Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat (16 page)

Marcus and Livius reached Morbium just as the ala was due to head north, first to Coriosopitum and then on to Alavna. “Livius the first task, working on your own is to await the next batch of recruits and bring them north.” Livius looked apprehensive but before he could speak Marcus went on, “You have completed the journey before.  You take them to Coriosopitum first, then Trimontium and finally Alavna.  It is a three day journey.  Remember you know more than the recruits.”

“But sir am I ready?”

“The problem is Livius that the ala will need all its experienced officers with the ala if we are to enable the Batavians and Gauls to build their forts.  Passengers are a luxury we can’t afford. The days are growing shorter; we have to make the forts as defensible as possible as soon as we can.”

Macro spoke up, “I don’t mind waiting with him.”

Marcus threw him the same look he had when Macro had been a young trooper trying to pull the wool over his eyes.  “Decurion Macro I think the Prefect was more than generous with the furlough he gave you.  Your pretty wife, who, incidentally, I have still to meet, will have to have the baby without you. I believe women have been doing successfully that for some time.”

Sheepishly the affable giant put his head down and mumbled, “Yes sir.”

The next month saw the whole of the Roman Army in the north busy building roads, strengthening forts and defences and training men as rapidly as possible.  Livius soon became adept at escorting the recruits to their new postings.  He got to know Camp Prefect Decius very well and Livius suspected that the Tribune had had something to do with his warm reception. He found that Decius was like a familiar uncle, prone to saying the wrong thing but eminently trustworthy and reliable. He also had a way with the recruits which made Livius’ job easier. On his journeys south he began to spend an extra night with the ex-cavalryman listening to the stories of the ala when they were still the Pannonians.

Tribune Sura was pleased with the new strategy.  “Alavna is a nightmare to hold Marcus.  There is but one wall where they are unlikely to attack and they are constantly slipping over the palisade and slitting throats.  We have to do double guard duty which exhausts the men.  The sooner we can withdraw to a defensible line the better.”

“Aye Decius is busy with the southern forts.  We are using the fort at Coriosopitum as the anchor and the forts go east and west from the secure base. Furius is strengthening the forts to the west.  By Spring we should have finished.”

“I am glad that the governor made good with his promise for more troops and the pay rise has made the men happier.”

“I am no so sure Cominius.  He asked for the last four cohorts to be sent south to Eboracum. Luckily I had already garrison Morbium and Coriosopitum with the first recruits so the south is safer now.”

“But why?  The land is safe there and they have the legions a stone’s throw away.”

“I am not sure but I think the Governor has some different ideas but at least we now have two spare cohorts.  Young Livius is bringing them north as soon as they are trained.”

“Macro is going around with a face as long as a cow’s behind.”

“Yes he got married and he moons after her.  She is with child.  It should be due next month by which time he will be even worse.”

“I hope he takes out his frustration on the Caledonii.”

“Don’t worry. He will.”

Chapter 11

In Rome the Emperor summoned three men to a secret meeting. One of them was his spymaster.  His identity was a closely guarded secret and only Domitian was privy to it. All in the palace knew of his existence and had even seen him flitting in and around its corridors but even the Praetorian Guard did not question him. He was known as the Cowl for he always had his face covered with a hood. In each meeting he sat in the shadows with the hood over his head hiding his features. He was the one man Domitian trusted.  The other two were also trusted by the Emperor. They were soldiers who had served his father well as Tribunes.

“I have brought you two to this meeting today because I need both of you to be Legates for me.  Before I outline your mission do you accept?” They both nodded for they both knew that refusal would see their dead bodies in the Tiber before dawn. “Good. Cornelius Furcus you at to go to Britannia. Julius Verinus you are to go to Germania Superior. You are to take charge of the legions and auxiliaries in those areas.  In Britannia the peoples in the north are causing problems and in Germania it is the tribes near to the river.  However you need to know that I do not trust the two Governors.  They appear to be hiding facts and money from me. When It is time to act I will but I need you two to be my eyes and ears. You will see far more than the spies we have.” He handed both men a seal. “Use this to seal your despatches and mark them for my eyes only. Is that clear?”

“Yes Caesar.”

“Good and if you need to take drastic action then do so.”

The two old soldiers looked at each other. Cornelius said, “Drastic action Caesar?”

“You are both blunt warriors; let me also be blunt, if you have to rid the province of your Governors then do so.  I have many more governors. “He gestured to his spymaster and added, with a smile, “My friend here will brief you on the personnel and forces at your disposal.”

Rufius Agrippa was a cautious man. He knew his activities were treasonous but he longed for the riches promised to him by his employer.  He had been in Eboracum for a few days to acclimatise himself not only to the bizarre weather but also to the views and opinions of its inhabitants. Eboracum was quite a prosperous place and Rufius knew that the rest of the country might not hold the same opinions but as the Governor had spent some time in the city this might give him a better picture of his popularity. He visited as many taverns as possible and he eavesdropped on every conversation form the merchants complaining about the city taxes to the soldiers extolling the virtues of the man who had raised their pay. He found himself in agreement with Lucius Antoninus Saturninus, the man was taking chances, and if the Emperor found out he would soon find himself in the Imperial dungeons. He also discovered that the Governor’s nephew was involved in his schemes.  It had not been hard to elicit that information.  In the second tavern he heard the name of Decius Lucullus as a man who was powerful and becoming more powerful by the day a man it was wise to stay the good side of.  He found Decius Lucullus in the most expensive tavern. Even had he not known his identity he would have recognised him by his entourage.  The bodyguards looked like thugs and were powerfully built and armed.  The sycophants who pandered to him were all tricksters and con men.  Rufius decided to make the young man’s acquaintance for he would be the best way to get the Governor’s confidence.

He waited until Decius was about to leave and, while he was bidding farewell to his new best friends, Rufius went outside where he slipped the guard a large enough bribe to ensure that he would be allowed to speak to Decius.

“Decius Lucullus? If I could have a word.” Rufius had developed a voice which sounded both pathetic and wheedling.  He had found it useful to convince others that he was no threat.  In reality he was an accomplished assassin but this mission required diplomacy and he could be diplomatic.

“I have bought enough drinks and friends for one night.  Go away.”

“Oh no fine sir it is I who wish to bring better fortune to your good self.”

Decius paused mid stride.”Good fortune eh? I am incredibly rich already how could you add to that?”

“The man I serve is even richer believe me and an association could bring even more reward and, more importantly, power for both you and your uncle.”

“My uncle? What do you know of my uncle?” Decius was on his guard for he wondered if Rufius was an Imperial spy sent to trap him.

“I know that he too is a rich man and has become richer since the gold mines opened.”

Decius Lucullus put one hand around Rufius’ neck.  “If this is an attempt to get money from me…”

“I told you before sir that I wished to make you richer.  I have no interest in how you and your uncle make your money but it does, perhaps, tell me that you may be interested in a scheme which would make the gold mine seem like small change.”

Releasing him Decius smiled a mirthless smile. “Carry on then benefactor.  How can we make such Croesian sums?” He straightened his uniform and ran his hands over his long, oiled hair.

“If you can arrange a private audience with your uncle then I can, perhaps, tell you both at the same time.” Although his remit had been to involve the Governor only Rufius was astute enough to see the potential of involving the preening, peacock parading before him.

“Are you staying nearby?” Rufius nodded, he would be changing his accommodation as soon as Decius left; he was taking no chances of a blade in the night. “Then meet me here tomorrow at noon.”

Rufius knew that the Governor had taken the bait when Decius was waiting for him in the tavern.  “Come with me.” He was taken quickly to an unguarded rear entrance of the Governor’s quarters. Decius left him at a large plain door.  “Just knock and you will be seen.”

Rufius smiled to himself.  The Governor was a careful man.  He wanted no witnesses to the conversation. “Come in.”Rufius found himself facing the window which faced south.  The late autumnal sunshine made it difficult to see.  The Governor was using every trick he could to gain an advantage. “How are you going to make me rich?”

“To be honest Governor the rich part was for your nephew, he appeared to like money and I thought it would gain me an audience.” He heard a reassuring chuckle from the Governor who appreciated Rufius’ accurate assessment of his greedy nephew. “You will become richer but my proposal, our proposal, will make you more powerful; in fact the most powerful man in Britannia.”

“I am already the most powerful man in Britannia.”

Dropping his voice Rufius said, “The man you serve has all the power.  You and I know Governor know that should we have another Emperor you could lose that power in an instant.”

“Go on.”

“I serve a number of men as powerful as you.”

“Governors.”

“I did not say that.  Do not jump to conclusions. Let us say they are men who wield a certain amount of power and would like more power. I have been sent as an emissary to see if you too would like more power; the ultimate power.  The power which your grandfather had before he was betrayed.” The quick glance told Rufius that he had scored a point. “At the moment this would involve nothing more from you other than your word that you would not interfere should there be a change of power close by and secondly your views on joining such a venture.”

“You give me much to think on.  I can say that there would be no interference from Britannia because we have too many enemies at home.  I cannot be sending my armies to fight across the sea.  As for the other I think I need to reflect and sleep upon it. I would like to meet with some of those who wish to increase their power, without of course any commitment on either side.”

Rufius smiled his obsequious smile.  He had him; the bait had been duly swallowed. “I will return to the interested parties and bring you an answer by the end of the month.”

“He is close then?”

“Perhaps I am just know some short cuts.”

“You are a resourceful man er…”

“Just call me the Broker and that way no one will suffer any indiscretions eh?”

“The Broker it is.”

Calgathus was a patient warrior.  He sometimes found it hard to control come of his wild and headstrong warriors but, the Swordsman as he was known, was still the finest warrior in Northern Britannia and the young cubs soon learned who was master. Since the defeat of his army by Agricola he had avoided another pitched battle.  His warrior numbers were still being built up and the young boys who had now become men had to be bloodied in smaller ambushes. This suited the wily king for he was slowly bleeding the Roman behemoth to death.  Their supply lines were constantly attacked and, were it not for the fleet, they would have had to withdraw even further.

The next nut he needed to crack was Alavna and he was finding it hard. The Romans had extended the walls so that they filled the valley and the gates were protected by towers filled with scorpions and ballistae. Behind the wall they maintained mobile patrols that travelled the valley sides all day.  Once he cracked this nut he knew he could roll up the rest of the Romans north of the Bodotria. His younger warriors were itching to tackle the fort but Calgathus had seen the effect of their artillery and he would not risk such slaughter.

He was sat one evening enjoying the music and the fire when one of his oath brothers who had lost an arm at Mons Graupius leaned over to him. “When my arm was hurt in the battle the healers wrapped tight bandages around the top of the arm and stopped all blood and life from entering the dead arm.  The arm still lived a little, I could feel it but when the blood stopped the life died and the arm was sliced off as easily as you might cut an apple from a tree.”

One of Calgathus’ other drinking companions who had had far more to drink and was not renowned for his quick wit, more his mighty arm looked at him strangely.  “Is this another way to get us to ask about the battle in which you lost your arm?”

Calgathus smiled and patted the one armed man on the shoulder.  “No he has given me an idea.  The fort is like the arm we want to remove so we need to stop the blood from reaching it.” The one armed man smiled and nodded.

“The blood?”

“Aye food, water, ammunition and men.  We will close around the fort and starve them out.  Winter will be upon us soon and the weather will be our ally. It is at the end of their lines and the other forts are smaller. When we have destroyed Alavna, the rest will fall like wheat to the scythe. Tell the warriors. Tomorrow we begin our preparations for war. We summon the fighters from the far north.  When they are here then winter will be upon us and we can strangle this monster.”