Chapter 13. The Two Sides of a Coin (2)
Two days later, the auxiliary forces sent by the barbarian tribes arrived. Rober welcomed them warmly. He'd originally planned never to let them inside the fortress, but Heigirt's southward advance had changed everything. We had no choice but to trust the barbarians.
Fortunately, they didn't show any particular insolence or cause any trouble. On the contrary, they joked around and roughhoused with our soldiers, trying to get along well enough. They even gifted us wild boars they'd hunted.
Exactly three days after the barbarians joined us, a earth-shaking roar came from the north, and Heigirt's army appeared. He hadn't just been sitting idle up there—he'd massively swelled his forces in the meantime.
What kind of sorcery had he worked while parked on his ass? It was unbelievable. Had he rounded up every last barbarian from the eastern frontiers of the empire?
We rubbed our eyes several times, but the enemy's numbers didn't change. Heigirt's army numbered close to fifty thousand by rough estimate. Fifty thousand! That was the population of an entire city.
If we couldn't stop them, the empire would face real peril.
I steeled my desperate resolve to block them—for Rica, and for the honor of my comrades.
I must stop them.
Feeling the weight on my shoulders, I sought out Rikius.
"Rikius!"
"Yes, Commander."
"Distribute salt to the men in advance, for use in battle. And make sure they have spare swords and shields."
"Understood."
I nodded, then noticed his hand looked empty.
"Where's the legion standard?"
"Senior Centurion Rober took it himself."
Rober? The old man was going to wave the legion standard personally? It'd be tough on him. I worried he might be pushing too hard.
"Got it."
I sent Rikius off and headed toward Ershiang's century arrayed beneath the watchtower.
"How many volleys can you support?"
"Sixty at best, then we're done."
Sixty.
That meant six thousand arrows total. Even if every shot killed one enemy, it wouldn't make much difference against Heigirt's horde. And that kind of exchange rate was impossible anyway. Hitting one out of a hundred would be lucky.
I asked Ershiang to start firing on my signal when I requested it.
Finishing the talk, I climbed up to the century, where the soldiers awaited me.
I raised my hand lightly to them. They responded with a short cheer. Looking them over, I spoke in a calm voice.
"Brothers. Yesterday and the day before, we fought ready to die in the field. And we survived. Today, a harder fight awaits us than before. But we've learned more since then, and grown stronger. Haven't we?"
The soldiers silently raised their shields in answer.
"I believe it. I believe our legion will survive today too. We'll see the sun rise tomorrow for sure, and we'll make Heigirt's face twist in rage."
"Long live Commander Ain!"
"The 16th Legion is invincible!"
I looked back at the soldiers, my face set with iron resolve.
The battle began the moment the noonday sun vanished behind the clouds. As the harsh light faded, Heigirt's army slowly encircled the city, gradually closing the distance.
It was a sinister movement, like a silk serpent swallowing an ostrich egg whole.
"Range one hundred!"
The lookout on the tower shouted. In the meantime, we'd done much to bolster the city's defenses. One key addition was the catapults assembled by legion hands.
They were makeshift, but better than nothing.
Rubiot raised his hand.
"Fire!"
Creak-thunk.
The tension released from the fully drawn wooden arms, hurling stones skyward.
Rocks the size of a full-grown man soon arced down into the barbarian cavalry ranks.
Neighhh!
Horses screamed, and barbarians' faces twisted in shock. Those crushed under the stones—man and beast alike—burst into bloody pulp without even a cry.
The catapults reloaded relentlessly, flinging more stones at the enemy.
"Range fifty!"
I raised my hand at the lookout's cry.
"Shields!"
Sure enough, countless arrows flew from the closing barbarians. As they shot while pointing at our positions, those who'd rushed to the walls dismounted and set ladders.
Peering through shield gaps at the enemy, I bellowed.
"Rikius! Signal!"
Rikius raised the hand gripping his sword toward Ershiang.
"Loose!"
Ershiang pulled his bowstring as if he'd been waiting.
The enemy, assuming we couldn't raise our heads under their arrow storm, frantically lifted shields against our sudden volley. That left only the ladder-climbers protruding, ignoring the rain.
Their timing had tangled. Now the rear barbarians couldn't freely shoot at us without risking their own.
I lowered my shield slightly, slashed a ladder with my blade, and yelled.
"Attack!"
We swung our swords furiously. Though their first move had snagged, the enemy boasted near-infinite numbers. Even with the barbarian allies and auxiliaries filling our walls solidly, the foe's might was overwhelming.
How long could we hold?
Still, with more than enough men for city defense, we wouldn't crumble easily.
I stomped the face of a barbarian soldier midway up a ladder with my hobnailed boot.
"Gah."
He screamed and plummeted.
After fighting awhile, thirst hit me. I pulled salt from the pouch at my belt and licked a bit.
It quenched the dry, bitter taste in my mouth.
Then I spotted the legion standard wobbling in the distance. Commander Rober was in danger.
"Rikius, take command."
"Commander, where are you—?"
"Going to help Senior Centurion Rober."
I hurriedly pointed out three or four nearby soldiers to follow me.
Rikius bellowed orders loudly, as if to imprint my absence from the men's minds.
I pushed through the fiercely battling legionaries toward the standard.
My god.
The 'Prince's Tower' holding the standard was swarming with enemies. Grim-faced barbarians trampled legionary corpses underfoot. Rober—where was Commander Rober!
I frantically searched for him. Rober was still alive. But covered head to toe in blood, teetering on collapse.
I roared like a lion and charged into the foes.
"Cover the commander!"
Soldiers shielded my flanks tightly as we advanced. Even so, every step forward was grueling.
"An imperial centurion, eh."
A barbarian smirked and leveled his sword at me.
Cheeky bastard. I'd eaten my share of salt for fifteen years. This green kid not even twenty yet.
The instant our blades met, I released my hilt and smashed his jaw with my fist.
As his mouth gaped from shock, I snatched his sword and slit his throat. Experience—that's the difference.
I crushed his face under my boot.
The imperial army might be soft, but not for punks like you to mock.
Starting with the kid, I soon claimed five more necks.
I'd begun as a common grunt, but I'd lived fifteen years on battlefields. That time forged me into a seasoned veteran. Milk-scented brats and brute-force barbarians held no terror.
"Come on, then!"
As I severed another neck and advanced, the barbarians looked cowed. Plenty among them could handle me, but none were here now.
Imperial Centurion Ain.
No one dared raise a blade before that name.
After cutting down a few whose nerve broke, I finally saw Rober's face.
I shouted to him with all my strength.
"Commander Rober! You alright?!"
He bared his teeth in a strained grimace.
I had to rescue him fast.
Then his shield slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.
"Ah."
Our eyes met for a brief moment. His gaze silently entrusted the rest to me.
Take care of the legion.
Less than a second later, his head fell.
Fury surged in my chest.
"You fucking dogs—I'll kill you all!"
Rober. Senior Centurion Rober.
In our short time together, he'd acted as a reliable, dependable superior. Always cautious in judgment, discussing with us, minimal errors in execution.
Because of him, we'd methodically done what we could amid the worst crisis. If luck had favored him, he'd have been legion commander—no, mobile field army commander.
Not a man to lose his head in this backwater.
I swung my sword madly.
Tears burned my cheeks uncontrollably.
That sacrificial first defense ended after two hours. Without Rober, the pillar of our remnant legion.
"With Senior Centurion Rober fallen, by custom, Deputy Centurion Ain should be promoted to acting in his place."
"Rubiot's right. From now on, you're legion commander proxy and senior centurion."
The centurions, suppressing heavy grief, offered handshakes. Rober's death shocked them too.
But we were commanders. No time to weep and wallow. Harsh as it was, we needed command solidified first, structure firm.
"I'll follow your words."
I accepted their endorsement with bloodshot eyes.
We quickly huddled and finalized the chain of command.
With hierarchy roughly set, I summoned the barbarian auxiliary and allied tribe commanders. They'd heard of Rober's death and offered condolences.
"Commander Rober was an excellent leader."
"Thank you. He'd appreciate the Black Wolf tribe's efforts too."
I replied to young Halcon.
As the barbarian commanders sat, we explained the new command structure and cooperation methods. They listened with keen interest.
Talks ended, and the barbarians bolted from the meeting like they'd grown bored sitting. The only one left was Kariste, brother of the Red Fox chieftain. The elderly man glanced around, then approached me.
"Commander. Got a moment?"
"Something specific?"
"I have things to discuss."
Sensing secrecy, I led him to the legion commander's room. Seated, Kariste spoke cautiously.
"Commander, how far do you trust our allied tribes?"
"You know the situation. You've got our backs."
Kariste gave a bitter smile.
"That's the problem. Our tribes will soon stab you in the back. We're in league with Heigirt. Today's fight was just a show to wring more concessions from him."
I was surprised but kept calm. Having suspected it once before, I'd half-expected it, preserving my composure.
"Why tell me this?"
Kariste clasped his wrinkled hands.
"You don't seem shocked. Makes me trust you more. You'd fight unshaken no matter what. Here's why.
Long ago, my young daughter crossed the border into the empire. I told the tribe she drowned in the river, but she married an imperial merchant and bore three children.
My grandsons. I've done nothing for them. When my brother ordered us to aid the empire, I resolved to face Heigirt for their sake.
But I only learned later we'd come here for Heigirt."
"Betraying your tribe for your daughter?"
"Everyone cherishes something. With age, warrior honor, status, chieftain's brother—none mattered. My distant blood kin was dearest. The tribe meant nothing before her."
I understood. If the empire threatened Rica's life, I'd have turned my sword too.
A pang of sympathy hit me as I met the old man's eyes.
"Even if you tell us, things might not change."
"I know. But better than doing nothing. I'm their grandfather, their father. I just want the legion to survive, to stand against Heigirt for them."
"Thank you for the truth, acting chieftain."
"Take my life if needed. Get out alive. With the legion."
I grasped his hand. For his kin, he'd wagered all, baring a heavy secret to me, the enemy. A remarkable man. A great father willing to sacrifice everything for family.
I overlaid his face with the hazy, bronze visage of my father from memory.
"Then help me. I need your strength."
"Gladly."
I whispered in Kariste's ear. He nodded gravely.
(To be continued)