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

by Griff Hosker

  She raised her voice and, although she spoke to them all, she looked directly at Petroc who was wishing he had stayed with the King. “Warriors! My husband has lost many of your comrades to prevent this legion from escaping; this legion which was part of an army which raped and murdered.” She pointed at the eyeless skulls which stood atop spears looking down on the Tinea. “Do you want the legion to escape? Do you want murderers and rapists to escape?”

  There was a roared, “No!”

  “Then we too must attack but let us not waste our warrior’s lives.” She looked at the boys who eagerly watched this mighty red haired Queen. “You boys keep attacking with your stones. We may not have many arrows but the Mother has given us stones aplenty. You warriors watch for the men who fall and then attack that gap. They are vulnerable when the shield wall is not solid.” She turned her attention back to Petroc and his chiefs. “You lords show your men that you are mighty warriors and break through their ranks.”

  The almighty acclamation told Radha that she had succeeded and Petroc that he would have to risk his life if he were to emerge from this battle with any chance of power.

  First Spear looked with satisfaction at the distance they had covered. Their early departure had taken the Votadini by surprise and they had taken fewer casualties than before. He was, however, concerned with the two columns of barbarians one of which was running parallel to them and the other had crossed before them and was now spreading out on their weaker right. It was the fifth century which was placed there and he jogged over to their centurion, Marcus Porcius. “Watch out for those on the right, I think they are planning something. If they attack then you halt and face them. I will halt the column.”

  “Sir.”

  It would be a tricky manoeuvre to halt the fifteen hundred men who, he could see, were now surrounded on all sides. The banners of the King were clearly to be seen on their left. It looked like the Selgovae was ahead. The red haired Queen who had thwarted them in the hill fort was to their rear and there was this small band to their right. The road was still at least a mile ahead and then they would still have five miles to Coriosopitum. Hopefully the Prefect would be marching north to help them but First Spear knew that he and his legion would have to rely upon their own resources; any outside help would be a bonus.

  Baroc saw, with some satisfaction, the line of Selgovae begin to spread out in a deep line a hundred paces ahead of the advancing Romans. Baroc knew that many of those in the front ranks would die as the mighty legion rolled on but it would slow it down and might just give his two hundred men the chance to inflict huge casualties upon the enemy.

  He deemed that the Selgovae were in position and he shouted, “Fire!”

  The first volley took the legionaries by surprise and almost half of the Fifth Cohort fell to the ground. Porcius yelled, “Halt and face!” The Second Century quickly filled the gaps left by the dead legionaries. The stones and arrows still caused casualties as only the front rile had their shields towards the enemy and centuries towards the middle began to fall.

  The Prefect turned to Cassius. “I know there are but three of you but…”

  “Come on lads, the Explorates are needed.” They raced to the front file, the legionaries parting to let them through. They crouched behind the line of shields hearing the cries of those behind them who were hit. “Macro I want you to take out that big bugger on the horse, he is a leader. Marcus you and I will take out the archers. Ready? Fire!”

  Standing up, as visible and obvious targets, they calmly began to fire. At first the enemy did not target them but as Baroc was plucked from his horse and five warriors fell then the archers and slings aimed at the three Explorates, When two legionaries in front of them fell Cassius crouched down and led the boys towards the rear of the line. Again they stood up and fired. First Spear could see that their casualties were not as heavy and the fire from the right was slackening. He roared, “Legion! Forward!” and the whole legion trundled forwards. As they moved on they left over a hundred bodies but the fire from the right was no longer the threat.

  The Selgovae had seen their opportunity and they raced towards the front ranks. “Second and third ranks prepare to brace!” The Centurions placed themselves at the key points in the line. Safety was but a few heartbeats away and the veterans knew that now was the time for resolve.

  As the Selgovae hurled themselves on the shields of the front rank the rest of the legionaries pushed hard against their comrades’ backs but even so the legion stalled. On the left flank King Lugubelenus attacked again whilst at the rear Petroc had finally joined the fray. Soon the whole of the legion was engaged and the three Explorates were reduced to finding usable arrows and firing at suitable targets. Cassius aimed at the mighty Selgovae chief with the war hammer. He had already ploughed into the third rank when Cassius’ arrow hit him in the throat, killing him instantly and sending a wave of shock through the warband.

  First Spear threw himself into the gap created by the dying chief and the legionaries around him locked shields. Behind him Caecus hurled his weight and the eagle into the back of his friend which made the rest of the line lurch forward. Centurion Piso punched with the boss of his shield and slashed with the gladius. The legionaries on either side did the same and soon the line was solid again. He turned to Caecus, “Thanks for that and it helped but will you look after yourself? One poxy sword and a stick with a bird on it aren’t going to save you from a hairy arsed barbarian who wants your balls for a necklace.”

  Sniffing Caecus wandered back to the Prefect. “My balls are too big for one necklace, I am safe!”

  Aindreas was not in the forefront of the fighting and, sitting on his horse, he could see that he had lost over two hundred warriors. “Fall back!”

  The Selgovae line withdrew as the heart had departed with the dead chief and the warriors formed another line to await the inevitable advance of a Roman line which was thinned even more. Lugubelenus cursed his ally for the boxed column moved on again. Behind them even more bodies lay like discarded branches after a storm. The box was smaller now and Radha urged her warriors on. Petroc had managed to avoid any peril by following his bodyguard who formed a wedge before him. Soon however he saw that his bodyguard was down to three warriors all of whom were wounded. He glanced over to Radha who was urging her men on but he saw that her gaze was fixed on him. He would have to do the unthinkable and risk his life or relinquish any claim he might have to the throne.

  When his last bodyguard fell at his feet Petroc moved forwards reluctantly. Around him were those of his warriors who still remained unwounded. He headed the wedge to the legionary who looked to be the smallest. He slashed down with his sword and felt it bounce off the metal rim of the legionary’s shield. To his horror he saw the veteran of the first Cohort grin and then stab upwards. Petroc felt the blade slide between his shield and body and then there was an excruciating pain as it ripped into his lower abdomen. The legionary twisted the blade, withdrew it and then slashed at the warrior next to him. As Petroc lay on the field trying to push his entrails back into his body, his dying body, his last view was of Radha and her smile of victory.

  After the push towards the Selgovae and the death of Baroc a lull came over the battlefield. The Prefect halted the column to allow the capsarii to take water skins to the men and for the Centurions to dress their ranks. First Spear came over with a new wound to his face. The Prefect looked at him in concern but First Spear waved it away. “One more scar, it is not as though I was ever a picture.”

  “How many remain, First Spear?”

  “Less than seven hundred and many of those are wounded.”

  Cassius came up. “I can see the road. If only I had a horse I could ride to the fort.”

  The Prefect shook his head. “A noble thought Decurion but even had you a horse they would get you.” He pointed to the horsemen just waiting behind the Selgovae. “No, either we all get to the road, or none of us. “

  “Nice shooting by the way. If w
e had had a few more we might not be where we are.”

  “Yes First Spear but the Governor and the Legate deemed that auxiliaries were not needed.”

  “With but an ala or cohort of auxiliaries then this legion could have been saved.”

  Chapter 11

  Decius fumed as he kicked his heels in the fort. He had returned from Eboracum with the despatches and he knew from the Governor’s own words that the Camp Prefect had been ordered to march towards Tamburgh but the fussy auxiliary was taking too long about it. Perhaps he was worried that, if the Ninth were in trouble, then his cohort might also suffer the same fate. When Decius had asked permission to rejoin his unit he was told he was needed as a scout. Finally, when Lentius’ last Explorate, Marius, crawled in badly wounded, Decius could not contain himself.

  “Sir, with respect the Ninth Legion is dying out there and you are not obeying the Governor’s orders.”

  “Do you dare to question my authority I could have you flogged!”

  “That might well be worth it sir if it makes you obey the Governor’s orders. The rest of my comrades are dying out there sir and I could have been with them had you not ordered me to go to Eboracum.”

  The Camp Prefect became red faced and First Spear stepped between them. “If I might suggest Camp Prefect that I take the first ten centuries, we could get to the road where it forks to Tamburgh and set up a perimeter there. Then when you follow we can affect the rescue.”

  “Very well but trooper this is not finished!”

  As they left First Spear turned to Decius. “Are all the Explorates as reckless as you?”

  Decius grimaced. “We all fought with Marcus’ Horse Centurion. “You know what that means?”

  Nodding, understanding flooding his face he replied, “That explains it all. Your lot were the maddest buggers in Britannia. Well we had better get a move on then and see if we can rescue the last of Marcus’ Horse, oh and the Ninth of course.”

  * * * * * *

  When Baroc’s men heard of the death of their leader they were inconsolable. “We should have been with him to protect him! We had a blood oath! They were boys and bowmen with him! Let us regain our honour and take the eagle!”

  Baroc’s men, along with his own bodyguards and oath brothers were the elite of the Votadini army and the King was loath to lose them at this crucial stage of the battle. He was also worried by Aindreas; he still did not trust him and suspected ulterior motives. He turned to face the angry warriors intent on revenge, “My brothers. I am still your King and I know that Baroc would wish you to obey me. I promise you this, when the time comes to take the eagle you shall have that honour but until that moment you will follow all of my orders and commands.” His raised voice and stern countenance commanded obedience.

  They nodded, knowing that he spoke as Baroc would have spoken and they gave fealty but Lugubelenus knew that he had to win the battle quickly. He turned to two of his messengers. “You, ride to King Aindreas and tell him to press his attack. You, ride to Petroc and the Queen, ask them to attack not the rear but the enemy flank.” As the two riders galloped off he hoped that his gamble would work. He had seen the standard of the First Cohort at the rear and knew that they were the best troops the Romans had. If he attacked the middle from two sides then those weaker troops might just crumble and if that could be timed to coincide with an attack at their front then so much the better.

  He turned to Baroc’s bodyguard. “Collect as many discarded Roman shields as you can.” Despite the strange order they obeyed instantly as honour demanded.

  Inside the ever diminishing centuries Cassius sat with the two boys tending to their wounds. When they were stood in the line loosings their arrows and thinning the enemy archers, they had not noticed their wounds but now Cassius played capsarius. Aquilifer Caecus put down the eagle and said quietly. “Here Decurion let me tend to one of them.”

  The huge rough hands of the oldest warrior in the legion felt as gentle as Ailis’ as he used some of his wine from his wine skin to clean the long graze along Macro’s skull. “You were lucky young fellow, another uncia and you would have been left for crow bait.” He replaced the stopper and took a step back. “Are you Decurion Macro’s lad?”

  “You knew my father?” All pain disappeared with the chance to talk to someone else who had known his father.

  “Aye, fought alongside him more than once. He was the toughest, the bravest and the best warrior I have ever known.” He nodded at the memory. “I’ll just say this, had he been a legionary he would have been the finest First Spear ever to have lived.”

  Tears filled the young man’s eyes. “Thank you for that sir.” He looked at the eagle. “Could I er, could I just touch that?”

  Caecus winked at Cassius. “Well normally the answer would be no but for the son of Macro and as one of the two pluckiest lads on this battlefield I will say yes.”

  Macro took it in his arms as though a baby and caressed it. Marcus looked shyly over and when Caecus smiled and nodded he too touched the magical emblem of the Ninth Hispana. “Sir why is this so important?”

  “Good question and if this is Macro’s boy then you must be the son of Gaius,” Marcus nodded, his face alight with delight, “another good man. To be truthful all the ala were but your dads, well they were, are special. Now then the eagle quite simply it must never fall into the enemy’s hands or be lost. And the Aquilifer,” he pointed to himself, “that’s me, has to defend it with his life.”

  “But you have no shield.”

  “No but to be the Aquilifer you have to be handy with a sword, and I am. If anything happens to me then I give it to the one I think will defend it with his life or if I am dead then another takes it. If this eagle were ever to be lost then the Ninth Hispana would be lost. Even if only one man remained but he had the eagle then the legion would live.”

  “Stand to. Here they come again.”

  “Nice talking with you lads and listen, try to live! Eh? Make an old man happy.”

  “Yes sir!”

  Cassius pointed to their bows. “There are no more arrows left so sling your bows and find yourself a sword. If you can manage it a scutum might help. The two boys foraged amongst the dead as the Votadini and Selgovae advanced towards them. The two inner sides of the rectangle were now but thirty paces apart but the legions still fielded three ranks allowing them to move men from the third rank to replace tired men in the front. Marcus came back with a shield and a helmet whilst Macro had two gladii.

  “Two Macro?”

  “Don’t worry sir, he can use his left hand as well as his right.” He looked at Cassius the question in the eyes although he made a statement. “Macro and I the Aquilifer sir.”

  Cassius nodded it was as good a place to die as any and die they would for there were but five hundred men left alive from the five thousand who had marched, just a few days ago, from Coriosopitum.

  “Forward!” First Spear’s command took the legion towards the Selgovae. It took them closer to the enemy but, ironically, closer to safety. As they neared the Selgovae First Spear roared, “Hit the bastards! Hit them hard!” The line of Romans put on a spurt and they hit the Selgovae with all the weight of three ranks. The effect was instantaneous; they virtually ran over the front two ranks of shocked and surprised barbarians who had expected the Romans to stand and be killed. The warriors who lay on the ground stunned were despatched by the wounded legionaries who were following close behind the front ranks. Aindreas had had enough. He called to his men, “Fall back, men, fall back!”

  Even though it went against their honour to retreat, especially in the face of their allies the word of the King was law and they pulled back. First Spear saw that they had weakened and he shouted. “Keep up the push!”

  A runner from the First Cohort joined him. “Sir, no one is attacking the rearguard they are attacking the flanks.”

  “Tell whoever is still in charge there to leave one century and split the rest between the other three sides.”
With his elite troops to bolster his flagging defence he might just save some of the legion. The road was, by his reckoning less than a mile away and that meant the fort was within marching distance.

  Lugubelenus cursed Petroc and Aindreas to the heavens. The Romans had been in his grasp and because of his ally’s cowardice he might lose this winning battle. He knew that the Selgovae were running for, although his warriors still faced the enemy the King and his chiefs were riding towards the road. Their part in the battle was done but Lugubelenus would remember this, their dark and dishonourable deed and would have his revenge. He looked at Baroc’s warriors. It was time for the gamble. “You may try to take the eagle but I want the plan to succeed, and I would like you to do it my way.” He gathered the warriors around him to explain his plan.

  On the far side of the battlefield Radha added her curses on the head of Aindreas. She invoked all of her Earth magic and the power of the Mother. She resolved to visit the priestess of the Mother when this was over and the Romans destroyed. She needed to use the power of the Mother to help her and her husband make their kingdom safe and secure and to fully revenge her people on their treacherous ally. She turned to her chiefs. “We must help the king and slow down the enemy. They are still losing men and we outnumber them.” When they did not immediately react she snapped, “Should I use my women? Mariead! Bring my women we must fight instead of the men.”

  Mariead’s husband had died the night before and the Queen’s cousin was ready for a glorious death to join her love. “Coming your majesty!”

  “No! No! We will attack. We just need to create the right formation.” The oldest warrior tightened his shield and gripped his sword. “Wedge!” The men formed behind him two then four then eight until there was a pyramid of men. “Forward!” The wedge could move much quicker than a line and the older man had placed himself at the front to keep them together.

  The Centurion on the right could see what was happening and he ordered the men to brace themselves. Had they retained any spears or javelins they might have disrupted the cohesion of the wedge, had they had missiles they might have taken out the front ranks but as all they had was the sword in their hands they waited for the crash which would herald the attack.