Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 07] Trajan's Hunters

by Griff Hosker

  “Good, that is good. We will accompany you for a little way then for Tamburgh lies along the road and we will ask more questions of Rome for it has much about it we would wish to learn.”

  For the three officers it meant that they could not refuse the king but it did prevent them making a swift return to the Prefect to warn him of the proximity of the king. The fact that Tam was the King’s father in law was also worrying for none of them knew, fully, just what the Hunni had done to that peaceful settlement.

  * * * * * *

  The Legion was moving up the main east coast at its normal speed, steady but far slower than cavalry and slower than the Legate wished. Aulus Salonius had kept his bodyguard with him and they were impatient with the slow moving soldiers, they wanted to move faster. When Prefect Karus had said his farewells to the Tungrian Prefect they had realised that the lack of auxiliaries would not only hamper but potentially endanger the legionaries. “The trouble is Prefect Karus that there are no open spaces north of here. When Agricola defeated the barbarians at Mons Graupius he chose a battlefield which was in the open. The only places like that are in the middle of the country. He is heading up through twisting valleys and steep hillsides and, remember, Agricola kept a screen of us in front of him. When he was in Mona he only used auxiliaries. Marcus’ Horse swam to the island. If your lads are going to survive they need to fight like auxiliaries.”

  “Good advice but I am afraid too late. We would need to train for weeks to change the habits of a lifetime. No I fear that we fight as legionaries or not at all.”

  They clasped hands. “I hope that my pessimistic outlook is not true and I hope to see you again my friend.” He leaned forward and whispered in Karus’ ear. “Watch the Legate and his men. I fear they will be the undoing of the Ninth.”

  “Thank you my friend. You have echoed my own feelings.”

  * * * * * *

  As the King parted company with the Explorates he smiled and made them a promise. “When you return here I will show you the joys and beauty of my land. I thank you for your insight into Rome. I would have a land filled with fine buildings and roads. Tell your general that he too is welcome to visit me but he should ask permission next time.” He waved at Macro and Marcus, “And thank you, fine hunters, for the food. It proves that skill does not have to go with age.” The look aimed at the sour faced man was lost on the Explorates but Petroc understood the slur.

  Cassius and the rest of the Explorates wasted no time in heading south as fast as they could. Their spare horses and the leisurely pace they had had to endure with the King had meant that they were still relatively fresh. They soon met up with the Legate.

  “Sir we have met the King of the Votadini. He is heading to Tamburgh.”

  “Why did you not come sooner?” Antagonism oozed from his voice.

  “Sir we were with his army; had we headed south quickly then he would have been suspicious.” Drusus looked meaningfully at Mongke. “Sir the King’s father in law is the headman of that settlement, if he discovers that it has been attacked by Romans…”

  “He will discuss the matter with me and we will come to an amicable arrangement. Probably gold or trinkets or that black stone they seem to like.”

  “Normally sir I would agree but the settlement is that of his wife the Queen and she accompanies the king. He may not be in a good mood.”

  A scowl passed over the Legate’s face like a cloud on a sunny day. He had not anticipated that scenario. He snarled at the Explorates, “Rejoin your Prefect, you are worthless to me. Next time I will send my men and they will return with the head of this barbarian.”

  As they headed south to the main body the three officers, and the men who had overheard the insult were fuming with anger. They had barely calmed down when they saw First Spear and the Prefect. Drusus dismissed the rankers, “Rest your horses and make a camp. We will see what the Prefect wishes.”

  The five of them held an impromptu conference whilst the Ninth followed the Legate, still five hundred paces away. When they told the Prefect all that had occurred he smashed his hand into a tree. “I knew that man would be the death of us all. Did you tell him?”

  “Yes sir he said he had no use for us and that next time he would use his own men.”

  First Spear growled, “Prefect what can we do? We have to obey the Legate but this does not feel like it will end well.”

  “Explorates I want one maniple to scout Tamburgh, you Cassius, you know it. Take your men and watch. You will need to report to both me and the Legate as I suspect he will be eager to fight the Votadini whereas I would like a secure base for I fear this part of Britannia could explode like a volcano.”

  “Sir.”

  “Drusus I want to know exactly what the land looks like to the west. You have told me the east is not the problem then we must know what is in the west. Lentius you and your men need to watch the road from the north. That is where the King will come from and I want advance notice.”

  “Sir. This is not his whole army. When the King discovers the… whatever occurred in his town, he will send for the rest. Cassius told us that they had just met at Alavna. They can all be here within three days. We would be outnumbered.”

  “Drusus, send one of your men to the Prefect at Coriosopitum and inform him of what has occurred. Lentius I will write a report for the Governor informing him of events. Send a man with that report. We need the truth to be known.” He looked at the three scouts, “How long to reach Eboracum from here?”

  Lentius looked at the ground and then said, “With a spare horse two or three days.”

  “Then First Spear, we need to slow down the march and be prepared to fight at a moment’s notice. Tell your centurions at the camp tonight. We have three days and three days only.”

  * * * * * *

  Maclin’s sombre face warned Tam and his daughter of the bad news he was to impart but even they were not prepared for the horror of the tragedy. Tam fell to his knees sobbing. The King and the others looked on oblivious to the dark news he had received. Radha was calm and cold. She was a Queen and she steeled herself not to show emotion even though inside she was as angry as she had ever been. She wanted to kill something. A pony tailed demon would do. She rode to her husband and told him the cataclysmic news. He became white with anger. Behind him, those of his warriors who could hear began to become angered when they heard of demons with the tails of horses being sent by Romans to defile Votadini womenfolk. The whispers drifted back until those at the rear of the column were seeing horses with two heads and two tails raping women and eating children.

  When he was silent for some time she ventured, “Do you think those Romans knew what those warriors and done?”

  Her question had turned off the rage and turned on his mind. “I do not think so. They would not have been so far north otherwise and they acted innocently enough. No I do not think they were lying. But they did say their general was nearby.” He turned to his bodyguards. “My brothers come with me. The rest of you follow Lord Tam and the Queen. The Queen commands until my return.”

  Radha leaned over and kissed her husband. “I will take the people to a safe haven. Be safe husband and return to me.”

  “I will my love. Today I use words and diplomacy.” He turned to his lieutenant, Baroc, “Send a messenger to Alavna. I want the Votadini mustered at the Roman fort within three days.”

  “It shall be done.”

  The king turned to his wife. “The general may not know of this and may choose to punish his men but if not, I want my army ready to show these Romans that they cannot treat my kingdom as a vassal.”

  The King headed back to the road for he knew that the legions would be tied to that stone lined lifeline. His men rode quickly, the need for a leisurely ride gone with the news of the deaths. The King had brought his bodyguard with him and the one hundred warriors were the best equipped of any tribesman in the land of the Votadini. Travelling, as they were, to display the King’s power they were fully armo
ured and armed. When they met the Legate on the Roman road they outnumbered the Legate and his eastern warriors. Those at the front, close to Lugubelenus recognised the ‘demons’ and their hands went to their weapons. Lugubelenus glared around at them. “You are the King’s bodyguard behave as such! I will tell you when you need weapons.”

  The two sets of warriors halted thirty paces apart. Lugubelenus and the Legate edged forward to meet in the middle. The King noticed, in the distance, the legion marching doggedly and purposefully along the road. It made the young King curious about their purpose. If this were merely road maintenance then they would have used the soldiers from the fort, not an elite legion renowned throughout Britannia. The Legate remained silent when they met; an immediate insult to the King across whose land he was travelling. He neither bowed nor asked permission. Lugubelenus stored that insult for later on. He would not act hastily. “I am King Lugubelenus, King of the Votadini and you are bringing an army across my land.”

  The Legate shrugged and Mongke and his men grinned at the insult. “We are searching for rebels and those who invaded Britannia last year.”

  Even the calm and methodical King Lugubelenus began to become irritated whilst behind him his men seethed at the insults their King had had to suffer. “None of my people were involved.”

  “Then why did my men find weapons in the first settlement they visited?”

  Lugubelenus edged his horse towards the Legate. “My warriors own weapons. They own weapons that they use in their own country. Does Rome now tell us that we cannot bear arms?”

  Aulus Salonius was becoming bored with the conversation. When the cohorts arrived he would dispose of this pathetically small army and rid Rome of an annoying neighbour. “Yes.”

  The King nodded and pointed to the Legate’s escorts. “These are the men who found the weapons?”

  “Yes these are my personal guards.”

  “So they acted under your personal orders?”

  “Of course.” The irritation he felt was showing in his terse answers. He just wanted to destroy this annoyingly calm man who took his insults with a face of stone.

  “Now Legate I have been polite for long enough. You will ride back to your army and you will return to the Roman land of Britannia. Your personal guards will be handed over to me to be tried for their part in the defilement of Tamburgh and then we will discuss a new agreement with Rome.”

  Aulus laughed. “You pathetic little man! You do not give an ultimatum to a representative of Rome. He waved his arm behind him at the cohorts now less than half a mile away. “My army will destroy you unless you surrender to me now.”

  “I have given you fair warning and you have chosen to insult me. The Allfather will make his own judgement. The next time we meet there will be no words General but you and your men will die.”

  As Lugubelenus turned to ride away one of Mongke’s men took out his bow. Before he could notch an arrow two spears hit him in the chest, throwing him from his mount. A wall of Votadini rode up to prevent any further attack. The Legate could see he was outnumbered and waved his men back to the security of the legion.

  By the time the King returned to the sombre and sad settlement of Tamburgh the bodies of the dead had been burned and the damage cleared up. Radha and Tam waited patiently with the other lords as a grim faced Lugubelenus rode up. He halted his bodyguard and rode his horse into the middle of the burgh where all could see him. “I have met with the Roman General and I have seen the demon warriors.” The women of the twin all made the sign against evil and the men murmured amongst themselves. The King held his hand up for silence. “The Roman made it quite clear to me that he wanted war and, as much as I do not want war neither will I sit back and allow my land to be swallowed up as the Brigante were. We will fight the invader.” The roar which greeted him carried all the way to the road. He turned to his lords. “My lords bring your men to the Roman fort of Bremenium in three day’s time.” They all saluted and rode off. “My Lord Tam I fear that the Romans will come here first and make another example of you.”

  “We will die defending our land!”

  Lugubelenus smiled, “I would prefer you lived and made the land better when we have defeated the Roman. Have you a sanctuary to which you can retreat?”

  Radha spoke, “We have my husband. As I told you we will find a safe have and refuge for my people. Up the Tinea there is a trail and a hill fort from the old times. There is no road and the Roman legionaries would find it difficult to attack.”

  “Good. “ He turned to the grey faced Tam.” Take your people there.”

  Tam nodded as Radha spoke. “I would accompany my father there.”

  Lugubelenus dismounted and took his wife to one side. “Is this wise? My army will be many miles away.”

  “I have thought this through husband. If the Queen of the Votadini is in trouble then the men will fight all the harder to save her. We need the whole of the land to rise against the Romans. The hill fort is the bait. The Roman army will pursue us and I am sure that we can hold them for three days if, indeed, the Romans can reach us in three days.”

  “But there are so few of you.”

  “There are smaller hamlets along the valley we will take those who live there. We will survive. But you my husband must remember that the Romans love nothing more than to face an enemy on the open battlefield we must whittle them down as one whittles a mighty tree until it can be felled.”

  He kissed her and held her in his arms. “You are a mighty Queen and my people, like me, are lucky to have you. May the Allfather protect you.”

  She whispered in his ear. “Fear not for the Mother and her sisters watch over me and she will help us to be revenged on these demons.”

  * * * * * *

  “If you and your legion had been closer we could have ended this campaign in one fell swoop. We could have killed their king!”

  “But General, we cannot move any faster than we did. Perhaps if you had not moved as swiftly…”

  The Legate turned on the Prefect and roared, “Do not blame me for your mistakes! Your men will keep up with me and my men.”

  Calmly the Prefect faced the irate Aulus. “Unless you and your men dismount and walk as we do then we will continue to be far behind you. That is logic and screaming and shouting will not change the facts.”

  “When we have defeated this pathetic army your career is finished.” The cold icy chill in his voice clearly spoke of the vitriol in every word.

  The Prefect shrugged and grinned annoyingly. “Then I shall go back to Rome and join the Senate. Perhaps there I shall enjoy more respect and have, what did you say I lacked? Ah yes, power. Your orders Legate?”

  “We will destroy this Tamburgh and enslave its people. We can then plan your attack on the King who cannot be far away. Send your Explorates…”

  “Already done, sir. They will report back within the next two days.”

  Chapter 6

  Cassius halted his maniple on the hill side close to Tamburgh. “I want to divide into two groups. I will take Decius and Macro with me. Seius you take the rest of the men and circle the settlement to the north and east. I will take the south. We will meet with the Prefect tomorrow.”

  Seius nodded. “This does not feel right sir. These people have done nothing wrong.”

  “I know Seius but we are in the service of Rome. Many innocent people have been killed and murdered in the name of Rome. We cannot always be in the right. We can obey orders and that is what I intend to do.”

  “Of course sir.” Seius and his men wheeled away and were lost from sight within moments. It was the way of the Explorates to let others know how you felt; Livius had instilled that honesty and it permeated the whole band.

  Even as Cassius led his three Explorates through the pine forest he knew that, despite his words to Seius, this was not the way they usually fought. Normally they were defending the province against rebellion and invasion. Here they were the invaders. The fact that they had conquere
d it once was immaterial. They had lost the land and it was no longer theirs to use and desecrate at a whim.

  He had to give his full attention to the forest, for the trees were close together in places and there was no distinct track. The ground was littered with treacherous pine straw which could hide all manner of traps and holes. Suddenly, Decius, who was on point, held up his hand, palm forward, and slid silently from his horse. They all copied him immediately and gently put their horses onto their sides. The well trained mounts were used to this practice and did it without any fuss. At first they could hear nothing, just the sounds of the woods and then, from below them came the sounds of men, armoured men, jangling along the trail below. Cassius recognised the king and his men from his meeting at Bremenium. From the numbers it looked to be the majority of the band that they had seen. Their banners and their arms showed that they were ready for war. The warriors had a more alert appearance as they scanned the trees around them for enemies. Scouts were out and, had Decius not spotted them as quickly as he had, then they would have been seen themselves. Their dull coloured clothes and mounts blended in to the undergrowth making them invisible to the Votadini. They were heading north east; towards the place they had met them, the deserted Roman fort. What did it mean? Explorates and their mounts are patient and they waited until they were sure that the enemy, for that was what the Votadini had now become, had left the vicinity. When they were certain they rose to their feet and mounted their horses

  “Decius, ride back to the Prefect and inform him that the king and the majority of his men are heading north east. Meet us at the settlement or follow sign.” Decius vaulted his mount and then headed due east. He would not risk crossing the rearguard of the column and on his swift mount he would easily make up lost ground.

  “Right lads softly, softly, even more than normal. This is a tricky forest. The last thing we need is for a horse to trip, or even worse for any noise which might attract the enemy. We are not the only scouts now. You never know theirs might be as good as us. This is their land so let us assume they are good.” The pine straw around their feet was treacherous and hid hare and mice holes as well as the roots of trees which could snap a horse’s leg.