Free Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube by Thomas A. Timmes

throughout the camp that Gloggr was suspected of killing the girl and that Timur was going to pass judgment on Gloggr the next day.  Many hoped he would be executed.  When Gloggr appeared, he was a broken man.  He knew he was guilty and feared he was going to be executed.  He stood in front of Timur with his head bowed awaiting his fate.  Timur, surrounded by his Leaders and many of the people in Gloggr’s Clan, spoke to Gloggr in a firm, no nonsense manner and said, “Gloggr, there is no proof that you killed the 13 year old girl assigned to your wagon, but all signs point to your guilt.  Therefore, you will not be executed for murder.”
    “It has also been brought to my attention that you are disrupting the harmony of the people with your obnoxious attitude and behavior.  Your Clan and Tribal Leaders feel you are not fit to remain a member of the Tribe and have recommended to me that you be exiled.  My ruling is that you are hereby exiled from the Tribe for life.  You have 24 hours to gather your belongings and leave.  If at any time, you are found within one mile (1.6km) of the settlement, you will be killed.  Gloggr, if I hear that you beat your wife or children when you return home to get your things, your head will be upon a pole for all to see.”
    Gloggr was greatly relieved; exile was certainly better than death.  In 12 hours, he was out of the camp and in the woods about five miles (8km) away.  He planned to build a temporary hut for shelter and hunt and fish for his food.  He figured he would eventually seek to join another tribe in the area.
    Neighbors and Gloggr’s two boys helped the family survive without him.
     
    *******
    March 214 BC
     
    September proved to be a fairly dry month as did October and November.  Unfortunately, the previous summer months of travel were very wet, particularly August.  As the season changed, the temperatures dropped.  By January, temperatures rarely got above the 40s.  The same held true for February.  The people, however, did not suffer.  They had had adequate time and help to construct proper homes and barns.  Fodder for the animals had been gathered and stored and there was sufficient food for the people.  Trading with the locals met many of their needs.  The ones who suffered the most were the guards patrolling the walls and gates, but that is the life of a soldier.
    The people used the winter months to repair their wagons, fatten their animals, and make new clothing for themselves.  The runaway boys and girls that the columns rescued in Langobardi territory had settled in and were well adjusted to their surroundings and new families.  Occasionally, sickness would appear and spread for a while, but quarantining the sick households prevented any significant outbreaks.
    Despite the cold, Timur once again called upon his scouts to push on to the Danube and search the river from Ulm to Passau where he heard Suevi garrisons were stationed.  In May, the scouts returned.  They had, indeed, found three Suevi garrison at Ulm, Regensburg, and Passau.  They estimated the size of each garrison to be no more than 2,000 men.  They told Timur that the garrisons spent most of their time patrolling along the river searching for signs of a crossing.
    Timur and his military leaders began planning how to breach the river and subdue the garrisons, but they were more concerned about reserve Suevi forces that would stream north out of Innsbruck following an attack upon the three garrisons.  Further scouting confirmed that the Suevi could only field a total of about 20,000 men at best and would not be able to offer that much resistance.  The Suevi were, however, allied with a tribe of Insubres on the north side of the Alps that could join them.  Their combined army would probably number about 50,000.  An army of that size could inflict serious damage.  All these factors drove the planning that became more detailed each day.
    When Timur called a Council meeting to