Tristan's Story
Chapter Eight
The Gauntlet
"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." John Powell
As he walked back, Rufus observed the camp protected from the darkness by the warm flickering campfires while automatically ticking off the status of the encampment procedures in his well ordered mind. The picket was set. The horses had been hitched, brushed down, fed and watered and were now contentedly dozing, their tails the only thing betraying movement as they occasionally swished to dislodge biting insects.
Their dinner of hardtack and watered mead consumed, if not relished, the younger legionnaires were busying themselves with the sharpening of weapons, or the fletching of arrows, too nervous to just sit quietly. Most of the rest were just staring into the fire, a look of resignation upon their faces. These, of course, were the veterans…the ones who recognized and even appreciated the need for discipline for they had been in the army long enough to have witnessed what could happen without it.
Rufus entered his papilio to complete the preparations he'd been working on since making camp earlier. He retrieved the prescribed herbs from his neatly kept apothecary bag and began mixing the salve that would later be applied to the boy's backs. He already had water heating in an iron pot suspended over the nearest fire outside. In addition to the poppy tea he would give them, some of this water would be cooled and used to rinse and wash their wounds before they were smeared with the healing herbal salve and bandaged. His linen bandaging strips were already neatly laid out and ready. Allotted his own papilio because of his rank, Rufus had prepared it tonight to hold three. He would keep the boys with him until he was assured of their healing.
The Optio sat back on his heels thinking through the steps he'd outlined in his mind, double checking everything to ensure he'd forgotten nothing. He wanted this to go as smoothly as possible. The faster everything was done once they started, the less dread and fear the boys would experience. The punishment was bad enough; he had no desire to add to it, even though he recognized the fact that they'd brought this on themselves by disobeying the commander's order. He sighed and shook his head. This was the third group of Sarmatians he'd conscripted in his tenure, and they always did that in the beginning, though they usually waited until they were in Britain. Why did they always have to test the commander's resolve? Tonight would be a painful lesson, but a valuable lesson. He sincerely hoped it would be all the lesson they needed. The life of a soldier was punishing enough without asking for more. Finishing his inventory, he was glad he had remembered to order Lucius to take first watch with Patrobas so that the boy would be spared this spectacle so soon after his previous disciplinary experience.
Rufus rose and, pushing back the flap, exited his papilio. To his left he could see the Sarmatian boys off to themselves, like they normally were, though tonight there was no soft laughter or story telling. They sat quietly, for the most part, lending what emotional strength they could to Lamorak and Gareth.
All conversation, what little there had been, stopped as Rufus approached the boys. Fifteen pairs of eyes watched his approach, and dread was clearly written on each face. In Lancelot's case, dread and guilt were visible. Rufus made a mental note to follow up on that. The purpose of this exercise was to teach them the consequences of disobedience, not so embitter them that they were untrainable. Rufus motioned for Dagonet and Brumear to follow him, and continued on past the boys and into the treeline.
Dagonet and Brumear cast quick, confused looks at each other but promptly rose to follow the Roman. Neither one had any taste to try his patience, tonight of all nights. The remaining boys fell into a morose silence as the pair followed Rufus into the night.
"Why don't they just get it over with?" blurted Lamorak. "I can't stand much more of this waiting."
"I'm sorry," whispered Lancelot. "This is all my fault."
The boys were surprised to hear him speak, for Lancelot had refused to talk the entire day. Most of them wanted to say something to ease his guilt and the other pair's fear, but just did not know how or what to say.
"N, No, Lancelot," stuttered Gareth, "that's not true. We chose to follow you. D, Do not blame yourself."
"Why isn't the commander punishing Lancelot?" gagged Pelleas, trying futilely to calm his heaving stomach. "Sorry," he finished up, "nerves always go straight to my stomach."
"Ha," barked Bors, "remind me not to fight beside Pelleas."
Nervous laughter met the "gallows humor" briefly breaking the tension as they each settled back to their own thoughts.
Tristan sat off to the side where he could keep watch over Lionel as well as Lancelot. He had, in fact, given much thought as to why Lancelot was not being punished, seeking to remember every lesson his father had ever taught him about the Romans and their ways. Since the night Lancelot had come to him by the river's side, he had felt a bond with the boy, and Tristan sympathized with the torment Lance was suffering. Tristan thought he knew some of what Lancelot was feeling, for Tristan has pledged to protect Lionel and would bear any hardship or burden for him. The very idea that Lionel could be punished for something Tristan had done was onerous to him. His eyes drifted to the forest where Dagonet and Brumear had followed Rufus and he wondered where Quentas was and what he was thinking.
Stopping a number of yards from camp, Rufus turned and waited for the two puzzled boys to reach him. He was somewhat amused to see them stop several feet away from him. "Come closer, boys, I don't want this shouted all over camp. You must not fear me."
Swallowing hard, Dagonet stepped up to Rufus, followed closely by Brumear.
Rufus came straight to the point, as was his wont. "Dagonet, you are the oldest of the group, and Brumear, you are the steadiest. The two of you will act as seconds for Lamorak and Gareth. Dagonet, you will take Lamorak, for he is larger then Gareth and your strength may be required to carry him."
"What does that mean, be their second?" asked Dagonet. "I do not understand your ways."
"It means this," explained Rufus. "You will remove their shirts. They will be sentenced to run through a gauntlet of the soldiers who will beat them across the back with balteus'. Tell them to do their best to act with courage, for they will earn the respect of all present if they do. Advise them to run quickly and, if they fall or falter, to rise promptly for the beating will not stop until they exit the gauntlet."
"So you're not going to kill them!" proclaimed Brumear, brightening considerably as the realization sunk in.
Rufus smiled softly. "No," he chided gently, "no matter what you have heard, the Roman Legions rarely use execution as a punishment. For their own that is," he added.
When he was satisfied there were no more questions, he continued. "You will assist me with them once they are through the gauntlet. Carry your charge to my tent. There we will wash their backs and apply a salve I have prepared. There will also be poppy tea to ease their pain." He paused and then looked thoughtfully at the two. "I do not want you to tell them that before hand," he warned. "This is to be punishment," he explained, though neither had asked. "Are you clear on what is expected of you?"
Both heads nodded.
"Very well, rejoin your group and do not speak of this. At my signal lead the boys to stand before the commander."
Again, both heads nodded. When Rufus said no more the two turned and returned to camp.
At the same time, Quentas was entering camp from the opposite side, having spent the last half hour walking alone on the shore line. "Romans, stand to!" he ordered. "Balteus, at the ready!"
At their commander's call each soldier knew what to do. They had been speculating for most of the day as to what Quentas would order and most knew and trusted him well enough to suspect which decision he would make. Like their commander, none took pleasure in what they were to do, but they understood its necessity. Every fighting man had to be able to trust the man at his back.
The Romans formed parallel lines approximately five feet across from each other. Justus eyed his commander and spoke softly to the younger soldiers. "Don't hold back on your licks, men, or it will go worse for the lads."
"What do you mean?" questioned Scaro, whispering so as not to draw any unwanted attention for the commander or his optio.
"I mean," hissed Justus, "that the commander would be duty bound to send them back through if he believes we're not using full force. Don't worry, these belts aren't going to kill em."
"Silence in the ranks," snapped Quentas, causing Justus to scowl at Scaro. "Bring the prisoners."
Rufus nodded to Dagonet and Brumear, who went to Lamorak and Gareth. Rufus watched as they led the pair to stand before Quentas. The optio shepherded the remaining Sarmatian boys over to stand behind the Romans, but in full view of the gauntlet. "Stand here and don't interfere. You are permitted to yell your support and show them that you honor their courage."
Rufus then joined Quentas and stood facing the four boys.
"Lamorak and Gareth, you are charged with disobeying an order from your superior officer. Your punishment is to face a gauntlet of the Legion. Once you complete the punishment your penalty is considered paid in full. Your second's will more fully explain what it to come next." With that he nodded to Dagonet and Brumear, who turned their charges around to face them.
Dagonet and Brumear removed the shirts from the now shivering boys. "Be strong," said Dagonet. "Do not fear what is to come. If you fall, get up and keep going. Just get to the end. We will be waiting for you there, and it will all be over."
"Show these Romans what stuff we Sarmatians are made of," added Brumear as he removed Gareth's shirt. "Just keep going no matter what happens."
To their credit Gareth and Lamorak had both conquered their fears and were ready to face their punishment. Oh, they were still afraid, for who wouldn't be, but they were also determined to see this through with as much courage as possible, if for no other reason than to make their friends proud.
"Romans, assume positions," ordered Rufus, and the Romans took position, ready to begin landing blows. Rufus nodded and the boys started down the line.
The color drained from Lancelot's face at the blows began to rain onto his friends, staggering them and bloodying their backs. Gareth fell to his knees, but Lamorak managed to grab hold of his arm, pulling him to his feet and supporting him as they continued through the continuous shower of blows. Tristan bolstered his friend by placing his hand on Lancelot's shoulder. It wasn't much, but it was all he could do.
After what seemed like an interminable length of time the two boys reached the end of the gauntlet and fell into the waiting arms of Dagonet and Brumear who started to pick them up.
"Wait," ordered Quentas. "Turn them around."
For a second everyone, even the twin line of Romans, still panting from the exertion, looked at the commander in shock. Surely he did not mean to send the back through again.
Dagonet and Brumear were frozen, still confused by the order.
"Obey," shouted Rufus, shaking both boys from their lethargy. Carfully, so as not to further injure their bleeding backs, the two boys turned Lamorak and Gareth back to face Quentas.
Though shaking from shock and pain, both boys managed to remain standing to face the commander.
"Lamorak, Gareth," began Quentas, "well done." He snapped to attention, his right fist over his heart. "Strength and honor!"
Every Roman in camp matched the salute echoing in unison, "Strength and Honor!"
Pride warred in equal measure with the pain on the faces of the young Sarmatians.
Quentas nodded to Dagonet and Brumear who quickly scooped up the wounded pair and made for Rufus' papilio.
"Romans, stand down," dismissed Quentas. He nodded to Rufus who immediately turned and made for his papilio to begin treating the injuries to Lamorak and Gareth. The rest of the Romans automatically retired towards their own area of camp and begin putting away the balteus' while talking quietly among themselves.
The Saramatians still stood rooted where they had stood, shaken by what they had seen and confused by the different emotions battling within them. Tristan's attention was pulled to Pelleas who was valiantly trying to control his heaving stomach and failing miserably. "Alynore, see to Pelleas," he ordered. "You come form his camp; he'll feel less self conscious with you."
Alynore nodded and helped the pitifully sick boy over to the edge of the camp, holding his red curls back as he emptied his stomach into the bushes.
"Take him further, you dunce," shouted Bors. "I don't want to smell that all night."
"Bors," snapped Tristan.
"What?" protested the excitable Sarmatian. "Well, do you?"
"Just keep it to yourself," sighed Tristan tiredly. He wanted to talk to Lancelot, who was walking off into the night.
Muttering to himself, Bors started back towards the area where the papilios of the Sarmatians were located, followed by the rest.
Tristan watched them leave and then turned to go to Lancelot when a hand grabbed his shoulder, halting his forward motion.
"No Tristan," sighed Quentas. "I will see to him."
TBC
Translations:
Papilio: Tent
Balteus: A thick, leather belt used by the Romans.
A/N: Decimation was a practice utilized by the Romans. Two well known examples of the use of decimation were 1) when Lucius Apronius subjected the Legios III Augusta (The Legion of Augustus) to decimation and 2) when Licinius Crassus, leading 12 Legions against the slave revolt led by Spartacus, punished two legions led by his Lieutenant, Mummius, to decimation after Mummius disobeyed an order.
Roman Commanders were given complete latitude in choosing punishments for their men. I do not know for sure whether or not the gauntlet wasused by the Romans, however it was used in ancient times and may well have been.
Forgive me for not mentioning each of you individually this time, but I spent far longer than I expected researching this chapter and time is short.I thought you would prefer to getthe chapter withoutreview reasponses rather than have me wait. Know that I value each of you and love to see your comments as we take this journey together.
