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

presence there which made the coastline better defended and pirate raids from across the Mare Germania had dropped significantly.  It was now to the north where the danger lay.  Marcus prayed for the day when the wall would be complete and the land to the south made safe.  He worried every day about his mother, wife and child.  There had been too many instances in the past when their lives had been in jeopardy; the completed wall would end all that and stop the barbarian slave raids.
    The legate and Livius were at Coriosopitum for the monthly briefing of senior leaders.  Julius had initiated the meeting so that the officers all saw their colleagues face to face.  If you knew the man then you fought much harder to protect him.
    “Publius see to the turmae. Well done lads.  It was a good patrol. Gnaeus bring the prisoners with us.”
    The Tungrians who were based at the fort knew the ala well and the salutes were crisp and respectful as Marcus led the prisoners to the Principia. “Wait out side until I call for you.”
    The prisoners were still bound and gagged but their eyes burned fiercely with hatred for their captors. One of them spread his legs and urine hissed to the floor.  The sentry reacted quickly and rammed his spear haft between the man’s legs.  “You dirty barbarian bastard!”
    Marcus smiled at the man’s courage.  “Just sit him down in it soldier.  It will soon clean up.”
    Julius was alone when Marcus entered. The relief on the Julius Demetrius’ face was palpable.  The whole of the ala felt like family to the old prefect of the ala but Marcus was special for there was a close history between Marcus’ family and Julius’.  “Successful outcome to the mission Marcus?”
    “We captured four prisoners but we lost some troopers sir.  I would have preferred not to lose any and, from the look of the ones we captured, it will be hard to get anything from them.”
    “I think Prefect Sallustius and First Spear Broccus will manage; they can be very persuasive.” Marcus smiled grimly; Quintus Broccus was a large and tough warrior.  He was from the old school and learned his trade fighting Dacians. However, sometimes brute force didn’t always work.  It was as though the legate was thinking the same thing.  “And if the centurion’s methods fail then Livius has a very persuasive tongue.”
    “Where do you want them then sir?  One of them decided to piss on your porch.”
    “Feisty eh?  Take them to the cell block.  They can be its first customers.” As one of the older forts on the frontier Coriosopitum had been improved as the years had gone by.  The bath house and granaries had been completed the previous year and now a small set of cells built to house and discipline the soldiers of the wall, had been completed. “You can take your men to your new fort.  Rocky Point has been abandoned.  Decurion Princeps Metellus is busy organising it.”
    “You mean Julius Longinus is organising it and Metellus is pulling his hair out?”
    The Legate laughed, the ala clerk was a fussy little man who liked things done his way and the officers of the ala had to comply.  It was a trade off for the clerk was highly efficient and made life easier for them in other ways. “Would you expect anything less?”
    When the senior officers arrived they discussed the prisoners.  “Marcus tells me they are Votadini and they are warriors.”
    “What do you want to know then sir?”
    “Actually, Livius, we need to discover quite simple things.  Who are the war chiefs?  What is their strength? How prepared are they for war?”
    “What about their plans?”
    “That would be a bonus, Quintus, but we would have to be very lucky to have captured warriors who actually know the plans of the chiefs but I will take whatever I can get. We will use the cell block for the interrogation.”
    As they waited for their first warrior they took off their helmets, swords and cloaks. It was unlikely that the prisoners