Arthur II Book III Chapter 3

 

3.

 

Near the Antoinne Wall, Centurion Marius Giles listened to his bursar on the condition of the treasury.  He was in the Roman fortress standing by the wall opening looking at the legionaries doing their tasks in the yard. He saw the legionnaire tied to the wooden pole with his chest bared. He was caught soon leaving the sentry post on the wall.

“Centurion, we have not paid the men over the last two moons, and the word I got was it may not come.” The Bursar told him. “We are not the only ones affected. The other cohorts are also delayed.”

The Centurion had heard the news that the Legion was not being paid in Britannica for the Senate was concentrating their efforts at Gaul and even back to Rome. The empire was on in break up on the continent spreading to Hispania and even to Africa. Emperors are being said to rule there but none was sanctioned by the Senate. Or even sanctioned they were met with resistance by others.

“We need to get the coins or risked a mutiny.” The bursar himself did not mince his words.

“We are the Legion and not some barbaric tribes. Our discipline …”

“Cannot be measured when the men are hungry and …” The Bursar was cut off.

“Did we not feed them? Was it not like this on the march at Gaul?” Centurion Marius reminded the other.

“Then it was on the campaign but now we are on peaceful guard. The men want to know when and how will they be paid.”

Centurion Marius heard that call many times. He had requisitioned for coins from the Lords and Chiefs but there was no reply. He attributed to his arrogant behavior before when the Ninth Cohort took over the First there.

“Centurion, there is Antonio Marcellus here to see you.”

Antonio stepped in and was offered a seat. The Roman noble had not changed much over the year, although among the three families he ranked the weakest. Still, he held wealth and influence in the Senate. Of the latter, they are too pre-occupied with their conflicts then than to be concerned about a Roman noble family there at Britannica.

Antonio came with a case which he offered to the Centurion.

“I bear you a gift.” Antonio motioned to the case. “It’s only a portion that I am willing to contribute to you and your Cohort.”

“Antonio Marcellus, I do not receive gifts to the Legion or even to my name. “I have said that many times to those who walk through the door.”

“I am aware, Centurion. I am a feeble landowner here but I appreciate the presence of the Legion here. If you will not accept my gift, then consider it a loan to the Legion. I hear the Legion has not been paid for some …. time.”

“Your spies are commendable or my men are tongue loose on their visits to the taverns.” The Centurion looked at Antonio. He knew that Antonio besides being a landowner also operate a few taverns which offered drinks and food for favors or on credit. The taverns also offered the services of the ladies for the lonely men.

“I am doing my bit for the Legion. If it’s not for the Legion here, I will be landless and perhaps a peasant by now.”

“Or you may return to Rome. After all, you are its citizen.” The Centurion mocked the other. “I have two more years to serve before I am given my rights and land concessions.”

“And I will add a part of my own to yours, Centurion,” Antonio added in.

“Pray do tell me your visit intention and be done with the pleasantries.” The Centurion was getting impatient.

“I fear for my family. The Meleagant is…. They are influential with their alliance with Lord Ban and Lord Bors. Since the death of Utter Pendragon, the two Lords have intruded onto my land. They have threatened my servants. They are sanctioned by the Meleagant family.”

Three families there on the land and they can’t stay at peace. That was the thought of the Centurion. He was obliged by the Legion to protect them all.

“I will dispatch my men to check on them but I need substantial evidence to warn them off.” Centurion Marius looked at Antonio. “I was referring to the local Lords.”

“I will give you evidence soon.” Antonio got up and then bowed to the Centurion. “Our arrangement is concluded.”

With that, Antonio took leave of the Centurion. The Bursar went for the case of coins.

“It will suffice to calm the men, Centurion. Could we get more?”

“If there is more, then I will have you hung on the wall.” The Centurion frowned at the Bursar. He knew that he was obliged to the Marcellus.

“Send a regular patrol to the villa. I want those reports.”

Across the distance, Lord Ban seated on the saddle was looking at the Marcellus Villa. He has been eyeing it for some days. He took note of the guards there; thirty of them were the last count. He saw the older lady in the yard with the three young girls. They have not been outside beside the yard. Lord Bors have conspired with him to remove the Roman noble. They had argued over it.

“I won’t harm the girls or the old lady.” Lord Ban has not a family. He was an orphan adopted by the Lord Ban, Senior then. He was brought back and given the name Ban. The elderly Lord had no children and raised Ban as his own but more so as the warrior. He was taught the skills to fight and less on etiquette. He joined the Lord in battles at a tender age and then he was to become the new Lord Ban. He met Lord Bors on the battlefield initially as the enemy and later as an ally.

“Have you seen enough?” It was Lord Bors who rode up next to Lord Ban.

“Can us …. Do we need more land? We hold enough for us.” Lord Ban looked at the other.

“Are you having second thoughts now? I have the mercenaries recruited and they will strike just about…. now.” 

Lord Ban saw the group of five mercenaries riding towards the Villa. It was not big in numbers but they are fierce warriors compared to those miscreants that called themselves guards. He did not hesitate and rode forward. He rode to intercept the mercenaries.

“Knave! I am here.” Lord Ban drew his sword and charged at the mercenaries. They were dressed like bandits. He rode to the leading rider and swung with his sword. The rider had raised his arm with the sword too high and Lord Ban bent forward and cut the sword at the left thigh. He turned his wrist and cut the blade into the rider’s ribs. He drew out his sword and went for the second rider. That one was with a spear and was riding towards Lord Ban.

Lord Ban pulled the reins of the horse and turned right. He wanted to go in from the side. It worked and he had the other four riders coming at him then. He rode hard to draw them away. He saw Antonio Marcellus had returned then with the two personal guards. They were charging to intercept the mercenaries.

Lord Ban turned his horse and charged the mercenaries. Their odds were even and he will end the threat.

If there were threats to Percival, he doubted that Gawain will be reliable. The other looked drunk and out like the stud that went out on too many mares. He was at the tavern that was managed by Molly, the love of Galahad. He was there to forget his defeat at the hands of the Green Knight.

“You’re a regular?” Molly Guerin was a regular lady dressed in a simple tunic and an apron around her waist. She walked to the counter and from it, she drew up the goblet of mead.

“I heard of your … tournament.” Molly’s Tavern was the listening place for anything that happened on the land. “This is on me.”

Percival looked at the others in the tavern. It was called the Big Bear for obvious reasons. She had a regular bear head hung over the counter. He sighed the bears were insignificantly scarce there on the land. He saw beside the drunken Equities, there were three others in a private discussion. They are not locals and looked out of place there.

“New customers to the tavern?’ Percival asked Molly.

“Not truly. They have been here for three days.” That was the same period of the tournament. Percival stepped over to the trio.

“I am Sir…”

“We are waiting for Galahad. He can help us.” One of the three in wait spoke.

“I am Percival. I can help.”

“Have you heard of the Nine Witches?”

During the last year of stay at the land, Percival had traveled far to check on the settlements. He had fought off the bandits but the one that bewildered him was to fight the demons. He had met witches and druids but the one he had dreaded meeting was the Nine Witches of Caer Lloyw. He knew them from before.

“They were called many names but their reputation preludes them. Some said that they are fearsome mistresses of warfare and magic. They have terrorized the land more so during the old realm but when Arthur was in rule, they remained quiet.”

“The Nine Witches are not seen or heard for a long time,” Percival added on.

“Not here but in our settlement, they are where we are in the secluded interior. We are far from Camelot or even Gurnion. Even the raiders don’t come there or maybe the rare Picts they may. They do fear the forests there for where the witches have placed their charms. Help us, Sir Knight. They are harassing us.”

“Why call upon Sir Galahad?” Percival had to ask.

“The Sarmatians spoke of the Roman that defeated the demon. It was not here but maybe he could do it here.”

Percival had heard of the event that was rumored on Galahad and Aubin. It was claimed that they had battled the demon known as Syaitan but never had he encountered any. He had however killed or banished witches in his path but they bled like him. Their chants of spells and curses did not hurt him but the hard steel on his gladius did stop them. That rumor was wrong. It was him and Aubin then but he told Aubin never to reveal his name.

“I can do it,” Percival told the three. “Take me with you.”

“You are not Galahad.”

It was then Galahad walked in. His first reaction when he saw Gawain, was in anger. He grabbed Gawain by the shoulder and pulled the other out the door. Molly shouted at him to stop but the elder brother was in a rage. Percival got up and rushed to aid Molly. He saw Galahad tossed the drunken fool onto the road, and when he turned, Percival gave him the fist at the face. Galahad went down on his back.

“What the…”

“Molly called on you to stop…”

“And who is Molly to you? And what have the drunken fool done for you?”

“Like you, he rides with me in the Equities.” Percival reminded the other of his rank. “I …”

“Who is Molly to you then? Is she your rider too on the mount? I am over with her. You can have her as your mount.” It was an insult that Percival will not take. He was particular about the treatment of ladies. It was his upbringing.

“You do not insult the lady in your life.” Percival pulled Galahad up. “You will…”

“You can bloody well have her for yourself… my Decurion.” Galahad pulled away and walked off. Percival looked at his friend and felt remorse at his action. He turned and saw Molly at the doorway. She saw him looking and walked back in.