Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 03] Invasion- Caledonia Read Free Page A

Mona with the mountains almost blocking the path.”
    Agricola nodded, “And still no sign of the fleet. The plain looks too narrow for the legion.”
    Cominius could not hold in his reaction. “But we need legionaries if we are to take Mona!”
    Agricola smiled, much as a father smiles indulgently at a child’s outburst. “Calm yourself prefect.  I will leave one cohort at that place. What did your scout call it?”
    “Caerhun.”
    “How these people communicate with words like that I do not know! We will build a fort at Caerhun and the other will come with us to Mona. Still no sign of the fleet eh?” This was a rhetorical question for they all knew that the fleet had not arrived and that meant they were not as well supplied as they might have been. Marcus also realised that it gave them a headache.  How would they cross the straits? “Let us push on.  I would like to camp at this Caerhun tonight.”
    Decius and his turma were eating well. Marco had gone hunting and returned with a mixed bag of game, rabbits, gulls and even a fox.”They must have no sense at all these foxes; it was still daylight when I saw him.”
    “Well young Marco I know the Allfather forgot to give you brains but at least he gave you a keen eye and arm.”
    Marcus wandered over. “Any problems today decurion?”
    “I might have known! We start cooking and the senior officers just happen to come over.”
    Marcus grinned.  “Decurion you know I always do my rounds at this time.  Just because I happen to come when you are cooking what I hope is a magnificent stew is happenstance.”
    “And I know that you wouldn’t want your old friends to miss out.”
    “Gaius! Can’t your men hunt?”
    “Not as well as young Vindonnus over there.”
    Later as they all mopped up their game gravy with the last remnants of the hard bread they carried they discussed the campaign so far.  The three of them had served together for long enough to speak their minds. “We lost no more horses today?”
    “No but this land is leg breaking country. I would hate to have to gallop.  You only get twenty strides and you find a chasm opening up in front of you.”
    “I know what you mean Decius.  We are travelling barely faster than the infantry.”
    “That suits our leader,” commented Marcus. “They will have good, close protection. What about the men?”
    Decius gave an almighty belch. “Well it just shows that if you cut out the right pieces of bad flesh you can end up with a healed arm.” Gaius looked at him in confusion. “Get rid of the bad men and even though you have fewer men you are stronger.”
    “Ah you mean Modius?”
    “Not just Modius although he was the worst but Scipio Demetrius and his turma.  They were all a bad lot.”
    Scipio Demetrius had been the son of the former prefect. Over promoted at a young age he had been a corrupt and demoralising influence in the ala.  He had had Gaius unjustly flogged and promoted his own cronies to positions of power. Fortunately when his turma was massacred in the northern forests the canker had been cut out.  Modius had escaped to join the rebel Brigante.
    “Julius has turned out to be a fine officer.”
    “Yes young Gaius and that just shows that if you train ‘em right they turn out all right.”
    Again Gaius looked confused and then he grinned with understanding. “Oh yes I forgot you trained him.”
    Decius nodded, “And you, remember that I trained you.”
    Gaius looked over at Marcus who had remained silent throughout. “But remember who trained all of us.”
    It was an embarrassed Marcus who changed the subject. “Let young Julius take the van tomorrow.” They both looked in surprise at him. “I know but we have used all the experienced decurions and they all have to know what it is like. That is how we learned.”
    “I know Marcus but we don’t know these people. They aren’t going to fight like the Brigante.  Look at this country. They can’t use horses and I have heard