Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 06] Druid's Gold (26 page)

“Are you afraid of the smell of death Tadgh?  If so then I fear you will not enjoy this campaign for it will be one filled with the rank and rich smell of the dead, the Roman dead.” Her body banged the pommels of their swords on their shields in noisy approbation. She held up her hand.  “I want the Roman scouts following us to send a message that we are here and that we look like we are going to stay.  Tomorrow we will make it look as though we are rebuilding the fort while the bulk of the army heads east. I want a small force to spend a couple of days pretending to rebuild and force the Roman’s hand.  Once they are committed to the road we can keep ahead of them.”

Drusus saw the signs of an army rebuilding and establishing a base. He sent one of his men as a messenger back to the fort.  “Tell the Prefect they are refortifying Mamucium.” Although the decurion made the best assessment, his decision would cause hardship and death for many around the Vale of Eboracum. Livius might have considered his decision but the Explorates did not have the luxury of hindsight. Unlike the alae they had to make instant decisions and judgements.  Even as the messenger headed north, Morwenna’s plan was succeeding.

When Livius finally met up with Drusus, just outside the ruins of Mamucium he had more information and intelligence than Drusus had had at his disposal Marius had joined them having found nothing to the west but the detritus of empty camps and the dead bodies of murdered villagers.

Livius was less than happy with Drusus’ reading of the situation but he kept his thoughts to himself.  “Drusus you keep your maniple here and watch the building of the fort. Keep both the Prefect and myself on the progress. Drusus, bring your men and join me. I will head along the road to the east. I think the witch has bewitched us again. Drusus, send one of your men to say that I am following Morwenna east.  Tell the Prefect I believe she is heading for Brigante homeland.  She appears to be heading for Stanwyck, the ancient capital of the land of the Brigante.”

*

Morwenna pushed her army along ruthlessly.  Despite the increasingly unpleasant late autumnal weather she did not allow any of her leaders and men to ease off and maintained a gruelling and killing pace. “If I, who gave birth in the last ten days, can still campaign, why not warriors who say can they are tough? When I stop, you stop.”

The warriors’ honour made them push on even when their bodies cried to stop. It was a desolate place through which to travel filled with deep valleys, empty moor land and snow topped hills. The divide of mountains was devoid of people and they were invisible but for the tiny group of Explorates who dogged their trail.

Marius pulled Livius to one side. “Sir.  I beg you.  We have no supplies and our mounts are exhausted, we must rest.”

Livius sighed, his haggard face showing the effects of the constant pursuit. “Marius.  I would stop now if it were any one other than Morwenna leading this army but both of us know of what she is capable and she is, I believe, heading towards the land we love and more importantly the people that we cherish.  If we must, we will eat our horses but I know that her people must be suffering as much as we. I am also concerned for Agrippa has not joined us. He must be following a contact and I believe that the Queen has some plan which even Metellus cannot fathom.” He leaned over to Drusus.  “Trust me Marius.”

Marius became upset.  “Sir I never question your judgement but I know that the fate of the province hangs in the balance here.”

Livius shook his head sadly.  “Believe me Marius I know that.”

*

Far behind them the Prefect was marching south to Mamucium with a cohort of the Ninth.  He had had the foresight to send the other cohort back to Glanibanta to finish the road building.  Two centuries of the Batavians gave him his only light infantry and he hoped that it would be enough.  How he longed for a turmae or two of cavalry to screen his men. At least he was marching down a Roman road and he would not be ambushed. He was just five miles from Mamucium when Drusus’ scout found him. “Sir.  Decurion Drusus’ compliments and the Brigante have abandoned the fort and are heading north east, following Morwenna.  My maniple is following.”

“Damn she has fooled us.” He considered his options and did not like any of them. “Return to your officer and tell him to continue to follow the Brigante and tell him that your other men in the north are still following the cavalry.”

As the rider saluted and galloped away First Spear looked at Prefect Fulvius. “And what will we do?”

“Finish off the rebuilding.  Leave the two centuries of auxiliaries there and then follow the Queen.”

“She will have a head start.”

“I know.  I just hope that the Explorates do not lose her.” He stroked his chin. “I just wonder where she is going.  Eboracum? Lindum?  Ratae? Until we get a message from Livius we will just have to follow.”

Chapter 16

Marcus and Cato viewed the mares; all of them were heavy with foal.  It had been a good summer. “When Livius next visits we will have some fine animals to sell to him.” Marcus felt his old wounds now that autumn was creeping closer.  The damp weather made him stiff and his whole body seemed to ache.  He had not been hunting with Gaelwyn and Gaius for months now and he missed the old comradeship but it had been a good summer for the lush grass had brought the horse’s coats to a sleekly lustre and he had enjoyed just talking horses with his old friend Cato.

“I was thinking that we could get the slaves to build a birthing barn for the mares. It would not take much building and it would give some shelter, especially if we have an autumn and a winter like last year.”

Marcus grinned at Cato who had never changed in all the years he had known him.  He always thought of the horses first.  He would have built an inn for them if he could with beds and servants but Marcus could see that a birthing barn was soundly thought out. “Excellent idea.  I will ride to Gaius and borrow a few of his slaves.  You get Atticus to start work on the foundations.” 

“We have some timbers all ready and I think we have enough stones prepared.”

As he rode away Marcus realised that Cato must have been planning this all summer, collecting the wood and the stone, preparing the ground.  He smiled to himself.  No wonder he had had the slaves clear the long grass from the rear of the stables. Still it was a good project and the two of them never shied away from hard work.  Gaelwyn would moan and complain but he knew the old Brigante, now a true greybeard, would relish the challenge. Gaius and his boys would drop everything just to join in with Uncle Marcus. Sergeant Cato had done it again.

*

Centurion and his men had slipped into the land around Morbium with ease. They were careful to avoid the fort and the area patrolled by Rome.  Fortunately that just meant avoiding roads and, once they had dropped down from the land close to Brocauum, the terrain had been easy to navigate. Centurion however had a crick in the back of his neck, a nervous feeling.  He was certain he was being followed but, despite setting up ambushes and backtracking he had not see anything but he knew there was someone following.  Nuada had laughed it off blaming the infiltration of their camp by the Roman spy.  “Besides it is but one man, what can one man do?”

Centurion had cast him a contemptuous look, “One man can alert the fort to our presence. But until we see him we continue with our raid.” They were in the bend of the Dunum Fluvius many miles east of Morbium. As far as Centurion knew the nearest Romans were at Morbium, and Derventio. The fort at Derventio was over thirty miles away; their only problem would be the Batavians at Morbium.  The herd of horses grazing in the filed bounded by the river would make an excellent start to their horse herd.

“Will the Queen have reached Eboracum yet?”

“No Nuada it will take her more days yet for she has to traverse the rocky divide which runs through this land but we need to start the herd and this one is sizable.” It was indeed the largest herd they had seen. 

The owner, Questus, was a Brigante who had seen the success of other horse breeders and realised that it was a fast and easy way to maximise his profit.  He sold his mounts unbroken and young. Now that it was autumn he was already preparing to take fifty or sixty down to Eboracum where he hoped they would be bought for the auxilia.  It had been a blow when Marcus’ Horse had been disbanded but a few beakers of wine bought for the Roman responsible for acquiring horses had revealed that a new ala was being formed over the winter.  He would take fifty down first and then a second fifty when the weather changed again.

He and his chief slave, his farm manager, were checking which horses they would take when they saw the column of Roman soldiers rise from the river like spectres. “I did not know there were cavalry nearby.”

“Nor me master but these look to be mounted legionaries.”

Questus rubbed his hands together.  “We may be able to offload the horses now and save us a long journey to Eboracum.  The Allfather is smiling on me today.” The farm manager was not so sure.  The legionaries had a lean and hungry look about them, like wolves about to descend on sheep. When half of the column suddenly wheeled away to head for the farm he became even more worried but Questus seemed unconcerned. He stepped forward with his hands out in greeting. The greeting was returned in the form of a volley of arrows which took the two men down instantly as the screams and cries from the farm told of Nuada’s own attack.

Agrippa had watched it all with growing horror from the far side of the river.  He was gaunt and thin.  He had had to forage for both himself and his horse which was showing the effect of the pursuit. He had managed to track from far enough back to avoid all of Centurion’s traps but he wished ha had had Rufius with him for that boy would have been able to follow at an even safer distance. He saw the raiders slaughter the farm’s inhabitants.  It was the most remote farm they had passed, tucked away as it was in a loop of the river.  No-one would discover the raid for some time. Now, however, he knew what they were about.  They were hunting horses. That also made his job easier.  A herd this size would be easy to follow. Even as he watched he saw the deserters capturing the lead horses, the stallions who could be led so that the herd would follow. He took a decision.  He would head for Gaius’ farm.  Gaius could send a message to Morbium and Agrippa could get another mount and some supplies.  Besides he wanted someone else to know what was going on in case anything happened to him. This was why the decurion liked them in pairs.  He grimaced ruefully.  He should have sought help at the fort instead of just shouting a message.

When he rode through the gate of Gaius’ farm he was disappointed to find it almost deserted.  He was about to ride to the fort himself when Ailis emerged from the building. “Yes can I help you? Why it is one of Livius’ men is it not?  Agrippa?”

“It is my lady.  I seek your husband.”

She could see from his condition that he was both tired and hungry.” Come in and take food.” Agrippa began to shake his head. Ailis took hold of the reins and said firmly, “The men have gone to Marcus’ farm which is not far away.  You will eat and you can tell me of the trouble you have found then we will go together.”

Her glaring eyes and firm voice told him that she would not brook a refusal and the smells emanating from the kitchen had him salivating already. “I will not refuse kind lady for I have been living from the land.  I will just let my horse graze over there.”

“Put your mount in the stable.  There is grain there and when we leave you can have another mount for that poor beast is out on his legs. Come into the kitchen.”

Agrippa wolfed down the food, a fine stew and freshly baked bread.  Between mouthfuls he told her of Morwenna’s return and the war which had started. Ailis had shaken her head, her eyes angry at the remembrance of the wicked witch’s last mischief. She also remembered the way she had been treated by the witch’s mother- they were an evil brood. “We have heard nought of this war.”

“You wouldn’t for I am following the first who have left her army. “He waved his spoon eastwards. “They have slaughtered the people who had horses in the bend of the Dunum.”

“Questus? He had a fine herd.”

“Had is the right word for they have been taken by the deserters who masquerade as Romans and I fear they are heading for Morwenna.” He wiped his mouth.  “And now my lady…”

“Here,” she gave him another loaf and a bag with dried venison. “We will find my husband and one of the boys can take your message to Morbium.  Gaius will know what to do.”

The happy mood at Marcus’ farmstead was shattered by the sudden arrival of Ailis and Agrippa. The fact that Ailis was riding was a clear indication of trouble. Cato recognised Agrippa straight away. “Agrippa?  There is trouble?”

“Morwenna!” The one word struck fear into all of them. Agrippa did not dismount but spoke quickly and urgently. “Livius’ brother Decius has armed deserters and they have joined Morwenna as a Roman army.  She is raiding towards Mamucium but a column of men has stolen a herd of horses. I assume they will be taking them to her.  I will follow them and hope that one of the other Explorates can find me. Could you get a message to Morbium?”

Gaius nodded, “Aye.” He turned to his eldest son. “Decius Gaius, ride to the fort and tell the Prefect what Agrippa has said.” He handed him his ring. “Here is my seal but he knows you anyway.” As the boy eagerly mounted his horse and galloped away Gaius looked at Ailis. “I think, Agrippa that you need some help I will…”

Ailis grabbed hold of his hand. “No you will not.  You are an old man.”She glared at the four older men. “You are all older men.  Look at Agrippa he is a much younger man and even he is exhausted.  You would not last a day and you would slow him up.  And if it came to a fight Gaius… I do not want lose you.”

Gaius could see the wisdom of her words. “But Agrippa needs help.”

Young Marcus looked at Decius and they both nodded.  “We can go father.” Ailis looked in horror at her son and adopted son.

Decius Macro’s eyes pleaded with Ailis. “You said we could join the Explorates.”