Free Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 05] Revolt of the Red Witch by Griff Hosker

important. He had had the glory he had sought when he joined the ala but, since the birth of his son and his betrayal by Morwenna he had had a different perspective.  His son was his immortality and he needed protecting.  Ailis was a wonderful foster mother and she would see that he was brought up as he should be to be a fine young man but Ailis too was in danger.  He cursed the powers that be for leaving Britannia in such a perilous state. He had known that Roman politics was dangerous when the Tribune and Livius had been arrested on a trumped up charge and almost suffered an Imperial death. He resolved that, once he had rescued his son he would have no more to do with the world of Roman politics but would dedicate his life to bringing up his son. Mounting his horse he smiled wryly to himself, how he would escape punishment to be able to do so was beyond him.  He looked up at the heavens and spoke to his dead friend Decius Flavius, “You always said I was better with my hands than my brain and you were right Decius but I have cast the dice and for good or ill this is my course.”
    The miles flew by and the big man lived from his energy.  His child was in danger and nothing would stand in his way. The road and the terrain were so familiar to someone who had fought in this land for so many years. Riding was second nature to macro and he was able to ride and think at the same time.  He thought not of his pain but of his son lost and alone; if the Allfather would let him change places with his son then he would do so in an instant. When his horse began to foam, as he approached Vinovia, he rested. He found a small steam where his exhausted mount could drink and then he took her up to a secluded dell where he slept the sleep of the dead; a sleep haunted by a tiny child crying for his father to rescue him.
     
    The Prefect and the ala had picked up the trail of the raiders and found the group led by Manus. Livius recognised the huge man from the crossing of the Dunum. “This is the band that raided the jet mines.  They have no captives and they were not the ones who took Ailis.”
    “I know.”
    Livius looked questioningly at his leader who appeared to have aged in the past few days. “Then we can go around these and find Ailis.”
    “No Livius.  I forgot my duty once before, I will not do so again.  These men raided Roman land and they will pay the price.” He held his hand up to prevent further argument. “Besides we may get valuable information about the direction that Ailis’ captors took. We are now heading west and if they are meeting up with a larger band then we may have to stop our pursuit and return to the new border at Morbium.”
    Livius’ shoulders sank in resignation.  He knew that the Prefect was right and the chances that the one thousand men of the ala could effect a rescue was dubious but his heart felt like lead at the thought of the lovely Ailis and the three boys being slaves in a Caledonian camp for the rest of their lives.  He prayed to the Allfather that Marcus was having better fortune.
     

Chapter 5
    Gaelwyn slipped back into their hidden camp.  They were north of the abandoned fort of Blatobulgium in the land of the Novontae.  Although it was some years since they had been in the area, when they followed Julius Agricola to glory, the land was still familiar. “They have scouts out. I think we take one and question him.”
    “Is that wise?”
    Gaelwyn shrugged, “We know not which direction they are taking and the further we are from home the harder it will be to get back.”
    Marcus nodded his agreement.  “Let us leave the horses here then and proceed on foot.”
    The three men were well used to moving silently through the woods and the scouts were busy looking behind them for pursuit.  Gaelwyn identified their target, a young boy of fifteen or so summers. To him it was exciting to be with the older warriors and the raid had made him believe that he to was a warrior and he