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

night passed without incident.  He was even more perplexed when no-one came up the road from the fort. “You two break camp and I will ride back and see where they are.”
    Gaelwyn galloped off and, after they had packed their equipment away they took the opportunity of taking out the swords they had secreted in the saddle cloths.  Gaius had brought the Sword of Cartimandua for, as he said to Marcus when questioned, “If I cannot use the sword to save the last of the Brigante royal family then what is the point of the sword. Besides I believe it will protect us. It always protected you when you used it did it not.”
    Now as they checked the edges of their blades it was brought home to them just how perilous their journey was.  They were indeed on a knife’s edge themselves and one slip could end in disaster.
    Gaelwyn rode in a short while later.  “They have headed east, I found their trail and this,” he held up the piece of dress.
    “She is still alive then?” The relief in Gaius’ voice brought a smile to Marcus’ face.
    “She is still alive.”
    “Let us follow.  When we are closer I will try to see where they are exactly in the column.  They had been joined by many more raiders and captives. They must have sent a mighty force south.”
    Marcus looked down the road to the distant and unseen fort of Morbium. “I wonder where the ala is?”
    “And I wonder how the Prefect has tethered Macro for surely he would want to be here.”
    “He would.  Gaius he would.”
     
    Back at Cataractonium Macro was cursing his own honour and training as a soldier.  He could have broken free of the troopers, they would not have held him but he obeyed orders.  He had spent his life obeying orders. He had no wife, the bitch had betrayed him and killed his friend, but he had a son and he would protect his son, with his life if needs be.  He made a momentous decision; he would desert and find his son.  Once he had come to that conclusion he felt much better.  It would be a small task to escape.  They had merely tied his hands and the room he was in was not locked.  The trooper on guard outside would never hear him when he did escape
    He chose his moment well.  It was just before the guards were due to be changed.  It would give him a short time to escape but it meant that the guard would be tired.  He broke out of his tethers for they had not used the chains ordered by the Prefect and although the rope was a good rope it was no match for the strength of mighty Macro. He retied them loosely.  Pretending to be asleep the guard closed the door and stood outside the cell bored and cold.  Macro opened the door silently, as he had planned.  He grabbed the trooper with one hand around his mouth and dragged him into the room.  Once inside he spun him around and hit him with his other mighty fist right on the point of his chin.  He went down like a sack of apples. He took his helmet, sword, pugeo and shield and walked calmly from the room towards the stables.  All the sentries were busy watching the perimeter; raiding barbarians had focussed their attention on the outside. He chose his own horse and, grabbing a water skin, he headed for the Porta Decumana. He mounted the horse and, with the cloak, wrapped tightly around his shoulders rode slowly up to the sentry on the gate.  The trooper was tired and saw what he expected to see, a messenger with despatches.  As he looked up for the pass he saw, with shock, that it was Macro.  Before he could shout a warning Macro had kicked him in the head rendering him unconscious. He dismounted and opened the gate.  The new guards would be coming soon so he just pushed the gate shut and walked his mount away from the fort.  As soon as he heard the shout from the tower he mounted his horse and galloped quickly north.
    He skirted the fort and headed straight for Morbium. He was risking meeting the ala but, riding at night meant that they would likely be in camp anyway.  Now