by Griff Hosker
“But the convoys!”
“We have supplies but there is little point if we can’t use the damned things.” His tone softened. “Just be away for one night Rufius. Perhaps the presence of Marcus’ Horse, might just dissuade them.”
“Sir. Well at least Marcus will be happy. Another adventure for him eh?”
Chapter 10
Not only Marcus, but all of his troopers were happy to be on their particular patrol. There was a great deal of interest in the young Roman captive and the troopers all felt offended that some one had been kidnapped from their fortress, and that someone was a pretty Roman virgin. It was almost as though it was a matter of honour to rescue her. The three new recruits, in particular, wanted to be the ones to rescue her and as they prepared their mounts assaulted Marcus and Sextus with questions.
“Are we going to follow them into Votadini territory then sir?”
“That all depends, Vibius, on what we actually find. If we don’t find tracks or evidence, then the answer is no.”
“Could we not wait and ambush them when they travel north sir.”
“Well, Aneurin, that might prove problematic for the young lady.”
“Sir?”
“Arrows, spears and swords can go awry in an ambush and we wouldn’t want her hurt would we?”
“Aneurin you are an idiot!” Vibius seemed particularly annoyed with his young comrade.
“If you lads just do your duty and let the decurion and myself plan strategy we will all get along much better.” Sextus was not one for discussions and debate. He liked orders and discipline. The decurion might be young but he was the best officer Sextus had served alongside; the decision making, when it was needed, would be flawless.
Marcus drew Felix to one side. “We are seeking the Roman woman Felix. Is that a problem? She will be amongst Brigante.”
He grinned. Marcus had seen him grow daily in confidence as he had been praised by all. He seemed to revel in the task. “No sir. It should be easier. Wolf knows the smell of my people and even you should be able to smell a woman. There are not many up here, certainly not many who smell as sweet as a Roman.”
Sextus growled at the insult but Marcus held up his hand. “No Sextus, the scout is quite correct. There was a time I would have used my sense of smell but you become lazy and let others do it. Thank you Felix. I will remember your words.” He turned to the assembled turma. “We are looking for the lost Roman hostage and we will be travelling through Votadini country. There is a large warband ahead of us. I want you to watch where we go and, if we are ambushed or attacked, then you will know the way back to the fort.”
They looked shocked that their decurion would even think that they would desert their officer. Cassius, who had only been with the turma for a couple of years, suddenly blurted, “We would die defending you sir! And the standard.”
The standard bearer, Julius, shook his head and mumbled, “Well that makes me feel much safer.”
Marcus raised his voice, “No you will not. This is a rescue mission. If it goes wrong then you must get back to the legate with the information so that next time it will succeed. Understand me?”
“Sir, yes sir!” chorused the turma.
“Good. Cassius take the pack horse which I had prepared and the spare mount.”
With the barbarians on the rampage at the western end of the Stanegate, Marcus led the turma over the bridge to follow the outer edge of the wall. They rode just three hundred paces from the wall and Marcus was pleased and reassured at the waved greetings from the sentries, most of whom were doubtless glad that they did not have to venture in the land of the Votadini. The area which had been under construction was now the scene of much activity as the Sixth Legion assembled to make that vulnerable point more secure.
“You see Sextus, had we started there,” he pointed at the gap’ “then Felix would have had a hard job to sort the tracks out. If they did cross anywhere close by then we should find them easier here where there is not as much activity from our men. Right Felix, off you go.”
The two scouts ranged ahead. Marcus kept the turma in defensive formation while the two of them searched the area immediately before them. They found nothing and Felix turned to beckon them on. They continued westward keeping one eye on the barbarian north and one to the south where they knew the Selgovae were raiding. They would be in the middle of any sudden attack. Even Sextus felt a little vulnerable. “I feel like a worm on a hook you know sir. And there are a lot of hungry fish out here!”
Suddenly they saw Felix halt and search the ground. He waved Wolf away and the dog raced northwards. Marcus was amazed how low it kept to the ground. Unless you knew what you were looking for it would just be wind blowing over the tufty grass; at times just the white tip of his tail could be seen. The scout beckoned them forwards and waited for them.
“I have found where they crossed. There were six horses.” He held up some dung. “Not Roman, they are grass fed but not Votadini ponies. These are Brigante horses. They had the woman with them.” He looked up at Marcus. “Can you not smell her?”
Marcus dismounted and walked to where Felix was stood. He sniffed. At first he could detect nothing and Felix said, “Close your eyes sir and picture her.”
Marcus did and, remarkably, a perfume came up and that was mixed with a human smell but not that of a man. He smiled to himself. It had been years since he had used his skills but he was pleased that they were still there. He opened his eyes. “Well done Felix.” He looked north. “Is Wolf looking for them?”
Felix nodded. “He will find the trail and then return here.” He shrugged. “He likes to run.”
The dog soon returned and lay down next to Felix. He fished something from his pouch to reward her. He took out his bow and strung it. When Marcus threw him a questioning look he said, “They were here last night. They will be close.”
Marcus turned to the turma. “We have the trail of the hostage. Be on the alert and keep your weapons at the ready. Anyone we meet from now on will, most likely, want to kill us.”
Sextus added, under his breath, “Or at the very least take your bollocks for a necklace! “ Scanlan laughed. “Well you are safe lad. You have to have them for them to find!”
The trail led up and over bumps, hollows and rocky outcrops. Marcus felt naked and longed for some cover. They had to keep to the trail which led inexorably north east. H soon realised that they were heading for the Votadini camp which Felix had found on their last patrol. The Brigante must have had the same thought for he looked at Marcus and pointed to the distant forest. The decurion turned to Sextus. “It looks like they have taken her to the Votadini camp. You and Julius ride at the rear. If anything happens up here and we get ambushed, you ride back and tell the legate. You know where the camp is too and you can bring the others.” Sextus opened his mouth to say something. “Sextus! Just do it.”
“Sir!”
Vibius and Aneurin took the place of the two sesquiplicarii. Both of them grinned at each other. They were riding behind the decurion; it was a place of honour and they would not let down the decurion with the sword. As soon as they reached the forest edge and sheltered within its eaves Marcus halted them. “I want two lines fifteen men wide. Keep at least eight paces from the next man. Sextus you and Julius ride behind the second line.” He beckoned Felix over. “Are they still heading for the camp?”
“Like an arrow sir.”
“It is in that direction isn’t it?” He pointed north east. Felix nodded. “We can use the moss to guide us. You and Wolf get to the camp and see if she is there. We will follow.” Felix threw him a dubious look. “I was doing this when I was your age Felix. Go!”
The two disappeared quickly and Marcus led the men forwards, slowly and carefully to avoid making too much noise. He thought it unlikely, but there may have been scouts and sentries in the forest. Suddenly Wolf raced up to the turma when they were still well over a mile away from the camp. Felix appeared close behind him. “The gir
l is there. The Votadini have many more warriors who have arrived in their camp since our last visit.”
“How many? “
More men than I saw at Eboracum.”
Marcus had never thought that he could attack the camp but the numbers mentioned meant that it would be difficult to get in and out. “Where is she kept?”
“I saw her close to the fire. She was tied to a post and there were two men guarding her.”
Marcus dismounted and cleared some of the leaves and debris from the ground. He gave him a stick. “Show me.”
Felix drew in the soil and Sextus came to look over his shoulder. “That looks impossible.”
“Yes Sextus but we have to try.” He turned to look at the men he had brought. “What I need is a couple of the lads who don’t look Roman.” He looked up at Sextus who looked every uncia a legionary, “which rules you and Julius out. That suits me. I am going to get close and I want you to wait here with the turma. You need to make some traps and deadfalls. When we leave it will be in a hurry. You need to leave a safe route for us. Mark the trees.” Sextus threw him a puzzled look. “An old Explorate trick. You cut a piece of bark from pairs of trees. We ride between them and we are safe. When we reach you then you and the troopers throw your javelins at those following us.” The standard bearer and chosen man exchange d a befuddled look. “If we do get the girl out then we will need Nemesis to be on our side anyway.”
“Who are you going to take then?”
Marcus looked at the troopers he had. “Felix obviously, Cassius,” he grinned, “he looks like a barbarian. Scanlan and Aneurin.”
“The new recruits? You are joking!”
“No Sextus, think about it. They are Brigante. We can walk around the camp speaking Brigante. We know there are some Brigante there don’t we? And they are both young. They look like young warriors. They don’t look like Romans. My mind is made up. Gather the men around.”
When they were all gathered Sextus and Julius rode towards the camp to act as sentries. “The hostage is in the enemy camp. I am going with the two scouts.” They all smiled, Wolf was now seen as every bit a member of the turma as any trooper, “Cassius, Aneurin and Scanlan will accompany me.” He heard the gasp and saw the reactions. “They are Brigante and we are not going in uniform.” He nodded to Cassius. “Bring your pack horse Cassius. You three get your uniforms off.” He started to take off his mail shirt and caligae.
Vibius noticed, for the first time, that the decurion was not wearing the sword of Cartimandua. It told him much about the decurion. He had planned this out whilst still at the fort. “Sir, why can’t I accompany you?” He wanted to be the one to rescue the Roman hostage but the others who hadn’t been chosen cast him looks of pure disgust. He sounded like a whining, petulant child.
Marcus took out the clothes from the pack horse and handed them around. He said, softly, to Vibius. “You are not Brigante and you do not look as young as these three. We will be playing Brigante rebels and you, well, you look too Roman besides you do not speak Brigante. Do not worry, Vibius, your time will come and you will be needed when we escape for then, every barbarian north of the frontier will be after us.” He looked at the men he would take with him. He remembered Felix’s trick and, smearing mud on his hands he daubed the faces of the three troopers and himself. “Can’t have us looking too clean. Now the rest of you; Sextus will have you making deadfalls and traps. Watch over our uniforms. When we leave it will be in a hurry.” He gestured at the three troopers now dressed in barbarian attire. “You three. We will follow Felix to the edge of the camp and tie our horses there. Cassius get the spare horse. The hostage will need that. When it is dark we will enter the camp. From now on we only speak Brigante. I can manage a few words in Votadini so if we are stopped let me do the talking. We are trying to avoid attention. The girl is tied to a post in the centre of the camp. Cassius and I will take one of the guards, Aneurin and Scanlan the other. Felix will release the girl and then we will walk out.” He threw a dirty cloak to Felix. “You cover her with this.” He looked at them again. “Keep your hoods up but walk as though you belong there. With luck they will see what they want to see; warriors such as they. May the Allfather be with us.”
They led their horses through the thick forest to avoid detection. Wolf patrolled in front; sometime they could only see his one long white sock as he sinuously moved through the pine carpet. Felix led them to a rock formation hidden in a stand of trees. They tied the horses to the sump of a lightening struck pine. Dusk had descended and the followed the young Brigante scout as he led them down the path towards the encampment. A bubbling stream disguised any noise they might make but Marcus was acutely aware that it would disguise the Votadini noise too. When they reached the bluffs above the stream they watched. They were two hundred paces from the camp but the gloom and the trees hid them.
The camp was busy and Marcus became alarmed when a party of men gathered near their tethered horses. He could see, even from that distance that at least one of the men who mounted was a chief from his torc. Aneurin tugged at Marcus’ arm. The decurion turned and Aneurin said, into his ear, “The one near the chief. I know him; he is Briac the Brigante and those four with him are Brigante also.”
Marcus nodded to show he had understood. Had they been spotted? He watched as the twenty men left the camp. They waited and watched. Marcus slid his sword out of its scabbard and then replaced it. It was a nervous action for he knew not if they were coming for them. It was only when the men in the camp began to relax and to begin to drink and chat close to the fires that Marcus knew that the party of horsemen would not be back soon. He had no idea where the chief and Briac had gone but he would use it to his advantage. They saw men and boys coming to the stream to draw water. He also saw a number of warriors, obviously the worse for wear for drink, coming to relieve themselves.
Gradually a plan formed in his mind. It took him back to his Explorate days when he had travelled behind enemy lines with Cassius, Metellus and Rufius. They had taught him to think on his feet and improvise. He did so now. He turned to his men. “We are going into the camp. Follow me and do as I do.”The four young men were extremely excited and nervous. They were going into the bear’s den; willingly!
As they made their way down the slope Marcus was amazed at the lack of security from the Votadini. Apart from the two guards they had seen by the hostage, there did not appear to be any sentries, or indeed anyone who looked alert. It seemed they were relaxed. Perhaps the lack of their leaders made them feel as though they were off the leash. Three warriors wandered back from the stream, having relieved themselves down stream from the point they collected their water. They were a little the worse for wear, staggering a little, and they stared at Marcus and his party. Wolf started to growl but Felix gave him a signal and he dropped to all fours, his eyes darting from the barbarians and back to Felix.
The tallest man, who had many arm rings and scars, spat some phlegm at a tree as he idly scratched his groin. “Who the fuck are you sorry bunch?”
He had spoken in Votadini and only Marcus had understood him. “I am glad that we have found you. We seek Briac for we are his warriors and we bring important news.”
The warriors visibly relaxed. “Well you missed him and he won’t be back until tomorrow evening. Come, join our camp. I am Belenus, war chief of the Votadini.” The way he puffed himself up made Marcus think that he was not as important as he obviously thought himself, “Chief Iucher has left me in charge while he goes to the Roman fort to demand the return of his son.” He slapped his arm around Marcus’ shoulders. “Your people did well to steal the hostage. Perhaps you are not the women we thought you were!” He laughed and Marcus gave a weak smile. It was fortunate the others had not understood his words. He looked at the po-faced companions of Marcus. “What is up with them? Didn’t they understand my little joke?”
“I am sorry, I am the only one who speaks their language.”
“Well none of us understand yo
ur language so we will have to use signs and gestures eh? Come we will sup.”
As they walked in they were seen as non-threatening because of the presence of the war chief. Marcus could not remember if Vibia had seen him. He would have to hope not or pray that she was quick witted.
“And who are you Brigante?”
“I am Gaelwyn,” Marcus had learned, when he had spied and lied before, to keep the story simple and memorable and his uncle’s name came easily to the tongue..
“I have heard that name before. I wonder where?” They had reached the fire with the post. “Here clear some space for some of the Briac’s Brigante brethren.” Some Votadini cleared a space on a log and they sat down.
The movement made Vibia look up and her eyes widened as she recognised Marcus. He gave a slight shake of the head and she closed her eyes and gave an imperceptible nod. Marcus thanked the Allfather that she was a good actress. A jug of beer stood on the table. There were some empty beakers there and Belenus waved an imperious hand. “Help yourselves.”
Marcus turned to his men. “We are welcomed and the chief,” he nodded meaningfully at the war chief, “bids us drink. He is sorry that they do not speak Brigante but has told me that Briac is returning tomorrow. Take beer but pretend to drink and pretend to get drunk. That way we can fall asleep here. The girl’s guards look to be alert; we must be careful.”
They all filled a beaker with the frothy beer and sat down. They were silent and Marcus could see the question on the chief’s lips. “Talk, tell jokes, act as though you are happy to be here. You all look like you are about to wet yourselves.”
Aneurin gave a weak smile. “Sorry sir. We aren’t used to this.”