| Author: | Larry Brasington | ISBN: | 9781311161499 |
| Publisher: | Larry Brasington | Publication: | March 5, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | Larry Brasington |
| ISBN: | 9781311161499 |
| Publisher: | Larry Brasington |
| Publication: | March 5, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
Beyond the Wall
By Howard Parker
© Brasingtonbooks 2012
Antonius
A Long Night
I am a pragmatic man. I have seen too much of death serving my emperor to believe in superstitions and religions. Yet, I, Centurion Antonius Agrippa Talus, of the second Century of the First Cohort of the Frontier Legion, confess what I was about to see made me pause. There are things that do not belong to this world –old ways and magic. But I am ahead of myself.
My narrative begins in the month of Marcus the third day. I was stationed with the XLVth Frontier Legion during the reign of Emperor Antonie Pius. Out task was to finish the new wall north of Hadrian’s marking the between the Empire and the land of the Picts. Our Governor, His Excellency, Gnaeus Julius Verus, commander of the Armies in Britannia and admiral of the Hibernian Sea Fleet, was in charge.
All veterans legionaries, my century were added to the cohort to give the new-recruits an iron backbone. The Emperor was forming new legions to defend the borders of Empire, from the land of the Picts to the desert sands of the Sassanid’s. Each new legion would be a mix of veterans and local auxiliary. The new legions would be part garrison, part mobile jutes, for the Empire was becoming too large for field armies to defend.
My century was attached directly to the Hibernian Sea Flotilla to provide training and support for the marines assigned to our small armada. I must say the Empire takes the safety of its citizens seriously and a dim view of its subjects being killed and their estates plundered. Since Britannia was surrounded by water except in the North, where the wild Picts were a nuisance, a squadron was a necessary evil. We Romans are not sailors by trade and think of water as a cat might, a necessary evil. The Empire hires sailors to man our ships.
My station was at the northern most spot reached by the Empire, beyond was uncivilized wastes. Our line consisted of a few scattered watchtowers and hill forts along the ditch we were building. To say the embankment of earth and stones was a wall was stretching it a bit. Rough trails hacked out of the dense evergreen forest connected our scattered flutes. There were times when even the bravest among us saw druids and painted warriors behind each one. Along the coast our squadron kept a mobile eye on our flank.
While I care little for the comforts of a merchant or patrician, I did take the Emperor’s coin and oath and swore to protect them. I have found from my experience that the good patricians, who profited from the toil of their slaves, do not tolerate the confiscation or loss of their property and wealth. They complain to the army when it happens.
I will defend them and if ordered by the Emperor perhaps even kiss one of the fat toads on his cheek, though I would rather fight Persian Horse Archers. Still I choose the soldier’s life.
Since leaving civilized Gaul, I have had heard strange tales in this land Britannia, myths and stories from locals and wandering Picts and Druids. Rumors and whispers of black magic practiced by the Druids, demons that prey on isolated villages. I dare say on the frontier, there are always rumors. I discounted them as old wives’ tales. After nearly a year I had seen no evidence of raiders who came from the sea, just Picts trying to harass us. No, I had no evidence such marauders existed.
Beyond the Wall
By Howard Parker
© Brasingtonbooks 2012
Antonius
A Long Night
I am a pragmatic man. I have seen too much of death serving my emperor to believe in superstitions and religions. Yet, I, Centurion Antonius Agrippa Talus, of the second Century of the First Cohort of the Frontier Legion, confess what I was about to see made me pause. There are things that do not belong to this world –old ways and magic. But I am ahead of myself.
My narrative begins in the month of Marcus the third day. I was stationed with the XLVth Frontier Legion during the reign of Emperor Antonie Pius. Out task was to finish the new wall north of Hadrian’s marking the between the Empire and the land of the Picts. Our Governor, His Excellency, Gnaeus Julius Verus, commander of the Armies in Britannia and admiral of the Hibernian Sea Fleet, was in charge.
All veterans legionaries, my century were added to the cohort to give the new-recruits an iron backbone. The Emperor was forming new legions to defend the borders of Empire, from the land of the Picts to the desert sands of the Sassanid’s. Each new legion would be a mix of veterans and local auxiliary. The new legions would be part garrison, part mobile jutes, for the Empire was becoming too large for field armies to defend.
My century was attached directly to the Hibernian Sea Flotilla to provide training and support for the marines assigned to our small armada. I must say the Empire takes the safety of its citizens seriously and a dim view of its subjects being killed and their estates plundered. Since Britannia was surrounded by water except in the North, where the wild Picts were a nuisance, a squadron was a necessary evil. We Romans are not sailors by trade and think of water as a cat might, a necessary evil. The Empire hires sailors to man our ships.
My station was at the northern most spot reached by the Empire, beyond was uncivilized wastes. Our line consisted of a few scattered watchtowers and hill forts along the ditch we were building. To say the embankment of earth and stones was a wall was stretching it a bit. Rough trails hacked out of the dense evergreen forest connected our scattered flutes. There were times when even the bravest among us saw druids and painted warriors behind each one. Along the coast our squadron kept a mobile eye on our flank.
While I care little for the comforts of a merchant or patrician, I did take the Emperor’s coin and oath and swore to protect them. I have found from my experience that the good patricians, who profited from the toil of their slaves, do not tolerate the confiscation or loss of their property and wealth. They complain to the army when it happens.
I will defend them and if ordered by the Emperor perhaps even kiss one of the fat toads on his cheek, though I would rather fight Persian Horse Archers. Still I choose the soldier’s life.
Since leaving civilized Gaul, I have had heard strange tales in this land Britannia, myths and stories from locals and wandering Picts and Druids. Rumors and whispers of black magic practiced by the Druids, demons that prey on isolated villages. I dare say on the frontier, there are always rumors. I discounted them as old wives’ tales. After nearly a year I had seen no evidence of raiders who came from the sea, just Picts trying to harass us. No, I had no evidence such marauders existed.
