Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 10] Roman Hawk (26 page)

Drugi’s mouth dropped open.  He had never seen a bridge before, especially not a stone bridge. “The Romans are a mighty people that they can tame the river and span it like that.”

They moored at the small wooden jetty. Marcus took Frann’s hands.  “I want you to stay on board while I go and visit with my Legate.  We will be sailing with Hercules down to the Dunum.”

Drugi looked like a child who has had his toys taken.  “Do I have to stay too, Roman?”

“No Drugi you can come but,” he said turning to Frann, “this is a dangerous frontier and a difficult walk.  I would be happier if you stayed here.”

She looked worried until Hercules put his arm around her shoulders, a strangely paternal act, “Don’t worry love.  I’ll not leave without him and we can have a bit of something to eat eh?”

The bridge and the fort all looked so familiar to the troopers and Furax but to Drugi it was a constantly unique experience. The guards at the bridge recognised them but stared in awe at the giant with them. “Have you the password sir?”

Rufius laughed. “We have been away for some time and I assume that the passwords will have changed.”

The optio was young and uncertain what to do.  Three of the four sentries smirked at his discomfort but the fourth, an older soldier, tutted and said, “Why don’t I escort them to the Prefect eh sir?  That way they can’t steal the fort’s silver.”

“Good idea.”

As they walked up to the fort Drugi looked at the metalled surface beneath his feet. Furax suddenly understood and said, “Yes Drugi that is a road.”

The Prefect was relieved to see them.  “Your Prefect and the Legate have been worried about you.  They thought you had perished in the lands beyond Rome. “He looked up at Drugi, “Now I see that you were just collecting some of the wildlife.”

As they sat and drank watered wine, another new experience for Drugi, Rufius asked, “How goes the wall building sir?”

“Over the winter we made more progress than the Emperor thought we would but, since the snows began to melt we have had increasing attacks.  Your lads have been kept a little busy.” He took an appreciative swallow of the wine, his bulbous red nose attesting to his fondness for the fruit of the vine.  “Half of my men now do duty in the wall.  I can see us being moved up there as soon as they have finished the fort.”

Rufius took an immediate interest.  “Finished a fort? That is quick.”

The Prefect looked ruefully around his well apportioned quarters. “Yes, a little too quick for me.  I have become used to the bath house and my comforts, still the Emperor wants experienced troops stationed there and those troops are us.”

“Do you mind if we show our friend here around the fort.  He has never seen one.”

“Of course. Just tell him to mind his head.  The buildings were made for Romans, not giants like him.”

Drugi was impressed by everything, from the granary to the aqueduct and the bath house. No matter what happened in the future Drugi would not regret coming to Britannia with Marcus.  It was a world apart from his hut and his animals and the harsh cold winters of Uiteland.  Furax almost fell over laughing when Drugi stepped on to the floor warmed by the hypocaust and jumped.  “Where is the fire?”

When Marcus showed him he scratched his head and asked, “How does the heat get from there to the room we were just in?”

“It travels under the ground.” The look on his face told Marcus that he thought it was some magic trick.

Drugi had finished his exploration of the fort by the time Julius Demetrius arrived. The cooks had been warned by the Prefect that they would need to cook for their guests and, as Marcus and Rufius filled the Legate in with the details of their adventure they ate.  Drugi listened to not a word for he was too interested in all the foods they were eating and once again Furax had to do the explaining.

“I am pleased that you are returned safely Marcus but, I am also disappointed. Rufius has done his best to protect you but as I can see the Sword of Cartimandua hanging from your baldric I know that you took risks to get that damned sword back.”

“Legate, if it had not been for the sword then Trygg Tryggvasson would not have spared my life and this would be a moot point. Besides, as you know this is the heart of the Brigante and after the recent rebellions we nee all the Brigante support we can get.”

Julius Demetrius was not convinced but he had more pressing matters on his mind. “Now that you are returned we need to use your skills here.  Rufius you and Gnaeus will return to Rocky Point.  Gnaeus you are to be made up to acting Decurion until Decurion Marcus returns.”

“From where sir?” Marcus was ready to argue with the Legate if he was sent to the other side of the country.

“We have four turma of replacements at Morbium.” He looked at Marcus wryly, “you were, I believe the training officer and horse master for the ala were you not?”

Reddening but with a sheepish grin, “Yes sir.  It just seems a lifetime ago.”

They all looked sadly at each other remembering that the lifetimes were Gaius’ and Macro’s.  “Well you need to knock them into shape. The Gallic cohort is seriously under strength and your ala needs more men.  You have ten days to achieve that.”

“Ten days from when sir?”

“Ten days from now.  I suggest that you accompany me to my ship so that I can give my captain his orders.”

With their rapid goodbyes to Rufius and Gnaeus spoken they hurried back to the jetty.  “Hercules I want you to drop Marcus and his “ Julius’ eyes were drawn to the pregnant Brigante woman, the two Brigante girls and Drugi, “retinue at Morbium and then I need you to sail…”

“Senator, the ship needs work.  We have had a hard winter.”

“I know and if I could spare you I would but with these pirates around the shores I need you to act as a messenger.  You are to return to Ostia and send this package to the Emperor’s secretary.  Use the Praetorian messenger at Ostia.  Then you can refit and refurbish your ship.”

Mollified, Hercules smiled, “Well in that case…”

“I suppose we didn’t make a profit while you were gallivanting in the wild north did you?”

Sniffing his indignation Hercules said, “Well there you are wrong.  We have some fine animal skins and some excellent wood which will fetch a fine price in Ostia.”

“Good. “ As he stepped off the ship he shouted to Marcus.  “Ten days mind, and that means ten days until you are here with the one hundred and twenty eight men.”

Chapter 15

The dragon ship fleet headed gingerly westwards, always nervously on the lookout for the masts of the Classis Britannica. Trygg had made it quite clear that they needed somewhere close to the mouth of the estuary where they could hide Gurt and his two ships.  That meant approaching the estuary in the early hours of the morning. Trygg’s ship took the lead as he and his crew were familiar with the waters of the Dunum. They were just using oar power to minimise their profile and he had a young warrior at the top of the mast.  He knew from the smell that they were within two miles of the mouth of the Dunum; the land had an earthier green smell than the tang of the sea.  Suddenly the masthead lookout shouted down, “Three Roman ships lying off the entrance.”

Cursing his luck he ordered the steersman to head south and run parallel with the coast.  He knew of another bay some twenty miles further south.  It was large enough to hide the ships but it would delay them by a day. Three Roman ships, fully armed, were just too much for his small fleet.  Using a shielded candle, he signalled to the next ship to follow him.  If they all repeated the instruction then they would be safe. It was an agonising wait for the ships to tack in turn and all the while he could see the thin sliver of lightening sky which heralded the dawn. He had to move faster and he ordered his rowers to increase their speed.  The next ship was Snorri’s and he would follow.  He just hoped that the next two ships would also realise what he was doing.

By the time there was enough light to see the land they were almost at the hidden bay. There was a spit of sand which had been deposited by the river over years and by following the spit and the river, ships could be hidden from the sea.  Unlike the Dunum and the Tinea, ships could travel barely half a mile before it became too shallow for any kind of ship. The other ships pulled up alongside Trygg’s and he commanded them to drop anchor.  Gurt was more curious than angry when he came aboard.

“There were Roman ships at the Dunum, three of them. They will have moved on by the morning.”

“And if not?”

“Do not worry.  I will send four of my men back up the coast.  They will light a signal fire on the hill above the estuary, if it is clear tomorrow, and if not then we return and wait.” Gurt raised his eyebrows as an unspoken criticism. Exasperated Trygg said, “We have done the hardest part.  We have reached Britannia undetected.  We have plenty of provisions; a day or two longer waiting will not hurt us.  Learn patience.”

******

Not only did
The Swan
reach the Dunum quickly, there were still the three ships of the Classis Britannica there waiting for them. The captain grinned at Hercules as they bobbed next to each other in the choppy waters.  “It seems your Legate wants you protected down to Dubris old man.  You will have an Imperial escort.”

“I have survived long enough without your help but I thank the Legate for his concern.”

“We will wait here for your return.  There is little need to hurry, by the time you have returned the tide will be against us anyway. We will leave this time tomorrow morning.  Make sure you are here.”

Even though the triremes did not need to worry about the tide for they had rowers; the captain had seen enough sailing ships to know that they would not be able to fight an incoming tide as fierce as the one on the Dunum.  The channel was only narrow despite the fact that the estuary was wide and Hercules needed all the sea room he could get to tack his way out.

Furax was delighted.  “That means I get Ailis’ cooking and I don’t say goodbye to Drugi until tomorrow.” Hercules was also happy for he had had no time to provision his ship and the journey to Ostia was a long one.

The bridge at Morbium was as far as they could go.  The ship suddenly seemed much emptier as the ex-soldiers waved their goodbyes along the road to Eboracum and the two Brigante girls said their farewells. They tearfully hugged Frann and wished her and her baby well. Frann looked seriously at the two girls.  “I know your homes are nearby but should you ever need my help then come to me at the home of Marcus’ brother, Decius.” She looked carefully at the two of them.  The girls had not thought of that aspect of their life and they headed south of the river more nervously and warily. “In the two years since you both left things may have changed.”

The First Mate was left with the ship as Hercules and Furax headed down to the farm.  Marcus had to go into the fort at Morbium to pick up his recruits.  He knew that they would have had some training but it was important for him to find out how much. He left Frann and Drugi at the bridge as he went in to speak to the Prefect and First Spear.  “I will not be long.”

Drugi was happy.  “I can watch the fish in the river Roman and see the animals I will soon be hunting.”

“And I will look at the land I left as a child for I was born but ten miles from here.” Frann was content now that her feet touched Brigante land once more. Her baby would be born in the land of his ancestors; the Mother was, indeed, all powerful and all seeing.

Leaving his two companions Marcus entered the fort.  He was well known by all of the auxiliaries who wondered at his tale for they had all heard that he had been taken by slavers and yet here he was as large as life. First Spear was with the Prefect.  “We were expecting you Decurion.” The Prefect sat back in his chair, “To be honest we are relieved.  First Spear has drilled your recruits with sword and spear but, as we all know, as cavalry they need to ride horses and to fight upon their backs.”

“And I fucking hate horses!”

“Yes First Spear you have made that abundantly clear to everyone.”

“I just didn’t want the Decurion to think I hadn’t done my job.”

Marcus knew the Centurion well and there were close ties with his family, for his father had sacrificed his life to save First Spear and his vexillation during the Hibernian invasion. He had a sudden, terrifying thought.  “There are horses aren’t there?”

“Oh yes,” said the Centurion indignantly, “Crapping and pissing all over my parade ground.  The sooner they are out of here the better.”

The Prefect shook his head.  The Centurion was a good officer but his language left much to be desired. “Do you intend to take them from here Decurion?”

“Yes sir.  There is an old gyrus from my fathers’ time close to the farm. It will keep them out of your hair and give me the chance to get to know them.” He looked at the sun through the Principia door, it was past noon already. “If you don’t mind sir.  I’d like to make a start.”

“Right First Spear, take the Decurion to his men.”

The recruits were being put through sword and shield training with the auxilia optios. First Spear barked and all movement stopped. “Right ladies.  Your time here is over.” Marcus smiled at the looks of relief on their faces.  “The decurion here, “he glared at them all, “a particularly good friend of mine has come to take you and show you how to ride your horses. May the Allfather help him. Go and get your gear and then fetch your horses.  I want to see you all in a column of twos, now go!”

As the two officers walked towards the horse lines Marcus asked, “What are they like?”

“Oh they’ll do.  Quite good with spears, not quite as good with sword and shield but they know the basic commands and orders.”

“Thank you for that.  I appreciate it.”

The old Centurion looked sadly at Marcus.  “After what your father did for us it was the least we could do.”

“And have you a wagon or a cart I could borrow?”

“A cart?”

Marcus suddenly became embarrassed.  “I have a woman and she is, well she is with child.”

First Spear slapped him on the back. “Well done, you little bugger! Yes, of course we have a cart.” He saw a soldier slouching near the stables. “Oy shit for brains, go and bring the cart from the Quartermaster and a couple of horses and be quick about it.”