Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat (17 page)

Morwenna’s waters broke in the early hours of the morning.  They had not expected the birth for another three weeks but Morwenna had been helping Ailis to move some tables.  Ailis had objected but Morwenna had said that she was becoming lazy. As soon as the waters broke Ailis gathered the other women in the house and they put Morwenna to bed and then began to boil water. “Will it hurt?”

Before Ailis could answer Megan, one of the older women known for her bawdy humour broke in, “After that giant of a man has been between your legs I don’t think a wee bairn will give you any trouble.”

While the other women laughed Ailis scolded the older woman. “Megan! Behave yourself. There will be pain child but it will soon be gone.”

Morwenna was not concerned with pain but she was playing a part; she needed to convince Ailis that she was not going to be a good mother. Once the baby was born she had no desire to feed the little beast.  As soon as she could, she needed to be in the north beginning her plan. “Thank you Ailis. It is good that you are here.”

Her labour was relatively short, a mere five hours and when the child was born she was a girl, her red hair identifying her mother for all to see. She was also hungry and began to suckle as soon as Megan had cleaned her up. Morwenna looked up in alarm as Ailis began to move towards the fire with the afterbirth. “No Ailis!”

“What is it child?”

“In my clan we bury it.  I know it is silly but it would make me happier knowing we did things the way my mother did.”

Ailis smiled, pleased to be able to accommodate the young mother for she had become very fond of the child. “Of course Morwenna. Any special place?”

On the west side of the house and if you could mark the place for me then I would be grateful.”

The nights were longer than the days when the Caledonii began their assault. Two huge warbands slipped through the hills and positioned themselves close to the fort ten miles from Alavna. The daily patrols between the forts were ambushed and slaughtered.  They had begun to become complacent as the Caledonii stopped their attacks and some of the men began to think the fighting was over until the spring. Their corpses littered the newly made road but, unusually for the Caledonii the bodies were not mutilated.  They had other plans. Waiting until just before sunset on one of the colder, darker nights , they began their attack on the walls.  Calgathus only threw a thousand or so men against the walls but it was enough for the garrison to light the signal fires.  The attack was only half hearted, the warriors just making their presence known with out risking their lives.

In Alavna the Camp Prefect who was in command whilst Tribune Sura was working on the new forts, immediately ordered four centuries to double time down the road and find out what the alarm was.  With Alavna’s attention south the other Caledonii warbands north of the fort went into action.  It was a cold moonless night and the thousands of warriors were able to move the huge tree trunks within one hundred and fifty paces of the walls.  Although not a permanent fixture they quickly built five walls each eight logs high across the valley.  As Calgathus had explained to his men; they needed to be close enough to attack with arrows and yet be protected from the deadly scorpion bolts which could penetrate shields and armour alike.

When the four centuries were half a mile from the attackers they went into three line formation. The Centurion addressed his men. “There are barely one thousand warriors there and we have them pinned against the fort. No cheering or shouting we just double time and give them a couple of volleys of javelins.” Laughing he added, “We’ll be back home before they have turned stiff.”

So intent were they on achieving surprise that they failed to notice the woods on either side filling with warriors.  The first they knew of their danger was when they heard the unintelligible screech from the forest.  Suddenly the warriors attacking the fort turned and charged towards the Batavians.  At the same time two huge warbands attacked their flanks. The Romans stood no chance. The first century who were moving forward behind First Spear managed to hack their way through and found themselves, much depleted at the Prima Porta.

First Spear turned around to see his men being massacred and had no option but to enter the fort. The garrison’s commander greeted him. “Well that was a nasty little trap we fell into.  How many men did you bring?”

“Four centuries.”

Looking at the survivors the camp prefect said, “Almost three hundred men killed in the blink of an eye.  And Alavna is now cut off.”

“Aye and with less than a thousand men.”

“Send a messenger south to the tribune. Tell him the Caledonii have attacked in force and Alavna is cut off.”

“Sir come and look here.” First Spear pointed over the palisade where they could see men erecting log barriers as they had north of Alavna. Before the scorpion and ballista crews could fire any weapons the walls were finished and arrows began to rain down from the barriers.

“See if you can destroy those log walls.  The rest of you take cover.”

Behind the walls the Caledonii were bracing smaller logs against the long ones and putting deer skins filled with soil and rocks behind them.  As the crews found out they would not be easily destroyed.

In Alavna the situation was even worse for they were assaulted on two sides and, as the chief engineer said, “We have limited bolts.  We will need to save them for their attack.”

The camp prefect agreed. “I just hope they have sent for reinforcements because we only have food and water for three weeks at the most.”

The young leader of the raid ran up to Calgathus as he arrived to view the fort.  “We should attack now while they are weak.”

Calgathus shook his head.  I would not throw away any of my warriors uselessly. Time, winter and the land is on our side. Use fire arrows.  Have half your warband attack at night and half during the day.  Do not give them they time to rest. We will wear them out as water wears down the rock, not quickly but inevitably and, more importantly, successfully.”

“They will put out the fires oh king.”

“With what?”

“With water.”

“And that is water they could use for drinking.  Be patient.  This is their most powerful fort when this one falls they will have to run all the way back to the river.”

Tribune Sura was meeting with Tribune Strabo when the riders reached them. “Well there it is. We knew the day was coming. I just expected it next year.”

“What will you do Cominius?”

“Send word to Marcus.  We could use the ala and then I will take, with your permission, the two Cohortes Equitatae.”

“Of course.  I will continue to build up the forts’ defences and I think I will add an extra ditch.”

“I think we will need it.”

Marcus was at Coriosopitum when the news reached him three days later. He and Decius had been enjoying a pleasant evening of powerful drink and fine food when the rider burst in.

“Haven’t you heard of knocking!”

“Sorry camp prefect.  We have just had a messenger form Tribune Sura.  The Caledonii had surrounded Alavna it is cut off and the other forts are being attacked.”

“Did the messenger say if Prefect Demetrius had reached Alavna yet?”

“No sir he didn’t say.”  Saluting the sentry left.

“I doubt it sir.  They only left yesterday.  They are probably at Trimontium by now.”

“You are right Livius.  Decius you had better send warnings to all the forts and put them on alert. Livius send a messenger to Eboracum and then bring all the recruits we have at Morbium. Do not waste time. I want you up there in three days.”

“But sir it is just one fort.”

“No Livius, it is the last fort.  If that falls then we fall back to the Clota and the Bodotria and there the forts aren’t ready, we still have much work to do on them.  We have to defeat Calgathus at Alavna.  We will still abandon the fort but we will do it when we are ready.  Now go.”

Marcus caught up with the ala just as they were approaching the Bodotria and the fort at Veluniate. “Do you think this is significant then sir?”

“Yes Prefect Demetrius. Winter is approaching and this is deliberate. They have never besieged before.  When they took the forts last year they used surprise.”

“And took many casualties.”

“Yes I wondered about that.  This Calgathus seems to protect his warriors more than other barbarian leaders like Venutius and Maeve. More worryingly he is learning how to fight us.  He evaded Agricola and he was the first enemy to do that.”

“The problem is sir this is not cavalry country. I have looked at the maps.  The valley sides are wooded and it is very narrow.  The reports you showed me indicate that they have erected barriers to protect their archers from missiles. Our armour cannot deal with arrows.”

“Unfortunately Julius you are the only trained unit we have.  We are still making up the losses from last year. Perhaps we don’t use the horses.”

“Pardon?” The normally quick Prefect seemed confused by the tribune’s suggestion.

“We both know that using horses in winter means having to use a lot of forage, forage we don’t have.  It also means greater losses amongst horses. If we don’t use the horses but use the ala as infantry we still have a thousand men we can use and, when we defeat them, we will have a thousand horses to pursue them.”

Nodding he relied, “Makes sense and Decurion Macro has been training the men that way using foot tactics. Yes I think it will work and it will take his mind off his wife and unborn child. Have you seen her yet?”

“Who? Morwenna? Macro’s wife?  No not yet but she is supposed to be very pretty. Right Prefect let’s get the ala sorted out.  We can leave the horses here and march the men up the road.  It is just twenty miles to the fort which the tribune is using as his base.”

“How many men does he have?”

“About fifteen hundred. If he stripped the forts he could double that and if Tribune Strabo added his then we could quadruple it but I don’t want to strip the forts of their defenders that may be just what Calgathus wants.  If Livius gets the extra cohorts from the Governor we might have enough men but, unless they come by sea, it would take weeks.”

“And the winter storms will be on us soon.  No you are right sir.  It is us or nothing.” He smiled grimly.  “I suspect the men will be less than happy with the thought of a twenty mile march before bed.”

“A twenty mile march carrying the camp they have to erect.”

“Better and better.  This will be a good test of my leadership then won’t it sir?”

Chapter 12

Morwenna’s plan was succeeding.  She had fed the baby but made sure she was tearful.  She had overheard Megan say that she knew other mothers who were sad after a birth.  When Ailis was busy feeding her child Morwenna smeared wormwood on her nipples.  The baby, called Marcus at the moment, began to scream so loudly that Megan and Ailis both burst into the room.

“Why child what is it?”

Morwenna sobbed.  “I am an evil mother! My child will not take my milk! The gods do not want me to be a mother!”

Megan put her arm around Morwenna. “Don’t be like that child, the bairn is probably not hungry. Here give him to me.” The baby continued to cry and Megan looked over to Ailis.  “He looks hungry.”

Ailis bared her other breast. “Let me try with my milk.”

As soon as Marcus felt Ailis’ nipple he began to suck hungrily and was soon contentedly drinking.

“You can both see, it is me!”

“I have heard of this.  It is nought to be afraid of child. Ailis has more than enough milk for both of them.”

“But I am bad for my child.  Look he only cries when near me. Ailis,” she dropped to her knee.  “I plead with you. Let me go to my husband.  If I cannot be a good mother at least let me be a good wife.”

“Oh I don’t know Morwenna.  Gaius would not like it.”

“I have only been with my husband for a few days.  Can I not just go to Morbium and tell him he is a father.”

“He may have moved to Coriosopitum.”

“I can follow.  I promise I will return when I have seen him. Please.”

“Well….”

“Oh thank you.”

“But only in the morning and Gaelwyn will take you.”

Livius was at the fort when Gaelwyn and Morwenna arrived.  They were both admitted to the Praetorium.  “Decurion Macro has left with the ala.  They are going to Caledonia.  I am afraid you have missed him.”

Morwenna had been ready for all such problems and she began to cry, quiet, deep sobs. Gaelwyn, who knew the workings of the military inside out said, “Are there no troops going to Alavna or Coriosopitum?  I am sure the young woman could ride.”

Between sobs Morwenna nodded her quick eyes taking in every movement and gesture. “Well, “the camp prefect began, “the Tribune’s aide is taking fifty troopers with him to Alavna but I can’t ask him to take you.”

Gaelwyn stood up. “We can ask him then can’t we?”

“You can ask him.” The Camp Prefect knew of Gaelwyn’s reputation as a warrior and also knew of his truculent nature. He also understood how fond everyone in the ala was of the old man and he would do anything to appease him.

Livius did not know what to say and Morwenna sensed this. She opened her eyes as wide as they would go and looked up him through her long eyelashes.  In a moment his heart melted. “If the lady would not mind riding with us then I would happily take her to Decurion Macro. But you should know that I am charged with getting the recruits to the Bodotria in three days.” Later Livius would regret his generosity as would Gaelwyn and the Camp Prefect, but at that moment they were all happy at the successful outcome.

Livius was surprised at the ease of the journey.  It was helped by the fact that Morwenna never complained about any of the privations or the difficult conditions and did not slow them up. That she was in discomfort was obvious when Livius saw the bloodstains on the saddle cloth. However a young man brought up in the world of men was not going to ask an indelicate question and all he knew was that she had had a baby.  His constant question,” Are you comfortable?” always brought a smile and a reply in the affirmative. The recruits were also desperate to please the wife of the legendary Macro.  They had all trained with him and would have done anything for his wife. The caravan made good time to Trimontium only to discover that the ala had moved on. Morwenna just smiled and the hearts of the garrison were also won over.