Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 06] Druid's Gold (4 page)

Finally there was the enigma, Metellus. Without doubt he was the best educated of the six and even Livius felt illiterate next to him.  He would quote poetry both Latin and native with ease.  He could speak almost every language with great facility and yet he was the deadliest man with a bow that Livius had eve seen, he could even outshoot Macro and that was unheard of. As they trotted westwards the decurion reflected that if he failed with this group of men then the Exploratores as a concept was already dead.

He wondered how he would look if the old Prefect, Marcus, could see him.  He looked like the other troopers with no sign of rank.  Like his troopers he wore no helmet, it was attached to his saddle.  The leather armour was covered by a dirty and nondescript tunic which gave Livius and the others the look of bandits fallen on hard times.  Of course their Roman mounts and their healthy bodies would have left no one in any doubt as to who they were but Livius had encouraged his men to let their beards and hair grow; they would make them look more like the natives than Roman.  He also planned on splitting up his group; six men were too large or too small a number.  He planned to operate in threes with a ten mile gap between them. 

He found himself oddly excited by the assignment and, when Julius had told him the devastating news about the ala Livius had thought that his world had ended; now he saw that the Parcae had a different plan for him and a new future. His first stop on his first patrol would be close to Morbium for he wanted to seek the advice of Gaelwyn, Marcus and Gaius; the three warriors he respected more than any other.

*

Cato and Marcus had ridden over to the farmstead of Ailis and Gaius to give them the news of Marcus’ Horse. The bonds of friendship were so deep that they were, in effect, an extended family. The three boys Decius Gaius Aurelius his brother Marcus and their adopted brother Decius Macro Culleo were always eager to hear the stories these revered warriors told.  Decius Gaius was no longer a boy.  He had now seen fourteen summers and was becoming a man.  He and his father were very close in every way, looks ,manners, they way they spoke and Decius modelled himself on the father who was also his hero. It was obvious to his mother that he would follow in his father’s footsteps and run the farm. The two younger boys were more like brothers than had they had the same parents.  They were born very close together and, when Macro’s mother, the witch Morwenna had abandoned him, Ailis had fed and cared for both boys.  They were both her sons. Now they were still young men enjoying young men’s adventures. They dogged Gaelwyn, desperate to learn how to become hunters and warriors.  The old man feigned annoyance at their demands but in reality he loved training young minds and bodies.  The two of them were fast becoming the best trackers and hunters for miles around.

When they saw the two riders approaching the three boys ran from the field in which they had been working; mending fences could wait but the chance to eavesdrop the conversations of their elders was a treat not to be missed. By the time they crashed through the villa door Cato and Marcus were sat with Gaelwyn and their father around the family table.

“Stop! Where do you think you are going?” Ailis’ voice was raised slightly but it stopped the three of them in their tracks. They hung their heads in silence. The four men grinned at their discomfort. “You know the rules; when you come from the fields you wash your hands and take off your sandals.”

Young Marcus Gaius looked pleadingly at his father who grinned and shook his head.  “If you think I am going to argue with your mother think again. Go and wash your hands.”

They would have flashed their grubby paws through the water had Ailis not stood with arms folded and a stern expression making sure that they did a good job.  After checking them back and front she nodded her assent and they raced into the room.

Gaius, their father was speaking, “So the ala is no more eh?”

Cato shook his head. “To be honest Gaius it would have been a new ala anyway.  After the retirements and deaths there were but a handful of men left.”

“I wonder what Ulpius would have thought?”

“He had no sentiment about the ala.  It was the people in it he cared for, besides from what Cato says Marcus’ Horse still lives with Livius and the Exploratores.”

“Uncle Marcus what are Exploratores?”

“Well young Decius Macro Culleo, now that you are clean enough to listen to your elders I will tell you.  They are a new cavalry unit attached to the legions. They will operate secretly sometimes behind enemy lines and they will scout and track Rome’s enemies.”

Gaelwyn snorted. “Scouts! They couldn’t find  their arse if they didn’t fart!”

The boys giggled. “Uncle Gaelwyn!”

“Sorry Ailis but they were never very good at tracking.”

“To be fair Gaelwyn they were never as good as you but then few were.” Mollified by Gaius’ words the old man nodded.

“So Livius is out on patrol then?”

“Well Marcus he was about to leave with his men when I left the fortress. It looked strange to me, the whole force is but twenty one men, not even a turma but they have to do the job of an ala.”

“Sounds interesting anyway.”

“Sounds perfect!” Marcus Gaius’ voice had yet to break and the squeak he made caused the adults to stare at the blushing young boy. “Well it would. Don’t you fancy it too Decius?”

Macro’s son was a smaller version of his dead father with broad shoulders and he grinned and nodded his affirmation. Gaelwyn found himself thinking he was actually looking at Macro. “Well you are too young.  They wouldn’t be able to have you for at least ten years.”

The four men looked at each other not wishing to contradict the she-wolf protecting her cubs but they knew that they had been warriors when barely fourteen summers old.  It would be two years at the most that Ailis would have her boys with her. The disappointment on their faces almost made Marcus laugh out loud.

Suddenly Gaelwyn’s hunting dog rose and growled. The four men grabbed their weapons from beside the door and raced out.  The growling meant strangers and after Ailis and the boys had been kidnapped by a raiding band of barbarians they took no chances. The four adults and three boys formed a half circle of steel around the door as the horsemen trotted into the yard.

“Well that is a nice welcome for an old comrade!”

“Livius! Your ears must have been burning for we were just talking of you.”

“Well if my men can use your barn I will join you.”

Gaius shook his head.  “They are my old comrades too.  They can join us. Wife we have company for supper.”

Chapter 3

“An unexpected visit Livius.”

“I do have an ulterior motive Marcus.  I called at your farm first and your man told us you had left already. “he paused and then gestured at the line of horses standing in the yard. “These are fine horses and they look like Roman horses.  We need to look less Roman and somehow...”

“Wilder?”

“I was thinking more Brigante.”

Gaelwyn snorted. “As though that could ever happen.”

Gaius smiled.  “It could uncle.”

“How? Your short hair and womanish faces mark you as Romans even at a thousand paces.”

“He is right Gaius and I have told my men to grow their hair and beards.  Out tunics are old and worn. We do no carry shields but the horses…”

”The horses look the same; they look Roman.”

“Exactly Pref.. er Marcus. Could we exchange them for seven or yours?”

Marcus looked at Cato who nodded. “We have some that would just suit.  They are a variety of colours and sizes but the only problem I can foresee is that they are not as well trained as I would like. We can pick them up tomorrow if you like.”

Sighing with relief Livius shook his head. “That is no bad thing Sergeant for we do not need them to be able to ride knee to knee and we can train our own mounts as we head west.”

Gaius looked up suddenly animated. “West?  Towards the land of the lakes and…” they all flashed a glance at an entranced Decius Macro Culleo, son of Macro and Morwenna, who seemed oblivious to their sudden interest in his face.

“Yes Gaius.  The Ninth are to build a road west and a fort for the Gauls to guard that side of the country.”

“And Glanibanta?  Our old hunting ground?”

“Yes Marcus that is to be re-invested with auxiliaries.  I think the new Governor has actually read the reports we wrote and realises the potential in the west and the dangers.”

Ailis returned with a pot which she planted unceremoniously in the middle of the table. “Enough of plans and strategies Gaius, we have guests who are politely listening but from their faces want to eat.”

The Exploratores started to bluster and deny their hunger but Gaius laughed.” This is why we should have women with the army.  They are far more sensible and practical than we warriors.  Of course they are hungry and thirsty too I expect. Decius and Marcus go and bring in the beakers Decius Gaius, bring in the wine.”

After the meal, which Livius realised might be the last decent food they ate in a long time, they discussed how the Exploratores might operate. “Your problem Livius is that of communication. If you discover something how will you let your superiors know?”

“Good point Marcus, ever the strategist. It is one reason why I chose groups of five troopers.  Two can return with the information whilst the others continue to scout. It may be that, in the future, we take an extra horse with us.”

“I still think that the mail armour is a waste of time and will slow you down.”

“You never did like armour do you Gaelwyn? We may still need to fight and I have seen how armour can save a trooper.  It is worth the small discomfort.  Besides I can think of situations where we need to look Roman, with helmets, crests and spears.  When this first patrol is ended I will ask each of the patrols what they could suggest to improve the way we work.”

“That is a good idea.  Just listening to you I can see that it is a major change.”

The group of warriors watched the glowing fire and drank their wine comfortable and happy, knowing that, possibly for the last time in a while they were safe. As with all good soldiers they had learned to take comfort when possible for most of their lives would be a cold and hard existence with little food.

Marcus Gaius spoke up.  “Uncle Livius I would like to be an Explorate.”

“Me too,” burst out Decius Macro, desperate not to be left out.

The men laughed and then stopped when they heard the crash from the kitchen. “You are too young and all this nonsense ends now.  To bed , now, the three of you!”

Their complaints and pleas fell on deaf ears and when Ailis returned with a stormy look upon her face the men had the good grace to look downwards except for a defiant Gaelwyn who looked his niece firmly in the eye. “I am surprised at you Gaius, encouraging your sons to join the army!”

“I didn’t.”

“You laughed which is as bad.”

“They will make good scouts Ailis.  They are the best trackers I have ever trained.”

“Uncle they are bairns.”

Sadly shaking his head Gaelwyn murmured, “It is a wild frontier now Ailis and they will be fighting soon, whether that is defending the farm of fighting Rome’s enemies it will happen and I would rather they were with someone like Livius who can at least think a little, than a jumped up aristocrat who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.”

“Thank you for that Gaelwyn it is the nicest thing you have ever said to me but fear not Ailis.  Even if they wished to join there will be no recruitment until next year at the earliest and even then I think they would be too young.”

Mollified Ailis turned to leave pausing only when Gaius spoke. “It might at least give them a focus wife if we said that when they were older we would consider it.  They might apply themselves to their reading and writing if Livius said that was a condition of joining.”

Her slumped shoulders told them all that although she accepted the inevitable she was not happy about it, “Very well but I will have the final say.”

The next day as Marcus led Cato and Livius patrol east to exchange horses, Gaius put his arm around his wife’s shoulders.  “You cannot protect the boys forever.  Marcus and Decius want to be warriors.” He kissed her gently on the side of the head, “Decius is like his father and Marcus wants to be like me.  You cannot change that.”

“But they are so young!” She buried her tearful face in Gaius’ shoulder.

“When I fought the Brigante and the Caledonii I fought warriors younger than the boys and they had been fighting for years.  Marcus and Decius could do worse than joining Livius for they would not have to fight in pitched battles.”

“But they would be alone and amongst enemies.”

“When the Caledonii took you I then realised that we all live on the edge of a precipice.  It is easier to fall than to stay safe. They are both good trackers and excellent warriors.  I would back the two of them against anyone and we will have two more years for Gaelwyn to make them even better.” He turned Ailis so that she was facing him. “You are Brigante.  Brigante are warriors and your husband wields the Sword of Cartimandua. Decius will run the farm but Marcus will wield the sword; it is his destiny.  Would you deny him that destiny?”

She shook her head and angrily faced her husband, “Allfather but I hate it when you are right! I may have to suffer it but I do not have to enjoy it.”

Gaelwyn appeared from around the corner of the villa. “You will see niece, it will all turn out well.  Your son will be a greater warrior than his father and as good a tracker and scout as his uncle.”

Turning back into the kitchen she snorted, “I do not know how your head fits through this door it is so big and you are so full of…”

Gaius laughed.  “She is the only one Gaelwyn who ever bests you.”

Sniffing as he took his dog to the stables Gaelwyn retorted, “Which is why I never married.  I wanted to win some arguments at least.”

*

“Tadgh!”

Racing into the cave the warrior wondered what new task he was to be given. “Yes your majesty?”

“My waters have broken my time has come.”