and I couldn’t keep Titus away.  Flavia is with Rivkah helping out with Levi.”

“I am so surprised and so pleased!  It’s good to see you both.  Thank you for undertaking such a long trip.  It must have been difficult.”

Lucia said, “It had its moments, but Calvus saw to it that we were very well taken care of.  I do need to thank Calvus and those soldiers.”

“Titus, my son, how was the trip for you?”

“It was the best thing I’ve done in my life.  I walked with the soldiers, ate with them, and sat around the camp fires at night just talking.  The Garrison troops spoke Latin so I mostly stayed with them.  Many of them saw action against Hannibal.  I’ve learned a lot about this war and now that I’m 15, I want to be a Legionary when I turn 17.  That’s what you did!”

“I’m proud of you son and sorry I missed your birthday.  If you want to start Legionary training in two years, I’ll support you.  You’re strong, intelligent, and will make a good soldier.”

Cassius approached Manius and said, “Sir the four Legates who went to Rome with the prisoners are waiting outside to talk with you.”

Manius turned to an aide.  “Please show Lucia to my tent and have her bags unloaded.  Titus, your may stay to listen, but stand in the back of the tent.”

The Legates were shown in and greeted Manius.  They sat around a large table and were served cups of wine and other refreshments.  Manius said, “I want to personally thank you and your Tribal Councils for permitting you to escort the prisoners to Rome.  We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Odo said, “Sir we are all pleased to hear of the improvement in your health.  To be honest, when we left, we weren’t sure we’d see you again.”  He then added, “Did anyone tell you that Centurion Cassius killed the man who threw the spear that wounded you?”

Manius turned in his chair.  “Cassius is that true?”

Before he could answer, Odo said, “Sir Caile told me that after you were hit, Cassius looked out of the tower and saw the man who threw the spear.  Cassius then climbed down the tower to the rampart and worked his way to the wall.  He leaned out and drove a pilum into the man’s chest.  How he didn’t get a sword in the face for his effort is a mystery.”

Manius looked at Cassius; his lips quivered slightly, “You did that?”

Cassius nodded affirmatively.  Manius stood up and took Cassius’ hand, “You must be the most loyal and trustworthy Centurion in all of Rome.  I thank you for your dedication and service.  You could have gotten yourself killed and then who would watch Modius?”

Cassius laughed and Modius squirmed a little.

Manius turned to an aide, “Tell the cooks that we will have guests for dinner.  Gentlemen, I assume you will join me and Lucia for dinner?”  Odo and the others said it would be an honor.  An aide said, “Legates I will show you to your tents to allow you to freshen up before dinner in about an hour.”

When they left, Manius turned to Titus, “What did you think of that?”

“It’s clear that you are the leader and that they respect you.  Father, I’m proud to be your son.”

*******

Polona pulled out several possible garments for Lucia to wear for dinner.  Lucia wanted to dazzle Manius.  After Lucia made her decision, Polona freshened up Lucia’s hair and makeup.  She looked gorgeous!

She timed her arrived so that she would be the last to arrive.  Polona announced her and she entered.  The men stood and took in her beauty.  The festival mood and energy level in the tent jumped several levels higher as she greeted each Legate and Tribune.  Manius then took her by the hand and lead her to her seat.

The cooks served fresh fish from the lake and rabbits freshly snared near the camp.  Nearby fruit trees were heavy with tasty treats and complemented the dinner.

During dinner, Manius asked, “By the way, did you ever identify the Carthaginian recruiters among all the prisoners?”

Calvus answered, “Yes sir we did.  It wasn’t easy.  They were keeping a very low profile, but the Taurisci and Illyrians pointed them out.”

“What became of them?”

“I put three of them with the Cenomani Legate Gervasius and the other three with Bricius for safe keeping.  After what they did to the Suevi at Bad Tolz and the Raeti at Trento, I wasn’t sure they would survive the trip to Rome.  Once back in Rome, two were sold to work mines in Italy, two are working construction projects in Rome, and the two leaders Haggith and Mintho are working farms in southern Italy to help feed the Legionaries fighting Hannibal.  I told the buyers that these men would try to escape.  They told me that they would be chained constantly and guarded full time.  They aren’t going anywhere!”

Elitovius asked, “Did they pass on any information about Mago forces?”

Calvus responded, “Yes, and the information was passed to the seven Legions in Etruria.”

Manius said, “Well, we made their job a little easier by destroying most of the 10,000 Gallic Army that attacked the west wall.”

Arruns, the Raeti commander, cleared his throat in preparation to making a comment.  All eyes turned to him.  “Gentlemen, I may be speaking out of turn because I have not yet obtained King Timo’s approval, but I would like to invite everyone here plus Queen Bethica and Davenhardt, as well as Segovesus and his daughter Mincia, to stay at the King Residence for a week.  How often do we have Lucia and Titus this far north?  I’m sure Queen Rosa would welcome the opportunity to practice her Latin with Lucia and catch up with events in Rome.  With your approval, I will ride to Trento tomorrow and discuss this proposal with the King and notify you via courier.  Today is the 11th.  My courier should return by the 18th and we would expect you by the 21st, if he approves.  Gentlemen, what do you think?”

Lucia was the first to respond, “I think that a wonderful idea.  I would love to see Rosa.”

Manius said, “If the King approves your proposal, I think it’s a very good idea.  I would plan to take Legio XVII.  They’ve been cooped up here with me long enough and need the exercise.  Commander Odo, could you get word to Queen Bethica?  Gervasius and Bricius would you talk to Segovesus?  Let’s assume the King will respond affirmatively and that we should began moving on the 18.  Lucia and I will plan to stay at the residence for the week.  If the other leaders have more pressing business, they could stay for a day or two and leave.  I believe everyone will understand that we all have a lot of work to do.”

The dinner lasted for two hours and the guests departed.  Titus wanted to share a tent with Modius and Cassius.  He was old enough to want to give his parents some time alone.

The following morning, Manius asked Vitulus to show Titus the battlefield.  It took two days and included the signal station atop the mountain.  Titus examined the burnt out Illyrian camp and questioned Vitulus on the tactics used to destroy it.  He studied the river and west walls and paid particular attention to the mound, ditch and wall construction.  He climbed the tower where his father was wounded and marveled that Cassius was able to work his way through all the fighting men to get to the parapet.

Titus had heard about the ambush along the lake and the Suevi battle atop the plateau.  Servilius said he would show Titus these areas and link up with Manius and the XVII at the top of the lake on their way to Trento.  Lucia wasn’t too keen on the idea, but Manius thought it would be good for Titus to see a battlefield with the enemy dead still in the field.  Manius prepped him as to what he would see.  It wasn’t going to be a pretty picture, which made Titus all the more eager to go.

Lucia spent her time caring for Manius’ wound.  She changed the bandages and administered pain killers when required.  With Quintus’ approval, Lucia helped Manius exercise his arm.  Manius rapidly improved with the constant attention and support of Lucia.  His morale improved and it carried over to his wound.  He still wore the sling when not exercising, but the day was fast approaching when he would no longer require it.

The courier arrived from Trento with the good news.  The King insisted that Manius, Lucia, and the victorious Legates spend time with him and Rosa at his Residence.  Queen Bethica as well as Chief Segovesus were notified and planned to attend.  It was set!

On the 18th, Legio XVII marched out of camp with Manius at the head of the column.  Calvus rode with him and described the final battle.  He pointed out where the Suevi ditch and palisade had stood and where Queen Bethica fought one-on-one with Commander Aze.  Manius was surprised at her audacity and impressed with her victory.

When Manius and the Legion left the camp, Servilius, Titus, and a cavalry escort rode up the west side of the lake.  Titus was a good rider for one so young.  They dismounted at the ambush site to inspect the battlefield.  It was not pretty.  The decomposition of the enemy dead was not complete and a strong smell still lingered in the air.  Titus was undeterred.  He examined the Illyrian weapons and armor.  He stood where the Legionaries stood when they pushed the logs and boulders down the hill.  When he felt he fully understood the tactics involved, the group moved on.