Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 01] The Sword of Cartimandua (29 page)

“The problem is the hills and the water. “ He was pleased that Orrick nodded in agreement. “The water and the mountains force you to travel north for half a day before you can even think about turning east and we still have the problem of the narrow valley of two lakes.”

“East”

Orrick spoke.  “Your young commander is right and the mountains to the east are even higher.  There is also a valley, the valley of the long lake and it comes out close to where Venutius will have his muster.”

Ulpius turned to speak to the legionary centurion who had not spoken. “Any thoughts centurion?”

“It seems to me that my legionaries were chosen because they can defend walls.” They all nodded their agreement. “But they are the very troops who could force a narrow pass for that is work for men fighting shield to shield.  The barbarians cannot stand against such tactics. They fight as individuals. We are not enough to face a huge army but as long as they are equal numbers, my men could easily force them back.”

“How narrow is the pass to the north Marcus?  You travelled down it last.”

“It is ten men wide until you come to the land where the two lakes join where it is quite flat although boggy and marshy, about three hours march and then it narrows again to forty men wide just north of the northern lake.”

A plan was forming in his mind. “So if our legionaries can force then back to the wider part then our cavalry would be able to fall upon them?”

Marcus nodded and Orrick spoke up. “The centurion is right the hills to the west are steep, for horses.  My men are hill men.  I could take a warband on foot and attack them in the rear at the neck of land between the two lakes.”

Their discussion was interrupted by the shout of “Stand to! Riders approaching.”

The men quickly raced to the ramparts. The bolt throwers were already cocked although the enemy were too far away to hurt. “That’s him.”

“Who?” questioned Ulpius.

“The leader of the men I fought. I recognise his hair and beard.” Marcus had mistaken the warrior brother of his defeated opponent but it raised his standing amongst the Brigante.

“You did well young Marcus for that is Earl Woolgar.  In his youth he was a mighty warrior and he is one of Venutius’ wisest and fiercest leaders.”

“So,” continued Ulpius, “we can assume it is a large force but not the whole army.” His three lieutenants nodded their agreement. “They will, of course base themselves at our outpost as it controls the pass. How many men would he have with him do you think?”

Orrick pondered for a moment and then said, “He would have at least a thousand. They would be his warband.”

Ulpius looked at Decius Brutus. “You can force the pass against a thousand warriors?” It was more of a statement than a question.

“Against undisciplined warriors with little armour? Yes.”

“Good let us retire and I will tell you my plan. If we all approve then we will proceed.”

An hour later the plan was finalised. As soon as it was dark Orrick would take a hundred and fifty of his best warriors west to provide the ambush. Ulpius and Marcus would take ten turma as a screen towards the tower. Decius Brutus would follow with his legionaries and two bolt throwers and attack the Carvetii at the pass. The remaining soldiers both Brigante and Roman would defend the Roman fort. As Ulpius said it was a gamble but if they did not strike quickly then perhaps the Carvetii would bring their whole army and destroy them.

Earl Woolgar turned to his nephew. “What do you think?”

“I think that we would lose many men attacking from here. They have the fort defended by the water. We could starve them out. Stop their men getting supplies or we could inform the king.”

Woolgar nodded.  He had come to the same conclusion. If they had boats then the assault would be easy but as long as they had the lake behind them and the walls defended by the bolt throwers, archers and javelins then they would be wasting lives. “I agree.” He turned to his blood brothers. “You have the honour of the first duty. Watch the fort and let no one leave. I will return with more men.”

Both forts were filled with the sounds of blades being sharpened and equipment being checked. For the Roman legionaries, who had been largely guards until this moment, it was a chance to show the barbarian horse soldiers what real Romans could do. For the auxiliaries it was a chance to hit back at the hated Carvetii. When Woolgar had returned he had also brought the heads of the dead cavalrymen and they had been placed atop long poles for all to see. The Brigante were warriors first and foremost. The fact that they would be partially avenging the death of their Queen was a bonus and they would take few prisoners. The act angered the legionaries more than Ulpius’ men who also understood the gesture of removing an enemy head.

As darkness fell Ulpius called his key leaders together. He spoke first to Orrick.  “There will be no signal for you to attack for I know not how long it will take us.  You will have to judge the time for yourself. I do not think thy will be expecting an attack as it is an almost impossible thing I ask of you.”

“We will not fail and we will need no signal for as soon as we see them we shall attack.”

Ulpius nodded.  He knew himself that warriors lost confidence when attacked from a direction they felt was secure. “Marcus you will take six turmae along the right flank, Lucius Emprenius you will take six to the left and I will command the remaining three in the centre.”

“But sir that is the most dangerous part.  You will be facing the main body of Earl Woolgar.”

“Aye Marcus and that is why it is my duty.  The men must see me leading. And besides,” he smiled at Decius Brutus, “I will be backed by a cohort of the finest legionaries in Britain. Are you sure your bolt throwers can still be effective firing over the heads of my men?”

“It is true they are more effective firing through ranks of men but believe me they will cause chaos falling amongst the ranks who feel secure.”

“Good.  If there are no further questions may your gods help you tomorrow.”

Marcus waited until they had left. “Commander.  I have a request.”

“I know you wish to be married.”

“But how…”

“I may only have one eye but it sees well enough and besides Lenta spoke to me or should I say took me to task and berated me.”

“And..?”

“Of course you may marry.  I would have married her sister if time had allowed.  Do it now.  It will make the women happier.”

“Thank you.  And will they be safe?”

“A good question.  The men we leave are the weakest we have and if we are defeated they will not hold out long.  Had we managed to build a boat then they could have escaped on that so I will not lie to you.  If we lose then they will be lost. If we win then they will be safe. Now go and marry her before I feel the rough edge of her sister’s tongue again.”

In the middle of the night Orrick silently led his men out. They avoided the Carvetii guards by following the mountain stream which fed the lake. They were in the foothills within an hour of leaving the fort. As a precaution Esca took fifty Brigante and they watched the Carvetii. They would kill them at dawn before the attack.

In the fort the cavalrymen were mounted and watching the faint light of dawn begin to creep over the steep sided mountains to the east. Marcus looked at his men. They were now hardened into a battle ready team. At his right, guarding his sword side was Decius almost the shadow of the decurion.  He looked unconcerned as he chewed on apiece of dried horsemeat.  Marcus knew that inside he was as wound up as he was. Perhaps Marcus was in a greater turmoil having married the now heavily pregnant Macha and just as suddenly left her. He had everything to fight for.

Just behind the gate Ulpius fingered the hilt of Cartimandua’s sword. It gave him comfort to know it would be with her weapon that he would wreak havoc upon her murderers. Certainly the Brigante were in awe of the weapon.  As Esca had left he had asked Ulpius if he could touch the scabbard. As the thought entered Ulpius’ mind he wondered if the young man had achieved his objective; were the sentries dead? He was answered by the sentry who quietly called down. “The signal sir from the tree line.”

He turned to his men. “Our allies have done their work now it is up to us.  Remember we are fighting for Rome but we also fight for our lives. Fight as you have been taught and we will win.”

With that he led his turma forward.  The cavalry quickly excited and formed a skirmish line. Ahead of them the Brigante trotted forward as scouts.  Finally the hobnailed boots of the cohort of legionaries tramped through the gate. As Ulpius watched them he thought it was a pitifully small force with which to begin a war but it was his army and they would win.

Woolgar was also awake.  Sat in the Roman tower, he had spent the night preparing the report he would send to Venutius. It would be a spoken report and he was using one of his wiser lieutenants who would not deviate from his words. Once the report was sent he would begin to prepare his defences. He called his messenger over to him. “Listen carefully and report my words exactly to the king. Tell him that we have found some Romans and Brigante and they have fortified a site at the big lake. They are the size of a large warband, our numbers. We await his orders. Repeat it.”

The messenger repeated the report word for word. Woolgar had been careful to avoid any word which might imply cowardice or doubt. Venutius was too unstable to give him an idea that Woolgar was trying to oust him. He heard the horse galloping north and he called for his food. He would eat and then prepare his camp. Above him at the top of the tower the guard who had been fitfully dozing suddenly became alert.  Before he could shout a warning a Brigante arrow entered his neck and his dead body tumbled down the ladder. Woolgar shouted the warning. “To arms to arms!”

The sleepy warriors grabbed the arms they had slept with as Ulpius’ cavalry charged across the flat open field before the tower. On the right Marcus rode his turma close to the stream as did the turma on the left. In the centre Ulpius headed straight for the tower. That would be where the enemy commander was.  Strike the head from the snake and the body would be easily destroyed. The Carvetii outnumbered the Romans but this was the perfect situation for auxiliary cavalry. The tribesmen had no formation and the javelins and spathas wreaked havoc as the solid line of Romans galloped forward. Marcus had the easier task as the ground sloped from east to west and the men there fell back even faster. To his right rode the ever present Gaius guarding his weaker side.  A small group of Carvetii had hidden in a small fold of land behind a rocky outcrop.  As the turma wheeled left to drive the fleeing tribesmen towards the legionaries they leapt out and went straight for Marcus. Gaius urged his horse forward and the trooper next to him followed. Leaning forward in his saddle the your auxiliary slashed down severing the warrior’s arm. The trooper next him tried the same manoeuvre but overbalanced and immediately three warriors began hacking at the body. Gaius was now isolated and Marcus had moved forward with the rest of the turma. One of the warriors thrust a spear into the belly of Gaius’ horse and he tumbled to the ground.  The breath was knocked out of him and the other two rushed towards him teeth bard in anticipation of an easy kill. He still had his shield and as the first of them smashed down with his sword he deflected the blow but in doing so bared his body for a thrust from his companion. Expecting to meet the Allfather Gaius began to mutter his death prayer.  As the spear approached Gaius felt a movement out of the corner of his eye and a spatha smashed through the wooden shaft.

“Not so fast you fucking bastard!” Decius then back slashed to take the warrior in the throat. Just as he did so the first warrior tried to stab the unprotected back of the grizzled veteran. Gaius had his wits about him and his sword sliced through assailant’s ankle. Turning Decius despatched him through the throat. “Thanks young Gaius now let’s get the fuck back into this war.” He charged off on foot to continue killing Carvetii.

In the centre the initial charge of Ulpius slowed as the warriors closer to the tower began to form up.  Ulpius saw their leader, now armed and armoured organising them.  Soon his men would begin to weaken as the ground near the tower rose and their momentum slowed. He looked over his should and saw that Decius Brutus’ legionaries were less than a hundred paces behind.  He turned to his standard bearer. “Now!”

At this he began waving the horsetail standard signalling the two flanks to slow. He shouted, “Halt!” The disciplined ranks of the two turmae stopped. The Carvetii were confused for they could only see a thin line of Roman horse that had suddenly stopped. Ulpius raised his sword and the two turmae all drew the javelins they had reserved. The Carvetii charged forward to hit the stationary Romans. “Release!” His men threw their javelins as one into the charging warriors. He looked again at his aquifer. “Now!” He waved the standard again and as Ulpius shouted, “Fall back!” The two flanking lines of cavalry charged.

The tribesmen saw none of this, they saw the Romans retreating and they charged forward over the bodies of the warriors killed by the javelins. The whole host of tribesmen were now racing forward, a warband enraged and angry, desperate to get to grips with the Romans who had decimated their ranks. Earl Woolgar could do little to control them and, looking out from the tower he saw the trap laid by the Romans.  He could see what his men could not, a line of legionaries and as the first bolt took one of his bodyguards in the chest, bolt throwers. His military mind could not help but be impressed as the front line of cavalry fell back and his men charged into a solid line of legionaries.  It was like throwing snow on a fire for they were slaughtered by the heavily armoured Romans. Scanning the battlefield Woolgar could see that the cavalry on the flanks were forcing his men into the centre where they were cut down by the relentless Romans who were fighting almost as a machine with the mechanical slash and thrust of razor sharp gladii.  It was time to retreat. He shouted for his blood kin. “We will retreat but with order. You,” he pointed to Aetre, “Ride forward and tell the men to fall back.  We do not want to run but we can move faster than those Romans.” Aetre galloped off. “The rest of you mount.  We will see if we can defeat those Romans.” He pointed at the turma who were at the western edge of the battle. They were downhill and had a stream at their rear. If Woolgar could attack them whilst their attention was on those to their front then it could allow his men to escape north.