Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 05] Revolt of the Red Witch Read Online Free PDF Page B

my family too.”
    “How will you get through the dangerous country north of here master?”
    “I think Annius that we will pretend to be merchants.  I will dig up some of my gold and we will buy…what would we buy from the Caledonii?”
    Gaelwyn suddenly looked dark.  “Slaves! We will pose as slavers.”
    Distasteful as they all found the idea it seemed the most logical. “In that case we had better take some fetters and lengths of rope.”
    “Have you two thought how big Caledonia is? How will we find them?”
    “This is why you need me Gaius for I noticed on some of the bodies the clan markings of Calgathus.”
    “And we know where he lives Gaius, north of Veluniate. All we need is to find them and then…”
    “Get them out and that will not be easy.”
    “Neither will getting them but let us complete one before we worry about the other.  We leave before dawn for they have over a day’s lead.  Annius send a messenger to Cataractonium and inform the Camp Prefect of this disaster.”
     
    It was two days since they had found the trail of Modius but he was proving to be an elusive prey.  The land over which they travelled had many gullies and sudden drops which often meant the turmae had to detour.  As they dropped down towards the land of the lacks the pursuit became quicker. “Sir I think we can split up and have a better chance of catching him.”
    “How so Macro?”
    “The long valley is coming up.  He has two choices, down the valley or over the top to the valley of the two lakes. If I take my turma to the valley of the two lakes then I can catch him coming down from the top…”
    “Otherwise I can easily catch him in the valley of the long lake. Good plan.  I will send a rider to you if we apprehend him first.”
    “And I will do the same if he comes my way.”
    Modius was surprised by the persistence of his pursuers.  He had assumed that they would have just given up when they had caught the rest of his band.  His hardy band was now struggling, having eaten little and barely rested in the long race.  Now that he was nearing his base in the hills above the valley of two lakes he had a dilemma.  If he climbed the steep dark mountain he could drop down into the next valley and lose the horsemen who would not be able to pursue him along the narrow edge of the ridge but, looking at his men, he knew that they could not face the long climb and so he continued down the long lake.
     
    “Sir! They are barely a mile ahead.”
    The Prefect felt a cruel pleasure that he would get to end the life of the man who had killed his brother and betrayed so many fine troopers. “Decurion take your turma and ride up the hillside. If I flush him out he may try to climb up.  You six ride along the edge of the water.  Prevent him from escaping that way.  The rest of you in column of fours.” Knowing that they were so close and that he had secured any possible escape Julius could now use speed.  Modius could not escape.
    As he heard the thundering of the hooves Modius knew that he had nowhere left to run. “Let’s face them.” His men looked at each other and contemplated surrender; Modius could see it in their eyes. “They do not take prisoners.  Our only hope is to kill them.” Resigned to their fate the small band spread out and prepared to meet the approaching horsemen.
    As Julius came over the ridge he recognised Modius. “Leave the grey haired one.  Kill the rest!”
    It was not even a contest.  The troopers took no chances and their javelins took out the unarmoured men in moments leaving Modius, sword in hand looking helpless.”Come on you bastards, which of you is willing to fight me?”
    Julius sensed some of his younger troopers relishing the challenge of hand to hand combat but the Prefect wanted a sweeter revenge than that. If Modius died in hand to hand then, in his eyes, he would go to the Allfather.  Julius wanted him to die slowly and to be punished for his crimes. He turned to the