In front of him the Vandal warriors seemed to hesitate and waver. Fergus roared and raised his axe in the air as he advanced on them, no longer caring whether he lived or died; his crazy looking eyes bulging in their sockets. From out of the smoke a man came charging at him with a spear but Fergus evaded the thrust and stabbed the man with his sword kicking him to the ground.
‘Gaiseric is dead,’ Fergus roared. ‘The fight is over. Your leader is dead. You have nothing to gain.’
For a moment, nothing changed and the din of battle continued unabated but then suddenly as the smoke cleared, Fergus saw that the Vandals had broken and were streaming back towards the forest in a great disorganised-mass. And as he stared at the fleeing enemy, he slowly sank to his knees in the snow. From the Roman ranks a great victorious cheer rose and as he knelt in the snow, a party of legionaries came rushing past.
‘Stay in formation, defend your standard, let the bastards run,’ Fergus heard the signifer’s voice rising above the din.
In the snow Fergus turned to stare in the direction of the burning huts. They must think I am dead he thought. And why wasn’t he? Slowly he turned to look back at the shelter where Titula’s body lay crumpled and motionless in the snow. Rising to his feet, he slowly limped towards her and knelt beside her. The girl was dead. Fondly he parted her long, black hair and touched the tip of her nose. Then with a sigh, Fergus closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall of the hut. And as he did so he reached up to touch the circular iron-amulet that Galena had given him. His wife had said the amulet would protect him on his journey across the Empire. She had said it had great magic and maybe it had, he thought. Suddenly he opened his eyes, as a startling thought came to him. Maybe it had been the amulet that had summoned Titula to his side. Maybe that was why she was here? To protect him; and she had done just that. She had killed Gaiseric. A deep blush appeared on Fergus’s cheeks as he turned to stare at the dead slave girl. Was this the work of the Gods? Had the Valkyrie after all chosen who was to live and die on the battlefield?
‘Thank you,’ Fergus whispered as his cheeks burned.
Chapter Thirty-Six – Hadrian
(Late January AD 106, Carnuntum)
The fifty survivors of the Second Company, Second Cohort of the Twentieth Legion stood stiffly to attention in the huge, open legionary parade-ground of Carnuntum. They were the only troops on parade, and around them the fortress seemed deserted. Beyond the long rows of dreary-looking barrack blocks with snow covering their sloping roofs, the walls and watchtowers of the army base were just about visible in the grey, cold and bleak winter weather. Fergus stood in front of his men staring fixedly into space, as Hadrian limped up onto the small podium that had been erected in front of the company. The Legate looked haggard and he had lost a lot of weight but otherwise he was in good shape. At the base of the podium, Adalwolf, two of Hadrian’s civilian advisers and the first spear Centurion, the Primus Pilus of the First Legion, stood staring silently at the legionaries.
On the podium, Hadrian, with a thick warm-looking cloak draped over his shoulders, cleared his throat and turned to look at the troops, standing in front of him. For a long moment, he remained silent.
‘Men,’ he cried out at last, ‘I welcome you back. You have had a harrying and most extraordinary journey. We have accomplished our aim. The alliance between Rome and the Vandals will endure. We have achieved much. You have achieved much and you have brought great glory to an already famous Legion. So, I salute you men. You have done well and you shall be rewarded accordingly. Three hundred Denarii for each of you as a special bonus payment.’
Hadrian paused to let the news sink in, but on the parade ground not a soldier moved or made a sound.
‘We mourn for our dead,’ Hadrian continued. ‘We mourn for those we had to leave behind. We mourn the loss of your brave Centurion and the twenty-four others who did not make it back. I have discussed your company’s personnel situation with the senior-ranking Centurion in your vexillatio, and we have agreed to the following. Lucullus your Optio, who was forced to remain behind in Britannia, will be taking over as your Centurion. Orders have already been dispatched to summon him to this fortress as soon as he is recovered from his injuries. Furius, your acting Optio will be invalided out of the army, as his wounds mean he is no longer capable of being a soldier. Fergus, you have been promoted to company Optio with immediate effect. I understand that the company took a vote on this and that the promotion was unanimously approved.’
Hadrian paused again, to stare at the legionaries standing stiffly to attention on the parade ground. ‘That leaves me just to tell you that come spring our battle group will be heading south east to the Dacian frontier to take part in the campaign that will end King Decebalus’s rule and threat to the Empire. Long live the Emperor, Trajan, the Senate and People of Rome!”
‘Long live Emperor Trajan,’ the men roared.
Satisfied Hadrian turned and nodded at the Primus Pilus of the First Legion as he slowly descended from the podium.
‘Company will remain standing to attention,’ Fergus shouted as he sensed some of the men behind him start to move.
Silence descended once more across the vast parade ground. Slowly Hadrian turned and came towards Fergus and as he did a frown appeared on the Legate’s face. For a moment Hadrian said nothing as he paused to examine Fergus. Then raising his finger, the Legate ticked Fergus lightly on his shoulder.
‘I shall be keeping an eye on you,’ Hadrian said as a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Characters in Germania and the Veteran of Rome series
Adalwolf: German merchant, guide, adviser and translator for the Roman army.
Ahern : Kyna’s son by another man. Dylis and Jowan have adopted him.
Alawa: Hyperborean woman friend of Cunomoltus.
Aledus: Londinium-born friend of Fergus belonging to Fergus’s squad.
Alexandros: Greek captain and owner of the Hermes that had sailed to Hyperborea and back.
Arvirargus: Briton fugitive and last of the rebel leaders in AD 105.
Armin: Orphaned child of Lucius.
Ballomar: Leader of the Vandals tribe in Germania
Calista: Daughter of Alexandros.
Catinius: Friend of Fergus and soldier in Fergus’s squad.
Claudia: A legate’s wife, whom Marcus knew.
Cora: Wife of Alexandros.
Corbulo: Grandfather of Fergus, father of Fergus’s father Marcus. Soldier in the Twentieth Legion.
Cunomoltus: Marcus’s half-brother.
Decebalus: King of Dacia
Dylis: Younger half-sister of Marcus, adopted by Corbulo.
Efa: Wife of Corbulo, step-mother of Marcus.
Elsa: Orphaned child of Lucius, sister of Armin.
Emogene: The druid who murdered Corbulo.
Fergus: Marcus and Kyna’s son, grandson of Corbulo.
Fortuna: The Goddess of Fortune.
Fronto: A squad leader in Fergus’s army company.
Furius: Tesserarius and Optio in Fergus’s army company
Gaiseric: German Vandal Prince, adviser to Hadrian.
Galena: Newly-wed wife of Fergus, daughter of Taran.
Jodoc : Husband of Calista.
Jowan: Husband of Dylis.
Kyna: Wife of Marcus, mother of Fergus.
Lucullus: Company Optio, at the beginning of Germania.
Lydia: Wife of Titus.
Matunaagd: A Hyperborean native who had volunteered to come back across the ocean.
Petrus: The Christian boy whom Corbulo rescued from certain death in Londinium nearly twenty years earlier.
Priscinus: A wealthy, influential, equestrian Roman aristocrat
Taran: Owner of the Lucky Legionary Tavern, in Deva Victrix.
Titula: A German girl captured by Fergus
Titus: Centurion of Fergus’s company.
Trajan: Roman Emperor.
Vittius: Friend of Fergus and soldier in Fergus’s squad.
GLOSSARY
Agrimensore: A land surveyor
Aquae Sulis: Bath, UK
Aquilaeia: Roman town near Venice, Italy
Aquilifer: Roman standard bearer carrying the Eagle standard of a Legion
Aquinoctium: Fourteen miles west of Carnuntum, near Vienna
Asturis: Klosterneuburg, Austria, just west of Vienna
Augusta Vindelicorum: Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany
Basilica: A large multi-purpose building for merchants, traders, business people, law courts and for religious ceremonies
Batavia: Area around the big rivers in the middle of The Netherlands
Batavis: Location not now known, but near the Danube
Bonna: Bonn, Germany
Brading: Site of a Roman villa in the south east of the Isle of Wight, UK
Brigantes: A Celtic tribe living in the north of Britain.
Camulodunum: Colchester, UK
Caestus: Leather and metal boxing glove
Carnuntum: Roman Legionary fortress and town, just east of Vienna
Castra: Fortress
Castra Bonnensis: Roman Legionary fortress at Bonn, Germany
Castra Mogontiacum: Mainz, Germany
Castra Regina: Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
Centurion: Roman officer in charge of a company of about 80 legionaries
Cetium: Location not now known, but near the Danube in Austria
Cherusci: Germanic tribe living in central Germany
Cohort: Roman military unit equivalent to a battalion of around 500 men. Ten cohorts make up a legion
Colonia Agrippina: Cologne, Germany
Contubernium: Eight-man legionary squad. Also known as a barrack room/tent group
Cornicen: Trumpeter
Currach: Celtic boat.
Dacia: The area in Hungary/Romania where the Dacians lived.
Decanus: Soldier in charge of eight-man squad.
Decurion: Roman cavalry officer.
Denarii: Roman money.
Deva Victrix: Chester, UK.
Eburacum: York, UK.
Elysian Fields: The Roman idea of heaven, paradise etc.
Equestrian Order: The Order of Knights – the lower class of Roman aristocracy
Equites: Individual men of the Equestrian Order.
Equus Publicus: A minor noble, from the lower ranks of the aristocracy.
Fibula : A brooch or pin used by the Romans to fasten clothing together.
Focale: Neck scarf, that stops armour from chafing
Funeral societies: The Romans had funeral societies in which they banded together to make sure that their members were given proper funerals.
Garum: Roman fermented fish sauce
Gaul: France
Germania: Germany
Gladius: Standard Roman army short stabbing sword.
Hibernia: Ireland.
Hispania: Spain.
Hunebedden: Ancient stone graves dating back 5,000 years.
Hyperborea: Mythical land beyond the north wind.
Imaginifer: Roman army standard bearer carrying an image of the Emperor.
Iron fire dogs: A Celtic invention. Two iron tripods connected by an iron beam on which one could roast a pig over a fire
Isca: Exeter, UK.
Jupiter: King of the Roman Gods.
Lares: Roman guardian deities.
Legate: Officer in command of a legion
Legionary: Roman soldier.
Libation: An offering to gods or spirits.
Limes: Frontier zone of the Roman Empire.
Lindum: Lincoln, UK.
Ludi Magister: The school master.
Lugii: The Vandals were part of the Lugii tribal confederation of central Europe
Luguvalium: Carlisle, UK.
Marcomanni: Germanic tribe living beyond the Danube in northern Austria and Czech Republic
Middle Sea: Mediterranean Sea
Mona Insulis: Anglesey Island, UK.
Mons Graupius: The battlefield in Scotland where Agricola defeated the Caledonian confederation in AD 83.
Mount Sleza: Mount Sleza is a hill south west of the Polish city of Wroclaw in Silesia, Poland
Munifex: Private (non-specialist) Roman Legionary.
Noviomagus Reginorum: Chichester, UK.
Numerii: German irregular Roman allied soldiers.
Odin: Germanic Lord of War and the World
Optio: Roman officer, second in command of a Company
Ovilava: Location not now known, but near the Danube in Austria.
Pannonia: The Roman province in and around Hungary/Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia.
Pilum/pila: Roman Legionary spear(s)
Prefect: Roman officer in command of an auxiliary cohort.
Principia: The HQ building in a Roman army camp/fortress.
Pugio: Roman army dagger.
Quadi: Germanic tribe
Regnenses tribe: Local tribe living around Noviomagus Reginorum.
Rutupiae: Richborough, Kent, UK.
Saturnalia: Roman festival in December.
SPQR: “Senate and People of Rome.”
Suevus: The Oder river
Tara: Seat of the High King of Hibernia, north- west of Dublin, Ireland.
Tesserarius: Roman army watch/guard commander, third in line of command in a Roman infantry company
Tessera tile: A small stone carried by the Tesserarius (Watch Commander) on which the daily password was written.
Valkyrie: One of the mythical ladies of the war Lord, Odin
Vebriacum: Charterhouse Roman town, Western England.
Vectis: Isle of Wight, UK.
Vexillatio(n): Temporary Roman army detachment.
Vindobona: Vienna, Austria
Zeus: King of the Greek Gods