Chapter 44: Entry into the Capital (4)
The soldiers of the Atillca legion had locked me in their legion commander's quarters for the time being. But it was clear from their faces that my words had thrown them into considerable confusion.
With tens of thousands of barbarians invading the homeland right now, tying me up here wasn't going to solve anything.
I was the rising general who had racked up victory after victory for the empire, the "Wall of the Empire" guarding our borders. Without me, their hometowns would be swept in flames before long. At least, that's what I could see flickering in their eyes. I planned to cleverly exploit their dilemma.
They'd unexpectedly killed off all the officers, but as expected, these men weren't exactly skilled at using their heads.
Of course, legionnaires could read and write, so they weren't complete idiots, but soldiers had their limits.
An hour later, one of them came to see me. I sank deeper into the chair and spoke first.
"What about the soldiers who escorted me?"
"We've just detained them. We haven't laid a hand on them otherwise."
"Not stupid, then. So, have you talked it over?"
"We can't fully trust what you say, Governor. If barbarians had crossed over, rumors would have spread beforehand."
"Foolish talk. You know how weak the frontier legions have become. We don't have the manpower to watch every inch of the border. Besides, their main force is cavalry. They can move faster than any horse messenger."
My words carried weight. It wasn't impossible if it had really happened. The man pondered for a moment, his face troubled.
"I don't have time for this. While we dawdle here, the barbarians are steadily marching toward victory. Choose. Will you offer up your women and lands to the barbarians?
Or swear loyalty to me and follow. If you fight the barbarians under my command, I'll rule that the ringleaders of this incident died in battle against them. What do you say?"
I'd dangled the perfect bait. They weren't immune to worry for their families. Plus, I'd opened a loophole to escape punishment for treason. The man's expression shifted by the second. My words had shaken him.
"How can we believe you?"
"Who do you think I am?"
I rose from my seat as I spoke. The red eagle cloak billowed open around me.
"I am the Wall of the Empire."
The man bit his lip as our eyes met head-on.
"Fine. I'll consult with my comrades."
"The sooner your answer, the better."
I sent him off and let out a smirk.
Of course, it was all a lie. Men who killed their superiors no longer deserved to be treated as honorable eagles.
I vowed to kill every last ringleader. It was the only way to restore discipline in the legion.
And I had the confidence to do it.
This place had been a death trap at first, but the moment they started listening to me, the tables turned. They couldn't touch me, but I could kill them. Once they released me, I could sweep them away at the right moment.
It might be a sly trick, dishonorable even.
But I had to do it.
The empire's safety and the legion's discipline outweighed my personal honor.
I gazed at the long shadow stretching across the window, then closed my eyes.
The Atillca legion's representatives ultimately decided to release me. They'd chosen to believe the words of a man renowned across the empire.
It might seem like they'd fallen for an enemy's words too easily, but considering their mindset, it was only natural. If there was even a slim chance I was telling the truth, they'd pay with their hometowns and families. Who could stomach that?
They were simple soldiers who'd killed their superiors just to avoid the frontier. There was no way such men had the guts or boldness to test my words. This outcome had been inevitable.
I stared down at the legionnaires kneeling before me and opened my mouth.
"A wise choice. Had you not decided, you would surely have paid a terrible price."
"We believe you'll keep your promise."
One of them said.
"Of course I'll keep it. I've never broken a promise made to those under my protection."
They looked visibly relieved at my words. With all my battle honors making me sound like a "legend," they seemed convinced there'd be no betrayal now that I'd sworn it.
Fools.
I mounted the horse they'd brought.
"Our legion will obey your orders too. What should we do now?"
One asked me. The brazen one who'd first called me a "vice commander."
If I told the truth—that I'd slaughter them as Praetorian Guardsmen—they'd yank me off the horse and lock me up again. Obedience be damned.
I sneered inwardly.
"Our army is nearby. You need to join them there. Can you do it?"
When I told them to bring the whole legion, not just a few, they didn't look too uneasy.
I led the Atillca legion on the march toward the border village where our army was stationed. I'd originally aimed to neutralize them, but since they'd stirred things up this badly, it looked like I'd have to swallow the Atillca legion whole.
An uncontrollable army could bolt anywhere, so taking command made sense anyway.
To avoid raising their suspicions, I kept my barbarian auxiliaries at a distance. They didn't seem too anxious.
Using the excuse of joining my legion, I sent a messenger ahead. Militarily, it was harmless, so they suspected nothing. They trusted my promise. They'd banked on my reputation and the terror of barbarians, abandoning all thought.
'In the end, those who stop thinking are doomed to suffer. If Heigirt hadn't taught me, I might have ended up like you. But I'm different.'
I ordered the messenger to bring Rikius and my guards.
Just before dawn, Rikius and his men galloped up under the 16th Legion's banner. As they arrived, I raised my hand calmly.
"We see you, Governor."
The soldiers dismounted and saluted me.
"Good timing. Introduce yourselves. These are the Atillca legion's representatives."
"You greet our soldiers too. You'll be fighting together soon enough."
I urged the Atillca representatives to mingle. The mood was cordial.
But Rikius had already caught the suspicious nuance in my words.
Legion representatives? Officers were never called that. He fiddled with his sword belt as if he'd heard me clearly.
The men approached Rikius's group with smiles.
"I'm Betelius of the Atillca legion."
"Maverus here."
As they extended hands in greeting, Rikius glanced my way. I nodded with cold eyes.
Slash!
Rikius suddenly drew his sword and took one's head. The others panicked in shock. The "vice commander" bellowed, face red.
"What the—!"
Rikius and his men hacked at them furiously, giving no chance to react. A few desperately drew swords, but the sudden assault left them helpless.
Maverus shouted desperately at his comrades.
"Betrayal! They planned to kill us from the start!"
As the flustered Atillca soldiers moved to intervene, I drew my sword and thrust it into the ground. They flinched at the motion.
"Honorable eagles of the Atillca legion, hear me. You have committed a grave sin no soldier should. You killed your superiors and betrayed the empire. Did you not swear loyalty to the emperor and empire every New Year's dawn?"
"You filthy—"
Betelius didn't finish his curse before Rikius's blade took his head. The fool's head rolled to my feet with a dumb look frozen on it.
I continued to the soldiers as if nothing had happened.
"I believe you are innocent. A few agitators are the problem. But if you draw swords here, I'll treat you as rebels. If you have the courage, draw them. I am Ain, the one who defends the empire against barbarians."
I glared at the legionnaires, my red cloak fluttering.
The soldiers hesitated as their leaders' heads fell, some frozen by the loss of direction, others cowed by my presence as the empire's governor.
Had they drawn first, they might have fought to the end, but I'd stopped them in time.
Once the deed was done, Rikius shook the blood from his blade and approached.
"It's finished."
"Well done. They murdered their superiors and harbored treason against the emperor. Cut off their heads, impale them on pikes, and leave the bodies in the fields for the wolves."
"Yes, sir!"
As Rikius handled the dead traitors, the soldiers wore conflicted expressions, unsure what to do.
I offered them the carrot.
"If you won't strike at me, submit. I'll grant you honor and the emperor's grace. The emperor has always been generous to those loyal to the empire. If you draw swords for His Majesty, he'll gladly reward you."
At the word "reward," the conflicted soldiers glanced at each other, then knelt one by one. Some shouted.
"Long live Emperor Baccus! The Atillca legion swears loyalty to Emperor Baccus!"
Indeed, striking the heads first then dangling the carrot worked wonders. Historically, some legion commanders had quelled mutinies this way—quietly summoning and killing the ringleaders. I'd chosen the bold frontal approach.
Either way, catching them off-guard and taking the heads crushed the rebellion.
Thus, I seized the Atillca legion.
Its unexpected fall into my hands wasn't without issues. With all officers dead, the command structure was in shambles. I hastily promoted decurions and centurions from the 16th Legion to key Atillca posts.
But stacking only my officers risked resentment, so I elevated a few standout Atillca soldiers to junior roles. Temporary measures, all.
I wrapped up the takeover and continued south along the highway. When I'd first entered the homeland, I had only 2,000 men. Now, with Atillca added, 8,000 marched under my command. Enough to challenge the Praetorians head-on.
Still, a pitched battle was problematic.
With the disorganized Atillca as our mainstay, a decisive field engagement felt like too much risk.
And I lacked full confidence in the legion's performance.
Engaging without trust in your own forces was the mark of a fool commander.
Of course, there was no need for battle just yet. The capital's Praetorians must be in chaos over sudden barbarian attack rumors.
With luck, deserters might even appear. Those frontier-fearing cowards could flee rather than face the enemy.
Play it right, and we could strike with their numbers thinned.
But first, before the capital, I needed to meet Consul Marius.
I led the army south at leisure, linking up with the consul—who was assembling suppression forces—in the central town's small city of Antion.
Consul Marius.
He was a sixties senator elevated to consul alongside the emperor this year. Given that joint consuls were usually imperial favorites, he was purely Baccus's man.
Unlike Baccus, though, Marius wasn't incompetent.
In his youth, he'd quelled four empire rebellions and repelled two major barbarian northern invasions. A veteran commander.
Now retired from the front lines, his prime had made him a general the empire could boast of.
Baccus had tasked him with suppressing this Praetorian revolt for that reason.
"Consul."
I dismounted, arm across chest in salute. The silver-haired elder smiled, approached, and clasped my hand.
"You've had a long journey. Well done, Governor Ain. I've heard how you toil daily on the northern frontier for the empire."
"You're too kind."
"I'm truly sorry to summon a general of your caliber from the border for this mutiny. It's shameful, in a way."
"Not at all, sir. The empire's enemies fall to the eagles—that's our duty."
"Thank you for saying so. Come, let's go in."
Marius took my hand and led me to the three-story villa he'd made his quarters. Overlooking the town square with the harbor nearby.
One might call it cowardly—perfect for flipping swords and fleeing if things turned.
Wrong. With no trusted men under him, he needed every precaution. It showed his prudence.
In his quarters, I got a rundown of his assembled forces and informed him of my Atillca takeover. We began planning the Praetorian suppression and capital reclamation.
(To be continued next time)