Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat (20 page)

The Camp Prefect breathed a sigh of relief.  Morwenna was a headache he could do without. “I will send a soldier with your things.”

As she inspected her surroundings Morwenna was already planning her next move.  How to make contact? “Lady if you would excuse me I need to get the night water from the fort and begin my laundry.”

“Do not worry about me I shall look around the settlement.”

“Be careful lady for there are some around here who might wish harm to the Romans and their ladies.”

Those were the very people she sought. “Thank you for the warning.  I shall be careful.”

The settlement was crude but lively. The two taverns were being cleaned as she wandered along and the owners viewed her suspiciously.  She smiled and nodded, playing the part of the young girl exploring the village. She headed west along the well worn track to where it met the military road. She did not know what she was looking for but she was certain she would know when she found it. She had sharp eyes and a slight movement in the undergrowth grabbed her attention.  Someone was hiding thirty paces from the road. If they were hiding from those who used the roads, the Romans, then they were the very people she sought.  She moved along the road some distance and then saw a lonely tree struggling to survive in this hostile environment.  She wandered over to it and, lifting her shift, she squatted as though passing water. As she did so she glanced down the road and confirmed that there were indeed warriors watching the road.  They had ignored her as a girl and their eyes were locked on the road to the fort.

Instead of moving back along the road she headed directly for the warriors, hiding in the undergrowth. She was but twenty paces from them when they saw her and their dilemma was obvious. If they stood then the guards in the tower might see them; if she were a Roman or a Roman sympathiser then she might alert the sentries. Addis was the younger warrior and he pulled out his knife. Lulach, Calgathus’ son, hissed a warning. “Be still you fool it is but a girl.  Come here child.”

Her calm demeanour and confidence took both warriors aback. When she was close enough Lulach pulled her to her knees. “Now then my little wanderer tell me why I should not slit your throat here and now and leave your body for the crows?”

“Because your king, Calgathus , would not be pleased that you had rejected a spy in the Roman camp and the daughter of Fainch.”

Addis looked at the king’s son in surprise for it was as though he had been struck in the face. “You are Fainch’s child?”

“I am.”

“Your face, your eyes, your hair they say you are but you could be a Roman spy.”

“True, for a Roman would know that it was Marcus’ Horse who murdered my mother but they would not know that I will be revenged on the whole ala.”

“Fine words but meaningless and as empty as the air which whistles around us. Why did you seek us?  Do you wish to die?” She shook her head. “ What would you have us do then?”

“Pass a message to the king that Fainch’s daughter has returned and would speak with him.”

Lulach snorted in derision.  “Do you take me for a fool? Bring Calgathus here so that he may be captured by Romans!”

“Take me to him then.  Blindfold me if you feel it necessary and fear a stripling girl but you will need to be swift and he would need to be close by for if I am missed then the Romans would come looking for me.”

“And why would the Romans seek a slip of a girl?”

“For I am married to one of the officers of Marcus’ Horse.”

Lulach could not believe his ears.  He was a cunning warrior but he could not see a lie in the girl’s story.  She looked like her mother. At first there was a resemblance but once you knew who her mother was then the family traits were obvious. “Calgathus is too far away and you would be missed. How else could you help?”

She shrugged, “If I could meet with one of his chiefs or a member of his family I could prove who I was.”

“I am Calgathus’ son, Lulach; prove it to me.”

Addis growled, “If she is a spy then she will shout now and the Romans will have a fine catch.” He glared up at Morwenna. “Consider your next actions carefully wench or my sax will rest in your heart.”

Lulach put his hand to stay Addis. “You speak of proof.  What is that proof?”

Morwenna removed the raven charm from beneath her shift and Lulach turned it over in his hands.  “You are indeed Fainch’s daughter.  I am Lulach and this is Addis.”

“I am Morwenna and I am living in the settlement beside the fort.”

“I would know how you came to marry a Roman but time presses and we have tarried here too long. You can have valuable information for us.”

“The first I can give you is this; the Romans intend to withdraw to this line of forts.”

Addis and Lulach exchanged a look of joy. “When?”

“The ala has ridden north to escort the Batavians south and as they come they will burn the forts.”

“Excellent and if true proves your story more than a charm. When we wish to contact you where are you staying?”

“With the laundry woman Mairi but if I am moved I will need another means of contacting you. The other forts they may take me to are Morbium in the far south and Coriosopitum.  They are the bases the ala uses.”

“I will send a man with his laundry to Mairi.  She will be silent for we knew her husband and son.  She has little love for the Romans but best you play the part of a dutiful wife. Farewell Morwenna today has been a happy day and I hope it bodes well that the witch has returned.  I will tell my father of the aid you have given us.”

“Lulach, I do it for my mother and until the Roman ala is destroyed, I cannot rest.” She strode away and both warriors were struck by her confidence and poise.  She looked like a girl but moved, spoke and thought like a full grown woman.

Rufius Agrippa was admitted straight away to the Governor’s private quarters.  This time the cat like Aula was curled up on the couch her eyes assessing the furtive looking man with the shifting eyes. “What did the people you represent have to say?”

“In the next few months there will be a rising of the legions.”

“And where will that be?” Rufius shrugged. “Perhaps Germania?”

Rufius hid his alarm well but both Aula and Sallustius saw that they had, indeed, struck the mark. “Does it matter where? All you need to know is the time so that you can strike here.”

“Has your, er leader, the support of the legions?”

“Aye and the tribes.”

“Then he has the advantage over me for I only have certain troops and certain tribes who are loyal to me.”

“Husband I think you underestimate yourself.  You are the grandson of the last king of this land, Cunobelinus.  When we raise your standard the tribes will all flock to your side.”

Flattered by his wife and encouraged by Rufius he nodded. “In the spring we will rise.  You may tell your principal that.”

“Late winter would be better.”

“I need to summon my Tribunes and Legates if I am to pull off this coup successfully. It will be the spring.”

Shrugging Rufius said, “Very well the spring it must be.”

None of them heard the door shut with the faintest of noises nor the feet which shuffled off down the corridor.

Chapter 14

Marcus reached the tribune before the ala.  “How goes it Cominius?”

“Slowly I am afraid.  There are two more forts on this road and, until your men arrive we cannot move.  The valley sides are crawling with barbarians. As soon as you leave the road or the fort you are prey to their arrows and sorties. We have lost two dozen men already.”

“The fleet will spend the winter anchored in the estuary.  It will give us mobile artillery and, unless the Caledonii get boats in a hurry, they should give us the edge we need.”

“I wish the Governor would get his finger out of his arse and send those reinforcements.”

“I think our Governor is playing a dangerous game.”

Cominius shot a sharp look at his friend. “Dangerous?  How so?”

“I take it your men were pleased to receive the increase in pay?”

“Of course.  Wouldn’t any soldier?”

“Where did it come from?  How did the Governor acquire it?  He is not a rich man.”

“Taxes?”

“That would make sense but he has decreased, not increased the taxes.  The people love him, the army loves him.”

“So he has bought popularity.  Isn’t that what Emperors do when they throw many days of games?”

“Precisely. What Emperors also do is keep forces close to them who are loyal to them. The four new cohorts are at Eboracum enjoying a very pleasant, highly paid life far away from barbarians and having to actually fight.  Who are they loyal to? If I order them to charge the Caledonii or you order them, will they obey? No Cominius, something about this stinks like last week’s fish.  I intend to go to Eboracum and demand the cohorts.”

“Be careful Marcus.  Politics is a dangerous game.”

“I am not playing politics; I am serving Rome and Britannia and would that our Governor were doing the same.”

“If things were easier here Marcus I would join you.”

“No Cominius.  Your presence here along with Furius is our only hope. I am confident that the two of you, with the support of Julius, should be able to stem the tide.  Winter is coming and the barbarians like to spend it in their huts. I do not think we will need the cohorts urgently but I would like them here and fully trained before the winter snow thaws. I have ordered Decius to strip the garrison from Coriosopitum to reinforce you and when you have finished with the ala I intend for them to winter at Coriosopitum.  They will be close enough to aid you and the horses will have better grazing.”

“Thank you Marcus.  The extra cohorts might be the difference between success and disaster. I look forward to a quiet, if cold winter.  It will give the men the chance to recover after this arduous summer.”

Cornelius Furcus arrived at Eboracum without any warning.  He had left Gaul with his bodyguard of old soldiers who had served with him in Germania.  They were extremely tough and experienced; all of them had been centurions, signifiers or aquifers. He had brought them out of retirement for what he hoped would be a sinecure. His authorisation from the Emperor should have been enough but some of these Governors viewed themselves as equals of the Emperor. The information he had been given about Sallustius had been interesting. The first thing which intrigued him was that he was a native of Britannia and a native with no military experience.  That meant he was dealing with a politician which, in turn, ensured that Cornelius would only believe one word in two. The Emperor’s spymaster had told him the names and identities of his agents as well as the agents of the other rebel Governor.

Leaving two of his men on the quayside to guard his belongings the Legate decided to take a turn around Eboracum before greeting the erstwhile governor. He needed to see the way the land lay and the best way was to wander the stalls and taverns and just listen. He wanted to know what the people thought or Rome and the Roman Governor ruling them.

Two hours later he and his companions sat around a table discussing what they had all gleaned. “He is a very popular man is our Governor.  The soldiers think he is their friend and the reduced taxes mean that the people would do anything for him.”

“Aye and I have also heard of gold coming from the west to be shipped to Rome but only a fraction actually makes it.”

“What of the army not in Eboracum?  Those cohorts fighting in the north and the west?”

“The legions are further west and south of here and they appear to be doing a satisfactory job.  It is in the north where the problems lie. The Caledonii are threatening the borders”

“Yes I heard that he made three Prefects Tribunes and one of them a barbarian.”

“The people and the soldiers speak highly of the barbarian.  Apparently he has been fighting for Rome since Vespasian’s time. He is in the north now.  He fought with Agricola.”

“Agricola was a good man. The politicians did for him.  Well it is time we sought out this Governor and showed him our credentials.”

His men laughed at the crude joke. “Let us hope he knows that the Emperor has given you the power over him.”

“He will soon find out.  Cassius, while I am speaking with the Governor find a clerk called Septimus and take him to my quarters.”

Cassius gave a quizzical look.  “Who is this Septimus? A soldier?”

“No much better, an Imperial spy.  He is the reason we are here.  He has sent back some interesting reports. Lentius explore the residence; see if there are any hidden and secret little places.”

The Governor and Aula had just finished their meeting with Rufius who headed for the back stairs. There was no knock on the door instead the doors of his private quarters were thrust open and Sallustius found himself looking at eight armed and extremely tough looking legionaries. “What is the meaning of this outrage?  Do you know who I am?”

Cornelius almost laughed aloud at the ludicrous nature of the question. “Yes Governor but you obviously do not know who I am.” Cornelius unrolled the scroll and handed it to him. “If you read this you will see that the Emperor Domitian has appointed me Legate of all the forces in Britannia. If you read further on you will see that I am answerable only to the Emperor.”

Spluttering as he read the orders he shook his head in disbelief.  “But I am Governor and…”

“You are still Governor,” he paused and grinned, “for the moment. I will not be interfering in the way you run the province merely the way you are conducting military and economic affairs.”

Aula felt a chill run down her spine. He husband had left it too late to revolt and now it would be too late. She had seen the politics in Rome and knew there was a judicious moment to make an exit; this was that moment. “Legate if you will excuse me.  The morning has been tiring and I need to lie down for a while.”

“Certainly lady for I only need your husband for a short time and then he will join you.”

There seemed to be a threat hanging in those innocent words and Aula determined to find refuge elsewhere before this hawk nosed warrior could uncover their plots. She just hoped that Rufius Agrippa had left unseen.