"Reload the scorpions!"
"Keep on firing!"
"Reinforce the east gate!"
Londinium is falling, the last foothold of Roman empire in Britain. The saxons surrounded the Londinium and if we surrender, we all know death awaits us all.
"Battle report Amulius."
"Centurion (1) reporting, the savages are retreating. The east gate held with minimal losses. However the north gate was devastated and cannot afford for another siege. The Barbarian fleet has not taken a move. We have 280 legionnaires, 40 archers and 15 velites (2). " Amulius reported.
"Good. Instruct the immunes (3) and Roman people to pack all their belongings including Roman technologies and food supplies then gather to the central square. Thats all." Praefect Longinus instructed.
"Yes, Praefect (4)." Amulius said.
The Saxons are known for their brutal raids. Even if the remaining Romans wanted to flee, there is nowhere to hide or run to. The Roman defenders this time consisted of retired Roman legionnaires, young legionnaires and volunteers or raw recruits. However, considering the size of Londinium, it is impossible to defend every corner of this settlement.
"Centurion Flavio, arrange for nights watch. It was a long day, but the remaining soldiers will pack up all the military supplies, armors and weapons. Also, everyone is required to be in the square an hour before midnight including the nights watch." Praefect Longinus instructed.
"Yes, Praefect." Flavio said.
An hour before midnight, everyone gathered in the central square of Londinium. The walls were left unguarded but the Barbarians will never risk a night battle because they might be ambushed instead. Romans are never to be underestimated.
"Everyone! Gather! Stay in the circle. This is our only way out of this predicament or we all die." Longinus said.
Strange symbols are engraved in the ground, it is easily identified as witchcraft at first glance. But desperate people doesn't mind desperate measures. At the center of the circle, an old woman standing holding a staff and Longinus is beside her. Every Roman and slaves are packed with their belongings, Legionnaires and other soldiers are in full combat attire with baggages.
"With this spell, everyone will be sent to other parts of the world. But this spell comes for a price, a virgin man and virgin woman should be sacrificed. Any one?" The old witch said.
"Bring out the boy and the girl!" Longinus said.
Soon as the girl and the boy was brought to the center, the Barbarians launched a night raid. Everyone was distracted as barbarians can be seen climbing the walls from afar. The witch quickly started her chanting. The duration of the chant was long enough for the raiders to approach closer to them. The witch unsheathed her knife to complete the ritual.
"Shoot!" The barbarian shouted, an arrow was shot to Longinus that killed him on the spot. The Roman legionnaires quickly reacted by raising their shields "Testudo formation!" (5), but it was too late because Longinus is already lying dead on the ground with his blood spilled.
"Shoot again! Rain of arrows!" A barbarian officer shouted. Arrows rain down, hundreds of arrows was shot to the position of the Romans. But Testudo formation proved its effectiveness since there are no major injuries inflicted to any person under their shields.
In a very small gap in between shields, an arrow made its way to the center of their circle. The witch was shot to the head right after she chanted the spell. The witch instantly died, her life became the sacrificed for the ritual.
*Clank*
*Ting*
*Ting*
The incoming arrows landed on an empty ground, axes and spears of the raiders hit an empty ground. "Where did they go?" a barbarian said while everyone was still dumbfounded of what happened.
Meanwhile, "where the heck are we?" Romans muttered. Everyone was also astounded to the magic that they had experienced, Amulius quickly checked upon the Praefect and Flavio did the same.
"Where is the Praefect?" Flavio shouted to the crowd. Amulius also looked for the Praefect. They checked upon the location where Praefect is standing, the Praefect is nowhere to be seen but the boy and the girl who was supposed to be the sacrifice are alive. Upon discovering this, instead of worrying, the Romans muttered to themselves.
"So, the Praefect and the witch are both virgin?"
"I see, that explains why he didn't have a wife yet."
"Maybe he prefers men over women?"
Various gossips went around, other Roman made fun of it. "Silence! Everyone!" Amulius shouted as these people are unbearable to listen. There comes the silence but silence distracted them now from making fun of the Praefect.
"Optio (6), tesserarius (7), assemble a scouting team. Check the surroundings, any nearby settlement within 12 kilometer radius and source of water. Make a map, figure out where we are. Report at sunset." Amulius instructed his staffs.
"Men, prepare for departure. Everyone else, follow me!" Flavio ordered.
"Hey, hey! Where do you think you're going? We do not know where we are yet!" Amulius did not like this action of Flavio. Everyone knows that Amulius and Flavio have the same rank and authority because they are both Centurion. The differences between them are their family lineage and Flavio currently has more troops than Amulius but he got the support of the majority of the Romans.
"Don't act like you are above me! You are just a son of a Celtic whore!" Flavio's attitude turned to bad quickly. Most of the senior legionnaires here knows that Amulius is a son of a Briton woman while his father is a Patrician who was commissioned in Britain. Both of Amulius' parents died from the Saxon raids. Amulius was then inherited his father's social class and all the wealth. He was also given favor by the late Governor that put him to the position of Centurion at a young age. Unbeknownst to them all, Amulius was not just promoted because of a favor, but also because of his superb swordsmanship and master in strategy. In all legionnaires, Amulius is a mystery.
"What did you say?!" Amulius was enraged of what Flavio said. The situation became intense, the men of Amulius unsheathed their swords and Flavio's men did the same. A standoff was happening between these two and factions quickly formed.
"Forget it. We'll be taking our leave and you are not in position to order me around or my men. Soldiers, lets roll out!" Flavio broke the standoff and departed. Amulius did not tried to stop them this time as he did not want any internal conflict this time.
Flavio took 150 legionnaires, 30 archers and all 15 velites as they are all part of Flavio's Centurio and others just followed him. Amulius was left with 130 legionnaires and 10 archers. Most of whats left to Amulius are his loyal subordinates and the veteran soldiers as they chose to stay because they have families here.
"Make a head count of the civilians and the slaves. I want a complete list of their names and their profession. Also we'll camp here temporarily. Justus you are in charge of the civilians." Amulius instructed, Justus is a leader of the civilian next to Amulius in the eyes of the people. Justus is a loyal statesman from Rome who also chose Britain for his retirement. He is a minor Patrician who brought his wealth to Britain. No one knew the reason why Justus is loyally following Amulius.
The sun sets down, the scouts returned with reports.
"Centurion, there is no sign of civilization nearby. We discovered that we are near the mouth of the river leading to sea, 8 kilometers to our east. There is also mountain ranges from north to west that we couldn't confirm the stretch of the mountain range. To the south, wide plains that we believe to be fertile for farming." The head scout reported.
"Any unusual observations?" Amulius inquired as he himself felt something is amiss. He did not exactly know what but his instincts tells him that they are in a mysterious place.
"Yes sir. I don't usually believe in fantasy or magic but we experienced magic thats why we are now here. We saw fairies along the way, the other scout team also reported the same. The scout team who was in charge to the north spotted small green creatures that was observing them. It is yet to be confirm that is why it wasn't included in the report sir. " The head scout has high respect to Amulius that is why he did not dare spout nonsense to him that is not confirmed.
"Good. Continue observing the area, eliminate any threats that you can handle and call reinforcements if necessary. We will move to the mouth of the river at day light." Amulius is confident with his scouts as these men are the elites that he chose. Amulius believed that the scouts should be elites so that they can eliminate any threats that can be handled by one person. The scouts of Amulius are just 8 legionnaire scouts as these are what remains to his original 20 men scouts. The 8 scouts was divided into 4 teams which are sent to every direction from their position.
At daylight, they travelled 8 kilometers to the east and finally settled there. The river and the sea was full of species that they can eat. Just 800 meters away from their position, there is a water falls that is potable for drinking.
"Set up the tents for lodgings, prioritize a medical tent and warehouses for food and water. Construct palisades surrounding the sett-" Amulius was disrupted in instructing his men.
"Sir, we discovered something! We believed that we are thousands of kilometers away from the empire! This place is past the known world. The animals and plants here are different, even the climate is very unusual from what we used for! The stars position are very different from the sky that we always know. Sir, when we come back to Rome we will be heroes and rich! " A group of geographer and astrologers excitedly said to Amulius. These men are scholars from Rome who ventured to the frontier to seek discoveries for fame and wealth.
" Is that so? Then I want you to create a detailed map of our location. You may piss off." Amulius then continued in his series of orders to his men. He ordered to quickened the pace of food gathering and water fetching. He wants to secure food and water first before anything else.
"Justus, I want farmers to cultivate in the southern plains. Look for any crop that we can use, if not, use the wheats that we usually cultivate." Amulius became their de facto leader, everyone listens to his order without complains. He didn't mind Flavio's earlier action and carried out his plan in mind.
"As you will. Any way, here is the complete roster of our civilians and slaves as per your instructions. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave." Justus handed papers. He knows more than anyone the plan of Amulius as he was the tutor of Amulius.
"Thank you, uncle." Amulius excelled in governance as he have his uncle Justus as his tutor who was once a governer in Greece. Justus is a cousin of Amulius's father, a kind hearted and loyal to the main family. Justus supported Amulius in every decision that he made in every situation, he believed that Amulius will be something.
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(1) Centurion - Commander of a Century in Ancient Rome.
(2) Velites - unarmored skirmishers armed with javelins for throwing. Usually consisted of young men.
(3) Immunes - soldiers with special skills: blacksmithing, carpentry, surgery, etc.
(4) Praefect - Overall third in-command in a Legion. Camp administrator.
(5) Testudo formation - Or Tortoise formation, commonly known for shell formation of protective shields.
(6) Optio - Second in-command in a Century, next to Centurion.
(7) Tesserarius - Guard commander, with almost the same duties as the Optio.