by Griff Hosker
Modius waited to hear no more. He would be punished and that he could bear, just, but he could now return to the ranks as a trooper. He had made too many enemies and he would suffer. There was but one answer he would flee. He had seen the direction the Brigante cavalry had taken. He would join them. He was certain he would have information which would be to their advantage and he would leave a rich man for he knew where Fabius and the turma had hidden their loot after all he had been one of them. Added to his own it would enable him to buy allies if the Brigante chose not to enlist him. Without a further look he gathered his loot and belongings and slipped out of the camp for the sentries were too tired to notice the shadow leaving; they were too focussed on barbarians arriving, uninvited.
Epilogue
The next day Rufius Demetrius stood in front of the general. He looked less ashen but still shocked. Marcus stood behind him as next in line. The two Batavian prefects and Julius Agricola, who looked decidedly uncomfortable, sat next to Cerialis.
The Governor’s voice was quiet and measured as though he was controlling his emotions out of respect for a grieving father. “Prefect we have laid serious charges at your door. You were ordered to drive the enemy from the field and protect the left flank. You chose to disobey your orders. Why?”
The prefect stood tall and straight. “I believed I had followed my orders and I believed that we were doing what auxiliary cavalry do best pursuing the enemy from the field.”
The general became irritable in his tone. “I might accept your explanation if you had halted when they left the immediate battlefield but you pursued them long after they ceased to pose a threat.”
“I have no answer for that. I suppose I believed that we would not be needed. I know now that that was not true.”
“You place me in a difficult position.”
“Perhaps I can make amends sir?”
“Go on.”
“I will tender my resignation and retire from public life. To be truthful sir, my heart is no longer in soldiering.”
Cerialis looked at the other prefects and Agricola all of whom nodded gratefully for the prefect had given them all an honourable and clean way out. “Well in that case I accept your resignation.”
“There is one more thing sir.”
“Yes?”
“I have to report that one of my decurions has deserted. Modius Varro.”
“That’s all we needed. Right you had better send out men to look for him but don’t spend too long.” The Governor realised he had addressed his words to the prefect. “Sorry Decurion Princeps. Would you send out men to look for him for the prefect will be gathering his belongings? I take it you will run the alae until I can appoint another prefect?”
“Yes sir.”
The prefect turned to leave and grasped Marcus’ hand. “Thank you. The alae are in good hands.”
“And Decurion Princeps we will soon need all your men if we are to end this rebellion.”
Mona
The small fishing boat edged its way around the headland to the tiny bay that was Porthdafarch. Glad to be rid of the witch they worked the boat to the pebbly beach under the low cliffs. As soon as she saw the shallows Fainch leapt into the icy, salty waters. Even as the boat was working its way off shore the gaggle of women raced down to embrace their sister. “At last my sisters we are free. Now we will make the whole of Britannia free.”
Land of the lakes
Modius sat on his horse before Aed and the warriors who had surrounded him as he watered his horse. “Were you so confident Roman that we would not kill you out of hand?”
“As you had followed me for some time to make sure I was alone I knew that you could have killed me anytime you wished. I was confident you would want to know what I had to offer.”
“And what could I possibly want from you Roman?”
“My sword and my knowledge for I know the Pannonians and I know that you have never beaten them. With my knowledge and your men I can show you how to beat them.”
Aed looked at the powerful warrior. He needed to build up his war band again and the man’s knowledge might prove the difference. “Very well but if you are a traitor…” leaving the threat hanging the war band headed back into the hills and forests of this natural stronghold.
Brocavum
“So gentlemen we will leave the first Batavians here where they will fortify the stronghold. The second will return to Morbium and the Ninth back to Eboracum. The Pannonians, the twentieth and the Second Adiutrix will go to Mona to crush this rebellion.” He paused for questions; there were none. “I know that we had a little luck in this campaign but I would like to believe that we had more courage and military skill. Remember that as General Agricola leads you to a final victory.”
As the Pannonian cavalry led off the column south Decius turned to the acting prefect. “Do you think we will find her?”
“Find who?”
“Don’t give me that vague look. You know who I mean. As soon as the general said Mona your face lit up. You know that’s where you will find your witch.”
“I still don’t know what she looks like and there is no-one alive who knows what she looks like.”
“There is Aed.”
“There is Aed.”
“And we will have to travel through the land of the lakes who knows you may find him but don’t you worry about that witch. You might not know her she knows you and something in these old bones tells me that she has not finished with you yet.”
“Then that suits us both for I can only fulfil my oaths to the dead when she dies, at my hands.”
Author’s note
This is a work of fiction. I have however used certain places from Roman Britain as the places they would inhabit. Derventio and Morbium were two cavalry forts, Malton and Piercebridge respectively. I have used other places which would have existed, such as Streonshal (Whitby) to flesh out the local aspect of the novel. Where possible I have used the Roman names for places. Although colonia came later on as the Romans had been in the province for over thirty years I have used Isurium Brigantium as an early, informal colonia. When Stanwyck was destroyed by Cerialis the local administrative capital was moved to what is now Aldborough St.John, it is less than two miles from Stanwyck and has extensive Roman remains. Stanwyck itself still exists and is a magnificent Iron Age fort and well worth a visit.
Quintus Petilius Cerialis was a real figure and a very aggressive general. He gambled during battles but his men loved him. He used oratory to inspire them much as Henry V at Agincourt. He had been prefect of the ninth when Boudicca rebelled. Agricola returned to Britannia many times and eventually conquered, albeit briefly, the whole of the island. Mona was recaptured by the locals some time in the early seventies; the actual event is not recorded but Agricola had to recapture the island in the mid seventies. The priests and priestesses of Mona were feared by the Romans as was the far west of the country. Roman legions threatened to mutiny rather than venture that far. Eostre was the goddess of rebirth and fertility although she had a number of names. She was celebrated in the spring and the Christians hijacked this festival to coincide with Easter. It would have been a significant event in Iron Age Britain for the winters were very harsh and the goddess would need to be appeased to ensure bounty for the coming year. There was a great deal of unrest on the borders of the province towards the end of the 1st century although the south east had largely been civilised or quite possibly ethnically cleansed after the Iceni revolt. The Classis Britannica was the Roman fleet based in the south of Britannia. It was used by Julius Agricola in his campaign in Scotland to circumnavigate and prove that Britain was an island and to support his legions.
Although we know for certain which legions fought in Northern Britain we are less certain about the auxiliary units. The Pannonians and the Batavians were both stationed in Britannia during the first and second centuries AD. I have used artistic licence to base my story around these units. The foot units were organised on the basis of th
e legion with centuries and centurions. The nominal commander was the prefect but as in the legions the real leader was Prima Pila or First Spear. The cavalry was organised in turmae (singular –turma) - a unit of between 32 and 40 troopers under the command of a decurion. In each ala, or wing, there would have been a Decurion Princeps, the equivalent of a prima pila. The whole unit would have been commanded by a prefect. There were also sergeants in both the legions and auxiliary who carried out training etc and had specific roles. The Cornicens were the men who signalled with the buccina. They tended to be as with the signifiers a brave set of men who fought and acted as the focus of the enemy’s attack.
This is the second book set in Britannia and telling the tale of the Pannonian cavalry. The third will tell of the invasion of Scotland under Julius Agricola.
Other books by
Griff Hosker
If you enjoyed reading this book then why not read another one by the author?
The Sword of Cartimandua Series (Germania and Britannia 50A.D. – 128 A.D.)
Ulpius Felix- Roman Warrior
Book 1 The Sword of Cartimandua
Book 2 The Horse Warriors
Book 3 Invasion Caledonia
Book 4 Roman Retreat
Book 5 Revolt of the Red Witch
Book 6 Druid’s Gold
Book 7 Trajan’s Hunters
Book 8 The Last Frontier
Book 9 Hero of Rome
Book 10 Roman Hawk
Book 11Roman Treachery
They are all available in the Kindle format.
The Aelfraed Series (Britain and Byzantium 1050 A.D.- 1085 A.D.
Book 1 Housecarl
Book 2 Outlaw
Book 3 Varangian
These are available in the Kindle format.
The Wolf Warrior series (Britain in the late 6th Century)
Book 1 Saxon Dawn
Book 2 Saxon Revenge
Book 3 Saxon England
Book 4 Saxon Blood
Book 5 Saxon Slayer
The Lucky Jack American Civil War series
Rebel Raiders
Confederate Rangers
The Napoleonic Horseman Series
Book 1 Chasseur a Cheval
Book 2 Napoleon’s Guard
Also available in paperback and Kindle is the book aimed at 12-15 years olds, Great Granny’s Ghost
Carnage at Cannes is a modern thriller and is available in the Kindle format.
Travel
Adventure at 63-Backpacking to Istanbul
For more information on all of the books then please visit the author’s web site at http://www.griffhosker.com where there is a link to contact him.
Table of Contents
Copyright ©
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Author’s note
Other books by the Author