by Griff Hosker
So it was that Ulpius first met the mighty Cartimandua. Both her beauty and sexual appetites were legendary. It was said that Caractacus had been a lover before he was despatched. Some of the ninth legion from Spain had compared her to the spider called the Black Widow which mated and then consumed her consort. She certainly had a dark look about her but age was creeping up on her. Her raven black hair was now riven with grey. Her eyes, still beautiful were sinking into a sea of lines. Her once taut cheekbones were now puffy and sagged a little. Even though she was a shadow of her former self Ulpius found himself dropping to one knee in awe of this woman who exuded both sex and power, an irresistible combination. As he knelt his good eye took in the powerful warrior behind her. He was obviously Vellocatus the shield bearer. Although no longer young he stilled looked to be a formidable ally and a foe to be avoided.
Ulpius rose and bowed and waited. “So Roman you are here for what purpose?”
“To warn you mighty Queen that Venutius approaches with an army. He intends to destroy you and this citadel.”
Whilst the rest of the court displayed various degrees of shock Cartimandua appeared calm. Inside she was deciding what to do. Here in the citadel she might be safe for a while but she knew that her support was waning. She glanced around her nobles and wondered just how many would stay loyal. Her bluff had been called. All this time Venutius had not attacked for fear of his family. He must have realised that she could never carry out her threat for it would result in her own demise. It was obvious she would have to leave. She looked again at the tall Roman auxiliary before her. Even though her life was in danger she could not help being attracted to this warrior; her sexual drive was still as potent as ever. Perhaps she would see what he was like in bed, but not yet.
“Where are they?”
“My scouts reported them to the south.” There was a pause. “They will be here very soon; we barely made it here before them.”
“How many men do you have with you?”
“Thirty. Not enough to defend these walls my lady.” He added to avoid the follow up question. He was anxious to leave. “To be blunt your highness I have not seen enough men within these walls to be able to defend them. If I had a legion I might succeed but with my handful. “He paused to let the facts sink in.”We should leave quickly before they are upon us. “
She stood and Ulpius realised she was as tall as he was and, despite being middle aged moved with an easy athletic grace. She nodded, the decision quickly made. “Go to your men we will be there shortly.” She looked at Vellocatus. “Prepare my chariot and take my valuables with you. Have my bodyguards mounted. You, Alerix, despatch the prisoners.” Finally she took the old man by the hand. “Gerantium I leave the defence of Stanwyck to you. I believe they will follow me rather than attack this place but I know you will defend it as you defended me all of my life and for the Emperor before that. I know that you will protect everything that is precious to me old friend.” She paused and her lowered voice told of a tenderness and affection beyond that of mistress and servant, it was more of a family member talking to a favourite uncle. “Had I time I would take you and them with me.”
“My Queen, ride and I will protect you and your family as long as there is life in this tired old body. I will serve you in death as I did in life.”
“If you take refuge in the inner fort you should have enough men to hold them off.”
The ex-legionary bowed to the Queen and gave a nod of thanks to Ulpius.
Marcus, even though he was eager to escape before the vengeful Venutius arrived, had been surprised by both the speed of the Queen’s decision and her ruthlessness in having unarmed prisoners murdered. She would bear watching. He glanced towards his men who had snatched some food and drink; more importantly the horses had been fed a little and watered. They had been rubbed down. If they were surprised now they should be able to pull away from the inferior native horses; even so it was not certain that they could evade the enemy. He turned as he saw first one rider and then another emerged from the woods. From their mounts he knew they were Roman and from their speed he knew that Venutius was not far behind. “Saddle up and be quick you idle buggers. They’re coming.”
Even as he spoke Ulpius erupted from the hall. He nodded in acknowledgement to Marcus letting his chosen man know he had acted well. “I take it you have seen our men.” Marcus pointed South to where the riders were racing. “Mount.”
The Romans were astride their beasts in a heartbeat. Ulpius led them out of the gateway so that the Queen and her entourage could make a quicker exit. Lentius reined his horse in. “Brigante scouts are just the other side of that wood. They will be with us soon.” The unspoken wish was for his commander to lead them to safety.
“How many?”
“About a hundred, on those ponies of theirs but we could make out the main army five miles behind.”
Ulpius grunted in answer. “Get your mounts watered. I don’t want to lose any more mounts than I have to.” He heard a commotion behind and screams from the bowels of the fortress. The prisoners had obviously died. The Queen emerged in her chariot with Vellocatus at the reins. Two warriors ran from a roundhouse wielding long swords they were obviously intent upon murder.
“Murderer. You Roman lover!”
“Traitorous bitch! Whore!”
Before either Ulpius or Vellocatus could react the Queen pulled a magnificent sword from a scabbard inside the chariot. She swept the weapon effortlessly, slashing one of the warriors across the neck almost severing the head. She then held the sword in both hands and brought it down onto the skull of the other. It split like a ripe fruit showering those around him with blood and brains. Wiping the blood from the weapon she turned to Ulpius. “What are you waiting for Roman? Have you never seen blood before?”
“Marcus, take the lead. Head towards Drusus. Gaius you come with me we’ll take the rear. “The column moved eastwards at a steady trot. The land sloped away and helped the chariot to gain momentum. Ulpius and Gaius waited as the chariot passed by and the twenty bodyguards all riding, Ulpius noted with some disappointment, the little ponies. Already his mind was working out how to sacrifice both bodyguards and ponies to save both himself and the warrior queen. The pace they travelled at was crucial; too fast and their horses would be winded, too slow and they would be caught and the ponies would slow them down. As he looked up at the sky he cursed the northern light. It was high summer and would be lighter for longer. Their only advantage would be they would be riding towards the setting sun which might bring on darkness and the chance to hide.
Chapter 3
North West of Eboracum
As they approached the wood Drusus and his men emerged to greet Ulpius. He signalled them to his side. “I want you to go back into the woods. Wait for the enemy to arrive. When they are within bowshot, kill as many horses and men as you can and then escape through the woods. If they follow you, well, if not you will catch up with us. Clear?”
Drusus looked grimly at his leader. “Do you think we can kill enough to deter them?”
“No. Do not take me for a fool! They will have to slow down. It will appear as though we have tried to ambush them and panic. They will reform and attack you. That will give you time to escape and slow them down. Is that clear?” The tone in his voice told Drusus that he had questioned too much.
“Clear decurion.”
Ulpius spoke at the four men trotted back into the woods “And Drusus, be careful. I need you alive, all of you.”Turning he rode forward to join Cartimandua looking at the bodyguards as he passed them. Their ponies were coping with the pace but Ulpius knew that in a race they would slow them down. Riding next to the queen he began to speak in Latin, hoping that the guards would not be able to understand them.
“They will catch us your majesty and before we reach Eboracum.” She looked at the Roman waiting for him to explain. “The enemy are coming from the south. We are trying to reach safety which lies south east. We must travel further east
to avoid them. They know where we are going and can just cut us off.”
“How do they know?”
“Even if they didn’t see us when they get near to your citadel they will see our trail and I am sure there are enough of your people who wish you ill to inform on you.” He paused as he phrased his next statement. “I fear that the two killers who tried to attack your majesty were not alone and may have planted by your enemy. I think that your fortress will not last long as there are enemies within.”
Vellocatus bridled. “Be careful Roman. The Queen has loyal subjects.”
Ulpius laughed sardonically. “Yes I saw her reward two of them for their loyalty.”
“Silence! He is right. They will inform on us. So Decurion what is your plan?”
“I have laid a small ambush which should delay them what I need is a second ambush.” Again her look made him carry on. “If half of your guards waited until the first of the scouts had passed and then attacked them in the rear it would make them more cautious and they might waste time chasing your guards.”
“And they might spend time killing them.”
There was a silence then Ulpius said, “That was in my mind majesty. I need to get you safely to Eboracum and the legion. My men and your men are, “he paused, “expendable.”
The Queen appraised the one eyed warrior before her. She was a good judge of men if not of lovers and she liked his honesty. “You are right. When do you want them to make their attack?”
“A little way ahead we drop down a shallow valley to cross a small stream. There is a wood there. If they wait until the last of scouts cross the stream then can attack them and then escape away from us.”
The Queen said nothing then called, “Alerix.” A huge tattooed man with many trophy amulets on his arms came forward. “When we come to the stream take half my guards and wait in the woods. When the enemy follows wait until the last few are in the water when they will be slower. Attack them and kill as many as you can. Then ride north to Cataractonium.”
“We will kill them all majesty.”
The anger in her voice was matched by the anger in her eyes. “Why am I surrounded by heroes who cannot wait to die for me? When will I find warriors who want to live for me! If I wanted you dead I would tell you. I want you alive. When you have rested at Cataractonium join me at Eboracum.” Her voice softened and she touched his arm. “I still need you and your men this is just a battle it is not the war. We will regain my kingdom from these rebels.” He nodded his honour assuaged.
In the woods Drusus prepared his ambush. He was lucky that he and Metellus were accomplished archers whilst the other two were accurate with javelins. If he fired from the cover of the woods he might be able to get three flights of arrows and one of javelins away before they were attacked. He was under no illusions, the ponies of the enemy would be more surefooted in the woods, and the Romans would only have a few heartbeats to get a lead and escape the woods onto the grassland where they could gallop.
One of the new men asked the unspoken question. “Will we escape?”
“That depends, my friend on two things. One, how well we fight and, probably, more importantly, how does the Allfather view us. I am hopeful that, as I made a sacrifice the day we left on the patrol that we will survive.”
“If not,” interrupted the blunt Metellus, “our heads and dicks will be paraded by these barbarians on their saddles which in my case means his pony will need longer legs.”
The bluff humour made them all smile but they all knew he was speaking the truth. “I hear them.”
The four men waited, hidden in the trees at the edge of the wood. As they had correctly assumed the Brigante and Carvetii came on at a pace not expecting a rearguard action when there were so few Romans involved. Drusus and Metellus needed no signal to launch their arrows and they were notching their second flight even when the first was still in the air. Their third left their bows as the first two arrows struck home. The warband veered towards the danger and the last two flights and the javelins flew simultaneously. The effect was immediate for the mounted warriors wore neither armour nor clothing on their upper bodies. A handful of warriors and ponies crashed to the ground disrupting the ones following. Not waiting to see the full effect the four Romans raced off in a line, Drusus leading and the dour Metellus at the rear. As Drusus had feared the enemy ponies were more agile. It was time they made for the open ground where their superior horseflesh would count. Without signalling their intent Drusus took them at right angles to the lighter part of the woods. He could see the edge of the wood four horse lengths away. It looked as though his tactics had worked and they might escape when disaster struck. The mount in front of Metellus suddenly stumbled and the rider was thrown. Metellus was a superb horseman and he lifted his steed over the recumbent body of the unfortunate trooper. His companion then made the cardinal mistake of stopping to see what had happened to his friend. The Brigante axe embedded itself in his back. Drusus and Metellus had no time to help their comrades and they erupted from the woods like stags. The accident had slowed up the enemy who began to hack at the two unfortunates. Even as they galloped back towards Ulpius, now a long way in the distance, they could hear the harrowing screams from the two Romans who were being eviscerated alive. They lay low over their horses manes and rode close together to make a low profile and to enable them to talk.
“First rule of cavalry, be a fucking good rider. Second rule don’t fucking fall off.”
“Well Metellus it looks like they paid for that mistake with their lives.”
“And the third rule is, don’t go back unless you know you can make a difference.”
“A few more weeks and Ulpius would have drilled that into them.” Drusus looked under his arm as the cries stopped. “Well here they come. They didn’t hold them up for long.”
Metellus risked a glance. “I don’t know how many there were before but I can only see thirty or forty riders now. Perhaps we can have a bigger ambush next time.”
“I think our decurion wants to get the Queen to safety. There is always a risk in an ambush. This is why there are now only two of us!”
The land was full of dips, hollows and mounds with thick copses and it was becoming difficult for Ulpius to see the enemy. “Gaius, ride to the rise. Keep yourself low to the horse and watch for the enemy. When you see them, follow us.” Gaius nodded his face eager for adventure. “And Gaius, take no chances. I can ill afford to lose another man. Even someone as useless as you.” Gaius grinned as he trotted up the hill. Ulpius urged his horse forward and he joined Marcus at the front of the column.
“Send Lentius forward I want no surprises.” Marcus did so and then rejoined Ulpius who had taken some of the dried meat from under his saddlecloth. He looked questioningly at the decurion but realised he had asked enough foolish questions for one day. Ulpius was just finishing chewing when they heard the distant screams of both men and horses. Everyone in the column looked urgently behind them except Ulpius who took a swig from his water sack. As he wiped his mouth he said, “Drusus!” There was a pause as he put the stopper back in. “I hope the useless weed avoids having his head taken. He still owes me for his scutum.” Despite the words Marcus could hear the affection in his voice for Drusus had been with them both since Batavia.
A few minutes later they heard the sound of hoof beats thundering after them. It was Gaius. He reined in next to Ulpius who had not slowed down. “Half of them followed Drusus and Metellus into the woods the rest are hard on my heels.” It was unspoken but they both knew the other two auxilia were dead.
“Right your majesty now we ride and we ride hard! Gallop”
The cavalry horses leapt forward and immediately a gap opened between the Romans and the Celts. Ulpius pulled his vine branch from his saddle and began whipping Cartimandua’s ponies who suddenly found extra energy and the bodyguards were the ones left behind.
“We are coming to the stream.” Ulpius turned and shouted to the bodyguards. “Here is you
r ambush!” Alerix nodded and slowed down. The ten guards raised their arms in salute trotting off to take their place in the woods.
As they came up the low rise the chariot’s ponies began to struggle and Marcus and Lentius had to help pull them up. By now they could hear the Carvetii following them and as Gaius turned he saw the first of them reach the rise. They would not be able to escape. As they reached the flatter area the remaining bodyguards slowed down. They too saluted their Queen and then formed themselves in a thin line at the top of the rise. Ulpius knew they were sacrificing themselves and he raised his arm to acknowledge their action. Without the ponies to slow them the Roman horses soon put the diminishing daylight between them. He couldn’t see the enemy but he saw the back of the bodyguards disappear down towards the stream and hear the class of metal on metal and the whinny of horses. When he heard another cheer he knew that those in the ambush had attacked. Twenty against fifty. They could not succeed but they might slow them down and cause enough casualties to enable them to escape.
Had he been an eagle he would have been able to look down and see that the Queen’s bodyguards were doing better than could have been hoped. The last thing the Carvetii and Brigante scouts were expecting was to be attacked. The shock cost the first warriors their lives. The momentum of the riders and horses threw the rest into confusion and once they were amongst them they began to inflict casualties. They would have been soon despatched for the Carvetii had reformed but their comrades charged into their rear causing not only confusion and mayhem but death to many. Inevitably the twenty died but they took far more of the enemy than Ulpius could have hoped. He knew nothing about this miniature battle for he was racing as fast as he could towards the legionaries at Eboracum. Alerix and his brother were the last to die. Back to back they slaughtered all who came within reach of their long swords singing their death song. Some of those they killed had been fellow warriors in battles past but they cared not. They were fulfilling their oath to fight and die for their Queen. Their heaven would be to join their brothers.