Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 07] Trajan's Hunters

by Griff Hosker

  “The new Legate seems confident.”

  Karus looked sharply at the First Spear; that was not his opinion. He replied in a guarded and non-committal way. Perhaps the new senior centurion had been planted by the Governor and the Legate as a spy. “He certainly had success in Dacia. But I would be happier if we were working in conjunction with the auxiliaries.”

  Piso’s reaction told the Prefect everything that he needed to know. “What do you mean sir?” He looked and sounded surprised; he was not false of face. What you saw was the genuine article, he was an honest man and that pleased Karus.

  “You mean you didn’t know? Sorry I assumed you had been briefed when you met the Legate.”

  “No Prefect he just told me that he was looking forward to a glorious future leading the Ninth.”

  Karus bridled more than a little. Leading the Ninth! He led the Ninth. He let the implied slur go. “Well the auxiliaries are to be held in reserve along the Stanegate and we will be policing the land to the north.”

  “But that is madness sir! We always have auxiliaries, they protect the flanks.”

  “Exactly First Spear which is why we need to use our Explorates effectively.”

  “We didn’t have them with the Twentieth. What are they like? I mean there are only a handful of them and a couple of them look like boys.”

  “True they are too few in number. They do however have a fine pedigree. Last year they saved the Ninth’s bacon with their scouting and in their use of the bow. The bulk of them served with Marcus’ Horse.”

  “Marcus’ Horse eh? They were a tough bunch of lads. I served with them in Mona when I was a young lad. But even so they are so few. You said Stanegate. I am not sure what the Stanegate is.”

  “It is a line of forts going from coast to coast. It is not continuous but it gives us camps and bases to hold off invasions. We will be based at one of the bigger ones, Coriosopitum.”

  “I thought that Coriosopitum had been destroyed.”

  “It was. It was razed to the ground a few years ago. There is now a temporary camp and I assume either we, or more probably, the auxiliaries will be building a new one there.” The Prefect put his arm on First Spear’s shoulder. “It is important First Spear that there are no secrets between us. If you disagree with my judgements then please tell me as I will with you. We are the mind of this legionary machine and we must work as one otherwise the body will fail.”

  First Spear reddened a little. “Of course sir but I have to say that I am as loyal as any man.”

  Smiling, Karus replied, “I do not doubt that but I think the Ninth is going to be placed under greater pressure here than it ever has before. For, as you say, for the first time we shall be operating blind and this is not the country in which to do that.”

  * * * * * * *

  The Votadini had not joined in the last rebellion against Rome because they had suffered so badly in the other unsuccessful risings. The resulting peace meant that they had many young men who yearned for the chance to show their manhood and their bravery. This had resulted in cattle raids and small fights between neighbouring clans. There had been deaths and the start of blood feuds. The young King of the Votadini, Lugubelenus, had had enough and all chiefs and their leading warriors had been summoned to his halls to sort out their differences.

  Alavna still retained all that made it Votadini. It was and looked old. It was built on a hill close to the bend of a river. There were concentric ditches surrounding the hall and the hall itself was enclosed in a high and gated palisade. The route to the hall was twisted and turned to enable defenders to attack any force trying to gain access to the summit. Before the Romans arrived it was indestructible but since the arrival of Rome and its military might it was only as strong as any wooden walled town. Fortunately, in the past, the Votadini had chosen to do most of their fighting well away from their capital and their heartland. No Roman had ever taken, or tried to take Alavna. King Lugubelenus wanted to keep it that way. He was still a young man but he had been at the battle against the Romans south of the Stanegate, close to Morbium, when his father and his oath brothers had been slaughtered by the Ninth legion. He saw then the futility of fighting the behemoth that was Rome. He had decided to put up with his new neighbours. They built good roads and they paid for goods; if they taxed him he might reconsider his position but, since the forts had been destroyed ,they were rarely seen. He wanted it to stay that way.

  His young bride, Radha was very close to her husband, despite the fact that theirs was an arranged marriage. She was the daughter of Tam, an important chief from the south of the tribe’s lands, close to the Stanegate. As his land was the closest to Roman influence the marriage was seen as important to create a close bond between the King and a chief of the buffer zone which would give early warning of any Roman incursion. Tam had been more than happy for the marriage to take place; he had five daughters and only one son. For all of that Radha was delighted at the marriage; firstly she liked the man she had married and came to love his intelligence and wisdom and secondly she loved the power. For his part her husband respected her ideas and thoughts. He ignored those who felt that women had no place in power. Those who questioned her involvement in the King’s decisions soon found, to their cost that it disappointed the King and that normally resulted in exclusion from the benefits of his reign and his court. The peace created by the King and Queen had resulted in a prosperity hitherto unknown. The fine jet was no longer sent to Mona for it could fetch a higher price here on the north east coast.

  It had been Radha who had suggested the summit. “Bring them all together my husband. The last time they were gathered was when you were crowned and then you were but a child. Let them see what a fine and noble King you have become and show them that it is you who decides how and when they fight.”

  When the various clans and bands arrived they were allocated a camp site outside of the walls. Radha had helped her husband to separate those who might quarrel to minimise conflict. She had ensured that her father and his band had a place of honour closest to the gate. Although her sisters and her mother had stayed at home she would, at least, see her father and brother. She was anxious to show them how well she had done and the power she wielded. They were not a big clan but with Radha’s power they would become one.

  As the day of the summit dawned all of the bodyguards of King Lugubelenus who emerged from the hall to provide the King with his protection were dressed in their finest with amulets and braids. Their swords and helms gleamed and their tattoos glistened under a smearing of animal fat which made the colours and patterns more vibrant. As each clan approached the gate they were disarmed for the King was taking no chances. This would be a peaceful yet forceful demonstration of the King’s power. Radha had an eye for the dramatic and she had ordered a raised dais to be built and two thrones carved. She was aware of the views of most of her enemies and saw to it that her throne was markedly smaller than that of her husband. She ensured that the torcs and crowns they wore were highly polished and around her neck she wore a necklace of jet so valuable that twenty men could have been armed for its cost. She wore a simple, but elegant white dress which showed off her radiant flowing and very distinctive red hair. She knew the effect she had on men and was determined to help her husband’s cause by charming as many as she could. She might not fight with a sword but her weapons, her looks and her charms were equally deadly.

  Inevitably it was Tam, her father, who was the first to arrive. Justifiably proud of his daughter and equally aware of his own prestige, he had brought every warrior from his burgh leaving only the old men and young boys to guard the women. He had felt secure knowing that the Romans were but a day’s ride away and were already rebuilding the fort which had, in the past, afforded them protection from raiders. The Selgovae and their raids were a constant worry but the arrival of the Romans was like a gift from the Allfather. They happily handed over their weapons and stood, in the place of honour to the right of the king.

&n
bsp; If Tam represented the most loyal of the Votadini then Petroc represented those who wished to remove the pacifier. Petroc came from the far north of the kingdom and had close alliances with both the Selgovae and the Caledonii. As a cousin of the king, an older cousin, he was, until the King had issue the next in line to the throne. He came to the summit with the intention of gauging the reaction of others to the king. He would keep his own counsel and watch others but if he thought that the mood was against the King then he would strike and strike quickly. Already in talks with Aindreas, the King of the Selgovae, Petroc was a treacherous man who put his own needs ahead of the Votadini, in that he was a total contrast to his cousin, the King.

  Radha kept a demure and humble expression on her face when the lords and their followers were assembled in the hall. Inside, she was crowing as she viewed the tops of their heads all bowed in obedience. King Lugubelenus too felt, for the first time, the awesome power he commanded. As long as the Romans remained south of the Stanegate he bowed his knee to no man. He would impose his will on his subjects and peace would reign once more. This would be a golden age of the Votadini.

  He stood as they all raised their heads. “It is good to see some old friends again.” He gestured to Tam who proudly nodded, “and to greet others who we know will become our firm friends and allies. This meeting has been too long in coming and for that I take the blame.” He held his hand up to silence those who protested. “It is true for I was too busy building peace and prosperity so that all of the Votadini should benefit. I worked hard to ensure that Rome did not undo that prosperity. My army tirelessly kept our borders safe so it is my friends, my fault that the kingdom is now in danger.”

  There was a silence at those words. What did the King mean? Had he heard of a threat which would harm their way of life?

  “The danger came not from the outside but from within.” He suddenly raised his voice and swept his arm across the host, falling short of including Tam. “It came from you! Your young men killed Votadini! Your warriors stole cattle! Your soldiers dishonoured the maidens of the Votadini! It was not the hated Selgovae nor their allies the Caledonii; it was Votadini killing Votadini! And it will stop now!” The word now boomed out and seemed to hang in the air.

  Despite his youthful years there was an authority about the King which demanded respect and every chief, with the exception of Petroc, felt that he was right and it was they, not him who had caused the discord.

  The King was a fine orator and had an eye and ear for the dramatic. He let the silence hang like the blade of an executioner’s sword. Even Radha was on the edge of her seat wondering when the unbearable silence would be broken. Finally, when her husband’s voice roared out, even she jumped. “All raids will stop immediately! From this moment on any raid by any clan will be punished by death!” Again the word ‘death’ seemed to echo around the room and was almost palpably visible. “From this moment all disputes will be settled here, by me.” The chiefs, many of them greybeards seemed to flinch like naughty children caught stealing apples. “Now is the one and only opportunity to question or challenge me. Do you obey or fight against me?” Radha held her breath. She and her husband had discussed the speech and she had known what he was going to say but they both knew that it was a gamble. He was inviting a challenge and they both knew Petroc’s views. This was the first time that he had addressed them. Would they respect him or challenge him? Petroc too held his breath. In the next heartbeat it would be decided if he were to be King or not.

  Suddenly the whole room erupted with a roar of, “Lugubelenus!” The cheering and acclamation took what seemed like forever to die down but eventually it did. Tam and Radha were as proud as any one could have been while only Petroc seethed and scowled.

  “To celebrate our accord we will hold games where your young men can fight with wooden weapons and wrestle and we will feast. For the next four days we celebrate and from this day forth we will do this each year on this day. We will all join our hearts and our hands at the feast of the Votadini!”

  Later as their men feasted and drank Radha nuzzled her husband’s neck. “That was done masterfully my love. You have them all in the palm of your hand.”

  Lugubelenus was a shrewd man. “Not all of them my love. Petroc, my cousin, still desires the throne.”

  The young redhead glanced over to Petroc who was sat with a small group of cronies. “He will need to be watched then. But he is one man.”

  “One stone can start an avalanche. It takes one step to begin a journey and it takes but one knife to kill a king.”

  “I have an idea then, why not absent yourself and your army to another part of the land. Visit with my father, for he lives close to the Romans. We could then progress through the country so that all may see their king.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. “This is just another reason why I adore you. You have a brain as well as your beautiful looks. It will show the people who I am and that I am one of them.” He summoned a servant. “Ask Lord Tam if he can spare me a moment.”

  Radha’s father came as quickly as was possible without actually running. The three of them started when they heard a beaker smashed against the wall. They looked up to see Petroc, his face a mask of fury, storm from the hall. The King and Queen exchanged a meaningful look but Tam was oblivious to all but the summons.

  “Yes your majesty?”

  “We have decided to visit with you at your home when the games are over the day after tomorrow. Would you be able to receive us?”

  Tam’s face lit up like a beacon. “Of course your majesty. I will leave immediately…”

  The King held up his hand and smiling said, “We would not wish for idle tongues to wag and to speculate. We will travel together.”

  Tam’s face fell. He knew that his wife, Radha’s mother would want everything just so for a royal visit. “Could I at least send some of my servants to help prepare for your visit?” He looked pleadingly at his daughter. “You know what your mother is like.”

  Laughing Radha said, “My father is right husband; let him send men to prepare the way. I would not like to incur the wrath of my mother even though I am a Queen. She is a woman first and she will want to see that all is done properly.”

  “Very well but I look forward to riding with you, father, so that you can tell me of this farthest extreme of my country.” Tam strode off feeling ten feet tall. It would be a proud day for Tamburgh and the clan when the King and his entourage visited. It would be a wonderful honour for his wife and his daughters.

  Chapter 4

  When the Ninth arrived at Coriosopitum Prefect Karus could see that, whatever else the faults of the new Legate were poor organisation was not one of them. The auxiliaries were already busily building extra camps and improving the defences of the new, albeit, wooden fort. So far the only cohorts to have arrived were the First and the Second and Karus hoped that the others would soon make the long journey from Luguvalium, if only to prevent the Legate from losing his temper. In his brief discussion with the new commander Karus had seen just how impatient he was. He seemed to want things done yesterday and it did not surprise the Prefect to discover that, in Dacia he had been a commander of cavalry. He hoped that was not an omen and that he knew how to use a legion effectively. Karus thought it unreasonable that, given the posting of the Ninth to Luguvalium, the new Legate should expect them to be able to cover the fifty miles swiftly given that they were in an unsettled region of a volatile province.

  As they marched to the main gates Karus turned to First Spear. “Find where we are to camp and make sure that our men are working as hard as the auxiliaries have been, I would not want to have this new legate look down his nose at us. And tell the Explorates to scout north of us. I would like to know what we expect to find. It is some time since the legion operated in this region and the Votadini have had little contact with Rome for many years.”

  “It will be done. Don’t worry sir the men won’t let you down. I’ll see to that.” He pounded
one hand into the other.

  Looking at the hams which passed for fists Karus did not doubt it. “Carry on First Spear.”

  Cassius and the other Decurions waited patiently for the orders that they knew would come. Not for these scouts the chore of building a camp; their work carried a far greater risk. It spoke well of the Explorates that none of the legionaries resented them riding off while they toiled to build a camp for they knew that they operated beyond the safety of the shield wall and the comrade you could trust. They worked behind enemy lines where the first warning of an enemy was not the sound of a buccina but a blade in the back.

  It was the first time that Tiberius Gratius Piso had encountered Explorates. From his discussions with the other centurions they seemed to be worth their weight in gold but the twenty year man could not see it somehow. They were long haired and unshaven. Their military equipment was minimal and two of them looked to be little more than tall boys! He shook his head as he gestured over the three decurions who dismounted and smartly saluted. At least they looked old enough to be officers and knew how to respect rank. “Right my name is Centurion Piso. The Prefect told me that some of you lads served with Marcus’ Horse.” He peered at them. “I served with Marcus’ Horse in Mona. If you are half as good as them boys then you’ll be alright with me but I am the kind of officer who wants to see what you can do now not last year. I know that you saved the Ninth last year at Eboracum but that was last year. This is what I want you to do now, for me! Take your… what the hell do you actually call them?”

  Drusus gave a half smile, “Maniples sir.”

  “Well that is a start. That I can understand. Take your maniples then and sweep north. I want the land for two day’s march north of us scouting. How long will that take you?”