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

by Griff Hosker

  Their men had become dispirited although Centurion was still confident that he would be able to control them. One of them shouted to Centurion and waved his hand to the main gate. Centurion grabbed his gladius and ran over. “What is it?”

  “Someone coming.”

  “Who you dozy bugger? Nuada or one of them?”

  The sentry lacked the imagination to come up with a reply and he shrugged, “I dunno.”

  “Out of the way. Where?”

  There was a flap in the door to enable the sentries to look outside and the guard pointed through the flap to the path. “It’s alright, it is Narcissus, open the gate a little.” He turned and shouted, “Decius, it is Narcissus! He has returned.”

  Decius gave s silent prayer of thanks to the Allfather. His nerves could not stand another night like the last one expecting a deadly rain of arrows and fire to erupt from the dark. As soon as Narcissus entered he was whisked by Centurion and Decius to the solar where Tiny lay asleep. “Well?”

  Narcissus looked around at the fire damaged villa, a question on his lips but one look at the two men made it stay inside his head. “We have a boat. She has one row of oars and a hold. There will be more than enough cargo space for the gold. I paid silver for it and hired six men I found in Namnetum to make sure they were waiting for us.”

  Decius slapped him on the back and grinned at Centurion. “Excellent. That is six more men to replace those that died. Centurion you have your wish. Take the two wagons and four of the men now and go with Narcissus to the ship.”

  Narcissus looked unhappy at the thought of a quick return journey. “But I have just got here.”

  Centurion put his scarred face close to the tiny, greasy man. “The frumentarii are here. Did you not notice the fire damage? We leave now.” Narcissus nodded his face filled with terror a combination of fear of the frumentarii and Centurion. Turning to Decius he asked, “What will you do?”

  “I will wait until Nuada gets here. He is due back tonight. We will take the last wagon with their horses and then we can leave.”

  Centurion gestured outside with his huge hand. “What about our attackers? What if they return tonight? There will only be three of you?”

  I am sending four men with you because of that. They could well be watching and if they see you leave they may follow you. If they do then when we leave we will trap them between us and you will be able to protect the gold. I also hope that Nuada has acquired more horses.”

  Centurion shrugged. “A risky strategy but it may pay off. Come on Narcissus let us prepare.”

  * * * * * *

  Their camp was well hidden and in the early afternoon they took the opportunity to sleep for they would need to be alert when they returned to Decius’ hideaway. After they had slept Livius made sure they all ate well. In the ala he had been taught that a man on a full stomach is stronger and fights better and longer than a hungry, tired man. The three of them left just before dark and, as the previous time, laid deadfalls and traps. They left the horses at the camp relying on their ability to hide as their best defence. As dusk fell they saw, to their disappointment that the guards had hidden themselves and not even their spears were visible. There were no targets. “We could try fire arrows again.”

  “I think, Rufius that they will have water ready tonight. What I worry about is that they may be outside of their villa, even now, waiting for us.”

  “Ambush the ambusher? Yes that would make sense. If you wait here Rufius and I will circle around and see if we can pick up any sign.”

  He nodded his agreement for Livius knew that the two younger Explorates were much better at tracking and hiding than he was. Once they had left however he suddenly felt lonely and isolated. He remembered the trick taught to him by Gaelwyn. ‘Never look at a spot for longer than forty heartbeats.’ He scanned the woods to the front and then turned to look at the lake on his right. Then he turned back to the front. It was an effective way to detect movement and changes. At the same time he was listening; allowing for the normal sounds of the woods to fill his head and sense the changes that told of danger. He suddenly realised that it was too quiet. There was no noise at all. He had not moved which meant there was someone out there. He looked to his left and saw nothing. The lake was still quiet and ahead, where the enemy would be there was nothing. He heard the crack of a branch being broken behind him and he turned, too late to avoid the cudgel wielded by Nuada. “Got you! Little spy! Bring the horses and let’s take this bounty to Decius.”

  Metellus saw the three horses gallop through the woods with the body thrown over the pack animal and realised to his horror that Livius had been captured. He and Rufius were all that remained and he could do nothing about it as he was alone and on foot.

  Chapter 17

  Nuada banged heavily on the solid door and Decius again thanked the gods that everything was going according to plan. “Open the door Seius and bring Nuada to the solar. Then you and Septimus can hitch the horses to the wagon. We will leave as soon as we are packed.” Decius was counting on the fact that they had not been attacked as an indication that the enemy was following Centurion. The last thing they would expect would be an attack from their rear. “Right Tiny, rouse yourself we are leaving.”

  Tiny painfully pulled himself to his feet. “Good I am ready for another journey.”

  Decius looked at the wounded shoulder which was weeping a thin yellowy red liquid but it did not smell bad. “You were lucky the journey you took was not to the Allfather. Were you a smaller man you would have died?”

  “The Allfather watches over Tiny.”

  Decius heard the sound of caligae on the stone floor and he turned to speak with Nuada. “You made good time did it …”

  His words ended mid sentence as the bleeding body of his brother was hurled to the floor to lie at Decius’ feet. “Found this one snooping in the woods. Thought you might like to question him. See who he is.”

  “Oh I know who it is all right Nuada. That is my brother. He may have grown a beard and his hair.” Decius rubbed the bloodied hair with his hand and wiped off the sooty mess on Livius’ tunic. “He may have darkened it with charcoal and he may have worn a patch to fool the promagistrate but that is my little brother; my brother, the Roman hero. The Allfather has smiled on me tonight. Search him and then tie him to the chair. I have some questions for my brother before he dies.”

  Livius had no idea where he was as he gradually regained consciousness. He was aware of voices around him and, as his eyes painfully opened, he saw the marbled mosaic floor of a Roman villa but when he tried to move he found he couldn’t. Suddenly a voice from behind him said ominously, “Ah little brother, you are awake at last. I was beginning to think that Nuada had cracked your skull a little too hard.”

  With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach Livius had his worst nightmare realised. The tables had been turned, rather than him capturing his brother and returning in glory to Britannia he was the prisoner of his traitorous sibling and he was under no illusions, he would die and die painfully. He tried to turn his head but the pain was excruciating and he gave up on the attempt.

  Decius and the giant walked into view. Livius could see that although the giant was wounded he carried a small club in his undamaged hand. To his dismay he saw that Decius carried the two calfskin documents. “Very interesting brother and very useful. Well at least this letter asking for assistance is as for the other…” he threw the frumentari letter into the brazier where it smoked and oozed a pungent and acrid smell. “So you are the one who frightened Narcissus so much eh and where is your companion? Hiding I daresay.”

  Livius took consolation from the fact that not only did they think he only had one companion but that they had not captured either of his Explorates. With luck they would be riding for Namnetum and the promagistrate once they realised that he had been captured.

  “Silent eh Livius? Very brave and noble but have no doubts little brother that Tiny here will make you speak when I
am ready for you to speak. For the moment I will savour and enjoy this triumph and thank the Allfather for providing me with you and this letter which will speed my escape away from Rome and its influence. Thank you Livius, you have aided me greatly.”

  “You will not escape Decius. The Emperor knows of you and his reach is long. When I fail to return he will send other hunters to track you down and kill you.”

  “Ah it speaks. Very good. The Emperor will track me down eh? Forgive me brother but if the Emperor knew where I was he would have sent more than a couple of frumentarii after me. There would be an ala of cavalry surrounding the villa even as we speak. Ironic isn’t it brother? You are promoted to the frumentari and yet if you were still with your famous cavalry you might have stood a chance of capturing me. The Parcae and the Mother are obviously looking after me.”

  Just then Nuada entered. He glanced down at Livius and grinned. “All packed and ready to go sir.”

  “Good Nuada. Just check outside and see if you can see my brother’s companion and then you can leave. We have time now for I now know who it is who has caused us such annoyance. There is no hurry. It is not a cohort of cavalry but just a couple of ex cavalrymen. Tiny and I will follow when my brother has joined our ancestors.”

  Nuada laughed as he left shouting, “Septimus! Follow me! Seius get ready to leave.”

  The smoke from the burning calfskin letter had made the solar smoky. “Tiny drag my brother’s chair out to the courtyard away from this smoke. I want to see his face when he dies.”

  Even though Tiny was injured he had no trouble dragging the chair with the tethered Livius outside to the courtyard. As he was turned around Livius saw the wagon ready to leave along with two horses which were tied to the tailgate. He had failed. Rufius and Metellus were his only hope and they would probably be in the woods trying to find him or at best racing to Namnetum and help, which would be too late to save him. He couldn’t see any way out of this. Their departure was imminent and there was nothing he could do to stop them.

  “So brother where is your companion?”

  “I have no idea. Probably ran off.”

  “Nice try but I know you; you believe in honour and comradeship and those you chose to aid you would also espouse those values. You are lying.” He looked at the huge man and nodded. “Tiny?”

  The giant brought the club down hard on to Livius’ foot. The Decurion heard his own bones breaking and then felt nauseous as a wave of pain flew through his body in waves of agony.

  “Now you see what happens when you lie. Once again, where is your companion?”

  “I don’t know, he was scouting the villa when your man attacked me.”

  “Good that is so much better isn’t it. You see no pain when you tell the truth. Now let us try something else. Who else knows where you are?”

  “No-one.”

  “Tiny!” This time the club came down on the other foot and, somehow, the pain was worse. It might have been that Livius knew what to expect when the club crashed down breaking the toes in his undamaged limb. His throbbing right foot seem to hurt even more. Livius could not help the tears of pain which ran down his cheeks. “Ah just like old times eh Livius. When we were children and I took your toys and burned your wooden soldiers and strangled your puppy. You always cried so easily and now a grown man and you cry again. I will ask you again. Who knows where you are?”

  “The promagistrate at Portus Santonum and the promagistrate at Namnetum.”

  “Tiny!”

  This time the club was swung at Livius’ knee; Tiny must have been tiring or the seat gave some support for this time it did not hurt as much but the crack told Livius that something had been broken. “Interesting was that the truth and a lie or two lies? You told the promagistrate in Portus Santonum that you were going south which means that you may be lying about the other promagistrate.” Livius cursed himself. He had known that the promagistrate was a traitor and he would have told Decius all. “Tiny!”

  Tiny grinned as he pulled back the club and Livius braced himself for the blow. The blow never came instead a feathered arrow blossomed from the middle of Tiny’s huge head and he fell as though pole axed. Metellus! Decius moved quickly and he swung his sword backhanded at Livius’ head. Livius rolled to the side as the arrow thudded into his brother’s hand. Giving a scream of pain and frustration Decius leapt to his horse and shouted to Seius. “Don’t just sit there ride.”

  The wagon lurched forward and, from his prone position on the floor Livius saw Metellus leap to one side to avoid being run over. His brother lashed at his horse with his bloodied and mangled hand, cursing in pain as he did so. The sounds of the hooves faded and it seemed to Livius that he lay on the hard dirt floor for an age but then he suddenly felt himself being dragged upright and he heard Metellus’ voice. “That wasn’t clever now was it Livius getting captured and all?” His razor sharp pugeo sliced through the bonds as though they were hay. Livius tried to stand but his broken toes and damaged knee sent waves of pain through his body and he collapsed. “And that was even less clever sir! Your toes look broken to me.” Metellus sat him gently back onto the chair.

  “You must get after them.”

  Metellus shook his head sadly. “On foot? Don’t forget our horses are a mile away and besides we need to wait for Rufius.”

  Livius suddenly remembered the young Explorate. “Rufius? Where is he?”

  “He led the two scouts on a merry chase to enable me to get close to you. I was going to shoot the wagon guard until I saw them drag you out and then I had to get into a position where I could be certain of hitting the big bugger there with a death blow.”

  Livius managed a smile which turned out more like a grimace. “He wasn’t too big was he then?”

  “Oh I don’t know sir. He took two arrows to die.”

  Just then they heard a noise from the gate and they both turned Metellus with arrow notched and Livius with Metellus’ pugeo. Rufius came through the gate his face bloodied. “Thank the Allfather he is alive.”

  “What happened to you Rufius?”

  “They rode me down back there.”

  “Did you get either of them?”

  “Yes. I took one out with an arrow but the other was too good, he dropped down the side of his horse; I missed and I heard him ride away. I came as soon as I could. I had just climbed on to the path when the wagon and rider came round the bend. I had no chance of escaping.”

  “Which way did they go?”

  “North to Namnetum.”

  “Right Livius you stay here while I get something to make you feel better. Rufius get to the camp and bring back the horses and equipment.” He turned to look back at Livius, “And don’t forget the Decurion’s sword.”

  Rufius raced away without a word and Metellus said, as he began to take off the caligae, “I don’t know who put that thought in your head about the sword and burying it but my guess would be Marcus; still looking out for his men. I dread to think what your brother would have done with that.”

  “As it is Metellus he has the letter from the Governor and unless we get to Namnetum before him he will be away and gone. I think he must have a boat there from the way he took off.”

  “First things first. We can’t do anything until Rufius gets back. I will see what kind of medicines I can find and we’ll get you fixed up.”

  By the time Rufius had returned Livius was paler but more comfortable. Metellus had used the clean bed sheets as a bandage, vinegar as an antiseptic and wine as a pain killer. Livius’ leg and feet had been splinted and he was as ready as he was ever going to be. “Now what we should do is rest but I know you Livius and you won’t settle until we follow. This is my suggestion. Forget the pursuit. Let us get to Namnetum before them. If they don’t go there we can easily find them for they had at least two wagons.”

  “Three?”

  “Yes Rufius and I saw two of them leave and we were heading back to you when we saw you being taken to the villa on the back of a
horse. The last wagon we saw leave. There are seven of them, including that slimy little man we saw in Portus Santonum.”

  Rufius and the other two horses clattered through the gate and Livius was delighted to see the sword hanging from his mount. “It’s getting dark Metellus. Should we stay here until the morning?”

  Metellus looked at Livius. “Can you see Livius staying here? No we will ride through the night but, “he added firmly, “we will head to Namnetum. Right? Sir?” Although a question Metellus was taking charge.

  Livius gave a lopsided grin. “Just get me on my horse and we will head to Namnetum.”

  It was a harder job than they had expected to get Livius mounted and when he sat, precariously on his horse’s back Metellus took the precaution of tying him on. “Don’t want you falling off and undoing all my good work eh Livius?”

  * * * * * *

  Centurion had camped fifteen miles from the villa. He had decided that there was too much risk of damage to the wagons and the gold travelling through the country at night. When he heard the sound of galloping horses and wagons he and his men formed a defensive semi circle whilst Narcissus cowered in the wagon. The sight of Decius, his arm hanging uselessly from his side and the lathered horses caused Centurion more than a little concern however the biggest issue he had was with the lack of Tiny. The good luck charm of their triumvirate appeared to be missing.

  “What in Hades happened?”

  “Just fix my arm and I will tell you.” Before he could elaborate any further the loss of blood caused him to slide from his mount and fall unconscious at Centurion’s feet

  The scarred ex legionary looked up at Nuada and asked, “Tiny?”

  “Dead from what the General said.”