From Darkness Read online

  Copyright: ©2018 C.K. Ruppelt - all rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-7329076-1-4

  All contents created by the author, including maps, artwork, diagrams and cover design.

  Kindle eBook links: You can get to the relevant map by clicking on underlined chapter titles. Be aware that you will have to make a bookmark on some readers to be able to return to your current section in the book, others let you use the built-in back function to return to your last position. All maps and illustration can be double-clicked for an enhanced view.

  For more detailed versions of the maps, more historical background and related original artwork visit the author’s website at: www.ruppelt-pdx.com.

  DEDICATIO

  Thank you, soldiers and veterans, for fighting so others can live their lives in peace.

  Thank you, brave individuals, for standing up to become fearless warriors at times of human tragedy.

  Thank you, brave citizens, for seeking common ground with others to build bridges across what divides us.

  For all humans are people standing united in the need

  to belong, to love, and to be loved.

  DEDICATIO

  Map of the Roman Republic

  Map of Hispania

  Map of Gallia

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE (Cast of Characters)

  PROLOGUS Omnia Mutantur (Everything Changes)

  PRIMUS Ante Lucem Tenebras (The Darkness Before Dawn)

  Illustration: Typical Roman Cohort field camp

  SECUNDUS Temet Nosce (Know Thyself)

  Illustration: Typical permanent Roman legion fort

  TERTIUS Nova Familia (A New Family)

  EPILOGUS Spero (Hope)

  POST SCRIPTUM Inabsoluto Negotio (Unfinished Business)

  COMMENTARIUM

  GRATIA

  ADDENDUM

  DE SCRIPTOR (Brief Author Bio)

  Excerpt of Ancient Sources

  Cursus Honorum

  Gaius Julius Caesar Family Tree

  Organization of a typical Roman Legion of the Late Republic

  Map of the Roman Republic

  Map of Hispania

  Map of Gallia

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE (Cast of Characters)

  ROMAN/ITALIAN

  Sextus Albatius: Fictional figure, legionary in the Ninth

  Titus Balventius: Historical figure, served as centurion in the Gallic War

  Gaius Blandius: Fictional figure, legionary in the Ninth

  Publius Ventidius Bassus: Historical figure, POW as child, later mule driver and highly successful Roman general

  Gaius Julius Caesar: Historical figure, successful general, consul

  Aurelia Cotta: Historical figure, mother to Caesar

  Cornelia Cinna: Historical figure, Caesar’s first wife

  Lucius Cornelius Cinna: Historical figure, Caesar’s brother-in-law and close friend after Caesar helps him back from exile

  Calpurnia: Historical figure, Caesar’s third wife

  Julia Caesar: Historical figure, Caesar’s daughter

  Gaius Marius: Historical figure, uncle by marriage to Caesar, successful general, 7-time consul, enemy of Lucius Cornelius Sulla

  Quintus Pedius: Historical figure, son of Julia Caesaris Major, serving under his uncle Caesar in Gallic War

  Aulus Hirtius, Gaius Oppidus, Lucius Cornelius Balbus: Historical figures, close friends of Caesar

  Velia Churinas: Fictional figure, freedwoman, sister to Numerius, friend to Lethie

  Numerius Churinas: Fictional figure, freedman, legionary in the Ninth, brother to Velia, friend to Vibius Clarus

  Marcus Tullius Cicero: Historical figure, close friend of Caesar, famous orator who speaks out against Caesar as member of the triumvirate, takes side against Caesar in the Roman Civil War

  Quintus Tullius Cicero: Historical figure, younger brother to Marcus Cicero, close friend of Caesar

  Vibius Clarus: Fictional figure, legionary in the Ninth, friend to Numerius Churinas

  Marcus Licinius Crassus: Historical figure, general, consul, part of the first triumvirate with Gaius Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

  Marcus Licinius Crassus: Historical figure, older son to Crassus, tribune under Caesar in Hispania, later quaestor, proquaestor, before legate under Caesar in the late Gallic War

  Publius Licinius Crassus: Historical figure, younger son of Crassus; while too young to receive a senate commission, he served as tribune under Caesar in the Gallic War

  Fraucus, Luctatus and Postumus: Fictional figures, clients, confidants of Marcus Licinius Crassus

  Pompeius Magnus, Gnaeus: Historical figure (Pompey the Great), highly successful general, consul, member of triumvirate

  CELTIC

  Aina: Fictional figure, Aedui warrior, daughter of Drestan, married to Bradan

  Brenna: Fictional figure, Aedui warrior, friend of Drestan’s children, married to Elsed

  Bradan: Fictional figure, Aedui warrior, friend of Elsed, married to Aina

  Rionach and Orlagh: Fictional figures, Aedui warriors, friends of Drestan’s children

  Daleninar: Fictional figure, Celtici, becomes common-law wife of Gulussa

  Divitiaco/Divitiacus: Historical figure, Aedui Vergobret, council member, master druid, friend of Liscan and Drestan

  Divico: Historical figure, Helvetii chieftain, council member, and war-king

  Drestan: Fictional figure, Aedui chieftain, husband to Ganna, father of Elsed, Aina and Morcant, brother of Liscan/Liscus

  Elsed: Fictional figure, chieftain of the Aedui, eldest son to Drestan, husband to Brenna

  Morcant: Fictional figure, son to Drestan, druid

  Haerviu: Fictional figure, chieftain of the Aedui, father of Drestan

  Liscan/Liscus: Historical figure, Aedui Vergobret, council member, brother to Drestan

  Orgetorix: Historical figure, Helvetii chieftain, council member

  NUMIDIAN

  Ozalkis/Oz: Fictional figure, Numidian archer of auxilia of the Ninth, later decurion, uncle to Adherbal

  Adherbal/Adhe: Fictional figure, Numidian archer of auxilia of the Ninth, nephew of Ozalkis

  Massinussa/Massi and Gulussa: Fictional figures, brothers, Numidian archers in auxilia of the Ninth, friends with Oz and Adhe. Gulussa married to Daleninar (common law)

  GREEK

  Alketas: Fictional figure, Cretan archer in auxilia of the Ninth

  Andrippos: Fictional figure, first decurion in Cretan auxilia of the Ninth, friend of Capussia, Titus Balventius and Gaius Seppius

  Nicolaos/Nico: Fictional figure, Cretan archer in auxilia of the Ninth

  Timon: Fictional figure, young slave, love-interest of Nico

  PROLOGUS

  Omnia Mutantur (Everything Changes)

  “…and the still more hostile Romans, whose arrogance we cannot hope to avoid, not even by submission and servitude. They have plundered the world, stripping naked the land in their hunger…

  they are driven by greed, if their enemy be rich; by ambition, if poor…

  They ravage, they slaughter, they seize by false pretenses, and all of this they hail as the construction of empire. And when in their wake nothing remains but a desert, they call that peace.”

  Cornelius Tacitus, The Agricola

  664 Ab Urbe Condita (90 BC), spring

  Rome, Italia, Capital of the Roman Republic

  “The ancient empires of the Mediterranean have vanished, or are shadows of their former selves,” the tutor stated. “Some have been conquered by the Senate and People of Rome, others are dependent on Roman help. In this year six hundred sixty-four after the founding of this glorious city, few regions are independent. Can you name the most important former powers I’ve taught about?”

  “There is Macedonia,
the heart of Alexander the Great’s empire,” ten-year old Caesar spoke up.

  “Good. What happened to it?”

  Young Caesar turned his head to follow the old Greek man’s glance. His father stood at the back of the atrium. Gaius Julius senior’s presence must be the reason for this impromptu quiz.

  “We conquered it sixty years ago. Macedonia is now a Roman province, and the mainland of Greece is a protectorate,” young Caesar answered.

  The tutor’s glance moved on to his two sisters, keeping one eyebrow up in expectation. Julia major, Caesar’s two-year older sister, started to speak. “Egypt is another ancient power. The ruling family there are descendants of Ptolemy, who was a general for Alexander the Great. They have killed each other about the throne for generations. We have arbitrators at their court to help them stay nice to each other. As a thank you they gifted Cyprus and Cyrenaica to Rome.”

  The old tutor cackled in response. “I am sure they only feel gratitude to the Roman Senate.” The man pursed his lips to look serious again. Caesar knew it was because of his father. Though a household slave, their tutor was usually open with his opinions. “Julia minor, can you tell me about another big power? How about one that used to rival the might of Rome itself?”

  Caesar’s one-year older sister Julia minor’s face lit up when she realized she knew the answer. “You mean mighty Carthago! They felt threatened by us and started the first war by attacking without warning. They hurt us then, but we beat them in the second war, and all their territories in Hispania became Roman, as did Sardinia and Sicilia. Much later, our Senate declared the third war after the Carthaginians collected a Numidian army, or was it because of Cato’s non-stop pleading to the senators? Anyway, we won, and our army razed the city, sold the people as slaves, and salted the fields so there would never be another Carthago to threaten us.”

  “Very good!” the old tutor beamed, patting his bald pate with his left hand in excitement. “One more for today. Tell me about another ancient power, one that is still powerful today, though farther away from Rome than the others. Anybody?”

  Young Caesar broke the silence. “The kingdom of Parthia?”

  “That’s the one. It was called Persia when the three hundred Spartans made their stand. What are the three ancient heartlands of Parthia?” the tutor continued.

  “I think you mean Sumer, Akkad, and Babylonia,” Caesar said with raised eyebrows, proud to be able to show off his knowledge.

  “That is right, son,” Caesar senior cut in from the back. “The Parthians have ignored us Romans for a long time. I heard in the Senate about their problems in the east where nomadic tribes often invade Parthia.”

  Young Caesar watched his tutor closely and noticed a slight hardening of the man’s face at the mention of the Senate. He knew the man’s views and was impressed with the displayed self-control. He had overheard an impassioned conversation in the street close to their home, when his teacher had freely discussed his opinions about Roman rule outside of Italia, talking of Roman governors as corrupt rulers with absolute powers, and of the Roman Republic as a once honorable institution long rotting from the inside. The conquering or governing of new provinces was the ultimate opportunity for personal enrichment, with the senate members masking it all by invoking the glory of Rome.

  Caesar’s father continued, “We have had many military successes that grew our small republic in the last two hundred years. I have a trick question for you though. What do we call what used to be the Mare Internum?”

  “Mare Nostrum!” all three children shouted at the same time. Caesar knew that name to be true. With most of its coastal regions Roman or at least dependent, the inner sea had aptly been renamed to Our Sea. Deep in thought, Caesar watched his father walk out. He knew the lesson was supposed to show the glory and power of Rome, but he had seen a different moral, one from the opposing point of view, and it had seemed crystal clear. Stay independent and powerful by any means necessary, or others will walk all over you.

  PRIMUS

  Ante Lucem Tenebras (The Darkness Before Dawn)

  “Hope is the pillar that holds up the world.

  Hope is the dream of a waking man.”

  Gaius Plinius Secundus

  664 AUC (90 BC), summer

  Rome, Italia, Capital of the Roman Republic

  Marius’ new domus was located in an upscale neighborhood of the Viminal hill in Rome, within easy walking distance of the Senate and the Forum Romanum. Caesar arrived with his father and rushed through the main entry door to get out of the already blistering sun. A servant took his toga in the vestibule to keep it clean during his visit and his mother from chiding him later.

  Entering the townhouses’ atrium behind his father, he went straight to his aunt who waited for them in front of the pool. After he hugged aunt Julia, it was his father’s turn. As the boy’s eyes searched the room for his older cousin, the impressive atrium decorations caught his attention. The floor showed beautiful mosaics, with geometric patterns flowing from the entryway to the pool area, where the blue floor depicted all manner of interesting ocean creatures. The walls were painted with realistic nature scenes. Bare, gentle hills around the vestibule changed to herds of deer on luscious grasslands around the pool area, and into forests before changing to snowcapped peaks at the back of the room.

  “Come here, young man, let me have a look at you!” Caesar heard his uncle Gaius Marius call from across the atrium. He turned with a big smile on his face only to instantly freeze. His uncle’s familiar face, framed by the same balding head, looked much different than he remembered, with his left cheek and eye lid hanging low. Odd. At least uncle’s remaining hair is trimmed nicely, and he looks as fit as ever. His father had told him about something called apoplexia, but he had not imagined that his uncle would have changed. Caesar made a slow procession across the room to avoid his uncle, until seeing Marius’ tunic reminded him of something he had been pondering. “Why do boy’s tunics look just like yours or father’s, with the same two purple stripes going down the front and back?”

  Marius’ lips curved up to a wide smile. “It’s the same reason why both our togas have purple stripes around the edges. For you as a boy it means protection by law from bad men. For me and your father it shows that we are high-level magistrates in power, and therefore also protected by the law.” His uncle looked him up and down. “You need to start your martial training soon. You don’t have any muscle yet, and with your pale skin you look like you stay indoors all day. Well, at least that skin tone compliments your eyes,” he chuckled. Caesar knew one of his family traits were the dark rings around the iris, and he had heard many derogatory comments from other children calling his own gray eyes piercing. Caesar stopped walking at his uncle’s jest and stiffened.

  Marius pulled up his shoulders in apology. “I see you don’t like anybody teasing you about that. You need to toughen up and get over it, you hear me?” Marius paused before waving behind him. “I am sorry that your cousin is not here today.” Caesar’s disappointment must have shown since Marius continued hastily, “I thought that I could show you my collection of Cimbri and Teuton weapons instead. What do you say? That way your aunt Julia can catch up with your father by herself. You know they haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

  Caesar’s eyes lit up again before he hurried the rest of the way. “Yes, uncle, I would love to see those! Do you also have Numidian weapons from when you fought Jugurtha in Africa?”

  Marius laughed a loud. “I should have figured you'd ask that! Yes, I brought some of their spears and bows with me. Come on.” He took Caesar’s hand to lead him away.

  “Wait, uncle!” The boy turned and waved at his father and aunt, receiving a couple of warm smiles in return. “Now we can go. I can’t wait to see the spears!”

  “But to be clear my boy, I don't have the king's weapons, they went to Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Do you know who he is?” Marius asked.

  “He was your second in command in Africa,
right?”

  “Yes, that’s right. I sent Sulla to get the king to surrender and to ship him to Rome, and he delivered.”

  668 AUC (86 BC), summer

  Rome, Italia, Capital of the Roman Republic

  Caesar sat on the bench of his old family house’s atrium, reading a book scroll. It was the second book of “Alexander’s campaigns” by Ptolemy Soter. Alexander the Great was his latest obsession, and this was the third book series about his hero he had been able to borrow. Still alone, he was the first of his family in the atrium waiting for their expected dinner guests. He used to love visits by his uncle Marius, but now that his uncle had changed and could exhibit unpredictable fits of rage at any time, he dreaded them. Still, he was excited about seeing his beloved aunt and his older cousin.

  “How is that book, any better than the last one?” His oldest sister asked from behind him.

  With a slight jump, Caesar looked up. “It’s very different from Callisthenes’ Deeds of Alexander. It’s not just about the military matters, it also talks about how the fame went to his head, and how he started to act like a Persian king of old, persecuting anyone who spoke up against him or his plans.”

  “Does that remind you of someone we know all too well?” Julia major asked, her usually expressive face deadpan.

  “Unfortunately, it does,” Caesar answered, slumping his shoulders. When Sulla had been made dictator, uncle Marius had to flee for his life to Africa. Later, when his rival travelled to Greece to fight a war, Marius had come back with many loyal veteran soldiers. Ever since, the now seven times consul ruled the city through terror, putting all real or merely imagined Sulla supporters to death. The man he had loved seemed gone.