Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 06] Druid's Gold (30 page)

Chapter 18

Livius saw the pursuit of the three men just as he saw Drusus and his man Lepidus. “Cassius follow those deserters while I attract Drusus’ attention. Cassius kicked his mount on and Livius gave the Explorate whistle.  Drusus raised his arm in acknowledgement and they galloped over.

“Someone is in trouble down there.  I can’t see who it is but if those deserters are following them then they must be friends of ours.”

“Yes sir.”

“Sir, the one at the back is Rufius.”

“You are right Lepidus. I don’t think the three on this side have seen us.  Let us hope that we can reach them in time.”

Livius could see the gap between Rufius and his two companions and the three Roman deserters who were pursuing them narrowing moment by moment.  The warrior behind them was urging his mount on supremely confident that he would soon be in range and would be able to use his spatha to strike them.  To his amazement Livius saw the figure in front of Rufius turn in his saddle and fire an arrow at the eager pursuer.  Although the arrow missed the man it forced him to swerve to one side and bought them time.  “Good lad! It is Decius Macro.” He shouted to Drusus, “It is Macro’s son and that must be Gaius’ son.”

The three men were now even more frantic to stop the deserters catching them.  Cassius was within bow range and he began shooting arrows, more in hope than expectation but it made Centurion and his companions look around. At first they only saw Cassius but Livius saw that they had been seen. Although they only slowed up for a moment Rufius and his two companions managed to stretch their lead a little.  Centurion could see that he was outnumbered but what worried him most was the fact that so many scouts had appeared at the same time. Did it presage the Ninth? “Leave them.  We will return to the main column.” As he rode back the warrior stared at the scouts etching their faces into his memory. Lightly armed scouts were something he would have to mention to Decius.  Even as the thought came into his head he laughed.  He and Decius would not be with the army long enough to form another unit.  They would be taking their gold and living the life of luxury. The men formed a column behind him and they kept glancing over their shoulders.  They had seen enough of the scout’s ability with arrows to worry that they might be attacked but it soon became clear that pursuit was not on their minds.

Rufius had a grin from ear to ear when Livius rode up. “Am I glad to see you sir, a few more minutes and we would have all been with the Allfather.”

Livius shook his head, “With young Decius Macro shooting like that I think you might have evened the odds.  Good shooting Decius Macro.”

“Er just Macro sir.”

“Just like your father eh?  Well your father would have been proud of that shot but I think Ailis would have had kittens if she had seen you out of the saddle like that. What news Rufius?”

“The boys and I were trailing the horse herd; it was stolen a few days ago.” His face became serious as he remembered the other news.  “And Agrippa died.  He was with the boys here.”

“He died well?”

Marcus Gaius nodded the memory still fresh.  “He took an arrow intended for Macro here.  We took him back to the farm.”

Cassius shook his head in amazement. Young boys and they still have the ability to save a comrades body and honour the dead. “It must run in the blood Cassius.  And you Drusus.  What news?”

“I was on my way to find you.  Prefect Fulvius is over there, “he pointed towards Derventio, “with the Second cohort and a cohort of Batavians from Morbium. He is trying to get between the Queen and Eboracum.  The Tribune is force marching to help with the First Cohort.  They are half a day away.”

“Good.  You said find me.  Was there a reason?”

“Yes sir he needs all the Explorates so that we can share the information we have.”

Livius could see the wisdom in the Prefect’s thinking.  They had been out of touch for some time and even he did not know all that his men knew. “Very well.  Decius round up the rest.  I suspect Marius will be south of here and probably the others too so you will need to take a wide sweep and then come up Ermine Way it will bring you to Eboracum.  If we are not there keep heading north.”

After Decius had ridden off, Livius took the small group east, keeping a keen eye to the south and the Brigante army.  Rufius rode next to Livius.  “Er sir, the boys?”

“What about them?”

“Well I took them with me so that we could find the horse herd easily and I told their parents that I would return them as soon as…”

“But Rufius...”

Rufius turned around and snapped,” What did I say about following orders?” He turned back to Livius giving him a wink. “Should we send them back?”

Livius tried hard to keep a straight face when he turned to see the tormented boys behind, both dreading the order to return home. “I am not sure that it will be safe for them to do so.  They are safer with us and, when we reach the Prefect they can always look after the horses.”

If Livius thought that such a demeaning role would be beneath the boys he was wrong for they both gave a whoop of delight. “I think they quite like that idea sir.”

*

A day’s ride to the south Nuada and the wagon were approaching a bend in the river.  If they went any further they would meet the road, Ermine Street and that might bring them into contact with Romans.  Nuada found a small wood with willows overhanging the river.  He ordered his men to make a camp and they prepared to wait.  When it was dark he would send a man back to Decius with details of their location.  He still not know how Decius would get a ship but he appeared to be quite resourceful and for Nuada his change in circumstance was definitely a change for the better.

*

They found Prefect Fulvius just building his camp. Livius wondered why he had not just stayed at the fort at Cataractonium, just ten miles north but he knew that the legionary would have had a good reason. The Prefect was genuinely pleased to see Livius. “I am glad that you and your men made it.” He held him at arm’s length and frowned. “But the journey has taken it out of you and your men.  You look like wraiths.” He seemed to notice the boys for the first time.  “And who are these?”

“This is Gaius Aurelius’ second son Marcus Gaius Aurelius and this is Decius Macro Culleo son of the famous Decurion from Marcus’ Horse.”

“You should both be proud of your fathers, yours was a great warrior and yours is an inspiration to all in the province. And now decurion your report.”

“The Queen and her army are about ten miles away.  It has grown since she landed. There are five thousand Brigante although some of them are not warriors. She has a bodyguard of druids and the Irish. There are a thousand of those and the deserter army is now as large as the First Cohort and they have horses.”

“That is the one thing we do not have.  The men you have and the other ten Explorates I brought me with are the only eyes and ears we have.  Still they will have to do. Your men and these new recruits, “Macros and Marcus beamed with delight at the thought, “can get food and rest but I need you for a talk about our strategy.  Come to my tent.”

*

Centurion was red faced and angry when he rode into the camp. He had been thwarted again but this time he could not blame Nuada. Casca had done as well as he could but his men only had swords and archers would make mincemeat of them. As he slowed down, once in the huge sprawling camp he looked at the army from the point of view of an opponent. The men were tough; there was no argument about that: the Irish, Tadgh’s Brigante and his deserters, man for man he would stack them against anybody.  The rest?  They were just gladii fodder.  The problem was the whole war hinged on the ability of the fake Romans to manage to get into the fortress using a ruse; a ruse which had not worked at Mamucium.  Centurion knew that were it not for incompetent leadership they would still be outside the walls and you couldn’t count on two incompetent leaders in such a short space of time. If they did not manage to trick their way in then they would have to batter their way in and that meant facing the ballistae and scorpions as well as the archers.  Morwenna’s army would be slaughtered before it reached the walls. Centurion had to admire his superior, Decius had it all planned out.  He knew that if they didn’t carry the fort then they would lose and his plans were to leave. Centurion was also certain that they would have to leave and he would not be risking his life for the witch.  Perhaps instead of Gaul they could go to Africa.  It was said that it was always warm and one of his old optios had told him of the beautiful women who inhabitated that land and lived to pleasure men.  His days of fighting would soon be over and with the gold they had stolen, and that included a large portion of the gold intended for the druids, he would live life as a rich potentate.

“Centurion how did it go?”

He shook his head.  “Those damned scouts again.  They have bows and they can run faster.” He quickly looked around to make sure they were out of earshot. “The wagon? Nuada has taken it?”

“Aye.  He will tell us tonight where it is and then we just need a boat.”

“That will be easier said than done.”

“Don’t forget old friend that we have to go to Eboracum with the Brigante as part of the plan to trick them.  I am hoping that we see one either going up or coming back from the port. Unless it is Classis Britannica it will have no soldiers aboard and we will easily be able to over power them.”

“Has she said when the attack will take place?”

“No.  Tadgh has Brigante scouts out; the ones who know the area but I believe that it will have to be tomorrow.  The longer she delays the more chance we have of being caught in a trap.  The Twentieth are only at Deva and despite what she says I still think they could attack and the Ninth are at Luguvalium.  If they both left when we attacked Mamucium then they could be here in a matter of days.  No it is either tomorrow or we desert.”

“I have been thinking about that.  If we make sure the men loyal to us have the horses we have been using that leaves the half trained ones for them.  I can’t see them being able to train and control them.”

“Good plan.  One way or another tomorrow night or the following morning we will be afloat and free.”

*

It was dusk when the Brigante scouts returned.  Their faces told their story. “There is a cohort of legionaries and some auxiliaries just ten miles away.”

“Let us fall on them and destroy them.”

“Brennus! We have not come this far to jump into the fire.  Let us weigh up the opposition. Do they look as though they are moving towards Eboracum?”

“They are camped for the night.”

“Good then gives us our answer.  Send for General Decius.” Tadgh snorted. “Don’t do that Tadgh it is petulant and makes you sound like a wild boar.  Decius is the key to our plans. We can destroy the Roman army and take Eboracum tomorrow if we plan our strategy well.” Tadgh shrugged his shoulders.  He was a warrior and understood fighting toe to toe with an enemy, not this deceit and sleight of hand.

Decius arrived flanked as usual by Tiny and Centurion.  Tadgh and Brennus did not like it but there was little they could do about it. “You sent for me?”

“Yes tomorrow is the day, our day. You will take Brennus and fifty warriors to Eboracum as though they are prisoners.  You will leave in the middle of the night so that you arrive before dawn.”

Decius frowned. Tiny and Centurion exchanged looks as they saw the wicked smile on the faces of the two Brigante leaders. The Irish prince was in his usual position, sat with a jug.  For him this was about gaining riches and a kingdom.  He left the strategy to others, he was a warrior. “That was not the original plan. Why the change?”

“You see Tadgh.  The General is a man who thinks.  He doesn’t lose his temper when things go wrong. There is a Roman army ten miles away and my warriors think we can defeat it.”

“How many?”

“A cohort of the Ninth and a few auxiliaries.”

“You could but if so why go ahead with the Eboracum deception?”

“If I defeat the army it may well be that Eboracum is forewarned and we cannot take it.  If we just go ahead with the deception then the Roman army may move and prevent us from succeeding.  We need both at the same time.”

Decius’ mind saw a way to work this to his advantage and ensure that he would be to get a boat and flee without any pursuit. “You will need all your other Brigante to defeat the Romans.  If I give half of my men to support you then perhaps we could take Eboracum with the fifty warriors under Brennus and just two hundred of mine.”

Even Tadgh and Brennus looked surprised. “That is supremely confident General. Why?”

He smiled.  “Perhaps the fact that my spy returned yesterday and told me that Eboracum is only held by four centuries and they are a mixture of auxiliaries and legionaries who have either been wounded or waiting for their pension.  They could still withstand an assault, especially with the Roman army so close but once inside it would be child’s play and Brennus and his men could then let you know we had taken it.”

Morwenna’s face lit up and she embraced Decius. “I had wondered about your enthusiasm as we crawled across the moors but now I see that you are the leader we all hoped for.  Well Tadgh, Brennus, can you see a problem with that?”

Neither could and they both stood and embraced Decius. “We never doubted you or your men.  Tomorrow will be a great day.” Ernan just raised his beaker and belched.

Later when Tiny and Centurion walked the horse lines with their leader Centurion asked the question which had burned in his mind since the meeting in Morwenna’s tent. “Does this mean we are staying with the Queen in Britannia?” He could not keep the disappointment out of his voice.

Decius laughed. “No.  Do you not see it is the perfect opportunity to escape?  When we enter the fortress, Brennus will take his men to help the Queen to fight the Ninth.  She will lose by the way; this rabble cannot defeat a cohort of the Ninth. We will go to the river and choose the ship we want.  You know our men Centurion. they will rape and pillage while we slip away and pick up Nuada and the gold.  It is the perfect plan.  No-one will look for us for they will assume we died.”