Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 01] The Sword of Cartimandua by Griff Hosker Read Free Book Online Page A

they will be slower.  Attack them and kill as many as you can. Then ride north to Cataractonium.”
    “We will kill them all majesty.”
    The anger in her voice was matched by the anger in her eyes. “Why am I surrounded by heroes who cannot wait to die for me?  When will I find warriors who want to live for me! If I wanted you dead I would tell you. I want you alive. When you have rested at Cataractonium join me at Eboracum.” Her voice softened and she touched his arm. “I still need you and your men this is just a battle it is not the war.  We will regain my kingdom from these rebels.” He nodded his honour assuaged.
    In the woods Drusus prepared his ambush. He was lucky that he and Metellus were accomplished archers whilst the other two were accurate with javelins. If he fired from the cover of the woods he might be able to get three flights of arrows and one of javelins away before they were attacked.  He was under no illusions, the ponies of the enemy would be more surefooted in the woods, and the Romans would only have a few heartbeats to get a lead and escape the woods onto the grassland where they could gallop.
    One of the new men asked the unspoken question. “Will we escape?”
    “That depends, my friend on two things.  One, how well we fight and, probably, more importantly, how does the Allfather view us. I am hopeful that, as I made a sacrifice the day we left on the patrol that we will survive.”
    “If not,” interrupted the blunt Metellus, “our heads and dicks will be paraded by these barbarians on their saddles which in my case means his pony will need longer legs.”
    The bluff humour made them all smile but they all knew he was speaking the truth. “I hear them.”
    The four men waited, hidden in the trees at the edge of the wood.  As they had correctly assumed the Brigante and Carvetii came on at a pace not expecting a rearguard action when there were so few Romans involved. Drusus and Metellus needed no signal to launch their arrows and they were notching their second flight even when the first was still in the air. Their third left their bows as the first two arrows struck home. The warband veered towards the danger and the last two flights and the javelins flew simultaneously. The effect was immediate for the mounted warriors wore neither armour nor clothing on their upper bodies.  A handful of warriors and ponies crashed to the ground disrupting the ones following. Not waiting to see the full effect the four Romans raced off in a line, Drusus leading and the dour Metellus at the rear. As Drusus had feared the enemy ponies were more agile. It was time they made for the open ground where their superior horseflesh would count. Without signalling their intent Drusus took them at right angles to the lighter part of the woods. He could see the edge of the wood four horse lengths away. It looked as though his tactics had worked and they might escape when disaster struck. The mount in front of Metellus suddenly stumbled and the rider was thrown. Metellus was a superb horseman and he lifted his steed over the recumbent body of the unfortunate trooper. His companion then made the cardinal mistake of stopping to see what had happened to his friend. The Brigante axe embedded itself in his back. Drusus and Metellus had no time to help their comrades and they erupted from the woods like stags. The accident had slowed up the enemy who began to hack at the two unfortunates. Even as they galloped back towards Ulpius, now a long way in the distance, they could hear the harrowing screams from the two Romans who were being eviscerated alive. They lay low over their horses manes and rode close together to make a low profile and to enable them to talk.
    “First rule of cavalry, be a fucking good rider. Second rule don’t fucking fall off.”
    “Well Metellus it looks like they paid for that mistake with their lives.”
    “And the third rule is, don’t go back unless you know you can make a