Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 03] Invasion- Caledonia (31 page)

King Calgathus was the first to realise that his secret stronghold was no more. Riding from the south with Lulach both ecstatic with their successes they felt themselves dragged down by the pall of smoke which still drifted across the blue skies days after the raid. As they surveyed the wreckage they could see that a mighty battle had taken place.  Even as they searched for survivors, in ones and twos, those who had escapade the Romans emerged to tell the king what had happened. “They struck suddenly and we had no warning. “

“What of the Taexali sentries? Did they not try to prevent this disaster?”

“They were not as our warriors and they ran as quickly as the women.”

“My son was right.  Lulach find the survivors and take them with your warband to the loch. I will take my oathsworn and we will gather our warriors.  We will avenge this.  What of the witch? Fainch?”

“The Romans took her to their camp.” The man pointed towards the pass.

When the king and his bodyguard arrived at the camp it had been dismantled but standing in what would have been the centre was the corpse of the witch hanging limply from the cross, her eyes the feeding ground for the rooks and ravens. “Your plans came to nought witch and this, “the king said turning to face his warriors “is the fate that awaits us if we fail. “

His warriors roared their anger.  “We will not fail!”

“We are not Taexali!”

“Let us drive the Romans into the sea.”

Tully was slowly making his way back from his successful raid on the Votadini.  He had not been as successful as Lulach for the Romans had begun to reinforce their work parties from the sea but he and his men were in good spirits as they made their way along the wooded banks of the river the Romans called Bodotria. Ever the careful warrior, Tully was travelling at night to avoid being seen. His men took to the water in the estuary to half swim half paddle past the fort. During the brightest part of the day they rested in the bushes and woods which lined the banks.  They weren’t the best cover but they appeared to have escaped notice for they had seen few Roman patrols.  Tully could see the crossing point of the Bodotria in the distance.  By the time the following dawn came he would be back in his homeland and safe from the Romans.

The prefect of the First Tungrians had received his orders from the new Governor and he intended to impress him. If there were raiders in the south then they would have to cross the Bodotria five miles beyond his line of forts and camps. He had set up signal towers every five miles which signalled any movements.  He wanted to impress the governor to get a better posting than this backwater of Britannia. The signal towers worked far better than he had hoped.  He had been in Veluniate when he had received the signal from his outposts; a warband had been seen resting by the river eight miles away. He signalled the ships stationed off the estuary to sail along the river and provide artillery cover and he led four centuries on the road which took them to the crossing point. All three elements arrived at the crossing point at exactly the same time; it was an hour before dusk and, although Tully and his warriors were surprised they were not demoralized and a fierce battle broke out.  This was not the battle the Romans liked to fight; the centuries arrived piecemeal and lacked the cohesion which normally held them in such good stead. The Tungrian prefect regretted not bringing more soldiers but had he done so he would have left the fort vulnerable and the auxiliaries were at full stretch. The warband for their part were fully rested and tore ferociously into the Tungrians diminished ranks. The ship’s commanders were helpless spectators as they could not use their artillery for fear of hitting their own men and all they could do was stop the Caledonii from entering the water.

With night falling Tully led his chosen warriors in a wedge and they cut right through the centre of the auxiliary cohorts. The disjointed cohort could not resist the force of nature that was the Caledonii warriors on the rampage. Even though the warband had lost many warriors, more than the Tungrians, the Tungrians were in no position to purse and the last raiders returned home.

The Governor finally arrived at Inchtuthil. Decius Brutus met him along with the prefects who were stationed nearby. “Tell me First Spear how goes the campaign?”

“The Caledonii have been raiding our road builders and outlying camps.  They are not major attacks but they have caused us more casualties than we would have liked. Prefect Maximunius has taken his ala out to try to destroy Calgathus’ base, he has not returned yet.”

“I have just received a report that the force of Caledonii who were raiding south of here managed to break through a Tungrian cohort.  Any report of the other warband?”

“My scouts found the trail of a warband heading north from Alavna.”

“And you are?”

“Prefect Sura of the First Batavian Cohort.”

“So we still have a sizeable force, in fact three depending upon whether the Prefect of cavalry has managed to eliminate one of them. First Spear bring me a map.” The map was spread across the table and the prefects gathered around it.  “You have chosen good sites for you camps and forts along here but it seems to me that we need a series of forts, perhaps one here, another here and a third here.” He moved his finger down to the south west, the land of the Novontae.  “The raiders found little opposition here.  I notice there are no forts in that area.  Why is that?”

They all looked at each other.  “The region was settled quickly and was peaceful.  General Agricola wished to push on and conquer the rest of Britannia.”

“Which his early summons back to Rome prevented.  Yes I know.  General Agricola won the war but I must win the peace.” The new governor stabbed his finger down forcefully on the map. “We will build forts in that area to prevent another incursion by the Caledonii.”

“But Governor we are fully stretched as it is.  We have less than twenty thousand men to hold a huge area of land.”

“I know Prefect Sura but we must do it with the forces available.” He looked at them all individually trying to gauge the mettle of these men who he was asking to do the impossible.  “I have spent all my life in Rome and I know how it works.  We are the far flung outpost in an ever growing empire and any rebellion or revolt here does not impact in Rome. The senators and merchants only wish to milk the cow that it is Britannia.  We will receive no more forces and we must act quickly for I feel that we will have forces withdrawn to fight the wars in Dacia and the east.”

They all looked downcast. “Will you be replacing the prefect of the Ninth from your staff sir?”

“What? Oh probably First Spear but not yet.  Continue to improve the defences of Inchtuthil and we will use that as a rock on which the barbarians can beat themselves to death. What of this Prefect Maximunius? Do you think he will bring me a ray of hope?”

Prefect Strabo spoke up and the others all nodded affirmation at his comments.  “If anyone can sir it is the prefect. He has been fighting in the province the longest of any of us from Stanwyck to Mona and up to Mons Graupius.  He was with the turma who rescued Queen Cartimandua back in sixty nine.”

“Oh he was in that ala. It was the talk of Rome.  Caractacus had only recently died and it even made the floor of the Senate.  The Pannonians isn’t that the name of the ala?”

“Yes sir they were but General Agricola renamed them Marcus’ Horse as there were so few Pannonians left.  They are manly made up of warriors from Britannia now.  A good ala, solid and reliable.”

The ‘ayes’ around the table caused the Governor to look up and reflect. “So it would appear that this Prefect gives me hope that we may be able to at least control this barbaric part of the province.”

Less than a day away the ala was heading south with the rescued prisoners and slaves. “Well I for one will be glad to get back to Inchtuthil.”

“I thought you didn’t like sharing forts with the legions, Decius.”

“I don’t but I am hoping that Decius Brutus might have started on a bath house.”

“A bath house? I think he will have had more on his mind than that. I for one hope that there is some word from the Governor.  The discovery of Ailis has hardened my resolve.”

“You are still going to retire then sir.”

“I felt tired and weary in the last battle, if you can call it a battle and the fact that I was could have died…”

“It was a lucky blow with a slingshot.”

“Yes Decius and that can happen in any battle.  Had the troopers not been nearby then I could have been killed.”

“You worried about dying then Marcus?”

“No, you know that but this ala relies on my decisions too much.  A leader needs to be in control all the time and my reactions are slower than they were.  I am retiring not because I have had enough or I fear death but I fear I am no longer serving Rome by leading this ala.”

Decius shook his head.  Marcus was the finest officer he had ever known.  He was superior to Ulpius Felix and they had both thought him the pinnacle but Marcus had taken the ala to a different level.  With the encouragement of Agricola he had made them more flexible.  They could fight on foot, assault strong points and campaign independently. Part of Decius also knew that when Marcus left so would he and he was afraid.  He did not know what he would do with the rest of his life.

“Look at them, Decius. Do you think they see anyone else?”

Decius turned and saw Gaius and Ailis in deep conversation. Gaelwyn rode behind them. “Have you noticed Gaelwyn though Marcus? I have known the man for, well a long time and I have never seen him smile.  Since the girl was found I have not seen him stop smiling.  And another thing until he started smiling I didn’t know he was missing so many teeth.  His mouth looks like an old cemetery!”

“Yes it is strange how the Fates spin their webs. Gaelwyn and I only had the connection of the ala and now I find we are related through Macha and Ailis.”

“I wonder why he never mentioned it.”

“Perhaps he thought I would think he was trying to ingratiate himself.”

“It certainly explains why he always seemed to be there covering your back and the rescue in Mona.”

“The fates Decius, the fates.”

Chapter 20

The signal towers recently built along the partly built road sent the message to Inchtuthil and the Governor stood in the main gate to watch the approach of the legendary ala. He was surprised how young looking the prefect was although he noticed certain weariness about his movements.  From the line of manacled slaves his mission had been successful.

“Welcome prefect I am Governor Sallustius Lucullus.”

“I am Prefect Marcus Aurelius Maximunius of Marcus’ Horse.” Dismounting he saluted.

The Governor took him by the arm.  “Come with me for we have much to discuss.” He looked over his shoulder. “You have been successful.”

Behind him Marcus heard Decius roaring out orders and the sound of men dismounting. “Partly sir.  Not as successful as I wished but more successful than I had hoped.”

The Governor paused and looked up at this prefect who had begun life as a barbarian but able to verbalize such concepts. “Enigmatic, prefect very enigmatic.  I can see you have an interesting tale to tell.  Come we will use the Praetorium and I will send for refreshments.”

When the prefect sat and took off his helmet the Governor could see the flecks of grey riddling his hair. He also noticed the recent wound on the side of his head as well as scars visible on both legs and arms.  Here was a prefect who went to war.

“So successful and yet not successful.  How so?”

“We found the camp of King Calgathus which we destroyed and the warriors who were guarding it but not the main force of the king.”

“No for they were raiding in the south but I interrupt.  I apologise.  Do continue.”

“We also captured many prisoners and rescued some slaves from the Brigante and Novontae people.”

“Good that may be useful but again I interrupt.”

Marcus smiled, “I have nearly finished sir.  We also captured and executed the witch Fainch.” The Governor showed no understanding. “She was the one who poisoned and killed Queen Cartimandua.  She also confessed, at the end, to advising and directing many of the revolts and rebellions against us during the past twenty years.”

“Confessed? You tortured her then?”

Marcus shook his head.  “Didn’t need to.  She was proud about it and boasted of her achievements.”

“Oh don’t get me wrong Prefect I have no aversion to torture I just wondered if you had.”

“I have never needed to use it.  I am a soldier sir, a warrior if you will, I prefect to face my enemies and defeat them with force of arms, not torture.”

“Very noble prefect but these Caledonii are cunning.  We may have to resort to such methods eventually. But you are weary when you have rested we will talk again. I have sent for the other prefects, they have been idle enough. It is time I told you all of my plans.”

Gaius and Ailis had spoken for the whole journey from the north. Gaius was no longer a young man and he had long given up any romantic thoughts of wife and family.  He had seen forty summers and saw his future viewing the world from the back of a horse.  Ailis had woken something in him he had never known. He found her a joy to be with.  He loved the sound of her voice, the tinkle of her laughter.  He loved her smile and the way she flicked her long dark hear, now unfettered, out of her eyes. In fact he found that he loved her and that came as a complete shock. He had never bothered with the girls who hung around the camps and forts and had not the first idea how to initiate a relationship.  He just talked.  As they had ridden along Julius and Macro had discussed their friend’s behaviour with increasing amusement. I have never heard Gaius talk as much before.”

“Well not about such ordinary things.  He can talk for hours about weapons and tactics but talking about houses and food and…”

Ailis for her part had been in love with the warrior since the first time she had seen him.  Although terrified and fearing for her life his quick reactions had saved her life and endeared him to her. But it was more than that, she found herself attracted to him as a man. She had been used by the Caledonii as a sex slave but they had not been men, they had been animals.  She longed for this man to be her man. Gaelwyn had helped.  A faint memory until he spoke to her in the hut she now remembered her mother’s younger brother who had fussed over her when young.  When she had asked Gaelwyn about Gaius she could tell from his words and tone that he respected and perhaps was even fond of the decurion and this just confirmed her feelings for him. She longed for him to say that he loved her but he appeared shy, almost like a young boy rather than a grown man.