Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 05] Revolt of the Red Witch (5 page)

“Troopers we are going to cross the river by letting our horses swim. Just hang on to their manes and they will get you across.”

The water was shallow enough that the horses only had to swim for the middle twenty paces. As they emerged from the placid waters Gnaeus spotted the trail. “Heading north east Sir.”

“That means they are heading for our road.”

“That’s good isn’t it Sir?”

“Not really.  They should be avoiding the road because of our patrols.  If there are no patrols then this is larger raid than just the fifty or so we are following.” He turned to the turmae. “When we find them I would like at least one prisoner.  Do not put yourselves in harm’s way but if you can just disable one for me we may find out where these raiders are from.”

The men laughed and one wag shouted, “Which leg should we disable Sir?”

They followed the obvious trail right up to the point where it entered a small stream. The stream was no more than fifteen paces wide and only knee deep but the raiders had either walked downstream or upstream to avoid detection. Livius split his force in two to enable him to cover both banks.  He took his men down stream. The banks were covered in willow, brambles and elder making an impenetrable screen. His lead scout shouted back, “At least we can see that they didn’t leave the stream here.”

Just then an arrow flew from the undergrowth and hit him in the neck.  Within moments they were being attacked on both sides. Manus had spotted his pursuers and tried to buy some time with his ambush.  It succeeded for the troopers could see nothing at which to shoot and Livius had no alternative but to retreat.  Once they emerged into a clear area he sent a trooper back for the other turmae. In the ambush he had lost five troopers.  He would have to recover their bodies later.  He now had even more reason to catch his prey.

When Decurion Cassius arrived with the rest of the turmae Livius outline his plan. “You take your turma right of the stream.  Ride on the ridge where the trees as thinner. Poor Metellus was right; they had to have come out of the stream where it is open.  When we find an open section we investigate until we find out which way they went.”

An hour later they found the trail where the stream cut sharply east towards the Dunum.  The wooded hillside rose above them gently undulating. “Well Sir the road is two miles up there.  That is where they are heading but night is falling.”

“I know Cassius and I don’t want to risk another night attack. We will make a camp here and follow in the morning.  They have captives and they are afoot.  We should catch them when our mounts are fresh.”

The next morning they found the clear trail driving like a straight line north. One of the flank scouts rode up. “Sir, another band has joined them.”

“Looks like you were right Sir; this is bigger than just one raid.”

“We could have upwards of a hundred barbarians ahead so be careful.”

Manus had taken charge when the raiders from the eastern settlements joined him.  They had many cattle, sheep and pigs.  Manus would not be held up by those and he pushed on relentlessly. Soon the whole column was nearly a mile from start to finish but they made good time on the hard surface of the road.

Livius caught up with them just after one of the steeper slopes which the animals had found difficult to negotiate. His men formed up in a two line crescent formation. Manus saw the enemy and decided that he could not outrun cavalry with prisoners. “Tie them up from tree to tree.  They will have to cut them free if they are to catch us. Now run you whoresons! Run!”

Livius and his men made short work of the men guarding the rear of the train but the numbers of captives and animals they found meant that further pursuit was out of the question. They did, however, have some luck.  Five of the raiders surrendered and were able to talk.

The five were questioned separately so that Livius could compare answers. Inevitably some of them lied but they found enough common ground to piece together the whole picture. “So this Manus and his band raided the jet mines whilst the rest were raining north of the Dunum to the east.  Lulach, Calgathus’ son raided Morbium and the south.”

“Don’t forget they destroyed Coriosopitum as well.”

”The sooner we get back the better.  The Prefect must have had his hands full with a full warband on the loose. Let’s get these people safely home.”

Chapter 3

Decurion Princeps Cilo arrived back at Cataractonium half a day after Annius’ messenger.  Even as he was leaving the fort Livius’ messenger arrived from the east. The Camp Prefect shook his head.  “This has come out of nowhere.”

“It is worse than that Camp Prefect, for half the ala is on the other side of Brigantia chasing bandits; we have three under strength turmae available.”

“Did not Decurion Macro have family in that farm?”

“Aye.  What exactly did the messenger say?”

“It was a message from Marcus Aurelius Maximunius. The farm of Gaius Metellus Aurelius had been burned to the ground and the women and children taken captive. The Tribune, Gaius and Gaelwyn the scout were pursuing the raiders. Who are they?”

“You are new here Prefect so you would not know that Marcus is the Marcus of Marcus’ Horse.  He was the Tribune and Gaius was Decurion Princeps before me.”

“Oh I have heard of them.”

“And the third one is the Brigante scout Gaelwyn; believe me he has the nose of a hound and is tenacious as they come. I would not like him to be on my scent. They must have the trail of the raiders. When did this happen? ”

The day before yesterday.”

“And Decurion Lucullus reported his raid yesterday too.  I will take my turmae up to Morbium tomorrow. It is rather like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted but it is all we can do until the Prefect returns.  We must let Eboracum know too for we will need new garrisons to replace those killed. Keep the camp on high alert.  We may not have rid ourselves of all these raiders yet. I will write a report for him tonight in case anything untoward happens to me.”

“Like what?”

“Like getting killed by a warband which will probably outnumber us by at least five to one. Believe me your wooden walls may not look much but they will give you more protection than my turmae. Our horses are our only protection.”

The two halves of the ala still in the east met close to Stanwyck. The Decurion Princeps and Livius shared information. Livius and his men looked exhausted having pursued raiders around the hills south of the Dunum. “I know your men are tired Livius but I would be happier with six turmae if we are to encounter the Caledonii.”

“It is Lulach.”

“Lulach again?  How do you know?”

“We spoke with a dying prisoner.  He was proud of the fact that Lulach was able to come and go as he chose.  He boasted that they had destroyed Coriosopitum and now there would be nothing to stop them returning at will.”

“Coriosopitum is the gateway from Caledonia.  With its destruction there is nothing to stop them flooding into the soft underbelly of the province; it means they are rising again.”

They rode north in silence. “Does Macro know of his son and his abduction?”

“No I only found out yesterday. The Prefect and Macro were still hunting Modius. I think if he had known of the invasion he would not have gone off on a wild chase.”

“It seems unlike the Prefect to be so…”

“So forgetful of his duty?”

“Well I wasn’t going to say that but you are right. It is to do with his brother.  I hope he ends it now and not continue to pursue this spectre from the past.”

“Who is this Modius?”

“He was a vicious, sadistic trooper who was Optio under the Prefect’s brother.  He turned traitor and betrayed the ala but more than that he led the Prefect’s brother into an ambush and killed him.”

The further north that they went the more that signs of the raid became evident. There were burning farms and bodies littering the countryside. Carrion birds circled in the distance showing where travellers had met their end. Discarded belongings showed where the people had tried to flee and the fact that their belongings lay like autumn leaves showed that they had failed and were now Caledonii captives. They headed for the tribune’s farm which was on the route to Morbium. The whole ala knew of the farm as most of them had their gold buried in various parts of the villa. “Marcus was lucky that they didn’t decide to come here.”

“I think, Livius that he would have preferred they had sacked this farm and left Ailis alone.”

“You are right. I was not thinking, the Tribune always cared more for people than possessions. Can we do anything to help the three of them?”

“I think not.  The Prefect may decide to follow but, in my view, that would achieve nothing. The three of them will be less visible but they are taking a risk.  If they are caught, as ex-Roman soldiers, their deaths will be particularly unpleasant. The three of them are now in the hands of the Allfather.  If he wills it, their quest will succeed.  If not then we shall see them at the end of our time.”

Having spent some months in a condemned cell with Marcus, Livius felt a closer bond with the Tribune than anyone else he had met. He knew that the ex-tribune was a stoically brave man but he did not deserve the Fate he had been handed. He had already lost one family, murdered by Brigante rebels; to have to suffer the same fate with a second family was more than one man should have to bear.

Annius retold the troopers what Marcus had said. “So they are going to pose as slave traders.”

“It might work.  It would give them a good excuse to seek out slaves.”

“The problem, Livius, is that Marcus and Gaius are well known by the Caledonii.  They fought against them many times.  I hope that their disguises are good.”

“Sirs the master asked, before he left, if you wished to take any of the spare horses.”

Sergeant Cato trotted his horse up to Decurion Princeps Cilo.  “Not a bad idea Sir.  The Tribune has a good eye for horses and some of these we are riding are out on their legs; we have over used them.” The criticism in the Sergeant’s voice was not hidden.  Everyone in the ala knew that Cato preferred horses to men.

“But are they trained? The last thing we want is to lose a trooper because of a half trained mount.”

Cato laughed, “Trust me Sir if the Tribune offered them then they are ready to ride.  He knows more about horses than any man I know.”

Livius laughed, “Apart from you of course.” Cato shrugged a half smile on his lips.

“Very well then.  Sergeant you choose which mounts but don’t waste time; the longer we wait, the further away they get.”

The depleted garrison at Morbium had taken in some stragglers from forts further north who had made their way to the half burned outpost.  Some had managed to make it all the way from Coriosopitum. The Centurion who walked proudly in with the last exhausted fifty men of his century looked ruefully north. ”This is now the frontier Decurion Princeps. You are the first organised unit we have seen. Between here and Coriosopitum it is nothing but raiders and opportunists taking what they can while the garrisons are slaughtered.”

The troopers helped to rebuild the fort. As Cilo and Lucullus checked the horse lines the Decurion Princeps confided in Livius. “This has decided me Livius.  Until I receive further orders we will wait here and help garrison and rebuild the fort. This is the main route south and we are all that stands between Calgathus and the fertile south. I just wish that the Prefect were here, for a thousand men would be a better deterrent than the handful we have now.”

“It will not be a happy meeting when the Prefect and Macro hear news of the raid.”

“No.  I am glad that we are here for Macro loved his son as much as the Prefect loved his brother and that will not be happy for either of them.”

By the time the Prefect returned to Cataractonium with his prisoners the men and horses were exhausted. Julius peered around wondering where the rest of the ala was. The Camp Prefect had not been looking forward to this meeting.  An old bluff soldier he had never had a family of his own but he liked the genial giant, Macro, and he wondered how he would take the loss. He was grateful that the Decurion led off the horses and turmae to the stable leaving the Camp Prefect with Julius alone. Something on the camp Prefect’s face warned him that there was a problem of some description.

“Spit it out Lucius what has happened and where is the rest of the ala.”

“The Caledonii raided south of the Dunum. Coriosopitum has been razed and Morbium badly damaged.”

“That is bad news.  I take it the Decurion Princeps rode north to do what he could?” The Caledonii were always raiding; it was just worrying that a few had got as far as Morbium.

“It is worse than that Prefect.  It was a major warband and they were able to raid at will.” The unspoken criticism was not lost on Julius who looked up sharply at the comment. “They raided Stanwyck. The farm of Gaius Aurelius was burned, the men slaughtered and everyone else taken into captivity.” He repeated for emphasis, “everyone!”

“Decurion Macro’s son too?” Lucius nodded. “Does Gaius know about this?”

“Yes he and the Tribune and that Brigante scout Gaelwyn have chased north after them. I don’t hold out much hope for any of them.” The old soldier had fought the Caledonii and knew the country; he thought it unlikely that they would ever see any of them again.

Julius shook his head.  “If there are three men in the province who could get the job done it is those three.  And the Decurion Princeps?”

“He went north to Morbium, he left you a report.” He handed over the wax tablet which Julius quickly read.

“Does Eboracum know of the situation?”

“We sent riders with the news but there has been no word.”

“In that case I will write a report detailing my analysis of the situation and my intentions.  I am afraid Lucius that I will be leaving you short handed again until Eboracum sends reinforcements.  I intend to take the ala, tomorrow, north of the Dunum.  It is probably hopeless but I may be able to return some of the captives.  I take it Gaius’ wasn’t the only settlement hit?”