“Very well. We shall now hear what you have to say.”
One of the Gauls looked up at Fronto. He mumbled something to the man in the middle in their native tongue. The chieftain translated into clear Latin.
“You win. There’s not enough of us left to fight. We have more wounded than healthy and more dead than both of those. We’ll go wherever you want us to go; do whatever you want us to do. Just don’t persecute the women and children. They are all there is now.”
Fronto waited to make sure they had finished and then scratched his chin reflectively.
“Very well. Here are our demands. You, along with your allies the Tulingi and the Latobrigi, will return to your ancestral lands near Geneva. Once you return, you will deliver five thousand young men of fighting age and spirit to the garrison commander at Geneva, to form the bulk of the new Geneva garrison. This unit will protect the city and all Roman interests, but will also protect your lands from marauding Germans. You will rebuild your settlements and you will live in peace with the Roman people. You will, before you exit this camp, take the same oath that the Aedui have taken. In addition, you will supply a ten per cent tithe of all goods and food you produce for five years to the decurions of Geneva, beginning one year after your return. You will take a further oath to never ally with the German tribes or any other tribe that defies Rome.”
He sat back and took a deep breath. That was quite a lot to take in. The chieftain in the centre narrowed his eyes and looked up at Fronto, a glint of his former pride beginning to show once more.
“General, we will submit to any course of action you deem fit. However, we cannot hope to reach our lands from here without carrying out raids on farmland. It is a long way back to Geneva and we have no food. We will be moving slower than ever with all our wounded. Even when we return our people will starve as there is no farmland cultivated. Also, you have named only two of our allies. What of the Boii?”
He gestured at the man on his right, obviously one of that tribe.
Fronto sat forward once more. Sabinus had walked with him down to the camp from the tavern before returning to the trial. The senior staff officer had given Fronto a few pointers and suggestions since the general had left things entirely in his hands. Thank all the Gods for Sabinus. He had predicted almost everything and armed Fronto with a response.
He smiled benignly at the Gauls.
“I have arranged for a supply of food to be drawn for you from both the legions and the Aedui, who are not unmindful to your needs. Once you reach the borders of your own land, you may approach the Allobroges, who are allied to Rome. They will supply you with enough food and resources to rebuild your homes and restart your economy. A vexillation of the Eleventh and Twelfth Legions will escort you on your return and smooth over matters with Geneva and the Allobroges. They will also help you transport your wounded and your gear back to your lands.”
He smiled again.
“As for the Boii, we have other plans. I take it you are of the Boii?” He gestured in the direction of the third man, who nodded.
“The Boii are reputed to be loyal and fierce and extremely valorous. As such, the Aedui have invited you to settle in their lands. You would be bound by the same oath as they, but would come under their jurisdiction, and not ours. The high command is inclined to agree to this. Your tribe will separate when they arrive tomorrow and you will need to see Liscus of the Aedui in the morning. I think that covers everything. Agreed?”
For the first time the Boii leader to the right addressed Fronto. He stood wearily and stooped. For the first time Fronto realised that he was wounded. From the matted bloody hair and the bloodstains around wounds on his torso and arms, Fronto would easily have pronounced the wounds mortal. How the man had managed was unfathomable. A grudging respect crept into Fronto and he began to understand why the Aedui had such faith in the tribe. The chieftain looked up at the Romans, meeting Fronto’s gaze levelly.
“Your words are just, Roman. You speak for the benefit of our tribes despite our differences. I doubt your general would offer such consolations as enthusiastically, and so I presume you have been left to deal with all arrangements accordingly. May I speak to you in private?”
Fronto was taken aback. Not only had he not anticipated any spirit left in these people, he had certainly not expected eloquent speeches in perfectly balanced Latin. Deep in thought for a moment, he focused on the Boii leader.
“Your Latin is impeccable and you speak with the Rhetoric of a politician. How is this?”
The man shrugged.
“We are not animals. I am Boii, but I have also been a citizen of Ocelum. Will you speak to me in private?”
Fronto stared for a while and finally nodded, rising and beckoning the Gaul outside. The two of them exited, leaving the Roman officers and the two remaining Gauls frowning and regarding each other suspiciously.
Outside, the Gaul staggered slightly and fell against the tent support. Fronto had been finding it harder and harder to maintain the tough façade and finally he cracked.
“Sit down man, for Elysium’s sake. If you stand any longer, you’ll fall over.”
The Boii leader gratefully sank to the grass.
Making sure that there was no one but the guards in view, Fronto sank to the floor too. With one word he dismissed the guards and the two of them were alone.
“Alright. I can see you’re an intelligent and educated man. You can probably see through the façade that I’m a soldier, not a politician or high commander, so let’s speak man to man.”
The Gaul nodded.
“Indeed, though I think you put yourself down legate Fronto. We all know who you are. You are an able commander and I have the feeling you’re a just man.”
Fronto nodded.
“I would like to think so.”
The Gaul shrugged wearily.
“Our tribe has staked our future on the plans of the Helvetii. I think it would have paid well had not your general chosen them as his scapegoat for a campaign.”
Fronto raised his hand to stop the Gaul, but the man continued.
“No need to deny it, legate. I am well aware of how Roman politics work. Caesar is hungry for war because war fuels careers. We had legitimate cause and concerns. In the end we lost because we were convenient. This is in the past. Rome is the future of this land, whether we like it or not. I know, as I’m sure you do, that Caesar will not stop with the Helvetii. In the end this will become a province and only those of us who do not capitulate will suffer. We have had our fight and made our stand. Now we will sit and await the inevitable.”
Fronto nodded again. There was a lot of sense and a lot of truth in what the Gaul was saying. It didn’t matter how long it took; this land would be Roman. The Boii recognising and accepting this would be a first step to peaceful domination.
“What did you want to speak about in private?”
The Gaul shifted on the grass.
“There are several thousand of the Helvetii that have not surrendered in the group. They escaped well ahead of your cavalry and will be making for the German border. I will accept the Aedui proposal, and I believe my tribe will support me. There is no future for the Helvetii without Roman support. Whether you can catch these fleeing tribesmen I do not know, but even if you don’t I cannot imagine them remaining a threat. There are not enough of them to create any kind of force and they are unlikely to be treated kindly by the Germans. I thought you should hear this in private. If I speak of it in there, it may cause further trouble.”
Fronto nodded. He would have to inform Caesar, but he already knew exactly what Caesar would do. Messages would be sent out threatening all the tribes until the remaining Helvetii were found and either returned to Geneva or made an example of. No point in causing trouble among the ambassadors when things were going so well.