"Well you can always fuck off," Corbulo replied avoiding the man's gaze. At his side Galba blushed in embarrassment.
The Procurator shrugged and looked away with an annoyed expression.
"I see that you still haven't learned to show respect to your superiors but maybe one day I shall teach you some manners," he replied.
Corbulo did not answer as he rode on along the trail.
"What are you doing here in Hibernia?" the Procurator said suddenly. "Aren't you a little old to have rejoined the army?"
"I am here for the same thing as you are," Corbulo said sharply.
"Ah yes," Classicus's eyes glinted and a little smile appeared on his lips. "When I last saw the Governor he was looking pretty pleased with himself so I suppose that you struck a deal and he got his letters back." The Procurator paused as he glanced down the column of marching soldiers. "I know everything Corbulo," he said at last in a quieter voice, "I know about the letters and I know about those Christian children you smuggled out of Londinium. You did well to evade me and those thugs that the Governor sent after you. I didn't think you would make it but you did. The Emperor wants to know what was written in those letters and who wrote them. Don't take me for a fool. You are here because Agricola arranged it. He has persuaded you to go and find your Christian friend Quintus. Agricola wants his letter back too but the bad news for him is that it is still missing." Classicus chuckled and glanced over at Corbulo. "You don't want to go up against the Emperor, Corbulo, one word from me and you and everyone close to you will die. If Domitian wants something, he gets it."
"Well why doesn't the big hero come here himself then?" Corbulo muttered keeping his eyes on the column of men ahead of him.
"It doesn't have to be this way," Classicus said carefully, "If you were to help me retrieve Agricola's letter, if you were to find your friend Quintus, the Emperor would look favourably upon you. It could turn out to be quite a lucrative move and I know that you are a businessman. Why don't you think about that?"
Corbulo lowered his eyes and was silent for a moment.
"I think," he said slowly, "that the time has come for you to fuck off."
The Procurator's face darkened. "What's this? You dare defy the will of the Emperor," he hissed. "You had better be careful Corbulo for you are making some very powerful enemies and don't think they all wear Roman clothes. I have allies amongst the Hibernian tribes, men who hate Agricola, men who long for the chance of revenge. You had better watch your back, you Christian loving son of a whore. When I want something, I get it."
And with that Classcius called out to his men and urged his horse up the column. Corbulo was silent as he watched him go.
"That was the Procurator Augusti, wasn't it?" Galba said suddenly as he watched Classicus and his men ride away. "What a fucking prick. When I want something, I get it," Galba grinned as he imitated the Procurator's voice. The young man turned to Corbulo. "What strange company you keep, Corbulo," he said.
***
It was early evening when a Roman cavalryman came charging down the flank of the marching column. The man was crying out for the Legate. Trebonius seeing the rider urged his horse towards him.
"What's going on?" the Legate cried out in a loud voice.
The rider veered towards him. Sweat was streaming down the flanks of his horse. The soldier looked excited.
"Sir," he said snapping out a quick salute, "The Batavian cavalry are at the gates of Tara. They want to know what your orders are?"
Corbulo joined the Legate and his staff and turned to look west towards where the sun was a large fiery ball of orange on the horizon. Trebonius too had turned to stare at the dying sun.
"What about their defences, did the Batavians get a look at the defenders?" he said sharply.
The soldier's eyes glinted with feverish excitement.
"The place in unfortified and it looks lightly defended Sir," he blurted out.
Trebonius nodded as a mutter arose amongst his staff officers. "What about King Elim, is there any sign of him and his army?" the Legate snapped.
The rider shook his head and a grin appeared on his face.
"Nothing, there is no sign of him. The Hibernians have scouted the land for miles around and they report no sign of the enemy. Tara awaits to be taken Sir."
"Could it be a trap Sir?" a Centurion said as he turned to look at the Legate.
Trebonius was looking thoughtful and for a moment he did not reply. Then he turned to the rider.
"Very good," he snapped, "Ride back to the Batavians and tell them to hold their positions until the Legionaries reach them. Go!"
The cavalryman saluted hastily and with a little cry he was away racing back up the column towards the west. Trebonius turned to his officers.
"We are going to take Tara tonight," he said abruptly, "prepare the men. I want the 1st and 6th to attack as soon as they reach the hill."
The officers glanced at each other and there was a sudden excitement in their eyes.
"Boys," Trebonius said calmly, "Today we are going to set foot where no Roman soldier has ever been before."
Chapter Twenty-Three - The Fort of the Kings
The hill of Tara was not what Corbulo had expected. It was low and not very imposing but nevertheless it dominated the surrounding countryside. Corbulo grunted as he came to a halt and stared up at the mile long bleak and treeless ridge. The sun had vanished behind the horizon but it was still light enough to pick out the individual features of the capital of Hibernia. Dominating the hill-top was a prominent circular fort enclosed by an earthen rampart. From the top of the rampart a wooden pole had been driven into the earth and from it, flapping in the westerly breeze, was a black flag. As he peered up at the ramparts he suddenly caught sight of men staring back down at him.
A sudden trumpet blast wrenched his gaze away from the ramparts and towards the lines of Legionaries who were forming up at the base of the hill. The rattle and jingle of the men's armour and weapons mingled with the neighing of the cavalry horses and the urgent cries and shouts of the Centurion's and officers. Corbulo urged his horse towards the southern end of the hill where the Batavian cavalry squadrons stood drawn up ready to protect the Legionaries flank. The Batavians were silent and disciplined as they stared up at the defenders on the earthen rampart. Corbulo came to a halt beside one of the squadrons and turned to gaze back at the Legionaries. The infantry companies had formed up in tightly packed wedge formations with their Centurions at the very point. He glanced up the slope at the defenders on the embankment. There seemed pitifully few of them and Corbulo grunted in reluctant admiration. The Hibernians who had remained to defend their capital were brave men. They had not abandoned their posts even though they could have fled. Another trumpet blast rent the evening air and moments later the Legionaries began to move up the hill. The men's progress was slow but steady as they sought to stay in formation and as they came into missile range the Legionaries in the centre of the formations raised their shields over their heads to form a testudo. Corbulo was staring at the defenders up on the ramparts. The Hibernians had still not moved but he could hear their shouts and cries. The defenders were cursing and insulting the Romans.
As the Legionaries reached the base of the earthen embankment their formations suddenly surged forwards and with a great roar the Romans stormed up the grassy embankment and within a few moments the few Hibernian defenders were overrun. Corbulo watched mesmerized as the foremost assault companies vanished over the top of the rampart. Here and there a body tumbled down the embankment and the screams of the wounded rung out into the gathering darkness. A sudden stir beside him made him turn. The Batavians were moving. The foremost squadrons were peeling away southwards around the base of the hill. Corbulo followed and in the fading light he saw that the leading troopers were making for the gateway into the fort. The wooden gates were closed but as the troopers approached a trumpet blast erupted from within the hill top fort. The blast was followed by a great cheer. Th
en the gates started to open and a few Legionaries appeared in the entrance and raised their swords and shields in triumph. A little smile appeared on Corbulo's face. The Legionaries had taken the place in the first assault. The battle had lasted just a few minutes. Tara had fallen. The Batavian cavalry needed no further invitation as the troopers surged through the gate and into the fort. As he approached the gateway Corbulo could see now that the fort was large and oval shaped. The Legionaries beside the gateway raised their weapons and cried out in triumph as Corbulo passed in between the earthen embankment and across a narrow wooden bridge that spanned a deep waterlogged ditch. The ditch seemed to follow the circumference of the ramparts before it vanished from view behind a few Hibernian round houses. Corbulo slowed his horse to a walk as he gazed around him. The settlement was filled with Legionaries and their rough cries and shouts filled the evening air. Some of the soldiers were still struggling to cross the inner ditch but others had spread out amongst the cluster of round houses and were kicking in doors and vanishing into the buildings. Close by a woman screamed and further away he could hear a baby's cries and the barking of a dog. There were very few Hibernians to be seen and Corbulo sighed with sudden disappointment. Had he really expected Quintus to be here, waiting for him with open arms? A few terrified looking prisoners, old men, women and children were kneeling on the ground in a line with their hands clasped behind their heads as a squad of Legionaries searched them stripping them of anything of value.
Up ahead Corbulo caught sight of two smaller circular enclosures. As he approached he saw that they were two linked ring forts. The forts were enclosed by a ditch and an earth rampart and Roman Legionaries were swarming over the embankment and around the narrow entrance passage. Corbulo peered down the path that led into the complex but he couldn't see what lay beyond the earthen walls but it surely had to be an important place. He skirted the side of the two small ring forts and turned to gaze about him in disbelief. Two women were on their knees in front of a house with their hands clasped behind their heads. They were trembling with fear as inside the house Corbulo could hear the noise of male voices and of pottery being smashed.
"Where is everyone, where are the people of Tara?" he cried looking down at the women. The girls were too frightened to raise their heads and look up. Corbulo repeated himself but this time in a calmer voice.
"They have fled, they have gone," one of the women said quickly, "but we serve the goddess, we will not leave her."
Corbulo stared at the women for a long moment. Then he urged his horse onwards. Of course Quintus would have fled too. The Roman March on Tara had caught no one by surprise and there had been ample time to flee. Corbulo's shoulder sagged. His friend could be anywhere in Hibernia by now. How was he going to find him in this vast hostile and unknown land? He sighed and stared around him with mounting desperation. Then he blew the air from his lungs as he felt his resolve stiffen. It had been an unrealistic hope to find Quintus in Tara but he would think of something. He would find a way. There would be clues. He would find his friend. He had no choice.
A sudden scream caught his attention. Twenty paces away close to the outer ditch and rampart a Hibernian had set himself on fire. The flames were tearing away at his clothes and body as the man staggered towards a group of Legionaries. His terrible high-pitched screams rent the evening air. The Romans shouted at him as they stumbled backwards in alarm. Then a soldier threw a spear at the flaming figure and the screams were cut off as the man collapsed to the ground. Corbulo stared at the burning corpse as the flames continued to burn. Agricola had often talked about taking Tara but he had never managed it. But today Rome had conquered. There was no doubt about that and he Corbulo had been part of it. This would be a worthy tale to tell Efa and Dylis. Corbulo wrenched his eyes from the burning corpse and turned to stare at the deserted and abandoned round houses that had been packed tightly into the fort. Something felt wrong. It was clear now that the majority of the Hibernian population had fled and had even had time to take their precious cattle with them. Corbulo picked at one of his teeth as he stared at the corpse of a man lying beside the door to a house. The fight had been too easy. The Hibernians had made no serious effort to defend their capital. But he knew these people. They never gave up without a fight.
He urged his horse down the narrow alleys between the houses until he reached the end of the smaller linked ring forts. A commotion to his right caught his attention. Close to the outer rampart he spotted a small mound of raised earth. A passage way led into the mound ending in a solid looking wooden door a yard or so high. As Corbulo approached he saw Tuathal and a group of his men were kicking and hacking at the door. Some of Tuathal's men were holding burning torches and the reddish light gave the whole scene a hellish appearance.
"What is this place?" Corbulo cried at one of Tuathal's Hibernians who was standing back from the rest. The man glanced up with a triumphant, excited look.
"This is the Mound of the Hostages," the Hibernian replied in a thick accent. "The tomb beyond that door is as old as the Lugh himself. It was built by the ancients to honour their dead but now we use it to imprison hostages."
Corbulo turned to stare down the narrow passage at the wooden door. Tuathal was cursing and shouting a name as he repeatedly swung an axe into the wood. The door was starting to buckle and give way.
"Is there someone in there?" Corbulo said.
"He was there yesterday," the Hibernian hissed, "so let's hope he is still there and wasn't allowed to flee with the rest of them. If he's still in there then Tuathal is going to have him tortured and executed."
"Why, what has he done?" Corbulo inquired with a frown.
The Hibernian shook his head in disgust. "That's Eochaid Ainchenn in there. He is the man who murdered Tuathal's father, the rightful High King of Tara. Tuathal has waited years for this revenge."
"Who?" Corbulo said raising his eyebrows.
The Hibernian's eyes remained fixed on the door.
"Eochaid Ainchenn," he said with a hint of irritation, "one of the four kings who led the rebellion against Tuathal's father. Elim was one of them too but he and Eochaid quarrelled some years ago and Elim had him locked up in the Mound of the Hostages. With their King held hostage, Eochaid's people will remain loyal."
Corbulo turned to stare at the wooden door. Tuathal was hammering away at it in a flurry of blows as if he had gone berserk. Then with a howl Tuathal launched his foot against the wood and with a splintering noise the door gave way. Tuathal took a step back, grabbed hold of a flaming torch and tossed it into the dark narrow passageway beyond.
"If you are in there Eochaid, then come on out. Tuathal Techtmar has business with you tonight," Tuathal roared.
The party of men around the tomb fell silent as they waited for a reply. Then from inside the narrow passageway something moved. A man appeared and stooped through the doorway and calmly tossed the burning torch onto the grassy roof of the mound. Then he folded his arms across his chest and turned to look at Tuathal.
"I am Eochaid and I am here Tuathal Techtmar, there is no need to shout," the man said in a calm, quiet voice.
Eochaid was a big man with long straight black hair and a broken nose. He was clad in simple white sheepskin clothes and a wild black grey beard covered his cheeks and chin. He looked around fifty.
Tuathal's eyes sparkled as he stared at him. The silence lengthened. Then Tuathal took a step towards Eochaid and lifted his axe so that the sharp edge rested against Eochaid's neck. The hostage however did not move. Instead a proud little smile appeared on his lips as he looked at Tuathal.
"Go on then, do it, avenge that arsehole of a father of yours," Eochaid said calmly. "I am not afraid to die."
Tuathal's body started to tremble and a tortured whine escaped from his mouth. He lifted his axe away from the man's neck and prepared to strike.
"Wait!" Corbulo shouted as he urged his horse through the party of Hibernians and towards Tuathal. "Do not strike that man. The Legat
e will want to question him. He may have useful information about the enemy. Do not harm him!"
The Hibernians who clustered behind Tuathal turned and hastily stepped aside as Corbulo and his horse forced their way up the narrow passage. Both Tuathal and Eochaid were staring at him in surprise.
"You again," Tuathal snarled as he recognised Corbulo, "Why don't you fuck off, this is none of your business. This man belongs to me."
"No he doesn't," Corbulo snapped, "Like I said, the Legate will want to question him. He is coming with me. Trebonius will decide what to do with him."
Tuathal raised his axe in the air and for a moment a murderous look passed across his face as he stared at Corbulo with a wild aggressive look.
"I wouldn't do that," Corbulo said quietly, "killing a Roman soldier will not go down well with the Legionaries, nor with Agricola, your patron."
Tuathal's face darkened and he muttered a string of curses the like Corbulo had never heard before.
"You shit," he hissed at last. "Why are you doing this? This man means nothing to you. This man murdered my father."
"You shouldn't have hit me," Corbulo retorted. Then he turned to look at Eochaid. "You," he said pointing his finger at him, "will come with me."
***
Trebonius had established his command post in the northern most of the two small linked ring forts. The tumult amongst the civilian section of the fort was dying down as Corbulo, still mounted on his horse, and preceded by Eochaid rode up to the narrow entrance into the two small ring forts which he'd spotted earlier. They were closely followed by Tuathal and his men who strode along in sulky silence. A squad of eight Roman Legionaries were guarding the entrance across the ditch. The soldiers eyed Eochaid curiously.
"I need to see the Legate," Corbulo said, "This man here," he said gesturing at Eochaid, "has information that may be useful."
"No he fucking hasn't," Tuathal growled from the back.
The Optio in command of the section peered at Eochaid and then up at Corbulo. Then he nodded.
Hibernia (Veteran of Rome Book 2) Page 20
