Marius' Mules II: The Belgae (23 page)

“
What is the name of Venus do you think you’re doing,
Fronto?”

The legate
smiled what he hoped was a disarming smile, actually the one his
sister always said made him look constipated.

“
Alright, Caesar. I’ve worked it out. I know you’re waiting for
something, but we really need to know what. Your officers are quite
capable of planning actions both offensive and defensive, but if we
don’t know what’s going on, we can’t plan for anything.”

Caesar
narrowed his eyes, and Fronto continued.

“
Look, I don’t know what the secrecy is about, but I can tell
you that just wandering along as though you haven’t a care in the
world, settling in behind fortifications while the population of
the northern world gathers nearby is just going to make you look
either indecisive or cowardly.”

Caesar’s eyes
flashed dangerously.

“
I’m not saying that’s what you are, general, but that’s what
people are going to think. If, as I assume, you have a good reason
for waiting here, you need to tell people what it is.”

The general
shook his head.

“
I cannot afford to have certain things become common knowledge
ahead of time, Fronto. My army is riddled with treacherous Romans
trying to undermine me and Gallic sympathisers who leak information
to the Belgae. I trust most of my officers, but this incident with
Paetus has just made me question how far that trust can really be
extended.”

Caesar sighed
and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.

“
You, Fronto, are the most insolent, arrogant and obstinate man
in my army. And don’t think I haven’t contemplated sending you
back, many times…”

He leaned
forward.

“
After all, no commander, no matter how clever he is, is worth
the trouble we have to put up with from you. But that’s only half
of it. There is hardly an officer in my army I can trust fully. All
of them have some political game going on at some level… except
you. And that’s why I can’t have you arguing with me and gainsaying
me in front of the others. I need them to know you’re with me and
to understand why I don’t send you home.”

Fronto
shrugged.

“
If that’s the case then at least confide in me. You know damn
well I’m not going to go shouting your plans to the Belgae or
sending letters to the senate.”

He
laughed.

“
Hell, I never even get round to sending a letter to my
sister!”

Caesar sat
back again, thoughtfully.

“
The reason, Fronto, that I was getting so damned angry with
you just now, is that you already know the answer to this! And you
are the only person in the whole army that does already know.
Focus, man. What could I be waiting for?”

Fronto
blinked.

“
What?”

“
The Aedui” Caesar said with a sigh. “Divitiacus and his
tribesmen are busy hacking and burning their way through the lands
of the Bellovaci. They’re closing on our position as we
speak.”

Fronto
grinned.

“
Caught between two armies. Now I see what’s happening. You
want to hold off until the Aedui are close and you can pin them and
crush them in one fell swoop!”

Caesar
sighed.

“
When will you realise that I’m not completely helpless,
Fronto?”

* * * * *

Fronto stood
on the causeway with Tetricus and Priscus, peering up and down the
defensive trench that cut a line across the flat ground before the
fort, just under a mile away. The shadow in the trench was dark and
deep as the sun sank quickly now toward the western horizon.

“
Are we really going to hole up here and wait for the Belgae to
get stronger?” Priscus grumbled. “You may have had your fun at
Bibrax, but my lads are itching to kick a few Belgae.”

Fronto
smiled.

“
I’m sure you’ll get the chance shortly. Caesar’s got something
up his sleeve. Just be patient.”

Once more he
shaded his eyes and examined Tetricus’ handiwork. The ditch was
wide enough to roll a cart back and forth across the bottom and
deep enough that a man could break his leg if he fell. It really
was impressive for only a few hours work. Now, men were working on
the inner side shaping a rampart from the excavated earth and
planting a palisade atop it. On the berm between the mound and the
ditch, men in small groups worked to dig and disguise lilia. At
each end of the fortification, a small but heavily defensible
fortlet protected artillery platforms onto which the ballistae and
onagers were now being manoeuvred. All in all it was impressive.
Probably unnecessary, given the approaching Aedui force, but then
only he and Caesar knew that.

Priscus
snorted.

“
I hate defences and sieges. Give me a good open field and a
sword any day.”

Fronto opened
his mouth to reply, but closed it again when he saw, over Priscus’
shoulder, legate Balbus of the Eighth striding down to the
causeway.

“
Evening all. That’s looking very strong.”

The older
legate nodded appreciatively as he looked up and down the defences.
Fronto smiled.

“
Afternoon stroll, Quintus?”

Balbus
chuckled.

“
Not quite. Now most of the work’s done, Caesar wants the
legions moved forward to the new line and camped behind it. I think
he’s worried that the Belgae think we’ve lost interest.”

Fronto
nodded.

“
He doesn’t want to commit to battle yet, but the last thing we
want them to do is to leave. Are we dismantling the main
camp?”

Balbus shook
his head.

“
The reserves are to stay in the camp.”

“
Reserves? We have reserves?”

Balbus nodded
wearily.

“
You’ve been busy, so you’ve not seen what’s been happening.
The two new legions have all but cut themselves off. None of the
veterans will talk to them, because they’re Gaulish foederati who
don’t speak Latin well. There have been fights and arguments;
thefts and vandalism. It’s turning into an administrative
nightmare. My officers are spending most of their time policing the
men.”

He sighed.

“
I spoke to Caesar about integration. I was seriously
considering transferring some of the eighth out to them and taking
some of them back in return, but Caesar won’t have it. He doesn’t
think it’ll improve morale in general, so much as destroy the
morale of the Eighth. It is entirely possible that he’s right as
well.”

Fronto nodded
and Balbus squared his shoulders.

“
So essentially Caesar’s separating the forces. The Thirteenth
and Fourteenth, as reserves, are going to stay in the camp while
the other five legions move up to the new line.”

“
I suppose it’s a solution for now. Things will have to change
eventually though.”

With a nod to
Tetricus and Priscus, Fronto joined Balbus and the two began to
stroll back up the grass towards the camp.

They had
walked less than fifty yards before they became aware of the sound
of thundering hooves behind them. Stopping and turning, they saw
half a dozen cavalry riding for the camp gate. Among them, Fronto
noted the plume of a senior officer. Waving his arm, he stepped out
towards them.

“
Ho, Varus! What’s happening?”

The commander
of the cavalry steered his horse toward the two legates with a deft
twist of his knees.

“
We’ve got trouble. Another big force of Belgae has turned up a
few miles further out.”

Fronto
narrowed his eyes.

“
You sure they were Belgae?”

“
What? Yes of course I’m sure.”

“
They couldn’t be any other sort of Gauls?” Fronto probed
gently.

Varus stared
at him.

“
What the hell have you been drinking, Fronto.”

Gritting his
teeth, he dropped from the horse lightly to the grass.

“
No, these are definitely Belgae. At least ten thousand of
them; maybe fifteen. And they’ll be in camp with their friends in
an hour or so.”

“
Damn it!”

Fronto ground
his teeth.

“
Caesar’s plans are just going to have to change. At the very
least we need to whittle their numbers down while we
wait.”

He looked up
at Varus.

“
Balbus and I are coming with you to see Caesar.”

“
We are?” the older legate said with mild surprise and then
hurried to catch up with the other two, Fronto walking with his
hands clasped behind his back and his head down, Varus leading his
horse by the bridle as his troopers went to water and rest their
steeds.

“
We’re going to have to goad them into sending some kind of
force out somewhere we can meet them,” Fronto murmured. “I don’t
suppose you could get your cavalry round behind them and destroy
this relief force?”

Varus shook
his head.

“
Not really. Not in time. We’d likely end up trapped between
two armies of Belgae.”

“
Then we’re going to have to either provoke them into coming to
us or find another way to pick off a number of them. Your man
Lucilius did a good job earlier. Maybe he could think of
something?”

Varus
shrugged.

“
Whatever we try, the terrain will be dangerous and the Belgae
will be well prepared.”

He looked up
into the purple sky.

“
And it’s too late to do anything tonight anyway. It’ll have to
be in the morning.”

Fronto
nodded.

“
Fair enough. Gives us a night to work something out
anyway.”

He smiled at
Balbus.

“
Actually, I think I’ve changed my mind. I’ve seen quite enough
of Caesar for one day. Priscus will deal with moving the Tenth, and
I presume you’ve set Balventius to moving your lot. Shall we retire
to my tent for a beverage or two? It seems like an awful long time
since I’ve seen you socially.”

Balbus
chuckled, rubbing his fist.

“
That it does. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, the last time I
had to break your nose!”

Fronto smiled
weakly.

“
Yes, well…”

He turned to
Varus.

“
After you’ve reported to Caesar, come join us. We should
talk.”

Varus
nodded.

“
I’ll find you.”

It was a
little less than an hour later, with the last glow of the sun
finally vanishing in the west, when Varus, divested of his armour
and weapons and looking tired though relaxed in just tunic and
breeches, finally knocked on Fronto’s tent.

“
Come on in.”

He blinked as
his eyes adjusted to the low lamp light. Fronto’s tent looked
exactly how Varus would have imagined: the furniture was pushed
back against the walls, heaped with dirty clothes and junk, his
armour in a pile near the door where he had dropped it, and the
centre of the tent covered with rugs and cushions, all set around a
low table on which sat a pair of dice, several piles of sesterces
and goblets and jugs of wine.

In addition to
Fronto and Balbus, the training officer of the Tenth, centurion
Velius, and Aulus Crispus, legate of the Eleventh, sat around
drinking and laughing. With a smile, Varus sank gratefully into a
pile of cushions.

“
Gentlemen.”

As he sat,
Fronto leaned back and his face became serious for a moment.

“
Is there anyone around outside?”

Varus shook
his head.

“
Not nearby. Why?”

Fronto
sighed.

“
There’s something I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but I’m
going to anyway.”

Balbus raised
an eyebrow.

“
Very mysterious. You shouldn’t pass on secrets,
Marcus.”

Fronto laughed
quietly.

“
I don’t think it should be a secret. Caesar wants it kept
under wraps because he’s starting to get paranoid about people in
his army being untrustworthy or leaking information to the
Belgae.”

He cast a
glance round the room and smiled.

“
But I’d be willing to bet my career on you lot.”

It was true.
Balbus had no political leanings and Velius was a career centurion
with no position in Rome. There was no guarantee that Crispus and
Varus had no other agenda but, apart from the fact that they owed
their commissions to Caesar, something about the pair of them just
sat well with Fronto. He would be prepared to trust any one of
these men with his life.

“
Thing is… I know why we’re sitting tight and not engaging the
Belgae.”

He leaned
back, noting with interest the intrigued look on the faces of all
of his companions expect Balbus, who merely nodded
thoughtfully.

“
The Aedui” he stated and leaned back.

Balbus nodded
again.

“
I had a suspicion” he confirmed. “Didn’t want to voice it,
since Caesar clearly intended to keep this quiet, but there was a
glaring hole in Caesar’s attack plan, and there was only one
logical solution.”

Fronto
smiled.

“
You’re ahead of the game, Quintus. Yes, Divitiacus and a
sizeable Aedui army have been traipsing through the western edge of
the Belgae lands, burning as they go. The Bellovaci tribe, I think
it is.”