Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 12] Roman Wall

by Griff Hosker

  “That may be true, although I doubt it. However we have no arms for them. The army we have just seen destroyed were paid for by the Lady Flavia here. How will you arm them?”

  Banquo was confused. He had thought they were going to find more warriors. Perhaps his four oathsworn were correct. Perhaps there was no honour in this. “Are we running away? Why?”

  “Because we have hurt the Romans this time and we can build an army once more. We know their weaknesses and we can exploit them.”

  Banquo reined his horse in. “I will not run away. The Selgovae and the Novontae fight yet. I will join them.”

  Caronwyn was pragmatic. As much as she would have liked the handsome young warrior to be part of her plans it also suited her for him to join the other rebels. He would be able to rally the Votadini beneath his banner. “Very well but if things do not go well for you then you can come to Manavia and join us there!”

  He was touched by the affection in the priestess’ voice, “I will and I promise that I will continue to serve the Mother.”

  The five Votadini turned off the road and headed west along the valley of the Vedra. Caronwyn turned and looked at the remnants of her army: ten warrior priestesses and five Brigante. She would have to begin again. Her mother had taught her to be patient. The burnt out fort at Vinovia which they passed was a reminder of what they could do to the Romans when warriors followed her plans. When they reached Severus they could use his clever mind to plan for the future.

  First Spear left the clearing up to the auxiliaries he had brought with him. They had merely been bystanders up to now. He took off his helmet and scratched his stubble. Livius was having his arm bandaged by a capsarius. Quintus put his head to one side. “Considering you boys are donkey wallopers you did quite well.”

  Livius laughed at the insult. He and Broccus knew each other from campaigns past. “We have to now that the legion has left us.”

  “I am sorry about that. You know it was not my doing.”

  “I know. Come we will see the Legate. He too was wounded and we can tell you the situation here.”

  The Legate was sitting up and Julius Longinus was feeding him. “Legate, at your age you should be letting the younger warriors fight.”

  “And I would have First Spear save that we were badly outnumbered. It is good to see you and I thank you for your timely arrival.”

  “Thank that scout you sent to us. He made it clear that our errand was urgent. Now, how stand things on the wall?”

  The Legate pushed the bowl of food away with his good arm. “All of the tribes revolted. We sent the Votadini away but one band remained. Their bodies lie beyond the wall.”

  Livius wondered how Julius knew what had happened outside the fort. The Legate smiled at the quizzical look on his face, “Your clerk is a mine of information.”

  As he left the roof clutching the food bowl the clerk said, “I fight with my mind!”

  “The wall was breached but we held them. The problem lies in the west at Luguvalium. There the fortress is surrounded by three tribes and I fear for their safety.”

  “Then I will suggest that we abandon this fort and head for Cilurnum. I will take the Thracians and the cohort west. The auxiliaries I brought can make good the losses on the wall.”

  It was a suggestion for the Legate still commanded. “He is right Legate. The door is damaged, the ditches are no longer functional. Cilurnum is the best option.”

  “Very well. Get the wounded on wagons and let us go now.”

  Quintus liked the Legate for he was decisive. It took less than an hour to clear the fort. The legion and the Thracians marched ahead of the wagons and then the garrison, the ala and the replacement auxiliaries followed. Marcus was the last to leave. He and Felix watched as the weary soldiers on exhausted horses trudged up the road to march the seven miles to Cilurnum.

  “You did well, Felix.”

  “Thank you but I wish to go home, sir. I miss Drugi and the Dunum.”

  “Wait until the morning. We will discover our fate then.”

  Mavourna was delighted when Rufius arrived back at the fort. Although wounded he was still able to ride. To his acute embarrassment she threw her arms around him and showered him with kisses. Quintus roared a laugh so loud the horses started. “I can see the advantage to being a horseman when you get a welcome like that from a beautiful woman.”

  Rufius just blushed. The Thracian Decurion said, “That reminds me; who were the women riding south when we attacked?”

  Livius and the other officers stopped and stared at each other. “I had hoped that they died.”

  “No, sir, there were women who were armed and some Brigante warriors on horses.”

  Livius looked at the Legate. “Then this is not over.”

  First Spear looked confused. “What harm can a handful of women do?”

  “They are the ones who organised the poisoning of your officers. They are the ones who planned and financed this rebellion. If they are alive then this is not over.”

  The Legate nodded, “Livius we need to pursue and capture them.”

  Livius looked at his officers. He had one who remained unwounded. “Marcus, I want you to take Felix and every trooper who has no wounds. Take spare horses. Follow her and bring her back!”

  Marcus nodded. The Legate added slowly, “If you cannot capture her then kill her for she is more deadly than a warband of Brigante.”

  “Sir!”

  “My wound is not so bad, sir.”

  “No, Metellus. You and Rufius will be needed here.”

  By the time Marcus was ready to ride he had his troopers ready with new javelins, five spare horses and food. Titus was not fit enough to travel but he had Gnaeus as his Chosen Man. The decurion was happy.

  Rufius offered one piece of advice before the young decurion left. “She is cunning beyond words. Assume nothing and trust to Felix. He can sniff them out.”

  Felix beamed at the compliment.

  With just a few hours of daylight left they headed south as quickly as their weary mounts could manage. Livius and the Legate watched them leave with heavy hearts. There was a huge amount of responsibility on the young officer’s shoulders.

  Chapter 24

  Caronwyn and her band approached Morbium just after dark. The crucified defenders and the smell of the dead were a shock. The fort was in darkness. Briac sent his Brigante to examine the fort. When they returned it was with the worst news. “It is empty. Only the dead lie within!”

  “Light torches and let us see where our friends lie.”

  They spread out and searched every uncia of the fort. Caronwyn sent her women to examine the crucifed bodies. The only dead they could not find were Severus and his men.

  “Perhaps they escaped.” Flavia desperately tried to see good in all of this.

  “Then they would have joined us or sent us a message.”

  “They could be hiding nearby.”

  Caronwyn shook her head. “The Romans have deserted us. We are alone!”

  After they had made a meal Caronwyn outlined their options. “We could try to go west along the Dunum valley and take a ship as we planned.”

  A silence followed her words and Briac said, “That sounds like a good idea to me.”

  “Except that we will be pursued. The Romans will have patrols hunting us and they know where we will head. With Severus and his men we had a chance, now…” she shrugged.

  “What else can we do?” Flavia was becoming a little more hysterical and less composed now that Severus appeared to have abandoned them.

  “What about Eboracum? We could take a boat from there.” Briac, in contrast was actually thinking.

  Caronwyn looked at Flavia. “Do you have any boats on the river?”

  “I may do but I am known there. It would be dangerous.”

  “We appear to be trapped and without a way out. I must communicate with the spirits.”

  Briac had no idea what she was talking about but he knew enough
to remain silent. Flavia did know. ”This is not the place for that is it? The Romans have destroyed the life of the river by building a bridge across it.”

  “You are right. But a day’s ride south of here is a cave over a holy river, the Nidd. The cave is high above the water and yet the water flows through the cave.” Briac was about to ask how and then wisely kept his mouth shut. “We will ride there tomorrow and I will sleep with the spirits. We will have to travel cautiously for we must use the Roman Road for some way and we cannot be seen.”

  Briac did not mind the risk. At least they had a plan now and he spied a sort of hope. His four warriors were the best he had left and he had seen the female priests fight. They would reach the cave and then he was certain that the priestess would conjure an escape from this trap they found themselves in.

  Marcus felt exhausted before they set off. As they were saddling he asked Felix. “How will you be able to track them on the road? They leave no sign.”

  “They leave sign at the side of the road. When they make water I can tell. Your nose is Roman. You cannot smell the different leaves and the soils through which we pass. When we passed through their camp I could smell them. There are many women in this party and they leave their sign wherever they pass as do the warriors.”

  Marcus felt happier and they pushed on south. They reached Morbium by mid afternoon. The change of horses meant that they could travel further and faster. At the fort Felix grinned. “They camped here last night and then headed south. I will ride across the river and see which direction they took.”

  By the time he returned the troopers had fed and watered their horses and eaten a frugal meal themselves.

  “They went south.”

  “Not west towards their home?”

  “No, they went south and they followed the Roman Road.”

  “Then we will push on and see if we can gain some ground on them.”

  Marcus looked wistfully to the west as they headed down towards Cataractonium. His home was but a few miles away. He steeled himself and forced himself to stare south. The fort at Cataractonium was still manned. They would either see those that they sought or they would turn off the road first. He guessed that they would turn off the road and head west before the fort for there was a road which headed west towards Cataractonium.

  His exhausted troopers managed another five miles beyond the bridge and he ordered them to camp. Cataractonium was but a few miles ahead yet they could go no further. Even Wolf and Felix seemed tired and that, in itself, was unusual. Tired they might be but Marcus insisted on a camp. Their prey had shown cunning already. He would not put it past them to wait and then to ambush them.

  Caronwyn and her party had left the road shortly before the fort. They had not headed west as Marcus had supposed but cut across ancient trails to the south west to where the ground began to rise and the distant barrier of mountains divided this part of the province in two. Their going was slower and Caronwyn, like Marcus, was forced to halt with twenty miles yet to travel. The cave was a haven. It was a beacon drawing them to safety.

  Flavia glanced north as they huddled together and ate a handful of early berries and drank the last of the water from their water skins. “Do you think they will follow?”

  “They will follow. We have not left much of a trail but they will come after us. We have caused too much mischief for them to ignore. We have a day perhaps two and then they will come.” Caronwyn smiled at Flavia and put a comforting arm around her shoulder. The young half Roman half native had held up far better than she could have hoped. She had thought the loss of Severus would have broken her. Caronwyn knew that without her money they would never have achieved as much as they had. “They will lose the trail when we leave the road. Once we cross the river they will never find us. I believe we still have sisters who live there. They can help us. Once in the cave we will be safe. I can dream and we can plan the rest of our escape.”

  Caronwyn knew of the power of the Mother. The Roman built buildings were a defilement of the Earth. The cave would protect them. Her power would increase and they could begin again.

  The three small ships moored in the river. Two of them were from the Classis Britannica. The third was the Legate’s own ship. Its old captain was now retired but Furax had been a street urchin adopted by Julius Demetrius. He had grown into an excellent captain.

  The Navarchus and Furax looked at the devastation of the Coriosopitum. The inhabitants of the vicus, destroyed in the fighting, now returned to rebuild their homes. The half century of Tungrians were delighted to see the ships. They were a sign that they were not forgotten. The optio gave two horses to them and an escort. “The Legate and the rest of the staff are at Cilurnum.”

  Furax wondered why the Legate did not retire to his estates in Surrentum. It was the most beautiful of places and Hercules seemed to have grown years younger since he had retired there. The young captain realised it must be a sense of duty. He was a product of Rome’s slums. He did not understand this duty to the state. He owed duty and loyalty to the man who had rescued him from a life of poverty and crime.

  When they reached the fort the VIth had already left with every auxiliary who could be spared. Julius Demetrius was up and about but Furax was appalled at how thin and wasted he looked.

  “Good to see you Furax and you Navarchus.” He gestured for them to sit. “Navarchus, how many ships do you have at Arbeia?”

  “The two river boats I brought and one bireme.”

  Julius was disappointed, “Where is the fleet?”

  “It was summoned to Gaul and Batavia. There were uprisings there.”

  Julius controlled his anger. He turned to Livius and said, coldly, “The Emperor thinks the wall is the end of problems here and the new Governor is too far away.” He shook his head. “Livius I shall appoint you temporary Legate until I return, I will travel with Furax to Rome.” Furax was delighted and his face showed his joy. “Navarchus I want you to use your river boats to resupply Coriosopitum and the wall.” He saw the question on the sailor’s face. “I will write the orders for you. Then I wish you to patrol the river. The new legate, here, will need support until the rebellion is over.”

  The Navarchus did not like his orders. There was too much danger on the river. The barbarians were too ready to attack anything Roman for his liking but orders were orders. “Yes sir. And the orders…?”

  “Will be ready by the time I leave. You are dismissed.”

  After he had gone he shook his head irritably. “Hercules and you are sailors to my taste. The Navarchus just objects to taking orders from a landsman. Julius!”

  The clerk came in, “Legate?”

  “Make a list of all the supplies we need and add a quarter. Make it into a requisition and I will give it to the Navarchus.”

  “And men sir?”

  “And men. They may not be available yet but we will put our request in first.”

  Livius smiled, “You should think of retirement sir.”

  Furax nodded his agreement. “This land is too cold.” He spread his arms, “And this is their warm season!”

  The two older officers laughed. “I will write your orders out personally Julius. I want you to be able to order the VIth to keep soldiers here on the wall. I have no doubt that we have snuffed out this rebellion but there will be sparks and so long as Caronwyn and the like are around then they will be fanned.”

  They both looked south. Livius said, “I hope that Marcus succeeds.”

  “You are thinking of his brother?”

  “Aye, the last time they faced a priestess Macro died.”

  “Marcus is not his brother. He will survive.”

  Felix found the place where the horses had left the road. The fresh animal dung told even Marcus of their route. “I wonder where they are going. I expected them to head west. What is south of here?”

  Gnaeus ventured, “It might be a long way Decurion, but Mona lies to the south west.”

  “If she risks that then t
here will have to be a good reason. The XXth lie across her path at Deva and they keep a tight watch on the road. There is little point in idle speculation. We follow. How far ahead are they Felix?”

  The scout picked up some of the dung and smelled it. “Eight hours or so.”

  They found the camp the rebels had used and the embers of the small fire confirmed Felix’s view. “We have gained time. They will be but four or five hours ahead now.” Marcus pointed south. “Felix, find them. It will be quicker than going at our pace. Use Drugi’s signs to lead us.”

  Felix was happier to be on foot and unshackled. He handed his reins to Gnaeus. “Wolf, scout!” The dog raced off and, after adjusting his bow, Felix loped off after him.

  Gnaeus shook his head. “Those two are as fast on foot as some horsemen I know.”

  “We are lucky to have them on our side.”

  The cave was on a hillside above the river. The four warriors were left with the horses by the river and the priestesses, Briac and Flavia climbed the path to the entrance. The warrior priestesses changed from their Roman war gear at the foot of the path and donned their plain white shifts. They still carried their weapons but Caronwyn would not risk sullying the sanctity of the cave with Roman equipment.

  Briac made a fire and they lit some rush torches. Caronwyn would not risk anything which might make the spirits angry. When all was ready they entered the stygian dark of the cave. They had to duck beneath the entrance. Caronwyn led the way. She held one torch and, at the back, Briac held a second. Flavia shivered. It was not just the cold there was something else. The cave felt alive. She pressed closer to Caronwyn.

  “Fear not child, the spirits are those of the land. They will not harm you.”

  Once they reached the rear they saw fantastic rock formations. The priestesses bowed their heads and stood in a half circle around their leader. Briac suddenly said, “That rock looks like a woman!”

  Caronwyn turned on him and snarled. “Fool! Leave the cave and rejoin your men! Do something useful and build a camp!” The chastened Brigante happily left the sharp tongued priestess.