Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat (11 page)

Decius grinned, his wrinkled face erupting in a myriad of lines.  “Were he just a decurion I would answer his call. You need not fear Governor there will be no politics between us two.”

Relieved Sallustius leaned back in his chair.  “Good that is excellent. Tribune how goes the recruitment and when will they be ready for the field?”

“We have trained those who will be joining my old ala and now we are starting with the Cohortes Equitatae. Before we proceed I will need to know who will be prefect for these cohorts.”

“A good question. Perhaps there are officers amongst the Batavians and Marcus’ Horse? After all they know how the auxiliary fight do they not?”

Marcus nodded.  “That would have been my suggestion too.  I would say that by midsummer you will have two more cohorts of auxiliaries and by then Marcus’ Horse will be up to full strength.”

“Good if you would liaise with Strabo and Sura then I can begin to recruit more forces.”

Both Decius and Marcus looked up sharply when this was mentioned. “More forces? How does Rome view this recruitment drive Governor?”

The Governor bristled and coloured slightly. “Centurion I do not need to ask Rome to create new units.  Besides which the Emperor is looking east and needs as many men as he can muster.”

“Even so Governor this might be seen as a threat by those in Rome.”

Waving a hand dismissively Sallustius blustered, “I am no threat to Rome and I think the Emperor knows that.  I am Governor of Britannia and I will do everything in my power to maintain it as a thriving and prosperous colony. Do I make myself clear?”

The two soldiers looked at each other and then replied, “Yes sir!”

Just then the door at the rear opened and a waft of expensive perfume entered the room. When it fully opened they could see the Governor’s wife, Aula Luculla closely followed by a young man dressed in armour. “Ah allow me to introduce my wife Aula Luculla and my nephew Livius Lucullus who will be working with you Tribune.  This is Tribune Marcus Aurelius Maximunius and you already know Centurion Brutus.”

Aula’s eyes lit up when she saw the handsome scarred warrior standing before her.  She had heard much about this hero and all of it appeared justified. She sinuously slid up to him and held out her hand for him to kiss. “At last I have met the hero of the north.  Your exploits do you great credit Tribune.”

“I was lucky to lead good men your ladyship.”

“I was saying to my husband that it is a lucky thing that we have such leaders in Britannia now that the Emperor has taken our successful generals away.”

“Aula!”

“My husband wishes me to curb my tongue but I ask you gentlemen, would you not wish General Agricola to be in command still?”

Decius and Marcus were at a loss for a reply for this could be a trap with which to end not only their careers but also their lives. “But then your ladyship the Governor would still be in Rome and we would not have had the pleasure of meeting you.”

Decius whispered in Marcus’ ear,”Smoothly done you crafty bastard.”

Aula laughed, “Not only a hero but a diplomat and a smooth tongued gentleman.  I can see that you have been underestimated Tribune.”

Later when Aula and Sallustius were alone they discussed the meeting. “You are right husband he does have charisma.  He would make a fine leader.”

“When you speak to the tribal leaders, the Brigante, Carvetii and the Novontae he is the one man they respect. With him leading my armies we could defeat the Caledonii.”

“Yes my love but now we need to find out if he will lead them.”

As Marcus rode northwards with Livius he wondered what plans and plots were being hatched in the corridors of Eboracum for he had sensed that he was being used.  The governor’s wife had flirted outrageously with him over their meal and the governor appeared not to mind. He realised that his promotion had moved him from the safe comfortable world of warriors into the murky and dangerous world of politics.

“So Livius, have you any military experience?”

“I trained, along with my cousin Decius, to be a warrior.  I can ride and I can use a sword.”

“Good.  When we reach Morbium you can meet Macro.  He is my weapon trainer and we will see how well you learned.”

“None of my family’s warriors could defeat me sir.”

There was a hurt tone in the boy’s voice and Marcus smiled. “No offence intended son but Macro has defeated not only every man in the ala but every Brigante, Carvetii, Caledonii, Pictii and Novontae that he has met. I just need to gauge your strengths and weakness for you will be dealing with warriors much older than you are. Have you ever fought?”

“In a battle?” Marcus nodded. “No.”

“Well it might be that a short time with the ala might help.  Would you mind that?”

Livius’ face lit up.  “A chance to fight, to prove myself a warrior? Yes sir!”

“Good.  Then when Macro and I go north you can accompany him.”

Chapter 8

Cato scrutinised Macro carefully, there was something different abut him; they had finished training about an hour earlier, sooner than Cato had expected and Marco had washed from head to toe in the river.  He then shaved himself for the second time that day and amazed the sergeant by putting on a clean tunic.  Cato had not been in the tavern the previous night but he had heard the recruits whispering about Macro and a pretty girl called Morwenna. “I suspect Decurion that a woman is involved in all this preparation?”

Macro was going to deny it but one look at Cato told him that it would be fruitless.  He nodded vigorously, looking about ten years younger in the process. “You are right.  It is a new girl in the village. Cato she smells, she smells like springtime and she looks, well I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life.”

“Be careful Decurion. The last thing you need is an irate parent with a pitchfork aimed at your behind.”

“She is an orphan.”

“Ah, well in that case be even more careful for she may be looking for a husband.”

“She can have one.” The seriousness in his tone convinced Cato that this would be more than a tumble in the hayfields for the affable warrior.

Macro had been waiting for almost an hour by the time Morwenna arrived.  She too, had spent some time making herself look as attractive as possible but in her case it was to make a trap that would be attractive to her prey.

“You are beautiful.”

“And you are handsome. “ She pecked him on the cheek; he could be tantalised a little more yet. ”You were telling me about your deeds and exploits.” Macro needed no encouragement to talk of the battles, the friends, the campaigns and the places he had known. Morwenna was an avid listener and, although she did not write down a word, her memory, trained by Luigsech ensured that she would remember every detail.  Macro finished with his tale of the rescue of the Batavians and Morwenna lay on his lap, her face looking adoringly at the young Adonis. “How brave and how frightening it must have been.  Someone in the village told me of a witch. That would have scared me.”

Macro’s face darkened.  “Aye Fainch.  That was a dark time.  She murdered the Queen and tried to burn alive the Tribune, although he was just a prefect then.”

“What happened to her?”

“We finally found her when we raided Calgathus’ village and she was crucified.  She was a brave, although ultimately an evil woman.  She never cried out, right until the moment she died.”

Morwenna kept smiling but her hand gripped the bag with Luigsech’s bones and hair and in her head she was saying a prayer. She reached up with her other hand and pulled his head down to meet hers. “I am the luckiest woman in the world to have such a man as you.” She kissed him hard on the mouth and in an instant he became aroused.  He rolled over until he was lying on top of her and his hand crept up to cup the small pert breast whose nipple was hard and erect.  When he found no resistance he went further and suddenly Morwenna opened her legs.  She was as aroused as he and, regardless of his name or her plan she would have carried on as she did.

As they lay on the grass Macro propped himself up on one elbow. “I was your first then?”

“You will be my only for I love you and wish you to be mine for ever.” Macro did not realise the significance of the word forever.  In Morwenna’s convoluted and complex mind this was a far more sinister word than the romantic one pictured by Macro.

“And I love you and I am yours. When I return to the fort I will ask the prefect for permission to marry.”

“I thought you had to be of Centurion rank?”

“We will go now and see Ailis.  She and Gaius are married; she will know a way. Come you will like her.” Like two children they gambolled across the fields.

It was close to dusk when they approached the farm.  Gaelwyn’s keen eyes had spotted them from afar and he waited by the gate. “Decurion. It is late to be visiting is it not? The gates would have been closed upon you soon.”

“I just had to come and show Ailis my new found love.”

The old warrior gave a half smile. “Indeed then let us go indoors.  She is with the bairn.”

Ailis quickly smoothed down her dress as they entered.  “Gaelwyn you should have warned me… oh it is you Macro do come in.”She threw her arms around him and they embraced as brother and sister. “And who is this pretty young thing? You have beautiful hair my dear.”

Morwenna bobbed and Macro put his arm around her saying proudly, “This is Morwenna and we would like to be married.”

Gaelwyn and Ailis burst out laughing. “Do I look like a holy man?”

Blushing Macro said, “No Gaelwyn, I meant we are going to be married and I wanted to tell someone and to ask how you do it?”

Ailis said mischievously, “How you do it? You surprise me I though every trooper in the ala knows how to do it.”

“No I mean how to get married with me being a decurion and you and Gaius well..”

“Sit down the two of you I am just teasing. I am pleased for you both. Morwenna you don’t know just what a fine man you have. And you Macro I am delighted. Let me see how did Gaius do it? Well he just asked the prefect and the prefect gave permission.”

“That’s it then? Well that is easy. We’ll just keep this quiet until I have had the chance to speak with him. Do you think I could ask a favour of you Ailis?”

“Ask anything for you know what I owe you.”

“Morwenna sleeps on the floor in the tavern and it is not seemly.  Could she sleep here on the farm with you?”

Ailis liked the look of the young girl with her innocent smile and the ay her lovelorn eyes never left Macro. And as for Macro, the giant had been humbled.  She would gladly look after the girl. “Gladly and I am sure she can work here rather than at the tavern.  I am sure you would not want the other recruits ogling her while you were gone eh?”

“You are right. Thank you.”

“And now let us celebrate.” Gaelwyn pulled a jug and the four of them drank while the child played. Morwenna was mentally dancing as she contemplated her position.  She would be protected and sheltered by the very people she would ultimately kill and destroy. The Mother and Luigsech were indeed watching over her.

By the time Marcus returned Macro had almost finished training the recruits. He decided not to tell the Tribune his news before he had spoken with Julius partly because he did not want to jinx the relationship and partly because he was intrigued by the young man who trailed in the Tribune’s wake.

“This is Livius and I want you to give him a work out in the gyrus.”

Macro grinned, “Do you like him sir or shall I give him a real work out?”

Marcus grinned but Livius blushed.  “Do not hold back on my account Decurion.  I have yet to be beaten.” Laughing Macro threw him one of the wooden training swords. Livius shouted scornfully, “I use a real blade not a piece of wood.”

Macro’s face darkened. “In my gyrus you follow my rules. Is that clear?”

Nodding, Livius went into a defensive stance. Macro stood like a chimpanzee, his arms hanging down loosely at his side. Livius smiled to himself this would be easy; he would have the ape on his back in two strokes. He brought the wooden sword above his head to slice down at the unprotected neck of the decurion. Almost in an instant the huge man pivoted on his right foot so that the blow came down into an empty space and then smacked the blade of the sword against Livius posterior.  The blow was so hard that he found himself face down in the ground.

“Now then have we finished being a dickhead? Can we try again but this time do not assume because I look like a Greek Temple \I will move as slowly as one?”

Marcus covered his mouth to hide the grin erupting from his face. Livius stood on guard once more but his time the blade was held lower and his centre of gravity was lower. “That’s better son, now you are thinking.  You will still end up on your arse but that is a better starting position.”

After two or three parries and thrusts Livius was wiping the blood from the back of his head. “Better but you still let me get under your skin.  Now come on or shall I get a serving girl from the tavern to fight me?” Livius forced himself to calm down and out think this huge brute who moved like a butterfly.

The last time the bout went on much longer but Macro still emerged triumphant.  He walked over to a Livius who was breathing as heavily as if he had climbed Etna.  “Good lad.  He’ll do Tribune.  Just needs a bit of work.”

Marcus glanced over at Livius who nodded and smiled a wry smile. “I’ll learn Tribune. I promise.”

“Good. He is coming with us. We go North tomorrow and he can join a turma for a week or so.”

Macro looked at Livius and shook his head.  “You want to thank your gods that Decius isn’t there. He would have your arse between two pieces of bread old son.”

That night Macro slipped away to Ailis’ farm.  He and Morwenna spent an hour enjoying each other’s company.  “I have to leave in the morning but as soon as I can I will return I will and we will be married.”

“I know my love.  I trust you and I believe you. Thank you for putting me with such good people. “

“I know and I will sleep happier each evening knowing that Ailis and Gaelwyn are  keeping watch over you.”