by Griff Hosker
For Furax and Drugi it was a mutual appreciation society. Furax told Drugi of life in Rome and the sea whilst Drugi’s tales of hunting filled the boy with wonder. “I still do not understand what you say about the people who live in Rome. Do you not know them all?”
Furax laughed until the tears rolled down the street. When he saw the offended look on Drugi’s face he relented. “I am sorry Drugi. How best to explain? You know the place we rescued Marcus from?”
“Hjarno-by?”
Furax could not get his tongue around the words and so he just said, “Yes, that place. Well how many people would you say lived there?”
“Oh too many to count. Many years ago it was small with but two or three hundred but now there are many more.”
“Rome has hundreds of such villages inside its walls and all of them are much bigger than your village. If you stood in the middle, in the Forum, and you counted every person who passed in one day, you would run out of numbers.”
Drugi found the concept incredible but he believed the boy. “And how are these people fed?”
“Ships. Like this one, arrive every day and bring food from all over the world.”
“Where do people hunt?”
“Hunt? There is nowhere close by.”
“The I do not want to live in Rome. Too many people and not enough animals.” He began to become nervous about Britannia. “Tell me Furax, for I know you will not lie to me, is Britannia like Rome?”
“Like Rome? I have not visited all of Britannia but the Senator,” Drugi looked confused, “the man who owns this boat and an important Roman, a chief amongst Romans. He told me that you could take every person who lived in Britannia and there would still be more people living in Rome. No, Britannia is like your land but with more forests. I like it.”
“Thank you my young friend you have put my mind at rest.”
Rufius and Marcus smiled at the two new friends who were totally engrossed in each other’s worlds. Frann nodded to them and said, “I will fetch some food for you two.”
Marcus shook his head. “You are not a slave any more.”
Indignantly she said, “I know which is why I asked you. I want to do this!”
As she stormed off Rufius laughed. “This is why I do not envy you and Metellus. Women are different from us men. They are hard to fathom.” Marcus looked embarrassed and watched as Frann and the two Brigante girls descended into the bowels of the ship. “You are much taken with her.”
“I did not intend to be; she grew upon me and the next thing I knew I could not be without her.”
“I think the poets call that love but I am not sure. You and she will be a family but where will you live? Or were will she live for you are still a soldier?”
“I had thought to take her to mother and Decius. She would be safe there.”
“I am not so sure. The Legate told me that he had read many reports about the increasing raids from the east. We did not know of them because they were at the coast but it may be that something needs to be done to defend the Dunum from the raiders.”
“I cannot keep her at Rocky Point; the frontier is even more dangerous.”
“I know but that is where we will be heading first.”
“Not Morbium?”
“No the Legate will need the three of us. We have been away too long. He will need to know that Hercules is safe and then give him his orders. He can drop Frann off after.”
Marcus shook his head. “No I will ask the Prefect if I can take Drugi and Frann with Hercules. It is not right that they arrive unannounced.”
“I am not sure that your wish will be granted.” Rufius wondered if it was something in the blood of Marcus and Macro which made them believe they had a destiny outside of the ala. For Rufius the ala came first. Perhaps that was the effect of the sword, or the Brigante blood. “This fellow Drugi, he will live at the farm as well?”
“I don’t know. I feel obligated to him but he is a free spirit and I would not want to tie him down.”
“He reminds me of Gaelwyn and Gaelwyn was free in the valley of the Dunum. Perhaps Drugi will be too.”
The two former inhabitants of Hjarno-by peered anxiously over the bow to be the first to see Britannia. The strangely shaped rocks to the south of the Tinea looked to them both as though the gods had carved them. To those returning they seemed commonplace, having viewed them often. Drugi shook his head in wonder. This place must be special to the gods that they have carved such objects from the land. All of them were surprised by the progress on the fort which now stood at the south side of the Tinea Estuary. There were many ships moving between the stone jetty and the northern shore where the eastern end of the wall was clearly visible. There were three triremes of the Classis Britannica moored there as well as other merchantmen busily offloading their wares.
“This has come on since the last time I was here.”
“The Emperor was keen to secure and defend this end of the wall.” Rufius pointed to the huge vicus which had sprung up. “That was but two huts when we set sail. It is growing at a prodigious rate.”
Drugi turned to Furax. “This is the biggest town in Britannia?”
“No Drugi. When we left it was but a small fort. All these people have come since the waters and the land warmed. They will be traders such as us.”
Drugi looked across the river at the line of what looked like ants labouring up the path to the fort which stood at the top of the low ridge. “Are they people?”
“Yes Drugi, they are offloading the ships and then they will be taken by road to the forts.”
“What is a road?”
To the Roman boy Drugi’s question made no sense but then he realised that what was familiar to him would be foreign to the former slave. “Imagine a trail but ten paces wide, covered with stones and straight, with no turns, that is a road.”
“I should like to see one of those.”
“Don’t worry you will.”
Just then a small sailing boat belonging to the Classis Britannica left the trireme in the estuary. When it drew close the officer in charge shouted, “Welcome Captain. The Legate asked that we tell you, when you arrived, that you should land your charges at Coriosopitum.”
“Thank you. Tell your captain that we were pursued by some dragon boats for part of the voyage. There may be raiders and pirates about.”
“A little early in the year for pirates isn’t it?”
“Not these. They are annoyed that we sank two of their boats.”
“This sank two dragon boats?” The incredulity in his voice made Hercules redden.
“The Swan may be graceful but when she bites you had better watch out!”
As the captain ordered half sail Furax turned to Drugi. “You will have to wait to see your road. We have a few more miles to sail.”
Drugi did not mind for he had never seen as much activity nor so big a river. Little boats scurried from one bank to the other, each one seemingly laden with goods of once description or another. For the first couple of miles there was much evidence of building until the river took a turn north west and the gentle banks became quieter. Drugi was fascinated by the wealth of wildlife which proliferated in the water and on the shores. As the river slowly turned to give him a new vista he asked more and more questions of Furax about the wildlife they saw. Furax struggled to come up with the answers and Old Hercules found himself smiling. “It makes a change for the lad to have to answer questions. Usually he is pestering the life out of folk with his constant interrogation.
When the boat began to slow and the sails were lowered, Drugi looked at Furax. “We are here. You see that bridge there…”
Drugi’s mouth dropped open. He had never seen a bridge before, especially not a stone bridge. “The Romans are a mighty people that they can tame the river and span it like that.”
They moored at the small wooden jetty. Marcus took Frann’s hands. “I want you to stay on board while I go and visit with my Legate. We will be sailing with
Hercules down to the Dunum.”
Drugi looked like a child who has had his toys taken. “Do I have to stay too, Roman?”
“No Drugi you can come but,” he said turning to Frann, “this is a dangerous frontier and a difficult walk. I would be happier if you stayed here.”
She looked worried until Hercules put his arm around her shoulders, a strangely paternal act, “Don’t worry love. I’ll not leave without him and we can have a bit of something to eat eh?”
The bridge and the fort all looked so familiar to the troopers and Furax but to Drugi it was a constantly unique experience. The guards at the bridge recognised them but stared in awe at the giant with them. “Have you the password sir?”
Rufius laughed. “We have been away for some time and I assume that the passwords will have changed.”
The optio was young and uncertain what to do. Three of the four sentries smirked at his discomfort but the fourth, an older soldier, tutted and said, “Why don’t I escort them to the Prefect eh sir? That way they can’t steal the fort’s silver.”
“Good idea.”
As they walked up to the fort Drugi looked at the metalled surface beneath his feet. Furax suddenly understood and said, “Yes Drugi that is a road.”
The Prefect was relieved to see them. “Your Prefect and the Legate have been worried about you. They thought you had perished in the lands beyond Rome. “He looked up at Drugi, “Now I see that you were just collecting some of the wildlife.”
As they sat and drank watered wine, another new experience for Drugi, Rufius asked, “How goes the wall building sir?”
“Over the winter we made more progress than the Emperor thought we would but, since the snows began to melt we have had increasing attacks. Your lads have been kept a little busy.” He took an appreciative swallow of the wine, his bulbous red nose attesting to his fondness for the fruit of the vine. “Half of my men now do duty in the wall. I can see us being moved up there as soon as they have finished the fort.”
Rufius took an immediate interest. “Finished a fort? That is quick.”
The Prefect looked ruefully around his well apportioned quarters. “Yes, a little too quick for me. I have become used to the bath house and my comforts, still the Emperor wants experienced troops stationed there and those troops are us.”
“Do you mind if we show our friend here around the fort. He has never seen one.”
“Of course. Just tell him to mind his head. The buildings were made for Romans, not giants like him.”
Drugi was impressed by everything, from the granary to the aqueduct and the bath house. No matter what happened in the future Drugi would not regret coming to Britannia with Marcus. It was a world apart from his hut and his animals and the harsh cold winters of Uiteland. Furax almost fell over laughing when Drugi stepped on to the floor warmed by the hypocaust and jumped. “Where is the fire?”
When Marcus showed him he scratched his head and asked, “How does the heat get from there to the room we were just in?”
“It travels under the ground.” The look on his face told Marcus that he thought it was some magic trick.
Drugi had finished his exploration of the fort by the time Julius Demetrius arrived. The cooks had been warned by the Prefect that they would need to cook for their guests and, as Marcus and Rufius filled the Legate in with the details of their adventure they ate. Drugi listened to not a word for he was too interested in all the foods they were eating and once again Furax had to do the explaining.
“I am pleased that you are returned safely Marcus but, I am also disappointed. Rufius has done his best to protect you but as I can see the Sword of Cartimandua hanging from your baldric I know that you took risks to get that damned sword back.”
“Legate, if it had not been for the sword then Trygg Tryggvasson would not have spared my life and this would be a moot point. Besides, as you know this is the heart of the Brigante and after the recent rebellions we nee all the Brigante support we can get.”
Julius Demetrius was not convinced but he had more pressing matters on his mind. “Now that you are returned we need to use your skills here. Rufius you and Gnaeus will return to Rocky Point. Gnaeus you are to be made up to acting Decurion until Decurion Marcus returns.”
“From where sir?” Marcus was ready to argue with the Legate if he was sent to the other side of the country.
“We have four turma of replacements at Morbium.” He looked at Marcus wryly, “you were, I believe the training officer and horse master for the ala were you not?”
Reddening but with a sheepish grin, “Yes sir. It just seems a lifetime ago.”
They all looked sadly at each other remembering that the lifetimes were Gaius’ and Macro’s. “Well you need to knock them into shape. The Gallic cohort is seriously under strength and your ala needs more men. You have ten days to achieve that.”
“Ten days from when sir?”
“Ten days from now. I suggest that you accompany me to my ship so that I can give my captain his orders.”
With their rapid goodbyes to Rufius and Gnaeus spoken they hurried back to the jetty. “Hercules I want you to drop Marcus and his “ Julius’ eyes were drawn to the pregnant Brigante woman, the two Brigante girls and Drugi, “retinue at Morbium and then I need you to sail…”
“Senator, the ship needs work. We have had a hard winter.”
“I know and if I could spare you I would but with these pirates around the shores I need you to act as a messenger. You are to return to Ostia and send this package to the Emperor’s secretary. Use the Praetorian messenger at Ostia. Then you can refit and refurbish your ship.”
Mollified, Hercules smiled, “Well in that case…”
“I suppose we didn’t make a profit while you were gallivanting in the wild north did you?”
Sniffing his indignation Hercules said, “Well there you are wrong. We have some fine animal skins and some excellent wood which will fetch a fine price in Ostia.”
“Good. “ As he stepped off the ship he shouted to Marcus. “Ten days mind, and that means ten days until you are here with the one hundred and twenty eight men.”
Chapter 15
The dragon ship fleet headed gingerly westwards, always nervously on the lookout for the masts of the Classis Britannica. Trygg had made it quite clear that they needed somewhere close to the mouth of the estuary where they could hide Gurt and his two ships. That meant approaching the estuary in the early hours of the morning. Trygg’s ship took the lead as he and his crew were familiar with the waters of the Dunum. They were just using oar power to minimise their profile and he had a young warrior at the top of the mast. He knew from the smell that they were within two miles of the mouth of the Dunum; the land had an earthier green smell than the tang of the sea. Suddenly the masthead lookout shouted down, “Three Roman ships lying off the entrance.”
Cursing his luck he ordered the steersman to head south and run parallel with the coast. He knew of another bay some twenty miles further south. It was large enough to hide the ships but it would delay them by a day. Three Roman ships, fully armed, were just too much for his small fleet. Using a shielded candle, he signalled to the next ship to follow him. If they all repeated the instruction then they would be safe. It was an agonising wait for the ships to tack in turn and all the while he could see the thin sliver of lightening sky which heralded the dawn. He had to move faster and he ordered his rowers to increase their speed. The next ship was Snorri’s and he would follow. He just hoped that the next two ships would also realise what he was doing.
By the time there was enough light to see the land they were almost at the hidden bay. There was a spit of sand which had been deposited by the river over years and by following the spit and the river, ships could be hidden from the sea. Unlike the Dunum and the Tinea, ships could travel barely half a mile before it became too shallow for any kind of ship. The other ships pulled up alongside Trygg’s and he commanded them to drop anchor. Gurt was more curious than angry whe
n he came aboard.
“There were Roman ships at the Dunum, three of them. They will have moved on by the morning.”
“And if not?”
“Do not worry. I will send four of my men back up the coast. They will light a signal fire on the hill above the estuary, if it is clear tomorrow, and if not then we return and wait.” Gurt raised his eyebrows as an unspoken criticism. Exasperated Trygg said, “We have done the hardest part. We have reached Britannia undetected. We have plenty of provisions; a day or two longer waiting will not hurt us. Learn patience.”
******
Not only did The Swan reach the Dunum quickly, there were still the three ships of the Classis Britannica there waiting for them. The captain grinned at Hercules as they bobbed next to each other in the choppy waters. “It seems your Legate wants you protected down to Dubris old man. You will have an Imperial escort.”
“I have survived long enough without your help but I thank the Legate for his concern.”
“We will wait here for your return. There is little need to hurry, by the time you have returned the tide will be against us anyway. We will leave this time tomorrow morning. Make sure you are here.”
Even though the triremes did not need to worry about the tide for they had rowers; the captain had seen enough sailing ships to know that they would not be able to fight an incoming tide as fierce as the one on the Dunum. The channel was only narrow despite the fact that the estuary was wide and Hercules needed all the sea room he could get to tack his way out.
