by Griff Hosker
“Thank you for that Drusus. Your timing was excellent.”
As Drusus wiped the blood from the dead deserter from his blade he shrugged. “Thank you and next time someone else can be the bait. They were poor ambushers, we knew where they were the whole time.”
“Which is why they deserted; they weren’t very good soldiers.” Cassius waved from the far end of the line as the last of the bandits was despatched.
“It is a shame we couldn’t have taken any of them prisoner.”
“I know Metellus but it was too great a risk that one could have escaped and brought others here.”
“At least we might have found out if there are others and where they are.”
“True but I think from their direction of travel it is south east of here and we are heading west. It is a good job that Rufius has such sharp eyes and spotted them this morning.”
Agrippa nodded as he searched the body for weapons and gold. “True he is a good tracker, almost in Gaelwyn’s class. “He nodded at the dead deserter. “A Gaul by the look of him. He still has some of the auxiliary armour.”
“Yes and a couple of others are Brigante. Looks like there is a little army here. As soon as we get to Glanibanta I will send a message to Cursus. If Eboracum can spare them then the Gallic Horse might be able to root them out of their little den in the woods.” They led their horses to the lake. “We will camp tonight down there at the end of the lake. It looks like we will have to take watches tonight. This may well be the main route the bandits use.”
“They could have caught the engineers.”
“No Drusus. There were at least eight armoured legionaries. These ten would have stood no chance against them. I think that we will either find the engineers alive or they ran into a much bigger force than this and we will find their whitening bones.”
*
Decius wondered what lay in store for him when he approached the cave. Tadgh was just leaving when he saw Decius approaching. He deliberately walked at Decius and made no attempt to move out of his way. When Decius moved to the left Tadgh shunted him into the rock wall and as the young man lay on the floor he glared down at him. A disembodied voice from the cave echoed, “Tadgh!” and the Brigante warrior reluctantly carried on walking to the main camp. Rising to his feet and dusting himself off Decius entered the glowing cave. It was the first time he had been in the cave and he was surprised how big it was. There was a large pool of water in the middle and Decius could see a glow from a fire in a smaller cave off to the left. Assuming that was where Morwenna was he made his way nervously towards the glow. Sheepskins and deer pelts line the alcove in which a naked Morwenna with a naked Maban next to her reclined. The soft glow from the fire made them both appear to be a pulsing pinkish red. Morwenna’s long red hair cascaded down to her breasts and she waved him over to her. Maban slid over to allow him to sit between them and Morwenna took his chin in her hand and kissed him long and hard on the lips.
Decius was in a dilemma; it was a pleasurable experience but, as the man, he had normally initiated such lovemaking. The fact they there were no words uttered made it even more disconcerting. When Maban began to undress him and kiss the back of his neck as she did so he stiffened and tried to back away.
“Peace Decius. Relax. Is this not pleasurable?”
“Yes but…”
“Yes but it is not the woman’s role to start such love making? This is my land and my rules. Tonight my acolyte and I will pleasure you; each other and you will pleasure us both. Tomorrow night Anchorat will replace Maban. We will do this until we are with child. This is not a discussion it is a command and what did you say before? Your wish is my command, well this is my wish. Accede to it.”
Decius found himself naked and between two beautiful women. Aula Sallustius had been a beautiful woman but she had been approaching middle age; these two were perfection with blemish free skin and no sign of any unwanted flesh. The smells in the cave and around the herb fuelled fire were intoxicating and made it easy for him to succumb to the two beautiful women. Even as the thought came into his head he asked himself why he was fighting this. Nothing bad could come from it and how many men would object to two women making love to him. “You are my mistress and I bow to your will.”
Maban giggled and Morwenna said huskily, “The bowing will come later.”
Chapter 6
Drusus waved from the top of the pass to attract Livius’ attention and his column of six men kicked their mounts into action. Cato had chosen the horses well and the journey across to the west had enabled them to train each horse to its new master. They responded instantly to commands and would run all day on the meagre rations they carried. Of course them knew horses and looked after them well. They had acquired some shrivelled apples in Brocauum and the treats had further endeared the masters with their mounts. Racing along the valley bottom horses and riders were as one, enjoying the freedom, however temporary.
Livius reined in his horse, Star, flushed with the pleasure of riding and the beauty of the morning. This life was a total change from the rigid camp building and static patrols of Marcus’ Horse. This was almost a pleasure. “Yes Drusus?”
“Found their camp and their trail. It looks like it was wet when they left for their hobnails are still visible in the mud. They are heading west. It looks like you were right it will be Glanibanta.”
Turning in his saddle he whistled and soon the other five riders rode in. They had decided to call them section one, two and three. Drusus’ patrol was section two and Marius had section three. Drusus and Marius had just naturally taken charge and as all soldiers needed a structure and a hierarchy it seemed to be the best way. “Marius send two of your men back to Brocauum. Tell them of the deserters we killed and that the engineers are heading west. They will then need to return to the legion which should be somewhere near to Morbium I am afraid I can’t be any clearer. When they have reported what we have found to the Prefect they should return here. You and the others can make a camp here and rest while we push on to Glanibanta. If we find the engineers we will return and if there is any problem or we need to go further west we will inform you.”
Grinning Marius snapped, “Yes Sir!”
Livius shook his head. “I forgot, you love fishing. I suspect you will be sat on the lake until I return.”
“No sir, we will patrol and hunt and….. yes sir, I will be fishing.”
“Seriously be careful Marius, there are other deserters around and this is the main route. They may come looking for their lost comrades. If they do either hide or come for us.”
“I will sir. I won’t let you down.”
“I never thought that you would Marius.”
As the two sections headed off to follow the trail discovered by Drusus, Livius said, “Until we get to Glanibanta we will keep the two sections together. This is getting very close to the place those Brigante fled to after the battle at Morbium.”
“If I might suggest a couple of scouts on the flanks then sir?”
“Good idea. Rufius, Decius take the left and right flanks. Scouting. The two younger men grinned and galloped off.”
Agrippa snorted. “That is the last we will see of them for a while.”
”Yes Agrippa but think of the peace and the quiet.”
“There is that sir. That is why you are an officer and I a mere trooper. You think of the bigger picture.”
It was pleasant to be riding in the verdant and green valleys of the lakes. “This is good land Drusus. When peace finally comes this would be a good place to raise a family and to farm.”
“Don’t know about farming sir. There are rocks right below the surface.”
“You are right. I remember trying to build a camp. But it is so beautiful around here.”
“I suppose it could be used for grazing but it is such an awful place to get to.”
“I know which is why this road of the Ninth is so important. I am no engineer Drusus but I do not know why they would come this way
. There are more twists and turns than an eel in a trap.”
“I know sir unless the optio in charge was eliminating this as a route.”
“I can’t see that. He would be making a lot of work for himself. Well I suppose we can ask him when we find him.”
Drusus looked across to the west and the darkening clouds rising above the wall of rock. If he and his men are still alive.”
“Ever the optimist eh Drusus. Come on let’s pick up the pace. We may be able to camp at Glanibanta tonight. Always a little safer when you have wooden walls around you.”
“I still don’t know why it was abandoned sir, twice.”
“Me neither. From what Prefect Marcus told me a lot of good men died to build it in the first place and if we had had men here in the last rebellion then even more lives would have been saved. I am not sure the Rome wants Britannia.”
“Don’t let the Emperor’s spies hear you sir.”
Livius looked at Drusus wondering if he was joking but the trooper had a serious look on his face. “Drusus if I cannot trust these men then I am a poor judge of men and would deserve any punishment Rome could mete out but all of us are from Britannia Drusus, perhaps we have a prejudiced view. It is our home and we want to hold it.”
“Yes sir but Prefect Marcus and Decurion Gaius, they came from across the sea and they love Britannia as much as we do.”
“One day Drusus, Rome will come to regard Britannia as a frontier worth defending and protecting. Until then it is up to us.”
They managed to reach the camp before dark and the sharp eyes of Rufius picked up the trail of the engineers. “Looks like they camped here and then headed west.”
Drusus and Livius looked at the tracks. Metellus knelt down. “There were others here, not Romans and they came after the engineers.”
“That does not bode well for we have seen no people apart from the deserters.”
“Yes sir and it looks like whoever it was trailed them.”
“Well done Metellus. Well we can do no more tonight but I think we will all take at turn at being on watch. It will only be an hour each. My section first Drusus. Rufius first hour, then Agrippa, Decius, Cassius and then you wake me. I’ll wake you Drusus.”
“You don’t have to stand a watch sir. You are an officer.”
“Yes Drusus but remember we are making up the rules as we go along. I not as tired as the rest and that means I need the sleep as much as the rest so we all share the hardship. Besides it is good to endure a little discomfort.”
“Then you joined the right army sir.”
“Thank you Metellus your wit is always appreciated.”
Livius regretted his decision when Cassius shook his shoulder. “You can go back to sleep if you like sir, Drusus said…”
“No and thank you Cassius. Anything to report?”
“No sir quiet as. Not even an owl.”
“Good. Get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow could be a long day.”
He turned away from the glowing embers of the fire to accustom his eyes to the night and within a few heartbeats he could see things clearer even in the darkening gloom. It was a clear cold night and he wrapped his cloak tightly about him. He wandered over to the horse lines; he knew that they would be tight and secure but a horseman afoot was a waste of time as Decurion Princeps Decius Flavius had always told him. As he came back to the fire he looked up at the wall of rock and rubbed his eyes. It seemed that there was a glow from half way up the rock. Perhaps it was his eyes or imagination. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Just as suddenly as it had appeared, it disappeared. He was now glad that he had chosen a watch for that was an anomaly and, after they had found the engineers, he would have to investigate.
Livius gathered them all around the dead fire the following morning as they chewed their biscuits and ate their dried hard tack. “Today will be an important day. We may find the engineers or at least get a better idea of where they went but last night I saw a glow up there. He pointed away to the rocky outcrop peering above the tree line. Did anyone else see it?”
Metellus nodded. “I thought I saw something but it only appeared for a short time and then vanished. “ He shrugged. “I couldn’t work out what it was and put it down to my imagination. If you had not said anything then I would have forgotten it.”
“The same thing happened with me. It is an important lesson for all of us. We are Exploratores. Nothing is irrelevant and nothing should be ignored.”
“Sorry sir.”
“Nothing to be sorry about Metellus. I nearly ignored it but we are all learning here. What we do will be a model for everyone who follows us. Remember that.”
Half under his breath Agrippa muttered, “If we ever do get back.”
“Thank you Agrippa your confidence in my command overwhelms me.”
“No sir I didn’t mean I…” When everyone, including Livius, burst out laughing he stormed off muttering to his horse. “A baby sitter that’s what I am. Looking after children and they aren’t even mine!”
“Right I want two of your lads out scouting today Drusus and keep your ears open as well as your eyes. The red glow came from over there,” he pointed north, “so that will be a danger area for us all and today we wear helmets. There are no locals which means that if we meet anyone it will in all likelihood be an enemy. If you want your mail on it would not be a bad idea.”
“You wearing it sir?”
Livius looked at the young men who depended on him and his decision making. It was a responsibility. “Yes Cassius I am.” He smiled as each man dismounted and retrieved his mail from the pack animals.
The two pack horses moved much better without their loads and the two sections made good time along the trail which wound around the edge of the lake. After their noon rest Livius changed the scouts, just to keep them fresh. “Looks like more men were following here sir.”
“Right Rufius take the point and follow the trail.”
The site of the slaughter was obvious to the keen eyes of the patrol. Despite the Brigante attempts to mask the massacre there was just too much evidence in the darkened and bloodstained grass.
“Well Drusus at least we know where the engineers ended their survey.”
“Yes sir but where are they? Prisoners? There are no bodies, or even bits of bodies to be seen.”
“Sir!”
“Yes Metellus?”
“Up here there is a trail heading west. Looks like something was dragged and carried. I can see mule prints as well.”
“Right Drusus, take your section along the trail. My section we will ride parallel but to the north. Watch for tracks and be aware of ambushes from the north.”
The tension was so palpable they thought they could see and taste it in the air. Somewhere ahead was either their engineer patrol or their enemies and they were a long way from help. The trees and bushes which had seemed so alive with birds and squirrels the previous day now seemed foreboding and threatening as though each one was hiding an enemy or a dark secret. Even their mounts seemed apprehensive and picked their way gingerly along the trail. The one good aspect was that it was largely straight which meant they were heading somewhere. The land rose a little and Rufius, who was on point gestured down to where Livius could see Drusus walking his horse down to a small lake.
By the time Livius’ section had reached the side of the still and shining water Drusus was wading out. “Found something?”
“I think we have the engineers, sir.” Drusus dragged the naked corpse from the shallow waters into which it had been thrown. It was the optio who had been the heaviest of the patrol and the Brigante had not managed to throw him far enough into the lake. Drusus pointed. “You can see shapes sir, probably the others shall we get them?”
Livius knew that it was his decision. While they were helping the dead they were vulnerable and could be attacked. He saw a small hill rising to the east about two hundred paces away. “Decius and Rufius get on that hill and keep watch. Let me know if
you see anything and I mean anything.” He dismounted and began to take off his helmet and mail. “The rest of you, let’s be quick about this. We will give them an honourable funeral but I don’t want us to join them so soon.”
Working as a team with a common purpose to do for others what they hoped their comrades would do for them, they dragged out the naked and mutilated bodies. All of them had had their manhood removed and some of the younger legionaries had had their eyes and noses removed. The hardened looks on the faces of his men was not lost on Livius. They would remember this and they would fight even harder.
When the bodies were laid out they all looked to Livius. A funeral pyre would have been the most obvious choice but it would attract attention. “We will have to bury them. Drusus get your section to bring stones and rocks. My section we will dig one grave and they spend eternity together.”
Working with a common purpose they cut the turf with their swords and gathered together a pile of stone and rocks. They were soon able to lay the men together in a sad line. Once the stones were laid on top and the turf replaced it looked like just another bump in the land. It would, at least, keep wild animals off them. They stood in a half circle as Livius spoke words over them. “You were faithful unto death and you will be together in the hereafter. May the Allfather welcome you and we will see you when our time comes brothers.”
Turning to his horse Livius began to put on his mail and helmet. “Now let us see where they went after this.” He whistled and waved for the two scouts to join them. When they did so he addressed them all. “Normally the Brigante like to take heads and show the world what tough bastards they are. Here they didn’t. They have something to hide. We will follow the trail carefully. Our job is not to fight an enemy but to find him. No death or glory to revenge those poor bastards. Whoever killed them is not to be underestimated. Even engineering legionaries are tough.”