“Mestrathax, what do we do with this Roman? I cannot see any further use for him. But as the gods have placed him under my protection, I can’t kill him. Do I send him back to Seutonius? What use is this man to me, why did the gods place him here? Is it possible he could carry a message back from us asking for terms, that just might buy us some time?”
“Seutonius won’t wait for reinforcements,” the druid replied, “he’ll act now! He has to hit us first, before we can raise alliances against him. He has no time to starve us out. He must move his legions deep into Iceni territory to make sure of his victory, and we’re in his way, stopping him from doing that very thing. No, he won’t wait. And there’s no chance of any terms from Seutonius - by his actions on the defeated Iceni you can tell that he means to kill us all. He will have to, if he wants to stamp this rebellion out completely.”
“One moment, please,” interrupted Shosterax. “I believe I know why the gods have saved the Roman’s life, and why the goddess touched him at the pool.”
“What are you saying?” demanded Cestrathax. “That the goddess has touched him? Why is this Roman so important to our gods? If you have the answer to this riddle, Shosterax, then tell us!”
“On the day he was taken to the ceremonial pool,” Shosterax went on, “he fell ill and collapsed. Then his guards carried him into a hut and I followed them. He was unconscious with a fever and began to mumble in his own tongue, in Latin, which I can speak. The goddess Dana told him that there are many debts he has to repay her in full - and being angry she will extract her full payment.
“So we cannot kill him for two reasons now! The blood debt is one, and I know the goddess has touched him and she has claimed him. When we all leave here for another world, I would advise you that we take the Roman with us. The gods have muddled his future deeply in with ours. In any case, he has seen far too much to be allowed to leave. I also feel he still has some knowledge we might be able to put to good use.”
Mestrathax suddenly held up his right hand.
“My chief, there is no further time for talk now. I sense that the Roman priests have now found us and have seen our camp. With your leave we must go now. Shosterax and my other druids will have to check on the wards we have placed around the camp to protect it, and I have many other urgent measures to prepare.”
“This gathering is at an end, then,” said Cestrathax. “Go and do what must be done.”
Mestrathax and Rianna hurriedly left the meeting and ran to his hut, where he had felt the intrusion into the camp had taken place. Rianna entered first and Mestrathax followed directly behind her. Upon entering, he found his cat Einalem had been disturbed; she was hissing at them and her tail was waving angrily. The large wild cat quickly ran over to the druid. As he gently picked her up, she began to calm down and purr loudly. He kissed her behind the ear and whispered to her.
“Clever girl, I knew it was you who saw the Roman priest off. But unfortunately the next time he comes here he’ll be bringing a lot more people with him. If he’d been weaker, you could probably have killed him. But never mind, we may have to do that later.”
Einalem continued purring as Mestrathax stroked her left ear and, while still carrying her, he gestured to Rianna to follow him. They walked out of the hut to look at the setting sun, where he knew that the full force of the Roman legions would soon be coming from.
Judgement
A day that the gods decide their fate.
“Come on now, Cest, calm down and swallow the sleeping draught, we have to take it. Mestrathax has insisted that we have a good night’s sleep. I’ve already given the potion to Rynax and he’s now fast asleep.”
Iseult gently sat down beside Cestrathax on the bed and after cuddling him she kissed him, placing the beaker in his right hand. “I believe this may be the very last night that we share together, my love. You must accept that you have done everything you could do. Your guards are out on patrol and all the people that you could find are safe in the hill fort with us. We are all now deeply in the hands of the gods. We must have some sleep, so that you’ll be ready for tomorrow - without you, all hope for the tribe is lost.”
Iseult shivered. She was aware that even if they lived through the coming days, everything she knew would change.
Chief Cestrathax closed his hand around the beaker then lifted it to his mouth, swallowing the potion in one gulp. Then he threw the beaker towards the doorway. It hit the doorpost and shattered into many pieces, remnants of the dark potion sinking into the wall.
“That druid will have something to answer for if the Romans arrive here in the middle of the night! Aah, there, it’s done, I’ve swallowed it. Now let’s get to bed.”
Later that night, from out of the darkness, a sharp taunting voice hissed.
“Wake up, proud Cestrathax, oh great chief of the Ordoveteii! Wake up! Tell me, strong man, how brave you really are!”
As Cestrathax opened his eyes, he peered at the person who had just awoken him from his much needed rest. In the flickering light of the dying fire, he could just make out the shape of the small, dark figure - a grey-haired crone of an old woman. She was dressed in rags and leaning on a twisted, blackened staff. He sat up in the bed.
“Who are you, and how did you get in here past my guard?”
The old woman stared him coldly in the face.
“Your guard is deep asleep so he didn’t even see me. And if he had, why would he stop me, since I seem to be no threat to you? I am too old and frail to be an assassin! But you are so mighty a chief that in your arrogance you just walk around and never even notice us old women. One of us, when she was younger, must have made the time and effort to have borne you into this world, lavishing all her love and care on you. Tell me, how did you treat her, when she was in her old age? Well, I’ve seen you, spending all your time drinking, chasing young women and playing at war, thinking only of your own vain glory and of gold.”
The crone’s cackling voice rang around the hut. Cestrathax slowly climbed out of his bed, as Iseult stirred a little but didn’t awake. He reached out for his heavy coat, put it on and stood up to confront the old woman.
“Guard! Guard, where are you?” But no-one heard him or came to see what was happening. Cestrathax walked nearer to the old woman.
“How dare you wake me?” he demanded. “Are you so old and addled that you’re completely unaware of what’s going to happen here tomorrow?” The old woman leaned forward on her stick and hissed at him.
“The Romans are coming here to kill us all, are they not? For myself, I’m now so old and have seen so much of life’s bitterness that I don’t fear the call of death! But there’s something I must know from you... I’ve heard that you’re now going to turn and run away, yes? A magical crossing to another land, but only for yourself and a few chosen friends with whom you intend to escape. Will you go fleeing, leaving all others behind? Or will you do your duty and save as many souls as you can? That’s what I want to know from you!”
Chief Cestrathax stood up to his full height.
“While I have breath in my body, I shall never leave my tribe and run from an enemy. The crossing is for everyone. I’ll give my life, if need be, to save the tribe. Either we all leave here, or none of us will go!” He leaned forward and picked up a handful of loose kindling, throwing it onto the fire. For a moment the ashes stirred and burned a little brighter. In the flickering light, he took another step closer to the old woman, looking closely at her.
“You misjudge me badly. I know and care for all of my tribe, yet you are a complete stranger to me. You speak of druid secrets that you shouldn’t know. Who told you of the crossing? Who are you? Are you with the Rensubids? Speak woman! It’s my turn for an answer from you.”
The old woman leaned forward and lightly touched Cestrathax on the forehead with her hand. As she took her hand away, his eyes refocused
to see her as a stunning raven-haired goddess. He couldn’t move, as now he felt the raw power flowing around her.
“I shall give you your answer! My name is Jana, and I am the guardian of the portals, from whom your druids have requested permission for you and your tribe to leave this land. This I now grant to you. But when the portal opens you must act swiftly, moving every soul of your tribe and crossing over the boundary that I shall open for you into another land. Do not delay - you must do this before the next dawn.
“And I shall give you one final unasked-for gift of advice. Send the Roman across with the tribe! Farewell for now, Chief Cestrathax of the Ordoveteii.”
The goddess smiled as she vanished completely in front of his eyes. The hut now felt cold and desolate. Cestrathax staggered backwards and sat down on the bed, staring at the dark empty space in front of him.
It was early morning and the sky had now begun to lighten, slowly turning the dark night into a grim, grey dawn. The guard lifted the trapdoor in the wooden grille covering the large earthen pit. He tied a rope to a leather bucket full of water and lowered it down onto the floor below. The bucket hit the ground hard, spilling most of the water out onto the muddy ground. The guard laughed.
“Roman, take care you don’t waste that water because you won’t get any more until tonight.”
Tibullus looked up from the floor where a few scraps of chicken bones and rubbish lay, having been thrown at him by the Celts who taunted him as they passed by. He looked up and shouted back at the guard.
“Celt, if you look after me I’ll have your life spared - you’ll need a friend soon. By Mithras, Seutonius and the legions will be on their way here by now.”
“Well, you won’t ever see them again, Roman. If they do break in here, I’ll be the one that kills you!” The guard heard a noise behind him and slammed the grille shut, swiftly turning around. “Brona? It’s very early, what are you doing here? No-one can see the prisoner.”
“I have been sent here by Chief Cestrathax,” she replied. “Before dawn I was woken and brought to his hut, and he ordered me that I’m now to be held responsible for this Roman’s life. I also heard what you said to him. He is not to be hurt! I have to make sure that he’s fed and well looked after.
“Look, I don’t want to do this duty, but I suppose he might still be useful to us. I don’t know why he’s suddenly become so important. I guess he’ll be used as a messenger to send back to the Romans. Later I’ll see that he gets some fresh clothes, but for now just give him some food, will you? Then I’ll be back with some help and see that he’s taken down to the stream to get him cleaned up.”
Caderyn and Trianuc had not rested and they were exhausted from their journey. They entered the main hut and stood before Chief Cestrathax and Mestrathax. Rianna stood in the shadows behind them, quietly watching everybody. Noise from bawling children and the general hubbub of the now densely packed hill fort could be heard coming from outside the hut. Grey smoke from the embers of the fire in the central hearth was wafting upwards towards the dark thatching of the roof.
Cestrathax was the first to speak.
“Well, what have you found out for us? Take your time and make sure you remember every detail you can.”
“When we found them they were already building their camp,” began Caderyn. “It was built like a square, as big as a small town. There’s a palisade wall surrounded by a ditch, and a gate in each of the four walls. The camp is sited close to the area of Gwydion’s ambush. Later that day we watched them holding the funeral rites for their dead.
“I believe their numbers to be two legions - I only saw two of their eagle standards. We saw two pennants, one was a boar and the other was a goat. Their force is mainly infantry, with some cavalry which they patrol with. Though maybe they’re not at their full strength. As to the legions’ size, one looked a bit smaller than the other. Gliesten and Brennus are still there, coming back later. They sent us on ahead to bring you this message.”
“Trianuc, now think carefully,” said Cestrathax. “Is that what you saw too? Are you sure there are only two legions?”
“Yes, Caderyn’s right, that’s what we both saw. But I’ll also say that they’re fit and angry. They seem to have enough supplies and I believe they’re ready and able to move against us at a moment’s notice.”
“Now, this is important,” said the chief, observing them closely, “so take a moment and think more deeply, both of you. Did either of you see any sign of Togodumnus and his traitorous Regnenses tribes? And did you see how many Roman wounded there were in that camp?”
“We scouted the land as far as our eyes could follow the earth, and that’s the only camp,” asserted Caderyn. “I didn’t see any sign of Togodumnus or his tribes. We couldn’t see directly into the heart of the camp, though - all we saw there were just the two Roman legions that had just come straight from butchering our priests and the faithful on Mona, and from the battle with the Iceni. Where their wounded are kept, I don’t know because we saw none.”
“Right, you two, go and get something to eat then you can rest. As a reward I have an easy job for you. The Roman is becoming important to us, so he’s being moved from the pit to a hut. Some of our own people want to kill him but he has to be kept alive. You two will help guard him. Trianuc, extra rations will be supplied to your mother for her to cook for him. Brona has also now been made responsible for him, so see her for the details.”
As they were walking away from the chief’s hut, there was a chill wind in the air and it was beginning to drizzle.
“He calls that a reward!” snorted Caderyn. “We have to guard that scum again - why choose us? That Roman has already caused me enough trouble for a lifetime, so curse him! If it weren’t for that blood debt, he wouldn’t be alive today. Why is he so lucky? A powerful god must be protecting him.”
“Look it doesn’t pay to get so annoyed,” said his friend, slapping him on the back. “It’s an easy job for us to do. They need the Roman kept alive, so we’ll do it and let them find someone else to do the scouting. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of fighting for us to do later.
“Aah, why don’t you come to my family’s hut for some hot food and wine? I know my sister Enfys would like to see you! You should spend a little more time with her, you know she likes you. I’ve got to go and tell my mother she’s now cooking for the Roman! She won’t want to do it, but you could at least help me by trying to cheer her up. Her friends don’t visit her so often nowadays - she has the gift of sight but always sees the worst in everything and her stories scare people.
“So, tell me you’ll come? We must live our lives as fully as possible now. There’s a rumour that the druids have a plan - well, if it’s to be any use it had better be a good one! When the Romans arrive they’ll besiege us and then the food will soon run out. Look around - this hill fort is packed full with people. We don’t have anything like enough supplies stored here even for a short siege.”
“You’re right,” said Caderyn, “that would be the easiest way for them. After a short time we’d even have to eat the dogs. Ah, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. The future looks bleak.”
“For me,” laughed Trianuc, “eating the dogs would be an easy choice. I’m thinking we might have to eat the rats. Look, let’s keep happy. We’re on the edge of a new face of the goddess. Let’s hope she gives us better luck, so that we’ll see her face many more times from behind the clouds.”
The next morning, Trianuc’s mother began to wake her son.
“Trianuc, wake up, come on now, it’s time you got up.”
“Who...? What... what time is it, mother?”
“It’s still dark, but the light will be rising soon. Didn’t Cestrathax ask you and Caderyn to guard that Roman? Caderyn is already up and getting washed. Now be quiet and don’t wake your sister. There’s some hot food in the cauldron.” He yaw
ned and sat up before answering.
“Oh yeah, that’s right, we’re on guard duty for that Roman now. He won’t be trying to escape though - if he walked out of the hut on his own he’d die fast. It’s more the case that we’re protecting him from the rest of the Ordoveteii. Look, it’s still dark out there - why are you up so early?”
“Everyone has to be up early now, not just me,” his mother replied. “The druids have told us that the tribe has to move from here. We have to pack the chariots and carts with all the food and supplies we can. We’re to leave nothing behind. The tribe’s leaving here by the end of the day - we’re running from the Romans! The druids have told us we’re leaving, but I don’t see how we can, where can we go?
“This morning an eagle was seen circling the camp, I’m sure it was an evil omen. The Romans’ reach is long and they don’t ever forgive. There’s only the far north of this land where they don’t rule, and that’s too far away. How are we to escape them?”
Trianuc blinked as he woke up properly, then he could hear the noise of the hill fort outside. His mother was right, the entire tribe was up and everybody was packing their belongings, making ready to leave. He looked up at his mother’s face, and even by the flickering light of the small candle in her hand he could see her grey eyes, that once looked so young, had suffered. Her face now looked worn and tired, with many worry lines.
“Now son, you stay there, I’ll bring your food. And I’ll put some of the stew in the brown pot by the fire. That’s for the Roman.”
“Don’t give him any meat,” said Trianuc, “because he’s not allowed a knife.”
“Meat? We don’t have any meat for ourselves, let alone any for him. I’ll wedge some bread on top. Just remember to take it with you when you go. Quiet now, Enfys is still asleep.”
Pathways of the Druids Page 13
