"Surprised to see me?" the Procurator said in a triumphant voice.
A Praetorian appeared from behind one of the houses to Corbulo's left and then two more appeared to his right. The soldiers were clad in full armour and helmets and were clutching spears and shields as they calmly moved to surround Corbulo and Quintus. Behind him Corbulo heard Quintus curse and reach for the Pugio he'd lent him.
Classicus was staring at Corbulo.
"Did you think you would outwit me so easily?" he cried taking a step forwards.
"Fuck you," Corbulo snarled defiantly as he glanced tensely at the Praetorians. The soldiers had started to close in on them. There only seemed to be three of them but they were heavily armed.
"Your friend Eochaid should have been more cautious," Classicus said as his lip curled in contempt, "When they told me that a Roman had been spotted hiring a boat and setting off towards the Forbidden Islands I knew it had to be you. So then it was just a matter of time before you came back to retrieve your horses and I see that you have brought your friend Quintus straight to me. You have proved to be an excellent messenger boy, Corbulo."
Corbulo grunted as he remembered the figure on the beach as he and Eochaid had set off in the Curragh for the Forbidden Islands. Faelan's spies were everywhere it seemed.
"Where are the rest of your men?" he growled as he drew his Gladius. In response the Praetorians raised their spears into a throwing position as they inched closer and closer.
"They are out patrolling the shoreline, just in case you decided not to retrieve your horses," Classicus replied, "but these three are my best men. They are more than a match for you and your friend. So now you have a choice. A clean quick death if you tell me where Agricola's letter is, or a long painful journey of torture and then death if you don't. Well, what is it going to be?"
"If we die then you will never find the letter," Corbulo said as he went into a crouch. Behind him Quintus too was bracing himself as his eyes flicked from one Praetorian to the other. The big man was clutching his Pugio but the knife looked pathetically small and puny compared to the weapons the Praetorians were holding.
"Where is that letter?" Classicus roared.
The owner of the Curragh suddenly bolted, vanishing like a rabbit across a field.
Corbulo stood his ground. His eyes were fixed on the Procurator. Then slowly he opened his mouth.
"I ate it," he said with a defiant smile, "You have failed Classicus. All the evidence is gone. The Emperor is not going to be pleased with you."
A deep red blush appeared on the Procurator’s face. For a moment he seemed to struggle with what to say. Then his voice was shrill and full of fury. "You bastard," he screamed, "Kill them, kill them both."
"Corbulo," Quintus managed a warning shout. Corbulo flung himself to the ground as a spear flew through the space where he'd been standing. The weapon ploughed into the wall of a house. Behind him Quintus screamed but there was no time to see what had happened. Corbulo rolled over as another spear narrowly missed him and thudded into the ground. The third Praetorian was charging towards him with a loud intimidating cry. The soldier was pointing his spear at Corbulo as if he was going to impale him onto the wall of the round house. Corbulo scrambled to his feet and at the last moment he jumped aside and jabbed at the Praetorian with his sword but the soldier managed to block the blow with his shield. Warily the Praetorian backed off a little as he prepared for the next assault. From the corner of his eye Corbulo saw Quintus a few paces away. A Praetorian came screaming towards him with a raised shield and sword in hand but as he thrust his sword at Quintus, the big man twisted away and in a single fluid and astonishingly fast movement he rammed his knife into the Praetorians eye. The blow was followed by a sickening crunch and a high- pitched squeal and the soldier was lifted boldly backwards off his feet.
In front of Corbulo the soldier with the spear shouted and charged. The man feinted to the left and then thrust his spear forwards aiming for Corbulo's stomach. Corbulo twisted aside and the soldier swung his shield at him and missed. Corbulo jabbed at him with his sword but the Praetorian easily deflected the blow. Close by Quintus was rolling over the ground as he and the third Praetorian grappled with each other in a rolling and writhing mass of legs and arms. The two men were howling like two demented animals as they struggled to end each other's life.
Corbulo felt a sudden spark of panic as the Praetorian in front of him turned and shouted at the Procurator to help him. If Classicus acted now he would be able to finish Quintus off easily. There was nothing he could do to help. The big man was horribly vulnerable as he struggled with the soldier but the Procurator was staring at the fight with mounting unease and he seemed paralysed by indecision.
The Praetorian jabbed his spear at Corbulo and then charged. Corbulo stumbled backwards against the wall of a house as the soldier flung his spear at him and drew his sword. The projectile slammed into the wall and Corbulo yelled in fright. Then he danced away as the soldier tried to batter him with his shield. The Praetorian was breathing heavily as he moved to corner Corbulo against the wall. Suddenly a terrified shriek of pure panic rent the air. It was followed by a horrible gurgling noise and silence. Corbulo's eyes widened in horror as he stared at the two struggling men on the ground. One of them was no longer moving. The Praetorian too, twisted round to see what had happened. For a moment the two bodies did not move. Then slowly Quintus staggered to his feet. His face was covered in blood and he had been stabbed in his leg. Grimly he picked up the dead Praetorian’s sword, straightened up to his full height and with a fierce wild looking eyes he slammed his fists against his chest in a primeval roar that sent a flock of birds soaring away into the air. The big man had gone berserk.
"Twentieth, Twentieth," Quintus roared as he limped towards the remaining Praetorian. The soldier facing Corbulo hesitated, faltered and started to back away as he caught sight of his two comrades lying dead on the ground and as he did so Corbulo sprang forwards. The Praetorian twisted round to face him but he was a fraction too slow and with a cry Corbulo drove his sword straight into the man's exposed throat. The force of the blow sent the two of them tumbling to the ground. Corbulo screamed in pain as the collision jolted his ribs and a fountain of blood splattered across his face. He rolled free and staggered to his feet. His sword had punched through the Praetorians throat impaling him to the ground and the soldier’s body and legs were kicking and shaking. Then slowly the movement ceased. Corbulo stepped forwards, placed his boot on the corpse and pulled his sword from the soldier’s throat. Then he looked up.
Quintus was limping purposefully towards Classicus. The Procurator had not moved. He was staring at his dead men in confusion and growing panic. Corbulo started towards him holding his sword and as Classicus saw him coming his face went white and he started to back away. Desperately he raised his hand as if to ward off a blow.
"I didn't mean for this to happen," he gasped, "I am sorry, I am not a soldier, I was just doing my job, I had instructions which I had to obey, please."
Corbulo said nothing as he strode towards the Procurator forcing him backwards.
"Please, I don't want to die," Classicus screamed in mounting panic. The scream was cut short as Quintus caught him in a bear hug and sliced open his throat. Blood poured out down the man's tunic and as Quintus released him the Procurator flopped to the ground like a rag doll.
"That was for Alexander," Quintus hissed, "He was my friend."
Chapter Thirty-One - In Defence of the High King of Tara
Quintus reined in his horse and pointed at something in the distance. A piece of cloth was bound around his leg. It was stained with dark dried blood and a purple bruise surrounded one of his eyes. Strapped across his back was a spear and from his belt hung a Gladius, which he'd taken from one of the dead Praetorians. Corbulo rode up to his side and stared in the direction in which Quintus was pointing and there standing proudly on top of its hill, like a crown on a head, he saw the Fortress of the Kings. He
turned to Quintus and silently the two men grinned at each other. They were back in Tara. It had taken them four days to cross Hibernia on their hundred and fifty mile journey. Corbulo had tried to follow the eskers that he and Eochaid had taken a few days before. He had tried to navigate using the sun but it had not stopped them from getting lost on the second day. Only the intervention of a friendly villager had put them back on the right path. The Hibernian villages they had passed had looked half deserted and in settlement after settlement they had noticed that only the women, children and elderly remained. All the men of fighting age seemed to have vanished. The villager who had helped them had said that the men had gone to join High King Elim and his army who were now advancing on Tara.
"Looks like we are not too late," Quintus said gesturing at the earthen embankments that protected the royal fortress. A work party of Legionaries were out extending a wooden palisade on top of the berm and a wagon filled with wooden stakes stood at the base of the ramparts. Another work detail was busy digging a trench around the fortress. The men's shovels were throwing up small clumps of earth into the air and the soldiers armour glinted and reflected in the bright morning sunlight.
Corbulo nodded. His cheeks were unshaven and he looked dog tired. A spear was strapped to his back and he was clad in torso armour and there were greaves along his shins. He glanced in the direction of the Stone of Destiny but from his position it was impossible to see the stone itself. He looked up. Over his head a formation of black ravens came flying past in a tight V. The birds seemed to be coming from the north and Corbulo's face suddenly darkened.
"What is it?" Quintus muttered as he noticed the change in expression.
Corbulo shook his head, as he watched the ravens vanish from view. "Just something a druid once told me," he murmured, "Beware of the ravens upon a northern wind, beware of the one eyed man."
"It's all crap," Quintus replied uneasily.
"Yes," Corbulo said staring up the hill at Tara, "The druid said that not a single Roman was going to leave this island alive."
Quintus did not answer and the two of them fell silent.
"Let's go," Corbulo muttered at last as he urged his horse out of the wood and up the open grassy slope towards the fortress. Quintus followed on close behind but they had only gone a few yards before Corbulo heard the thunder of hooves. He turned as a squadron of Batavian cavalry came galloping towards him. There were thirty riders in all and they were armed with spears, which were pointed straight at him. Corbulo reined in his horse and raised his hands as the Batavians swarmed around him. Beside him Quintus hastily did the same. The Germanic horsemen were staring at him suspiciously.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" their Decurion a tall blond haired man cried in Latin as his horse snorted and edged sideways.
"We're Romans," Corbulo replied keeping his hands in the air, "my son serves in your Cohort, his name is Marcus, he's a Decurion like you, he's got red hair and can't handle his wine. You must know him."
The young officer looked very serious and his expression did not change and for a long moment he said nothing as he carefully inspected the two newcomers. Then he turned to one of his men.
"I will take them to the Legate," he said, "You will remain on patrol."
The remainder of the squadron turned their horses and started to trot away leaving the Decurion and four of his men behind. The young officer gave Corbulo a stern look and then gestured for him to follow. Silently the small group of riders started out towards the southern entrance into the fortress.
"He's a bit of a serious minded lad isn't he?" Quintus said as he nudged his horse alongside Corbulo.
The young blond officer must have heard the comment but he said nothing and Corbulo shook his head warning Quintus against making any further jokes. As they rode alongside the outer ramparts of the fortress Corbulo could see that the Roman garrison had not been idle whilst he'd been gone. Sharpened wooden stakes had been rammed at an angle into the earthen rampart just like at the headland fort at Drumanagh and in places along the top of the ramparts they formed a continuous palisade. Close to the southwestern corner of Tara, a crude wooden watch tower had been erected and on its upper level two Legionaries were on guard duty. As they rode passed the Legionaries paused from their labours to look at the riders. The outer approaches to the southern gate were barred by anti cavalry-barriers, spiked wooden obstacles and a whole company of Legionaries seemed to be on duty. The Decurion raised his hand and the small party of riders passed into Tara without a single challenge.
Corbulo dismounted outside the earthen embankment that surrounded the Royal Seat. Two Legionaries were standing guard outside the narrow entrance into the ring fort. The Decurion beckoned for Corbulo to follow him and without a word Corbulo and Quintus crossed the outer ditch and stepped through the gap in the earthen rampart that protected the inner sanctum of the fortress.
***
Galba was on duty outside the round house that was serving as the Roman HQ. The house stood on an elevated bank of earth in the centre of the ring fort and a solitary goat stood tied up to a post beside the entrance. The door to the house was closed and two Legionaries were on guard on either side of it. Hastily Galba got to feet as he saw the small party approach. The Decurion saluted smartly.
"Sir, I found these two skulking around outside the fort. They claim to be Romans but I thought the Legate should see them."
Galba turned to look at Corbulo and Quintus in surprise. Then he grinned sheepishly.
"You did well to bring them here Decurion," he said, "I know this man. He is a friend. You can leave them in my care. That will be all."
The Decurion saluted and giving Quintus a final quizzical look he and his men turned and started to retrace their steps.
"Decurion," Corbulo called out, "Tell Marcus that his father has returned and is waiting for him here. Tell him that I have news, important news."
The Decurion paused, half turned and then without a word continued on his way. Corbulo turned and caught Galba's outstretched arm and gripped it in the Legionary manner.
"Is Trebonius inside?" Corbulo said gesturing at the closed door.
Galba nodded and the smile faded from his lips, "They are having a council of war," he said, "all the senior officers are present. We received word this morning from Tuathal's scouts. They say that Elim is marching on Tara with a huge army. He will be here by nightfall."
Corbulo looked down at his boots.
"Quintus," he said sharply, "go and retrieve that letter and bring it to me. I will wait for you here."
The big man nodded and quickly slipped down the embankment and made his way out of the ring fort.
"Where have you been?" Galba exclaimed in a puzzled voice.
Corbulo sighed and glanced up at the closed door. "I have been to the end of the world Galba," he said wearily.
***
Corbulo rose to his feet as he saw Quintus come through the passageway in between the earthen wall. The big man refused to look at him as he strode towards the round house but in his hand he was holding something. Silently he climbed up the steps towards the doorway and came to a halt.
"Here it is," Quintus said offering Corbulo a dirty leather satchel. Corbulo took it, opened it and retrieved a tightly rolled parchment letter. For a moment he peered at the seal. It looked genuine. Hastily he placed the letter back in the satchel.
"So many people died for that thing," Corbulo muttered, "When I return it to Agricola I am going to tell him not be so stupid next time. If it wasn't for these cursed letters, I would still have my business in Londinium. I worked hard for that business and now it's all gone and my business partner is dead."
"Maybe it was god's will," Quintus said quietly, "If you had not got caught up in this mess, those children that you rescued would be dead too."
Corbulo raised a warning finger and Quintus fell silent. Just then they heard voices inside the house and a moment later the door was flung open and the Roman officers
started to troop out. The first one out, a Centurion halted in surprise as he caught sight of Corbulo and Quintus.
"Quintus," he bellowed as he recognised him, "By Jupiter cock, what are you doing here, I thought you were retired?"
The officer clasped Quintus by the shoulders in greeting whilst the other Centurions also seemed to recognise Quintus. Corbulo raised his eyebrows. He'd forgotten that these men had once been Quintus's fellow officers in the Legion.
"It's a long story," Quintus beamed, "but I am sure glad to see all you bastards again. It's been too long. Valour and victory, gentlemen."
"Valour and victory," the Roman officers cried as they passed by gripping his arm and punching him on the shoulder. As they departed Corbulo caught sight of the Legate standing in the doorway.
"What are you two doing here?" he snapped.
Corbulo, Galba and Quintus snapped to attention.
"I have returned from some private business, Agricola's business, Sir," Corbulo replied smartly.
The Legate muttered something to himself as he stared at them. "Agricola's business," he said contemptuously, "Sometimes I think that is the only reason they sent me to this cursed place. Well come on in, do you have any news?"
Corbulo and Quintus stepped into the round house and paused beside the doorway. Across from them on the other side of the dirt floor and the wooden post that held up the roof, a chair had been placed on a small raised platform and sitting in the chair was Tuathal Techtmar. The Hibernian High King was resting his head on one elbow but he straightened up as he caught sight of Corbulo.
"Kneel," Tuathal said sharply, "You are in the presence of the High King of Tara."
"My officers do not kneel for anyone," Trebonius replied sharply as he sat down in another chair and poured himself some water from an earthenware jug.
Hibernia (Veteran of Rome Book 2) Page 27
