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

made the cardinal error of moving out of the sight line of the next scout.  When he stopped to relieve himself they pounced for he had left his spear propped against the tree and, rather than keeping watch, he looked down. Marcus swung the thick branch at his head and Gaelwyn and Gaius caught the unconscious boy.
    When he came to he was tied against a tree and there was a sword a hand span from his groin. “Right boy we need some information.” When he heard his own language he was confused for these were not Caledonii.  From their hair they were Romans, or at least two were but from their clothes they looked to be bandits. “Whose clan are you?” He shook his head bravely and Gaelwyn shook his own grey and grizzled mane sadly. “We will get the information boy but if I have to use pain I will. Who is your leader?” Gaelwyn slapped him across the face.
    Spitting out blood the boy said, “It is Lulach and he will eat your hearts out Romans.”
    “That’s better now we know your clan. And where are you heading?”
    With tears in his eyes at his own betrayal he shook his head again. “First you will have to kill me Roman.”
    When Gaelwyn smiled his cruel smile the boy shuddered, “Oh you will die but it is how.  Another question then. Is there a mother and three young boys amongst your captives?”
    His eyes lit up with the remembrance of the pretty and cheerful captive, “Oh Ail…”
    In horror he realised he had confirmed what they wished to know and he shut his mouth as tight as a beached clam. The knife sliced through the boy’s ear as though it were butter. Gaius’ hand over the boy’s mouth stopped the cry. Still he would not speak and it took three fingers before he relented and told Gaelwyn all that he needed to know.  As Gaius put the sword in the boy’s damaged hand Gaelwyn slit his throat saying, as the blade slipped in, “You were a brave boy, go to the Allfather with honour.”
    After they had roughly hidden the body some way from the trail they considered their options. “We need to rescue them before they get to the land of the Selgovae for there we have no allies.”
    “True but it will be difficult to get by the column in this narrow valley. We shall to trail them until we can find a way ahead.”
     
    The Prefect was determined that the patrol would boast some success.  He knew they would have to return soon to Morbium, their horses were exhausted and they had run out of supplies. He was equally certain that he did not want to lose men unnecessarily.  The Decurion Princeps took half the ala to ambush the rebels when they ran from the attack of the remainder of the ala. “Decurion, if we can I would like prisoners if only to find out who they are and where they are going. This is the first of many raids and we need to be prepared.”
    The ambush was prepared in the unique style of Marcus’ Horse.  Half the turmae were dismounted and spread out in a half circle whilst the mounted portion was a few paces behind. As soon as the barbarians began to flee in their direction they hurled their javelins and fired their bows.  It was a slaughter for most of the Caledonii were watching behind them for any pursuit and trying to avoid the obstacles in the woods.  When they suddenly tripped over the bodies of those first to flee they saw the line of armoured horsemen behind the wall of steel. Many chose to prostrate themselves on the ground and take whatever mercy was on offer. Manus was one of those. He had decided that he could always escape whilst on the road but there was no chance to escape the horse warriors who heavily outnumbered them.
    “Tie them up and let us get back to Morbium.  We have done all that we can here.”
    The troopers looked at their Decurions.  They all knew of the abduction and, despite the short rations and exhausted horses, were all prepared to keep going until they found Ailis and the boys. Decurion Pontius, the most outspoken of the officers voiced his concern.