THE SHIELD WALL CHAPTER EIGHT
WOLF'S JUSTICE
Richardus and Arthwyr marshaled the main body of their troops in front of the main (eastern) gate, only one hundred fifty visible, the rest just inside the wood line. The trebuchet was loaded with a large stone of about twenty-five pounds and it was launched, impacting the wall about two feet above the ground. Several more impacted at or near the same spot, creating a breach about five feet wide, some fifteen feet left of the gate. Then the crew switched their aim about the same distance to the right. Archers kept anyone from blocking the breaches. During the previous night, Richardus' engineers had undermined the north wall for a distance of about ten feet wide five feet deep and extending five feet beyond the wall. They then dug a trench to the river, about ten yards away. No one in the town noticed, because their attention was focused on the east wall and now, dealing with the fireballs that were now landing,
Finally, when one of the fireballs set fire to a major grain storage shed Bracken ordered men to try to take the trebuchet, or, at least, drive off its' crew. Two hundred men sortied and as soon as they cleared the gate, it was closed and barred behind them. They hadn't gone twenty feet when they were met with a shower of arrows. Some thirty men went down, dead or wounded.
The rest, seeing the advancing heavy infantry, threw down their weapons and fell to their knees. They were quickly bound, hand and foot. Richardus was in no hurry to storm the town. He wanted as few of his men killed or wounded as possible.
Fireballs were only launched until several large buildings were burning, then switched back to stones. They didn't have that many fireballs to begin with. At nightfall the trebuchet was moved to the north wall. Since the wall had no proper foundation and several hours of water undercutting it, the third heavy stone impacting sent part of the wall collapsing, creating a ten-foot gap in the wall. The assault would wait until morning as the rubble and mud would make treacherous footing in the dark, even with torches. The engineers pushed enough dirt, stones and tree trunks into the mouth of the trench to divert the water back into its' proper course.
The townspeople were too busy fighting the fires to notice the gap in the wall. By morning, all the fires were out. Richardus hadn't meant to destroy the whole town, the wealthy merchants who supported Bracken were the real enemies, not the common folk. The mercenaries had not helped fight the fire, which created resentment among the people. Although not fighting the fire, they had been up all night and were exhausted.
Richardus' men were well rested. At first light the assault began. All four gates went down under battering rams and troops poured through, more troops entering through the gaps in the wall.
Very few of the common folk made any resistance at all. The few that did, were easily overwhelmed by squads of disciplined, armored troops. The shocked mercenaries outside the villa's walls had no chance at all. Most of them looked like pincushions. Only about fifty had made it inside the villa's walls. Richardus had no intention of trying a head on assault or scaling the wall. So far, his men had suffered only about twenty-five causalities, none of them fatal.
A major problem for bracken was a lack of archers. The kind of men who became mid-grade mercenaries lacked the discipline needed to become an archer. About ten of his men had crossbows, but sticking a head up to shoot, meant almost certain death. Most of the townsfolk had fled out the gates. Richardus had ordered that any looters would be severely punished.
Sentries had been posted at the gates. Common people fleeing were not molested. Merchants trying to flee with their gold and silver were turned back and held.
At noon, having let his men rest and the inhabitants of the villa worry. Finally, a herald went forth with a speaking trumpet.
"In the villa, you are surrounded there is no way out. My Chief, Richardus the wolf is here to do justice to Wilmot of Bracken and his henchmen. If you surrender now. There need be no loss of life. If we must storm the villa, anyone bearing arms will be put to the sword.
My chief offers single combat to Wilmot of Bracken to settle the issue. You have one turn of the glass to decide."
Ever the coward, Wilmot ad his son dressed as women and tried to escape with his wife, daughter and servants. Unfortunately for them, even in a dress, a man moves differently than a woman.
Sharp-eyed Casca spotted them and chased them down with a squad. Against the spears of the heavy infantry, they had no choice but to stop. The dresses stripped away Bracken and his son were still in ornate tunics and fine woolen trousers, Bracken carrying a purse of one thousand solidae. Everyone in the party carrying three hundred solidae. Casca said;
"I think we have the chief cur, his whelp and his bitches. Casca stripped them of their purses."
"You do us an injustice. I am but a wealthy merchant, with my family."
"Not only a base sneak and a coward but a liar as well. We have your description; Wilmot of Bracken and we have your brother as captive. Richardus the Wolf will be pleased to see you.
I doubt that you will be pleased to see him. Bind them, but release the servants. The four women and two men were given a gold solidae each and sent to fare as they could.
Their master fled the mercenaries surrendered. They were stripped of arms and armor and sent out of the town with their cloaks, one day's ration and their belt knife, they could not return to town on pain of death.
As in both manor houses, there were slave quarters. As they were released, they were told to wait in the main hall. All of the slaves were attractive women. The male slaves were confined, when not working, in a barracks behind the villa. They too were released and told to wait. Richardus was in the main hall, when Caoimhin O'Riain came to him and said;
"Please come with me Richardus, there is something you must see."
They went to the master's chamber. There they found a girl, not over fourteen, naked, tied spread eagled on the bed. Alive, but with bruises all over her torso and thighs, bite marks on her breasts and blood between her legs. The girl should have been unconscious or catatonic, but she wasn't. She was trembling and crying. Cursing, Richardus drew his skean and cut the girl's bonds. He grabbed a coverlet and draped it over her.
"Caoimhin, get one of the slave women, bring her here with hot water and cloth."
Several minutes later, a young woman followed Caoimhin in, carrying a large basin and cloth.
"Bathe her wounds then get what salves you have and treat her. Can she tell us what happened?"
It was obvious, but Richardus wanted exact information.
"I am Allana, My Lord, you need not question Euna, the same was done to me, a year ago. We were stripped, tied as you saw. First the master's woman pleasured herself with us, then the master and his son took turns beating and raping us." I pray, my Lord that you catch them and kill them!"
"I will catch them, Allana and I will punish them, but killing them would be quick and clean. But they will suffer for many years and wish that I had killed them."
He had no sooner said that, then Casca came into the hall and called for Richardus.
"Allana, finish here then assemble the women in the hall. I must see why I am wanted."
Richardus walked into the hall. Casca saluted in the Roman manner.
"We have captured the false baron and his family." Richardus looked at the frightened group
and stepped up to them a contemptuous look on his face.
"So, finally we meet, Wilmot of Bracken, false baron. Not as you planned is it? On your knees, cur!" Bracken hesitated. Richardus drew his sword. He had the pleasure of seeing and smelling as Bracken fouled himself, kneeling in his own wastes.
"All of you, Richardus said, Kneel and strip yourselves or I will have you stripped!
All kneeled but Camilla cried;
"My Lord, I beg of thee, myself, I will, but spare my Dorsalis, she is innocent she is only twelve!"
"Very well, I will spare her. Casca, lock her in the slave quarters and bring the freed women here." When all three were naked, Richardus said;
"Take your shift and clean the filth off your husband. He stinks enough without it." That done, cold water was poured over him to finish the job as much as possible. The women assembled, Richardus said;
"You are the most grievously wronged. So, I ask what I shall do with them, short of killing them?"
Allana spoke;
"I say, let the punishment fit the crime!"
"There are ten of you, was it done to all of you?"
"Aye, My Lord."
"Wilmot and Arlo cannot be punished in the same manner, as you were. I do not approve of buggery. Wilmot and Arlo, you will be flogged. One hundred lashes each. When you have recovered you will be gelded and branded as slaves. Your names are stripped from you.
You are simply Dung Maximus and Dung Minimums. No longer Camilla you are now Scratia and that is how you will earn your bread. You enjoyed tormenting these girls so you shall suffer the same. Rufus, Lucius, take her and carry out the sentence, but do not kill her. She could be heard screaming all the way to her chamber. She had not been beaten, but she was used roughly in all ways she could be used, by both men.
The women were told;
"You are now free women. You will be given two gold solidae each. You may go to Scratia's chambers and take what you will of her clothing but no fighting. Allana will see that it is apportioned fairly."
The treasure room was opened. Each freed slave was given one silver solidus, two gold solidae each went to Richardus' and Arthwyr's men, three hundred solidae that went to Arthwyr and another three hundred to Richardus, the balance split between the two treasuries for the use of the people. Three days after the whipping, the two Brackens screamed and fainted after they were castrated with a hot knife, which cauterized the wound, removing the testes but leaving the penis in place. They were then bandaged. They were branded at the same time. The two bands remained another week, repairing the wall and erecting crude huts to replace the burned buildings.
Arthwyr left on of his chieftains and a force of fifty men to hold the town until he could appoint a governor for the town and recruit a permanent garrison. Richardus and his troops began their return to their home. An ox cart carrying the treasure chest, a second cart carrying the two dungs, and Scratia. A third cart carried Cur and Willa. Cur's daughters rode on horses led by the men they had chosen. It was a joyous homecoming, especially that no men had been lost and a very large amount of money came with them, To Richardus great surprise Dorsalis was truly innocent and other than being a little haughty, she was not a bad person. Her hypocritical parents had kept all knowledge of their behavior away from her, hoping to make an advantageous match for her.
When she learned of what they had done to deserve their fate, she was appalled and disgusted, wanting nothing to do with them, ever again. Upon arrival, she begged to be taken into a household to serve as a handmaid, Catraoine agreed to take her in but asked Siobhan and Marta to keep a sharp eye on her.
Dung Maximus was brought before Catraoine, Seamus and Siobhan, crawling on hands and knees, manacled. Richardus said;
"This is he, actually no longer a he, who brought all your suffering upon you. It no longer has a human name. I have named him Dung Maxims. What is your will. Shall I have him hung or crucified?"
Siobhan said;
"No, my son, just send him forth as the vile slave he now is. He will suffer for many years; know how he was flung down by his own actions and his foul blood is not on your hands. After two days rest, a party of ten warriors loaded the slaves into a wagon.
"Take them to Camulodunum to the market and sell them. Whatever you get for them, divide equally among yourselves." Richardus said. Do not carouse, but return as soon as it is done."
That night Catraoine said;
"My Love, before the feast Lughuasa we will have a son."
TBC.
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