Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 08] The Last Frontie

by Griff Hosker

  There was a sudden roar of ‘Macro!’ and every trooper raced to pat Macro on the back. As they flooded past them Metellus and Rufius punched their fists into the ribs of Aelius Spartianus. Metellus leaned down, “Big mistake decurion for Macro is one of our own. Watch your back for you now have Explorates as your enemies and we leave corpses behind.”

  Livius called over the capsarius, “See to the sergeant.”

  Even as he lay in agony Macro heard Livius’ words. “Sergeant?”

  “I think you have earned it.” Turning to the ala Livius raised his arms for silence. “The weapon trainer, Sergeant Culleo will receive medical treatment and then begin training. Until then the decurions will take you through your paces.” He nodded to Cassius and Metellus who then turned to Spartianus to give him his instructions.

  Septimus came over with a beaker. The capsarius was finishing off bandaging the injured leg when Septimus proffered the drink. “Here Sergeant, drink this.”

  Macro looked at it suspiciously. “What is it?”

  “Poison of course.” He shook his head impatiently. “A mixture of soup, herbs and something my mother swore by. It will do you good.” The capsarius glared at Septimus. “Don’t worry I am not trying to do you out of a job but this man gets us the best game around. It is in all our interests to keep him healthy eh?” Grinning he slapped the capsarius on the back and then wandered cheerfully back to his kitchen.

  Livius smiled. The ala was becoming a team. All he now needed was to give them some steel and then find another two hundred and fifty to make up the numbers. Creating the bond was one thing but finding men who could ride and fight was another. The wars around the frontier had taken the best men and the progress of Rome was marked by their trail of graves. Livius would need to search far and wide to find the men he needed.

  Chapter 9

  As the capsarius tended to Macro, Livius spoke to his senior decurions, “Not the way I would have wanted it to play the scenario out but Macro is now a hero and Spartianus and his cronies are becoming more isolated.”

  Rufius looked around at the body of Aelius being helped to his tent by his diminishing group of friends, “Let me finish it tonight sir. A blade in the night and that sly bastard is history.”

  Metellus smiled and put his arm around Rufius. “Think of the bigger picture my friend. Livius is right. We gain more by this than the death of Spartianus would achieve. He would be a martyr and his friends would gain support. This way they will be watching for the blow in the night and the sudden death of a conspirator. Besides The Decurion Princeps can now make Macro his weapon trainer without having to fight every thug in the ala.”

  Rufius looked at Metellus and nodded. Livius said, “Keep an eye on both Macro and on that shower. I do not trust them and I don’t want one of them taking revenge on the lad. Tomorrow we begin our patrols.”

  By the time Marcus and Rufius returned with the strong of horses Macro, bandaged and limping, had the men training. He was trying to get them to be able to ride in echelon and throw their javelins at the same time. Although enthusiastic they were not very effective. The absence of The Fist, still being looked after by the capsarius and Wolf, away with Marcus, meant that there was a lighter atmosphere. Spartianus’ remaining men had been closely watched by Cassius and Metellus and had not had the opportunity to create any more mischief.

  Cassius pointed north east. “It looks like we have our horses. Now we just need men.”

  “The problem is, Cassius, that we have too few men we can rely on and trust. Septimus and his cooks are good examples of what we can achieve when we have reliable men.”

  “There are about six or seven who I have been watching and I think they are our kind of men.”

  “Do you trust them?”

  Cassius considered, a poor decision could be disastrous for the future of the fledgling ala. “Yes sir. I think that they can be trusted.”

  “Very well then bring them to me after I have spoken with Marcus. We will put them to work and see if they can be given the responsibility on a temporary basis.”

  Cassius peered at the whinnying line of horses.”Livius we only sent fifty men with Marcus didn’t we?”

  “I believe so.”

  “Well there are more than fifty there.”

  Livius could now see the civilian clothes amongst those of the auxiliaries. “I wonder what that pair have been up to.” They could now see that the old sergeant from Marcus’ Horse, Cato, was with them. Cato had been responsible for setting up the stud which produced the horses for the old ala. After they had retired Marcus Maximunius and the sergeant had built up their farm to produce the finest mounts in Britannia. Cato was now over sixty years old but he looked as fit as ever. It had been said that he preferred the company of horses to men and, certainly, Livius had never seen anyone who could almost talk to horses like Cato.

  Marcus and Rufius reined in their horses with Cato; the two decurions were grinning from ear to ear and looking very pleased with themselves. “Well then report. Or do you intend to keep us all waiting.” Livius nodded to Cato. “Welcome Sergeant Cato. I hope this pair hasn’t made you ride all this way for nothing.”

  Cato dismounted and came to clasp Livius’ arm. “No, Decurion Princeps, I just invited myself. I wanted to see how you were going to look after my fine horses and, “he winked, “to make sure I would be paid.”

  “Ah I can see that you are now a good businessman. I can guarantee you will be paid and paid promptly or there will be a clerk in Eboracum minus his balls. Cassius, take the sergeant to inspect the stables.” The two old friends wandered off and Livius put his hands on his hips to look up at the two young men. “Well? Are you going to sit there grinning or are you going to report?”

  Marcus gestured with his hand to Rufius who smiled and began. “After Marcus had told Cato that we needed horses the word began to go around that Marcus’ Horse was reforming. Men and boys began turning up at Gaius’ farm and Cato’s stables. The two of them culled the ones who were too old, too young or infirm and the rest,” he waved his hand behind him, “are here.”

  Livius looked at the fifty volunteers who sat astride their horses in the easy manner which suggested they knew their way around a mount. “And the horses?”

  “We have brought a hundred. That means there are fifty remounts. The sergeant will have broken another hundred by next week.”

  “You have done well.” He went closer to them, “Macro did well yesterday, he defeated The Fist but, thanks to Spartianus he now has an injured leg.” He saw the look of anger flash across Marcus’ face, his sibling honour touched. “He is fine and I have announced that he is to be sergeant. Wait a few days Marcus and I will confirm your promotion as well.”

  “Don’t worry about that sir. That isn’t important but Spartianus is. What are we going to do about him and his troublemakers?”

  “Cassius has half a dozen men we can trust. I will put them to work watching the bad eggs.”

  “We have ten good men as well sir. I have been watching them and I think they can be trusted.” Rufius was a good judge of men as well as horses.

  “Good then bring them to me when you have delivered the horses.” He addressed the recruits. “Welcome to the ala. When you have looked after your horses report to the kitchen where Septimus will feed you.” Turning, Livius shouted, “Septimus wave so that they know where to come.” Septimus waved a ladle in the air. “Carry on.”

  While the men were eating their meal, the recruits admiring the uniforms they would soon don, the officers and Cato ate in the Principia. Livius had spoken to the fifteen chosen men an hour before. He had told them that they were chosen men and had been identified as such by the decurions. He was pleased that they all had seemed proud of their selection. He told them that when the new rosters were complete each would be in a turma with the role of assisting the decurion. He honestly told them that some amongst them would be promoted but it was not certain. Livius did not want to go down the Spa
rtianus’ route of bribery and coercion. He did leave them with the role of making sure that there were no more accidents and sabotage. Without naming perpetrators he knew that they had worked out which men they should watch. Now as he sat eating with all of his decurions he felt more comfortable knowing that there were twenty men watching the six potential threats.

  “Well Cato. What do you think of the stabling?”

  The old horse whisperer thought for a moment. “Is this your camp for some time?”

  “At least until the spring.”

  “Then I would put roofs on the stables. We get deep snow here in the winter and the last thing you need will be horses down with the colic.”

  “Thank you Cato.”

  “I’ll get on to that this afternoon sir. “

  “Thank you Marcus.”

  “Uniforms and payments for the sergeant are the next items of business.” Cassius noticed that, for the first time Aelius Spartianus took an interest, his ears pricking and his furtive eyes bright with curiosity. “I will take a couple of men down to Eboracum to chivvy along the Prefect. He is a good man but, like all quartermasters, a little prone to hang on to his supplies.” They all laughed, the exception being a sour faced Spartianus. “When we have finished here Sergeant Culleo can continue with the training of the men. Metellus you and Rufius can begin to process and train the new men. Aelius can assist Sergeant Culleo.” The last order did not please Spartianus who stored the implied insult up with the others to be paid back at some future date. “Cassius if you remain behind we can finish off the work on the new turmae.” If Aelius’ face was angry before it was apoplectic when he heard that particular snippet of news; he had worked to get his cronies in his own turma and he was not going to see them split up. Livius had noticed the infusion of anger. “Is there a problem decurion?”

  “Well sir,” Spartianus struggled to sound calm even though inside he was seething, “it seems to me a little unnecessary to change the turmae around. The men are used to working in their own turma, they have team spirit. This would just cause upset for no good reason.” Cassius almost laughed when he heard the words ‘team spirit’ coming from Aelius’ mouth, he had no concept of the term!

  “Thank you for your sound comments Aelius,” the use of the first name was intended as an olive branch which the decurion could take or reject, “but there are, as you can see from the kitchen area, many new and inexperienced men. The last thing we need is for them to be in turmae without any experienced troopers. No we will spread the inexperience and the experience and one more thing. We need to identify potential decurions, keep your eyes open for those with the required skills.” The scowl on the face of Spartianus told Livius that the olive branch had been cast aside.

  Cassius and Livius sat with the rosters moving names and numbers around. The original ala members were entered in the books already but the new men were just numbers. “I will need to inveigle a clerk from the Prefect. This bookwork is too demanding to take away a decurion who should be doing other things.”

  Cassius grinned, “Thank you for that sir. I prefer the action to the writing.”

  “And we will need a quartermaster for, when I return, we should have uniforms and weapons for all of the men.”

  “I think I have someone who might do well. How about Spartianus? Is he finished?”

  “No Cassius I am sure that he has more mischief to come but we now have more eyes upon him and now I need to embroil you in the Emperor’s work.” He rose and went to the door to make sure that no one was around. “Before I begin I want to tell you that you can refuse my request and I will not think any the less of you, for the work involved is dangerous.”

  Cassius smiled, “More dangerous than being an Explorate behind enemy lines? Then I am your man sir.”

  “Seriously Cassius the work is of the greatest importance to the Empire.”

  “Then seriously sir, thank you for the honour and I accept the role unreservedly.”

  ”Good then you must not involve anyone else in this, not Rufius, not Metellus, no-one. Is that clear?” Cassius nodded. “It is not that I do not trust them but the fewer involved in this the safer it will be for all of us. I need to involve someone else in case anything happens to me.” Cassius looked startled; the Decurion Princeps was definitely serious. “I have to send intelligence reports to Julius Demetrius in Rome but they will be in code. I need to give you the code so that if a message arrives for me whilst I am away you can decode it and it something occurs whilst I am away which is important you can send it to the Senator.”

  “What sort of intelligence?”

  Livius decided not to mention the Emperor’s suspicions about the Governor but instead focus on their role. “The Senator and the Emperor need to know what the state of the frontier is therefore we will tell them the truth about the situation.”

  Cassius leaned back relieved, “Thank the Allfather for that. For a moment I thought we were to spy on Romans.”

  “No Cassius, just the enemies of Rome. Now the code is a simple substitution code.”

  “How do you mean sir?”

  “Let me show you.” He took a wax tablet and a stylus. He wrote out the first few letters of the alphabet and then a series of others above.

  A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y Z

  T H E S V O R D F C A I M N B G K L P Q X Y Z

  Cassius peered at it. “The Svord of Cartimandva. Simple.”

  “Yes easy for any who fought in the ala to remember and to know. You just have to remember not to put down repeat letters” He smoothed out the code from the tablet. “We do not write it down and keep it anywhere.” He tapped his head. “We keep it here. Just write it on a wax tablet if you are decoding, although, Cassius, I hope that does not occur for it will mean something has happened to me and I should like to be around to see this ala achieve the success of our other endeavolur.”

  The significance of the meeting was not wasted on Cassius. “You can rely on me sir and, like you I hope I never need to use it.”

  “Good then I will leave you in charge while I go to Eboracum. I will take two of the trusted troopers. I hope I won’t be leaving you short handed?”

  “We’ll manage sir.”

  As Livius rode out in the late afternoon with two proud troopers, all three of them fully armed with javelins, bow arrow and shield, Decurion Aelius Spartianus gathered his men around the cot of The Fist who was beginning to recover from his wounds. “The Decurion Princeps is making life more difficult for us. He needs to go. This is a perfect opportunity. He will be away from his precious decurions.”

  His men looked uneasily at each other. Bullying, stealing and minor acts of sabotage was one thing but if this went awry it could lead to crucifixion. The Fist raised himself on one elbow. “Are you sure sir? I mean I think I will need a few more days to recover.”

  “Thank you my friend but others,” he looked around meaningfully at the rest of his coterie,” will have to take up the challenge.”

  Wolf shrugged, “I think I have had enough of this army anyway.” The rest stared at him. Only Aelius nodded. “It is obvious isn’t it? Whoever does this will have to desert. If the Decurion Princeps is eliminated here they will know who did it so the best way is now while he is on the road to Eboracum.”

  “You may not have to desert. If you leave tonight then you can get rid of him and the troopers and be back by morning. We can cover for you.”

  “I’ll need a couple of others then. I can’t take three of them on my own.”

  The decurion glared at the other five men who looked at the ground. Eventually two of them Quintus and Sulla stepped forward. “Good and you will be rewarded. If you leave whilst we are eating then no one will miss you. I will engage the guards in conversation so that you can get the horses. Do not ride until you are out of sight of the camp. Tomorrow, when you return just bring your mounts back to the corral and, if anyone asks, you tell them you were exercising them.” He clasped each arm in turn. �
��I will not forget this.”

  Wolf looked at him his eyes narrowing, “if we fail and live then we will not return. We, or at least I, will desert. This ala is not the one I joined. If I cannot have it the way it was then it is the forests and brigandry for me.”

  Spartianus inclined his head, “Your choice but if you succeed then believe me this ala will return to the way it was.”

  Livius and the two troopers made good time to reach the military road which traversed the province taking men and supplies from the safety of the fortress to the dangerous frontier. The two troopers were both behaving as Livius expected, watching all around for although this was Roman territory there were brigands and bandits who preyed on lonely travellers. Livius wondered whether he ought to build a road linking the fort with the road but them dismissed the idea. The fort was only a temporary measure to help bond his men. Next year they would begin to head north and he needed a solid stone fort for that. Morbium or Luguvalium seemed ideal. It was a pleasant ride heading south with the sun slowly dipping to the west. Livius said over his shoulder, “We’ll be too late to make the barracks tonight. We’ll stay at The Saddle.” He heard a chuckle. “Do you know it?”

  “Well not us sir but we hear that Decurion Spartianus visited here and didn’t like it.”

  There was a pause and the second trooper said, “So it should suit us.” Livius chose to pretend that he had not heard the comment but it confirmed his view of his Decurion and the bulk of the men. They were good soldiers, just badly led.