Ch. 5 Goods for sale
The army began marching towards Greece. Marcylus ripped up his orders and tossed them into the wind. He did not like that they were attacking Greece. They were a very strong nation. He especially feared their phalanxes. But he had a strategy to take them down. Rexell roder cheerily beside him on his steed.
" Hello General, the gods seem to curse us as we are on our way to battle Greece! folly!" The general laughed. Rexell always brought a smile to Marcylus' face. The army continued marching for a couple of weeks. One night, after a fort had been made, Marcylus was awoken roughly by Rexell.
" I'm sorry general but I have bad news, a small group of archers is preparing to attack our camp along the west ridge. The general mentally reviewed the terrain around his camp. There was a flat plain jutting out of the large field they had set up camp in. A river and a rocky ridge were to the west. He quickly dressed in his armor. The plating brought gave the man a heightened sense of security.
Marcylus and Rexell quickly moved behind the ridge. Rexell pointed to the top of it. Ten men were fitting arrows into their bows. Rexell put three arrows into his own bowstring and nodded to the general. Marcylus nodded back before rushing the men from behind.
" Die enemies of Rome!" cried the general. Three arrows whizzed by him, killing two men. They clutched at their throats as they went down. The archers drew their daggers and attacked the general. Marcylus blocked a stab, whirled around, and swung his sword in a large sweeping motion. Three men cried out as they fell. A short melee ensued between the general and the archers. Another arrow flew and imbedded itself into the back of the last remaining archer.
Marcylus sheathed his sword before checking the dead men. They were Greek. This did not bode well. The Greeks were becoming more aggressive. The pair of men headed back to camp and slept until dawn. In the morning, Marcylus went to visit Lylius. The man had a roman helmet over his face. Loud snores erupted from underneath. The general shook the man awake.
" Curse you all! you'll never take a true roman!" cried Lylius as he bolted up and shook his fists everywhere. He spotted the general and turned red. He immediately appologized. The general waved him off before spotting the goods inside the cart. Armor and helmets of every kind covered the sides. Marcylus picked a silver helm of ingenious design from the wall.
" Ahhh a good helmet General. Not even an axe can pierce it, yet it is very light. I will sell it for 75 Denarii". It was a modified roman army helmet. It had a face plate with two hammers on the forehead portion. The face plate reached just below the general's chin. The eye sockets were large enough to give the general a good field of vision.
" Thank you Lylius " called Marcylus. He then told Rexell to check out the merchant before climbing the fort battlements. He looked out over the land that stretched before him. Across the plains he spotted a lone man walking towards the camp. The archers on the walls raised their bows. Marcylus ordered them to stand down. He knew the man instantly by the way he walked. The man was Phylus. The general smiled and quickly jumped from the battlements, mounted his horse, and rode out to meet his friend.
Once Phylus had returned to the fort. The army marched forth. The spy told Marcylus about his success. The general took the time to reminisce of a previous battle.
Not 200 yards away, an army of Greeks prepared to attack the marching romans. The general of the army fitted an arrow into his bow and fired at Marcylus. The flew straight and true. Marcylus had spotted the army and was giving orders for his infantry to form up when the arrow hit him.
The impact knocked the general to the ground. Rexell quickly jumped from his horse and examined Marcylus. After frantic searching he found a dent in the face mask.
" Praise Mars, you are a lucky man my lord!" said Rexell. Marcylus quickly stood up and drew his sword before mounting his horse once again. He quickly gave orders for his cavalry to form up while leaving command of his infantry and archers to Rexell. Phylus then began giving orders to his small but deadly squad of men behind him.
Marcylus surveyed the battlefield. An open plain. Perfect. The only place where two armies had no distinct advantages. The general told a runner to bring word to fire arrows at the army's left side. A few moments later a volley of arrows flew into the air and landed amongst a group of spearmen. Screams filled the air. Marcylus ordered his runner to relay the message of two more volleys into the same area. The cavalry unit of one hundred men moved out to the flank of the Greeks. Arrows impacted once again in the ranks of the Greeks. A man clutched at his throat before falling, taking another three men's weapons with him.
" Unit, Wedge formation now!" cried Marcylus. The cavalry formed a wedge before moving farther to the right of the field. Rexell immediately ordered the infantry to form up and advance. Principes gripped their pilum's tightly while a few Hastati prayed to the gods for victory. The Brutii army marched forward while arrows flew into their ranks. Men fell while others stepped over their bodies only to be hit a few steps farther. Rexell cried out to his men.
" Men, prepare to throw pilums while charging! do not waiver under this pathetic arrow fire. You are destined for victory!" Rexell smiled as he began the charge. The war cry of the romans instilled fear in the Greeks. The men came close to the enemy before throwing their pilums. The first line of the enemy melted away as the romans crashed into them.
The general saw what was happening. He then ordered his cavalry to charge. The ground shook as the horses galloped toward the vulnerabl Greek flank.
Unfortunately the greeks regrouped and began pushing the romans back. Rexell took an arrow to the shoulder. Centurions moved forward and ordered another volley of pilums. Once again blood stained the ground. Gladiuses penetrated Greek armor, shields were thrown to the ground when made useless by Pilums. Spears found their mark, spilling the victim's blood over themselves. The romans cried out in triumph when the cavalry arrived.
Marcylus' horse was the first to hit the greek line. The wall of animals ran over the Greeks. The general slashed away spears and stabbed hapless Greeks. As the cavalry pushed farther into the enemy line, they broke ranks and ran into the nearby forest. The rest of the greeks fought valiantly between the general's cavalry and Rexell's infantry. Marcylus clashed with a greek spear. After batting it away he brought his sword down in a slashing motion. The greek's spear was sliced in half.
The man then took the pointed half of his spear and jumped at Marcylus. The general pushed him away. A Hastati jumped onto the valiant greek, driving his gladius into his heart. Blood welled from his mouth. The rest of the greeks surrendered. The cries of dying men were heard in the forest as Phylus' men attacked the retreating Greeks.
" You have won General, but may I look upon the face of the vanguisher?" asked the general of the Greeks. Marcylus dismounted and removed his helmet. The greek general bowed and offered him his sword. Marcylus hesitated. He then refused the offer.
" Keep your sword son of Greece but do not fret for we will treat you with respect and courtesy, is THAT RIGHT MEN!" cried the general. The romans cheered in victory. Marcylus smiled, then he ordered his men to retrieve the wounded and left a small band of men to bury the dead. He led his army and captured Greeks to the next Roman city of Aquincum.