Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 00.5] Ulpius Felix- Warrior of Rome (9 page)

“Well then.  How does that look?”

He could see them smiling. “Yes sir, I think we could do that.”

“Good, well you and Gerjen can be the first to try.  Do just as I did, and complete one loop.  It is just for you to get the feel of it.” Wolf warily nudged his horse forwards and Gerjen followed. Once they found that they did not sink their faces brightened. The river was cold and that appeared to be the only problem.

Later as they rode back to camp, all chattering excitedly about the experience Wolf nudged his horse, Blackie, next to the Decurion. “So sir, is that hew we are going to attack the Chauci?  Swim across the river?”

Flavius gave the young standard bearer an appraising look.  Since Cava had been given his own turma he found himself relying on Wolf more and more.  He was bright for Publius had taken much longer to work out what the Prefect had intended.  “Between you and I Wolf yes, but keep it to yourself.”

“Of course sir.”

Flavius looked at the standard.  “Have you worked out how you are going to fight with that then Wolf?”

“Yes sir.  When we were in the camp the other day I saw a Legion aquilifer and he had a small shield in his left hand.  I thought that would give me some protection.”

“And save you using the standard like a lance.”

“Yes sir. Sorry about that, I just forgot what I was holding.”

“Don’t forget that when we fight you will have to give commands from me with the standard.  We do not use the buccina of the legions.  The men need to look to you to know my orders.”

“I know sir.  I won’t let you down.”

“I never thought for a moment that you would.”

Sura and his men had largely survived the crossing of the Rhenus.  When they reached the other bank they found that there were four of their number missing. It was an acceptable loss.  As dawn broke they smelled the fires of the villages which were dotted along the bank. This was the tricky part. They wore no helmets but still retained the armour and swords of the ala.  Sura was relying on the fact that their hair made them look less Roman to give them the chance to speak with the warriors of the Chauci.  He had contemplated just hiding out in the forests but winter was approaching and he wanted the safety of a hut to survive the snows. They rode, nervously in single file towards the nearest smoke.  Sura was no coward and he took the lead; half expecting an arrow from the forest to be his only warning of the Chauci.  He saw the lightening of the trees and knew that there would be a clearing ahead. He saw the warriors charge from their walled village. “Keep your hands away from your weapons.” He spread his arms wide and hope that the universal sign for peace would keep them safe.

They were surrounded and each of the deserters found themselves with two spears at their throats. Sura tried Pannonian first, “We have left the Romans to fight with you.”

The blank look from the two warriors told him that they did not understand him. He tried the same in Marcomanni and they showed that they understood a word or two although which two, Sura did not know.  It did, however, appear to make their captors relax and they were led into the village.  They were thrown unceremoniously into a hut and left there for some hours.

Finally, after they had begun to fear the worst, the door was opened and a sour looking guard prodded them out with his spear. Outside they found some well armed and armoured warriors.  Three of them had the torcs of chiefs around their necks.  Their tattooed bodies showed many battle scars and on their arms they wore the amulets which measured their success in battles.  Sura was in no doubt that they were chiefs. A slave was brought out.  Sura knew he was a slave for he had an iron collar about his neck. One of the chiefs spoke with him and the man then spoke in Pannonian.

“Chief Herrmann wants to know what Pannonians are doing this far from home.”

Sura was desperate to find out the slave’s story but something told him he had to gain the trust of the Chief first.”We were recruited by the Romans and the rest of our brothers are across the river.  We deserted and wish to fight the Romans.”

The slave translated and then gave the Chief’s question.  “Why did you desert?”

“They were going to cut our hair.”

When that was translated there was a ripple of conversation and a look of horror on the faces of the chiefs. “And your brothers submitted to this?”

“Yes they did!”

The look of outrage on the faces of the Chauci told Sura that they had probably been accepted. The chiefs spoke for a while and then the slave said, “Chief says you may join the warband but you must take an oath and at the first sign of treachery you will be burned alive.”

Sura nodded his agreement.  “We will take any oath which lets us kill Romans!”

Chapter 5

Prefect Proculus first met the other Prefects and the Navarchus the day before the attack was to take place.  He was intimidated as he knew they had all heard about the deaths and the desertion but he could do nothing about that.  Bassus was quite right, they could only clear their name in battle and he had suggested the swimming plan to the Legate having first enlisted the support of the Navarchus. The aide still had the smug smile which made Marius want to punch him and when he spoke in the high pitched equestrian voice it made the Prefect dislike him even more.

“I am the Legate’s aide, Decimus Livius Bucco.” His name made Marius smile, a fool by name, a fool by nature. “When the Legate has briefed each of you I will issue your orders.  If there are any deficiencies in equipment then I need a list, in writing by the end of the briefing.”

The Legate stood. “We are going to engage in a punitive campaign against the Chauci.  I will be using ‘
The Larks
’ for this. The Prefect of the Fifth Alaudae kept his gaze steadfastly on the map.  They will be crossing my pontoon bridge.  To secure the crossing the First Pannonian Ala will swim the river tonight with the Classis Germania provide support and when the bridgehead is secured the Second Gallic Cohort will be ferried by ships to protect the engineers.” Every face turned to look at Proculus.  They had heard of the ala but not yet seen the commander who had volunteered to swim the mighty Rhenus at night.  It seemed foolhardy, some said suicidal.  The Prefects of the Gauls and the Legion did not care what happened to the ala so long as the bridgehead was secured. “If I may have your full attention gentlemen!” All of them knew the Legate’s ways and every head swivelled back to the map. “Once the Legion is across the ala will scout the village which is five miles from our crossing point and will prevent the enemy from escaping.  The Gallic Cohort will guard the bridgehead and the legion will assault the village and destroy it. Some slaves would be useful but I want every warrior dead!” He paused to let his words sink in.  “Any questions?”

Marius was about to ask one when a nudge in the ribs from Bassus silenced him.  The aide then squeaked, “Any deficiencies?” No-one spoke.  “Good then good luck.”

Gaius said quietly, “Sorry about that but the Legate regards any questions as impertinent. I just saved you being embarrassed. What was your question?”

“What is the terrain like around the village? My men are used to plains.”

“Ah, that would have been a good question then but I suspect the legate would have had an even lower opinion of you had you asked it.  It is thick forests.  They are thicker next to the river.”

“So if I take my ala further from the river we will have an easier passage?”

“Yes and you should avoid detection that way although there is a road.”

“Thank you Gaius.”

“Just be careful Marius.”

“Tell me Gaius why are you so kind to me.”

“I knew your father.  He was a tribune when I was an optio and he was a good man.  He didn’t deserve to die in the way he did.”

It was strange the way Fate tied so many men’s lives together.  He had not known the Prefect but now they had a bond which had made them instant friends and, as the only ally he had, he was invaluable.

The Navarchus had embarked the Gauls and then, as darkness had fallen rowed his ships downstream and moored them end to end across the river.  Marius was grateful; he knew it meant more work for the crews as they would have to row against the current to land the Gauls.  The engineers were busily building the pontoon bridge as Marius stepped into the icy river.  They had all practised swimming but it still felt strange to be doing it at night time when you could not see the opposite bank. They all knew that they had to swim diagonally across the river to counteract the effects of the current. He did not turn to see if his men followed, he knew that would.  Flavius and the First Turma followed and Aulus Murgus would bring up the rear.  That would ensure that none lagged behind as they would not like to risk the wrath of the Decurion. The opposite bank appeared dark and threatening and, as he risked a glance downstream he saw that the ships were becoming alarmingly close. He pulled on the reins to turn his horse’s head further upstream.

A few paces further back Wolf was struggling to hold the standard and the hunk of mane. He too kept jerking his reins to the right as he had seen both Flavius and the Prefect drifting further towards the moored fleet. He was becoming more than a little worried.  He dare not lose the standard for such a dire event would ensure disaster, but nor did he wish to lose his grip on the horse for then the waters would swallow him and he would never reach heaven. He whispered in his horse’s ear.  “Come on Blackie, the sooner we are out of this river the better.  I have an apple for you.  Come on boy!”

Perhaps it was his encouragement or the fact that, without a full sized shield he was lighter, but whatever the reason it was Wolf who first felt the hooves of his horse find purchase on the river bed and he gave a silent prayer of thanks to the Allfather. Even as he stepped ashore he was on the alert and he drew his sword.  It seemed strangely quiet but he could see nothing. He turned to watch the rest of the ala swimming towards him.  Gerjen joined him and Cava. Cava grinned, “Well lads, with us three here the bridgehead is safe eh?”

Soon others dragged their wet and bedraggled bodies ashore.  Neither Flavius nor the Prefect had arrived and Cava took charge. “Wolf stay here with the standard.  The rest of you spread out a hundred paces from here.  Keep watch.”

It seemed to take forever for the ala to reach the other bank and the first sliver of light appeared on the Eastern horizon before they all managed it.  When Flavius reached Wolf he saw that they were a hundred paces further downstream than they needed to be. “Right men, follow Wolf.” With the standard held high Flavius led the ala north to the right place. “Spread out and wait for the Prefect.” As they did so he grinned at Wolf.  “Quite the little swimmer eh Wolf?”

“To be honest sir I was just shitting myself.  I wouldn’t want to do that too often. In all my fourteen summers I was never so afraid.”

“Fourteen summers?  Surely you are older than that?”

“In my clan you only count your age from the day you can ride a horse without falling off. That was fourteen summers ago. This was harder and I do not look forward to crossing it again.”

“Well don’t worry.  When we go back we go across a bridge.  It might be moving a little but we will be dry.”

Marius rode up having finished further downstream than any others. “Flavius do a head count and see how many we are missing.” When Aulus arrived Marius asked, “Any behind you Decurion?”

His sour faced grinned in the light of dawn.  “I think I scared them more than the river but I did see a couple being picked up by the ships.”

“We are about twenty short sir.  Decurion Cava has secured the road.”

“Good.  Form a skirmish line a hundred paces from the river and we will just wait for the Gauls to arrive.”

They watched the huge warships begin to turn and then row up the river towards them.  They could now see the engineers frantically building their bridge.  When the auxiliaries were unloaded the fleet would anchor next to the bridge to prevent it being swept downstream. The first few centuries had clambered ashore when a trooper galloped in.  “Sir Decurion Cava sent me.  There are riders approaching.”

“Decurion Vatia, take your turma and reinforce Cava.  Buteo, Murgus, form a line behind Vatia’s men.”

“I am glad now that we came in the dark Flavius.  At least this end is secure and the Gauls are here now.”

Some sheepish troopers arrived. “Sorry sir, we lost the horses.”

“Can’t be helped.  You men stay here and when the legion is across go back across the river and fetch your spare mounts.  You can scout for the Gauls.”

The Gallic Prefect landed.  He looked around.  “I think we have enough men here to hold now.  You had better get started around the village.”

“There are Chauci riders approaching.”

“We have landed now so I am not worried.”

“The men who were rescued will fetch their horses and they can scout for you.”

“Thanks.”

Marcus led the column quickly forwards towards the road.  The light was much better and he could see the defensive line.  When he reached it Aulus said. “Decurion Cava has taken his turma and chased after the scouts but I don’t think he will catch them.”

“Right.  Flavius, Numerius.  Take your turmae down the road.  I will take the rest to the north.  When you reach the village leave some men to guard the road until the Larks arrive and take the rest around the village to cut it off.  I will meet you there.”

“Sir!”

“Gerjen, take Darvas and scout a hundred paces ahead.  I would like to be forewarned of any enemies.”

The cold wet tunic under the armour felt uncomfortable but the troopers soon forgot about it as they rode through land that, for the first time, was not Roman.  Their only friends were behind them and, behind every tree could lurk an enemy.  They were Pannonians and used to the plains.  Trees were frightening for they held the spirits of dead souls who had committed great crimes.  Wolf gripped the standard tightly and felt the reassuring metal of his new shield which would protect his left hand. He had made sure that he had put the shield around his hand as soon as he had prepared for this day. He looked up at the Wolf which now had a metal band around the shaft and a small sharp spike on the top.  Gerjen had used some elderberries to stain the wolf’s teeth so that it looked more ferocious. Wolf had honed both his spatha and his pugeo so that they were razor sharp. He had proved it to himself by shaving his own face.  None of the ala would suffer the humiliation of the legionary tonsor again.  If they were to be clean shaven they would do it themselves.  The nicks and cuts were testament to their lack of skill but they would learn.