Hibernia (Veteran of Rome Book 2)

by William Kelso

  "Look at Londinium," he muttered, "What a fine city and here I was hoping that I would live long enough to see her all clad in stone. Now wouldn't that be a sight. Wouldn't that be something." Sadly Corbulo shook his head and in the darkness no one saw him smile.

  "Where will you go Sir?"

  "We will go west," Efa replied firmly, "We will take the children to my people and the village where I was born. My family will protect them. We will be safe there."

  Chapter Eight - The House on the Fleet River

  Anxiously Corbulo glanced up at the dark sky as he made his way along the bank of the Fleet. Dawn was not far away. He would have to hurry. To his right, beyond the timber revetments and flood defences, the Fleet glistened in the red moonlight as its waters flowed south into the Thames. On the opposite eastern shore of the Fleet, where two small islands jutted out into the river, he could just about make out a massive warehouse and the adjacent construction site for a tidal mill. He had been supplying stone to that site. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. None of that mattered now. He had to forget about his business and concentrate on the task at hand. He was exhausted but there was urgency in his movements as he picked his way across the boggy uneven ground. He was fairly certain that Bestia had recognised him and if that were the case then the Governor's men would already be out looking for him. There was no time to waste.

  He cursed as his boot disappeared into a muddy puddle. To his left, stretching away into the darkness were the urn fields and Columbaria, the cemeteries where the ashes of the dead were brought and interred. It was a depressing place and the closeness of the dead seemed to weigh on him. Nine children! What had he been thinking when he had agreed to this? If it was only himself, Efa and Dylis it would be fairly straightforward for them to disappear but with nine children in tow it was going to be hard if not impossible. For a start the children would slow them down and then he had to feed them. In the few moments he'd had to himself since their escape he had worked out a rough plan. They would need to get north of the Thames as soon as possible and then get away from Londinium as fast as they could. The fastest route north and on towards Deva was via Watling Street and despite the risk of running into Bestia or the Governor's patrols this was still there best option, provided they could move fast. With a bit of luck the Governor and Bestia would waste their time concentrating their search on Londinium. If he and the children could slip away chances were that the Governor would lose interest and give up the search. But before all of this could be accomplished, there was something that he had to do.

  Falco had built his house close to the banks of the Fleet, a hundred paces south of the bridge that carried Watling Street into the city. In the red moonlight the building looked deserted. Close by stood a large wooden barn with double doors inside which Corbulo knew Falco kept his brand new Carrus. Corbulo clambered over the low wall that marked out the bankers property and paused to listen but in the darkness the only thing he could hear was the gentle movement of horses inside the barn. Falco had better be at home he thought. He wiped the sweat from his face and his fingers closed around the tooth he was holding. It had been dislodged during the escape from the Governor's Palace. He was down to five. He found his way around the side of the house and banged on the front door.

  "Falco, Falco, it's me, open up," he whispered loudly.

  From inside the building there was no reply. Corbulo waited and then knocked again and this time he heard a muffled noise. A little while later he heard movement from inside the house.

  "Who is it?" a suspicious voice snapped, "Do you know what hour it is?"

  "It's me," Corbulo growled, "Listen Falco, I need my money, I need it now. I need all of it."

  From inside the house there was no immediate reply. Then Corbulo heard bolts being undone and a moment later the door swung open. Falco stood in the entrance holding up an oil lamp. He was dressed in his white night clothes. He glared at Corbulo.

  "Can't it wait until the morning?" he said irritably.

  Corbulo shook his head. "I need it now. I am going away."

  Falco raised his lamp and peered at Corbulo with sudden interest.

  "Away," he muttered, "At this hour? Where are you going Corbulo?"

  "South towards Rutupia, I have some urgent business there," Corbulo said smoothly. He glanced over his shoulder into the night. "I am setting out this morning. Priscus will be in charge of the business whilst I am away. Treat him well Falco. When I return I don't want to hear that you have given him a hard time."

  Falco was staring at Corbulo and for a fleeting second Corbulo thought the banker had seen through the lie. Falco's eyes gleamed in the torch-light and for a moment he remained silent.

  "Your money is at the bank in the city," he said at last.

  "Come on," Corbulo interrupted, "I know you keep some here in your house. I don't have time to go to the Forum. I need all of it now. Don't make me wait Falco or else you and I will no longer be doing business. I mean it."

  The threat seemed to leave Falco unruffled. The banker rolled his eyes and sighed.

  "Wait here, I will see what I have got," he said.

  Corbulo waited as Falco vanished into his house. A minute later the banker was back holding two leather bags. He handed them over to Corbulo who peered at them suspiciously.

  "This is all that I have, it covers about two thirds of your deposit. If you want the remaining third you will have to come with me to the Forum," Falco said. "Or do you want to count it here first?"

  Corbulo was weighing the bags in his hands. There was no time for counting. He looked up.

  "No that won't be necessary," he said clearing his throat, "but how about you sell me that wagon of yours, the Carrus and your two horses. I will give you the money that you still owe me for them."

  Falco looked surprised. He turned to glance in the direction of the barn where the four-wheeled carriage was kept.

  "That's a bit short," he murmured at last, "the wagon is brand new and the horses are in excellent condition. I wasn't planning to sell them but if you really want them it will cost you another bag like the one you are holding."

  "Done," Corbulo said quickly handing back one of the leather bags.

  Falco stared at the bag in his hand. Then cautiously he looked up at Corbulo. "It's none of my business of course," Falco said quietly, "But I just thought you should know, when we were talking about those Christians, your friend, Quintus the retired Centurion, the one who the Governor is looking for. The rumour is that he's fled to Hibernia. That seems to be the place where all wanted men flee to these days."

  Corbulo avoided the banker’s gaze. Falco had never inquired into his personal or business affairs but that didn't mean he could trust the man or tell him the truth. If, as was likely, the Governor placed a bounty on his head Corbulo knew that Falco's loyalty to his client would be severely tested. At the most he would have a couple of days before Falco gave in to temptation and alerted the Governor. Corbulo cleared his throat again.

  "So I have heard," he muttered as his fingers came to rest on the pommel of his sword. In the darkness Falco did not seem to have noticed the movement.

  "Well it's a good thing that you are not heading north," Falco sighed, "There is trouble around Verulamium, St. Albans, some sort of local rebellion. They say a druid is stirring up the Britons against the local landowner. The Governor is despatching a company of the city guard to restore order. They are leaving at first light. You wouldn't want to be riding into that mess with a brand new wagon and a bag of silver now would you."

  Corbulo was silent. Then his hand moved away from his sword.

  "I will be back shortly to collect the wagon, goodbye Falco," Corbulo said as he moved off into the darkness.

  ***

  The log boat was where he had left it drawn up along the river-bank. As Corbulo approached he heard an urgent whisper in the darkness.

  "It's me, I have got the money," he called out softly. A moment later two figures rose from w
here they had been hiding amongst the tall reeds. It was Priscus and Efa. Priscus had armed himself with a pickaxe. They approached with Efa trailing a broken slavers chain that was still clamped to one of her ankles. The metal rattled and thudded across the ground. She touched his arm.

  "Are they allright?" Corbulo said gesturing towards the log boat where he could just about make out some of the children.

  "They are frightened and they don't know what is going on," Efa said quietly.

  Corbulo grunted and turned to Priscus.

  "Well we are all set," he growled. "Falco has sold me his wagon and horses. We will place the children onboard and take the road north. With a bit of luck we will be miles away before its light. I know these wagons, with a good road and strong horses we will be able to do fifty miles in a day, maybe more."

  "That's good Sir, that's good," Priscus murmured.

  Corbulo stretched out his arms and clasped Priscus by the shoulders.

  "Farewell then friend," he said softly, "I will be back one day when matters have settled down. Look after our business and the boat. You are the best business partner that I have."

  In the darkness Corbulo could not see the smile that appeared on Priscus's face.

  "But you only have one business partner," the young Briton whispered.

  Chapter Nine - The Rebellion

  Wearily Corbulo rubbed his eyes. Gods what would he do to get some sleep. He was exhausted. The noon sun had come and gone but he could still feel the heat and glare of it on his cheeks. He slapped his face and shook his head. It was all that he could do to stay awake. In his hands he held the ‘horse’s reins and at his side Efa's head was slumped against his shoulder. She was fast asleep. The Carrus, with it’s four large spoke wheels and pulled along by the two horses, rolled, rocked and creaked along the straight paved road. The wooden sides were up and he had managed to erect the cover to give the children some protection from the dust of the road. He glanced over his shoulder. The children lay on the bare wooden planks of the wagon. They looked like they were sleeping.

  On both sides of the road the green and fertile looking meadows and fields seemed peaceful. The only other travellers he'd seen so far had been a trader and his wagon heading in the opposite direction. Here and there the gently rolling landscape was interspersed with woods and apart from the road that cut a line across the land, he could see no sign of human activity. He sighed and felt his eyes close. So much had happened in the past few days. Part of him could not believe he was leaving behind everything for which he had worked so hard in order to save a group of children who he didn't even know. The thought depressed him. Efa was demanding a lot. He had already spent two thirds of his savings on buying the Carrus and the horses, an investment that he didn't need. Maybe when they reached Deva he would be able to sell the damn thing and recoup some of his investment? The thought of seeing Efa's family again didn't exactly fill him with joy either. He hardly knew them for he had only met her father and brother once and his in-laws had not hidden their disapproval and dismay at seeing Efa marry a Roman. The suspicion on their faces had been clear as daylight.

  Suddenly one of the horses snorted and with a start Corbulo opened his eyes. Had he fallen asleep? He peered around him but all seemed normal. How far had they come? Corbulo rubbed his eyes again. They had been on the road since before dawn, so they couldn't be far from Verulamium, St Albans. He leaned sideways and glanced back down the road from which they had come but saw nobody. That was good. There had been no sign of any pursuit since they had left Londinium. Maybe they had managed to get away after all.

  A little noise behind him made him look round. Dylis and a little blond girl were clambering towards the front of the wagon and Corbulo recognised the Christian girl as the one who had spoken out in his house. The girl still had the leather satchel with the protruding doll strapped to her back.

  "Christiana wants to ask you something, father," Dylis said quietly as the two girls placed their elbows on the wagon's wooden side just behind him.

  "What?" Corbulo snapped tiredly.

  "Why don't you like us?" a timid little voice said.

  Corbulo fixed his eyes on the road and said nothing. Behind him the two girls were silent for a while.

  "Where are my father and mother?" Christiana asked.

  Corbulo shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "Now no more questions. Dylis, take your friend to the back."

  Behind him Corbulo heard movement and when he glanced around he saw that Dylis had done as he had asked but when he caught his daughter's eye she refused to look at him.

  ***

  With a sudden jerk Corbulo pulled on the reins and the wagon came to an abrupt creaking halt. He lifted up his hand to shade his eyes from the sun's glare. Yes there it was. In the distance a long column of thick black smoke was rising into the sky. Mesmerized he stared at the smoke and as he did so he remembered Falco's warning about the civil disturbance around Verulamium. Softly Corbulo swore under his breath. He had no idea how large or organised the trouble up ahead was but chances were that he wouldn't just be able to ride straight through it. For a moment he was seized by indecision. Then he turned to look back in the direction from which they had come. At his side Efa stirred and opened her eyes. Corbulo ignored her. What had Falco told him? Something about the Governor sending a company of soldiers up the road to crush the disturbance. He groaned. The soldiers could not be far behind him. Londinium was only twenty-five miles or so from Verulamium, so if the company had set out at dawn they would be here before nightfall. He was trapped. He couldn't go forwards and he couldn't go back and if he stayed where he was the soldiers’ were bound to find him. Corbulo felt a bead of sweat trickle down his face. The Legionaries may not be searching specifically for him but it was still a hell of a risk. He glanced around at the fields and meadows and his eye came to rest on a thick wood a half a mile up the road.

  "Why have we stopped?" Efa said, peering around her. In reply Corbulo pointed at the black smoke in the distance.

  "We will hide in that wood until its dark," he murmured. "I need to get some rest."

  Efa was staring at the smoke.

  "What do you think has happened?" she asked quietly.

  "Fuck knows, all I know is that we need to get off the road," Corbulo growled as he urged the horses forwards. With a shudder the wagon started forwards again. Nervously Corbulo glanced over his shoulder but the road behind him was empty.

  "Are you still angry with me?" Efa said, laying a hand on her husband's shoulder.

  "Yes, now shut up," Corbulo snapped irritably.

  As the wagon rolled into the wood the trees blocked out some of the sunlight and Corbulo felt the welcome cool air touch his skin. The forest floor was covered with thousands of blue flowers whose name he did not know. The road cut straight through the trees, disappearing over a small hill. Corbulo peered into the wood to his right and then to his left. The trees seemed to line the road like sentinels and the thick undergrowth made it impossible to see much further than ten or fifteen yards. Then he saw what he was looking for. A clearing between the trees that was wide enough to let the wagon pass through. He brought the horses to a halt and handed the reins to Efa before jumping to the ground and as he landed he groaned at the stiffness of his muscles. A quick glance up and down the road confirmed that they were alone. Then grasping the horses by their harness he led them into the clearing and down a rough muddy lane. Behind him the wagon rocked and jolted as the wheels rolled over the broken ground. The children had woken up and some of them were leaning over the front of the Carrus watching him. Up ahead the lane disappeared deeper into the forest. When they had gone forty yards or so Corbulo brought the horses to a halt and looked around. The trees and undergrowth and blue flowers crowded around him. He turned to look back the way they had come but he could no longer see the road.

  "We will stay here until its dark," he called to Efa.

  Efa said nothing and avoided his gaze as Corbulo clambere
d back up onto the wagon. Corbulo turned to look at the children. All ten were awake and all of them were staring at him as if waiting for him to say something. Corbulo took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes.

  "Now listen, all of you," he said in a tired voice, "we will be safe here but none of you are to go anywhere near the road and you are not to make a sound. If people hear us they will catch us and I will be very, very angry. Is that understood?"

  The children did not reply but Corbulo saw a few nods.

  "Dylis," Corbulo said sharply, "give everyone a cup of water and their day's ration of bread but no more than that. From now on we will only eat twice a day, once at dawn and once at dusk, understood?"

  "Yes father," Dylis said moodily.

  "Sounds like you are back in the army," Efa muttered as she stepped down onto the ground.

  Corbulo ignored his wife. For a moment he studied the children and his eyes came to rest on the older boy who had offered him money for protection. The boy of around twelve with jet-black hair was staring at him with sullen indifference.

  "You," Corbulo said pointing at him, "What is your name?"

  "Petrus," the boy replied proudly, "I am named after the first disciple of Jesus and I know all of Gods commandments."

  "I am sure you do," Corbulo growled, "But now your job is to find something for the horses to eat and drink. We don't have enough water to share with them. Do you think that you can handle that?"

  Petrus gave a little defiant shrug as he held Corbulo's gaze.

  "Sure, I am no child," he said, "My father was a man of importance. I have money."

  "Look I told you before, I don't want your money," Corbulo snapped tossing an empty water skin in the boy's direction, "Now get moving before I give you a smack around your ears."