The Ligurian: Part 3
Asina's orders to Quiamelius were rather simple, help S.P. Carbo to infiltrate the settlement, Quiamelius's knowledge on local customs would help Carbo to blend in with the locals.
Carbo had managed to infiltrate Liguria, a few seasons later the city was under siege by the combined Legions of Apulia and Latium, led by Consul Asina, hailed as a military hero for his conquests in Italia and Heres Blasio, the heir to the Dictatorship of Roma respectively. The siege was a bloody one, taking the life of Asina as he rode on to slay Conan, the chieftain of Liguria.
Now, though Segesta has been brought under the rule of the People and Republic of Rome, the Republic has also lost a fine General to the hands of Barbarians.
Though Asina's reports end here, his trusted friend M.C. Cicero has taken the time to chronicle the last few hours of Asina's life, and a few events which followed. (note: the following section is told from the perspective of Manius Claudius Cicero, who is incidentially narrating)
The last thing I heard directly from Consul Asina, was in the tent just before the Battle of Segesta. he was discussing the battle plan for an attack the following day as Heres Blasio, in charge of Legio II then, had ordered Asina to bring along Legio I Apulia to reinforce Legio II when the latter assaults the Ligurian settlement. The strategy, strangely, was a rather disorganised one; it included to coordination of armies and such; it was as if Asina had lost his strategic skills. I had never thought "dismissed" was the last word Asina was to say to me.
During the battle; Legio I Apulia was in a mess; our horsemen were ordered to charge through our formations, causing them to be disrupted, and our infantry were ordered to move into the settlement through the breeches in a most un-Roman fashion, if I would say. Though the battle was considered a clear victory and our noble Heres had been given credit for capturing it; I had thought it to be more of a defeat. A man, who has bought great victories to the republic, fallen in a battle, is there a man who is competent or capable enough to replace him? Who would bring our legions to that great victories again?
Though there is a myriad of other military commanders within our republic, I think only a small number of them would rise to the greatness of Consul Asina; I shall aspire to one of them, though I may not be as great as Asina.
After the battle, I visited to the small abode of S.P. Carbo, which was as equally inconspicuous as previously when I went to the Bononian version together with Consul Asina, to inform Carbo of the news. "Ah! Drillmaster Manivs! what news do you bring? where is Consul Asina?" I was still in the state of shock, I had not believed that our dear Consul Asina passed before my eyes jsut a few yards away from my unit, it took a while before I could respond to Carbo. "Consul Asina has fallen bravely in combat against that barbarian Conan. Other than that, I have been asked to bring Quiamelius back to Legatus Regulus, who has taken temporary command of Legio I Apulia; I presume he is residing with you?
It was now Carbo's turn to be shocked. He nervously stuttered, "well- that Ligurian man, he - he went missing a few nights after I arrived here, which was a few weeks before the siege started, I'm not sure what exactly happened to him."
The End
OOC: partially major spoiler
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