Laia had pulled her hood back and paused a moment to smile at Caros. “Have no fear Caros, Castrodubis is true. He would have come for you, but as you have seen, he would not have been able to pass below the wall.” Caros did not doubt it. At times, he thought he would be trapped and his knees, elbows and shoulders were rubbed raw from the narrow confines through which he had wormed. “Why though? I thought you were true to Gualbes?”
The warrior scowled and Laia laid a slim hand on his bulging forearm. With a flash of understanding, a surge of jealousy followed by foolishness washed through Caros. He might have seen their love if he had known to look for it, though that was unlikely as both knew the outcome if Gualbes had ever suspected either of betrayal.
The big warrior spoke. “We will see you safely to the Andosinni. Jornican has no love for Gualbes.”
Caros had been doubly gladdened to see little Lanca sitting atop Caros’ own mare. They had ridden together since then while Laia and Castrodubis each rode their own mount. The first day they had made good ground, pausing only to avoid Aeronosii war bands. Now they were struggling. Neither Lanca nor Laia were used to the pace needed to outdistance the warriors on their trail.
“If we change course and head east, for the coast, we may encounter Hannibal’s outriders.” Caros had little idea how far north the Carthaginians riders would be, but the General had thousands of Iberian and Masulian horsemen and would surely have columns far ahead of his main forces.
“East is open land. We’d be run down even if it takes these bastards half a day to figure out we’ve changed direction.”
Caros ground his teeth at the impulse that had made him send Aksel west instead of east the day the Aeronosii had deceived them. Now there was no hope of help from his friend either. Making up his mind, he slithered down the hillside. “Then we need to keep riding. If it means I must divert their attention, so be it.”
The big warrior followed him. “That is one path Bastetani. I’d prefer we stay together though.”
Caros shook his head. “They will catch us all then. If they take me, they will return to Olot leaving you free to reach the Andosinni.
The warrior laughed quietly. “Oh Bastetani, is that what you think? Gualbes wants his woman back, maybe even more than he wants to see your head on a stake. We are in this together now.”
Caros’ shoulders sagged. Of course Gualbes would want Laia back. They would just have to work harder at staying ahead of their pursuers. “Fine. We stay together and try to keep ahead until nightfall. They will struggle to follow us in the dark and we can use the time to lose them”
Castrodubis patted his mount’s neck, doubt in his eyes. “It is all we can do.”
They took to their horses in silence. Both Laia and Lanca were hollow cheeked from exhaustion, but made no protest. They had not gone far before little Lanca’s head lolled against Caros’ chest. The boy was asleep. Caros grinned and thought what a fine thing it would have been to have fathered a son or two with Ilimic. His thoughts were interrupted by the bray of a warhorn, which set his blood running cold. It sounded from above them. The party pulled up and eyed the hills. “There!” Caros pointed at the riders, silhouetted above them. “Scouts! They’ll draw the rest here soon.”
“Then let’s ride Bastetani. We race the sun now.” With that, Castrodubis kicked his heels into his mount’s flanks and it bolted forward. The path they followed was a difficult one to ride. Narrow and rocky, it tracked along the side of a steep hill, dropping and rising to avoid boulders and arroyos. Caros bringing up the rear, kept watch over his shoulder and was the first to see their pursuers. Looking back after negotiating a deep arroyo, he caught the sunlight reflected from their spear and helmets.. They were strung out due to the terrain, but closing fast. Ahead he heard Castrodubis curse and the warrior roughly pulled his horse to a halt. Laia gave a cry of alarm and managed to stop her horse before it ploughed into his mount’s hindquarters.
“Why are you stopping? They will be on us in heartbeats!” Caros yelled. Then he saw more dust above and ahead. Figures appeared on the crest of the rise they had been making for. These riders were angling down from a higher hill. They would cut across the path ahead of the fugitives. Caros looked to his left, down the hill. It was a steep descent and the bottom was a tangle of thick, thorny bush and tumbled rock. They would never be able to ride through that. He spun about at the sound a war cry. The Aeronosii were almost within throwing range of their spears and they were grim-faced. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He would not survive to see the sun set, but the child might.
“Lanca! You must flee. Go boy! To the bottom of the hill and hide there in the densest thickets.” He lifted the boy off the horse to set him down on the ground. The boy stood staring up at Caros, trepidation twisting across his face. Caros lifted his hand to point and at that moment, an ululation filled the crisp mountain air. For a moment he could not speak. There were only one people he knew whose battle cry sounded so. The ululations grew and the thunder of hooves crashed over the crest of the hill ahead of them. Those Aeronosii scouts ahead of them spun on their horses’ backs, their mouths slack jawed even as the first javelins punched into them, bowling them off their horses. Riders appeared from above as well and suddenly they were engulfed by a horde of Masulian warriors racing past them towards the main body of Aeronosii. Caros snatched at Lanca and hauled him back onto the mare’s back just as the Masulian riders on their ponies crashed past them at speed. Caros sat in stunned surprise, an arm wrapped about the child, Laia and Castrodubis tight alongside him. He caught Laia’s eye and smiled. She grinned back as did Castrodubis. The Masulians were past, leaving them coughing in a cloud of dust.
Chapter 10
A wide swathe of stars sparkled and shone above the mountains, the centrepiece a bright hunter’s moon. Smoke, dotted with flickering orange sparks, rose from the leaping flames of the campfire. Eyes growing heavier with each breath, Caros held his palm towards to the flames, relishing the warmth. Aksel sat alongside Caros with Lanca curled in a cloak at their feet. Across from them sat Castrodubis with Laia nestled against the warrior’s chest, her eyes also drooping.
“I have sent two columns to deliver news of the Gualbes deceit to Hannibal. It will not go well for them.” Aksel’s voice carried the grim weight that Caros felt.
Castrodubis hawked and spat into the fire. “The Aeronosii people will stand and fight together against the Carthaginians.” He spoke with conviction.
Feeling his blood rise, Caros snapped. “Hannibal might have overlooked a refusal to offer a treaty, but Gualbes went too far. Hannibal will smash Olot and leave it a smoking midden heap. Go see Sagunt if you disbelieve me.”
Lanca stirred uneasily in his sleep. Castrodubis’ eyes glinted from across the fire. “You mistake my meaning Bastetani. I have no love for Gualbes, but there are many good Aeronosii warriors which I call friend and kin.” He shifted his position as Laia sat up, rubbing her eyes with a grimace. He gestured to Laia. “We have sent messages to the chieftain of the Andosinni, Jornican. He has always mistrusted Gualbes.”
Aksel looked up and Caros frowned. “I don’t follow?”
Laia cleared her throat. “I believe we can treat with Jornican. He is my kin, a cousin. I have been urging him to support Castrodubis in taking the chieftainship from Gualbes.”
Caros’ eyes grew large. He looked at Castrodubis, trying to picture him as a chieftain and the idea seemed far-fetched. He was a prime warrior, but a man needed to lead to be a chieftain. Even as the thoughts crossed his mind, he knew how flawed they were. Many chieftains held their prominence though fear, strength or cunning. Few chieftains really led with the people’s best interests at heart. How would Castrodubis lead? He looked at Laia and she smiled softly and took Castrodubis’ hand in hers. With a tender look at the big warrior who sat grinning, she spoke quietly. “He may look like a lout, but he is really very kind and thoughtful. If you had but lived amongst the Aeronosii, you would have soon seen th
e love the people have for him. Perhaps not the rich, but certainly the common warriors and women.”
Castrodubis squirmed uncomfortably, a flush of colour rising on his cheeks. “What has Jornican committed to?”
Laia’s smile faltered and Castrodubis reverted to his more familiar scowl. “Nothing! He has toyed with the idea like a lynx with a fowl. He has been at war with the Celt in the north for too long to make more enemies.” The big man looked at Laia and shrugged apologetically. “It is true.”
Laia gave him a fiery stare and Caros squirmed in sympathy for Castrodubis who cringed. She turned to Caros. “He needs silver. As Castrodubis says, the Andosinni have fought hard for three summers now against the Celt. The Celt have plundered much of the land and caused famine. If he is to ask his warriors to fight, they will want assurances of silver.”
Caros shook his head. “There is none to give. We could have offered him four talents, but Gualbes has it all.”
Silence fell like a heavy blanket as each stared into the fire. Castrodubis rose suddenly and stalked into the night. Laia made to follow and then paused to look at Caros. “He is a proud man and he loves his people as do I. If Hannibal comes as you say he will, he will slaughter them yes?”
Caros swallowed without replying. His expression was all the answer she needed. He thought she might weep or turn away, but instead she came around the fire and took both his hands. Her eyes trapped his and he felt drawn as always by her intense gaze. “I know you are a good man. I sensed this from the first. Please come with us to Jornican, convince him to fight Gualbes.”
“Fighting Gualbes means fighting the Aeronosii. I thought Castrodubis wished to avoid this. What is the difference?”
“Jornican will not destroy Olot whereas Hannibal will. That is the difference Caros. You were at Sagunt? You saw the end?” Caros allowed a curt nod. “Tell me, is it true then that Hannibal had every male over the age of twelve killed?”
Caros gritted his teeth. “We will escort you to Jornican and try to convince him to take up arms against Gualbes.”
They rose the following morning with the sun. Aksel shared with them with what little food the Masulian column had left. With winter just receding, the Aeronosii villages and farms had given up meager supplies. He also supplied them with remounts since their own horses were exhausted. Lanca sat with Laia and Castrodubis remained at their side. The big warrior looked laughable sitting astride the smaller African pony, but Aksel assured him it would easily carry him. They wound their way northeast, towards the Andosinni homeland.
“Gualbes’ woman; she has convinced you to speak with the Andosinni then.” Aksel spoke.
Caros rode with Aksel at the head of the column, enjoying the splendor of the mountain vistas that opened before them.
“She did.” He thought again on her plea. With every bead of blood in his veins, he wanted to destroy Gualbes and see Olot raised, but her reasoning that the common people of the Aeronosii would suffer, struck a chord with him. His own people had suffered such raids and massacres. He had also seen the result of the siege at Sagunt firsthand. The dead that lay thick on the streets, their skin stretched tight over bones and no flesh between the two. Children with stomachs distended and limbs to frail to hold them upright. “It makes sense. If we destroy Gualbes and the Aeronosii accept Castrodubis as chieftain, Hannibal gains an ally more loyal than one bought with silver.”
Aksel peered at Caros. “If I have learned anything in these lands, loyalty to outsiders is fleeting at best.”
Caros growled and then laughed. Aksel was right. The Iberian people were fiercely loyal to their own and would always put their peoples’ interests ahead of loyalty bought by outsiders.
“Before we can consider loyalty, we still have a difficult task ahead of us trying to convince Jornican to strike at Gualbes.”
“Yes, but unless I am mistaken your merchant’s mind has already thought up some negotiation. I am right am I not?” Aksel’s face split into a wide grin.
An outrider cantered back along the trail. He quickly told Aksel that a large column of warriors straddled the mountain trail up ahead. They had not given chase and appeared to be maintaining a watch.
Aksel looked down his column. “I think it wise to have Gualbes’ woman and Castrodubis ride up front with us. This is likely a party of Andosinni patrolling their borders.”
“Let us hope they are Andosinni rather than Aeronosii.” Caros scanned the hillsides on either side, wary of another trap.
Aksel sent the scout down the column to summon Laia and Castrodubis. He caught Caros scanning the surrounding hills. “I have riders spread throughout the hills. They’ll have warned of any threats.”
They continued to ride and soon saw the distant glint of sunlight on metal. As they got closer, they could make out horsemen mounting their horses unhurriedly and warriors forming ranks.
Laia and Castrodubis trotted up the column, reaching them as they spied the horsemen. “Are those Jornican’s men?” Castrodubis queried by way of greeting.
Caros shrugged. “We think so. If they are, will they know you?”
They appraised the men ahead. They numbered some hundred or so and for the most part were afoot on the crest of the hill alongside the trail. A party of twenty sat astride their mounts on the trail proper.
The sun was high and shadows short and soon enough Laia grinned. “I recognise them.” Her smile lit up her face. Caros felt his heart race and he wondered what such a woman saw in Castrodubis. Recognizing his envy, he shook his head in wry amusement. She placed a hand on Castrodubis’ forearm. “Wait for me here. I will go introduce us.” Without another word, Laia trotted her mount up the path.
Caros exchanged an alarmed look with Aksel and then both men grinned.
“She would make a fine mother I think, but life would be hard on the father.” Aksel remarked.
“But worth it.”
“Without a doubt.”
Castrodubis gave an unamused grunt, unable to interpret the Masulian language. He looked like he might follow her so Caros reasoned with him. “She knows the men up there. Best let her reassure them we are not looking for a fight.” His horse pranced beneath him and Caros could see the tension in his shoulders. Choosing his words carefully, Caros spoke of a delicate matter. “You and Laia. Do you think it wise to tell Jornican? This may have an impact on his decision to support you.” Infidelity was a serious matter amongst all Iberian peoples and often resulted in blood feuds.
Castrodubis snapped his head around to glare at Caros. “You think? We are meant for one another Bastetani, but until Gualbes is dead, we will remain apart.”
Feeling a fool, Caros held up a palm. “I apologise, I meant no insult.” In fact, his estimation of the warrior increased somewhat. The man was full of surprises; maybe Laia was right about him being an able chieftain.
Castrodubis grunted and smiled suddenly, surprising Caros. “Of course, if I had any say, we would have bedded a thousand times already. Laia has more honour than that though.” He snorted and smacked Caros on the back. “So, no need to apologise. Now shall we go and speak with that stuffy-looking bastard up there or are we to let a woman do all our talking.”
Putting aside his surprise in Castrodubis’ change of character, Caros started his mount towards the waiting horsemen with Castrodubis beside him. Caros studied the Andosinni warriors as he approached. Laia was talking with a warrior whose grey beard reached to midway down his chest. Despite his apparent age, the warrior sat straight-backed on his horse, his face stern. Caros saw the man studying them as they approached. Several of the other horsemen spoke in turns with Laia. More eyes turned towards him as they neared the riders.
“Greetings! I am Caros of the Bastetani.” He gestured behind him. “We offer peace, not battle.”
The grey-haired warrior stared hard at Caros and nodded once, slowly. “I am Oriol of the Andosinni and serve Jornican, our chieftain.”
“I serve Hannibal and my people, the
Bastetani.”
Jornican’s captain looked Caros over again and Caros felt his hair bristle at the man’s reserve. He knew though that in his torn and filthy clothing he looked anything but a representative of a general.
As though reading his thoughts, Laia spoke. “Forgive us our state, Oriol. We barely escaped with our lives from Gualbes’ warriors.”
Oriol’s eyes fell on Castrodubis. “Castrodubis. Greetings. You are no longer your chieftain’s man.” The statement was flat and accusatory.
“Oriol. You still ride like a woman?”
The Andosinni’s eyes narrowed for a heartbeat then his shoulders lowered. “You wish to meet with Jornican no doubt?”
Caros spoke. “We do. A matter he will want to hear of.”
The captain turned hard eyes on Caros. “Do you represent Hannibal or the Bastetani?” Before Caros could answer, the Andosinni captain went on. “Or do you come on behalf of Castrodubis?”
Caros wondered if he knew about Laia and Castrodubis and guessed that he did. He smiled. “In this matter it is the interests of all.”
The captain’s brow creased. “But not Gualbes’ interests I would hazard.” He flicked a hand towards the Masulian column. “Bring them and follow. It is not far.”
True to his words, they had barely covered three stadia when they encountered outlying sentries. The column led by the Andosinni, meandered up a hillside that gave out onto a wide plateau. There they found an army of Andosinni warriors and their chieftain.
Jornican sat in the shade of a large oak, whetting the blade of a straight sword. It was longer than most swords, fully the length of a tall man’s arm. The chieftain straightened and carefully wrapped the stone and place it in a leather bag then stood and sheathed the sword at his side. He was a tall man, with a long face and deep brows overhanging his eyes. His cheekbones protruded sharply, giving him an air of a man hungry for a kill and his thin lips were evident beneath a sparse blonde mustache. He made no further move, waiting in silence as the Andosinni escort peeled away.
Maharra Page 11