Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat (26 page)

“Any news of the Tribune?”

“No Gaius.  A trader who passed through Eboracum said there was a rumour that the Emperor had had him executed after the rebellion in Germania Superior was suppressed.”

“I suppose no news is good news.”

“I hope so Gaius, I hope so.”

Marcus felt his beard.  He had never had a beard before and he wondered what he would look like. Perhaps he would resemble a pirate or, more likely, one of the Caledonii he had fought so many times.  He had had a good life he knew that.  If he had stayed in the Cantabrian village where he had been born he would probably have achieved little and died in some petty war.  At least he had achieved things.  He had been promoted higher than any other auxiliary.  He had married a princess.  He had had a son.  He had carried the Sword of Cartimandua and he had never lost a battle. Probably more than that however he was proud of the ala, the ala which now bore his name, and he hoped that they were proud of him.  What would they say when he died? And he knew he was destined to die in this prison cell despite the lies he told Livius.  Would they say he was a good leader?  He hoped so.  Would they say he was a brave warrior? He prayed so. He would never know for by then he would be dead.

He heard the sound of caligae coming down the passageway.  So this was it.  His death was imminent.  “Livius wake up I think they are coming for us.”

“I wasn’t asleep sir.  I was just wondering about Britannia and the ala.”

“Me too.  Isn’t that strange?”

There reflections were rudely interrupted as the door was flung open and the room filled with torchlight. “Right you two on your feet we are going to see the Emperor.” As they stood two legionaries hurled buckets of ice cold water over them. The Centurion laughed evilly.  “Don’t want you stinking up the place do we?”

As they walked down the corridors Marcus kept his head held high. He was going to die and he was going to die an innocent man but he would, at least, die with honour. He just felt such sorrow for Livius who was dying for a corrupt uncle and cousin. The boy deserved to live.

Livius turned to him. “Thank you Tribune for I have seen nobility whilst serving with you.”

The Centurion’s vine staff crashed against Livius’ face. He drew it back for a second blow but Marcus grabbed it. “Praetorian I know not if you have fought for your comrades in battle but your actions suggest that you have not. This boy does not deserve your cruelty. When we meet in the afterlife look for me for I will show you a warrior.”

The Centurion pulled his arm back to strike down the Tribune but something in his eyes stopped him and he pushed them both forward. “Get in there for you are both dead men!”

The Emperor was sat on a raised dais and the Centurion thrust them to the ground so that they looked up at the Emperor Domitian from their knees. “When I discovered that two traitors still remained in my dungeons I asked my guards why you were not yet dead. And I was told that there was no evidence presented. You would have died anyway but I received two letters, one from Prefect Julius Demetrius of Marcus’ Horse and a second from his father, the renowned Senator Demetrius. Remarkably I find Tribune,” Marcus suddenly brightened when he heard his title, “that you are truly a hero in the old fashioned sense.  You have fought for Rome even though your home is in Cantabria.  You have fought against great odds and yet never surrendered and the loyalty of your men make me wish to trade my Praetorians for your ala.” Marcus noticed with pleasure the Centurion blushing and shifting uncomfortably. “And you Livius Lucullus. My Legate died but had he lived he would have been before me for he accused you because of your name. Both of you are now free men.  Please return to Britannia for you are both men who will make the province not only safe but great.”

As the shackles were removed the two men looked at each other in surprise both had expected death. Turning, they left following the clerk. As he passed the Centurion, Marcus paused. “This is not over Centurion. Look over your shoulder for, should our paths ever cross again…you will die.” The Centurion paled and for the first time in his life felt true fear.

The Emperor’s clerk leaned over. “Excellent Caesar. Senator Demetrius and his supporters will ensure now that no-one will question you authority again and you will have their backing for your new wars in Dacia.”

Chapter 18

Aodh had sent his men back to Caledonia. He was completely captivated in every sense of the word by Morwenna.  Since the birth of her son she had blossomed into young woman who was even more beautiful than when Macro had fallen in love with her. Aodh justified his decision to stay with her by remembering the faith which Lulach and Calgathus had in the young woman.  He would, however, happily have deserted his brethren he was so enamoured of Morwenna.

They spent the rest of the winter in the cave which Morwenna had shared with Luigsech. Aodh was an accomplished hunter and they ate well. Morwenna honed her skills as a witch and spent long vigils where she visited higher planes.  In the days which followed these vigils she lay in an exhausted sleep and Aodh watched her motionless body, admiring her beauty all the more. She talked with Aodh of his family. “Are your brothers warriors?”

“Alas I am the only boy.  My mother had seven daughters.”

“Daughters run in your family then?”

“On my mother’s side, yes.  My father was an only child, his mother died bearing him and he was killed in one of the battles against the horse warriors.”

Aodh noticed that, following their conversation Morwenna became more affectionate and soon after the moon bleeding she took him to her bed and they made love.  For Aodh it was the most remarkable experience of his life.  None of the hags he had experienced came close to the exciting Morwenna.  Every night for the rest of the month they made love in the long dark nights. Then one morning Morwenna announced, “Now we will travel south to Mona.  It is time I met with my sisters.”

Aodh felt confused and he did not know what to do. “Am I to come with you?”

Laughing Morwenna kissed him.  “Of course you are for you are to be the father to my daughters. “You have left the Caledonii and are now a member of my tribe.” She looked at him and fixed him with her dancing green eyes. “Or do you wish to return north?”

There was no pause, not even for a heartbeat. He was ensnared. “No my love I will follow you beyond the seas if needs be and I will be a father to our children and I will protect you with my life.”

“I know you will.” Then she said something which chilled Aodh to his very bones. “But we will have only daughters.  Any sons I bear will be left on the hills as a sacrifice to the Mother.”

As the first spring flowers struggled through the thawing ground Morwenna headed south for she had waited for a sign from the Mother and as the frail white flowers peered unsteadily at the low sun in the sky she knew it was w whisper from the Earth.  She would return to the sacred groves.

Spring brought a more unwelcome visitor in the lands to the north of Coriosopitum; it was the war bands of the Caledonii who had roused the tribes after their success in the autumn and winter. Calgathus was seen as a symbol of the rebellion against Roman rule.  The tribes from the north flocked to his banners but, more importantly the Selgovae and Votadini from south of the wall of forts also joined and suddenly the two Tribunes were trapped. In Coriosopitum Prefect Julius had finally replaced all his casualties and his turmae were at full strength.  Cassius Crispus, Macro’s old chosen man took over the turma who were determined to revenge themselves on those who had killed their Decurion.

Julius called a planning meeting of his officers and sergeants. “We are going to have a harder job this year for we have to keep the supply route to the north open.  Our fleet can bring in supplies but the weather can make life far harder for them than for us. We will operate as we did last year.  Four turmae will keep the eastern route open. Decurion Princeps Gaius will command those and Decurion Macro the western.  The remaining four turmae will be a rapid deployment force ready to go wherever danger threatens. I have secured a cohort of Tungrians who will garrison the fort and patrol the military way south of the forts but make no mistake gentlemen as the only cavalry in this theatre we will not stop.  Sergeant Cato I need you to bring as many horses from the stud at Derventio for last year we took too many casualties amongst our mounts.”

Cato nodded, “They are learning sir that a dismounted rider is easier to kill and our horses are unarmoured.”

“Any questions?”

The Decurions all looked at each other. Gaius eventually asked the question which was on everyone’s minds. “What about Marcus and Livius? Any news?”

“No.  We heard that Sallustius Lucullus had been executed but there has been no word of our two friends.” Their glum looks let Julius realise that they thought that their friends were indeed, dead. “They may not be dead.  I am taking the lack of news as a good thing. Anyway there is no point brooding about something which is outside our control. I know that the Tribune would not want us to waste time on idle speculation so let us ride.”

Gaius looked at the Prefect with new found respect.  He seemed to be able to be colder and more objective.  Gaius knew that he could never have been so sanguine about his oldest friend.  As he led his patrol north he knew that his job was more important than it had ever been for if the barbarians went south then his family would be dead for Morbium was the best place to cross the Dunum.  He determined that he would do all in his power to protect them.

His chosen man, Servius Maro rode next to him. “How will this patrol work then sir?  Up to Trimontium and back?” 

“No Servius. Up to Trimontium and spend the night there then up to Veluniate and spend the night there.  We will be away for four days and three nights. This way it saves us having to build a fort and, more importantly we are visible to many more people..”

“And I thought we had pacified this area.”

Shaking his head Gaius said, “These people are not ready for pacification yet.  In the south the legions only made them Roman when they massacred the Iceni and the tribes who rebelled against them.  We have not inflicted a big enough defeat on these barbarians yet and, until we get greater numbers we are unlikely to.”

“That is a depressing thought.”

“I agree.  I had thought that by the time I took my pension this land would be peaceful.”

“Your pension sir?  That must be years off.”

“Not so long now Servius.  In three years I can go and live with my family.”

“Three years?  As soon as that?  Would you not consider signing on again?”

“I might have done but the death of Decius and the way the Tribune was treated mean that as soon as I can I will take my bounty and become a farmer.”

“I can’t see you as a farmer sir.”

“At the moment neither can I but if Gaelwyn can do it then so can I.”

When they came to the river where Septimus and the legate had met their demise they scoured the river and banks for any sign of the bodies but there were none. “I expect we will see their killers wearing the Legate’s fine armour.”

“Yes sir.  It will stand out like Decurion Macro on a horse for these barbarians seem to like blue paint for armour.”

“They did but I think they are learning.”

The patrol met nothing on the road but they sensed they were being watched.  The tribes were not as friendly and the Centurion at Trimontium told them one of the lakes they used had had dead animals thrown in to spoil it.

Gaius was relieved to arrive at the solidly built Veluniate and his friend Tribune Sura. “Glad to see you Decurion Princeps.”

Gaius saw this Cominius was greyer and had more scars than hitherto. “Bad winter?”

“Bad winter? It is relentless, like the snow. The constant attacks; flames in the night and sentries murdered. It takes its toll.  The sentries grow older each day.”

“And it will not get any easier now Cominius.”

The Tribune smiled.  “Thank you for your honesty Gaius.  Not it will not. They will keep attacking.  At least we will be able to improve the defences and thank the Allfather that Marcus sent the fleet to support us or we would have perished. And yet they took many casualties.  Ships were wrecked on the stormy rocks but we survived.  Furius and I thanked the Tribune many times.”  He looked at Gaius askance, “How is the Tribune?”

“We know not. The Prefect hopes that the truth will emerge and he will be vindicated but the Governor was executed.”

“Rome is an ass! It knows nothing but the gossip of incompetent officials and hearsay! Marcus could no more be a traitor than you or I.”

“Which is the worrying thing Cominius, for if Marcus could be accused then what of us?  I spoke with my men on the way up here.  I will take my twenty five years when it comes and live as Gaelwyn, on the farm.”

“When is that?”

“Less than four years old friend.”

“I envy you.  For me the auxilia is my life.  I will die up here in the badlands where every rock and stone is an enemy and no one is your friend.”

The ship bringing him home gave Marcus Aurelius Maximunius a more pleasant journey than the one he had suffered to Germania. It gave him time to reflect on his life for he had come as close to losing his life as in any battle and this time it had been his so called friends who would have killed him. He glanced at Livius; poor Livius who was nearly killed because of his name.  What a tragedy! He swore that he would make it his mission to ensure that Livius was safe and then he would retire.  His promise to a dead Governor was no longer valid.  It had expired along with the strangled, misguided man. He would devote his life to making Stanwyck and Morbium a safe place for Romans, auxilia and native Britons. The Roman army was an offensive beast, in every sense of the word!  Marcus would protect the people he loved.  The Brigante he had married into and the retired soldiers he had fought with.  Decius would love to be part of it and Decius too had only promised to stay on for a short time.  When he landed he would meet with Decius at Coriosopitum and ask him if he too, wanted to retire.