[Mkguild] Roman Story 15

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

    All the members of Bitt’s contubernium linedup in formation. Instead of their usual, real weapons they were issued thewooden swords used for training. All the legionnaires in the century were soequipped. Eachcontubernium found themselves facing another one at one corner of the field.   The contuberniumwas standing in two rows and Bitt found himself standing in the front rank. Tossius wason his left and Eteiwion the right.  Behind him wasDecebalus.    Facing them, some twenty pedes away wasanother contubernium. Also in two ranks. Bitt noticed all these Legionnaireswere prey species. His own was only predator species.    Standing exactly between them was the LegioLegatus. In one hand the buck had a thin pole with a large red cloth tied toone end. “This is to test the skills of individual legionnaires and theirContubernium,” the Legio Legatus explained. “All the big battles get the gloryand tales told about them. But such fights are rare. Mostly it’s you and yourContuberium facing an equal number of some enemy. Usually on some back road orin some small, nameless village. All you can depend on is yourself and yourcomrades in your contubernium.”    He waved the pole about. “The object of thisis this cloth. He pointed to the prey contubernium. “Your task is to get thiscloth off this post and take it back to where you are standing now.”  Thecommander walked over to Bitt’s unit and planted the post in the ground rightin front of the fox. “Your task is to keep them from doing that.”    He walked back to the center. “The winnersget a week’s leave.” With that he turned and walked off to the side.    “Contubernium,” Vinius ordered. “Two stepsforward. March.”    In unison the unit stepped forward and Bitthad to carefully step around the pole. This put the pole in the middle of thegroup, surrounded by legionnaires.    “Lock shields!” Came the shout from the preyunit. In a moment the legionnaires came together and what had been legionnairesstanding in loose formation became a solid wall of wood and iron.    The fight turned into a free for all ofpushing, shoving, jabbing.    Bitt found himself facing a rabbit who was agood amount taller and heavier. “Tú a mhuc ag ól!!!” He shouted.    “Bitt,” someone shouted. “Stop shouting inGaelach.”    “Die you stinking, Roman pig!” The foxshouted.    Bitt threw his weight behind his shield andshoved hard against the rabbit’s shield. The lapine was physically heavier andthe fox was pushed back into Decebalus. The wolf was standing close behind Bittwith his shield raised.    The wolf shoved forward with his whole body,physically shoving Bitt and the rabbit backward. He found himself beingsqueezed from two sides as both rabbit and wolf pushed. His shield was pressedhard against his chest. “You’re crushing me!”    “Shove you idiot!” Decebalus snarled andpushed even harder.    “Fight smarter. Not harder,” His father’swords came to him. “Bitt you are too small to just bully and shove your way ina fight. God gave you a sharp mind use it.” He let go of his shield and sliddown to the ground.    Rabbit and wolf slammed into each other asthe block between them vanished.    Beneath them Bitt was in a world of legs andpaws shuffling around. He used both arms to knock the legs out from under therabbit and the lapine dropped to the ground with a shout. He turned and seeinganother pair of legs pointing in the right direction; knocked them over too.    Bitt found himself surrounded on two sidesby really seriously angry rabbits. He managed to punch one before they bothpiled onto him. In the struggle that followed they succeeded in knocking overtwo more of the prey legionnaires.    It was several minutes before the LegioLegatus called a halt. It took longer to untangle the people. “Whichone of you flea-bitten Long Ears bit me,” Bitt snarled as he rubbed his rightarm.    “Maybe he wanted to see if you tasted good,”Tossius joked.    “Who has the clothe?” The stag asked as helooked around. There seemed to be no trace of it.    “I do,” Eteiwi said. He pulled the redclothe off of his belt where he had tucked it for safe keeping.    “That was terrible,” The commander said.“Both were lacking in subtlety and tactics.”    The stag walked up to Bitt. “And you,legionnaire. What were you doing, dropping to the ground like that? If that hadbeen a real battle you would be dead.”    “Sir,” the fox answered calmly. “It wasn’t areal fight. No one was supposed to get killed.”    “You should treat every fight like one whereyou could be killed,” he countered.    “Yes sir,” The fox answered and paused for amoment. “So. Did we win?”  ******************     All forts in the Roman empire are laid outthe same. Even if it’s a temporary camp full of tents. Bitt should have foundhis destination easily. But once he was actually wandering around; he got lost.All the tents looked alike in the half light of the setting sun. He refused tostop and ask directions but eventually he located the right tent.    A group of eight legionnaires was sittingaround a small fire. He recognized one as the rabbit who he’d knocked to theground.    The rabbit looked up from the fire andscowled. “Are you here to gloat?”  Hesnapped.    “No. I’m here to make a little peaceoffering,” Bitt answered and held up a jug. “A good vintage peace offering.”    The group all clustered close. “Well, I’mglad to accept your offer.”  *****************
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