Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 05] Revolt of the Red Witch (25 page)

“They had a standard but it looked like this.” The scout drew a boar.

“You are sure there was no eagle?” They shook their heads.  As they were dismissed Aodh turned to the others.  “It is legionaries not the legion. I did not think they would send a whole legion north.  It is probably a few cohorts, probably two thousand men at most.”

Ownie spoke up, “A legion or even part of a legion does change our plans does it not?”

Morwenna nodded, “You are wise Ownie.  It means that our warriors will not have to worry about the bolt throwers they had at Eboracum. Aodh you have fought the legions before, how will they fight?”

“They will be in the centre with the auxiliaries, however many they have, on the flanks.  They will have lines of three in blocks of three.  If they have two cohorts then they will probably have six blocks altogether.”

“Then we attack the weaker warriors on the flanks.  If the legion pushes then let them.  We can allow our centre to fall back and fall on their sides.  The sign of the boar was a good omen for we will be the boar and the warriors in the middle will be the head.”

Ownie was doubtful that there was enough discipline for such a manoeuvre but at least it was not the suicidal frontal attack he had expected.  “I will take the right my queen.”

“Excellent Ownie for that is the place of honour.”

The Brigante chief wanted the right because that afforded him an escape route should the battle go, as he expected, ill and he wanted to be able to get back to his familiar hills and his homeland as swiftly as possible.

“Sir the enemy are camped over the rise, about five miles from Morbium.”

Julius was on the horns of a dilemma.  Cassius was to the west and in a perfect position to observe the westward movements of the horde. If they were to turn north or east then Julius had the only force which could scout and trail them but he needed to meet with the garrison commander to coordinate his own movements. “Sergeant Cato.”

“Sir. “The Sergeant was on the Prefect’s shoulder.

“Detach four men and shadow the army.  If they retreat stay in touch with them. If they deviate from a southerly or westerly direction then let me know.”

The phlegmatic sergeant absent mindedly ruffled the main of his horse, “And where will you be Sir?”

“In Morbium.”

“Don’t forget that quarry Sir; you will have to go a long way around to get to the fort.”

“Thank you sergeant. Good advice.”

“As he rode away with his four men he shouted over his shoulder, “Wouldn’t want any horses getting injured.”

It was dark by the time the weary troopers approached the fort from the east. “Halt! Who goes there?”

“Prefect Demetrius of Marcus’ Horse.” Julius could feel the arrows being aimed at them and it was with some relief that he saw the light from the fort as the gates swung open to allow them entry.

The Legate strode towards him. “Well done Prefect you and your men have done all that was asked.” Suddenly he saw how few men there were.  “Is this all that is left of the ala?”

Dismounting Julius shook his head, “No Sir.  I have detached four turmae.  One and a half are to the west of the horde and two and a half are at Brocauum watching the rebels who, apparently are at peace.”

The Legate looked at the young patrician with new respect.  He had used the limited forces he had well.  “Excellent.  We have a surprise for our young rebellious queen.  I have brought some of the Ninth north.  When she attacks this time we will be prepared. Come meet my new staff and have some food you look exhausted.”

“I will just see to my men Sir and then I will join you.”

When Julius finally joined the Legate, his Tribune and the three Centurions he was ready for bed but the Legate had other plans. “Have something to eat and drink while my Tribune, young Titus explains the battle orders.”

Julius smiled at the discomfort of the blushing and uncomfortable young Tribune.  “We will have two cohorts of the Ninth in three lines with the First as a reserve. The Tungrians will be on the right and the four centuries of the garrison on the left in front of my force.  I will be in the woods with the artillery.” He leaned back pleased that the ordeal was over.

Wiping his mouth Julius said, “And where will the cavalry be?”

The Legate hid a smile as Titus looked around in confusion.  “But you have less than thirty men Prefect.  What can you do?”

“Queen Cartimandua was rescued by less than thirty men.  They fought off a warband as big as the one we face.  They only emerged with a handful of troopers but they did their job.”

Titus looked at the Legate for advice but the old soldier was enjoying watching the young puppy squirm. “Well Prefect, where would you place your cavalry?”

The Legate smiled, young Titus was a politician.  He had adroitly taken the initiative. “Cavalry can either be used as a shock force or a pursuing force.  Obviously we are too few for the former but we need to be in a position to catch this queen when she flees.”

“How do you know she will run Prefect?”

“I know Legate because we knew her mother and we know her in the ala.  She is slippery and cunning.  She is resourceful and resilient.  The only way she will be stopped is with her death.”

The passion and hatred in his voice surprised all in the room. “You seem to have a personal vendetta against this woman.”

“Her family were responsible for the murder of Queen Cartimandua, the rape and murder of Tribune Maximunius’ family and the death of Camp Prefect Flavius. There is not a trooper who would not give his life if it meant her death.”

There was a charged silence in the room until Titus gave s small cough. “So Prefect your troopers will be where?”

“She cannot go east, she has to go north and I have men watching that direction. I do not think she will flee there because the sea is a barrier and would prevent her escape.  She will head west.  Decurion Cassius is watching there but she is, as I said, cunning. She has allies in Caledonia and could go north west.  She has friends in Mona and she could go south west and her father lived in the west.  I will keep the ala in the woods to the west, close to your artillery.  It will afford us the best view and when the fox runs then we will give chase.”

The Legate nodded his approval. “When they have been dispersed Prefect what can you tell us of forces to the north?”

“There is nothing north to worry about.  They have emptied Dun Holme.  There is one Roman fort still holding the road at Vinovia.  After that the land is empty. The frontier begins and ends here on the Dunum.” He added sadly, “All the land won by Agricola and paid for with Roman blood has been lost.”

“It is as bad as I thought it would be. Well Centurion.  It looks as though your Tungrians will be building a fort. I will have to send to Lindum for more troops for this rebellion needs crushing with more forces than are available to me at this moment in time and I, young Prefect, am no Julius Gnaeus Agricola.”

The scouts who returned to Aodh made their report quietly to their leader.  Experienced warriors all, they knew that their news would bring dismay to the rank and file of the army.  “You counted them then?”

“Yes there is one cohort of auxiliaries and some of the garrison but they have brought three cohorts of the Ninth. There looked to be some artillery in the woods but their guards prevented us examining them closely.”

“Thank you my brothers.  Now we know what to expect.”

When the news was relayed to Morwenna she was not discomfited in the least.  Aodh was worried about her for, now that she surrounded herself with the women who believed in the magic and the sorceress power, she was beginning to believe her own legend.  Aodh knew she had power but he had not seen a power which could defeat a gladius and a scutum handled by the most ruthless soldiers in the world.

“It will be hard Aodh but the Romans have not met my women.” Morwenna had armed the women with the weapons looted from the some of the smaller garrisons. Aodh was not convinced they would be able to use them but at least they would look like warriors from a distance.

“I will have my men prepare an escape for us should the day go against us.”

Kissing him gently ion the forehead she said, “You worry too much my love.  We will win tomorrow.”

Chapter 16

The autumn mist masked the sun rise and the valley of the Dunum was filled with a clinging dampness which dulled sounds and hid the two armies from each other. The fog was dense and lingered in the dank, damp Dunum valley. The Legate frowned as he spoke with his commanders.  “This suits our enemies more than us. They can sneak forwards in the mist and close with us.” He gestured up at the now invisible artillery.  “It totally neutralises our secret weapon.  For if they cannot see, they cannot fire.”

Julius stepped forward.  “We could sow the ground before our front lines with caltrops.  In my experience men cannot help but make a noise when they step on them.  If will, at least, give us some warning. They should have some in the fort.”

“Good idea.” He turned to an aide.  “See to it. We have made our plans it is now down to the men.”

The First Spear, Gnaeus Seius Pavo, grinned a lopsided grin, the result of an old scar running down his cheek which made him look perpetually happy, in reality he was a dour phlegmatic warrior but at that moment he was actually grinning. “My lads are looking forward to it. I just want to get to grips with them. They have had enough of tramping up roads.  They want to kill a few barbarians.” He turned to Julius.  “The last time I fought with your ala was when we sent the Caledonii back a few years ago.  I was Optio under Decius Brutus then.”

Grasping his hand Julius smiled the widest smile had in a few weeks.  “Decius Brutus! How is the old goat? Retired I take it?”

“Aye.  He has a farm near to Derventio.  If I get the chance I will have to go and visit him.”

“When we have seen off this witch I may join you. I hope he wasn’t bothered by the raids.”

Pavo snorted, “If I know my old commander he would have been able to see off a few raiders. Yes we will visit him.  Tell him of the latest Brigante mischief.”

“And he will tell us how he would have put it down with two centuries and a turma of cavalry.”

“If you could just defeat them first gentlemen? Then you may reminisce.”

“Of course Legate but I feel happier knowing that Marcus’ Horse is still around.  They have always been lucky for the Ninth.”

The Tungrian Centurion nodded his agreement, “And the Tungrians also.  The Allfather must like you.”

Almost to himself Julius added, “Lately I am not so sure.”

The women in the Brigante army were excited as were most of the warriors.  Morwenna had them fired up and eager to come to grips with these mere who called themselves the legion. She had spent the night casting powerful spells and dreaming the dream.  When she announced that the Romans would not see their army they wondered what magic she had conjured.  As the dawn broke and the grey murk and mist filled the field they knew that the mother was with them and the day would be theirs. The enemy were indeed blinded and it was through their leader, the Queen of the Brigante and the most powerful witch in Britannia. How could they lose? Even Ownie and Aodh agreed that it gave them an edge they had not had the previous night.

“It means that, even if they have artillery, they will have to fire blind.”

“It is our best chance to get to grips quickly with their soldiers for they will not see us until we are in their faces.”

“My warriors and my sisters. “Morwenna’s powerful and entrancing voice seemed to rise out of the fog. “Today we destroy the Romans.  Today we join with the Mother to rid the land of this pestilence. The Mother is with us and has sent this powerful mist to show that she is our ally.  To make it more potent and powerful we need to make not a sound so that when we emerge the Romans will run before us. Do not give your war cries until you see their white, frightened faces filled with fear.”

Ownie was not convinced that the rag tag army would make the Romans run but he had to admit that they would be able to close with the soldiers without as many casualties as would have been incurred on a clear day.

“Go! On to victory!” Those nearest her tried to touch her shift, or her horse for luck. Aodh saw the fanatical look in their eyes and wondered if this just might be the day when the Romans lost and lost in a major battle. They had something they had never had before, the belief that the gods were on their side and they were led by a mystical being, Morwenna.

Titus was nervous; this was his first battle and so much depended upon him and his bolt throwers. He had seen them used in practice but never in combat.  The Centurions had assured him that they could take out whole lines of men as they passed through armour and bodies without hindrance. He peered at the mist, unable to pierce the gloom.  The problem was they were only useful when you could see the actual enemy and he could see nothing; not even the men twenty paces down the slope. One of the Optio engineers ran up to him.  “Sir I see movement on our left. It could be men, it could be animals.  I know not.”

Titus could see nothing but an idea came to him. “Is it within the range of the onagers?”

“Yes Tribune.  We marked them out last night but we have no targets.” He looked at the young Tribune as though he had lost his mind.

“We have plenty of rocks, Optio. Begin to fire it may provoke them.” As the Optio raced off to the onager’s crews Titus turned to the messenger next to him.  “Tell the Legate there is movement to our left.” Titus felt exposed and was strangely grateful for the presence, in the trees behind him, of the cavalry.  He had been surprised by the affection in which the ala was held.  The First Cohort of any legion was elite and felt themselves to be superior to any other but the First Spear of the Ninth showed genuine joy at fighting alongside the auxiliaries. He felt confident that, even if they were attacked directly, the Prefect would do all in his power to save him and that gave him less fear.  Perhaps that was what bravery was, having less fear to do what you had to.