Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 06] Druid's Gold (31 page)

Even the normally taciturn and silent Tiny was moved to words. “Good plan!”

*

Livius met with his Explorates.  The Prefect still had four of them watching the Brigante and Marius had still to return.  He had spent a long time with Prefect Fulvius discussing the plan for the battle which they both knew was not far away. “We have an interesting role to play in the coming battle.  The Prefect and I do not know if the Brigante will attack Eboracum or us. Until the First Cohort arrive we will be outnumbered somewhat.  If they attack Eboracum then the legion and the auxiliaries will attack them.”

Metellus spoke up, “Sir, I am flattered that the prefect is taking us into his confidence but I don’t see how we fit into this particular scenario.”

“As ever Metellus your sharp mind has got to the nub of it. The point is we will be involved for the Prefect wishes us to make the Brigante attack us.”

“I am most definitely intrigued sir.  How will the fifteen of us…?”

“The nineteen Metellus, four are on duty.”

“Fine.  The nineteen of us then.  How will we do anything that will affect the thousands of warriors who are out there?”

In answer Decius pulled out the Sword of Cartimandua. “With this.”

Marcus couldn’t contain himself. “It’s father’s sword.” When everyone laughed he sat down blushing.  Rufius tousled his hair and Macro grabbed him around the shoulders.

“Yes Marcus Gaius Aurelius your father’s sword but not just the sword.  He went to the rear of the tent and pulled off the blanket which had been placed there. He revealed a pile of auxiliary shields and the swallow tailed standard of Marcus’ Horse.

They all looked in amazement at the standard and the shields.  Most could not comprehend what meant.  Metellus, of course, grasped it quickly.  “You wish us to dress as Marcus’ Horse.”

“You have it Metellus.  Tomorrow Marcus’ Horse will ride again and we will ride to the Brigante.”

Rufius looked confused.  If it were a track or trail he was following then he had no peer but this was too subtle for him. “But why sir.”

“We are seriously outnumbered here but we do have the First and Third cohorts coming to our aid.  They should be here by noon.  We need to precipitate an attack and then use the auxiliary archers and artillery to thin their ranks.  The Prefect has five scorpions and they will also cause many casualties but the plan only works if they attack in a rage not in ordered lines.  The First and Third are coming from the north west and should be able to roll up their flanks. But we need the Brigante to stop the deserters coming to grips with us.  They are trained as we are.  If they chose to fight as we do tomorrow with the Irish and the Brigante in support then, quite simply we would lose.  They have too many men but the Brigante are the biggest contingent and the most undisciplined.”

Young Macro spoke up. “But why would the sight of the sword and the standard upset them so much?”

Livius looked sadly at Macro who had never known his father and did not know that the Queen who faced them was his mother, and would never know that terrible secret. “Marcus’ Horse captured and crucified the Queen’s mother Fainch and destroyed the Brigante in the last rebellion.  She and her warriors would risk everything to finally destroy those who destroyed all that they held dear.”

“And of course, “added Metellus, “there is the sword.  The Sword of Cartimandua is the symbol of Brigante honour and every warrior who faces us believes that it should be wielded by a Brigante and not a Roman soldier.”

“So tomorrow we dress as auxiliaries once more.”

“Sir we don’t have armour.”

“I know. We shall wear our cloaks and we will carry spears again. Our task is to make them charge us, while we will throw one volley of javelins and then lead them to the killing ground. It is dangerous men and I know that not all of you fought in Marcus’ Horse but I also know that you will not shirk from your duty.” Every man stood taller and nodded his agreement.

As they all went to touch the standard again and select their shield, the two boys went up to Livius.  “Can we ride tomorrow in Marcus’ Horse?”

Livius shook his head.  “No.  Firstly we have no uniform or helmets to fit you but mainly because your mother would skin us all alive.”

“But we want to help.”

“And you shall…  I want you two mounted behind the auxiliaries with your bows.  Rufius tells me you are excellent shots.  While the auxiliaries will fire volleys I want you two to target the leaders.  Without their leaders they will be lost.  Can you do that for me boys?”

They both chorused, “Yes Sir!”

Cassius gently took Livius’ arm and took him to one side. “Of course you do know that there is someone else interested in you and that sword.”

“You mean my brother?”

“Exactly.  If he sees you on the battle field and he brings his horsemen then the whole plan could fail for his cavalry would keep pace with us and see the trap the prefect has planned.”

“I know but I am hoping that my brother has not changed.”

“How so?”

“He always had a deep sense of self preservation.”

“You mean he is a coward?”

“Not a coward but someone who weighs things up in his mind first. He might send someone else after me but he would not want to face me in front of his men in case he failed and lost their loyalty.”

“Unlike you sir who, I am sad to say, would never run.  Even though your whole command would wish it.”

“We cannot change what we are Cassius.  The Allfather made me one way and Decius another. Marcus, Gaius, Gaelwyn and Macro they all added to the Allfather’s work and I am what I am.”

Chapter 19

General Decius Lucullus Sallustius was many miles away from the battlefield as his brother was dressing for the day.  He had had his armour with him and he wanted to make sure he looked the part.  Decius, by contrast, was worrying over the smallest detail which might cause a problem with his complicated plan.  He and Centurion had persuaded Brennus that he and his warriors should hold the rope bonds to make it look as though they were prisoners whilst that all wore their swords over their shoulders hidden by a cloak. One of Decius’ officers led them and it did look like a triumphal parade. By arriving early in the morning they hoped to catch sleepy guards who would see, in the half light, what they expected to see, victorious Romans with captured rebels.  They had their story already worked out.  They were from Deva and they had pursued these assailants from Mamucium over the divide. It seemed plausible when they had concocted the story but as the sky began to lighten Decius found more and more flaws in it.

“It is a good plan General and the story is a good one. Our fate is in the hands of the Allfather but I have a good feeling about this and remember General, we have the witch with us and surely she must bring dark powers to our side?”

“You are right Centurion, I am worrying over things which have yet to happen.  I just hope nothing untoward has happened to Nuada and the gold or all this will have been for nothing.”

“Don’t worry he will be waiting. He would not dare to cross me and Tiny would follow him to the ends of the earth if he did betray us.” That made Decius feel better; Tiny was his most loyal soldier.

The column was moving quietly up Ermine Street towards the fortress.  The vicus was still asleep but they could see the glow from the lanterns on the Porta Decumana. The gate had been chosen because it was some way from the threat which the garrison must know was out there. Brennus at the front was eager to get to the fort.  He truly believed in the Queen as a witch and knew that, with her powers they would easily fall upon the garrison and they would be as wolves feasting on sheep. Had they thought about it the silence of the column was unnatural but the sentries and optio on duty did not seem to notice.  All that they saw was a small column of Roman cavalry with a handful of pathetic looking rebels.

“Halt!”

“Decurion Modius on detachment from the Twentieth Valeria with Brigante prisoners.”

Decius was close enough to see the conversation between the sentry and the optio. “It is a little late to be bringing in prisoners is it not?”

“We caught them late last night and, as we knew how close you were we decided not to build a camp but push on.” The man played his part well and gave an easy laugh, “We’re early really.  Come on brother we have been riding all night.  Do the Twentieth a favour and if you are ever over …”

“We are the Third Tungrian but we can be as generous as our legionary colleagues.  Open the gate.”

Decius almost shouted with joy. The plan had worked.  All they need to do now was to get the whole force inside and then the slaughter could begin.  He nodded to Centurion who began to hold back when the troopers went forward.  The ten men they had chosen were all at the rear, hanging back.  The column moved in and when Decius reached the gate he yelled, “Now!”

The Brigante were like wild animals released from a cage and they raced into the barracks hacking and slashing at the sleeping bodies.  The deserters raced up the walls to kill the Tungrians who had not even had time to draw their swords. The optio died with a puzzled expression and his body hurled to the ground next to the butchered sentries who had unbarred the gate. Decius turned to the Irish warrior who was sitting uncomfortably on a horse which was far too small for him. “Tell the Queen the fortress is ours and she can begin her attack.” As the eager warrior galloped off he turned to his lieutenant, “Find us a ship Centurion before the mariners hear the commotion and set sail without us.”

Brennus and his men set about their task ruthlessly, massacring all that they found in the first two barracks.  The auxiliaries stood no chance against Brigante who had faced the killing machine that was the Roman army on a battlefield.  This was not a battle field, this was a slaughterhouse.  Brennus kept his head for he was mindful of his second task; he was to take his men and attack the Roman left flank for he assumed that the battle would have commenced.  He yelled to his men, “Brigante! To me!”  All of the ’captives’ had been chosen personally by Brennus for their personal allegiance to him and he nodded with satisfaction as they gathered in the parade ground. He looked around for Decius but could see neither him nor the bulk of the horsemen.  He assumed he was at the Porta Praetorium and he led his men off at an easy lope.

The deserters quickly finished the job of butchering sleeping Romans and then fired the barracks.  It would take time to burn but that did not worry them for, having stripped the dead soldiers of their valuables, they now launched themselves into the vicus where the pickings would be that much greater, especially amongst the merchants who had built their houses so close to the protective walls of the fortress.  Others who ran voraciously from the fort had enough treasure and sought only one thing, women.  Having campaigned and fought across Britannia they were desperate for women and the females of Eboracum were going to have a rude awakening when the rapacious raiders entered their homes.

Decius and his disciplined detachment were making their way down the quayside examining boats.  They did not want a bireme for that required an oared crew nor were they seeking a boat which was too small. Eventually they lighted upon a two masted ship known as a cladivata. They could see a name, a little faded, painted on the rounded stern,
The Dubris
. It was about fifty paces long and could easily accommodate both Decius’ men and the gold.  Even better from their point of view there was a watch aboard, evidenced by the orange glow from the light beneath the canvas awning close to the rudder. Centurion tapped Tiny on the shoulder when they were less than a hundred paces from the vessel. Tiny and the five men detailed for the task slipped from their horses and ran down the cobbled quayside covered with sand to the boat. They slipped over the side of the wooden ship and surrounded the four men of the watch. The watch keepers were used to pirates and thieves, the cudgels and knives they kept at their side was testament to that but armoured Roman soldiers were another matter.

The second mate thought at first they were from the fortress, “What is wrong we have paid our mooring taxes tell the...”

Tiny grinned his evil toothless lopsided grin, “Forget the taxes you now have new owners.”

“Who?”

Centurion and Decius had followed Tiny and Decius hissed, “Us! Now cast off and get this tub underway.”

“Where to? The tide…”

Decius slipped his gladius under the chin of the first mate. “Do not try to be clever with me! The tide does not affect the river here and we wish to go downstream. Now will you give the order or shall I promote someone else whilst lightening the load by one fool?”

Realising that the soldier knew more than most about sailing, he turned to his men. “Cast off aft.  Raise the foresail.”

“That’s better.” As the four men raced to their work Decius watched the flames take hold of the fort and heard the screams from the vicus. Soon his men would realise he had fled. Some would desert once more, a few might actually rejoin Morwenna and a few, possibly, might emulate their General and steal a ship to leave Britannia.  Decius did not care.  Soon his gold would be aboard and he would be sailing south.  He had reflected on Centurion’s idea about Africa and, although it seemed a long way away, that in itself was a good thing for the Imperial memory was long and for him to have escaped twice would necessitate a hunt of some kind.  If he found sanctuary in Africa it would give him the chance to build up a power base; working with Morwenna had shown him that he and Centurion had a flair for raising and organising an army.  The Kingdom of King Decius, he liked the sound of that.

*

Morwenna and her army were also awake soon after midnight.  The scouts had reported the small Roman camp and were watching from a safe distance. Her army would march the ten miles and arrive soon after dawn.  By then the attack on Eboracum should be well under way making it safe for her to begin her attack. Ernan, Tadgh and even Decius had been agreed about the timing of the attack; they wanted it to take place just when the Romans were breaking camp.  The sudden appearance of Morwenna’s huge army would throw even the disciplined Roman force into uncertainty and possibly confusion. She had no doubt that she outnumbered the force which faced her by ten to one and she was equally confident that she would defeat it. If Brennus and Decius could capture Eboracum then she had won.  The whole of the land of the Brigante could be controlled from Eboracum.  The Romans had built the lynch pin of the north with its port and its roads; by capturing it she would control the region and she knew that many others would flock to her banner. Trinovante, Iceni, Atrebate, Silures; all would flock to the only place in Britannia outside of Roman control and then they would regain the whole of Britannia for her son, the child of the Trinovante and Brigante. The Romans would send other armies to attack her but the steady stream of soldiers leaving Britannia to fight in Trajan’s eastern wars meant that there were only three legions left in the whole of Britannia; the Ninth was the only one which could strike at her and here she was destroying one, possibly two cohorts at one fell swoop.  Once Lulach and those north of the Stanegate realised that the frontier was crumbling they would flood towards Coriosopitum and Luguvalium, eliminating the rest of the Ninth. She smiled, the Mother was indeed with her, this morning’s work would see her victorious.