Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat (13 page)

“Any enemy left alive?”

A voice shouted, “Here is one.”

“One in two keep watch, the other check the wounded and help them.  Livius keep watch.”

As Livius pulled his sword from the body of the dead warrior he watched in amazement as the young recruits followed orders.  For himself he would have sat down and cried or tend to his wound but, seeing the young men doing their duty and ignoring their own hurts, he felt he had to uphold the honour of his tribe.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Tribune and a recruit go to the wounded warrior.

“You will die for it is a bad wound.” The warrior looked at the intestines spreading out over his lap and nodded. “I can make it quick, give you a sword and send you to the Allfather.  One question.”

The man looked up, suspicion on his face. “I will not betray my people Roman.”

“I know.  Who is your chief?”

There was almost relief on the man’s face as he realised he could divulge that information and keep his honour. “Ryan and he has sworn to rid his land of the Roman filth.”

Marcus nodded, “Give him his sword.” The recruit looked in horror at the Tribune who nodded. When the sword was in his hand the warrior smiled and nodded at Marcus who slipped his own blade into the dying warrior’s throat ending his life instantly.

Macro rode up. “We killed another eight of them. They won’t be back today but we had better get while the going is good.”

Marcus rose wearily. “Place our dead in a row, cover them with the palisade and we will burn them.”

Livius looked appalled. “We should honour them with burial.”

“We should but then the Votadini would dig them up and despoil them would you want that?”

“No sir.”

Macro came up to him. “You have had two good lessons today son. One is that this is a hard place to live and die and secondly when you fight use the edge of the blade not the tip that way it doesn’t get stuck, but you did well tonight and you will learn and get better.”

When the depleted column left there were twelve empty saddles and the ala would not get all the recruits they expected but as Macro said, philosophically, the thirty eight they were getting were better trained and prepared.

Chapter 9

Tribune Sura looked thinner, greyer and totally drained when he greeted Marcus and Macro. “It is good to see you but I fear the handful of men you have brought cannot begin to make up the losses.”

Even the once youthful Prefect Demetrius now looked a little greyer and older. “The Tribune is right sir.  We need those recruits but, if I am to speak honestly, we need infantry more than cavalry.”

“The young man is right Marcus. And if what you say about the Votadini is correct then we may be in danger of having insurrection in our rear.”

Marcus looked at his old friends. “The good news is that there will be two complete cohorts of mixed infantry and cavalry ready by summer.  Can you hold on until then?”

“If the threat from the Votadini can be negated.”

“I think we can but it will mean using the ala to do so.  Can you spare them?”

With a grim smile Cominius said, “They are the best force I have but they are wasted in these woods. They have spent more time fighting on foot than they have mounted.  The country of the Votadini is more suited to horses and cavalry. If you can eliminate the threat of the Votadini then we will hold. This fort is now the frontier and Tribune Strabo is as stretched in the west.”

“Well Prefect shall we give the ala the chance to ride a little freer in the hills of the Votadini?”

The smile came back on Julius’ face. “I think the men would appreciate that sir but Tribune Sura, we will return.  I promise.”

“I know Prefect.  I know.”

Livius stayed close to the Tribune as they headed south.  As he looked around at the troopers of Marcus’ Horse he felt intimidated.  They were a scarred and battle hardened group of men and their eyes had the look of men who have seen the worst that war can bring about them. He also chose the position just behind the Tribune as it enabled him to listen to the Tribune talking with such ease to the Prefect and Decurion Princeps.  It seemed to the outsider that they were brothers talking of their family.

“So Julius how does command suit?”

“Not as easy as you made it look sir.”

Marcus laughed. “That is the trick.  It is like a swan swimming on a lake.”

“A swan sir?”

“Yes on the surface all appears calm but beneath is legs are flailing about at great speed.”

“I’ll have to remember that sir.  Keep a calm exterior.”

“If you can manage that Julius you will have done well.  And you Gaius are you happy in your post?”

“Yes sir, it was easier for me than Julius.  I had Ulpius, you and Decius to model myself upon.”

“Everyone is happy then.”

Julius turned to look back towards Macro.  “We have missed Macro.  He is such a huge presence in every sense of the word.”

“I know.  The recruits all look to him as though he is Julius Caesar and Horatius rolled into one. But he may change soon.”

“Change how so?”

“You remember Julius that he requested a meeting with you when time permitted?”

“Yes I don’t think I have ever seen him so serious.”

“Well,” Marcus lowered his voice, “he has met a girl and seeks to emulate the Decurion Princeps.”

“Me!” said a startled Gaius.

“Aye he wishes to marry.”

“Macro married! I never thought I would see the day.”

“Have you met her yet sir?”

Marcus shook his head, “No Gaius but she lives with your wife and Gaelwyn which is good for them both for Ailis has help with the bairn and Ailis will help Morwenna to understand the ways of the ala.”

“I will, of course, give him permission but that means I will have two officers yearning for a posting home.”

Gaius and Marcus laughed.  “I suspect Julius that Marcus’ Horse will be more like to be based closer to Coriosopitum anyway. Once Sura and Strabo get the mixed cohorts they will be in a better position to defend against the incursions and I need a force which can be rapidly deployed against minor rebellions. I fear that this Votadini rebellion is but one of a number.  Our Novontae tribesmen are complaining of raids by the Irish and Pictii for slaves and Macro’s betrothed was orphaned by one such a raid.  The trouble is we did not bring the Pax Romana we promised them.  All they see of Rome is the soldiers. At Eboracum and Stanwyck, why even Morbium, there is no sign of unrest. I will have to base the Classis Britannica on the west coast.”

“They did a good job the last time we used them.”

“Aye Julius but they cannot react as swiftly as you can.  No, this campaign will be a long one. The Votadini will need a lesson teaching to them which will make them think twice about rebelling. I intend to build a series of forts west from Coriosopitum as a barrier and a place where we can base troops. I have an idea for using the ala as smaller units perhaps four turmae.”

“That would work.”

“I would not suggest it with any other ala but you have officers who can work together.  Even the new ones you used to replace yourself and Gaius.”

“They have learned quickly.”

“They have had to.”

“I intend for us to camp at the site of the burnt fort tonight as we know that is close to the rebels and we can rebuild the fort.  I will send to Decius and ask him for a century of his Gauls to garrison it.”

“That will please the old goat! How is he?”

“Enjoying the role rather more than I thought he would.”

Livius felt like a spare part as the ala busied themselves building the fort, clearing the lines and preparing food.  Gaius too the opportunity to speak to him. “It must seem strange to you the way this ala operates.”

“It feels like some sort of closed order elite.  Everyone knows what to do I feel like an outsider.”

“We all feel like the first time.  Remember Livius you did not train with the recruits, you are an outsider.  They will get to know you. Marcus has told me that he wishes you to ride with a turma.  That is the best way to learn what it is like to be one of us for when you fight you have to rely on the man next to you and behind you as he relies on you.  If one man does not do his job then we all suffer.”

“That is a high standard.”

“Yes and it was not achieved easily.  We have had our bad apples who would have spoiled the barrel.  The Prefect’s own bother nearly caused the ala to be massacred.”

“And yet he is Prefect.”

“Yes because he deserves it and is a good leader.  Marcus’ Horse made him so.  This ala is like a test for good warriors.  If you are a good warrior it will make you a great warrior.  If you are not then you will leave or die.”

“What will I be?”

Gaius looked at the nervous young man. “Macro told me of your first fight. You did not run; you stood against a better opponent and you won.”

“Only just and that was because the Tribune shouted a warning.”

Gaius gave Livius a knowing glance. “One of your comrades helped you out?”

“Ah. Now I get it.”

“No you begin to get it.  It is a long journey but believe me it is worth it.”

Livius was even more impressed when he saw how the ala took to building the fort.  The brush and woods were cut further back.  As the troopers laboured Macro confided in Livius, “I don’t like to speak ill of the dead but the soldiers who built this originally did a half arsed job.  The ditches weren’t deep enough, the palisade not high enough and they allowed the undergrowth to grow back.  That’s the trouble with garrison duty; you get lazy.”

Livius nodded. “Will the ala become lazy?”

Macro shot a disparaging look at the boy. “The short answer is no but if you want to know the reason why then I suppose it is because we have a reputation to uphold.  Everyone is proud of the honours we have received and no one wants to be the one to bring disgrace. Besides the leaders wouldn’t allow it: Ulpius, Marcus, Decius and now Julius, they all want this to be the best, and it is. Anyway we have had our rest and it’s time we dug a ditch or two.”

Livius looked shocked; he was the son of a noble, the nephew of the Governor. “But I thought only troopers did that sort of work.”

Laughing, Macro slapped him on the back, “Well first old son at the moment you are a trooper but secondly, every man you can see here was a trooper at one time or another and if you look closely you will see the Tribune with a mattock in his hand.”

Livius saw, for the first time that the whole of the ala was working. “This will take some getting used to.”

Macro glanced down at the soft hands of the young noble. “Well look on it this way, the calluses and the extra muscles will help you fight a little better and don’t forget that when the fort is finished you and the other recruits have combat training.” Livius groaned.  This was a harder posting than he had expected.

By the time the drizzle had arrived with the tide and the fall of evening every single man was tired.  Livius was exhausted and all he wanted to do was to sleep.  He saw the Tribune and Macro approaching, bows slung over their shoulders. “Ah Livius we thought you had worked hard enough today and the Prefect has excused you the evening duties.  We thought you might like to come with us to hunt up some venison.”

Livius paled at the thought. He had envisaged falling into a deep sleep as soon as he reached his tent. “Yes sir but I am not a very good shot.”

“You have the finest teacher here. Macro could pluck an eagle from the sky.”

“But I wouldn’t.” They both looked at the Decurion who looked very serious.

“Why not Decurion?”

“They taste awful, all plucking and bones.” Grinning at his own humour he handed a bow and quiver the aide. “Do as we do, hold the bow in your left hand with an arrow notched, put a second one between your teeth.  You go behind me to my left and watch for my hand signals.  You are to hit anything which comes past me and goes left.  The Tribune will do the same to the right.”

Livius found he could barely see Macro as the big man slid silently into the woods. He had to keep looking down to avoid the twigs and branches which littered the ground. He looked up to see the right hand of Macro ordering a halt. He watched as the mighty Decurion drew back the string.  He did the same but he had no idea what he was aiming at. He saw the arrow release and then suddenly a huge stag leapt towards him.  He had no time to aim and he just reacted.  His arrow flew but he had no idea if it hit or not as he took cover to avoid being hit by the dying beast. When he found his feet he followed the other two who were running down the wounded animal. Livius could see the blood trail before him. This was not how he had hunted with his noble friends, then they had had beaters who had forced the animals into the open where they had bravely thrown their spears at the beasts and, while the slaves cut up the meat they had supped and drunk fine wines.

A few paces further on he found Macro and the Tribune standing over the huge animal. Macro was pulling an arrow from the rump of the beast. “Here is your arrow.  Well done you hit it but remember next time that you must lead the animal.  This barely wounded it.  If that had been an enemy you would now be dead.”

“But it came too quickly.  I did not have time to prepare and aim.”

The Tribune smiled, “In battle you have no time to prepare. It is the quick that live and the slow that die. You did well.”

Macro had cut down a young sapling and was sharpening the point. “You will also learn not to look down when walking quietly.” He began to slide the sapling through the animal’s body. The Tribune held its head.

“Then how do you avoid making a noise?”

The Tribune began pulling the sapling from the deer’s throat. Macro looked at Livius. “I am a big man?” Livius nodded.  “Did you hear me? No, and why because I put each step down slowly and I feel the ground beneath me; if I feel something I move my foot. My eyes are always looking around me for that is where the game is or the danger.  You need to practise. For me this was a childhood game, stalking my friends in the woods.  Did you not have such games?”

Livius shook his head. His games had been dice and throwing sticks. “No it seems I had a poor upbringing.  I was playing the wrong games.”