[Mkguild] Roman Story part 35

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

Sorry for the delay in posting so here is the next part. 

Chris







   “Hewas the Legionnaire involved when we met with Gavrus about Mozta,” the tribunesaid.    TheLegion commander nodded his head. “He was the rude fox.”   Septimus nodded in agreement. “But he was absolutely correct on what washappening there.”    “I wassurprised by his admission of his ancestors. Also surprised that he didn’tattack Gavrus,” the Commander said. “That would have been inconvenient.”    “Butwell deserved.”   “Vinius knew what to do to contain him,” The Tribune countered. “Thisfox doesn’t seem the type to lash out blindly. He is also correct that thisissue will remain so long as Gavrus refuses to change.”    TheCommander sighed loudly and nodded his head.    “Heconsiders Gavrus a bigger threat than the Parthians,” the legate commented.“And I agree.”   “Something more permanent will eventually need to be done about Gavrus,”the commander said in a cold tone.   “What of the Prefect?” The Legate asked.    “Heis more interested in the Capital than anything happening here,” the commandercommented. “We need to wait for the right moment. When he is distracted.”    “Wecan always let Bitt deal with Gavrus,” The Legate said. “He would cheerfullykill him.”    “I will admit that I am surprised that he isfrom the Nine Clans,” the Legatius Legionis said. “But exactly how does thatchange things? He doesn’t seem to be inclined to restart a war over for acentury.”    As commander of the 76th legionthe praetorium the stag had was a large and lavish mansion. It was attached tothe rear of the Principia - the legion headquarters.    They were in the inner courtyard seatedaround a fountain whose water burbled and splashed, cooling everything. Thepraetorium had two courtyards. The outer was for the regular business ofrunning an empire legion. The inner was for personal affairs or things theLegatius wanted to be kept private. Like this meeting.    Septimus looked down at the cup of wine inhis hands. He watched the small bits of fruit in it float about for a moment.Reminding him of ships maneuvering in a sea battle. “Legend has it that whenemperor Marcus Anthemius Tarquinius decided to invade Teraloca the idea was nothis own.”    “That is hardly new information,” Thecommander responded. “It is well known that the Magna Bibliotheca seduced himinto it.”    “To get rid of an old enemy,” Vibinia said.The doe was seated next to her husband. “And remove a rival they were jealous of.”She had the same dark brown fur with white spots as her husband. The lady was tallerbut thinner than her partner. She was wearing a long-pleated dress that flowedall the way to the floor. It was a dark blue and had silver edging and matchingflowers across it. Prominently displayed on her right shoulder as a fist sized goldbrooch of the charging bull emblem of the 76th.    “The Baile Eolais,” officer responded. “Thename means Home of Knowledge.”    “It’s open knowledge,” the doe said. “Thatthe Grand Library forces assaulted that library. Killed all inside, destroyedthe building and took away all the knowledge.”    The oryx shook his head. “That is theofficial story. The one in our own official history of the legion.”    “Are you telling us it’s wrong?” she asked.    “Wrong? I am not sure. I have heard,” thelegate hesitated. Looking for the right word. “Rumors. Stories that beforeSenaloca fell they hid the library. Or at least parts of it.”    “Unconfirmed rumors and legends,” the doecountered with a dismissive wave of the hand. “Another tale of lost treasure.”    The Legate shrugged. “Perhaps. But whatisn’t a rumor is that some of Cairrge Brachaidhe survived. That clan survivesto this day. He is proof of that.”    The stag shook his head. “You cannot becertain of that. What do your other sources know of Senaloca?”    “Little,” Septimus answered. “Tirontach is along distance from here. I have been worrying about closer threats.”    The doe laughed. “We have enough moderntroubles to handle without an old enemy reappearing.”    “I’m not certain he is an enemy. He hasserved the legion well,” Septimus responded. “But he does need to be watched.Carefully.”    “Agreed.”    Septimus nodded his head. “He did quite wellwith my little test,”    “Perhaps we need one more,” The stagcommented.  *******************     A day later Bitt was called out of formationfor a special award. He marched forward and stopped two paces from the LegatiusLegionis. The stag was in full dress uniform and it showed his many awards forvalor and bravery.    “Your intelligent and common-sense handlingof a very difficult situation undoubtedly saved many lives,” Tironicus saidloud enough for all to hear. He extended his hand and in it was a phalera ofbronze. On it was engraved the image of an owl.    Bitt took the award and saluted hiscommander. He ran a finger along the image of the owl. He laughed at someprivate joke. “An owl,” he whispered, almost too low to hear.    “Seemed appropriate,” the stag responded.    The fox looked up sharply and stared at thestag for a moment. He seemed about to speak but ultimately kept quiet. “Thankyou.”
    “We cannot doubt his loyalty to the Legion,”She said. “He’s served honorably.”    “He is clan Brachaidhe,” the legateinsisted. “The fox has been looking for and buying old relics from themarketplace. Specifically, Clan Brachaidhe relics the most.”    “And if the clan survived than so did somepart of the library,” Septmus announced.    “That’s a bold statement to make,” the stagcommented in disbelief. “But it makes sense. Disperse your assets to where theenemy cannot capture them.”    “What worries me is if the Baile Eolais hassurvived and Bitt is a member of it than the Magna Bibliotheca will come afterhim,” The legate commented.    “And they are an enemy of the Legion,”Tertius said coldly.    His wife nodded in agreement. “They havealways been.”    “We already have Bibliotheca here,” the stagadded. “Of that I am sure. They’ve never forgiven the Legion for what happenedback 1115. And for the treasures they say the 76th stole from them.”    Tertius shook his head. “And we have neverforgiven them for what they did to the 76th.”    “And the treasure they say the Legion stolefrom them truly belonged to the people of Tirontach,” The legate added. “Theydestroyed a great library out of jealously.”    “That explains what the fox is doing here!”The doe exclaimed. “He was sent here to recover lost items. Things taken by thelegion back then.”    “Would the Bibliotheca attack him here?” Thedoe asked. “Would they attack a serving Legionnaire? That would be consideredan attack on the Legion itself.”    “An excellent question,” her husband added.    The oryx shrugged. “I’m not sure. I don’tthink even they would usually dare attack a Legionnaire on active service. Butthis feud is old and bitter.”  ********************     Bitt spent a lot of free time in the Principiareading the Legion’s history of the Cartillia campaign, making corrections andslowly copying it.    He was busy copying one day when Tullusapproached him.     “If you are interested in the Cartilliumcampaign,” Tullus said. “Your interest has me searching the records and I foundsomething curious.” The hyena scribe handed a scroll to Bitt. “It’s a long listof troops but not Legionnaires or auxilia. And certainly not Parthian either.Some seem to be Hurrian.”    Curious, Bitt examined the list.    It was actually 2 lists. Running down thesheet side by side. Before                                        After300 Hoplite                                 25 400 Machimoi                             47
300 Psioli                                    49100 Ekdromoi                             15 75   Kalese                                   0
12 Fomorians                              245 Sileraioi                                  12
350 Epistates                               125 
75 Archontes(singular -Archon)     4
??Strategos   1 August 1165ER    “It’s obviously a list of troops. Irecognize the first few as types of soldiers. I’ve seen them on old documents.But whose? They’re not Legionnaires or he would call them Sagitarri not Psioli,”the scribe commented. “That’s a Hurrian word. But the date listed is far toolate for them to be Hurrian. And Before and After what? The invasion? Siege ofthe capital?”    “I know that date. It’s the day the siege ofthe city started. Who wrote this up?” Bitt asked.    “A Legionnaire,” the scribe answered. “Hewas obviously keeping account of someone’s troops but whose? They are certainlynot Legion nor Parthian nor Gealach.”    Bitt pointed to the last two entries. “Theseare Magna Bibliotheca titles. I recognize those. This must be a list of thetroops they took to the siege of Senaloca. And Before and After the attack onthe Grand Library there. The date listed would match the siege.”    “Whatis a Fomorian?” The hyena asked.    The fox shrugged and shook his head. “Somesupposedly legendary monster. Tall as a mountain. I didn’t think they actuallyexisted.”    Thehyena ran a finger down the list. “These losses are terrible.”    Bittnodded in agreed. “The Library went down hard,” he said with smug satisfaction.  **************** 
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