Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 06] Druid's Gold

by Griff Hosker

  “This is Gaius Aurelius’ second son Marcus Gaius Aurelius and this is Decius Macro Culleo son of the famous Decurion from Marcus’ Horse.”

  “You should both be proud of your fathers, yours was a great warrior and yours is an inspiration to all in the province. And now decurion your report.”

  “The Queen and her army are about ten miles away. It has grown since she landed. There are five thousand Brigante although some of them are not warriors. She has a bodyguard of druids and the Irish. There are a thousand of those and the deserter army is now as large as the First Cohort and they have horses.”

  “That is the one thing we do not have. The men you have and the other ten Explorates I brought me with are the only eyes and ears we have. Still they will have to do. Your men and these new recruits, “Macros and Marcus beamed with delight at the thought, “can get food and rest but I need you for a talk about our strategy. Come to my tent.”

  *

  Centurion was red faced and angry when he rode into the camp. He had been thwarted again but this time he could not blame Nuada. Casca had done as well as he could but his men only had swords and archers would make mincemeat of them. As he slowed down, once in the huge sprawling camp he looked at the army from the point of view of an opponent. The men were tough; there was no argument about that: the Irish, Tadgh’s Brigante and his deserters, man for man he would stack them against anybody. The rest? They were just gladii fodder. The problem was the whole war hinged on the ability of the fake Romans to manage to get into the fortress using a ruse; a ruse which had not worked at Mamucium. Centurion knew that were it not for incompetent leadership they would still be outside the walls and you couldn’t count on two incompetent leaders in such a short space of time. If they did not manage to trick their way in then they would have to batter their way in and that meant facing the ballistae and scorpions as well as the archers. Morwenna’s army would be slaughtered before it reached the walls. Centurion had to admire his superior, Decius had it all planned out. He knew that if they didn’t carry the fort then they would lose and his plans were to leave. Centurion was also certain that they would have to leave and he would not be risking his life for the witch. Perhaps instead of Gaul they could go to Africa. It was said that it was always warm and one of his old optios had told him of the beautiful women who inhabitated that land and lived to pleasure men. His days of fighting would soon be over and with the gold they had stolen, and that included a large portion of the gold intended for the druids, he would live life as a rich potentate.

  “Centurion how did it go?”

  He shook his head. “Those damned scouts again. They have bows and they can run faster.” He quickly looked around to make sure they were out of earshot. “The wagon? Nuada has taken it?”

  “Aye. He will tell us tonight where it is and then we just need a boat.”

  “That will be easier said than done.”

  “Don’t forget old friend that we have to go to Eboracum with the Brigante as part of the plan to trick them. I am hoping that we see one either going up or coming back from the port. Unless it is Classis Britannica it will have no soldiers aboard and we will easily be able to over power them.”

  “Has she said when the attack will take place?”

  “No. Tadgh has Brigante scouts out; the ones who know the area but I believe that it will have to be tomorrow. The longer she delays the more chance we have of being caught in a trap. The Twentieth are only at Deva and despite what she says I still think they could attack and the Ninth are at Luguvalium. If they both left when we attacked Mamucium then they could be here in a matter of days. No it is either tomorrow or we desert.”

  “I have been thinking about that. If we make sure the men loyal to us have the horses we have been using that leaves the half trained ones for them. I can’t see them being able to train and control them.”

  “Good plan. One way or another tomorrow night or the following morning we will be afloat and free.”

  *

  It was dusk when the Brigante scouts returned. Their faces told their story. “There is a cohort of legionaries and some auxiliaries just ten miles away.”

  “Let us fall on them and destroy them.”

  “Brennus! We have not come this far to jump into the fire. Let us weigh up the opposition. Do they look as though they are moving towards Eboracum?”

  “They are camped for the night.”

  “Good then gives us our answer. Send for General Decius.” Tadgh snorted. “Don’t do that Tadgh it is petulant and makes you sound like a wild boar. Decius is the key to our plans. We can destroy the Roman army and take Eboracum tomorrow if we plan our strategy well.” Tadgh shrugged his shoulders. He was a warrior and understood fighting toe to toe with an enemy, not this deceit and sleight of hand.

  Decius arrived flanked as usual by Tiny and Centurion. Tadgh and Brennus did not like it but there was little they could do about it. “You sent for me?”

  “Yes tomorrow is the day, our day. You will take Brennus and fifty warriors to Eboracum as though they are prisoners. You will leave in the middle of the night so that you arrive before dawn.”

  Decius frowned. Tiny and Centurion exchanged looks as they saw the wicked smile on the faces of the two Brigante leaders. The Irish prince was in his usual position, sat with a jug. For him this was about gaining riches and a kingdom. He left the strategy to others, he was a warrior. “That was not the original plan. Why the change?”

  “You see Tadgh. The General is a man who thinks. He doesn’t lose his temper when things go wrong. There is a Roman army ten miles away and my warriors think we can defeat it.”

  “How many?”

  “A cohort of the Ninth and a few auxiliaries.”

  “You could but if so why go ahead with the Eboracum deception?”

  “If I defeat the army it may well be that Eboracum is forewarned and we cannot take it. If we just go ahead with the deception then the Roman army may move and prevent us from succeeding. We need both at the same time.”

  Decius’ mind saw a way to work this to his advantage and ensure that he would be to get a boat and flee without any pursuit. “You will need all your other Brigante to defeat the Romans. If I give half of my men to support you then perhaps we could take Eboracum with the fifty warriors under Brennus and just two hundred of mine.”

  Even Tadgh and Brennus looked surprised. “That is supremely confident General. Why?”

  He smiled. “Perhaps the fact that my spy returned yesterday and told me that Eboracum is only held by four centuries and they are a mixture of auxiliaries and legionaries who have either been wounded or waiting for their pension. They could still withstand an assault, especially with the Roman army so close but once inside it would be child’s play and Brennus and his men could then let you know we had taken it.”

  Morwenna’s face lit up and she embraced Decius. “I had wondered about your enthusiasm as we crawled across the moors but now I see that you are the leader we all hoped for. Well Tadgh, Brennus, can you see a problem with that?”

  Neither could and they both stood and embraced Decius. “We never doubted you or your men. Tomorrow will be a great day.” Ernan just raised his beaker and belched.

  Later when Tiny and Centurion walked the horse lines with their leader Centurion asked the question which had burned in his mind since the meeting in Morwenna’s tent. “Does this mean we are staying with the Queen in Britannia?” He could not keep the disappointment out of his voice.

  Decius laughed. “No. Do you not see it is the perfect opportunity to escape? When we enter the fortress, Brennus will take his men to help the Queen to fight the Ninth. She will lose by the way; this rabble cannot defeat a cohort of the Ninth. We will go to the river and choose the ship we want. You know our men Centurion. they will rape and pillage while we slip away and pick up Nuada and the gold. It is the perfect plan. No-one will look for us for they will assume we died.”

  Even the normally taciturn and silent Tiny was
moved to words. “Good plan!”

  *

  Livius met with his Explorates. The Prefect still had four of them watching the Brigante and Marius had still to return. He had spent a long time with Prefect Fulvius discussing the plan for the battle which they both knew was not far away. “We have an interesting role to play in the coming battle. The Prefect and I do not know if the Brigante will attack Eboracum or us. Until the First Cohort arrive we will be outnumbered somewhat. If they attack Eboracum then the legion and the auxiliaries will attack them.”

  Metellus spoke up, “Sir, I am flattered that the prefect is taking us into his confidence but I don’t see how we fit into this particular scenario.”

  “As ever Metellus your sharp mind has got to the nub of it. The point is we will be involved for the Prefect wishes us to make the Brigante attack us.”

  “I am most definitely intrigued sir. How will the fifteen of us…?”

  “The nineteen Metellus, four are on duty.”

  “Fine. The nineteen of us then. How will we do anything that will affect the thousands of warriors who are out there?”

  In answer Decius pulled out the Sword of Cartimandua. “With this.”

  Marcus couldn’t contain himself. “It’s father’s sword.” When everyone laughed he sat down blushing. Rufius tousled his hair and Macro grabbed him around the shoulders.

  “Yes Marcus Gaius Aurelius your father’s sword but not just the sword. He went to the rear of the tent and pulled off the blanket which had been placed there. He revealed a pile of auxiliary shields and the swallow tailed standard of Marcus’ Horse.

  They all looked in amazement at the standard and the shields. Most could not comprehend what meant. Metellus, of course, grasped it quickly. “You wish us to dress as Marcus’ Horse.”

  “You have it Metellus. Tomorrow Marcus’ Horse will ride again and we will ride to the Brigante.”

  Rufius looked confused. If it were a track or trail he was following then he had no peer but this was too subtle for him. “But why sir.”

  “We are seriously outnumbered here but we do have the First and Third cohorts coming to our aid. They should be here by noon. We need to precipitate an attack and then use the auxiliary archers and artillery to thin their ranks. The Prefect has five scorpions and they will also cause many casualties but the plan only works if they attack in a rage not in ordered lines. The First and Third are coming from the north west and should be able to roll up their flanks. But we need the Brigante to stop the deserters coming to grips with us. They are trained as we are. If they chose to fight as we do tomorrow with the Irish and the Brigante in support then, quite simply we would lose. They have too many men but the Brigante are the biggest contingent and the most undisciplined.”

  Young Macro spoke up. “But why would the sight of the sword and the standard upset them so much?”

  Livius looked sadly at Macro who had never known his father and did not know that the Queen who faced them was his mother, and would never know that terrible secret. “Marcus’ Horse captured and crucified the Queen’s mother Fainch and destroyed the Brigante in the last rebellion. She and her warriors would risk everything to finally destroy those who destroyed all that they held dear.”

  “And of course, “added Metellus, “there is the sword. The Sword of Cartimandua is the symbol of Brigante honour and every warrior who faces us believes that it should be wielded by a Brigante and not a Roman soldier.”

  “So tomorrow we dress as auxiliaries once more.”

  “Sir we don’t have armour.”

  “I know. We shall wear our cloaks and we will carry spears again. Our task is to make them charge us, while we will throw one volley of javelins and then lead them to the killing ground. It is dangerous men and I know that not all of you fought in Marcus’ Horse but I also know that you will not shirk from your duty.” Every man stood taller and nodded his agreement.

  As they all went to touch the standard again and select their shield, the two boys went up to Livius. “Can we ride tomorrow in Marcus’ Horse?”

  Livius shook his head. “No. Firstly we have no uniform or helmets to fit you but mainly because your mother would skin us all alive.”

  “But we want to help.”

  “And you shall… I want you two mounted behind the auxiliaries with your bows. Rufius tells me you are excellent shots. While the auxiliaries will fire volleys I want you two to target the leaders. Without their leaders they will be lost. Can you do that for me boys?”

  They both chorused, “Yes Sir!”

  Cassius gently took Livius’ arm and took him to one side. “Of course you do know that there is someone else interested in you and that sword.”

  “You mean my brother?”

  “Exactly. If he sees you on the battle field and he brings his horsemen then the whole plan could fail for his cavalry would keep pace with us and see the trap the prefect has planned.”

  “I know but I am hoping that my brother has not changed.”

  “How so?”

  “He always had a deep sense of self preservation.”

  “You mean he is a coward?”

  “Not a coward but someone who weighs things up in his mind first. He might send someone else after me but he would not want to face me in front of his men in case he failed and lost their loyalty.”

  “Unlike you sir who, I am sad to say, would never run. Even though your whole command would wish it.”

  “We cannot change what we are Cassius. The Allfather made me one way and Decius another. Marcus, Gaius, Gaelwyn and Macro they all added to the Allfather’s work and I am what I am.”

  Chapter 19

  General Decius Lucullus Sallustius was many miles away from the battlefield as his brother was dressing for the day. He had had his armour with him and he wanted to make sure he looked the part. Decius, by contrast, was worrying over the smallest detail which might cause a problem with his complicated plan. He and Centurion had persuaded Brennus that he and his warriors should hold the rope bonds to make it look as though they were prisoners whilst that all wore their swords over their shoulders hidden by a cloak. One of Decius’ officers led them and it did look like a triumphal parade. By arriving early in the morning they hoped to catch sleepy guards who would see, in the half light, what they expected to see, victorious Romans with captured rebels. They had their story already worked out. They were from Deva and they had pursued these assailants from Mamucium over the divide. It seemed plausible when they had concocted the story but as the sky began to lighten Decius found more and more flaws in it.

  “It is a good plan General and the story is a good one. Our fate is in the hands of the Allfather but I have a good feeling about this and remember General, we have the witch with us and surely she must bring dark powers to our side?”

  “You are right Centurion, I am worrying over things which have yet to happen. I just hope nothing untoward has happened to Nuada and the gold or all this will have been for nothing.”

  “Don’t worry he will be waiting. He would not dare to cross me and Tiny would follow him to the ends of the earth if he did betray us.” That made Decius feel better; Tiny was his most loyal soldier.

  The column was moving quietly up Ermine Street towards the fortress. The vicus was still asleep but they could see the glow from the lanterns on the Porta Decumana. The gate had been chosen because it was some way from the threat which the garrison must know was out there. Brennus at the front was eager to get to the fort. He truly believed in the Queen as a witch and knew that, with her powers they would easily fall upon the garrison and they would be as wolves feasting on sheep. Had they thought about it the silence of the column was unnatural but the sentries and optio on duty did not seem to notice. All that they saw was a small column of Roman cavalry with a handful of pathetic looking rebels.

  “Halt!”

  “Decurion Modius on detachment from the Twentieth Valeria with Brigante prisoners.”

  Decius was close enough to see
the conversation between the sentry and the optio. “It is a little late to be bringing in prisoners is it not?”

  “We caught them late last night and, as we knew how close you were we decided not to build a camp but push on.” The man played his part well and gave an easy laugh, “We’re early really. Come on brother we have been riding all night. Do the Twentieth a favour and if you are ever over …”

  “We are the Third Tungrian but we can be as generous as our legionary colleagues. Open the gate.”

  Decius almost shouted with joy. The plan had worked. All they need to do now was to get the whole force inside and then the slaughter could begin. He nodded to Centurion who began to hold back when the troopers went forward. The ten men they had chosen were all at the rear, hanging back. The column moved in and when Decius reached the gate he yelled, “Now!”

  The Brigante were like wild animals released from a cage and they raced into the barracks hacking and slashing at the sleeping bodies. The deserters raced up the walls to kill the Tungrians who had not even had time to draw their swords. The optio died with a puzzled expression and his body hurled to the ground next to the butchered sentries who had unbarred the gate. Decius turned to the Irish warrior who was sitting uncomfortably on a horse which was far too small for him. “Tell the Queen the fortress is ours and she can begin her attack.” As the eager warrior galloped off he turned to his lieutenant, “Find us a ship Centurion before the mariners hear the commotion and set sail without us.”

  Brennus and his men set about their task ruthlessly, massacring all that they found in the first two barracks. The auxiliaries stood no chance against Brigante who had faced the killing machine that was the Roman army on a battlefield. This was not a battle field, this was a slaughterhouse. Brennus kept his head for he was mindful of his second task; he was to take his men and attack the Roman left flank for he assumed that the battle would have commenced. He yelled to his men, “Brigante! To me!” All of the ’captives’ had been chosen personally by Brennus for their personal allegiance to him and he nodded with satisfaction as they gathered in the parade ground. He looked around for Decius but could see neither him nor the bulk of the horsemen. He assumed he was at the Porta Praetorium and he led his men off at an easy lope.