Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 09] Hero of Rome (36 page)

“The next thing we need here Livius is a bath house.”

“You could always ride down to Coriosopitum, sir?”

“The last thing I want is to see the back of a horse for a while. No a little food and a good sleep and then a few days to organise the
limes
and then I will see about riding again.”

As the gates slammed shut Livius was glad that they had emerged from the latest trauma so well. Little did he know that an even bigger disaster was about to unfold as the Votadini came south, south for revenge.

Chapter 21

The wagons were streaming down the Stanegate with the two turmae of Marcus and Metellus as escorts.  As Marcus had a double turma, having incorporated Macro’s men, they were a formidable looking force.  Metellus was not taking any chances and he had procured as many bows and arrows as he could for the defence of the caravan.  It might only take them a long day to reach Morbium but their experiences in the west had taught them all to take nothing for granted.

“Remember to get as much stone as you can from the quarries near Morbium and, while it is being readied try to get arrows from the Prefect. Oh and horses you had better call in and see…” The words froze on his mouth as he recalled that Sergeant Cato would be supplying no more mounts.

Marcus put his arm on Livius’ arm, we will get the horses, sir and do not worry, and we will be back as soon as we can. Perhaps when we return these women to their homes we may find more recruits for we shall need them.”

“Sir a message from Centurion Vibius.” The despatch rider had been patiently waiting for the prefect to say his goodbyes. “He says to tell you he has finished the fort and he is taking half the cohort to relieve the decurion.”

“Tell the Centurion I thank him for his prompt action.” He was not looking forward to meeting the Decurion again but he would have to. He needed to garrison the forts with the ala, however depleted it was. “Cassius. I know it is cruel of me but we had better distribute the turmae once again to their allocated forts. We will rearrange the ala into eight turmae.  There is no point my having one.  Julius has the new rosters. You Marcus, Metellus and Decius will garrison the three to the west. The Gauls the two either side of here.”

“To keep an eye on them?” Cassius raised an eyebrow.

“When you have met them then you can judge. Let us put it this way, I am glad we have Vibius and his men. Calgus, Lucius, Drusus, Rufius and Antoninus can garrison the two forts closest to the Sixth.  I think they will be busiest.  When we get more recruits I will send them your way.”

“Right sir.  I’ll get the western turmae sorted.”

“And I will get the Legate; he is leaving us to bunk with the Sixth.”

Julius Frontinus sighed as the last of the horses left the fort and he was alone once more with the century of guards and the cooks. This posting was certainly livelier and more interesting than his job in Eboracum, checking invoices of goods which arrived and left. The trouble was, when the young warriors weren’t there he missed their banter and their humour.  He even enjoyed the gentle ribbing he received but now many of those young men would no longer be there to mock him, Spurius, Graccus, Cicero and , of course, Macro.  He was not a superstitious man but there had always been something about that likeable young man which smelled of death. He rubbed his hands to take away the chill and he went back to the Principia to write out the requests for more men, horses, arrows, javelins and spears. He and the Quartermaster would have a long morning’s work and then the requisitions would have to be taken to Coriosopitum to be sent to Eboracum; it was not easy getting supplied on the frontier.

Livius felt something was wrong when he rode up to the fort occupied by Catuvolcus.  Firstly he was not ignored and secondly he noticed fewer men in the fort and many men sporting wounds to their faces. He introduced the Legate and smiled when the complaints Catuvolcus had promised did not materialise. “You and your turmae will occupy the two forts either side of Rocky Point. That should make life easier.”

“Thank you for that sir.”

“If you send a rider back to Rocky Point and tell my clerk what supplies you require he will deal with that. Have you had some trouble decurion?”

“We ran into some Votadini last night.  We ran them off but we lost two men.”

Livius looked at him sharply.  “Make sure you write a report and send that to my clerk. Were you on the picket line when it happened?”

Livius couldn’t tell if the hesitation was a sign of guilt or indifference but the Gaul replied. “Yes sir but they didn’t get through to the Sixth.”

“Good. Well I will call and see you later. We need to push on to the building work.”

Leaving Calgus and Lucius to settle in to their fort Livius and Julius led the last two turmae to the Sixth’s camp. “I have to agree with you Livius about that man, I didn’t like the look of him.”

“I know Legate.  Neither did I when I first met him and I am afraid that he does not grow on you. Perhaps we might change him.”

Julius looked dubious, “But you don’t think so.”

“I don’t think so.” The newly built fort of the Gauls was close by and Julius was pleased to see that it had double ditches and towers on each gate. “Your centurion friend has worked well.”

“As I said earlier; he is the opposite of Catuvolcus and for that I am grateful.” When they neared the fort of Rufius and Antoninus only Antoninus took his turma inside.  “We will keep you with us Rufius.  This close to the Votadini it would not do to lose a Legate.”

Julius laughed,” After what Rufius and I have been through lately, this is easy.”

The half empty legionary fort also looked formidable and the two officers began to breathe easier. As they crested the rise above the river they could see both the Gauls and the legionaries busily digging the vallum. The two centurions, Quintus and Vibius had taken their helmets off to get on with the work and were labouring alongside their men.

“You have done well. “ Julius looked admiringly at the progress and then he glanced at the horizon. “But you have guards out I assume?”

“Yes sir I have two centuries on the picket line north of the river.  We will have advanced warning, believe me.”

“Rufius, just take your turma north and scout the edge of the forest.” In the distance the first of the great northern forest stood like a sentinel to the northern badlands, it loomed some way beyond the red crested sentries of the Gauls. Rufius led his men, glad to be back, once more, in familiar country and familiar enemies.

Quintus came up the bank to survey the scene with Julius and Livius. “We will build the vallum first for that will give us waste with which to build the wall.  Tomorrow we will begin to dig the defensive ditch and that will allow us more spoil for the top.” He looked searchingly at the Legate.  “And the stone?”

“I have sent the wagons to Morbium.  I would estimate perhaps four days for the first consignment.”

“Good.  There is some stone close by we can use but we will need bigger ones soon.”

“You are closely following the Emperor’s plans?”

Quintus quickly glanced to see if there was an implied criticism from the Legate, but seeing none he nodded, “Yes sir.  It will be four paces wide and six paces high.  As soon as we have the first section in place then we can begin construction of the first fortlet. I assume our Gallic friends will be the garrison.”

Vibius looked up grinning. “Well if it gets us out of work then we will rough it in a nice stone fort with a bath house and a hypocaust.”

Quintus laughed, “Who said we were giving you a hypocaust. You Gauls are supposed to be tough aren’t you?”

The banter was ended when the sound of thundering hooves could be heard from across the river and Rufius and his turma came hurtling over the northern bank. They heard him shout something and, as he and the turma reined in and turned, the two centuries of auxiliaries came racing down the bank towards the wooden bridge.

Vibius and Quintus both quickly donned their helmets.  Vibius ran to the bank while Quintus shouted, “Stand to! Prepare for an attack!”

The legionaries calmly laid down their trenching tools and began to put on their armour.  The pickets were climbing up the bank as Rufius thundered across the bridge the hooves of the turma shaking the temporary structure as though it would shatter with the vibration.

Livius, Quintus and Julius waited patiently for Rufius to arrive and report. He slid from his horse. “Votadini sir, hundreds of them and they are armed and bloody angry.”

They all looked at each other and then back at Rufius. Julius said, “Why?”

Rufius had a wry smile, “I didn’t stop to ask sir.  They were screaming that they wanted my bollocks as a war trophy so I knew they weren’t friends.”

“Sorry Rufius it’s just that they have been quiet for a while.”

“Perhaps the wall?”

“Perhaps. Time to worry about that later.  For now we need a defence. Vibius, form a skirmish line this side of the bridge, try to slow them down.  Quintus, form your men at the top of the ridge.  When Vibius falls back we will have six ranks of javelins to face them.  Let’s see if we can discourage them. Rufius, send a rider to fetch Antoninus.  A few more horsemen would not go amiss. Then place your turma on the ridge to the right of Vibius, your men are fair shots I believe.” He looked up at the sun to estimate the time. “Well it took half a day! Slightly quicker than I thought.”

“Half a day for what sir?”

“For the shit to hit the ceiling Livius.”

Rufius led his men along the ridge. “Well Centurion we have a good day for it.”

“It’s always a good day to be slaughtering half arse barbarians who just charge at you.”

Rufius dismounted. “Don’t expect these to be so obliging. They are sneaky.  They will charge if they have to and they will do it regardless of danger but their king is a canny young bird and he likes to make the enemy bleed where he can.  He doesn’t know you nor does he know the Sixth so expect him to do something to test you.”

Vibius was intrigued. “Like what?”

“If I knew that Centurion then I would be teaching at the military schools in Rome and not sitting up here at the wrong end of the Empire trying to save my manhood.”

A silence fell over the battlefield and some of the auxiliaries glanced over their shoulders at Rufius wondering if he had made a mistake. Rufius saw their looks and said, sotto voce, to Vibius. “See, he holds his men in check making yours worry and fret about what he will do.”

Suddenly there was a roar and, almost magically, a long line of Votadini stood along the other ridge just out of arrow range. Julius turned to Quintus.  “Perhaps a few bolt throwers along the wall might deter them.”

“My thoughts exactly sir.  Sorry I should have thought of it.”

“No we are all learning as we go along. It is early days yet.”

The line of barbarians parted and two warriors astride hill ponies rode forwards dragging something. When they reached the end of the bridge two more warriors ran down the gentle slope and lifted up the object.  It was one of Vibius’ auxiliaries. The Gallic Centurion said to Rufius without turning his head. “Drusus, a twenty year man.  He was already planning his retirement.” The words were spoken in a matter of fact tone as though the man was already dead.

The unfortunate Drusus was brought to the end of the bridge where his arms and legs were tightly tied to the bridge stanchions.  Rufius noticed that the man was naked.  Even from that distance they could see that he had been wounded and marked; he bore the marks of many punches and blows with cudgels and sticks. One of the warriors took a knife and, in one motion, removed his genitalia. As Drusus opened his mouth to scream the second man took his tongue and sliced it off. The genitalia were shoved into his bleeding mouth. The soldier could not fall for he was tied and some of the auxiliaries began to murmur.

“Silence!” Vibius’ voice roared out and then he added, quieter, “He can see us and he knows we watch.  Let him die with dignity and do not let these bastards win.” He looked up at Rufius. “I am told that you are an accurate and skilful archer.” He pointed at the bow.

“So I am led to believe.”

Vibius nodded, “End it and we will be beholden to you.”

“I will do it gladly, as a friend.” Rufius took out his straightest arrow as the warrior behind Drusus dropped his breeks and began to rub animal oil on his penis. He roared as he prepared to enter the doomed man. Rufius’ arrow flew true and hit the auxiliary in the centre of the head.  His whole body sagged and as he did so Rufius next arrow took the man with his breeks around his ankles, splitting his head open and, as the other three fled back to the safety of their lines his third struck a rider in the back.

The whole cohort turned to thank Rufius as a man, Vibius roared, “Eyes front.  It isn’t over yet”, and then to Rufius, “better than fair I would say. We owe you.”

“You owe no-one Centurion, we are all in this together.” Having failed to rouse the auxiliaries into reacting the Votadini slid down the slope.  Those close to the bridge held huge man sized shields, large enough for two men to cower behind.  The rest spread out along the bank and, holding bags of hay before them jumped into the water to swim up and downstream. The archers began to fire but the shields and the speed of the water made a hit unlikely. Once ashore the warriors began to crawl up the two banks on the flanks of the legionaries and auxiliaries.

“Very clever.  We have to realign and, when we do, they will attack across the bridge. And there is also a blind spot on each side where we cannot see them.”

“Are you going to oblige then sir and realign?”

“No Quintus. I am going to upset them. Keep your men facing the bridge. Vibius echelon right. Rufius, do something about these barbarians on our left.”

As Vibius began to offset his line so that he was diagonally facing both foes Rufius and his men galloped away from the bridge, south an apparently cowardly action which the Votadini jeered. Their leader, seeing the movement of the Gauls and the flight of the cavalry ordered his men across the bridge. Led by the huge shields the arrows of the auxiliaries were largely ineffective. Once they closed to javelin range then they had more success and warriors fell to the swiftly flowing river, struck by javelins which penetrated the wood.  Others took their places and soon there was a warband of at least a hundred, south of the river and closing with the Gauls. The men in the third ranks of the warband began to hurl their mighty war hammers at the Gallic front line. The huge weapons smashed through metal, armour and bone causing huge holes to be created in the auxiliaries’ lines. Smaller, nimbler warriors leapt over their comrades’ backs to take advantage of the gaps and they darted below the spears to stab upwards in an attempt to hamstring the soldiers.