Mustering the Militia

“Alright, now grab both sides of the string and pull until you clear the nut” you say to the militiaman you are teaching how to use a crossbow. The militiaman did as instructed and the weapon cocked with a click. “Now put it to your shoulder, try to line the bolt up with your eyes so that you are looking where you’re aiming” you instruct and the militiaman complied. “Let loose when ready” the militiaman pulled the trigger of the crossbow and a retort sounded through the street, the echo muted by all the various people training. “Not a bad first shot” you say with a nod “keep at it” you instruct and the militiaman got to it.

“Augustus” you hear from behind you.

“Julian” you greet, turning to face the man in question.

“We need to talk about these soldiers of yours” he said. “I went to the new barracks you’ve set up to check out the personnel and I saw a woman” he told you.

“Yes, and?” you reply, meeting the man’s gaze.

“Not only was she a woman, but a girl” Julian continued “Barely of marriageable age” he said.

“She’s also one of my best fighters” you tell the man. Julian took on an expression like he was eating a lemon.

“The battlefield is no place for a woman” the man told you, trying to press this order into you.

“Our soldiers will fight as We determine and they shall be made up of those whom We decide” you declare. Your use of the royal ‘we’ was not lost on Julian, a flash of anger appearing in his eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

“As you say, pray that your decision holds true, I have matters to take care of” Julian told you before leaving.

“That’s going to be a problem” came the gruff voice of Strabo, appearing from out of the shadows once Julian was out of earshot.

“How do you mean?” you ask, you are already aware that Julian was untrustworthy, but Strabo sounded like he had other issues.

“That choice of words . . . nevermind” Strabo muttered “Julian huh? Haven’t seen the boy since he was . . . well . . . a boy” the venerable soldier told you “Taught him everything he knows about soldiering, probably forgot a lot of it sitting here in Tarentum” he added.

“Is he going to be a problem Strabo?” you ask, looking your Praetor in the eyes.

“Of course” was his reply. You rub your face with a heavy sigh at the response.

“Alright, well, moving on” you say before turning to look at the range where the various militiamen were training. “What say you on the training of the meatshields?” you ask

“Hmm, adequate for city fighting” Strabo commented, stroking his beard “Got the melee men on pike training, they’ll be better in a pike wall than trying to match blades with a barbarian” he added “Not sure how militia crossbowmen are going to work for us, I’d rather our own soldiers, at least then I’ll know they can hit the target” he grumbled.

“More arrows, more better” you say, “at least it will keep the enemy focused on not taking a bolt to the face, slowing them down in a charge” you add and Strabo nodded. “Begin looking for Julian’s replacement” you command and Strabo looks at you for a long moment before nodding. “And step up the efforts to get our people into the city, I want more than what we said” you add. Strabo nodded once more before turning around and leaving. With Strabo gone, you watch the militiamen, occasionally adding in tips and showing them how something is done properly. They won’t be soldiers when it comes time, but at least they’ll be able to hit a target.