Siege at Hades Descent
Siege at Hades Descent
It was not a good day to begin a war. Fog had settled across the valley so thick you could cut it with a sword. Perhaps the Barbarians had prayed to their Gods to make the odds more in their favor. Or perhaps it was only a coincidence. And a bad one at that.
General Quintus Livius Tasius stood from his kneeling position. Why had the strike been ordered today? And of all places in this valley. It was a logistical nightmare. The valley floor was narrow, open only on one end. And the Barbarian camp was at the end of that valley. The sides were steep and covered with loose rock and narrow game trails. If Tasius led his men into the valley, they would be decimated. The whole thing smelled of a set-up in the favor of the Barbarians. And again, Tasius had to ask himself why.
Things had been peaceful in Greece. Thessaly had seen prosperity. The cavalry posts had flourished especially the one the Tasius commanded. Even as a training post it rivaled the most experienced groups. The lands supported lush agriculture for the horses. He smiled to himself. Had he fallen in love with Thessalonica first or had it been with Callianessa? He thought of the loving wife he had lost during the birth of their daughter.
No, it hadn’t taken much at all for him to settle the post in Thessaly. The northern and western borders were well protected. The Barbarians wouldn’t think to attack on their own accord. But, if someone had offered them something… It would not be beyond the Emperor to sacrifice an entire post for his personal greater good. Tacitus was as wicked as Aurelian had been. In these times, when gaining the throne was the kiss of death for most men, anything was possible.
“If he thinks he will sacrifice my men…” Tasius whispered quietly.
“General?”
Tasius turned toward Dominicus, his most seasoned officer and most loyal friend. Dominicus was the mirror image of Tasius. Tall, broad shouldered, dark hair and dark eyes. In another lifetime they could have been father and son. Even as young as he was, Dominicus had the makings to be a great General one day.
“Have the scouts returned?”
“Only two General,” Domincus answered with worry in his eyes.
“They report that the Barbarians have not moved from their camp. They seem to be… waiting.”
“Or they want us to think they are.” Tasius grabbed the reins of his horse and swung up on his back. “Remember young Dominicus, these Barbarians do not think for themselves. They are doing things that would lead me to believe we are being tricked.”
“If we ride down that valley to flush them out as the Emperor has ordered-“
“Then they will attack us from above and trap us in from behind,” Tasius laughed.
“A set up?” Dominicus asked unbelievingly.
Tasius smiled. “Keep the men here and keep them alert. If you see any movement ready the attack but do not enter into the valley. We will not lead this attack.”
“Where will you be?”
“I am going to send out an invitation!” Tasius dug his heels into the stallion’s side and rode off into the forest.
*************
Tasia pulled her cloak closer together but the chill of the wind went right through her. Of all the season’s she disliked winter the most. Cold, dreary… so hateful of people.
“Demeter mourns the loss of Persephone to Hades. When Persephone returns, all will be right again,” her grandmother’s words echoed through her head and she laughed. Her grandmother believed in the Gods and their powers to intervene with mortals. She warned Tasia never to doubt them.
Solon whickered below her and stopped. Tasia reached down and patted the black stallion’s neck.
“Easy boy, what is it?” she turned and tried to pull the string of recruit horses forward. “Walk up!” she urged the lead horse. The young brown mare held her ground and it was then that Tasia noticed the mare was holding up her foot. She swung down from Solon and made her way to the mare.
A small rock had become embedded in the mare’s hoof. After removing it, she made a quick check on each of the five horses in the string. Her father would not be happy that she was bringing the string instead of Esdras. And he probably wouldn’t understand how she managed to trick Esdras and tie him up in the grain room. Someone would have found him by now.
“Now are we ready to continue?” Tasia walked back to Solon and moved him closer to a fallen log. Solon was certainly the odd horse in this bunch. In any bunch for that matter. He towered over the rest of the horses but she had fallen in love with him the moment she had seen her father lead him into the post.
“Does he remind you of Bucephalus?” He had asked. Tasius had told her the stories of Alexander and Bucephalus time and time again. “He’s from Gaul, from the best of their stock”. Little did her father or anyone else for that matter realize the height Solon would actually grow to.
Solon stood quietly as she seated herself but balked when she moved him forward. He snorted and stepped back uneasily. Tasia gazed through the shadowy woods and felt her heart begin to race. A twig snapped to her right and before she could make a move she was surrounded. The string of horses panicked at the commotion and she let loose of them as she tried to drive Solon through the other riders.
Solon pinned his ears back as three men grabbed at his bridle. He reared, kicking one away. Another grabbed the reins and jerked hard on his mouth.
“Stop it!” Tasia yelled out.
“Well, what do we have here?” A brute of a man wearing furs that smelled of a recently dead animal rode up beside her and tried to pull her from Solon’s back. She whipped out her dagger and sliced the man across his face. The man screamed and grabbed at his bleeding face.
“That wasn’t very nice” another man called out angrily as he grabbed her from behind and pulled her onto his horse. Tasia continued to fight until the sword hilt came down hard across the back of her head.
************
Tasius held the reins of his horse as he watched the fires of the Barbarian camp in the distance. Night was falling and it was getting colder. The scouts had been right, there was very little activity. So where were they? Just then, he heard a movement above him.
“General?”
“Salvian?”
Tasius caught the man as he stumbled into his arms. The scout fell to his knees, nearly dead from lack of breath.
“General… captured…”Salvian heaved.
“Who has been captured? Dominicus? Speak up man!”
“Tasia.”
Tasius stepped back from the man, his body completely frozen.
“Dominicus awaits you… over the hill.”
Tasius could not move.
“General!” the scout urged.
Tasius brought himself to and jumped on his horse. He sped up the hill, branches splashing against his face. In the distance he could see the light of one torch and heading toward it. It was Dominicus.
“What happened?”
“General, Esdras sent word that Tasia was bringing up the new string of horses. When she didn’t arrive at camp I sent someone out to find her and they saw her just as the Barbarians carried her off.”
“Back to camp, we attack tonight!”
“General-“ Dominicus grabbed his arm. “You know that isn’t wise, they don’t know who she is.”
Tasius jerked his arm away. The stakes had just risen.
“Get out of my way!”
Tasius raced his horse towards camp like a man possessed. The stallion’s breathing became labored but Tasius urged him to go faster. The moon was high now, and the shadows across the trail made it almost impossible to see the fallen logs. Tasius gripped his legs around the stallion as he felt the horse gather himself. The stallion sailed over the log and landed lightly on the other side.
They have my daughter, Tasius thought angrily.
His worst fear had come to pass. He had spent many years claiming victories over the Barbarians and other enemies. Something terrible happening to his family as an act of revenge had always been in the back of his mind. He had always ensured that Tasia was never in a position that she could be harmed, but now…
They don’t know who she is, Dominicus had said.
Somehow that didn’t even matter right now. He knew how the Barbarians treated prisoners. Especially, female prisoners. Tasia would not let them know she was his daughter, but it wouldn’t matter. She was in danger. He had to get to her.
The fires of camp came into view. Tasius bolted from the stallion’s back and ran into his tent. Soldiers scurried from all ends of camp as orders were yelled out.
“Get me a fresh horse. Paternus, bring me my swords!” Tasius pulled off his tunic and replaced it with a dry one. He strapped on his thigh guards as his swords were laid at his feet.
“Do you want your lance?”
“Bring me the contus, “ Tasius ordered without looking up. Paternus left and returned with the twelve-foot lance. Tasius stood to grab the lance and was met with a hand.
“I told you to stay out of my way,” Tasius growled.
“General you cannot go running blindly into their camp and expect to pluck her out it!” Dominicus stood in front of the doorway blocking his General’s way. “You will both be killed.”
Dominicus could see that Tasius was not going to listen to reason. The look in his eye was that of a father, not a General. He would have to take matters into his own hands.
“Fine,” Dominicus stepped aside. Tasius nodded and walked by. As he stepped through the door, Dominicus pulled him back and hit him on the head with the end of his sword. He drug the General to his bed and laid him down. The men standing in the doorway looked at Dominicus in horror.
“You will be killed!” one man cried out.
Dominicus turned slowly and sheathed his sword.
“Maybe, but, he will still be alive and hopefully so will Tasia. Paternus, tie him up and under no circumstance do you let him go.”
Paternus looked at Dominicus with unsure eyes.
“I mean it Paternus, if you want to save his life you will do this!”
“Alright.”
Dominicus walked out of the tent and faced the men who were waiting.
“I need ten men to go with me to get the General’s daughter. We leave immediately!”
***********
Tasia felt a hand on hers and opened her eyes. The air smelled of wet dogs and sweating men. She realized then that she was only able to open one eye; the other was swollen shut.
“How many times I have I told you not to hit them in the face?”
Tasia tried to focus on the man behind the whining voice but couldn’t.
“Who did this?”
“Ageric is the one, he did it,” came a grumble from somewhere in the tent.
“Hmm. Theuderic, find Ageric and then cut his right hand off. That should help him to remember the rules.”
Tasia felt the man cup her face and she moved to slap it away.
“Easy girl, we don’t want to have to punish you,” the man laughed wickedly. “Now let’s see just what you have to offer.”
“Take your hands off her Lothar.”
Tasia turned her head toward the familiar voice. As the figure moved closer she could see his reflection in the firelight.
“Dominicus?” she whispered.
“My Lord, I was just… inspecting the goods. Just being sure that-“
“Take the others and leave.”
Tasia tried desperately to focus her eyes on the man as the others shuffled out of the tent. He sounded like Dominicus, but it couldn’t be. She jumped as she felt the man kneeling next to her. He placed a cold cloth across her eye and she pushed his hand away.
“I am the only friend that you have right now,” he said in a low voice. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Then let me go.”
“I can’t do that, yet. What did you call me when I walked in?”
“I thought you were someone I knew.”
“Valerius Dominicus?”
Tasia looked up at the man, her eyesight beginning to clear.
“You know him?”
“Yes, I served with him under General Tasius. What is your name?”
“Galeria,” she lied. This man was trying to win her confidence; she would give no more away than she already had.
“Uh-huh.” The man sat back on his heels. “If you want my help, you’re going to have to help me.”
Tasia watched as he picked up one of the pokers and stoked the fire with it. She got a better look at his face. He wasn’t a Barbarian at all, he was Roman.
“Why were you leading a string of Roman cavalry horses through the woods…Galeria?”
Tasia widened her eyes.
Does he mean to use that on me? she wondered as she watched him play in the fire.
“My Master ordered me to bring his horses to the camp-“
“So now you’re a slave?” he laughed.
“I take horses back and forth. That is the truth,” she said forcefully.
“Fine, that much I will believe.”
Tasia began to speak then stopped.
“What?” he looked over his shoulder at her.
“You’re Roman. What are you doing here?” she said almost angrily.
“I will answer you that question, if you tell me who you really are?”
“I told you who I was.”
The man slid back over to her and brushed some hair from her eyes.
“Now, I am smart enough to know that a slave wouldn’t be allowed to take cavalry remounts through hostile lands. Horses are expensive. They would have someone who was experienced at fighting, which it sounds like you are …”
Tasia moved her head away.
“Very well,” the man said with a slight laugh. He stood without a further word and left the tent. Tasia took in a deep breath. It was obvious he knew she was lying, but how long could she play this out? In the distance she heard a scream. Presumably, Ageric. Good, she thought. He deserved that.
Lothar stood from the fire and waited for his orders.
“My Lord?”
“Gather the men. We break camp tonight.”
“But… General Tasius… I thought-“
“Lothar, I have something better than Tasius,” he looked over his shoulder at the tent. “I have his daughter.”
***
Dominicus spied on the camp below, his men were scattered behind the trees nearby.
“It looks like they are breaking camp Sir.”
“Castus that can’t be right,” another man whispered. “They wouldn’t risk breaking camp in the middle of the night.”
“They would if they knew who they had,” Dominicus answered them. They continued to watch as the men below quickly moved about the camp.
“By the Gods!” someone voiced. A man grabbed Dominicus’ shoulder and positioned him toward the end of the camp. “Look.”
Dominicus looked to where the man pointed.
“Arpagius.”
“Who Sir?”
“My brother.”
Dominicus stood. Things had gone from bad to worse.
***********
Tasia listened to the commotion outside. They were breaking up camp. If she was going to have any chance of getting away, she had to act now. Lothar had come back into the tent and tied her arms behind the tent pole. But she had learned a trick from Dominicus and had kept her wrists wide as Lothar had tied them. He was none the wiser. She fidgeted trying to work her hands through the ropes. Her shoulders burned.
Getting out of the ropes would be easier than getting to Solon. She heard him calling out from time to time. Leaving him here was out of the question.
Finally here arms slipped from the ropes. She rubbed her wrists now bleeding slightly from the friction of trying to get out of them. Tasia jumped to her feet and made her way to the back of the tent. She grabbed a nearby dagger and cut a hole down the middle of the wall.
The air was cold and the night pitch black. She began creeping along the backside of the tent when she tripped and tumbled out into the opening. The Barbarians moved quickly only feet away from here, but she went unnoticed. Slowly she picked herself up and heard Solon’s call. He was on the other side of the camp. She had to move quickly.
She continued along the outskirt of the camp and looking over her shoulder from time to time. She paused as she heard a branch break. When no other sound followed she turned to move ahead and ran straight into Ageric. It could be no other. He would be the only one walking around camp with a bandaged stump.
“I owe you,” he said as he reached for her.
Tasia jumped back and thrust her arm forward. The dagger that she still held in her hand, now rested in Ageric’s throat. Tasia stood frozen over the slumped man.
“There she is!”
Tasia came too and ran. She didn’t know where she was going, anywhere but here.
Solon pushed against the makeshift corral as he saw Tasia run toward him. Several men ignored her, not realizing she was an escaping prisoner. But one reached out his leg sending her flying into the dirt. Tasia felt a hand grab her arm tightly and began fighting. It was then that Solon broke through the wood and stampeded through the men towards her. He was within inches when a rope landed around his head and jerked him back.
“Easy… easy boy. No one is going to hurt your mistress,” Arpagius pulled Solon to him and to Tasia’s surprise, the stallion calmed down. The men laughed and watched as Arpagius approached the stallion and patted his neck. Solon snorted, and looked nervously at Tasia. Arpagius motioned for the men holding Tasia to bring her forward.
“He needs to see that you are alright.”
“I’m not alright!” Tasia yelled out.
“She killed Ageric,” one of the men muttered.
”It was an accident,” she replied. Arpagius moved toward her.
”Let her go,” he ordered the men.
“But...”
“She’s not going anywhere without him,” he replied as he nodded toward Solon. “Are you?”
Tasia jerked her arm away from the men and walked toward Solon.
“Do you want your horse milord?” Lothar called out.
Arpagius looked down at Tasia, who was visibly trembling.
”No, we will ride this one… together.”
Tasia lifted her head in protest, but thought better of it. She had no more energy to fight. For now. She allowed herself to be lifted onto Solon’s back and sat rigidly as Arpagius climbed on behind her.
”Tall horse,” he said as he moved closer to her. He could feel her tense up and smiled.
“Follow in behind us,” Arpagius called out. He reached around her and grabbed the reins. There was no escaping now.
*************
Castus did his best to hold Dominicus.
“You can’t go running down there,” he urged quietly. “Can you see anything Vergilius?”
“The Barbarian is dead, they are taking his body away. Arpagius just left with Tasia on her horse,” came the report.
Dominicus shook off Castus’ grip and shook his head. The thought of his brother being near her sent him into an unimaginable rage.
”Sir, what is your brother doing with… them?”
“After the General threw him out of the unit, he must have joined up with the Barbarians.”
Dominicus stared down at the camp remembering the day as if it had happened yesterday.
”Then he knows its Tasia he has,” Vergilius stated.
”The General was right about this being a set-up. He must have come for Tasius, but now that he has Tasia…”
“Then we go after him?”
”No.”
”No?” Castus replied angrily?
”Castus take Salvian and follow them. We need to stay behind until they reach their destination. Then we make a move. I know my brother, he will be expecting us to follow and will try to ambush us.”
Dominicus nodded and Castus and Salvian were gone into the night.
“Sir… he won’t… hurt her, will he?” Vergilius asked.
No, he thought. He will treat his new prize with the utmost of care. Tasia on the other hand, would prove to be more than he could handle.
“No Vergilius, but he’s not going to give her up easily.” Dominicus leaned against his horse. All they could do was wait until Salvian and Castus returned and hope to the Gods that the men could keep Tasius at the camp.
He wondered if Tasia was okay. Castus has seen her kill the Barbarian. He said she had just reacted. She must be scared. Deep inside he wish he could comfort her, instead of it being Arpagius.
To be continued...
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