Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 11] Roman Treachery (4 page)

Publius walked over to Marcus shaking his head. “Appius has died.”

“We will take him home.  Gnaeus!” His former chosen man rode over. “We will return a different way.  We will head towards the fort at
Pons Aelius
.  They will expect us to travel west, especially if they follow our tracks.” He looked over his shoulder as though willing the troopers to appear.”

“Three men in exchange for the prisoners you have is a trade they would have all taken sir. They are soldiers and casualties happen.”

Marcus shook his head.  “No it is not a fair trade but we have completed our mission and we will make sure that these men talk!”

Gnaeus thought he knew Marcus well but there was a chill in his voice which sent shivers down the decurion’s spine.

The prisoners began to stir as they wearily approached the coast.  The capsarius, Decius, and Gnaeus sat them upright on their horses.  “One didn’t make it sir.  Someone cracked him a little too hard on the head.”

Marcus was philosophical; at least they had four men to question. “Leave his body there and assign two troopers to each prisoner.  We don’t want to lose any more do we?” There was an edge to his voice which had not been there before his men were killed.

Once they passed through the fort at
Pons Aelius
they could relax.  The wall was reasonably secure all the way to Coriosopitum but it would be a long twenty five miles to reach it.  Marcus glanced to his left at the busy port on the south bank.  The Classis Britannica now had a presence there which made the coastline better defended and pirate raids from across the Mare Germania had dropped significantly.  It was now to the north where the danger lay.  Marcus prayed for the day when the wall would be complete and the land to the south made safe.  He worried every day about his mother, wife and child.  There had been too many instances in the past when their lives had been in jeopardy; the completed wall would end all that and stop the barbarian slave raids.

The legate and Livius were at Coriosopitum for the monthly briefing of senior leaders.  Julius had initiated the meeting so that the officers all saw their colleagues face to face.  If you knew the man then you fought much harder to protect him.

“Publius see to the turmae. Well done lads.  It was a good patrol. Gnaeus bring the prisoners with us.”

The Tungrians who were based at the fort knew the ala well and the salutes were crisp and respectful as Marcus led the prisoners to the Principia. “Wait out side until I call for you.”

The prisoners were still bound and gagged but their eyes burned fiercely with hatred for their captors. One of them spread his legs and urine hissed to the floor.  The sentry reacted quickly and rammed his spear haft between the man’s legs.  “You dirty barbarian bastard!”

Marcus smiled at the man’s courage.  “Just sit him down in it soldier.  It will soon clean up.”

Julius was alone when Marcus entered. The relief on the Julius Demetrius’ face was palpable.  The whole of the ala felt like family to the old prefect of the ala but Marcus was special for there was a close history between Marcus’ family and Julius’.  “Successful outcome to the mission Marcus?”

“We captured four prisoners but we lost some troopers sir.  I would have preferred not to lose any and, from the look of the ones we captured, it will be hard to get anything from them.”

“I think Prefect Sallustius and First Spear Broccus will manage; they can be very persuasive.” Marcus smiled grimly; Quintus Broccus was a large and tough warrior.  He was from the old school and learned his trade fighting Dacians. However, sometimes brute force didn’t always work.  It was as though the legate was thinking the same thing.  “And if the centurion’s methods fail then Livius has a very persuasive tongue.”

“Where do you want them then sir?  One of them decided to piss on your porch.”

“Feisty eh?  Take them to the cell block.  They can be its first customers.” As one of the older forts on the frontier Coriosopitum had been improved as the years had gone by.  The bath house and granaries had been completed the previous year and now a small set of cells built to house and discipline the soldiers of the wall, had been completed. “You can take your men to your new fort.  Rocky Point has been abandoned.  Decurion Princeps Metellus is busy organising it.”

“You mean Julius Longinus is organising it and Metellus is pulling his hair out?”

The Legate laughed, the ala clerk was a fussy little man who liked things done his way and the officers of the ala had to comply.  It was a trade off for the clerk was highly efficient and made life easier for them in other ways. “Would you expect anything less?”

When the senior officers arrived they discussed the prisoners.  “Marcus tells me they are Votadini and they are warriors.”

“What do you want to know then sir?”

“Actually, Livius, we need to discover quite simple things.  Who are the war chiefs?  What is their strength? How prepared are they for war?”

“What about their plans?”

“That would be a bonus, Quintus, but we would have to be very lucky to have captured warriors who actually know the plans of the chiefs but I will take whatever I can get. We will use the cell block for the interrogation.”

As they waited for their first warrior they took off their helmets, swords and cloaks. It was unlikely that the prisoners would be able to do anything but it made sense to keep temptation away from them. The first prisoner was brought out of his cell.  His arms were tied around a log which was fixed behind his back and his feet were shackled.  He came out like a wild animal and tried to ram the guard who tethered him, with the log from behind his back. The guard just yanked on the rope and the barbarian crashed to the ground. The centurion picked him up and, pulling his fist back, hit him hard in the gut.  The warrior doubled up trying to catch his breath. “Now that was just to get you to behave yourself.”

The man didn’t react and Livius said, “Well he doesn’t speak our language.  I will have to try his.” He lifted the man’s chin, gently and looked at him in the eyes. “The centurion wants you to behave yourself.  No more tricks eh?” The man shook his head but Livius knew he had understood. “Now tell me, what is your name?” The man spat at Livius who avoided the spittle.  Broccus brought his fist back but Livius held up his hand.  “Now if you do that again this man will hit you again and next time he will hurt you.  What harm is there in telling me your name?”

He could see the man debating.  Livius had no doubt that if the others were present he would say nothing but Quintus’ fist had hurt him. “Lulach!”

“There Lulach.  That wasn’t so hard was it? And your king is still Lugubelenus is it?” He looked defiant and Livius gave a slight nod to the centurion who hit him square on his face.  The crack of bone told them all that his nose had been broken. He nodded. “The officer who captured you said you had been hunting.  Was it a good hunt?”

He could see Lulach wondering at the question.  The blow had hurt him and he wasn’t sure if the information about hunting would help the enemy or not.  He decided it wouldn’t and if it avoided another blow then so much the better.  He would need his strength when he escaped and killed the big Roman warrior. “Yes.  We caught two big deer.”

“And there were only six of you?  Then you are mighty hunters.”

The man, despite the pain, showed pride in his achievements.  “I am the best hunter in the village.”

“Well that is good for there are many mouths to feed, especially with the new warriors arriving.”

“The new warriors cannot hunt like Lulach!” There was an air of derision in his voice.

“And you will need them when you attack the ones on the wall.”

“We do not need them.” Now that he had begun to talk he could not stop the flow. “We need neither them, nor the Selgovae nor the Brigante.  We could destroy the women who wait on the wall.”

It soon became obvious that they had learned all that they could from him and he was taken back. With that information the next three were questioned using the knowledge they had gained for confirmation.  They did not need to use force and they wondered how the Romans knew so much.  Finally the leader was brought out.  Livius had seen the torc around his neck and he had left him deliberately until last.

“We have spoken with the others and know that you are mighty hunters and warriors.  We know that your king, the powerful Lugubelenus has joined forces with the Selgovae and the Brigante to destroy the Emperor’s wall.  The only thing we do not know is your name, the warrior who leads them.” He stubbornly remained silent. Quintus’ knuckles were bloodied to the bone when he had finished his beating but the chief refused to say anything.

First Spear Broccus looked over to Julius and shook his head, admiring the courage of the Votadini warrior. “We’ll get nothing from this one sir.”

“Right then we will crucify him and see what effect it has on the others.”

As he was picked up by the two sentries he spat out some teeth and snarled at Livius.  “You will die Roman.  You will all die. My chief, Iucher has promised me this.”  He grinned a bloody, lopsided grin, “And in the night when you think you are safe, what of the knife in the night from one of your own.” He gave a chilling laugh as he was taken away.

“Brave man.”

“What did he say Livius?” Livius told them and First Spear looked puzzled but the Legate looked worried. “That sounds to me like they have a spy in our camp.”

“Not just in our camp Legate, in our ranks and that is worrying.”

Quintus looked confused.  “Can’t be one of my lads.”

“No I don’t think it is.  I think it will be amongst the auxiliaries.  We are recruiting more from the Britannic tribes now. All we ask is that they fight for Rome.  We do not check where they came from.” He looked at Livius.  “I will brief the other prefects, Livius, but you had better watch your men closely for any sing of deception.”

The prefect could not envisage any of his men being a spy but he had heard the words; unless, of course, the man was telling a lie to make them worried.  Livius watched the man being dragged away.  He was a warrior he would not tell a lie and, chillingly, he had looked at Livius when he had spoken; the traitor was probably in Marcus’ Horse.

Chapter 3

Governor Nepos and his entourage had finally left the safety of Eboracum.  Despite having been there for a month he had resisted the journey to the frontier.  Although it appeared to be quiet he had heard, from his predecessor, that the tribes could take umbrage at a minute slight and pour south to slaughter all in their path. Flavia, who was even more nervous than her husband, had insisted upon accompanying her husband; this meant taking a covered carriage; inevitably it slowed them all down and the Governor had to suffer his wife’s complaints on the long road north.  He was, however, grateful to Appius for his appointment of the two companions had proved to be a life saver.  They were both attentive and intelligent and Flavia kept them closely closeted, bemoaning her fate the whole way up the Via Nero.  Aulus was more than disappointed that they were hidden from view and conversation for both of them were young and very easy on the eye.  Vibia in particular was vibrant and lively with a wonderful sense of humour. All of the troopers of the turma who escorted them were madly in love with her already; her reddish blond hair and her flashing green eyes were a wicked combination.

“Well Appius what do you think of this country?”

Appius, in truth was not impressed.  His father had told him that it was a rich province but the only riches he had seen so far were rocks and trees. Admittedly the rocks were fine rocks and would make solid buildings but that was all. He decided to be diplomatic. “It has potential sir but there seem to be remarkably few settlements along the road.” He gestured to the west where the land rose to the hills in the distance.  “We have travelled almost eighty miles from the fort and yet we have only seen two forts with tiny vici.  Where are the towns? Where are the villas?”

Aulus smiled triumphantly.  “That will be my work Appius.  I will transform this barbaric land into a civilised outpost of the Empire.  It will be the talk of Rome.  Those rocks you see will make buildings which are bigger and grander than anything in Camulodunum. We will send engineers into the mountains to find the iron, gold and copper which will make us rich.”

Appius’ attention was instgant; gold and copper! Those were the treasures his father sought. “I will begin to make plans then sir, while we are at the fort to divide up the country and enable engineers to explore it.”

Aulus Nepos appreciated the young aide.  He worked tirelessly and seemed to anticipate his every move. “An excellent idea Appius.” He turned to the escorting cavalry. “ Decurion?  How long until we reach the fort?”

The decurion sighed, how long did any journey take up here? Forever when you were asked the same question every ten miles! Could the man not read the mile markers? “Coriosopitum is just twenty miles ahead sir.  If we push on we might reach it by dark.”  Both men looked at the slowly moving carriage.

“Send a rider to the fort to warn the Prefect that we will be arriving. Ask him to send a couple of turmae of his cavalry to escort us.  Not that I doubt your ability decurion but after dark, this close to the forests and the frontier…”

Decurion Titus Graccus did not take offence.  He actually did not give a shit if the Governor wanted a legion to escort him!  The only thing he wanted was for the journey to end so that he could rid himself of his burden and enjoy the amphora of wine he had waiting for him.

At the back of the column Rufius, decurion of Marcus’ Horse and one time Explorate also cursed the slowly moving column.  He would have been at the fort already with his twenty recruits had the Governor not insisted upon them adding to their escort.  He had had time to look the recruits over and he was impressed.  They had none of the older ex-warriors who joined for the extra salary paid to horsemen; these were all young and keen, men who wanted to join the elite auxiuiliary ala they had become.  The oldest of the recruits was Vibius Gemellus who looked to be in his early twenties but even he was bright eyed and enthusiastic.  Livius would be pleased. Metellus, his oldest friend would also be pleased for Rufius had called at their stud to collect some horses and Nanna had given him a letter and a cake for her husband.  Rufius knew that Metellus would retire ere long and who could blame him?  His farm was in the most beautiful part of the Dunum valley and Nanna was a wonderful wife.  If Rufius had been married to her then he would have retired long ago.