by Griff Hosker
“Well thank you for your honesty Mocius you may rejoin your unit.” He stared hard at the man who was obviously frightened. “You have a future in this army and I will not forget your loyalty. You will soon be an officer.” When Mocius had left Decius turned to Centurion. “Make sure he is in the front rank when we fight the Romans at Mamucium. He is a loose end I would like to be rid of.”
“Was he right about your brother?”
Decius laughed, “My brother a bastard? He was as soft as they come. No that was just confirmation that my brother sent him in as a spy.” He thought for a moment, “And, probably, the other one we executed; the one who tried to run. That means that Marcus’ Horse is out there.”
“But the word was that they were disbanded.”
“Smoke and mirrors Centurion; I have no doubt that there is no ala called Marcus’ Horse out there but that doesn’t mean that the men and officers from the ala aren’t out there. We will have to be on our guard. The Queen will be interested in this news for she hates Marcus’ Horse with a passion which you would not believe.”
“Do you know why?”
Decius nodded. “They crucified her mother. If she got her hands on my brother I dread to think what his fate would be.”
Centurion nodded. “She is one woman I would not get the wrong side of.”
*
The ten troopers who met at the rendezvous were in a sombre mood. Cassius had told them of the manner of Seius’ death and it had had a sobering effect. It was one thing to die in battle but to be tortured to death was another matter. Cassius’ and Metellus’ news of the size of the army had also disturbed them.
“One thing is for certain they will be on their guard now which means no more infiltration of their camps.”
“If we knew where their camps were.”
“We know where one is Drusus. Marius I want you to take your maniple and keep watch on the Roman deserter’s camp. You know where that is. Let me know if and when they move. Drusus you need to ride to the coast and watch for ships and the Queen. My maniple will try to find the Brigante camp.” Metellus cleared his throat and coughed. Livius smiled. “Well out with it Metellus either you are coming down with something or you have an idea.”
The others laughed as Metellus reddened. “It seems to me sir that the best place to enlist rebels would be in the villages that your bro.., that the deserters have pillaged.”
“All of you do not step around my feelings so carefully. I know from Cassius that my brother is a traitor but I already knew that. He betrayed my uncle and he betrayed Rome. At least we know who the enemy is and I will recognise him, believe me. Carry on Metellus. You were saying.”
“The village yesterday; there will be warriors who will join the rebels to gain revenge on Rome.”
“And?”
“And we follow them. They will know how to reach the hidden camp even if we do not.”
“That is such a simple idea that it might work. We will use this dell as our base. One rider from each maniple should ride back here each night and camp here. The three can share information and I will be kept informed. When our riders return from the Prefect they too will come here. We can also hobble our spare horses here for it will keep them fresh and from what I have seen this is a remote spot well away from accidental visitors. One more thing, from what Cassius has told us these are not the kind of soldiers who will treat you well. If you are captured you will die painfully. Avoid capture at all costs. Discretion rather than heroics; a dead Explorate can give no one the valuable information in his head.”
Chapter 14
With Rufius on point they soon picked up the trail of the Roman and the Brigante raiders. “Sir.”
“Good lad. I take it you have found their trail.”
Rufius pointed to the ground and nodded. “They both followed the same trail up to here and then the Romans went that way. Back to their camp. You can see the imprints from the hobnails. They also have some horses. The Brigante went that way. Their prints are lighter; they don’t have armour or caligae.”
They looked at the direction the trail headed. In the distance they could see the land dropping away to the sea and the Belisama estuary twenty miles away. The undulating land was covered in extensive woods with many hollows and dips affording both cover and the opportunity for an ambush. Decius pointed. “My guess is that it will lead to one of those woods.”
Cassius looked troubled. “If the camp is like the one I was in there will be a watchtower which is at tree top height. We won’t be able to see it but they will have a clear view of any nosey intruders. They are clever builders.”
“Like us?”
“Like us Agrippa.”
“Another dilemma eh? I think we go back to the pairs of riders. Agrippa you and Cassius head west towards the sea. Rufius and Metellus you cut around north east and head for the estuary. I will keep along the trail. I am hoping that they will have had recruits from other parts of this land and you may be able to pick up their trail. Take a straight line from here and we will meet at the nearest point on the estuary. We can compare notes.”
Cassius leaned over. “You have the most dangerous route sir. Please be careful, these people play for keeps.”
“I know Cassius and if I do not meet you at the estuary then assume I have been taken. Back track and look for,” he reached into his bag and took out a leather glove. They normally used them in the winter and it would not be missed, “this. If I am caught I will drop it at the point I am taken. Rufius would you recognise Star’s hoof prints?”
Dropping to the ground Rufius lifted up the right rear hoof and with his knife scored a cross in it. “I will now sir.”
“Good. Take care and see you all tonight.”
Once alone Livius felt strangely calm. He knew he had taken the most challenging and hazardous task but in all the time with the ala he had never seen Decius Flavius, Marcus Maximunius or Julius Demetrius let one of the troopers go where they would not. This was a new and dangerous game and he knew he would have to experience the same dangers as Seius and Cassius if he was to perform his duties as well as possible. He also needed to understand what it was like to be alone and behind enemy lines; only in that way could he make the Explorates fulfil the potential he knew they had.
Within two miles he knew that he was nearing the right wood. More tracks crossed from the north joining those he was following. The wood where the camp had to be was less than two miles away and, mindful of his instructions to his men, he turned Star to miss the woods to the east. When he met the others later he would compare notes and they could use the cover of darkness to investigate the camp. A watch tower could only help the enemy during the hours of daylight and the Explorates would use night’s cloak to their advantage. The wood was extensive and he could see why they had chosen it as their base. It was at least five miles across and when he arrived at the other side he was surprised to hear gulls and to see the estuary just a mile away. He now fully understood why they had situated it here. They were less than ten miles from the Roman camp and close enough to the estuary for the Queen to join her army in the shortest possible time whenever she arrived. He was now convinced that she was somewhere across the sea, probably, Ireland. Livius could only hope that the vagaries of the sea and the long crossing from Ireland might cause the witch problems but had had a feeling that the Parcae, for their own sinister reason, favoured the priestess.
He heard, as he approached the estuary, the distinctive whistle which told him his men were nearby. He let Star have his head and the intelligent beast headed towards the copse close by the water where he had scented the other horses. A neigh from below told Livius that he was close and he peered to see them. “An excellent hiding place. I was looking for you and still couldn’t see you. Well anything to report?”
“That wood there. There are tracks leading into it from the north, south and east.”
Livius nodded. “That was my assessment. Eat, get some rest and we will go into the wo
ods tonight.”
Surprisingly they all fell asleep quickly relying on the horses to warn them of approaching danger. When they awoke they blackened their faces and the backs of their hands. “Agrippa when we get there you remain with the horses. We may need to get away quickly and I don’t want to have to look for them. Rufius, Metellus tells me you have found the knack to avoiding the traps they like to leave for us so you can lead. Cassius bring up the rear; you mark the route with your knife in case we get separated. Hand signals and no voices once we are in the wood. We all know how sounds travel at night. Agrippa, if you see or hear any trouble then you whistle. Let’s go.”
It was a cloudy night and whatever moon there was remained mercifully hidden. Agrippa sat astride his horse with the reins of the other mounts firmly in his hand. The darkened Explorates seemed to be swallowed up by the night, instantly. Rufius dropped to all fours once he had found the footprints and he began to crawl carefully along the leafy floor. The others followed suit leaving four or five paces between each of them. Rufius would occasionally stop and raise his hand for stillness and he would listen for the sounds which would warn them of danger. What none of them wanted was for a trap to be triggered; although they might avoid injury, at night the sound would travel large distances. Rufius pointed upwards at one point and Livius saw the deadfall about his head. He repeated the signal for Metellus.
After what seemed an age they saw a lightening of the sky which told them they were approaching a clearing. Rufius held his hand up again and once again they had silence except that they could hear the faint noises from men and horses. They had found the Brigante camp. Rufius signalled Livius to remain where he was and then he disappeared. To Livius the scout seemed to be away for an age. When he eventually returned he pointed to Livius and then left, Livius nodded. He pointed to Metellus and right. He too nodded. He looked at Cassius pointed to his own eyes and the spot he occupied. When Cassius nodded he slipped away again.
Cassius found that he was oddly nervous as he waited there in the darkness. The last time he had been alone was when he was in the deserter’s camp. Although a cool night he could feel the sweat on the back of his neck. Seius’ death still preyed on his mind and he had not managed to convey the full horror to his comrades but he could remember the tortured look on the boy’s face as he had died the most horrible death imaginable. All he wanted to do was run from the wood but he knew he had to wait, patiently, for the return of his comrades. The first to arrive inevitably was Rufius whose white grinning smile seemed to glow in the gloom. Livius was next and then they waited for Metellus. Perhaps his concentration wavered for a moment but the loud crack of the decaying branch echoed and reverberated in the quiet. Suddenly they heard a challenge from the camp. Livius stood , pointed to Cassius and mouthed, ’Run!’
Cassius needed no urging and, watching for his marks on the trees, ran as quickly as he could the others close on his heels. Behind them they heard the uproar as warriors raced through the pine trees eager to capture these spies. Far quicker than they had imagined they reached Agrippa who had heard the noises and had his bow, with an arrow already notched in his hand. The four men quickly mounted; not a moment too soon as a huge Brigante erupted from the woods a few paces behind Metellus. The arrow fired from twenty paces struck him in the throat and threw him back into the man who was close on his heels. The five men kicked their horses and headed south west towards the beach. Their pursuers stood no chance of catching them for they were on foot but the five men knew that there would be riders in the camp who would already be in pursuit.
Livius lay as low in the saddle, close to Star’s neck, as he could. There was little point looking back and, mindful of Cassius’ fall when being pursued he wanted no spills. Spying a hollow he led his men down the small drop so that they disappeared from sight. As soon as he was in the hollow he turned Star to head north west. The men who were on foot would have told the riders which direction they had taken. Livius intended to head back to the estuary and wait there for Drusus to arrive. If he did not come in the next two days he would return to the meeting place but he wanted to remain close to the camp and the sea for he felt that the Queen was coming and he wanted to be in the best position to gather that most vital of information which the Prefect would need if he was to stop the rebellion before it caught hold.
*
The Brigante rider waited patiently outside what the crude hut which served as the office for Decius Lucullus Sallustius. He found it strange to be amongst these Romans who were not Romans and yet dressed and acted as though they were. His scalp itched. One of Brennus’ men, he had been with Morwenna since Aodh had left and he respected the ideas and methods they were now using but it did feel unnatural. It was not the warrior’s way and the cunning and guile felt foreign to this old fashioned Brigante. Decius, as usual, was flanked by Tiny and Centurion. “Yes?” Blunt and to the point Decius hated time being wasted on pleasantries.
“Brennus said to tell you that Roman spies have scouted our camp.”
“Did you capture or kill any?”
“No they had horses waiting and they escaped. We have men looking for them now.”
“Go back and tell Brennus that the time for deception is at an end. We will bring our men to join his at his camp and await the Queen. She will be here soon.” The warrior vaulted his horse and galloped off. Decius turned to Centurion. We have to assume that they will take their information to the fort.”
“Which fort?”
“Probably Bremmetenacum why?”
“I agree for it is the closest garrison and then they will send riders south to Mamucium and north to Glanibanta.”
“And?”
“If we were to go straight to Mamucium we could capture it and they would be unaware of any disturbance in the province. If they know of the rising then it will be so much harder.”
“You are right. Take the men towards Mamucium. I will go with Tiny and bring Brennus’ men to help us.”
“And the Queen?”
“We will leave some men at the camp and, when we have destroyed Mamucium we can jointly assault Bremmetenacum with the Queen before the Ninth can reach us from Luguvalium.”
Decius and Tiny reached the Brigante camp shortly after the warrior who had delivered Decius’ message. Brennus had regrown his beard and his hair was longer. He looked and felt more Brigante than he had when fighting as a Roman “Where are your men?”
“Change of plan. We’ll take Mamucium now before the Queen arrives. If they know of your camp and mine the Romans are sure to attack here. They will not expect us to attack their fort. Leave some men here in case the Queen arrives and, when Mamucium is no more we will take Bremmetenacum.”
The idea of fighting Romans again appealed to the barbarian and his men too were keen. This would be a chance to show the deserters how Brigante warriors fought. “Very well.”Turning to his lieutenant he said, “Leave ten warriors here, and arm the rest. We march. The Brigante go to war!” The roar which greeted the order told Brennus that his men were ready, very ready and the death of their first warrior the previous night had made them even more eager to fight.
*
Livius heard the roar. “Something is up. Let’s go a little closer.” The maniple was supremely confident that their horses, well trained by Sergeant Cato and looked after like the fine weapons they were, would easily outrun any nags the Brigante had acquired. They headed due east, first keeping the wood to their right. Rufius’ sharp eyes soon spotted the barbarian army heading south eastwards.
“So they are on the march. Agrippa ride to Bremmetenacum and tell the Prefect of the danger. Metellus and Rufius ride to Mamucium and warn the garrison there.” He chose Metellus for his intelligence and his ability to think on his feet. “The Prefect there is a lazy man you will have to be persuasive. Cassius and I will trail the army.”
“What of the men at the meeting place? They may well be there and the extra men might help.”
“Right. Ca
ssius you ride to the meeting place. If any of our riders are there send one to find the Ninth and report the enemy army’s route. Any others return with you. I will be following these. They should not be hard to follow.”
“There are over a thousand sir.”
“Well done Rufius. Right boys let’s ride. The war comes.”
Metellus and Rufius knew that they had the longest ride ahead of them and Metellus was regretting not having a spare horse. He hoped that they would reach the fort ahead of the barbarians and that the Prefect would have some backbone about him. From what Livius had said he was not confident but it was only a barbarian horde, with no siege equipment. If they could take a fort like Mamucium with just foot soldiers then the whole province was in greater danger than the Governor realised.
They had been riding for an hour and just emerged from behind a long hedgerow when Livius suddenly reined Blackie in and pointed south. There they could see the deserter army heading in the same direction they were. The advantage lay with the deserter army for they were on a well trodden track whereas the two troopers were riding over rocky, shrubby terrain. To Metellus’ horror the cavalry attached to the army suddenly wheeled and began galloping their direction. Without a word they both turned their mounts and headed east towards the road. They had been taking the most direct route, now they needed to escape their pursuers and then take the road. Even as they were riding Metellus’ mind was working overtime. The Camp Prefect would not see an army of deserters, he would see what he expected to see, a Roman cohort coming to spend the night in his fort. The gates would be opened and the garrison slaughtered. If they could evade pursuit they might be able to warn him but even then they would find themselves surrounded by two armies one of which knew how to take such forts for they had built them.
“Rufius if I slow you down you just kick on. One of us must get to the fort. “
“I am not leaving you!”
“Yes you will! You are lighter and you can travel faster. I am expendable. If I can I will take them away from you. Now go! I can see you reining in Blackie, let her go, give her her head!” Rufius nodded and then kicked on his horse, Blackie leapt forward as though she were an arrow released from a bow. Metellus could see the road some way ahead and he veered his horse left to narrow the gap and, perhaps split the pursuers. Glancing back over his shoulder he saw that only four of them were chasing after Rufius, the rest were following him as the closer target. Metellus leaned over his horse’s head, stroked its ear and said, “Well old girl we’ll see what you have got eh? Let’s show these traitors that a trooper and horse from Marcus’ Horse can still outrun anything they have.” Whether it was his words or the stroking it mattered not for the beast found a sudden burst of energy and Metellus almost shouted for joy when he saw the road less than a mile away. He decided to head north for then that would take them away from Rufius. The heavier armour and weapons of the pursuing cavalry began to take its toll and soon Metellus could se them falling further and further behind. Finally, as he reached the road, he saw them stop. He headed north until they were out of sight and then turned his horse and headed south, at a steadier pace to help his mount regain her wind.
