The Winter Sword: A Novel of Germania and Rome (Hraban Chronicles Book 3)

by Alaric Longward

  But we were looking for a specific pillar of smoke.

  ‘There, up there,’ Fulcher said and pointed his spear to a craggy patch of a hillside, high up on a hill, with the river winding its way around it. An eagle was flying around it, and there was a track leading up. He looked sour as he continued. ‘That is what Brimwulf calls a bear hole. It looks almost like that of an animal’s abode, but it’s not. He managed to get close enough to glimpse inside. There is a stone laden hall, right inside the doorway, and sort of a stable, at least a temporary place they hold horses at,’ he said, and I spied Brimwulf sneaking around in the woods. Mathildis was pregnant and happy. And Cassia had been feeling sick that past month. Gods help Brimwulf and me, though I had been through pregnancy with Ishild once. Unlike Ishild, Cassia was happy as a sparrow in the spring.

  ‘Why do you dislike him so much?’ I asked him.

  ‘I don’t trust him,’ he said simply. ‘I have a hunch he is not honest. He is hiding something.’

  ‘But you cannot prove anything?’ I asked him. ‘He could have killed me.’

  ‘I am not saying he is not loyal,’ he explained, brushing his long hair aside. ‘But I am not sure he is loyal to us. He is mysterious. Silent and secretive.’

  ‘You used to be silent and condescending. You still are condescending, in fact,’ I grunted. ‘And you are jealous of his skills.’

  ‘My son died. Briscius’s head cured me,’ he explained and then looked bothered. ‘Granted, Brimwulf is a great scout. But it is more than being jealous, Hraban. Listen. At the end of the hallway, there is a doorway, leading down. How far down, none knows. If they have him still, they will hold Sigimer down there, but it is a blind shuffle in the dark though there are likely holes to bring in light, and they use torches, of course. Brimwulf says he spied some light on the bottom the other night.’

  ‘Odo wanted me for Sigimer,’ I told him. ‘Sigimer is there. Too valuable to waste, even if I ended Lothar and Segestes’s plans. Oril has been given the order to fetch me, but I doubt he would throw Sigimer in a hole to rot,’ I said with confidence I hardly felt and nodded. ‘We must return. Oril will know more. And he is making his move soon.’ Hund had told me they had been speaking a lot more lately, the bastard and the two men of Odo’s.

  ‘The Tribune must worry,’ Fulcher agreed. ‘We have been out here in the snow for a week.’

  I shook my head. ‘I told the Tribune that there was a rumor of a brewing rebellion in this area, and we would scout it out, but yes, we will go home. Did Brimwulf see through any of the holes in the hill?‘ I asked.

  Fulcher shook his head. ‘No. The light was too high, and he was afraid they had guards in the woods. Below, he might have spied a door. Poor Sigimer. Gods know if Odo is casting spells on him.’

  I shuddered. ‘My brother? Gernot. Any sign of him?’

  He said nothing.

  ‘Fulcher?’

  He nodded, sighing. ‘Not sure. No man with one hand. He might be dead. He never was truly useful to Odo after he no longer spied on you.’

  ‘Ishild?’ I asked, feeling strangely upset if Odo had killed Gernot.

  ‘No sign of a pretty blonde woman either. Nor of Odo’s small boy,’ he told me risibly, shaking his head. I had asked every day we had been out there. ‘If Ishild only wanted to keep her son safe and left us for him, then how will you deal with it if we get Lif and Ishild both back? Keeping a daughter from her mother is not kind.’

  ‘You will fetch your family, Fulcher, soon. That way you need not worry about mine,’ I said brusquely. He went quiet, and I shook my head in apology. A weak apology, but one nonetheless. He clapped my shoulder.

  ‘I will. After the spring.’ He grinned weakly. ‘I miss them. And yes, you will have to deal with your family issues.’

  Brimwulf walked to us from the left side. ‘They have patrols and guards up there. Fairly relaxed lot.’

  I grunted. ‘We will take Oril prisoner and find out all we can. The two men of Oril’s must fall as well, and we have to make sure all Odo’s men are slain in the town. Then I shall steal the turma of Batavi and send these sons of whores to Hel. But I will want to know ways out of there and what is in. Can’t afford to have them escape.’

  We returned to Castra Flamma to find a ship in the harbor.

  That was like a wakeup call for the castra and the legionnaires. The Tribune was on his horse, soldiers parading and training, for spring was truly coming, and war was nigh again. I guided my horse there, and the Tribune nodded at me. Lucius was standing by the Tribune, grinning at the fat merchant vessel as it moored. Sailors jumped to the planking and pulled the ship closer. A dirty, strong man was carrying a gangplank and oars were being pulled in. A horde of amphora could be seen in the hold.

  ‘Wine, by Mars,’ Lucius was saying.

  ‘News, by Woden,’ I smiled at him.

  ‘Wine and news, my friends,’ Paellus agreed.

  ‘Any news, sir,’ I asked the Tribune. ‘Of Nero Claudius Drusus?’

  ‘I am here to get news, Decurion,’ he said irascibly and then shrugged. ‘I am sure he will be warring soon,’ the Tribune said languidly. ‘I Germanica and XIX will again be burning the Sigambri and Tencteri settlements and our XVII cohorts of Castra Alisio will be in action against the Sigambri soon enough. Did you see anything out there?’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘They are asleep and docile. False alarm.’

  He smiled at me like a ghost would, and I was not sure he had listened to me. His eyes were staring at the ship, and then he rose up on his horse. We saw there was an official looking man carrying a bag of scrolls. ‘Orders. Here we are. Excuse me, Decurion.’ He rode forward.

  I leaned on Lucius. ‘Doesn’t he have a scribe to fetch these things?’

  Lucius leaned on me and whispered. ‘Probably begs to find a scroll ordering him home.’

  I grinned and raised my voice so Paellus could hear me. ‘Any from Drusus?’ I asked him, anxious to see the orders.

  He smiled as he received them in a bag, eyeing the lot. ‘I will call you if there is. Do not worry. I sent him a warning last year. Does not mean he would send something back immediately.’ He nodded at the courier. ‘I’ll send my reports with you before the ship leaves in the afternoon,’ he told the clean shaved man. Fulcher sat next to me as we eyed the unloading of the ship.

  Lucius stepped up. ‘Is there a scroll for me, sir?’

  ‘For you?’ the Tribune asked, confused. ‘You write, Centurion?’

  ‘A girl, sir,’ Lucius smiled.

  ‘I will leave them in the hands of the officia, Centurion, after I pick out mine,’ he scowled, ‘but fine.’ He rifled through the scrolls and glanced at the Centurion. ‘I am sorry, Lucius. She probably has someone to warm her bed.’

  ‘That is fine,’ Lucius said evenly. ‘She was too expensive anyway.’ The Tribune snorted and left.

  Fulcher shook his head and stared at the ship as it was a center of mad bustle. A man was windmilling in the prow and fell to the river. They set up to save the fool and men were wagering on their success. I glanced at Lucius, who was scratching his neck, and I saw he was hesitant. ‘Yes, Centurion?’ I said.

  ‘I like you boys,’ he said.

  ‘I’m married,’ I told him drolly. ‘But ask Fulcher.’

  ‘You are too hairy for me, Hraban, and he has no hips,’ he said grinning. ‘But I did send your scroll last year.’

  ‘I thank you for that,’ I answered. ‘And you have been writing with this girl before?’

  ‘All of the past year,’ he agreed. ‘She always answered before. She is a Gaul noble, a Roman citizen, and we have gotten along very well. I put your scroll in mine, asked her to take it to this Chariovalda and now? She does not answer.’ Lucius looked very glum.

  ‘Someone searches the scrolls,’ I told him. ‘There is a plot against Nero Claudius Drusus and so, I think, there is a fat bastard in Castra Vetera who somehow gets hold of all the orders. This man is called Antius.’
>
  Lucius looked unhappy. ‘It could be she used it to wipe her rear. But I think she loves me and does not wipe her rear very often anyway. You have put me in a bit of a danger, Hraban.’ He scowled briefly and smiled. ‘I’ll settle them should they come for me, I’ve been in trouble before. I think you should be worried, Hraban. This Antius is keeping an eye on the castra and will know you are here, so you are probably in danger.’

  My eyes went to slits, and I nodded gravely, staring at the official looking man, who was fetching his gear. ‘Perhaps he has taken the Tribune’s scroll, as well. Or perhaps …’ I was thinking hard and felt shivers of doubt as I considered our plight. I turned to Fulcher. ‘You think you could ask that man if he would see me? Just ask him to visit me before he sails. Make sure it is after he has received the reports from the Tribune.’

  ‘Yes, I can,’ Fulcher said happily, his eye glinting. ‘I’ll take Agetan with me.’

  ‘That should do it.’ I grinned and moved away, clapping Lucius on the shoulder.

  Later that day, the man came to me. I was sitting in Wart’s tavern, drinking, and he popped his face in. He was carrying a sack, and the ship was about to leave. ‘Hello?’ he asked from the doorway. He was a Gaul by the accent and sniffled as he spoke. I saw Agetan’s wide shadow behind him. ‘You asked for me?’

  ‘Yes, I did,’ I told him and nodded at the bench before me. ‘Sit.’

  ‘The ship is leaving, Decurion, and I—’

  ‘Sit,’ I growled, Agetan grunted, and the man was seated in no time. His blond hair was quivering as he apparently held misgivings about Wart Face, who served him ale from a relatively clean horn. It was a great favor to me, for the Wart rarely washed the plates and the mugs. ‘So,’ I stated and leaned closer to him.

  ‘Lord?’ he said, not touching the ale.

  ‘You brought the Tribune scrolls today?’ I stated.

  ‘Yes, of course. That is my function,’ he nodded.

  ‘What, pray tell me, did you bring him?’

  He thought about denying my request and telling me to go to Hel, but then I saw he considered the sanctity of his bones and joints, for he saw a hard man who likely would not back down. And I would not. He looked around, and Wart Face had cleared the tavern, and we were alone. The man noticed it as well and went white as snow. ‘Reports. Orders,’ he whispered.

  ‘Reports of the happenings of the wide, wonderful world?’

  ‘Yes. I can tell you some if you like?’ he suggested helpfully.

  ‘Please,’ I whispered.

  ‘Nero Claudius Drusus is a Consul,’ he said happily.

  ‘I suppose that is a great thing,’ I nodded.

  He blinked his eyes for a bit. ‘It is a great honor. And the Consul Nero Claudius Drusus and the Legions of Moganticum, far to the south are cutting a bloody path through Chatti lands for us. They aim to burn Mattium, the Chatti oppidum, and then they will come here to finish with the Cherusci.’

  ‘The XIII Gemina and XIV Gallica Legions? I see,’ I told him. ‘Was there anything from Chariovalda? Or even a simple scroll for Lucius? To anyone?’

  ‘No, nothing from this man, and nothing to this Lucius,’ he told me carefully. ‘The Batavi won’t be here anyway. Most of them will fight the Sigambri this year.’

  ‘Any personal note from the Consul to one Hraban or the Tribune?’ I asked.

  ‘None,’ he said, looking puzzled. ‘The Consul would write you?’

  I ignored his puzzlement. ‘Was one sent from the Tribune to Drusus, the legates of the legions, or Chariovalda last fall?’ I snarled.

  He began to sweat. ‘I cannot remember there was one for the Consul or Chariovalda,’ he said, sorry to disappoint me, and afraid to, as well. ‘Only supply requests to Castra Vetera. That last ship last fall brought simple reports on manpower.’

  I nodded as I had been afraid of that answer. ‘And you work in Castra Vetera and take all the orders and go over the lot?’ Fulcher asked from the side, having sneaked in.

  ‘Yes, I am sure I would have seen all of them. We take copies of most before they are sent forward.’

  I sat still, and he absentmindedly tasted the ale and went white of face. He smiled and shrugged at the terrible brew, looking ready to heave his innards. With a nod, I indicated he was spared from the ordeal, and so he unhappily sat there, the ale in his trembling hands. I mulled over our issues and then my eyes settled on his sack. His eyes followed mine.

  ‘What did he send?’ I asked the man.

  ‘Pardon me?’

  ‘The Tribune. What did he send? Now. To whom?’ I asked slowly. The man licked his lips nervously.

  ‘Same as before. Reports on the activity here. Supply requests, mostly wine, and wheat, I think.’

  ‘Supply requests?’ I asked sweetly. ‘Who is dealing with the supplies?’

  ‘The negotiatores?’ he said softly. ‘There is always one for the negotiatores.’

  ‘What is in that scroll? Exactly? What was in it last year?’ I asked with a tilted head, my patience wearing thin.

  ‘Ah, let me correct my earlier statement,’ he said with some embarrassment. ‘Those we do not open up. They say these are too minor requests to bother taking copies of. I find that strange, since supply issues are always topics for debate, later as they count the budgets and ...’

  I made an animal-like grunt, and he flinched. ‘Unless you wish to drink down every last drop of that rat piss, you will tell me this. Is there a scroll there now for one Antius the Negotiotare?’

  ‘Antius?’ he told me. ‘This fat man? Someone hung him, did you know?’

  ‘Yes,’ I grinned

  ‘There is,’ he said dejectedly, staring at the dark ale to remind himself that duty was not above all. ‘You wish to see it, then? I am sure it is nothing but requests for garum, wine, more wheat and a list of supplies that are needed now after the winter is over.’

  ‘Here,’ I told him and ripped the sack towards me. ‘Show me.’

  He pointed out a scroll and looked mildly hopeful. ‘Can you read Latin?’

  ‘I can,’ I told him as I tore out the scroll bound around wooden rollers. I rolled it open in front of me and read it.

  “From Paellus to Antius, greetings.

  As you feared, he has spent the winter settling to the leadership of the Batavi. He had ousted my man before I knew what was happening.

  I have been working with Segestes and trying to explain to him it is not possible to just send Hraban back. He has been seen, and it would be very risky to kill him. He will have to be dealt with discreetly, here with his men. I, of course, understand his concern that Hraban will reveal the part of Segestes being allied with Maroboodus on our great goal. There is, however, a way to control Hraban and it will serve Segestes well. This Odo will get his due, and Segestes will get Sigimer and this ridiculous ring, after all, and our shifty Cherusci ally can relax. The plan is moving.

  As for Nero Claudius Drusus, and with Hraban silent and brooding, we will proceed with the plans of slaying the Consul. And again, do not worry. I know this Decurion is a slippery fuck, but he will be soft as an egg very soon.

  Your servant and friend, tribune, Paullus Ahenobarbus.”

  I snorted at the scribe and played with the scroll. Then I rolled it up and placed it on the table. I snapped my fingers at him, and he got up, lightning fast. ‘Drusus is coming here then, unaware of all that is taking place. Take your leave, and if you mention this meeting to anyone, I shall have my boys drown you in such ale as this.’ I tapped his abandoned horn. ‘The scroll stays with me. There is no request for supplies here, anyway. Just a very personal note.’

  ‘No, Lord, I shall be quiet. And I have no cock in any fight you might be having with the Tribune and fat traders.’

  ‘You will go back to the Tribune, and then you will ask for a new one. You lost this scroll; it fell to the river,’ I instructed him.

  ‘I see,’ he said, a calculating look on his face.

  I growled at
him and the look dissappeared. ‘Know there are men watching you. Fail to keep you mouth shut, and I will tell people you know of treason against the Consul. Against Drusus, who is my friend. I will tell the Batavi to find you if some unhappy event takes place.’ He blanched and opened his mouth, but left in a hurry.

  I watched Fulcher carefully. ‘They will make a move for me just before Drusus is here. We will be ready. Oril will invite me over, and then we will fight it out. Paellus was Lothar’s commander. A treason at the highest level. I want you to ride to the Consul when we go and kill Odo. You are to warn him and take this scroll to him. It is a proof of treason. Something he always desired. A cause for war.’

  ‘I was away from your side when you rode east,’ he grumbled. ‘And now again, you ask me to go.’

  ‘I ask you, for you are like a brother to me. And Drusus knows you.’

  He hesitated and nodded, taking the scroll. ‘As you will, Hraban. Let it be so. But I no longer see myself dying old in my bed.’

  I rubbed my face to dismiss his fears. ‘We wait a while longer. They will move soon,’ I said and thought of the lost winter. Paellus was with Antius. Antius had bottled up Luppia River. How many other were traitors as well?

  CHAPTER 27

  Spring turned to summer, and Hund reported nothing.

  I seethed, for Oril was laying low, apparently waiting for Drusus, who was a Consul that year and Tudrus, I think, was entirely in love with his Gerhild. Cassia was heavy with a baby and worked far too hard though Mathildis helped her. Brimwulf was also happy, for Mathildis and Cassia found support in each other in their pregnant state, and he did not have to bear the whole burden.

  I was nervous.

  The Batavi scouted south, and we had many small skirmishes with the Sigambri. We lost a man and buried him, and the Sigambri lost many as the Luppia legions were making life hard for them to the east. There were rumors of a great battle in the south and the Chatti capital of Mattium having been burned. Some said Oldaric and Adgandestrius, father and son, the great Chatti had been slain, others claimed they had escaped with most of their army. Some said Father had died in the wars in the south. There were rumors of the Consul on his way to us, but as Junius arrived, I began to wonder if I could keep my promise to Cassia after all.