Sword of Rome(112)
‘You will see that I have concentrated the bulk of our defensive capability on the south and west walls,’ Spurinna said. Valerius studied the two lengths of wall. The first looked out towards the amphitheatre, was between eight hundred and nine hundred paces long, and included six individual towers and the pair guarding the gate. Any attacker would have to negotiate the foundations of the houses Spurinna had ordered demolished before they could reach the wall. To defend this stretch, Valerius had one thousand legionaries of the First Adiutrix, plus two hundred Gaulish auxiliaries, whose job was to protect the towers and load and fire the artillery machines, a force he reckoned just about adequate. For replacement and reinforcement he could count on a cohort of Praetorian Guards, who would lie concealed until they were needed. The west wall ran barely half the length of the south and required fewer defenders, although it would depend on the same Praetorians for reinforcement. Spurinna waited until Valerius had absorbed the position before he explained his other concerns. ‘The open ground by the river is too narrow for Caecina to assemble an assault of sufficient force, and that to the east is swampland. I have gambled that it is boggy enough to deter an attacker in full armour.’ The general shrugged. ‘If I am wrong, it is relatively simple to reinforce along our internal lines.’
Valerius noticed that despite his casual dismissal of the possibility of attack from the lightly defended sectors, Spurinna had made sure that, like those most likely to be assaulted, the ditches had been filled with hedgehogs of spears fixed to logs and piles of bitumen-soaked brush that could be fired in an instant. One thing puzzled him. He pointed to the great arena that dominated the ground to the south. Constructed of wood and stone, it lay well outside spear or arrow range, but it could have other uses. ‘You have gone to great trouble to clear the houses, yet you have left the amphitheatre, which would appear to offer a fine position for an attacker, who might safely position his artillery within the protection of its walls.’
Spurinna’s eyes twinkled. ‘You have outed me there, young man. I could tell you that I do not believe Caecina will have carried siege weapons across the Alps, and that would be true. Nevertheless, though I doubt he has the capacity to construct siege towers, he will undoubtedly be able to whip up a few catapults. No, the true reason is that the Placentians are more attached to their amphitheatre than they are their homes.’ He produced a disbelieving laugh at the foolishness of civilians. ‘It is, apparently, a symbol of the town’s wealth and power. That feeling is so strong that I fear if I took the proper military course and destroyed it I would lose their cooperation, which might be fatal in the event of a long siege. I have decided to take the easier approach and leave it where it is.’ The smile broadened. ‘Who knows what can happen in the course of a battle?’ His voice turned serious. ‘Now you understand why I want you to oversee the defence of the south wall for me, while I maintain overall command. If I am right, this will be the place of greatest danger and I need someone I can trust to hold it whatever Caecina throws at us.’
‘You talk as if Valens’ army does not exist. Is it wise to discount him?’
‘Not wise, perhaps, but realistic.’ The words were accompanied by a savage grin. ‘If Valens and Caecina can combine before the Emperor reaches the Padus, they will have enough strength to crush us like a grape in a walnut press.’
They carried on round the walls until they came to the gateway. Below them, a squad of legionaries dressed in the distinctive blue tunics of the First Adiutrix worked to strengthen the gates with massive baulks of wood, stockpiling others that would be braced against the rear of the doors if the Vitellians attacked them with a ram. Valerius recognized a familiar figure supervising the men.
‘Hail, Juva of the Wavedancer,’ he called. ‘It seems we are ever destined to meet in interesting circumstances.’
The Nubian looked up with a broad smile that turned serious when he recognized the general. He slammed his fist against his chest in a salute that would have graced a twenty-year veteran. The dark eyes looked Valerius up and down.
‘Of the Wavedancer no more. Optio of the first century Fifth cohort.’ Pride suffused Juva’s voice. He looked Valerius up and down, taking in the filthy clothing and the beard, and the new shadows under the eyes. ‘It appears that larks’ tongues are no longer part of your diet, lord, if you have eaten at all this past week. But do not concern yourself. If you have fallen on hard times there is always a place for you in the First Adiutrix.’