Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 06] Druid's Gold (25 page)

“Good to see you sir.”

“And you Metellus.  You did well.”

“Not well enough. I was just telling the lads that.”

Livius shook his head.  “Tell me, how Rufius become wounded.”

“Bad luck really sir.  An arrow hit him in the shoulder.  The leather saved him but the loss of blood meant he came off his horse.”

“Lucky for him you are the best capsarius in Britannia.”

Metellus shrugged. “If we had got to the fort in daylight we may have been able to persuade the Prefect to resist and…”

“It would not have made any difference Metellus.  I arrived at the fort as it was overwhelmed. Porcius Fortuna could not have defended the fort for he was not a fighting man. The Parcae were watching over you and Rufius.  Had you been admitted to the fort your bones would be lying now in the debris.”

“It is destroyed then sir.”

“Yes Agrippa and the vicus too.  They were both burning fiercely when I left.”

“Did any escape?”

“I saw some figures fleeing south and they were not pursued.  I assume that the twentieth will know what is going on.”

“Will they come to join us then sir?”

“Afraid not Decius. The Twentieth has to control the wild lands south and west, including Mona.  The best that we can hope is that they send a cohort to rebuild Mamucium but I doubt even that.  I suspect that the best we can hope is that they fortify the bridge over the Seteia and hold there.”

“Things look bad sir.”

“Yes Cassius but the Prefect is a good commander and the Ninth are the best we have.  I don’t think my brother will best them. But we could do with an ala of cavalry to give us the edge.”

“You mean like Marcus’ Horse.”

“Just like Marcus’ Horse.”

*

Morwenna had only waited until she had given birth before embarking with her new army. Maban was wet nursing the boy as she also had given birth to a boy.  The new born baby’s body now rested in the holy grove on Manavia allowing the acolyte to use her milk for the new heir to Britain, the child of Morwenna and Decius. The boats which brought the army up the Belisama had been of all shapes, sizes and comfort.  It had been the part of the rebellion which had concerned Morwenna the most. If the Classis Britannica had discovered them on the short crossing from Manavia then it would have been easily destroyed.  As she watched the warriors disembark she felt more confident. Tadgh, beside her, was resplendent in his new armour at the head of the Brigante and druids who formed the Queen’s bodyguard. The Irish were commanded by Ernan, a young Irish prince whose lands had been stolen by an uncle with more allies than the youthful heir.  He had a desperate passion to return to his lands and reclaim his birthright.  Morwenna had seen in him someone who could be bent to her purpose and she had promised that, when her kingdom was reclaimed she would help to fund his war in Ireland.  She knew it would make him fight fiercely for her.

She had a good army; a thousand wild Irish warriors, her four hundred bodyguards, a thousand Brigante under Brennus and the deserters, six hundred in total under Decius. She knew that soon others would flock to her banner and this time they had the weapons and the gold to ensure that their rebellion succeeded.

Tadgh organised the camp on the shores of the estuary as they waited for contact to be made by Brennus or Decius. The niggling doubt in Tadgh’s meticulously military mind was their lack of horses. It slowed them down and made them blind.  He hoped that his men had managed to acquire horses or they would have to blunder blindly through the land seeking an enemy who had both the eyes and ears to find them first.

Marius was alone when he saw the small fleet edge gingerly into the estuary. He wavered wondering whether he should inform the Prefect immediately or wait to make sure it was the rebel army. In his own mind he knew it was the enemy but he had to make sure that Morwenna was there. She would be the difference between success and failure for the rebels. Despite the hatred felt for her, he also knew that her warriors would fight far harder for her than any man.  He had seen it before and he had heard the stories of her mother who had the same power over men. He felt safe in the copse; someone would have to stumble over him to find him.  His cloak was dark and he had a mount whose colour varied from black to light brown and blended into any undergrowth like a bush with a tail.

The boats kept in arriving, disgorging warriors. Marius could see that someone knew his business for the first warriors formed an armed perimeter and scouts were sent out even further to ensure they avoided detection.  The Irish warriors looked every bit as fierce as Marius had expected.  He had never seen any but heard the stories of their incredible valour fighting to the last man if honour decreed it. Few had armour but many had helms and shields. Their axes were long two handed affairs and many had swords longer even, than a spatha. Worryingly Marius also saw druids, armed druids at that, amongst the well armed and armoured Brigante warriors. Druids were dangerous for they inspired fear in their foes, as Caesar’s legions had found out and courage in their own ranks as they fought believing the gods were amongst them.

Finally he saw Morwenna who disembarked from the boat which had arrived first.  As she stepped ashore he could see that it had been planned for the whole army turned and whooped a roar which caused the flocks of gulls and sea birds to take to the air. It was a symbolic gesture designed for effect. Marius was about to leave when a movement to his left arrested his departure.  A column of men was wending and snaking its way from the camp in the woods.  Marius did not dare risk running for he saw that they had horses, not many, but enough to chase him down. He waited patiently; better to leave safely and take his information than to be hasty and die unnecessarily.

Once the two groups had met they set off in one mighty horde for the camp in the woods.  Marius knew where that was but he did not think they would remain there for long. As soon as the last warrior was out of sight he rode swiftly from his hiding place and headed for the prefect with the news, Morwenna was back.

*

“How many men did she have with her?”

“At least a cohort.”

“And we know where they are?”

“Yes sir,” Marius looked over to Livius, “they all went to the Brigante camp.”

“They may not stay there sir and I think they will link up with the other two armies.”

“I think you are right decurion.  Now we await your other scouts.”

“With your permission sir I would like to take all my men out for a reconnaissance. Without information we are blind.”

“You are right.  There is no point in us moving to this camp if they are heading for Mamucium.”

“I don’t think so.  If they were going to use that as a base they would not have destroyed it.”

“Even so we have no idea where they will go.”

“I hope they come here.”

“Quite so First Spear but I can’t see them accommodating us that easily.  This is a good base and we can move in any direction quite easily but without cavalry we will have to move slowly and carefully.”

“The Emperor must need them more in the east sir.”

“Yes decurion but without them we may lose this particular part of the west.  Take your men out but return quickly for even a negative patrol will give us information.  It will eliminate where they aren’t.”

The eighteen Explorates were gathered outside the fort’s recently strengthened walls; the bolt throwers peeping over the ramparts like the teeth of a wolf.

“I want us to spread out like the spokes in a wheel.  We will travel from south, round to the west and then north. Drusus you will take the road and your men to the east of you. Marius you will head due west and your men spread out to the south of you.  I will head south east and my men will fill the gaps to yours. Go as far as you can in one day. If you discover anything do not look for another Explorate but head back here and tell the Prefect then find me or Drusus or Drusus. If you have found nothing by the first day then return on the second day here.”

“What if they are further away?”

Livius shook his head. “We can travel further and faster, Drusus, than the behemoth which is Morwenna’s army. One day’s riding should take us beyond where they could be.  I am hoping that we find them half a day from here for then the Prefect can attack them and nip this rebellion in the bud. But make sure you take enough supplies for a week for you and your mounts.  If you cannot return because you are following then we will know and we will send other Explorates to follow.”

*

The Queen was also holding court with Tadgh, Brennus, Decius, Centurion and Ernan. “We need to strike quickly and raise the people’s hopes.  If we can defeat a Roman army they may see light at the end of the tunnel.”

“We destroyed the men at Mamucium.”

“Yes Decius but there were no survivors amongst the people to tell the tale.”

Tadgh coughed. “We need more horses majesty.  If we had horses then we could cover a larger area and we could scout as the Romans do.”

“I have thirty horses.”

“Not enough Decius but it gives me an idea.  There are many horse farms in the land between Morbium and Eboracum.  If you were to send your men there they could acquire more horses and bring them to us.”

Tadgh nodded.  “They would not expect that.  What of the main army?  We cannot sit here waiting.  That is what the Romans would want.  They would easily find us and destroy us.”

“No we will not wait here. As Decius has destroyed Mamucium we will head south on the road and then across the country to Eboracum. When we have the horses we can meet in the fertile and unprotected heart of the land of the Brigantes.”

All of them nodded for the plan was both bold and sound. They would leave the auxiliaries guarding the road north while the men of the Twentieth Valeria would be hiding behind the stone walls of Deva. “Decius.  Who will lead the horsemen east?”

“Centurion.”

“Centurion, take your men to the fort first.  Make them think you are scouting it and then head north.  Take the road east later.” All the men nodded for the plan was a sound one which had no risk for Centurion. He had sufficient men to be independent and there were no cavalry close by who could threaten his rustlers. “Bring your horses south west towards Eboracum.  We will be there.”

*

It fell to Agrippa to spot the cavalry heading towards the fort and he wasted no time mentally debating what he should do. He followed at a discreet distance.  The armoured men were much heavier than he and his lithe mount. He was confident that he could outrun any beast that the deserters could field. He could see that they were heading for Bremmetenacum and he kept looking over his shoulder for the rest of the army following. Once he was certain which direction they were taking he looped back and back tracked to look for the rest of the army. They were nowhere insight.  He quickly regained the trail and found the column which was still heading, resolutely east. Even when he could see the fort, looming up in the skyline the column did not deviate from their route. He could hear the buccina braying its alarm call as the auxiliaries and the legionaries raced to the ramparts.

Suddenly the cavalry halted and raced north eastwards to the road by passing the fort. Agrippa took a quick decision, a decision which had an effect far beyond the moment.  He rode to the fort. He deigned to enter but shouted up to the centurion on the ramparts. “Tell the Prefect there are no men following this column.  I think it is a ruse to make us follow them. Tell my decurion I will follow the cavalry.” He wheeled his horse and headed to the east of the road.  The last thing he wanted was to be ambushed by those he was trailing.  They would follow the road and, if they turned off he would see their trail and their tracks.

It fell to Metellus to find the main army.  As he later reflected, a man would have had to be blind and drunk to miss the swathe they cut through the land.  He settled in to following at a discreet distance.  He could see that there were only a couple of horsemen with the force which meant he could be half a mile away and still safe. He had been following for an hour when he was joined by Cassius. “Well we have found them and they are heading south east.”

“The fort?”

“Could be. When we know we will send a rider back to the Prefect.“ An hour later and Livius joined them.

“One of our easier assignments eh Cassius?”

“Yes sir.”

The huge army was moving far quicker than a Roman army for they were not keeping ranks nor worrying about stragglers.  The Explorates had no problem following but Livius knew that a Roman army attempting to pursue would struggle. “Metellus, ride back to the fort.  Tell the Prefect that the main army is moving south west and heading for the road.” He paused, knowing that his judgement would affect the Prefect’s decision. “I think they are heading for Mamucium.”

“Sir.” Although Metellus agreed with his superior’s assessment he was pleased that it was not his call.

Cassius felt much better now that the decurion was with him. He trusted Livius’ judgement more than any other man he had known.  “Well sir what do you think they are doing?”

“Not what I expected Cassius but then again Morwenna has always been unpredictable. Two things spring to mind.  Deva or Mamucium.”

“Deva?”

“No I am not confident about that call.  Her people live to the east not the south but I do think the army heading in their direction will make the legion there a little worried and might stop them coming out to fight the army.  My bet would be Mamucium but we will find out when we meet Drusus and his scouts.  Until then we follow.”

*

The snaking column that was the army soon arrived at the deserted and fire ridden settlement that had been Mamucium.  The scavengers had already begun to feast on the dead and decaying bodies.  Flocks of ravens, crows, magpies and chuffs took to the air as the first soldiers marched in.  Foxes fled to the safety of the hedgerows to await the passing of this enormous army.  “We camp here tonight.”

Her leaders looked at Morwenna almost daring to question her orders. “But majesty,” ventured Tadgh, “we could move on a little and be away from the rotting corpses.”