Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat (30 page)

The volleys had been devastating but there were still many in the warband. They hurled themselves at the Roman line; some of the warriors jumping high in the air to strike down on the soldiers before them. The second and third lines of the legionaries braced their shields against the backs of the men in front and the barbarians, who hit that part of the line, fell back, many of them unconscious with the force of their strike.  As soon as they were stationary the legionaries went to work with their gladii.  They were ruthlessly efficient.  The unarmoured Caledonii could find no target for their blows which bounced ineffectually off armour or shield while the razor sharp gladii slid between locked shields to find the vulnerable parts of the enemy’s bodies.  Soon the middle part of the Roman line moved inexorably forward. 

Unfortunately the flanks were not secure and the extra warriors of the boar’s snout were pushing back the looser line of the auxiliaries.  The Centurions screamed their orders and the cohorts fought bravely but as quickly as the legionaries moved forwards so the flanks were pushed back.  Soon the Ninth would be outflanked by the whole warband.  To their credit the auxiliaries did not run but they were losing the battle.

Lulach could sense the battle swinging his way and he shouted at his lieutenants to finish off the flanks. He just hoped that his men assaulting the fort were doing as well. The battle at the fort was on a knife edge.  Julius and the ala were using their missiles to thin out the barbarians but the bolt throwers and onagers could no longer fire as the Caledonii were on the towers and walkways. Macro and his archers had run out of arrows and it was a slogging match with warriors fighting soldiers in a deadly fight to the death.  Livius wondered if he would have the strength to lift his sword again but as he felt his comrades around him find reserves from somewhere so too did he.

Gaius halted his remaining men at the top of the slope.  “One line.” Looking down he could see that the flanks were about to give.  He could also see that the warband in front of the legionaries was thin and, if they could manage to avoid being flanked they could fight the foes on their flanks. The land to his right was rocky and steep, leading up to a heavily wooded area and would afford no advantage to his men.  “We will attack their left flank.  We have to relieve the pressure on those auxiliaries.” He hoped that by attacking one flank he would give the legionaries the chance to sweep around to the other flank.

The horses were fresh and the ground open; soon the thundering of the hooves could be heard by warriors and Romans alike.  It gave the Romans heart but the barbarians began to look around nervously, not knowing from which direction the danger was coming. The cavalry only had swords but the spatha had a good long reach and the slicing scything blades found easy targets.  Their horses crashed and crushed their victims and the beleaguered auxiliaries suddenly found new heart and began to push hard against a foe that was visibly weakening. Like a weakened dam wall the Caledonii left flank and centre collapsed in an instant and the Caledonii right flank, amongst the rocks and brush was isolated.

Lulach was a pragmatist. He had lost this battle but he would not waste his life.  The rocky bank behind him led to a thick stand of trees and pursuit would be difficult.  He would live to fight another day. “Caledonii follow me!” Suddenly disengaging they ran up the rocky bank, scampering like mountain goats.  The auxiliaries were too tired and shocked to do anything other than watch. The remaining warriors were soon slaughtered and Gaius and Decius greeted each other like the long lost friends they were. “As soon as I heard horses I knew we were safe.”

“And when I saw the standard of the Ninth I hoped it was you.”

Decius looked up the road and the smoke spiralling in the distance. “Aye Decius it is not yet finished.  We will have to leave those in the woods for it is still not decided at the fort.  They are within the walls.”

“Ninth form up. Auxiliaries take position behind us. You,” Decius grinned at Gaius, “can choose your own place.”

“We will take the left flank just in case the remnants of our skirmish decide to join their comrades in the fort.”

“Sir, the horses are exhausted.”

Julius looked at Sergeant Cato.  “I know.”

“Sir!” there was pleading in the man’s eyes and Julius knew that the horses were now more of a hindrance.

“Withdraw.” The turmae withdrew reluctantly, the Caledonii cheering, thinking that they had defeated them. Inside the fort the defender’s spirits slumped as they heard the cheer for they knew it spelled the end for them.

“Dismount we fight on foot. These barbarians think they have won.  Let us show them that Marcus’ Horse can fight as well on foot as horse.”

With a roar they hurled themselves at the shocked warriors who moments ago thought they had finally won, finally defeated the vaunted ala after so many attempts. At the same time Decius and his legionaries marched across the rocky and smoking bridge.  Inside Morbium Macro heard Decius’ stentorian tones ring out. “Forward.”

“Right lads we have reinforcements let’s get these bastards out of the fort!!”

Attacked on three sides by three forces the warband, still more numerous than the defenders in number, crumbled. Panicking many threw themselves in the river whilst others raced north towards the woods, desperate to evade the disciplined force which was inexorably ending the life of the warband.  The survivors were slaughtered until the only ones still living in Morbium were the Romans. They had won. Weeks later those who eked out a living at the mouth of the Dunum saw the decaying and battered bodies of the Caledonii washing out to sea.

Macro, Livius and the other members of the ala looked around at the death and destruction in the fort.  There were dead bodies lying five and six deep.  None of the survivors had emerged unwounded.  Even the mighty Macro was bleeding heavily from a head wound and a slash on the arm.  Decurion Cilo had lost three fingers on his left arm and the remains of the shield showed the force of the blow.

Decius Brutus was the freshest of the senior officers who remained and he took charge. “Right Centurion I know your lads did alright, eventually but now they can do a little bit more work. I want all these barbarian bodies taking outside and make a pile.  We will burn them later.” He glanced over at the other Centurions from the Ninth. “Make sure there are no survivors.” The officers from the Ninth drew their pugeos and sent those almost at death’s door or feigning death to the great hereafter.

Julius and the rest of the ala dragged their weary bodies towards the river. Gaius was already drinking up stream from where the bodies lay and the rest of the ala joined him and his turmae. “That was closer than I like Gaius.”

“They nearly had us. If they had concentrated on the fort they would have taken it.”

“They were too keen to get into the southlands.”

Gaius pointed at the wooded ridge.  “A lot of them escaped up there and I think their leader was with them.”

“We’ll get after them in the morning.”

Gaius shook his head as Macro and Livius walked up to them. “No.  I’ll take those who are fit tonight.” Macro looked curiously at Gaius for he seemed determined and he rarely argued with the prefect.”Because if they head west they will come to Stanwyck!”

Macro understood and leapt to his feet.  “Come with me Gaius.  Our horses have been resting.” Ignoring the Prefect he shouted. “Volunteers to ride with the Decurion Princeps and myself.”

If Julius had wanted a measure of the loyalty of the men and the popularity of Gaius and Macro he had it when, almost to a man, all those at the river rose and followed the two decurions to the mounts. Livius looked at the prefect.  “Did they just disobey an order?”

“No Livius I didn’t give an order they just wrote their own, but in truth they are right and I should have thought of it first but I am so very tired.” Julius slumped to the ground and Livius ran over to him. He could see no wound but as he lifted the helmet from his head he saw a long savage wound running across his forehead oozing blood.

“Pontius! Get the surgeon.”

Gaius led the way.  “They were heading west so if we swing southwest and use Dere Street we can be at Stanwyck before them.”

Macro urged his horse on.  “If anything were to happen to Decius…”

“Gaelwyn and Marcus are there and we have armed men guarding the walls.”

“How many?”

“Ten but they are good men.”

“Ten? Against these Caledonii butchers? We had better hurry.”

The road made the short miles fly and, as they neared Stanwyck they looked for signs of war; there were none. Gaelwyn and his men were on the walls with torches as Gaius rode up. Marcus emerged from the hut his sword in his hand. “We thought it was the barbarians.  I am glad it is you.” He looked at the smoke rising in the north. “Have they succeeded? Are you the survivors?” He opened the gate and the fifty troopers rode into the walled enclosure.

“No we won, but only just.  There is a chief with the remnants of a warband. Almost a thousand of them and they are loose somewhere around here.”

Ailis ran out and threw her arms around Gaius. “You are safe.” They embraced and kissed as Macro and Gaelwyn smiled at each other.

“Well Macro what do we do?  Stay here and hope that they don’t come or head for Morbium and hope they don’t catch us.”

“I think we stay.”

Marcus nodded.  “It is the wisest course.  Here we have sound walls and ditches.  They have fought one battle they will not want another.”

Gaius turned holding his wife in the crook of his arm.  “I agree.  They took a beating today and they have been fighting since before dawn.  Even if they do come here, I think we will discourage them easily enough.”

“But we need food and rest Gaelwyn.  We have fought all day as well.”

Gaelwyn looked at the exhausted ala and opened his arms.  “We will stand guard and we will get you food.  But worry not.  I can smell the Caledonii.”

Macro grinned at his friend, “Is that why you and your guards came out tooled up for war as we arrived?”

Sniffing Gaelwyn said, “No but you do smell like a barbarian.”

When they were indoors Marcus turned to Gaelwyn. “It never ends does it?  I thought that when I finished with the ala I would have a peaceful life but it is not meant to be.”

“Peace is different things to different men.  To me it is not having to fight and survive each day but knowing that some days I may have to fight.”

“So it makes most of your days peaceful.”

“Yes and, with Ailis and the bairns, rewarding.  It will come to you Tribune.  It just takes time.”

“I can see that and you are more content.”

Nodding Gaelwyn added, “And these raids, they will lessen.  They will tire of being beaten by the Romans.”

Lulach and his men were still hiding in the woods.  They had watched the cavalry riding south and suspected a trap. “They mean to send out others west and the two forces will converge on us.”

“Perhaps your father will arrive,” one of his men said hopefully.

“I think not.  Our plan was for us to go down two roads and divide their forces but if we can head south and west we might find him in the land of the lakes. Find food and water.  We need rest.  When it is dark we will travel.”

Macro and Gaius did not realise how tired they were until they had eaten and were sat with their babies on their laps.  All four fell asleep together, much to Gaelwyn’s amusement. “Look at them, four babies together!”

“Leave them be uncle.  I am just glad that they are still whole.”

Gaelwyn cast his eye over their wounds.  “Yes but only just. Well I had better check my guards.”

Gaelwyn was taking no chances and not only did he have his guards out but he had dogs in the outer ditch.  If any strangers came they would let him know and loudly. The night was dark and moonless; the barbarians had the advantage.  “Do not look to the light; it will spoil your night vision.”  The men smiled. They knew that Gaelwyn was worried when he stated the obvious.  Suddenly one of the dogs started to bark. “Here they come.  Watch for them and I will get the Romans.” He slipped into the hut and woke Gaius and Macro.  Already their men were rousing, having heard the barking.

“Grab your weapons and spread yourselves out around the wall.”

The Caledonii who had awoken the dogs had been sent by Lulach to find food.  The woods had been barren and without anything which might sustain a hungry and thirsty warband.  He knew that his men need sustenance if they were to trek across the spine of Britannia. The first warriors he sent were attacked by the dogs and the yelping told Gaelwyn that they had been killed.  His guards were armed with bows and as soon as they saw lightness in the dark their arrows flew straight and true. The first five scouts died silently but, as more warriors crossed the ditch they saw the arrows and their comrades die. With a roar they raced at the walls.  They expected a farmer and his slaves.  With a shock they realised they had awoken a hornet’s nest and it was a party of Roman soldiers. After a short and intense skirmish the survivors raced off.

“So we will not eat tonight.”

“Let us return with the warband
and finish off these soldiers
.  There cannot be many.  Let us kill them.”

Lulach shook his head. “We have lost too many warriors already.  A full belly is
not
worth
another
dead warrior.  Now that we know there are Romans here we will move west. There will be easier pickings
there for there are fewer Romans...”

Epilogue

Mona
was as she had dreamed it and as Luigsech had described it. The majestic mountain of Wyddfa, so sacred and
powerful
, a symbol of the power of the Mother, seemed to stand guard
over the verdant little island. So detailed had the
instructions
been
and the paths that she must take
that she easily found the sacred groves on the most
holy of
isles lying just off the main one.  Nervously they crept towards the sacred grove. Aodh had no idea what to expect but
Morwenna had been feeling its power as they had made their way across Mona, heaving with spring life.
Her heart fell
when she saw the whitened bones lying like sand on a beach.  These were
all that remained of her mother’s sisters and the Druids who worshipped there. As she reverently gathered their remains Aodh could only stand mesmerised by her devotion.  When he attempted to help she waved him off.  “Your hands are those of a warrior.  This needs the hands of a priestess.  Go and make us a shelter.  You should find a cave just around the headland.”