you otherwise? You know what you want and Tetricus knows how to put it together for you.”
Fronto blinked and Caesar continued.
“ If I’d given it to Longinus, who loves standing high in a fortified position and looking down on assailants, the defences would have been average at best, if not substandard.”
Balbus laughed out loud.
“ Caesar, all this aside, my disposition reports can wait. We should head to the lake and prepare to meet the Helvetii.”
“ Indeed, legate; indeed. Very well, Fronto? Lead us to your magnificent defences.” With that the other two officers rose and followed Fronto from the room.
Word of the messenger must have spread quickly for, as Fronto and his two companions passed through the Headquarters and the fort, various high-ranking officers came out to join them, falling in behind Caesar and the two legates.
Fronto was impressed to note that Balventius had assembled the Eighth’s officers and given out the call to fall in before Balbus had even left the headquarters building. Here, he thought, was a legion who could actually give the Tenth a run for their money.
Once they had left the fort’s gate and were moving down toward the defences, he was equally pleased to see that Tetricus had managed to get the engineers from the Eighth back into their units and in position near the lake and that the still slightly disorganised Eleventh and Twelfth were forming up on either side of the Eighth under the direction of Velius. The four short lengths of palisade that had been constructed lay in place on the slope, ready to be hoisted into position at short notice. To all intents and purpose the defences looked to be a mere ditch and embankment. The mass of troops forming in the area of the ridge, on the other hand, suggested differently.
Another scout had arrived shortly before the officers reached the wall, confirming that the Helvetii were around twenty minutes away.
Caesar smiled and looked around at the army massing.
“ Splendid. All our forces will be marshalled and in formation by the time they get here. Fronto, have all the senior officers report to me. Let’s show these barbarians who they’re up against.”
Fronto jogged down to Balbus, positioned with the standard bearers of the Eighth, and had a word with him before running back up to join the general. Moments later, a horn call rang out in the still air.
* * * * *
When the Helvetii came, they came in their thousands, pouring through the valley mouth at the other side of the river, and flooding onto the plain before the defences. With many an indrawn breath, the three legions stood firm and in formation, themselves covering a vast area between the lake, the defensive bank and the town itself. In front, on top of the embankment stood the great general himself, Julius Caesar, with his echelons of command.
The Helvetii spread out as they came to more level ground. Their movement was slow and steady and made no suggestion of an attack or, indeed, a provocative move of any sort. As the remnants at the back of the tribe began the descent toward the lake, the front ranks opened up and two men came forward, backed by a small group of high ranking tribesmen.
The two men were very well dressed for barbarians, Fronto thought. Their clothes were not dissimilar to those worn by the people of Cisalpine or Transalpine Gaul, within the Empire. Their tunics, that were of an obviously Roman cut, their cloaks, and much of their jewellery had obviously been purchased from Roman merchants. The man on the left wore a gladius, the Roman short sword, and a pugio dagger at his other hip, in the manner of a legionary. The chain mail shirts they wore were of high quality manufacture, probably again from within the Empire. While their breeches were of a Gaulish cut and pattern, the overall effect was far more disturbingly civilised than Fronto had expected. From the low mumbling among the ranks, others had drawn similar conclusions. Balbus
Fronto blinked and Caesar continued.
“ If I’d given it to Longinus, who loves standing high in a fortified position and looking down on assailants, the defences would have been average at best, if not substandard.”
Balbus laughed out loud.
“ Caesar, all this aside, my disposition reports can wait. We should head to the lake and prepare to meet the Helvetii.”
“ Indeed, legate; indeed. Very well, Fronto? Lead us to your magnificent defences.” With that the other two officers rose and followed Fronto from the room.
Word of the messenger must have spread quickly for, as Fronto and his two companions passed through the Headquarters and the fort, various high-ranking officers came out to join them, falling in behind Caesar and the two legates.
Fronto was impressed to note that Balventius had assembled the Eighth’s officers and given out the call to fall in before Balbus had even left the headquarters building. Here, he thought, was a legion who could actually give the Tenth a run for their money.
Once they had left the fort’s gate and were moving down toward the defences, he was equally pleased to see that Tetricus had managed to get the engineers from the Eighth back into their units and in position near the lake and that the still slightly disorganised Eleventh and Twelfth were forming up on either side of the Eighth under the direction of Velius. The four short lengths of palisade that had been constructed lay in place on the slope, ready to be hoisted into position at short notice. To all intents and purpose the defences looked to be a mere ditch and embankment. The mass of troops forming in the area of the ridge, on the other hand, suggested differently.
Another scout had arrived shortly before the officers reached the wall, confirming that the Helvetii were around twenty minutes away.
Caesar smiled and looked around at the army massing.
“ Splendid. All our forces will be marshalled and in formation by the time they get here. Fronto, have all the senior officers report to me. Let’s show these barbarians who they’re up against.”
Fronto jogged down to Balbus, positioned with the standard bearers of the Eighth, and had a word with him before running back up to join the general. Moments later, a horn call rang out in the still air.
* * * * *
When the Helvetii came, they came in their thousands, pouring through the valley mouth at the other side of the river, and flooding onto the plain before the defences. With many an indrawn breath, the three legions stood firm and in formation, themselves covering a vast area between the lake, the defensive bank and the town itself. In front, on top of the embankment stood the great general himself, Julius Caesar, with his echelons of command.
The Helvetii spread out as they came to more level ground. Their movement was slow and steady and made no suggestion of an attack or, indeed, a provocative move of any sort. As the remnants at the back of the tribe began the descent toward the lake, the front ranks opened up and two men came forward, backed by a small group of high ranking tribesmen.
The two men were very well dressed for barbarians, Fronto thought. Their clothes were not dissimilar to those worn by the people of Cisalpine or Transalpine Gaul, within the Empire. Their tunics, that were of an obviously Roman cut, their cloaks, and much of their jewellery had obviously been purchased from Roman merchants. The man on the left wore a gladius, the Roman short sword, and a pugio dagger at his other hip, in the manner of a legionary. The chain mail shirts they wore were of high quality manufacture, probably again from within the Empire. While their breeches were of a Gaulish cut and pattern, the overall effect was far more disturbingly civilised than Fronto had expected. From the low mumbling among the ranks, others had drawn similar conclusions. Balbus
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