Caratacus

Chapter Eighteen

It was just after midday and the sun was high in the sky when Ardwen and Caratacus led the army over the river that naturally separated the lands of the Dobunni and the Silures. Caratacus turned and looked back one final time but there was nothing to see except their own warriors snaking through the cold countryside. He had continually expected to hear shouts from the rear as the Romans sought revenge and attacked their ragged column stretching for as far as the eye could see but it didn’t happen.

Despite their success of the night before, the men and women were now looking weary as they tramped along and splashed through the cold water. The hills of Ardwen’s land were now in sight in the distance, the snow-capped mountains unseen hidden by grey cloud. It almost felt like coming home to Caratacus he suddenly realised as the walk of his horse rhythmically helped him relax more as much as the symbolic crossing of the river. He began to feel something that he hadn’t for what seemed like an age, safe and comfortable.

They followed the path of a small stream that ran down from the valley and into the great river and slowly started their journey upwards on an incline that was almost imperceptible at first. Shale and stone littered the ground over the grass and moss where it had broken off the slate and rock sides of the valley they were about to enter. It looked very different from their journey a few days before when the snow had yet to fall but that didn’t matter now, they were nearly ‘home.’ As they got further up the valley, the hillsides rose higher, the path got steeper and it began to snow.

“Don’t worry my friend you’ll soon be nice and warm with your wife, sat round a fire and telling tales of a great victory.” Ardwen said.

“It cannot come soon enough, my feet have lost all feeling and are like blocks of ice, my hands are useless, if we were attacked now I wouldn’t be able to defend myself. I’d have to roll you towards them.” Caratacus laughed in response his face hidden by the hood drawn over his head to keep out the chill.

“Mott will soon warm your bones I’m sure.” He heard Ardwen say as the wind began to blow. He didn’t reply lost in his own thoughts as he realised that his entire legs were as cold as his feet, he tried to feel his thighs but there was virtually no sensation in his fingers tips. He considered getting off his horse and walking but didn’t think his legs would carry him properly and imagined crumpling to the ground.

He tried to take his mind off the extreme weather and its effects as he thought about the coming year, it would be crucial and his decisions could determine survival or death not just for him but for many, many thousands. His imagination showed him every possible outcome from slaughter to victory and even to living in peace with the Romans although that was a last resort, it was probably possible. If it ultimately meant the survival of the people who were now under his charge, he would consider it.

He thought of his brother and his brutal death, and wondered was he looking down on them now as they filed along and up the valley. The image of Togodumnus and his wounds entered his mind’s eye and once again, it helped to confirm that he was doing the right thing. In reality it was the only thing the forces of Rome had given him and for the time being there was no other choice.

He was dragged from his thoughts by the sound of hooves approaching. Looking up he saw a band of Silures warriors riding down the valley towards them.

“Sadgem.” Ardwen shouted as the men got closer.

“Greetings to you Ardwen, Caratacus.” The man said as he reined in his horse and pushed the hood off his head. He had brown shoulder length hair and dark brown eyes, his face was chiselled with taught skin over his prominent cheek bones. He looked around and up at the falling snow “Did all go well?” He asked breathing hard.

“Better than expected.” Ardwen shouted in reply. “We fired the fort and many boats.” He guided his horse to Sadgem and stopped pulling to the side out of the path of the army. “What news of home?” He asked as he waved for the warriors to continue. They had only been away for four days but four days trying to avoid settlements and the local inhabitants was hard work. They shared a border with the Dobunni and some had said they would fight Rome but they couldn’t take the chance that someone would betray them for a bag of gold.

“Peaceful and calm,” he looked to the grey white snow filling the sky again as his horse snorted and moved closer to Ardwen's, “most are content to stay near a fire and keep out of this damned weather. What of losses, how many dead, injured?” He asked.

“Five died during the fight but two more on the journey, there will be more from the wounded I’m sure but the enemy must have sustained more than three times that number on their vessels alone. They were caught like fish in a pound and couldn’t escape, we gave them a better death than they deserved.

We slipped aboard their ships and found their guards sleeping, they didn’t even realise their throats were cut until it was too late. Once we torched the forts walls any re-enforcements were stuck inside and couldn’t help. We rained night arrows into the fort itself and soon it was ablaze and warming our skin in the cold night air. Something we could do with now, its freezing.”

“Everyone will be glad to see you return, the families of those who have lost loved ones will be cared for and a feast of celebration has been arranged for tonight. I’ll get fresh horses onto the carts of the wounded and get them back as quickly as possible.” Sadgem said. “The rest of us will go south and make sure your trail is clear. I know the Romans don’t like to venture out when the snows come but they may on this occasion if they mourn so many dead. I’ll take twenty men with me, if we see them coming north we’ll not engage them but return as quickly as we can.”

Ardwen smiled, “Very well thank you my friend,” he said, “I don’t have to tell you that we cannot have them following you and your men home if you are sighted.”

Sadgem nodded, “I understand, they will not follow us here but if I have too I’ll go east and lose them in Dobunni territory. The Romans won’t know these lands and so we have the advantage.” He turned his horse and kicked it into a gallop and led his men away, snow flying up into the air.

“I don’t envy his journey.” Caratacus said.

“It’s safer than ours was and Sadgems a good man, I trust him completely and wouldn’t want anyone else covering our rear. I’m sure the Romans already know where we are roughly anyway, they have enough quislings around them. Come on let’s get home and into the warmth.”

A long way to the south a group of riders left the fire damaged fort and nudged their mounts into a trot. They were wearing the clothing of the Celts and were undistinguishable from those who lived nearby, who were watching them leave along the track standing outside their homes. A row of legionaries stood in line to stop the Britons from approaching the smouldering fort and the ships that lay in the water at odd angles after their bows had burnt through. All that could be seen of one vessel was the top of its mast, now sticking out of the water at a severe angle where it lay in the middle of the river. The heat of the fire had helped to melt the rivers ice of the night before but it was now reforming around the dead and damaged ships.

Work had already begun to replace the charcoaled embers of the forts wall that still smoked along what was once the strong fortress of Vespasian. Axes were used to fell what remained of the walls and carts were piled high with blackened wood. Soldiers were busily cutting down trees in the nearby forest as heavy infantry and cavalry watched on in case of attack. The soldiers on guard moved their feet trying to keep them warm whilst warm breath came from man and beast alike.

Vespasian walked along the path at the river’s edge and surveyed the damaged to the supply vessels. He could barely contain his anger once more. The Britons had been allowed to get aboard the ice bound ships, there had been no alarm raised by those on-board, the sentries who in all likelihood were dead before the first flames caught.

“What supplies did we lose?” He asked the senior centurion by his side.

“Everything sir,” he replied, “What didn’t go down is either burned or soaked wet through. There will be amphora’s we can save I’m sure but we’ll have to do something about all the grain we’ve lost.”

Vespasian looked along the side of the river where only the day before a symbol of Rome had lay at anchor. Five ships were now submerged their bows fully below the waterline and two others listed awkwardly. The remaining two had only partially survived the attack as the thick ropes that secured them to the bank were still intact as the Britons had failed to cut or burn them.

“We’ll have to report this and ask for supplies as soon as possible. The remaining stores will see us through for a few days and if need be we can go on half rations. Those fools were lucky they died aboard the ships because if they had survived, I’d have had them crucified for negligence.”

A naval officer approached and saluted, Vespasian recognised him as the captain of the lead ship and commander of the small fleet. He wore a blue cloak as was traditional for naval men, the colour sacred to Neptune.

“Report.” Vespasian ordered.

“We may be able to salvage something of the vessels sir but without a dry dock and with this weather it’s going to be very difficult. I’ve lost twenty one marines, three on each ship when the attack occurred and more later. As things stand I have received no reports as to how they were able to get aboard. Given the sentries on the forts walls and the men on-board, I would say that they approached over the frozen ice and the woods beyond. Without any survivors I can’t be certain but I’d bet a thousand gold coins that’s what happened.”

“Very well keep me informed, give my condolences to the men, I’m sure those on-board died bravely given the circumstances.” Vespasian said and dismissed the naval officer and turned to return to the fort. “Perhaps crucifixion would have been a bit hard considering the conditions.” He looked back at the charred wrecks. “We need to salvage whatever we can from this mess and we need to start on constructing a proper harbour area that’s secure with a dry dock. I think that in future we’ll make sure that any supply ships are docked at the sea harbour and the contents brought in by wagons. I’m not going to let this happen again, I let my guard down and we paid for it but it could have been worse.” The centurion looked at him. “If those barbarian butchers had got into the fort it would have been a complete blood bath. The palisades did the job they were meant to do thank the gods. I want them dug deeper and wider however, with cal traps hidden under the foliage and I want the guard doubled around the fort for the foreseeable future.”

“Yes sir.” The centurion acknowledged.

“Right let’s get back inside and get cleaned up, we must both reek like smoked fish.” Vespasian said turning and heading back to the main entrance where work still went on and would for some time to come.

Some miles to the north, Varro led his small group of ten through the snow filled countryside. They looked like ordinary Britons as they followed the trail left by Caratacus and his army. It wasn’t difficult as they had left foot and hoof prints and wheel tracks on the trail and either side, so wide had been their force. They hadn’t found any bodies which meant if any others had died, they were carrying them with them.

They had slowed to a walk sometime before not wanting to exhaust their mounts and their disguises would only work if they could avoid contact with the locals, racing north after a war band would only bring suspicion. Brenna and her brother would do any talking that was necessary but they knew their subterfuge wouldn’t last forever. The cold was biting into their limbs even though they were covered in thick skins. Hoods guarded their heads but didn’t keep out either the cold or snow entirely.

Varro shouted over to Brenna, “We should find somewhere to rest for a while, make a fire and warm up. The trail won’t disappear for days with this frost on the ground. We’re in no hurry and anyone seeing us would find it suspicious if we were found following their path.”

“Very well,” she replied, “we’ll continue until we find somewhere suitable to shelter and get a fire going and some hot food, we’ll feel much better after that.”

“Agreed.” He said, he estimated that the retreating force were at most, half a day’s ride ahead. The mission was to find out where the attackers settlement was and to report back, avoiding all contact with them if possible. There was no point rushing and walking into a trap from which they no doubt would not return.

After a while they came to a small copse in a valley, it was out of the wind that had begun to develop on top of the freezing temperatures and snow, it was the last thing they needed. The snow barely covered the ground under the trees due to the thick cover overhead, as soon as they arrived and tied their animals up they went in search of suitable pieces of wood for a fire.

“Let’s get it going as soon as possible and don’t worry about the smoke, we’re just travellers caught in the storm if anyone finds us, if anyone else is stupid enough to be out in this.” Varro said looking around, “Which I doubt.”

It took a while for the flames to catch thanks to the damp wood but after a while it dried off. Later with the fire roaring and preparations made to heat salted pork and vegetables they had brought with them, they settled in and waited to see if the weather changed, it didn’t. As it was getting late they decided to pitch camp for the night so they huddled next to each other under blankets watching the snow fall from the grey sky as the fire began to cast shadows from the surrounding trees.

Just before the sun fell beyond the horizon, somewhere to the west under a snow filled sky, Caratacus and Ardwen led their army up the final valley path and into the beginnings of the settlement at the top of the mountain. They passed the cultivated areas where crops were grown on the flatter levels inside the huge basin and eventually the first roundhouse came into view. People came out to greet them and scurried about looking for loved ones searching desperately. Those related to the injured ran to the rear while those related to the dead were either struck dumb with shock or began to wail when they were told the news.

It took some time for the entire column to reach the settlement and by the time the final carts were rumbling along slowly past the roundhouse where Ardwen, Caratacus and the elders were, they were already in fresh dry clothes with warm soup in their bellies.

The dead were honoured and a total of eleven families now grieved. More had died in the wagons on the way back with four others seriously injured through sword or arrow wounds. There were more who were walking wounded but in time they would recover to fight again. It was decided that it would be inappropriate to celebrate the raids success for the time being and with everyone exhausted from either travelling or worrying about those out on the road, most settled down in their homes and simply went to sleep.

Caratacus and Ardwen however, together with a few elders stayed awake long into the night quietly discussing their next move, what strategy would they employ next, now that they knew they could defeat the invaders. They knew that Vespasian would want to avenge the humiliation of the attack and drew up plans to counter them and take the fight to the Roman officer and his Legion. They drank mead and finally relaxed as the snow continued to fall covering everything on the mountain home.

Early the next morning a long time before the sun rose, Varro awoke shivering. He was curled up at Brenna’s side with Tevelgus her brother curled into a ball under his cloak beyond her. He turned to find Decimus’ face partly hooded behind him, snow covered him still snoring oblivious to the conditions. He sat up and saw that the fire was still smouldering just and pushed himself up to his knees and stood up. Brenna groaned but turned and went back to sleep under an arm unknowingly put out by Decimus.

He stood and stretched, shivering, seeing that even more snow had fallen during the night, outside the copse it was a few feet deep now. He could however, see clearly for some way, thanks to the white all around despite the lingering darkness. He collected fallen branches and twigs from the ground under the trees and put them by the fire to dry. He broke and twisted others from low branches, pulling the leaves off, brushing the snow away and set them down beside the fire. The wood cracked as it dried and smelt quite rank. He sat down on a log, one of the few they had found the night before and stared into the falling snow.

“Humph.” Someone sighed stirring behind him. He turned to see Decimus had opened his eyes.

“Fuck a pig it’s freezing.” He said blinking himself awake, he saw Brenna and smiled, “Hello couldn’t resist could you?” He said to her sleeping face, she murmured something and opened her eyes, frowned and then suddenly sat up. Her cloak fell away and she quickly raised it round her shoulders, looking round.

“More snow then?” She said sleepily.

Varro threw another stick on the fire, “It’s a good job we found this place when we did or we’d be a few feet under it by now. Outside the copse it’s at least two feet deep, the trees kept most of it off us. It’s still freezing though as Decimus so articulately pointed out.”

She looked at him with just his eyes peeping out from his cloak wrapped round his head, “Yes I heard him dreaming last night he was talking and blabbering in his sleep about his love for a huge fat pig called porky or something. He said people wanted to slaughter and eat it but he was saying that he had grown up with it and wanted it to marry him instead.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Is it traditional for you Romans to have romantic relationships with your bacon?”

“Ho, ho fucking ho.” Decimus replied from under his cloak. “I’ll have you know there are some very attractive young swine where I come from.” He looked from her to Varro. “Not just pigs either, horses and even cows are known to marry their men folk and when they get too old, you eat them and get another.” He struggled up and got to his feet, “I find it makes for a quieter life than a human female. They don’t nag nearly as much and when you tire of them, you eat them, simple.” He turned and walked away from the growing fire.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if you’re not joking.” Brenna said watching him as he stood away from the group rummaging with his tunic.

“You see what I mean? A man can’t even take an early morning piss without being disturbed by a woman.” He turned laughing as others in their group began to stir.

Quintus said, “Keep that steaming thing away from my horse will you? I don’t want you getting any ideas and ruining her mind. If she catches sight of that mouldy little maggot, I may never get her to breed again.”

Decimus half turned, “Ha-ha don’t worry I wouldn’t want my fleshy sword going where yours has been anyway, it may never work again afterwards and imagine how upset all the females would be?”

They all laughed as the others got to their feet still wrapped in their cloaks. They prepared a bowl of lentils and chestnuts sweetened with honey and warmed themselves around the fire.

“It’s going to be near impossible to track those fuckers in this snow.” Quintus said blowing on a hot spoon full of food.

“The only way to do it is to keep clearing the snow and checking the tracks underneath. If we knew this area and where the tracks went, it wouldn’t be too bad but as it is we’re as good as lost.” Tevelgus said adding, “The winters in Britannia don’t always provide snow but when they do, it can be here for days, weeks even. Crops are buried and people die if they wander far from their homes, we always stay close when this happens and stay by our fires.”

Varro finished his bowl of food, “Well one thing is certain, our friend Caratacus isn’t staying by the fire but I agree with what you say. The other thing is that if the snow stops falling and the skies clear we’ll be seen for miles in this white blanket if we’re caught out in the open. Anyone would see us coming from miles away.” He stood up and rinsed his wooden spoon using a leather water skin.

“The question now then is what do we do? If we can’t risk going forward, dare we risk trying to find our way back to the fort, things look totally different normally when you try and retrace your steps but when they’re covered in snow it’s a different thing altogether.” Decimus said.

Quintus put in, “How do you think we would be received if we did go back and we had no information about the enemy position. I know the good General Vespasian is a fair man but I don’t think he’d take too kindly to us turning up empty handed and with no information.”

“I think your right,” Varro said, “but I also believe he would understand given the circumstances.” He returned to his upturned tree log and sat down. “The other alternative is to wait a while and see if it clears,” He added looking up at the sky through the branches of the trees, “we’ve got food enough to last two more days but after that we’d have to find our own or another settlement.”

“And we’d be out of fresh clothes but that I can deal with for a while,” Added Quintus, “after that I don’t want my balls rotting and swelling like some stinky Briton.”

Tevelgus laughed, “Ha-ha, and I wouldn’t want the small round rotten berries that you carry about down there anyway.” He said pointing to Quintus’ groin, they all chuckled.

“Right,” Varro said, “we’ll wait here another day and see what things look like tomorrow, if it’s still snowing we’ll think about heading back. In the meantime let’s make a better shelter and see if we can find anything nearby worth hunting.” He walked to where he’d left his bow, “Quintus, you look after things here, I’ll take Brenna, Decimus, Lucius and Marcus and see if we can find anything better for dinner.” He looked at Tevelgus, “If you stay here with Quintus and his men in case any Britons turn up and do the talking.” He nodded in agreement.

“Good, let’s get cleaned up and see if there’s anything out there.” he said as they prepared to move.

Sometime later and north of their temporary camp, the five hunters dismounted from their horses. They hadn’t seen anything so far, nothing moved in the snow it seemed.

“We’ll leave them here” he said referring to the horses, “and go on foot for a while, tie them to these trees if we kick the snow away at least they can get something to eat.” He said brushing the deep snow aside with his boot where he had tied Staro, they all did the same. Having secured their mounts they moved off following Varro, he and two others carrying bows. They crunched through the snow and entered a wooded area and eventually came to a clearing. They stood still for a moment and listened but all that achieved was tingling feet. Varro was about to give up when the briefest of movement caught his eye.

“There,” He whispered crouching, the others following his gaze, “can you see anything?” He asked. Brenna strained her eyes looking in the direction he was now pointing towards, “What was it, I can’t see anything moving?”

“A deer, I just caught it’s white tail against its back as it moved away to the left.” He said now whispering. “Follow me slowly.” He lifted his feet carefully and walked forward, the virgin snow was softer here but still made a slight crunching noise in their footfalls. Instinctively they all began crouching as they moved searching the cold white woods. Varro found the deer’s hoof prints and waved the others on grinning. A short time later he saw that the prints got longer with more space between the front and rear hooves.

“It looks like it started to run here.” He looked around. “Something may have startled it, maybe it picked up our scent.”

Brenna examined the prints and whispered, “It’s the only thing we’ve seen since we left.” She looked up following the direction of their quarries travel. “If it sensed us, it will be long gone, if it was something else that startled it,” she looked around, “we could be in trouble.”

Varro looked into her dark eyes and then about at the ground around them, he indicated with his hand for them to crouch lower. Pointing to his eyes he looked at Decimus and directed that he should advance to an outcrop where a tall oak stood with Marcus and to see if they could find anything. As the rest of them crouched lower still into the snow, they watched as the two soldiers moved to the area that Varro had indicated.

The woods were quiet, very quiet and Varro noticed that it had just stopped snowing. He kept his eyes on the men as they carefully made their way over fallen branches and through the grounded snow. Something wasn’t right, he didn’t know what it was but sensed something, as if he should be able to see what it was that had spooked the deer.

“This isn’t right.” He whispered to Brenna who was at his side. She didn’t look at him but kept scanning the woods to the front.

“There,” she said, pointing, “there’s something ahead of your men.” He looked to the direction indicated and frowned, Decimus and Marcus were still slowly moving away from them.

“I can’t see a thing I think this snow has……”

“Shhhhh,” she replied. “Look at Decimus and then go right and up, there’s something darker in the trees on the bank near that outcrop.” He moved his head towards her to try and get a better view.

“It’s not natural, not a part of the wood.” She said slowly placing an arrow on her bow.

He moved his head forward and strained, “I can’t see a……wait, yes I can see it now.” He looked at Decimus and Marcus who were oblivious to the danger. They still had their backs to them but had reached the oak and had gone to ground. Whatever was waiting there in the trees must have had a clear view of them as they had approached.

“I can hit it from here.” Brenna said sighting the arrow to the small target about eighty paces ahead of them. Varro looked at his men Decimus turned and saw that he was holding a fist up. He angled his wrist to the right and Decimus tapped Marcus on the shoulder and both of them got as low as they could. Decimus had recognised the signal and knew there was danger ahead of them to the right.

“Wait we don’t know what it is, there could be more hidden beyond the trees.” He said but she didn’t lower the bow, he realised he was now talking as if the mysterious object were the enemy. He turned to Lucius, “Go back and come around to the left,” he said pointing, “let’s see if we can surprise whoever or whatever it is. Take my bow just in case.” Lucius nodded and picked up the weapon and quiver and moved off. Varro looked back to the front and saw that Brenna had released the pressure on the bow string but still held the arrow ready. He could hardly see Decimus and Marcus now, they must be lying flat he thought.

“We can’t stay here, we’ll freeze.” She whispered.

“Just give Lucius time to get around them, it won’t take long. Once he’s gone far enough back so as not to be heard, then he’ll quickly flank up to the left.” He fidgeted with his feet now frozen again and tried to get some blood into them and waited. It seemed to take forever for Lucius to flank the target. In the meantime they could do nothing but wait and get colder, not daring to move.

Decimus and Marcus had crawled forward to the bank below the large oak tree and were now lying against it, head to foot parallel to the rise. From the position they were in they couldn’t see what was above or their comrades behind them due to foliage, low branches and snow. They lay there getting colder and colder straining their ears for any sign of what was going on. They both knew that Varro would not have told them there was danger to the right if he didn’t fear for their safety and they also knew he wouldn’t be idly waiting for something to happen without doing something positive to rectify the situation.

After what seemed like an age, Varro saw something in the corner of his vision, move to the left. As soon as he saw it his eyes moved to its location, whatever it had been had moved behind a tree.

“Left side forty paces from Decimus and Lucius.” He whispered. Brenna looked but couldn’t see anything. He saw her screwing her eyes up trying to see what it was concentrating, “Went behind that fat dark tree at the base.”

“Was it Lucius?” She asked.

“I can’t be sure, I only just caught it as it went to ground behind the tree.” He answered. “I’m sure it wasn’t a deer, thinking about it, it couldn’t have been because it wouldn’t get that close to those two hiding by the bank, it would have picked up their scent long before getting that close.”

She looked at him, “I can’t lie here anymore.” She put her hands under her chest onto the ground, “if I don’t move I’ll never bear children.”

“Don’t get up.” He pleaded but it was too late she was already on her knees peering forward.

“Nobody move.” A voice shouted, everyone froze, almost literally. The voice was clearly that of a Briton with an unusual accent. “Come out where we can see you.” He ordered, no-one moved. “If you don’t come out, the men lying below us will die.” He shouted.

Brenna stood up hesitantly, “Who are you,” she shouted back, “why are you hunting on our land?” She said bluffing. There was no reply, just silence.

She whispered to Varro, “Stay low, he is Silures, I can tell by the voice. I can see Lucius to the left of the tree he’s aiming your bow towards him.

“If you kill my friends or injure them you will not leave these woods alive.” She shouted. “I will ensure you will die here and you will be left hanging naked upside down from a tree with your entrails open to the wolves and crow.” There was silence.

She shouted again, “I am Brenna of the Dobunni, whoever you are you are not from these lands, come out to where I can see you clearly. I will order my men to stand and return to me, do not hurt them or you will die.”

She shouted at Decimus and Marcus but they didn’t move. She whispered down to Varro, “They’re not moving, I can see them now but they’re just lying there.”

He looked up, “They do not know your words Brenna, remember.” She had got so used to talking to the Romans in their own tongue that she had forgotten that not all them could talk to her in her own language. As her mind raced to try and think of something a man dressed in deerskin appeared from behind the trees above the bank, he was pointing at Lucius who was aiming the bow at him.

“Don’t shoot Brenna of the Dobunni.” He shouted over the snow. “I am Sadgem of the Silures,” He stepped forward to the edge of the slope and looked down at the two prone men.

“You can go.” He said and gestured waving with his hand for them to return to their friends. Decimus and Marcus slowly got to their feet, they didn’t have to understand his words to know what the gesture meant.

“Why are you in our territory, you have broken the treaty.” She shouted attempting to take the emphasis from the two retreating men.

“We come in search of a common enemy.” Other men then appeared at his sides from behind trees, there were a lot of them. “We hunt Romans and heard they are here on your land, have you seen any?” He said.

“Romans,” She answered, “there are no Romans here, they haven’t moved from the Exe in months. They are in the fort by the water and won’t come out until the leaves turn green and the frost goes. They don’t like to venture out in the cold you should know that.”

He smiled. Decimus and Marcus were almost back to them now, still walking slowly backwards, she had lost sight of Lucius who she thought must have slipped back into the undergrowth. She could see at least ten men with the one who called himself Sadgem, there were probably more still hidden from view.

“Our army fired the fort and sank their boats a few days ago, we thought they would come out and follow us to our lands. We meant no offence to you or your people but are merely safeguarding our own.” He said.

“There are no Romans here, if there were, they would be hanging from trees. They may have subdued some of my people but not all.” She replied, the two men were now with her and moved beyond where she stood, the relief on their faces evident.

“Go in peace Brenna and we will return to the mountains. Your people, those who are free should join us, together we a stronger than standing alone and can defeat this common enemy.” He said not waiting for a reply. He moved backwards still facing Brenna then he turned as did the men with him and disappeared from sight.

Varro let out a breath that he didn’t realise he had been holding and slowly got to his feet. “That was too close,” he said to her, “come on let’s get the horses and get out of here.”

She walked with him quickly turning to make sure the Silures were gone and weren’t following one last time, there was no sign of them. When they got back to their mounts they had eaten all the grass that they had uncovered previously and they found Lucius was waiting for them.

“Well done,” Varro said, “if you hadn’t come out from cover with that bow anything could have happened.”

“No problem sir.” He said. He untied his horse and jumped up, “There were at least another ten of them behind that Sadgem hiding below the bank.” He said. Varro exchanged a look with Brenna they had been lucky, very lucky.

“It’s a good thing you were with us Brenna. They would have known that I wasn’t a Briton if they had heard my voice and with that my men we wouldn’t have stood a chance.” Varro said and got onto Staro.

“It doesn’t matter now, what matters is that we are alive and we know the Silures are on Dobunni land.” She climbed up onto her own horse, “It was probably just a scouting party, the main force is probably already in the mountains to the west but they aren’t afraid to come south and into other territory.”

“At least we know where they are now.” Varro said.

“You don’t understand Varro, the lands of the Silures are mountainous and the area is huge.” He looked at her with a surprised expression as they cantered away.

They found the way back to the overnight camp and told the others what had happened. Even with all of them, they would still be outnumbered nearly two to one if the Silures found them again. They knew the next time, they probably wouldn’t be so fortunate to hide their true identity. Varro decided that he would run the risk of Vespasian’s anger and broke camp. At least they knew the Silures were probing the countryside of the Dobunni and would try to ally any Britons to their side, that information alone was invaluable.

They packed their equipment away quickly and dismantled the low shelters that Quintus and his men had made from branches and logs, small and triangular in shape. Each would have only housed three people lying flat next to each other but that would have created body heat for them and shelter from the falling snow. The wood was thrown onto the fire to burn itself out. After the next snow fall there would be little sign that anyone had ever been there but it didn’t really matter now.

They left the smouldering wood piled up on the fire and headed in a south easterly direction. They were unhappy to see that the skies were still grey and full of snow but it held off as they travelled. For the first time in a while they were suddenly aware of the cold again and welcomed the feeling after the day’s events and the meeting with the Silures. They were alive, that was what mattered most.

The journey back to the fort was fairly uneventful except for the snow that had already fallen. It made it hard going for the horses and in places the riders had to dismount to get through the deeper drifts. It made movement difficult and in some places the snow was four to five feet deep but where it had drifted was substantially deeper. The terrain looked very much the same everywhere they went which at times made their direction of travel difficult and twice they realised they were heading too far west.

Eventually they found tributaries of the Exe the smaller streams were a welcome break to the solid white they had been used to seeing. A few hours after midday the fort came into view and all amongst them felt a real sense of relief. The front wall had already been replaced entirely and work was continuing on the new watch towers. The palisades looked deeper and wider and were clear of snow where soldiers still worked to carry out the last elements of engineering work. Legionaries now patrolled the tracks around the roundhouses and a check point had been set up. Any future attackers would find it a lot harder to get so close again. Wagons laden with freshly fallen tree trunks, were still being brought from the local woods, no doubt to strengthen the garrisons defences even more. The enemy had been underestimated, it wasn’t a mistake that would be repeated.