Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 11] Roman Treachery Read Online Free PDF Page A

the Roman road, neither man marked the irony of using the Roman’s own road to fight them. It would take them another day to reach the land close to the Roman edifice and they would have left the road long before that. 
    Suddenly, one of the scouts came running back with something in his hand. He ran to Iucher who was his leader.  “Horses.  Roman horses.” In his hand he held a piece of horse dung, still warm.  It could be seen to be Roman from the grain within; Roman horses were well fed.  “There were more than fifty of them and they were heading east.”
    Colm rolled the manure around in his hand. “Fifty may be just a patrol.”
    “Or it could be a raid.  We will wait here for a while.  It will do no harm to rest and, if we can capture some Romans then so much the better.”
     
    Marcus led the two turmae towards the fort.  They had journeyed further south than their outward route in case they had been followed and it was for that reason that they escaped a total disaster.  The last four Votadini scouts heard and then saw the Roman horses approach.  One of them ran back to Iucher while the others watched.  Marcus’s horse, Hercules, had a sensitive nose and, smelling the barbarians, gave a whinny.  Marcus knew what it meant. “Barbarians! To arms! Gallop!” His well trained men needed no urging and their horses leapt forwards.  They were riding in a column of fours with the captives towards the front.  The last two lines of Romans came under attack from the scouts and the Votadini as Iucher brought them to join the fray. What the barbarians lacked in skill and finesse they made up for with exuberance.  They hurled themselves at the troopers, throwing spears, daggers, and loosing arrows in an attempt to bring them down.  Three of the troopers fell to the enemy whilst a fourth had a spear lodge in his back.  He kept his saddle and the riders galloped along and down the road. The horses of the dead troopers kept on galloping and it was only when they reached the deserted fort that they discovered their casualties. The two turmae who were waiting for them spread out behind them to watch for any pursuit. While the wounded man was dealt with Marcus rode back to see if he could see his lost troopers; the ala did not like to leave their men on the field.  From the saddles of the dead men’s horses he could read the tale and the blood which cove red both animal and sheepskin were eloquent.
    Publius walked over to Marcus shaking his head. “Appius has died.”
    “We will take him home.  Gnaeus!” His former chosen man rode over. “We will return a different way.  We will head towards the fort at Pons Aelius .  They will expect us to travel west, especially if they follow our tracks.” He looked over his shoulder as though willing the troopers to appear.”
    “Three men in exchange for the prisoners you have is a trade they would have all taken sir. They are soldiers and casualties happen.”
    Marcus shook his head.  “No it is not a fair trade but we have completed our mission and we will make sure that these men talk!”
    Gnaeus thought he knew Marcus well but there was a chill in his voice which sent shivers down the decurion’s spine.
    The prisoners began to stir as they wearily approached the coast.  The capsarius, Decius, and Gnaeus sat them upright on their horses.  “One didn’t make it sir.  Someone cracked him a little too hard on the head.”
    Marcus was philosophical; at least they had four men to question. “Leave his body there and assign two troopers to each prisoner.  We don’t want to lose any more do we?” There was an edge to his voice which had not been there before his men were killed.
    Once they passed through the fort at Pons Aelius they could relax.  The wall was reasonably secure all the way to Coriosopitum but it would be a long twenty five miles to reach it.  Marcus glanced to his left at the busy port on the south bank.  The Classis Britannica now had a