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

would not let it go. “But Ailis and my children are in danger.”
    “And that is why we are here and tomorrow we may all die.  Your family would still be captives and we would be dead so let us enjoy this night for it may be our last but it does not have to be filled with dire and dreadful thoughts eh?”
    “He is right Gaius. You are blaming yourself for the raid. Do not deny it.  You have been itching for a fight with someone since we left the farm. You are not to blame. The barbarians have been raiding Brigantia since… well so far back we cannot count the years.  If you want to avoid the raids then move your family, when we rescue them, to the far south for there it is safe.  Would you do that?”
    Gaius looked for all the world like a truculent little boy with pouted lips, “No of course not.”
    “Well?”
    “Well what?”
    “Accept that we do what we can, we do our best but we take each moment as though it were our last for remember Gaius, none of us are young anymore.  When Decius Flavius died I swore then that I would enjoy life and by the Allfather I have. I do not want o be here because my family is in danger but if I am to be here then I will make the best of it and hope that someone is watching over us.”
    “And as you are so full of evil thoughts you can have the first watch.  Wake the Tribune next and then me.  Goodnight.”
    He was asleep in moments. “You have been a little irritable with Gaelwyn you know.”
    “I know it’s just that he didn’t seem to care.”
    “Oh he cares but he doesn’t upset himself or others, he keeps it inside. We will find them and we will save them.”
    “What about dying tomorrow then?”
    “Oh we could die tomorrow but that makes me determined even more that we don’t and then that will make tomorrow night even sweeter.  Goodnight and stop worrying. Trust in Gaelwyn and the Allfather.”
     
    Lulach’s men left Coriosopitum and did not follow the road north as Gaelwyn had anticipated. Instead they followed the road built by the Romans towards Luguvalium. Lulach and his other warbands had been looting the lands of the Carvetii and the Novontae. His chiefs were wary of attacks from the south and the east. Marcus’ Horse had a fearsome reputation and Lulach had impressed upon his leaders that they had to avoid the ala at all costs.
    As soon as Ailis realised that they had left the northernmost road she, once again, placed apiece of her dress in an obvious place.  As they trudge along the road, tucked behind the ridge rising to the north she said to the boys, “Today we must play a new game.”
    “I like games,” said a very serious looking Marcus.  Decius, Macro’s son, always liked to copy Marcus and he too tried a serious face but it didn’t quite work; it came out as a lopsided grin making Ailis smile.
    “Today’s game is to make our people smile.”
    Marcus’ brother Decius looked at the cook and the other slaves and saw how sad they looked. “Why do they look sad mother?”
    “Because they are captives as we are and they are going to be slaves in Caledonia.” Ailis had decided right at the start of this ordeal that she would try to be truthful with the boys wherever possible.
    Decius pondered on this and then asked, “But I thought they were slaves already?  Aren’t they our slaves?”
    “Yes they are but we treat them well do we not Ula?”
    Ula, the cook, gave a half-hearted gap toothed smile.  She had been listening to the children talk and found her own troubles receding. “Yes young master Decius your mother and father are kind, even grumpy old Gaelwyn is kind in his own bad tempered way but we are going to a strange land and I fear that we will be treated badly.”
    Ailis flashed her a sharp look, “But we are together are we not?”
    “Yes mistress.”
    “Well in that we have hope and they have not mistreated us yet. So boys let us see if we can make the people smile today.”
     
    Gaius was almost disappointed when the