Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 02] The Horsewarriors

by Griff Hosker

  “It would be very accommodating if they obliged again.”

  “It would be perfect but I can’t see them cooperating. They seem to have a better plan this time. I expected them to hit us piecemeal as they did last time but they appear to be waiting.”

  “Waiting? I wonder, waiting for what? Well I am not going to fall into the trap of letting them make the first move. Where is your best guess for where they will be?”

  Agricola pointed to the west of the map. “What I would want is for them to have mustered in the land of the lakes. If they did that the legions could stop them like a cork in a wineskin. But I can’t see that happening and all our scouts say the land is empty. North of East of Brocavum as I recall, the land is unsuited to moving large numbers of men; there are woods, cliffs and rivers. They would not be able to use their superiority in number count. Which leaves here as the place.” He pointed to the far west. “The ships you sent around got as far as here which is why the rest of the map is vague. There is a wide river, the Taus. The land to the south is flat gentle plains with another river. If you want me to pick a place where they will fight it would be there between the two rivers. It is flat enough and their flanks are secure. It also means their allies; the Pictii and Caledonii can join them easily and yet be close enough to their own lands. There.”

  Cerialis walked around the map to see it from every direction. “It is a pity the Classis Britannica isn’t here. With those moored in the Taus we could use their artillery to flank them.”

  “Yes I had thought of that.”

  “How far is it?”

  “We have never been that far, any of us but if the map is accurate then I would say it would take us a week. Of course the other problem we would have would be our supply lines. The further we travel into their country the further our supplies have to come and of course we would be in hostile country all the way. This might not be good country to manoeuvre a large army but it is perfect for ambush.”

  “That’s where these auxiliaries will earn their salary. I want one Batavian legion in front and one behind the legions. Half the cavalry on our right flank and the other on the left. We’ll be like a box with the legions in the middle. The auxiliaries may lose some of their men but we will reach the enemy with the two legions intact. Send for the prefects.”

  Shaking his head Agricola went to find a messenger. The auxiliaries would be used again; the Governor just couldn’t see a problem with his attitude but Julius Agricola knew that the whole of the army needed to feel valued. Should the day ever come when he commanded an army he would see to it that they were all valued.

  “So gentlemen once again we protect the precious legions.” He turned to Marcus, “Didn’t some of the ala serve in this area a couple of years ago?” He pointed to the area north of Glanibanta.

  “Yes sir, we spent a winter and part of the spring there.”

  “Good then your ala can have the southern flank. We’ll take the northern flank. That‘s where they should be coming from anyway. The Governor wants a daily report. Use your scouts well and remember, Decurion Princeps Maximunius, I need a daily report as well as the Governor. Clear?”

  “Yes sir.”

  When Marcus told the decurions about the plan there were mixed reactions. Those who did not know the area were excited whereas Decius, Lentius and Gaius were more cautious. “There are more places to ambush there than there are brothels in Rome.”

  Gaius looked at his one time mentor, “Well you should be right at home then.”

  Decius sniffed, “The trouble was I didn’t use my vine staff enough on you young Gaius!”

  Brocavum

  King Maeve was angry and King Maeve was confused. The first reports had just come in telling him of the movements of large numbers of Roman soldiers. Fainch had told him they would begin this war at Eostre when the whole of the island would rise. He was never the most strategic of leaders even though he had native cunning. He shouted to one of his guards, “Send for Aed. I need to see him.” Over the winter Aed had become a far more trustworthy lieutenant. When he first arrived Maeve worried that he might be a usurper but since the early days he had been the most loyal and obedient of all his chiefs. The one person he could trust was Aed and of course Fainch but, as King Maeve peered across to the east and the invisible army making its inexorable way to him, he wondered about Fainch. She had spent less time with him of late. Did she have another lover? Was she plotting against him? Having been a plotter and a schemer Maeve had paranoia about others plotting to take his throne from him.

  “Yes my lord you sent for me?”

  “Yes Aed.”

  Even as he spoke Fainch swept into the room. “You will need my counsel will you not?”

  “Yes, yes, I was about to send for you. The Romans…

  “The Romans have begun their invasion.”

  King Maeve looked in surprise at Fainch. “How did you know? I have just had a secret message.”

  “Remember oh king that while you rule these lands I serve Mother Earth and I know far more than you for I am a priestess of Mona.” Maeve seemed to shrink a little in fear. Little did he know that the spy had reported to Fainch first.

  “Well what are we to do? The plan was of a rising at Eostre.”

  “The rising will still take place. This helps us.”

  “How?”

  “They have committed their northern forces. They have moved a legion to Lindum to act as a reserve. The rest of the country is ripe for a rebellion. This just means that we must delay them a little longer.”

  “Aed what do you say?”

  “I agree. It does not change our basic strategy. We still withdraw west. Most of our people have already moved, taking their animals with them. The army is standing by. All we wait for are our allies. Might I suggest we summon them?”

  “Yes yes see to it. And then we stick to our plan?”

  Fainch came behind him and placed her hands on either side of his head gently massaging him as she spoke. “The plan is a good one. We move North West towards Luguuvalium. Aed takes his men to the land of the lakes and attacks the men on the flanks and the rear. When we get to the Taus we form our battle lines and wait for the Romans to attack us then the eastern tribes and the northern tribes attack the right flank of the Roman army while Aed attacks the left. They will have three attacks to deal with and only two legions.”

  “And the auxiliaries.”

  “Aed has shown oh king that the auxiliaries can be beaten.”

  Maeve nodded. Even he had been impressed when Aed had returned from his raid with Roman heads, horses and armour. His men had further added to his stature with the tales of the fight and many men had joined Aed’s elite on the basis of it. “And if the other tribes do not join us?”

  “They will but even so it does not need all of them as long as some do it will cause concern for the Romans. By then it will be Eostre and I expect the Roman leader to be receiving messages of rebellion throughout the whole land. Even if we have not totally defeated him I would hope he would retreat to help those in the rest of the province and then we can destroy his army piecemeal as he retreats.”

  Whether it was the words, the tone or the massage, the effect was achieved; Maeve was calm and committed. “Order the stronghold to be abandoned we march west.”

  East of Brocavum

  The prefect scanned the skyline which seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. The only feature was in the distance; rising a little way above a fold in the land was part of a wooden tower. He turned to Fabius, “Take your turma and that of Modius. Scout that stronghold; I assume the wooden tower would indicate that it is a fortification of some description. Do not approach within arrow shot for I do not want to lose a single man uselessly. “

  Without another word but gesturing the decurion Fabius galloped off the eighty men strung out in column of twos behind him. As he rode he relished the freedom. He eagerly anticipated finding some of the enemy. He had a buccina with him and, should he
encounter odds too great for glory and success he could summon the other three hundred and thirty men to support him. The land before him had trees dotted to the north and south but ahead it rose and fell in gentle folds. Even someone as inexperienced as Fabius could see that there was little likelihood of ambush and they were able to make good time. He halted the men at the top of a rise about a mile from the stronghold. Although the gates facing him were shut there did not seem to be any sentries. He noticed that there was a wooden bridge leading northwards from the northern entrance. The bridge was not well made but it spanned the confluence of two rivers. From the muddy banks he assumed that the inhabitants had fled that way. It looked empty. Ignoring the prefect’s orders he turned to the two troopers behind him, “Fanius, Marius. Ride up to the gates be careful and check if there are any sentries. If not then split up and ride around the stronghold. Then report back to me.”

  Modius drew his horse up next to that of Fabius. “Looks empty to me.”

  “And to me. I am just making sure.”

  “And then what back to the prefect?”

  Fabius grinned and it was not a pleasant grin for it seemed to make his young face both older and more menacing. “We will send a message back but if they have abandoned it then who knows what we may find on the road beyond?”

  Modius laughed, “Or even inside the stronghold. We will have time for plunder before the Batavians arrive.”

  They both watched as the two riders emerged from the circumnavigation of the fort. They drew up next to Fabius. “No sign of life sir and the north west gate is open. Popped my head around and could see no sign of life.”

  “Thank you Marius. Ride back and report to the prefect we will rest on the other side of the fort.” As they watched Marius ride east Fabius signalled for the turmae to move off east. The Decurion Princeps glanced over as they passed the west gate, it was as reported; they would plunder after a short patrol. The trail taken by the refugees was clear; they had gone north across the bridge and then north west although for the first mile or so they saw no-one just discarded objects which showed them they were on the right track.. As they crested a rise however they saw a knot of people heading south west towards the land of the lakes. “In fours, two turmae.” The training of the winter had paid off and soon there were two columns of men four abreast and ten deep. “Trot!” As soon as they began to move some of the refugees saw them and panicked soon the mob was racing in every direction. As he drew his sword and roared, ”Charge!” Fabius could see that there was but a handful of poorly armed warriors protecting them.

  The two columns swept over the warriors in heartbeats leaving bodies riven with wounds. “Kill them all, no prisoners!” His men needed no further urging and the neat lines were dissipated into a melee as every man chased down and killed the nearest refugee. Men, women, children, animals all were slaughtered. Some of his men went back to the warriors and adorned their horses with the decapitated heads. Although there was little plunder his men took all that the pitiful band had to offer. “Back to Brocavum!”

  Approaching the emptied stronghold they could just make out the standards of the Batavians and the rest of the cavalry. Modius bellowed, “Right lads make it quick. Get what you can and we share later on.”

  By the time the prefect reached the fortress the scavengers had plundered anything that was left. Believing they would be back sooner rather than later many had trusted their precious objects to the ground to be dug up later on. However in the cold hard earth freshly turned soil was a good sign and the two turmae had a good haul.

  Fabius left the plundering to his subordinates and went to open the west gate with a couple of men. Whilst they struggled with the bar Fabius climbed to the tower. He could see a gaggle of staff officers heading his way. The Governor was coming. Turning Fabius said as loudly as he could, “Hurry it is the Governor!” Unfortunately it came out rather squeaky.

  The haste was not because looting was frowned upon rather it was encouraged to discourage opposition but the practice was to share with the whole unit. This went against the grain for Modius and his like; Fabius was not concerned with the lot but it bought him the loyalty of the eighty most cunning men in the ala. By the time he had descended to the gate Quintus Cerialis, Julius Agricola and the prefects had arrived. “Well done it is young Demetrius isn’t it?” Fabius nodded. “Good. Any fighting?”

  “None in the fort sir but we caught up with some warriors.” He gestured behind to where two of his men waved the decapitated remains of the warriors.

  “Gruesome but I dare say effective. Which way were they headed?”

  “North west sir. There is a well worn wagon way and there was clear evidence that a large number of people had travelled that way.”

  “Carry on.” Ignoring the decurion, who stood in the narrow gateway feeling like a spare part, the Governor turned to his commanders. “It is as you said Julius they are heading North West rather than west. So we will move accordingly. We will rest here tonight and then strike early in the morning. They can move faster than we can so we might as well let them carry out their plan eh? No point disturbing a man when he is making a mistake.” They all laughed dutifully at the old joke. “Prefect keep this ala where it is but the one to the south is too far away to be effective draw them in.”

  Far to the south Marcus had his ala in four columns to two turmae. As he had said at the briefing, “I want the flexibility to send one south and one north and yet keep a large force as a reserve.” They were travelling over the low hills of the eastern land of the lakes. There were no people to be seen and even fewer animals. The leaves had just started to emerge after a harsh winter but the icy wind which hurtled from the east behind them discouraged any young plants from growing just yet. The troopers new to the province, those from the southern tribes were finding it hard; they were cold to the bone and the wind seemed to find a way through the thick weave of their cloaks.

  Decius shouted over to Marcus, “The last time we were here we were sneaking around trying to avoid finding anybody and here we are actually seeking for the enemy.”

  “We have not seen any sign for quite some time. I doubt that they are in front of us. We’ll camp tonight at the head of that long lake in the lonely valley then decide if we go southwest , west or north west.”

  Mona and the southern half of the province

  The small garrisons dotted around the island had been lulled into a false sense of security by the peaceful winter. Many never awoke on the tribes’ festival of Eostre for their camps had been infiltrated and sentries had had their throats cut. The whole of the border to the west of Britannia awoke to chaos and mayhem. Nearer to the civilised centres of Roman civilisation small groups of warriors murdered officials and wiped out small garrisons used to peace. Within a matter of hours the Pax Romana had ended and Britannia was on the edge of rebellion.

  Chapter 16

  As the Roman army ponderously headed North West the group of warriors hidden in the trees to the south west conferred. “It is as Fainch said, they are following the army. Find Aed and tell him where the army is.” The rider took off, keeping low in the saddle to avoid observation.

  Aed and his men were camped well to the west; had the Romans come his way it would have meant that Fainch’s plans had gone seriously awry. He was eager for combat. He was certain that when they met the auxiuiliary infantry they would prove no match for him and his well trained warriors.

  His guards alerted him to the messenger’s presence long before he arrived. “General Aed the Romans have taken the bait. Their cavalry is to the north. They have one auxiliary unit at the rear and one in the vanguard.”

  “Excellent that means there are no cavalry between me and the rearguard. When did they leave Brocavum?”

  “This morning.”

  “Mount. Today we take Batavian heads.” It took a very short time for the fifteen hundred strong warband to ride north. They would wait until they were making camp in the evening just when they
were tired and looking forward to a rest. He would halt in time to rest and feed his horses. His men would be fresher. They would be ready to fight and the Romans would have no idea they had an enemy at their rear, they would just be thinking about food and sleep.

  Marcus’ ala woke refreshed having camped close to a lake and sheltered by two enormous mountains. Marcus had remembered this rocky valley from their escape from Glanibanta. It offered them security for an attacker would either have to travel from the north to attack them or the south. It made it much easier to defend. “Gaius your turma is to scout. Take Gaelwyn with you. I know he will moan but that can’t be helped. The despatch rider who arrived yesterday told me that the army is moving North West. Fortunately they are so slow with the artillery that we will easily be able to catch them. Let me know when you sight the Batavians.”

  As it was Gaius who was in the vanguard Marcus felt very secure. All of the decurions were trustworthy but Gaius was extra careful. His caution would ensure that there were no surprises. His mind drifted back to the murder of Queen Cartimandua it seemed a long time ago and in another way only like yesterday. He had hunted her down in mind many times but now he was within touching distance. He was getting closer to his prey. When they met the Brigante in battle there would be more incentive for him to be victorious for when the battle was over he would find the witch and kill her. He would avenge his wife and child and fulfil his oath to Ulpius. An oath to a dying man was the most sacred oath a warrior could swear.

  He was suddenly aware of Decius at his shoulder. “You alright boss?”

  Marcus looked at him curiously, “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  “You’ve been a bit quiet. The lads are concerned. You’re not, you know, brooding about what happened at Stanwyck.”

  “You mean when my wife and child were murdered? There’s not a minute goes by when they are not in my thoughts. Before I go to sleep I speak with my dear wife and say goodnight to my tiny son. When I close my eyes at night I see them as clearly as if they were in the room with me. But when I am a warrior, when I lead this ala I think of one thing and one thing only. How can we defeat this enemy and find the people who destroyed my life. Does that answer your question?”