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

by Griff Hosker

  When the land began to flatten out and the trees to thin then they knew that they were close to Tamburgh. Leaving a disgruntled Marcus with their three mounts Macro and Cassius crawled towards the settlement which seemed remarkably quiet. They had seen and smelled the smoke from the road and knew that burning had taken place but they were not prepared for the empty and deserted space that greeted them. The houses were burnt out shells and they could see the remains of the funeral pyre, still smoking, as it would for days. Cassius whistled for Marcus and soon they were reunited with their horses.

  “You two see which way they left. Remember we know where the king left from and we didn’t pass them so I would imagine it will be south or west. Look for feet rather than hooves and smaller feet for they will have had children and women with them.” While the two younger Explorates raced to the far side Cassius examined the huts. As he had expected their secret places had all been despoiled, confirming his opinion that the Hunni had raided. For the Votadini, had they retrieved their treasure, would have hidden all traces of it. No wonder the Votadini, for so many years peaceful, should have taken the road to war. As he waited for the two younger Explorates he noticed the puddles of blood which marked the places the dead and wounded had lain; there were many of them. The Hunni had been ruthless.

  Macro and Marcus reached Cassius just as Seius and his men dropped down the bank from the northern side of the settlement. “They headed west along the river. There is a trail there.”

  “Lots of small feet with the warriors or men on either side.”

  “Good work!”

  Seius confirmed the exodus having seen them as he scouted the north. “I have sent a rider back to tell the Prefect that they have headed upriver.”

  “That is a relief. For I have sent Decius to tell him of the King’s route. I will take my half of the maniple along the trail. You take the opposite bank and then if we run into trouble you should be able to get back to the Prefect. When you can, send a couple of your men ahead of the refugees then that might give us valuable intelligence. It would be useful to know where they are headed.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “If the King headed north east then why did he not take the refugees with him? The Votadini look after their families.”

  Seius and his men disappeared into the forest in an instant. Cassius turned to the two eager young warriors. “This is the hardest aspect of trailing; when you are following an actual trail because you see what you expect to see. We need to check to see if any leave the path for they may lay traps and ambushes for such as we; those who pursue. I do not think these people are led by a stupid man. They are going somewhere for a purpose and they know we will follow so we will go slowly. They have women and children with them and they cannot move swiftly. You two take the woods to the left of the trail. Keep the trail in sight. I will travel the path itself. Should I hit trouble then I will head for the river. If that happens, you two will have to continue to trail them and keep in touch with Seius. I will leave the sign for Decius. Now go!”

  As he rode along the path he wondered if he, and the legion, was being led into a trap. The valley was very narrow and the banks were quite steep. The trees were thickly clumped in places and the path only wide enough for two or three horses; it was terrain for auxiliaries not lines of legionaries.

  * * * * * *

  Aindreas, the King of the Selgovae, received the message about the planned war between the Romans and the Votadini, from his ally and spy, Petroc, before Baroc had even reached Bremenium. He summoned his closest clan chiefs. “This is the chance we have been waiting for.”

  Adair was his closest adviser, being the King’s brother. “You mean wait and see what happens when the Votadini fight the Romans?”

  “Or invade the land of the Brigante for slaves?”

  The wily and cunning king smiled a particularly evil smile. “Both are good ideas and have merit but I have a better one. We will ride to Tamburgh and offer to help our ally, the King of the Votadini. If the battle looks to be going against him then we change sides and join the Romans. If he is winning then we rid the land of the Romans and lull the Votadini into a false sense of security. Once we have raided the lands around the Stanegate and bought more arms and men then we can destroy the King of the Votadini and conquer his land.”

  Adair nodded his approval. “We hold back in the battle. We do not commit too many men to the fray so that the main casualties will be suffered by our allies. They become weaker and we remain strong.”

  “Exactly and when we have conquered them we put Petroc on the throne. He is our man and will do as we wish. With the Votadini as a client kingdom then we can look further south to the rich lands of the Brigante and expand there for I believe the Romans are weakening. Ride now and bring your forces back here within the day. I think they will fortify the old hill fort. I will move closer to them and await the arrival of Lugubelenus.”

  * * * * * *

  The Prefect and the Legate were engaged in another discussion about their tactics. First Spear just wanted someone to actually take charge. The legion was still confident that they could whatever job was given to them but they still did not know what that entailed. To Tiberius Gratius Piso this was the worst of all worlds. No-one had shown that they were in control and the two senior officers disagreed about their strategy and everything else for that matter. If they had had auxiliaries supporting them then there might have been a reason to use a legate who was not from the legion but the Governor had made a mistake; he should have left one man in command instead of dividing it.

  The Explorates had been sending reports thick and fast. They knew that the King was heading one way and the refugees another. They knew that the settlement had been abandoned. However the Legate was not inclined to believe any of them as he did not trust the Explorates, he saw them as tainted, they were part of the Ninth legion, and they were the Prefect’s men. Whatever the reason his men stood idle while the two men argued.

  “The King is heading for Bremenium that is where his army will gather. If we are to defeat them then that is a better area in which to fight a battle. It is more open and we have a perfectly good road to use.” The prefect’s argument was a sound military one and Centurion Piso was in total agreement with it.

  “I think that it is a lure to draw us up the road and then they can attack us in the rear as well as from the front. They are your men, these Explorates,” he sneered the word as though it were something distasteful in his mouth, “they have told us, in two reports that the people of Tamburgh and others have moved west. Would you have us leave an enemy in our rear?”

  “They are refugees from Tamburgh. They are not an army. That army is to the north east. I would send to Coriosopitum for more troops. I would use the auxiliaries to travel that tiny track and they would be able to deal with them far more effectively than the legion which is better suited to open ground.”

  “So you would have me wait until we bring them all the way from the Stanegate? That would waste time and we have the momentum. They are not ready for war. I command here. First Spear, take the legion to Tamburgh and we will make a camp there. You, Prefect, can go with them. Mongke!”

  The eastern warrior slouched up, like the First Spear, he was bored with the discussion and just wanted action. “Yes General?”

  “Send Gulak and nine men to find out where these barbarians are going.” He leaned forward conspiratorially, “Tell him to avoid the Explorates, sweep further south and find them along the river.”

  “And when he finds where they are building or hiding, what then?”

  “He leaves two men to watch and the rest return to us. We will show the Prefect how to make war.”

  Gulak chose his nine warriors and they galloped their small horses south. Chosen for their stamina and their ability to turn the Hunni horses belied their size with their strength and speed. The grass they enjoyed in Britannia was far superior to that which they had suffered on the steppes it was one aspect of life in Britannia wh
ich suited the steppe warriors. They soon began to eat up the miles as their nimble hooves were perfectly suited to the tricky land over which they travelled.

  The tiny settlement of Bellinburgh was only half a dozen round houses but it was a peaceful place. Close to Tamburgh it was situated in a small clearing where a swiftly flowing stream ran down to the Tinea. The people there worked in the woodlands. They enjoyed the protection of the larger settlement but prided themselves on their independence. As with Tamburgh most of the men had left to join the muster. A rider had arrived in the morning telling them to move along the Tinea to the old fort which the Queen was reinvesting. Mariead was the Queen’s cousin and the wife of the headman of Bellinburgh. As the cousin of Radha she was an important person in her own right. She had married for love and Aurac was a brave warrior whom Tam had taken with him to the muster. It had been a point of honour for the whole settlement. They had left a couple of old men and the younger boys with the women. Mariead had been raised as a member of the extended royal family and she had been trained to rule. Here she found the small hamlet a perfect place to hone the skills which she was certain, would come in handy when her brave husband was given a larger settlement to rule.

  She was young for the wife of a headman and had two small boys but she was also supremely confident and organised. She stripped the huts of all that was valuable and retrieved their jugs and pots of treasure. She had to contend with the old ones who couldn’t see the point in moving from their homes. They complained that the Romans wouldn’t bother them in their tiny hamlet and as they had lived here all their lives they didn’t see the need to move to somewhere foreign. Mariead chivvied and cajoled them pointing out that foreign was just a few miles up the Tinea so that by early afternoon they were ready and they slowly made their way to the hill fort, following the paths their ancestors had used for years.

  Gulak and his men found the settlement and immediately searched the houses for any treasure or gold which might have been left. The trail the villagers had left was easy to follow and the ponies trotted along after them. Gulak held up his hand and halted his men. He sniffed the air. He could smell them for their smell was alien to his nose and he knew that they were close. He waved three men to the right and three to the left, the other two rode with him and followed with arrows notched in their bows.

  The first that the refugees knew of the demon riders was when the two old men fell to the ground with arrows spouting from their backs. Before panic could set in and they all ran to safety, they found themselves surrounded. The last four old men were quickly killed by the savage swords in Gulak’s men’s hands. Three riders stood ready to chase any who fled and they watched the weeping women and terrified children from their mounts while the others dismounted and walked towards the women who clutched their children towards them, fearing the worst.

  Mariead was not crying she was of royal blood and it would take more than a handful of pony tailed savages to make her quail; she bravely stepped forward. “Who are you? Why have you attacked unarmed women and children and killed harmless old men? Have you no honour?”

  Gulak did not understand a word she said but it would not have mattered anyway. The Hunni took women when they could and this one was more attractive than many that Gulak had had. He roughly grabbed her and threw her to the ground. The wind was knocked from her and she lay, immobile. His other men grinned and sought out their own victims. Gulak was a strong man and, despite Mariead’s struggles, with her hands pinned behind her all she could do was spit, bite and squirm. Gulak’s powerful legs forced open Mariead’s and she felt him begin to slide himself into her. She moved, wriggled and writhed as much as she could but she felt him slowly begin to enter her. Even in her pain she thought first about her children; she did not want them to see their mother being defiled and she fought as hard as she could without crying out.

  Suddenly an arrow plunged into the ground, a hand span from Gulak’s head. Gulak looked around quickly as did the three horse guards on the right. A voice from the woods called out in Latin, “Get off the women now or the next arrow will not miss.”

  Gulak spat some words in his own language and the three guards began to turn to try to hunt down the hidden archer. Before they had even turned their mounts to face the hidden enemy the three of them were thrown from their horses by the force of the arrows fired from close range. Their ponies ran off and the three bodies lay in widening pools of blood.

  “Now three of your men are dead and we have many more arrows. The Legate will not be pleased with you if you lose any more of his bodyguard. Now get off the women.”

  All carnal thoughts had disappeared with the flight of arrows and the seven surviving men reluctantly stood wondering where the assassins were hiding and how many there were. “You are Roman. I know your voice and I recognise the arrow. You are the Explorates.”

  Cassius stepped into the clearing. “Well done. You are obviously not as stupid as your actions might indicate. Now take your men and go. Return to the Legate and leave these innocent women and children alone you animal.”

  “You will be crucified for this.”

  “Will I? Well suppose you don’t make it back to camp? Then who will know?” He raised the bow and aimed directly at Gulak. Just then one of the other Hunni reached for his dagger and was impaled by two arrows. “And then there were six. You know, Gulak is it? You know Gulak I quite like your idea of killing all of you and then there are no witnesses. No witnesses, no punishment, no crucifixion”

  Gulak was not intimidated and thrust his chest forwards. “Go on then Gulak is not afraid to die.”

  “I know but I want you looking over your shoulder because I will kill you some time, but when I do it will be with a sword and I will look you in the eye as I gut you like a fish. It will be when the battle has ended and we are back over the frontier. Now leave your weapons, take your men and go.” As Gulak dropped his sword with his left hand, his right hand began to draw back to throw his dagger. Cassius’ arrow went through the hand and stuck there. “We have a death wish don’t we? Now go.”

  “I will remember this Roman. The Hunni do not forget.”

  “Good I would hate to think I had wasted my time. Oh and don’t bother looking for your horses, they will be half way to camp by now. Enjoy your walk.”

  The sorry looking line of men trooped out of the clearing heading east. Cassius helped Mariead to her feet. “How can we ever thank you?” She kissed his hands.

  “It is I who should apologise to you, these men fight for Rome but they are not Roman. We are Roman and we do not make war on women and children.” She looked nervously over his shoulder. “Do not worry that they will return. My men are watching them. You may continue your journey in safety. Have you far to go?”

  “No er…”

  “Cassius.”

  “No Cassius it is but a short walk to the hill where the Queen awaits us.” The rest of the group had gathered the children and were anxiously waiting close to the path.

  Just then Macro and Marcus arrived and waved the all clear. “They have gone you had better go. We will watch and see that you are unmolested.”

  Mariead knelt and kissed her rescuer’s hand. Thank you. May the Mother watch over you.”

  When they had gone Marcus and Macro collected the three ponies and the weapons from the dead Hunni. “Well sir you have done it now. The Legate will have you for this won’t he?”

  Cassius looked at them. “So you are saying we should have let the women be raped are you?”

  “No sir. That isn’t what Macro meant.” Marcus came to his brother’s defence. “Yes it was the right thing to do but won’t we get in trouble for it?”

  “No we won’t get in trouble for it. I will get in trouble for it. But Marcus I would do it again and we did get some valuable intelligence from it.”

  “Did we sir?”

  “Yes the refuge is close to here. We will find it within the hour.” They quickly trotted down the trail the women and childre
n had taken.

  * * * * * *

  King Lugubelenus made good time back to the muster and, even as he arrived, men were pouring into the camp, each one eager for revenge on the men who had despoiled Votadini women. Baroc was similar to the King he was a strategist and thinker and he saw the irony in it all. The King had young men eager for war and now the Romans had given him one they would give him their full support. The only man who was not happy was Lugubelenus himself for although he was a fine and accomplished warrior he was, by nature, a builder and not a fighter.

  While they ate he and Baroc discussed their strategy. “I do not want the men throwing themselves at the Roman shield wall in a foolish and useless attempt to gain glory. We do not have enough men. There are almost six thousand Romans with three times that number close by.”

  “I can’t understand why their General has only brought just the legion. Last time they came up here they used auxiliary infantry and cavalry. They are better suited to this land.”

  “I only know Baroc that I am glad that this General is so headstrong. I believe it is in his way, it seems to match the personality I briefly saw at our meeting. He thinks he is right and will do things his way. It may be that he thinks so little of us that he believes he can defeat us with one legion.”

  After a pause Baroc said quietly, “Well he could. I wouldn’t tell the men that but we both know that he could. When I fought against them last time we outnumbered them many times over and they still defeated us.”

  “I know and do you know why? Because you charged their shield wall as individuals and they threw you back as a well trained unit.”

  “That is how we fight, as individuals.”

  “Precisely and that is how we will defeat them. If he follows me we will draw his army, which is slower than ours, into the hills. We will ambush him; we will attack his supply train. We will guard the river at Coriosopitum so that he cannot reinforce and when he becomes weak because he has not enough food then he will retreat and we will attack him at night in his camp, when he marches through woods, when he crosses rivers. Each time he forms to attack us then we will withdraw.”