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

that he was racing along the main road north he began to work out what he ought to do.  He had no idea where his family was and he just hoped that by heading north he would meet up with Marcus and the others.  He felt certain that Gaelwyn would be on their trail but that trail was almost five days old and very cold.
     
    Prefect Demetrius viewed the devastation that was Morbium.  The auxiliaries from the raids north and the survivors had all made their way there and Julius worked out that he had a cohort to man it. “Come on men.  Let us get these walls up.” It was imperative that the fort became defensible.  Decurion Princeps Cilo had suggested a mobile barrier across the bridge.  If the raiders returned then they would be slowed at least.  For himself Julius was desperate to move north.  To say he felt guilty about delaying his return because of some misguided view of honour was ridiculous.  He had determined that, once he had secured the captives he would resign.  As a patrician it was his right to do so and he would retire to Rome. He had let down his ala; he had let down Rome but worst of all he had let down his friends. The enemy might be three days up the road but he would pursue them and, when he returned Macro’s son to him he would resign with honour knowing he had done his best.
     
    Seonag arrived at Mona even as the hunters were creeping their way north. She had, with her purloined gold, secured passage with an unctuously bejewelled merchant taking jet to Deva. She found it ironical that she held, in her casket, more jet than the merchant had ever seen in his life.  His pomposity had amused her as he told her of how he had cheated the villagers of their money as he gave them a much lower price for their jet.  She almost laughed aloud when he confided in her that he hoped to sell much jet to the sisters, the worshippers of the Mother. She knew that, once she arrived in Mona, the sisters would want for neither gold nor jet.
    Morwenna greeted her like the log lost sister she was.  The signs, the symbols, the secret handshakes were unnecessary as the old woman and the young woman greeted each other.  They both knew instinctively who the other was. “Mother I bring you great treasure and great news.”
    “Sister I was looking for a sign and I see it in your eyes.”
    “The north is rebelling.  The Caledonii have come south and have devastated the border.”
    “Calgathus?”
    “Mother I believe so.”
    “The Romans have moved all their troops south, to safer, richer lands.  The Brigante are ready to rebel. They have suffered too many privations and raids.  When their children are taken then they will act and the Caledonii have taken all the children.”
    Morwenna grabbed the old woman to her breasts and hugged her. “You do not know how long I have waited and this is the sign.”
    Seonag’s eyes filled with tears.  “I am a sign?”
    “Sister you are the stone which begins the avalanche which sweeps the Romans from our land.”
     
    Macro did not head for Morbium for he knew he might run into the ala or at the very least the barrier that he thought they would have erected.  Instead he headed east to where the Dunum was narrow and slow.  He would swim his mount across and then head up the partly built road which went north. He needed to get around the raiders and their pursuers it he was to meet up with Gaelwyn and Gaius. Having languished in a cell for a few days he was not tired and his only concern was for his mount. To spare the beast he walked up the hills leading his horse; it was an old trick and he thanked Sergeant Cato for his horse wisdom.
    He was able to reflect, as he trudged up the hills, on his rash action.  He had, almost certainly, ended his career in the ala and, quite possible he had signed his own death warrant. It was a rash act but in the cold light of day he knew that he would do it again.  There came a time in a man’s life when some things became more