Arthur II; Artorius; The Legend and Myth Chapter 7 & 8

7.

Primus Artorius paced the tent with his eyes averted to the tent flaps watching the unseen sun then but the rays of dawn were showing itself. He looked to the two legionnaires guarding him; he frowned at that idea when they should be out there searching for the attackers but it was the Optio’ call. 

“Primus, your safety is of utmost concern.” Optio Lamorak was not taking chances with the Centurion safety. He was already upset the camps were under attack. The Cohort was the best among the others and yet they allowed this to happen that night. He was thinking of the mode of punishments on the sentries; the flogging with the flagrum ( short whip ) or the reduction of ration. He was a strict officer but that will come later. He needed to find the attackers.

“Primus, we have reports from the Equities.” The Calvary units have returned with the updates. “They have returned.”

The Decurio was the first to report.

“We have scouted the land. The Elites are safe. The Marcellus were the worst to be inflicted but they were found unharmed and safe with our men.”

“Inflicted and then unharmed? Tell, the truth, Decurio.” Primus Artorius was upset.

“Their camp was attacked and their guards’ dead. They escaped and were found by the riders.” Percival replied in his Legionnaire tone. “How they escaped, I have no report on it.”

“I want the Equites out there to expand our boundary. There will be no rest until we have a prisoner.” Primus Artorius called out. “Any prisoner but one that will talk on the attack. Get out now.”

The Decurio left and then the Optio took his place.

“I have strengthened the patrols and we have a prisoner.” Optio Lamorak reported in. “He was hiding in the bushes. He is ready for you.”

The Option have arranged the prisoner to be tied spread-eagled on the punishment beams. It was reserved for the errant legionnaire but on that day, a barbarian was set up there. Artorius approached the displayed prisoner; a bearded figure with his coats removed appeared in his loose pants held up by the sash. His clothes and weapons were on the ground next to the beams. Artorius picked up the broad sword and looked at it. There was blood on it.

“You killed someone earlier? Was it a slave or a guard?” Artorius did not wait for the reply and slashed the prisoner on the right thigh. The blood spurted out from the wound but the Primus was not settled as yet. He took another slash on the left shin. The prisoner called out in pain and then gritted its pain. He looked at the Primus in defiance.

“So, you are a tough one. I liked tough ones.” Primus Artorius smiled. “More so when they commit killings on my camp.”

“Bring in the hounds. Cut fresh meat from him to feed them.” Artorius called out. It drove the prisoner to scream out in profanities but the Primus had returned to his tent. Soon the screams were of other pain and then the prisoner spoke.

“Lancelot he told us. He was also known as the …..” Optio Lamorak reported to the Primus.

“The Ghost. I heard of his name.” Primus Artorius nodded. “He is a great warrior and have been their champion. Find me the Decurio.”

“To hunt for the Ghost? I can do it.” Optio Lamorak volunteered.

“No, to drag the prisoner to the nearest village. There the prisoner can have his wounds tendered and the mouth to tell the others of our cruel methods.”

“Primus, you must be mad. If the barbarian speaks of the torture, we will all be the target of theirs. We will have no mercy from them.” Optio Lamorak replied.

“And we shall not have any. We are the Legion’s finest. Do we fear barbarians like lions? Or hogs to feed on our dead flesh?” Primus Artorius replied. “I came here to defend Rome’s interest, and if they are in the way, I will kill them like the lion they are or feed on their hogs. It matters not for either way I will live to tell the tale.”

The words went out and the prisoner was dragged to the nearby village.

“I shunned such task.” Gawain looked to the rear of the figure struggling to walk on the wounded legs. “We are Legionnaires and here we are doing the …”

“Escort duty? Yes, we are. It’s to bring that man back to his village so that he can be cured.” Gaheris replied.

“To fight us on the next moon? This is utterly ridiculous. We ought to kill him now.” Gawain fumed with frustration. He was part of the seven riders assigned to send the barbarian back. “For all we know, his friends may have us targeted now.”

“And we in their sight.” Gaheris replied when the column then stopped. He saw the group of barbarians that emerged from the grassland like morning blooms. He counted five in the front and four on each side. They were all armed to kill then.

“Release the prisoner.” Gaheris heard his brother, the Decurio gave the command. The Decurio then rode up to the five men forming the front line. “Tell Lancelot or the Ghost, we will not tolerate his actions. If he comes again, we will hand him over dead bodies.”

“Lancelot….” The one in the middle roared out but was silenced by the voice from the left side. The figure was one of the four barbarians there. He approached the Decurio.

“Your words are an insult to me. Leave the land and we will not attack you.” Lancelot told the Decurio. “And we may just bury your dead,”

“Are you the one they called Lancelot or the Ghost?” Percival asked back,

“We are all the Ghosts here and our names are Lancelot. What’s yours, Roman?”

“I am not …” Percival swallowed back the words. He was not of Rome but from the northern tribes bordering Gaul. He was part Celt. He served the Legions to be free as a citizen and then to return to his land. He was also to save his brothers. “I am Taurini.”

“Whatever. I am not keen to know the families of Romans. Be off before we kill the lot of you.”

Percival took that as the offer to leave the place. He could fight them but his order was specific.

A Legionnaire takes his order to heart.

It works for most including the slaves.

8.

The attack came as a surprise then and it was made worse for they were in the midst of unpacking the items to the warehouse. The mess was made worse. There were no slaves for the Legionnaires but they do have followers. Those were the unknown or the ones without any homes. They followed the Legionnaires on the march and waited for the handout. Or the companionship. That one pays with rations and a warm bed.

“I do not want to do this.” The young lady complained. She was tall and her body was hidden by the shapeless shift. She shuffled her feet from the cold. She disliked the works but it was all she was worth. She was being a fool being there at the village. She took shelter there after her silly tiff with her father. It was not the first and won’t be her last. She joined up with a family there who were there.

“Yea, you can follow us.” The family head had told her. “Just tell everyone you are our sister.”

The young lady nodded. It was worth her coins that had lightened her purse. She had to work then. It was how she ended up trailing the Legionnaires on their march. It was her second week of trolling. She had discarded her other clothes and took up the makeshift wrap around.  During her march, she had been taken for a easy catch but she was good at fighting them off. She had her training in the arts courtesy of her father who never get out of bed without his sword. Since the incident, she kept a dagger on her belt. The last one who questioned her lost his right index finger.

“We don’t choose.” The other lad from the family was with her. He was moving some dried fruits that spilled over from the dropped crate. While he was scooping the fruits, he was also placing some into his mouth.

“You did with the fruits.” The lady commented. The lad gave out a chuckle. He then placed some in the tunic. “It’s for Kellie and mum’s.”

The young lady smiled. She had not seen so much care and love until she met them. They are unlike her own family’ squabbles and betrayals. It’s the traits of the nobles. With the family she was following she found something to look for.

“Hey, you.” The young lady ignored the call. She had learned that for among the followers are always the creeps. She felt the hand on her left shoulder and turned around with the dagger drawn. She paused then when she saw the figure.

“I did not know.” The lady sheathed the dagger. “What ..”

“I came to offer you this.” The figure was another lady but older . Her name was Igraine and she was part of the Augustus camp. “You might be hungry.”

“Thanks.” The young lady accepted the apple offered by Igraine. She then noticed the lady was well dressed in the green outfit and the hair do was complete.

“Did you …”

“I got my release today. It was actually yesterday before the attack.” Lady Igraine then broke down emotionally. “Why did it have to happened now?”

“Its over, Igraine. We are all safe now.” The younger lady replied. “Good luck on your release.”

“I will be back for you.” Lady Igraine looked at the younger lady. “I promise…”

“Don’t be. I will be fine.” The younger lady replied. “I am from the noble family too. My father name is Pendragon. I am his eldest.”

“Pendragon? Lord Pendragon?” Lady Igraine looked away. She then turned away before she stopped. “What is your name?”

“Guinevere. My mother is Lady ….” 

“Mention no more. I have to go now.” Lady Igraine left the young lady. The two lady interactions did not go unnoticed. The one who stood at the distance shrugged his shoulder but he saw he was not alone. He approached the figure waiting there.

“Do you eavesdrop on your allies?” Lord Pendragon asked. “Like jackals waiting for the scraps.”

“Don’t get at me. I was just passing by.” Lord Meleagant looked over the other’s shoulder. “Nice ladies. Is that….”

“Don’t push it, Meleagant.I am still your overseeing Lord. Listen to me, you left us for …where that was? Sicily?”

“Yes, I left. I had to get way. I had to find my …” Lord Meleagant looked away. “You would have done the same.”

“I did and came back here. I found what I was looking for and found more. I found an old ally who ran away when I was in need of one then. That ally was …”

“I did not run, Mathias. I sought my family heirloom there.”

“I hope you got it and you are now back to work for me. Serve me well, Lord Meleagant. Remember me, I am Lord Pendragon.”

The declaration of oath was then by the surviving mercenaries. The lucky ones were the Meleagant and the Augustus. They all stood there in a circle with a clear line drawn in the middle. The leader of the Meleagant named Belvedere stepped up.

“I am calling for the meet for we are the only survivals. The others have done their tasks.” Belvedere spoke up.
“We…”

“So, what’s with the …” The mercenary that stood on the other line cut in.

“I here to question our loyalty. Do we even have one? Or was it to the purse we hold?” Belvedere glared at the other. “We are warriors.”

“No, we are warriors with an empty purse.” The other replied. He then stepped up towards Belvedere with two others. “And we do not recognise you as the leader.”

Belvedere held firmly on the hilt of his long sword. He had left his shield behind at the fire place. He watched the trio; all covered in the fur coat and mail lined tunic, with the sword like his and the shield with the dagger slotted on the waist belt. He knew them as the Assante brothers; from across the channel of sea and were good fighters.

“Maurice, I have no fight with you.” Belvedere stepped back but the later had his right index finger pointed at the chest.

“We have none with you. So, we will back out.” Maurice replied and then stepped back but his youngest, Issac rushed forth and looked into Belvedere.

“We ain’t afraid of you.” Issac spat at Belvedere’s face. That was an insult to the other. Belvedere lashed out with his face into the Issac’s nose. The impact caused the other to backwards with the nose bloodied. It was the move that made Maurice to strike out. He laid his punch on Belvedere. The later fell backwards and swords were drawn. Belvedere levelled his sword at the trio.

“We need not fight.” Belvedere reminded the brothers but Issac was upset at the bloody nose and charged at Belvedere. The later blocked the sword swung at his chest and then moved his body sideways to elbow the other at the throat. Issac stepped back to avoid the move while his brother Maurice moved in on the right to stab at Belvedere. The later deflected the move and swung his own sword back. He barely missed Maurice but by then the last brother, Barry have stepped in with the sword slashing downwards. Belvederen withdrew and gauged his attackers.

“Bel, take this.” A shield was tossed to him. It was a rounded shield and suited him well. He look at the trio.

“Now we are even.” Belvedere rushed at the trio with his sword swinging from the right. He slashed into Barry who was standing on the left while his shield crashed into Issac. He had his right leg lashed out with a low kick at Maurice. All his efforts were met with resistance but he was among the trio. He ducked from the swinging sword of Issac with his shield upturned flat to punch at Maurice in the midriff. He then twisted his body to swing his sword downwards at Barry. His move cut into Barry at the left hip and seeing then Maurice retreating in pain, he moved in on Issac. He had his shield blocked the oncoming slash and thrust his own sword into the youngest at the right thigh. He then backed up and faced the trio with one wounded.

“You want more? I am here, barbarians.” Belvedere roared out. “I am here.”

Issac limping then was help up by Maurice and Barry in anger charged at Belvedere. His sword slashed downwards but Belvedere had his shield up and his sword thrust into the other’s midriff. It was a killing move and used many times.

“No….” Maurice called out and rushed to his other wounded brother. He saw the wound and knew that Barry was going to die then. “I will…”

“Barry is dead, Maurice. Stop the fight. We are even now.” Belvedere replied. “You know it. It was me or him.”

Maurice held onto his dying brother. He wanted to strike out but knew that they will lose more than one life that day. He looked away at Issac who was still recovering from the blows.

“Not today, Belvedere. I will come back after I settled his burial.” Maurice replied to Belvedere. “Our fight is not over yet.”

The group then dispersed with some helping the brothers to the tent. It was just another event for the mercenaries but their action did not go unnoticed then.