He smiled, certain in the knowledge that today would be a walkover.
Chapter 19
(Around Ariovistus’ position, in both Roman camps)
“ Equisio: A horse attendant or stable master.”
“ Haruspex (pl. Haruspices): A religious official who confirms the will of the Gods through signs and by inspecting the entrails of animals.”
Fronto and Crispus sighed as two legionaries helped them settle their cloaks into place and tie the military knot around their cuirass. Longinus smiled from his seat in the corner.
“Your cloak’s looking tattered and worn, Fronto. You’re either going to have to buy a new one or start wearing that abominable glittery one.”
Fronto grinned.
“Blind the enemy? I’ll buy a new cloak this winter when we’re not campaigning. Might even be back in Rome, so I can leave the bright one with my sister then.”
Crispus raised his eyebrows.
“Might be in Rome you say, Marcus? Where else would you possibly be?”
Longinus interrupted as Fronto opened his mouth.
“Marcus here’s one of those that likes to stay with his men. He’ll probably spend most of the off-season with the Tenth in their winter quarters. Apart from a few trips back to see family, that is.”
Fronto nodded.
“These days Rome leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It’s all politics, greed and power. If I don’t stay with the Tenth, I’ll probably go back to Puteoli.”
Longinus smiled at the other legates.
“Actually, I’m thinking of spending some of the winter in Spain. Probably in Tarraco or Saguntum, buying horses. Maybe you’d like to join me for a while. You remember how mild the winters are around there, Marcus.”
Fronto returned the smile.
“Sounds good. I’d like to see Tarraco again. It’s been a few years now, but I’d lay bets all my favourite inns are the same as ever. You starting up a stable, Gaius?”
Longinus shrugged.
“Already got stables Marcus, but there’s precious little good Spanish stock in them, and I rather like my Spanish horses. If you want to join me for a month or two, I’ve already got a villa being built near Tarraco. You too, Aulus, if you want.”
Crispus beamed at them.
“I’ve never visited Spain. In fact, this particular command is the first time I have left the familiar shores of Italy. Good grief, I’ve precious rare been out of Rome itself. I’d be enchanted to join you.”
Fronto glanced out of the tent doorway at the distant sound of the cornicen.
“Sounds like Priscus has given the call. We’ve got a couple of minutes before they’re fully standing to.”
Crispus squinted out of the doorway and into the sunlight.
“Regardless of the events of yesterday, I find it impossible to believe that Ariovistus will commit his forces today. How many times have we presented ourselves before his camp and all but begged him to engage us? I am certain of one thing: he will refrain from attacking either of our forces as long as he is under threat from both sides.”
Fronto nodded his agreement.
“I’m no student of grand tactics, but I agree entirely with Aulus. If he’s going to attack us at any time, I’d look to our defences at night, when the two forces are harder to combine. Still, Caesar wants that we present ourselves for battle, so present ourselves we shall.”
Longinus gave them both a crafty grin as he tightened the belt around his chain cavalry shirt.
“We’ll see him today alright. I can guarantee you.”
Fronto furrowed his brow and squinted suspiciously at Longinus.
“Alright Gaius, what do you know?”
Longinus stretched, watching the arming process appreciatively; quite grateful he had to wear only a standard cavalry mail shirt.
“Ariovistus has a very few long-range cavalry scouts still outside the field that come and go at night. He’s now well aware of the train of supply wagons that should reach this very spot not long before dark. He won’t attack until he’s sure he’s only fighting on one front, but he has to destroy this camp by nightfall, or he’s failed to stop our supplies.”
Crispus grinned.
“So he’s definitely coming, then.”
Fronto’s furrowed brow had not moved.
“How do you know all about the German’s scouts and what they’ve seen?”
Longinus tapped him on the head and made a hollow sound in his cheek.
“How do you think I know, Marcus? I’ve had my own scouts marking theirs one on one for days now. I know everything they’ve seen and done.”
Slowly the frown on Fronto’s face fell away, to be replaced with a content smile.
“I’m going to rip the bastard German’s face off if I get hold of him.”
“You and every other Roman on the field. Come on, or we’ll be late for your primus pilus, and he takes the piss even when you’re on time.”
Making a few last minute adjustments to the uniforms, the three commanders stepped out into the sun, along with the two legionaries. As the men fell in with their units, Fronto, Crispus and Longinus clasped arms.
“How long shall we remain in position before we retire to the camp?”
Fronto shrugged.
“Caesar will give it until noon and then pull the other force back. I would give the Germans maybe an hour after that before they come. It’ll give the men a little time to eat. When we do fall back, allow them to go off duty, but make damn sure they’re ready to fall in at a moment’s notice.”
Crispus nodded and Longinus, hauling himself into the saddle, addressed the two legates.
“Both of you’ll need to be ready, but the cavalry can eat in the saddle. I’ll pull them back to the camp at noon, but I’ll keep them poised and mounted and out of sight. Then, if an attack comes at short notice, we can harry them while the legions fall in.”
With a slightly unsettling smile, Longinus set off for the cavalry on the wing. Crispus saluted Fronto, unnecessarily he thought, and headed off toward the Eleventh.
Fronto turned and walked between the lines of men to the front, where Priscus stood with the tribunes and the signifers and cornicen of the First Cohort. The Tenth, like the Eleventh next to them, were in full battle formation, each century in position within the cohort, each cohort in position within the legion. With half of Longinus’ cavalry on each wing and numerous foot and missile auxiliary units in position behind and beside the legions, they were ready to move.
He glanced briefly behind him at the front rampart of the fort. Tetricus was the only officer not in position with the legion, having volunteered to man the walls and the artillery with the crews. They would doubtful be of any use this morning, even if the Germans did attack, but were a gratifying support. Should the legions be engaged and have to pull back towards the fort, the Ballistae would take on great importance.
With another glance up and down the lines to be sure that the army was in position, he signalled Priscus and held his arm up, motioning down the front at Crispus. Moments later, horns blew across the field and centurions gave the order to march.
One of Longinus’ men had made a daring dash for the German fort in order to judge the maximum range of their fire. He had marked the range with a cavalry spear plunged into the turf bearing a fluttering pennant.
The Tenth moved out in formation with its allies and marched purposefully across the field. Rarely when moving into combat did Fronto suffer from nerves, but he was uneasy with this situation. Splitting the army may be helpful in protecting supplies, but if the full weight of the German army fell on the Tenth and Eleventh, they would be fighting for their lives, hopelessly outnumbered. The only thing that kept him reasonably confident was the fact that Ariovistus had proved time and time again unwilling to commit his entire force in one engagement. With two thirds of the Roman army behind him, he was again unlikely to commit everything to destroy Fronto’s force.