“Sergeant Vitruvius, post!” he barked.
Stone-faced, Vitruvius marched to the front of the formation and stood facing the centurion.
Macro then read the order. “Sergeant Vitruvius, as a testament to your abilities as a leader of men and of your unfailing loyalty to the Emperor, the Senate and people of Rome, and your unwavering fidelity to your legion, you are hereby promoted to the rank of optio.”
Vitruvius was very grave as he took the parchment bearing his promotion orders, along with the staff that signified his office. He still walked with a very slight limp from where Artorius had stabbed him in the foot with the training gladius, as he took his place at the center, behind the formation.
Macro continued, “Should I fall in battle, who will lead my men?”
“I will, centurion!” Vitruvius answered.
A soldier named Sextus was subsequently promoted to decanus to replace Vitruvius as section leader. Three new recruits had sworn the oath of allegiance that day and were entered into the rolls of the legion. Artorius remembered what it had been like when he had finally been allowed to swear the oath and join the ranks. Had it been only a year? It felt longer, almost a lifetime since he first swore the oath of allegiance to the Emperor, Senate, and people of Rome. He did not know the new men since they were assigned to different sections. Still he made it a point, along with just about everyone else in the century, of clasping each on the shoulder, shaking their hands, and welcoming them to the legion.
The journey had been very disagreeable for Thusnelda, especially in her condition. She knew it would not be long until she would go into labor. Her child kicked, causing her to wince.
She hated that she was caught in the middle of this feud between Arminius and her father. And now with the Romans involved, it only made things worse. The Romans had taken her to one of their legionary fortresses west of the Rhine. Her father had assured her that everything would be alright. Yet, in spite of his reassurances, she still felt uneasy. The fortress was huge, unlike anything she had ever seen before.
The Romans treated her cordially enough. They offered her a comfortable bed to sleep in, and their own doctors to assist her when the time came for her child to be born. She was reluctant to accept their offer. However she had no other choice at this point. Her father came walking into the room.
“How are you managing, daughter?” Segestes asked.
Thusnelda placed a hand over her swollen belly.
“The little fellow is kicking hard. I think he wants to come out and play,” she answered.
Segestes smiled. As much as he hated Arminius and the fact that his daughter would bear that man’s child, he still deeply loved her. Though she tried to outwardly remain cheerful, Segestes could easily see the confusion and sadness that gripped her.
“You know I did what I thought was best for you,” he said.
“I know,” she replied, slowly running her hand over her stomach. “I never wanted to leave with Arminius in the first place. He practically kidnapped me! But then, after all that time I spent with him, I did start to grow fond of him. .”
“He stole you away from your family!” Segestes snapped. “And let’s not forget, he is the one who betrayed the Romans, thereby sealing the fate of many of our peoples.”
“I don’t know why he betrayed the Romans,” the young woman replied. “I had never met one before this whole nightmare began. He always told me he was looking to make Germania independent, united. Given the nature of our people, that may be little more than a dream. However, in that one moment when he struck down three of Rome’s legions, he actually brought all of the tribes together in one common cause.” She looked away, dreamily, but immediately snapped back when she saw the look of concern on her father’s face. It was he, after all, who had warned Varus of Arminius’ betrayal and the pending disaster.
“Rome has been good to my family and to my people,” he said softly, “and now Arminius has our lands. The Romans will devastate them in retribution for what he has done. Many of the sub-tribes that Arminius rallied to his cause have already paid a heavy price. The Chatti have been smashed, the Marsi practically exterminated.”
Thusnelda closed her eyes at that. She had many friends among both tribes, and she feared greatly for their safety. Yet she also knew that her father’s statement was no exaggeration. She shuddered at the thought.
“He cannot hope to win this war,” Segestes continued. “So many have died already, and yet I fear this pending campaign will be even worse. Arminius’ dreams have led to nothing but excessive suffering and bloodshed.”
“And what of us now, Father?” Thusnelda asked. “Are we little more than political prisoners for the Romans?”
Segestes looked puzzled.
“How can I be a prisoner when I asked the Romans for help in the first place?” he asked. “No, my daughter, we are the Romans’ guests. And I have decided that we will be done with Germania forever. We will travel to Rome, and there life will start anew.”
“And what of my child… Arminius’ child?” Thusnelda asked.
“The child will never know his true lineage. He will have a future completely devoid of any knowledge as to who his father really is. That alone will cause Arminius to seethe. What will become of him after he is born, I really do not know. The Romans will see any seed of Arminius as a threat. However, I do have the promise of Germanicus that your child will be allowed to live.”
“As a slave, you mean,” Thusnelda replied, a tear coming to her eye.
Her father sighed and lowered his head.
“It is still the child of Arminius. I don’t know what the Romans plan for him. Just be content that your child will live.”
Orders had come through, and everyone was in a frenzy trying to get all equipment packed and loaded onto the transports. In addition to each barge carrying two sections with all of their gear, a scorpion was placed up front, able to fire at targets attacking either side of the barge. The barges had been placed on rollers so they could be more easily moved into the water. Artorius was awestruck by the sight. There were several Triremes carrying most of the baggage, along with the senior officers. The majority of the men rode in the smaller barges. Even Master Centurion Flavius elected to ride on a barge with the men instead of on a ship.
He watched as each cohort, in turn, rolled their barges into the river, the crews fighting to keep them in formation. Soon it was their turn, and their section along with Sergeant Sextus’ section rolled the barge into the waiting river. Artorius shivered as the cold water lapped at his crotch while he helped to get the barge underway.
Once everyone was on board, the designated oarsmen pushed off and rowed out to their place in the large-scale formation. He watched as the fortress slowly disappeared over the horizon. It would be another full campaign season before he returned to the place he had come to call home. He hoped when he did see her again, it would be as part of a triumphant army having just vanquished Arminius and his demonic beasts.
“The Romans have left their winter quarters,” the scout reported.
Arminius immediately sat up. He had been reclining on his pallet, contemplating the events of the previous campaign and the loss of his wife.
“Where are they now?” he asked.
“Somewhere along the Frisian coast,” the scout replied. “Some local tribes have organized sorties against them. However, these would be ill advised. The Roman barges all have their cursed artillery weapons on board.”