“Well we know where she is going. Some of the prisoners we took told us of an island, Manavia. She has a base there.”
“A job for the Classis Britannica then?”
“No. She can fester there. The warrior elite have been destroyed and now that we know of the threat of deserters the Governor has ordered a sweep of the places they inhabit to round them up. No decurion our eyes are now on the north. The Emperor has decided that we need to bolster the north. The Ninth is going to regain the land we lost and you and your ala will be helping me.”
*
The Dubris pulled into the small port south of the Liger. After the crew had anchored the ship just off the beach they had their throats cut and were thrown overboard to be swept out to sea. As Decius went ashore to hire a new crew, who would know nothing of the predecessors he reflected that they probably had enough gold to start a new life but Africa might be just too far with only ten of them left. He would have to start again. Centurion was healing but Decius knew that he needed his lieutenant fully fit if he was to create the kingdom which was his dream. As he waded ashore with Tiny watching his back he couldn’t get the image of his brother out of his mind. It would be just like the patriot to follow Decius and fulfil his promise. Well he would make the job more difficult. He had hidden before and he would hide again.
*
It was the time of the burning of the bones at the farm close to Morbium and Livius, Rufius and Cassius had been invited to join the feast. Marius and Drusus had been tasked with raising and training more Explorates in anticipation of the spring campaign in the north. Ailis had accepted, after the stories she had heard from Rufius and Livius of the bravery of her boys, that they would be following in their fathers’ footsteps and joining the army. She was mollified by the fact that both Livius and Rufius looked to be as fond of the boys as Gaelwyn was and she knew that they would be cared for. It did not stop her worrying about them but she realised that worrying was a mother’s lot.
Gaius could not have been prouder as he heard of his boy’s exploits and even Decius Gaius looked a little envious as they recounted the battles in which they had participated. “It is good to know that Marcus’ Horse is not forgotten and the standard and sword rode again.”
“It was not just that Gaius. The Brigante all knew, feared and respected the name. Marcus Maximunius would have been proud.” He looked around. “Where is he? I thought he would have been here.”
Gaelwyn shook his head sadly. “He is not a well man and I fear the Allfather is calling him. I would see him sooner rather than later if you wish to tell of the battle for he will not survive Yule.”
Livius looked at the fire, its flames flickering and dancing, mesmerizing him and making him remember the deeds of Marcus’ Horse and the warriors he had fought alongside, Decius, Macro, all gone. The others were equally lost in thought. Suddenly Livius looked over at Gaius, “That will make you the last of the Pannonians who rode with Ulpius, saved the Queen and held the sword.”
Gaius’ grey head nodded and looked at Ailis who held his hand gently. “Aye. We have passed on the standard and now new warriors will emulate our deeds.” He ruffled his son’s head. “You boys have high standards but from what I have been told you will gain as much honour as any.”
Both boys stood proudly at attention. “That we swear, on the Sword of Cartimandua.”
The End
Historical Note and Glossary of people and places in the novel
The Isle of Man was indeed invested in about 60AD by the druids and priests escaping the Roman Holocaust on Mona. As there was a whole culture and infrastructure on Mona one can only assume that this continued on the Isle of Man. This culture may well have lasted into and beyond the Irish and Viking invasions of the ninth and tenth centuries. Those new cultures would, in all likelihood have blended into the Druidic culture which prevailed. The Druids were an Iron Age culture and left little in the way of archaeology. The Romans liked to build in stone, the Iron Age in wood.
The Exploratores were very much as described although in reality they operated individually or in pairs rather than the sections I describe. As they only came to the fore at the start of the second century I have assumed that there would be a transition from the cavalry they were to the spies they became. As Marcus’ Horse is a fictitious ala I felt happy to disband it and use the survivors to begin the Exploratores. There were Gallic alae, Batavian and Tungrian cohorts in Britannia throughout the period but as evidence for locations and officers is vague I have used them generically.
Eboracum did suffer burning and raids by Brigante right up to the building of Hadrian’s Wall in about 120 A.D. The Ninth Legion is last heard of in Britannia in about 108 A.D., roughly when this novel is set and they were at Eboracum. The legion then disappears from history. The rumours vary from slaughter in Scotland or Dacia to disbanding for some misdeeds.
I have used the place names from the Ordnance Survey map. The fort at Ambleside is called Glanibanta although I know that locally it is called Galava. I have done this for consistency- if I am wrong at least I am consistently wrong.
The Sword of Cartimandua will continue to inspire me to write stories and there will be number out before summer.
Griff Hosker March 2012
Glossary of places and people
Fictional characters are in italics
Ailis
Gaius' wife
Alavna
Ardoch in Perthshire
Anchorat
Morwenna's acolyte
Aodh
Caledonii warrior and Morwenna's lover
Aula Luculla
Wife of the ex-governor
bairns
children
Belisama Fluvius
River Ribble
Blatobulgium
Birrens north of Carlisle
Bodotria
River Firth
breeks
Brigante trousers
Bremmetenacum
Ribchester
capsarius
medical orderly
Decius Sallustius henchman
Centurion Cursus
First Spear Batavians
Centurion Lartius
First Spear Ninth Legion
Clota
River Clyde
Colla
Brigante chief
Coriosopitum
Corbridge
Danum
Doncaster
Decius Lucullus Sallustius
Sallustius' nephew
Derventio
Malton
Deva
Chester
Dunum Fluvius
River Tees
Eboracum
York
Ernan
Irish leader of Morwenna's mercenaries
First Spear
The senior centurion in any unit
Gaelwyn
Ex Brigante scout and uncle to Ailis
Gaius Metellus Aurelius
Ex- Decurion Marcus' Horse
Glanibanta
Ambleside
Itunocelum
Ravenglass
Julius Demetrius
Decurion Marcus' Horse
Livius Lucullus Sallustius
Sallustius' nephew
Luentinum
Pumsaint gold mine in west Wales
Luguvalium
Carlisle
Luigsech
Morwenna's nurse
Lulach
Maban
Morwenna's acolyte
Macro
Former Decurion Marcus' Horse
Mamucium
Manchester
Manavia
Isle of Man
Marcus Aurelius Maximunius
Former ala commander
Mediobogdum
Hard Knott Fort
Mona
Anglesey
Morbium
Piercebridge
Morwenna
Fainch's daughter
Trajan
Emperor of Rome
Ownie
Brigante chief
Parcae
Roman Fates
Parthalan
Brigante Chief
phalerae
Roman award for bravery
Porta Decumana
The rear gate of a fort or camp
Prefect Fulvius
Prefect Ninth Legion
Rufius
Explorate
Sergeant Cato
Horse trainer Marcus' Horse
Seteia Fluvius
River Mersey
Tadgh
General of Brigante rebels
Taus
River Solway
Tava
River Tay
Tiny
Decius Sallustius' bodyguard
Titus Didius Blaesus
Tribune of the Ninth
Tribune Didius
Tribune Ninth Legion
uncia
Roman inch
Vedra
River Wear
vicus (plural-vici)
the settlement outside a fort
Northern Britannia
Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Part One The Gold
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Part Two The Deserters and the Irish
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Part Three The rebellion
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Historical Note and Glossary of people and places in the novel
Glossary of places and people
Northern Britannia