Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 03] Invasion- Caledonia (4 page)

The momentum of the charge had now left the tribesmen who had many ranks deep but their front ranks were being butchered in a clinical fashion by legionaries and auxiliaries alike. Although the legionaries fought in a tighter formation the auxiliaries kept a tight line and were well disciplined.

High up on the hill, behind the extreme left flank of the Ordovice line, Decius was heaving to catch his breath. “Sod this for a game of dice. I just want a horse.”

Macro was barely breathing, “Well sir after this is over I think I will have to give you some extra training.  You are not fit.”

“You two shut it!” Marcus’ whispered command sounded like a crack of thunder. “Decurions form line!” The whole ala formed an oblique line with Marcus in the middle, Decius on the extreme right and Agrippa on the extreme left. “Sound the buccina!” The strident call of the buccina seemed to echo around the mountain tops and the ala moved down the hill, not at a charge but a fast walk. Marcus was determined to maintain cohesion. The first warriors they encountered were fleeing towards them and were so surprised to find Romans in their rear that they were easily despatched. Soon they could see the rear ranks of the Ordovice who were looking nervously over their shoulders having heard the screams of their slain comrades. When they saw the approaching Romans many of them panicked and they ran towards the Romans advancing down the hill. Others bravely charged the Roman line led by Agricola but in both cases they met the solid line of Romans piecemeal and were slaughtered. In the centre Marcus wielded the sword of Cartimandua effortlessly and it seemed to sing a song of death in the early morning breeze. Its razor sharp blade sliced limbs from the warriors regardless of any armour.

Soon the lines of warriors thinned out as they tried to escape but they were encircled. There were Romans all around them. The net tightened inexorably and more and more barbarians fell to legionary and auxiliary alike. Finally there was a knot of men gathered forlornly around their wounded leader and Marcus wondered if the general was in a mood for prisoners. He could see however that Agricola’s face hardened and the legionaries continued to chop their way through the ever decreasing circle of bondsmen until the general himself decapitated the erstwhile king of the Ordovice and held it aloft waving it to a cheering and rampant Roman army.

As they began clearing the dead from the battlefield Marcus could not believe how few Romans had died and how many barbarians had perished.  He looked over at Agricola who was wandering the field talking to his men. The next time Agricola made a decision which appeared to go against logic Marcus would trust his judgement. Watching his own men he was proud. They had fought in a way which was unnatural to them but coped as though they had been doing it their whole life. None of his decurions had died or even sustained an injury. The only worry thought was that not only Decius but some of the others had shown they were not as fit as they might be. Marcus decided that Macro was right and they should become fitter warriors. When they had the time he would initiate a training programme to build up muscles not used when on horseback.

Fainch

Fainch was beside herself with anger. Watching from the shoreline she had seen her Ordovice allies disobey her orders and the result was the slaughter of more than half the warriors available to her. She watched as the Romans built and burnt pyres of warriors whose lives had been thrown away needlessly. She turned to the king, “King Gwynfor you obviously picked the wrong warrior for the task.”

“I cannot understand it; Inir was a brave and cunning warrior. Perhaps he thought there were too few Romans.”

Fainch considered this. “Perhaps.  Certainly there were fewer than I expected.” She hated it when her planning was thwarted. The warriors had every advantage, terrain, numbers, time of day; how could they have lost? What if this general had already sent his fleet to the other side of the island?  She knew he had another legion perhaps they were already moving to the northern coast? “You may have been right when you said they would use ships.  We will await the fleet for I cannot believe that they will launch an attack with the pitiful numbers we saw.”

In a quiet voice a chastened Gwynfor added, “Those pitiful few destroyed my warriors.”

Glaring at the downcast king she snapped,” We will await them inland make sure your watchers send the signal when the fleet is sighted.”

The next day was spent preparing for the invasion. Cassius and Cominius shared with Marcus their worries about the actual invasion. “Without the Classis Britannica I cannot see how we will affect landing on the beach.”

Cominius gestured at Marcus. “His scout Gaelwyn said that there are many trees close to the shore just down the coast. Perhaps we will build rafts.”

“That would take too much time.  No I think he will wait for the fleet.”

“I do not think so.”

“Why Marcus what do you know?”

“I know that he does not always take the easy approach and he does things which his enemies and even his friends do not expect.  I will wait. When he is ready to tell us he will do so. I think it will be an interesting experience, whatever it is.”

The general called them together for a briefing late in the afternoon. “I have set the legionaries to felling some trees.” Cominius looked at Marcus and tapped the side of his nose. Marcus merely shrugged. “We begin the crossing at first light. We will cross there.” He gestured to the narrowest point between the mainland and the island. Marcus estimated it about fifteen hundred paces. Not far to punt a raft.”

Cassius spoke up. “What opposition can we expect?”

“The barbarians appear to have moved from the shore but we estimate their numbers to be the same as we fought yesterday. The difference will be, Prefect, that we will attack without the legionaries.” The shock in the meeting was visible in all the faces except for Marcus. The legionaries were the elite, the cutting edge of any attack it was madness to leave your best troops cooling their heels.

“But sir.”

“Trust me prefect. Trust me.” He glanced over to Marcus. “The Decurion does not appear to be perturbed, why are you?”

“Well… it is not normal to attack with just auxiliaries when there are legionaries available.”

“As it is not normal to fight with dismounted cavalry or uphill or any of the things we have done. Do you not see Prefect Sura that it is by doing the unexpected that we will win? They have learned over the years how we fight and they count on us fighting the same way. Make sure your men are well rested for the success of the invasion lies with them.”

As they left Marcus turned with a wry smile, “I wish I had put some denari on the general’s decision.”

“You have the gift Marcus, you can foretell the future.”

“No Cassius but I am coming to know our general. I think we will succeed tomorrow.”

Decius and Agrippa were not too certain when Marcus briefed them. “I don’t know sir. I mean he has been lucky so far but I hate boats and a raft is not even a boat it is just a log that floats.”

Julius and some of the younger decurions were quite excited. “I think they will get a surprise when we suddenly arrive on the beach.”

“It might be fine for us but what about the horses. Some of them are jittery at the best of times and a raft is fairly unstable.”

“Stop speculating.” They all looked at Marcus. “We don’t even know it is a raft.  It may be something else entirely.”

Decius smiled, “A bridge! It could be a bridge. Now a bridge I don’t mind.”

Just then Cominius came hurrying past after a meeting with Agricola.  He was grinning. He gestured for Marcus to join him.  “I have been sworn to secrecy but I can tell you Marcus it isn’t a bridge and it isn’t a raft.  I have to go and choose a couple of likely lads I have a job for them.” Marcus deemed it unnecessary to frighten Decius any more than he was already.

The next morning as dawn broke over the snowy tops of Wyddfa, Marcus led his men down to the beach. Marcus apart, they were all expecting to see rafts constructed by the legionaries. It was a shock to see that the straits were empty apart from two ropes about half a mile apart which went from the mainland to the Mona shore. Peering into the gloom, Decius expressed the views of most of the troopers. “Does he think we can do a tightrope walk over that?”

Laughing Marcus pointed across the straits to where eight armed Batavians stood guard at each end of the two ropes. “Look. The Batavians have secured them I think we are going to get wet. Dismounting Marcus led his horse to the water’s edge to where the general awaited.

“Ah Decurion.  From your expression I think you have deduced what we intend to do?”

“Yes sir but I think it has come as a bit of a shock to my lads.  Should I tell them or do you want that pleasure?”

“Your command Marcus, you tell them but be quick about it.  I want the men in the water as soon as they are informed. The infantry auxiliaries will be going on either side of you.  You and your horses will go in the middle.”

“Right sir.”

Turning to his men who stood with expressions ranging from horror on Decius’ face, to a bemused look on Julius’ childlike visage.”Well the general has decided that we smell a bit and has asked us to take a bath.  While we do it we will cross the straits so that when we meet the Ordovices we will smell a little sweeter.” He allowed a moment for that to sink in. “Dismount. On my command we will lead the horses into the water.  Hang on to their manes and they will swim us across. For those of you who have never done this you will find it easier if you kick your legs in the water.”

A lone voice piped up, “But I can’t swim!”

Decius had regained his composure. “Well now is the time to learn. Besides all you have to do is hang on to the bloody horse. Be thankful you aren’t the infantry; the non-swimmers have to hang on to a log.”

Glancing at the general who nodded, Marcus shouted, “Decurions lead off your turma and keep it steady.” The first one in the water was Marcus who hoped that he could hang on, if not his armour would drag him to a watery death.

He found it remarkably easy, all of the horse’s movements were below the water and the powerful beasts made little of the current. The trooper behind hazarded a question many had been thinking. “Why the two ropes sir?”

“Simple. Any man who falls off will be swept along to one or the other.  He just hangs on and then pulls himself across.”

Gaius shouted over, “What about the barbarians?” He gestured with his arm to where a few hundred had gathered to watch in amazement. Marcus saw someone point inland and a warrior ran off as fast as he could.

“If these are the only ones then I don’t think we have a problem.” He raised his voice above the splashing. “Decurions form up as soon as we land. Pass it on.” The message rippled across the water as the message was taken up. To his surprise Marcus found that Argentium was touching bottom.  They were almost there. He slid the Sword of Cartimandua and raised it above his head. As soon as all four feet of his mount were on the dry sand he yelled, “Mount!” He looked around and was pleased to see that there were over a hundred of them already on their mounts. Some of the stronger Batavian swimmers were also standing in defensive stance. The tribesmen had fled.

Looking over at a dripping Decius who was shaking water from his helmet and ears he shouted, “Well that was fun wasn’t it?”

“I don’t know who is madder, you or the general.”

By the time the men had formed up the general had swum ashore. “By Neptune that was exhilarating.  I may never build another bridge again.”

“Just out of interest sir where did you get the idea from?”

“Britannia of course!” He saw the quizzical look on the decurion’s face. “When we first invaded the general ordered the Batavians to swim across the Tamesis and outflank the enemy while the legions built a bridge. Batavians are good swimmers. Between you and me, I think they are part fish. Still it worked. Now the legionaries can swim across and we can tow their arms on small rafts. Simple eh?”

“Yes sir.”

“Now then take your men in a long sweep. Find the enemy.  We will build a camp here, just in case they attack.” He paused, “I don’t think they will but remember what happened when the garrison of Rome failed to make a camp and that slave Spartacus slaughtered them.  Wouldn’t do would it? Not when things are going so well. I should be able to leave for Aquitania by the end of the week.”

When Marcus and his troopers returned to the beach they were dry although their legs and those of their mounts were covered in dried salt. “Can we find some clean water soon sir and wash them off?”

Marcus looked down at Sergeant Cato who was responsible for the horses. It would not bother the man to be covered in salt himself but he would hate the idea of his horses suffering.

“Yes sergeant as soon as we have made camp take your old turma and scout out a good spot.”

All the troops were ashore and the camp in place. The general had his headquarters tent set up and the prefects were al there. “Ah Decurion.  Find anything?”

“No sir. The tribesmen we did see were all on the skyline moving away from us. I don’t think they were ready for such an… interesting invasion.”

Agricola beamed.  “No we seem to have caught them napping. What about the terrain? Any problems?”

“No sir in fact it is flatter than anything we have seen so far, including the north. It is just low rolling land with a few woods but no forests. Nothing my lads couldn’t get through.”

“Excellent.  Well in that case we will move off tomorrow and head for, “he pointed at the map, “this little island where the centre of the Druidic religion appears to be. Caer Gybi. What a name!”

When Marcus told the decurions the only comment came from Decius. “I bet a month’s denari we will be swimming again!” This time there were no takers.

Caer Gybi

Fainch looked around the small island at the disconsolate warriors who sat dejectedly in little clumps. She had to admit that the Romans had outwitted her and yet, irritatingly, her Ordovician army still outnumbered them. Unfortunately their morale was so low that any attack by the Romans would result in disaster.  She had to come up with something which would inspire and terrify at the same time, inspire her warriors and terrify the Romans.