Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 09] Hero of Rome (38 page)

Metellus answered. “You do not know Ailis; she was herself a captive and slave for many years. In this,” he nodded at Marcus, “as in many things Marcus is right.”

Guards had been watching and the gates opened as they approached.  Decius and Ailis rushed out to meet Marcus and the three of them threw their arms around each other.  For the first time Metellus saw Marcus’ face filled with tears as he sobbed on his mother’s shoulder; the emotion of all the deaths finally getting to him.

Ailis held him at arm’s length. “Do not cry Marcus for your father died the death he wished.” She leaned in. “He had the coughing sickness and would not have lasted the winter.  He wanted to save us.”

Marcus nodded and coughed to enable him to speak the news he dreaded giving both of them. “Then prepare yourself mother, brother for brother Macro is dead.  He was killed in Manavia by his half sister.  He killed Morwenna.  The witch is dead.”

Decius, his elder brother could not believe it; Macro had been the ultimate warrior, how could he die? “Did he die well?”

“A poisoned blade.  Not a warrior’s blade.” Marcus smiled, “He always said no man would ever defeat him, he was right.”

Ailis shook herself.  “Thank the Allfather that she is dead, she has hurt us enough. “She suddenly saw Metellus, Nanna and the orphans for the first time. “And who are these?”

“You know Metellus and this is Nanna, the woman he loves and he wishes to marry.”

Nanna blushed and Metellus punched Marcus’ arm. “I take it back what I said. How could you…”

In answer Nanna put her arm around him and, kissing Marcus on the cheek said, “Thank you again Decurion.  Once again you have saved me just in time.”

“You are welcome and these, mother, are orphans from Stanwyck.  We knew not what to do with them and…”

Like a mother hen with her chicks Ailis folded the five into her arms.  “Come with me we have more than enough room for such as you.”

Decius looked at Metellus.  “Congratulations and where will you live?”

Metellus looked at the ground and Nanna said defiantly, “I have money I will buy somewhere.”

Marcus interjected.  “Decius I told Metellus that his wife needed to be close to protection.  Is there no building we could give,“ Nanna snorted and Marcus went on hurriedly, “which they could buy?”

Decius grinned, “I have better. Sergeant Cato left me his horse farm when he died.  I am spending too long travelling each week to supervise the men.  If Nanna would live there and manage it for me then I would be grateful.”

“A horse farm! Then all my prayers to the Mother have been answered, I have my man and I have my dream.” She impulsively kissed Decius.  “Thank you I will take the farm.”

They walked through the gates and as they did so a hawk screeched and plunged behind the trees. They all looked up, Marcus nodded and murmured, “Macro approves.”

******

The Emperor Hadrian stepped ashore at Eboracum.  The garrison had turned out on the jetty and Governor Falco was there ready to receive him. The keen eyed Praetorians glared at the hangers on and idlers watching from the wharfs. This was a momentous occasion, the first time since Claudius that an Emperor had set foot in Britannia and the first time ever that one had visited the frontier.

“Ah Pompeius. How goes the
limes
? And has the trouble been dealt with?”

“The rebels are punished.  You will see their crosses as we head north.  Their lands have been confiscated and sold; the profits have funded another cohort of auxiliaries.  The Irish raiders have been destroyed and the captives returned.”

“Excellent.  You have done well.”

The modest governor shook his head, “The Legate and the ala have done well but the barbarians north of the frontier have now risen.  They do not like the idea of us building a frontier defence.”

“Then the sooner I get north, the sooner my wall will be built. Come Pompeius I am anxious to see where Rome will build its final frontier.”

The End

Author’s Note

Si an Bhru is a World heritage Site on the Boyne.  Built before the Pyramids of Giza and the Greek and Roman wonders, its origins are definitely pre-history.  There are the remains of the dead there and it has had many functions during its long life.  It suited my purposes to involve the Mother cult. Most of Ireland or Hibernia as it was known to the Romans is also shrouded in mystery. Tacitus talks of Agricola going to Ireland but there is no archaeological evidence for this. There is no extant writing and the Roman writers just write of legends and myths.  Again this suits a writer of fiction.

Although the wall is credited with being started by Hadrian during his visit of 122 A.D.  there is evidence that the turf element was already being constructed as were some of the main forts along its length before that date.  There were many attacks from across the sea during Hadrian’s reign and this may be why he secured both ends of his wall at defensible sea forts. The wall itself was built over a six year period by vexillations from three legions.  The legions built their own camps but were defended, whilst they worked by the auxiliaries. The wall was, indeed, started in the east, close to Corbridge.  In the east, up to the River Irthing it was ten feet wide and, in places twelve feet high, faced with stone. West of the Irthing it was made of turf and only eight feet wide. I visit the wall as often as possible to give the novel as much realism as I can. I have had to speculate in many areas as rivers have changed courses over time and, in some cases, become less navigable.  There are quarries near Morbium as well as close to the wall but I assumed that, to start things off, they would have brought in stone rather than quarrying new quarries. There is much archaeological evidence of temporary camps north of the wall and these are the ones I have ascribed to the ala. It made sense to me that they would have kept a screen of soldiers between the builders and those trying to stop them building.

The mixing of blood with a blade was a Celtic custom.  Some smiths were reputed to have put some of their own blood into the steel to make it more powerful. The idea that Macro might become some kind of spirit until he had atoned for a misdeed goes all the way back to the Egyptians and was very common in the pan-Celtic tradition. Putting one’s enemies head on a spear was a practice familiar to every army other than the Roman army. The Huns, Scythians and Pannonians would have ridden with felled foes’ skulls on their saddles.

The series will continue, if for no other reason than I want to know what happens to these hardy warriors and I am enjoying discovering more about these great builders. Caronwyn and her like will ally with Faolan and Gaius Brutus to continue to cause mayhem. I will be travelling over to Hardknott Pass in the Lakes to visit the fort they built there to control the road to Ravenglass; as for the rest of the story line- that is in the hands of my characters for it is they who determine where my novels end up- not me!

Griff Hosker September 2012

People and places in the book

Fictitious characters and places are in italics.