Free Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 11] Roman Treachery by Griff Hosker Page A

There was but one thing to do; ride to the other turmae where they would have a chance of defeating them. “Let’s ride!” Kicking hard into his horse’s flanks the turma sped away from the missiles still being hurled in their direction.
    Briac cursed.  Their very safety meant that they could not easily get to the horsemen who galloped off and it was then that the Brigante leader realised that their course would take them to the wagons.  He hoped that the thirty men had had left guarding them would be sufficient.
    Gnaeus and Lucius arrived at the wagons at the same time. Although the Brigante sentries had spotted them, their hastily improvised defences were not enough to stop the javelins and swords of the sixty troopers who fell upon them from two directions. They fought bravely enough but when Aed, their leader fell the others fled. They had enough wit left to climb the crags and the horsemen had to halt. “Secure the wagons! Appius, Publius, take four troopers and form a screen four hundred paces from the wagons.” Gnaeus dismounted and inspected the wagons. They still contained their cargo, the white dust rising in the air as he lifted the covers.  “Lucius see if they have left the horses somewhere.”
    Gnaeus was not optimistic but at least they had achieved half of their aims. He scanned the skyline for the prefect. As he turned away he sensed a movement and looked back as the Fifth Turma, with their prefect at their head, tumbled over the ridge line.  Gnaeus was experienced enough to know that his commander was in trouble.  “Stand to! Javelins!”
    A quickly formed line protected the wagons as the prefect brought his turma through the gaps left by their comrades.  The Brigante appeared on the skyline and halted. Briac looked down at the ninety Romans.  He could not defeat them.  This round had gone to the Romans but there would be others.  His men melted away like morning mist.
    “Should we follow sir?”
    Livius looked ruefully at the four wagons. “I am afraid not Gnaeus. They will have gone in many directions and the rocks up there prevent us following.  No, we have achieved what we set out to do, we have recaptured the wagons.  Well half of them at least.  We will take them back to Eboracum.”
    “How sir? They have taken the horses.”
    Livius gave the newly promoted officer along hard look. “It may have escaped your attention but we are riding horses.”
    Gnaeus was horrified.  “You mean use our horses to pull the wagons?”
    “Got it in one.  Two horses to a wagon, pick the biggest ones.” He looked at Gnaeus mount.  “Yours will do Gnaeus!”
    Gnaeus bit back his retort and took his saddle off.  “What are you grinning at Decimus?  Yours is a big bugger too.  Take off your saddle and join me eh?”
     
    Marcus halted his turma close to the road. He looked to the east and saw that they were close to the place where the prefect’s brother had escaped Britannia.  “We will halt here lads.”
    Scanlan asked, “What are we waiting for sir?”
    Sextus growled and Marcus smiled as he held up his hand.  “We are waiting for the next wagons and we will escort them into the fort but, as you are so interested in what we are doing then take Vibius a mile down the road to wait for them. The rest of us will water our horses at the river; it is only eight hundred paces east of us.”
    Sextus laughed, “That’ll teach you not to be a nosey bugger! Shall we feed the horses as well sir?”
    “Might as well Sextus.  I have no idea how long we will have to wait. Let the lads eat too.”
    “They ate at the farm sir.  You are spoiling them.”
    “When I was with the Ninth legion they taught me to eat as often as you can, when you can.  You never know when you might not have the opportunity.” The brief time he and his step brother had spent with the Ninth had been during his formative years and the lessons and traits he had learned, ran deep.
    Vibius didn’t mind the excursion.