Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 03] Invasion- Caledonia (30 page)

Marcus had drawn his sword but so far he had not needed to use it for his troopers were clearing the fleeing warriors and women like wheat.  Then he saw that his men were not having it their own way.  Outside of a large hut in the middle of the settlement a hundred or so warriors were firing arrows at his men. His men were falling to the ground even though they were armoured.  For a moment Marcus was perplexed and could not rationally come up with an explanation and then he saw that a woman was directing the archers and, though he had seen her but once, he instantly knew her, it was Fainch and in that same instant he knew why his men were suffering such casualties.  The arrows were poisoned. He yelled out to his decurions and troopers alike, “Poisoned arrows.  Use your shields.  Poisoned arrows!” He attracted Gaius’ attention. “It is Fainch!”

The attack slowed dramatically as Marcus’ Horse became wary of showing themselves. The mounted troopers had the advantage of being on the opposite side of the hut away from the deadly shower of deadly arrows. “Something has halted the attack on the other side Macro, you go this side and I’ll go the other.  Come on! Charge!”

The sudden appearance of the horses made all the difference; now the one hundred warriors had to split their arrows three ways.

“Now!” roared Marcus, “rush them!”

The arrows were now fired much more hastily and more arrows hit the air or shields than men.  Marcus desperately tried to keep his eye on his main target, the witch. She disappeared behind a wall of warriors and Marcus hacked and thrust with his sword for all that he was worth.  His concentration was so great that he did not see the boy with the slingshot before it was too late.  Although the stone hit his helmet, which took most of the blow, it had been close enough to render the prefect unconscious. Immediately Julius, who was to the prefect’s rear ordered the troopers nearest to make a barrier with their shields. After checking that he was still breathing he ordered the men, take him back to the forest and guard him with your lives. The rest of you let’s finish this.”

The enraged troopers who had had to suffer poison arrows and then the beloved prefect wounded were in no mood for prisoners. The boy with the slingshot was hacked to death by two troopers. The archers, who were defenceless once the troopers closed with them died in a flash of blades and spears. As Macro and Decius led their horsemen to purse those fleeing the other troopers led by Gaius and Julius burst into the hut.  There they saw six frightened women cowering behind amphora and cauldrons. “Witches! Kill the bitches!”

Gaius was slightly behind the troopers and three of the slaves died before he could intervene.  A wild eyed trooper was stood over Ailis his sword poised to end her life when Gaius thrust his shield between them. They are slaves! Look they are slaves.” The Caledonii put rings of iron around their slave’s necks to enable them to be chained and to stop them escaping.  “Outside, the witch must be outside.  Julius go and tell Macro and Decius to pursue her.” He walked up to Ailis who was sobbing uncontrollably and put his arm around her. She threw her arms around him and wept uncontrollably.  Gaius did not know what to do.

Suddenly he heard Gaelwyn shout, “Ailis!” The girl looked up and ran to Gaelwyn.  Gaius wondered what was going on as they embraced and for the first time that he could remember he saw Gaelwyn cry. “It is my sister’s daughter.  She was stolen in a raid.  She is Brigante.  She is my family.”

Macro and Decius raised themselves to see over the troopers who were still slaughtering warriors and the huts which blocked their view. “All we know is that she is a woman.”

“Right them son.  Take half the men and capture every woman you can.  Tie them up and we’ll worry if we have got the right one later on.”

The two decurions split up and raced out of the settlement and into the open land where the few who had survived had fled. The warriors, men and boys were killed as they ran but the women and girls were all captured and tied up. It was a long process.  There was a loud shout from one of Decius’ troopers.  He heard the man shout. “You bitch! Orders or no orders you are to going to die and then I…”

Decius grabbed the man’s arm mid-blow.  He could see the scratch marks from the woman’s long nails and blood was pouring down his cheeks. Decius looked at the defiant woman staring with hate in her eyes.  Her grey flecked marked her as older but her eyes were something Decius had never seen; they were the colour of spring violas!  As he felt himself beginning to become aroused he put his sword to her throat and grabbed her arm.  Turning it over he saw the scar running its length. “Fainch! At last we have you. Macro we have her! We finally have her.”

Chapter 19

The clear up lasted until just after noon. Decius had taken charge once he realised that Marcus was injured.  The bodies of the warriors and the dead Caledonii and Taexali were placed in the huts and they were fired. Decius was taking no chances with the witch and she was tied across a mule with two men on either side. He did not know what punishment Marcus would inflict but he would not take that pleasure away from the prefect. As they made their way up the track to the pass and the waiting horses Decius noticed Gaelwyn and Gaius comforting a female slave; intrigued but too busy to find out he determined that would be the first question he would ask back at their camp.

Marcus was conscious by the time they entered the camp. The surgeon fussed over him but the prefect was determined to return to duty immediately. “Decius, the body count?”

“We lost thirty sirs mainly to the poisoned arrows.”

“And the witch?”

“We have her.  She won’t escape this time.”

“I want her in chains and guarded by four men at all times. We try her and she dies tomorrow.”

Decius looked surprised.  “I thought she would have died instantly sir.”

“We are not barbarians Decius we are Rome and we rules and laws.  She will be given a trial but she will be found guilty. Make sure the rest of the captives can’t escape.  We will head back to Inchtuthil tomorrow.”

“What about the rescued slaves?”

“Slaves?”

“Yes four Novontae and a Brigante, related to Gaelwyn apparently.”

“Make them comfortable.  I will go and see them.”

“After you have had your head looked at, had a drink and changed your uniform.”

“Why change the uniform?”

“Because you look a mess now go on.”

By the time the prefect was ready to greet Ailis food had been prepared.  Decius had asked Porcius to arrange the decurions to eat with the rescued slaves. Marcus was the last to arrive and all the officers stood as one when he entered. “Sit down sit down.  I was injured not killed!” He glanced up at the young woman sat between Gaelwyn and Gaius.  She was undoubtedly pretty which was why all the decurions had cleaned themselves and shaved.  There was something about her that looked familiar; he just couldn’t put his finger on what it was.”We will return you to your families as soon as possible.”

Two of the Novontae burst into tears. Ailis spoke. “I think prefect that their families were all killed in the raids which took their families.  The other two were so young they cannot remember their families.”

“And you Ailis? What of your family.”

“Gaelwyn gave a gapped tooth grin and said in an over loud voice.  “She has found her family.”

“Ah yes the Decurion Princeps told me she is your cousin.”

After a pause Gaelwyn said, “Not just mine but yours prefect.  She was the cousin of Macha, Lenta and Queen Cartimandua.  She is your cousin too.”

The silence crashed down on the table. Every eye was expectantly on the prefect, some, like Decius with amusement and some like Julius with curiosity. The prefect seemed, unusually bereft of words. After taking a draught of wine from his beaker he wiped his mouth, stood up and walked over to Ailis who also stood up.  Taking her in his arms he embraced her saying, “Welcome cousin.” None of those present chose to notice the tears cascading down his cheeks.

It became a party and the Novontae girls soon forgot their tears.  The young decurions flirted with them and the older ones happily got drunk.  Marcus remained quiet, sat next to Decius. Gaius and Ailis had their heads together with Gaelwyn beaming his gap toothed grin for all he was worth.

“Fate is a strange thing Decius.  All the way to this northernmost corner of Britannia and I find the last relative of my dead wife and the murderer of Queen Cartimandua.”

“Perhaps you were meant to find her. Perhaps she was meant to escape from Mona to lead you here. The pain and the deaths were the price you had to pay.”

“Perhaps you are right.  The Romans and Greeks believe that we are the playthings of the gods. Like small boys pulling the wings off insects to see the effect. You could be right, this could be a test and it confirms my wish now to retire. When the witch dies tomorrow my work will be complete.”

“What about Calgathus?”

“That is the work of younger men like Gaius, Macro and Julius.”

Just then Gaius and Ailis stood. “Sir with your permission I will escort your cousin to her tent.” Marcus nodded his approval.

Decius leaned over and said quietly, “How about a small bet sir?”

“Small bet Decius?”

“Yes I bet you that Gaius will be joining your family sooner rather than later.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you not see that he never took his eyes off her and old Gaelwyn didn’t see to mind.”

Even though they had all had a heavy night’s drinking every single decurion was stone cold sober by the next morning.  They all knew what a portentous and momentous event was taking place. Some like Decius and Gaius had been around when the witch first spread her venom at Eboracum, others like Julius had been there at Stanwyck when it had spread but all had witnessed her on Mona as she had tried to burn their prefect to death.

“You are a witch and a priestess of Mona.  You have murdered many Brigante and Romans.  You have murdered my men with poisoned arrows; you have tried to kill me twice.  All of these crimes are capital crimes and all of them have the death penalty.  How do you plead?”

Her piercing eyes gripped Marcus in their stare.  “I am a witch and I am a priestess of Mona.  I freely admit all that you accuse me of and more for I was the one who tried to organise the revolt against your kingdom. I was the one who caused fires and murders at Eboracum. I was the one who helped King Calgathus to raise the northern tribes. There! Does that make your invasion any more justified? No! for I do not recognise Rome nor her power. I swear by the Mother that Roman rule will end one day and the gods of Britannia will once more rule and they are dark and they are vengeful; all those who fought for the Romans will suffer.”

Many of those present gripped amulets and other sacred objects as the curse of the witch oozed from her lips.

Marcus laughed. “There was a time when your words had power witch, when you tricked and misled Venutius and Maeve even Aed the murderer of my wife. But now you have no power and I sentence you to death.”

“Do you think I am afraid of death? When I die I will join my sisters in the spirit world and I will become even more powerful for I will not have the shackle that is this body.  How will you sleep Roman? How will any of you sleep knowing the Fainch ‘s spirit is all around and will seek to do you harm?” The fear in the young men’s eyes gave her satisfaction but she was irritated by the look on Marcus’ face for he seemed almost at peace. “And you prefect, did you know your wife screamed for death as she was raped and soiled by thirty Brigante warriors?”

Decius tried to rise but was restrained by the prefect. “Any death at your hands would be a horrible and a terrible death and a death I have mourned these past years but do not think you can provoke me witch for you cannot.  I will have my revenge.  My legal, lawful and rightful revenge and when you are dead and burned and gone, then will my wife’s spirit sleep easier. Then will my son Ulpius stop crying for peace. Then I too will be at peace.”

Her face contorted with anger and rage. “Would that I had kept her alive to torture her.  Would that you had been my prisoner for longer.”

“But I wasn’t and the men who are around you, my friends, my brothers risked their lives to save me. Who is here to save you?”

The word
you
boomed and echoed as a question hanging in the air and afterwards the silence seemed as loud as a heartbeat. “Crucifixion!”

The two guards holding the manacled witch led her away. To her credit she showed neither fear nor emotion. Outside the tent the cross was lying on the floor and the blacksmith ready with his nails, each one the length of a man’s hand and his mighty hammer. The guards laid the witch upon the cross and held her arms.  The Novontae slaves hid their faces in their hands as the first nail was driven in, the large flat head preventing the witch from ripping it out.  She flinched but uttered not a sound, her eyes still boring in on the prefect as his were on hers. It was a duel of wills. As the blood started to drip the second nail was driven in. Again she flinched and Decius noticed a tendril of blood drip slowly from her mouth. Finally a nail, the length of a man’s forearm, was pounded through her ankles.  Even some of the troopers flinched when they heard the crunch of bone as it crushed her ankles. As the blacksmith stepped away the ten troopers pulled on the rope to bring the cross upright. The blood was flowing freely from ankles and hands but still she was held in place by the long nails. Her bloodless face uttered not a sound during what must have been an excruciatingly painful ordeal... Finally, as the cross became vertical and the weight of her frail body was taken on her wrists and ankles, a smile, a sigh, almost a groan came form his lips now bleeding from the places she had bitten them. Although he hated her Decius couldn’t help but admire this woman who was dying so much more nobly than Gaius Cresens her conspirator. She could feel her life blood dripping from her and with the last strength she had she screamed, “Marcus Aurelius Maximunius I curse you to the end of time.” Then, with a superhuman effort she pulled herself up and then threw her weight down. The result was that the nails tore through her flesh and her arteries.  Deep purple blood gushed from her wounds and as Marcus stared at her eyes he saw the life leave them and Fainch the witch was dead.