Douglas Jackson - Enemy of Rome

‘It’s like killing rabbits,’ a Guard laughed as he ran past chasing a terrified unarmed civilian.

But capturing the asylum, or even the Arx summit to the southeast, didn’t mean they’d won the Capitol. The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was the true goal, and it still stood, massive and impregnable, away to Valerius’s left, inside its own walled complex. Those walls were currently held by a weak force of urban cohorts, but Sabinus would reinforce them when he realized the threat to his flank. ‘Aprilis!’ Valerius called to the Praetorian commander as he tried to rally his men. ‘The temple.’

The centurion raised his sword in acknowledgement and Valerius studied the task that faced them. Here in the dip between the two hills it only now became apparent how formidable an obstacle the walls were. The temple sat on a raised platform of sheer rock perhaps twice the height of a man, with the walls adding a further six or eight feet to the barrier. None of the ladders carried by the Praetorians would reach the parapet, not even if two were lashed together. Likewise it was too high to repeat the tactic of the shield platform. He suppressed a grunt of frustration. A mere few dozen paces away Domitia was being held captive. Somehow he had to get across that wall. He looked around, searching for an alternative. By now most of the defenders were dead, but a few were still attempting to escape from the rear of the Capitoline, where the rocks fell away steeply towards the streets below. Here apartment buildings nudged close to the hill, some of them almost backing on to it, and Valerius saw one fleeing soldier make a flying leap over the low wall and across a gap of eight or nine feet straight through a curtained window.

‘There’s one who deserves to get back home to his woman tonight,’ Serpentius laughed appreciatively.

But the man’s escape had given Valerius an idea. A pile of long planks lay beside the stones and building rubble that the Flavians had been using as missiles. ‘Get Aprilis and his men to bring the longest planks and follow me,’ he ordered. Instant understanding flashed across Serpentius’s face and he ran off in search of the Praetorian centurion.

Valerius made his way to where the fleeing defender had disappeared through the apartment window. Brick built and unusually solid, the insula block soared another two storeys above the height of the saddle. More important, the upper windows overlooked the walls of the temple complex.

Aprilis arrived at the head of his men and Valerius explained his plan, shouting to be heard above the clash of arms and screams of dying men that came from all around the hill. By now many of the porticoes were in flames and smoke filled his nostrils to remind him of the horrors of Cremona. He pointed to the window. ‘If we can reach that building we might be able to get a small force into the temple complex.’

‘Why not go down and in the front door?’ The Praetorian looked dubiously at the drop between the insula and the hill.

‘We don’t have time,’ Valerius pointed out. ‘Those walls are going to be reinforced before long and then they’d slaughter us. It’s now or never.’

Serpentius grabbed one of the planks and pushed it out towards the rectangular window a few feet below. It just reached the ledge with the near end a precarious thumb’s breadth on to the surface of the asylum. Valerius looked down and caught a glimpse of a frightened female face. He prayed whoever was in the apartment wasn’t preparing to push the plank away from their window.

‘Do you want to live for ever?’ Serpentius brushed past him and danced across like an acrobat, ignoring the bow in the wood that threatened to plunge man and plank on to the rocks below. ‘I’ll hold it steady. Get somebody to do the same at your end.’ A guard came forward and Valerius stepped up on to the plank. ‘Keep your eyes on me, and for the gods’ sake don’t look down.’

Every instinct told him to look down but, keeping his eyes on the Spaniard, he placed his right foot on to the flimsy bridge. The second step was easier, and with the third Serpentius was able to grab his arm and haul him into the cramped room. He was followed by Aprilis, who almost fell on top of him, and then the other soldiers tumbled through the window one after the other. A cry and a rattle of wood on stone announced that their temporary crossing had been momentarily severed, but Valerius could hear the sound of iron studs on wood as more and more soldiers crossed into the building. He noticed a woman and two children cowering in the corner of the room and gave them what he hoped was a reassuring smile before he followed Serpentius out into the main corridor. Guardsmen were already on the stairs, some of them still carrying the planks they’d recovered.

‘Stay down,’ Aprilis called as they darted into a room that faced the Temple of Jupiter and ducked below window level as a pilum thrown from the temple complex embedded itself in the plaster wall behind them. The centurion looked up at the spear and flinched as it was followed by a whirling oil lamp. Moments later, the curtain was alight and flames had begun to spread across the floor. ‘This is going to be interesting.’

Valerius stepped forward with Serpentius, but Aprilis grabbed the Roman’s arm. ‘The second century of the First cohort isn’t going to let a pair of civilians take all the glory.’ He called out four or five names. ‘Have your sections ready. When I give the order you get those planks across and men with them. For Rome.’ A dozen voices echoed the sentiment, and Aprilis continued, ‘Remember Metto and the lads who died in the Forum. If it happened to us do you think they’d let us down? Not likely.’ He cursed as a second oil lamp fell into the room, the flames reaching out for cloth and straw. ‘I hope you’ve brought those fucking pila like I told you. One volley on the order, then you cross.’

He sat back for a moment and closed his eyes. ‘Shit. What are you waiting for?’ he whispered to himself. ‘Now!’

The spearmen rose and hurled their javelins into the defenders guarding the wall. Valerius heard the shrieks of spitted men and looked out as Aprilis’s men rammed their planks forward to bridge a gap he now saw was considerably less than it had been on the lower storey. As the first boards reached the far side defenders rose from behind the parapet braving the spears to hurl the fragile bridges aside. Away to their right a group managed to get across only to be swamped by the enemy. By now the room was well ablaze, the flames licking at their skin.

‘Fuck this,’ Aprilis muttered. He stood up, pulled himself into the window frame and launched himself across the void, half sprawling on the opposite parapet and then rolling forward, already hacking at the legs of the Flavian defenders who instantly flung themselves at this new threat. The remaining Praetorians saw their commander’s plight and followed his example. A few were hurled back into the abyss, but most safely made the leap to rise in growing numbers and carry the fight to the enemy.

Serpentius shook his head in wonder and shrugged at Valerius. ‘You heard the man. What are we waiting for?’ Without a backward look he bent his knees and sprang the gap like a leopard to land, sword ready, a warrior in his gore-stained element. Valerius watched helpless as three men converged on the Spaniard, thinking they were safe behind their shields. Serpentius danced forward, his gladius flicking out like a viper’s tongue. In moments two of his attackers were down and the other had fled. The Spaniard left them to bleed and turned to urge Valerius to jump. As the Roman tensed to make the leap a new group of Praetorians burst into the room with a plank, bridged the gap and surged across. Grateful, Valerius followed them at a more sedate pace and Serpentius met him at the wall with a rueful grin. ‘Just like a soft aristocrat to take the easy way.’