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

difference.”
    “A few more weeks and Ulpius would have drilled that into them.” Drusus looked under his arm as the cries stopped. “Well here they come. They didn’t hold them up for long.”
    Metellus risked a glance. “I don’t know how many there were before but I can only see thirty or forty riders now. Perhaps we can have a bigger ambush next time.”
    “I think our decurion wants to get the Queen to safety.  There is always a risk in an ambush. This is why there are now only two of us!”
    The land was full of dips, hollows and mounds with thick copses and it was becoming difficult for Ulpius to see the enemy. “Gaius, ride to the rise. Keep yourself low to the horse and watch for the enemy. When you see them, follow us.” Gaius nodded his face eager for adventure. “And Gaius, take no chances. I can ill afford to lose another man. Even someone as useless as you.” Gaius grinned as he trotted up the hill. Ulpius urged his horse forward and he joined Marcus at the front of the column.
    “Send Lentius forward I want no surprises.” Marcus did so and then rejoined Ulpius who had taken some of the dried meat from under his saddlecloth. He looked questioningly at the decurion but realised he had asked enough foolish questions for one day.  Ulpius was just finishing chewing when they heard the distant screams of both men and horses. Everyone in the column looked urgently behind them except Ulpius who took a swig from his water sack. As he wiped his mouth he said, “Drusus!” There was a pause as he put the stopper back in. “I hope the useless weed avoids having his head taken. He still owes me for his scutum.” Despite the words Marcus could hear the affection in his voice for Drusus had been with them both since Batavia.
    A few minutes later they heard the sound of hoof beats thundering after them. It was Gaius. He reined in next to Ulpius who had not slowed down. “Half of them followed Drusus and Metellus into the woods the rest are hard on my heels.” It was unspoken but they both knew the other two auxilia were dead.
    “Right your majesty now we ride and we ride hard! Gallop”
    The cavalry horses leapt forward and immediately a gap opened between the Romans and the Celts. Ulpius pulled his vine branch from his saddle and began whipping Cartimandua’s ponies who suddenly found extra energy and the bodyguards were the ones left behind.
    “We are coming to the stream.” Ulpius turned and shouted to the bodyguards. “Here is your ambush!” Alerix nodded and slowed down. The ten guards raised their arms in salute trotting off to take their place in the woods.
    As they came up the low rise the chariot’s ponies began to struggle and Marcus and Lentius had to help pull them up.  By now they could hear the Carvetii following them and as Gaius turned he saw the first of them reach the rise. They would not be able to escape. As they reached the flatter area the remaining bodyguards slowed down. They too saluted their Queen and then formed themselves in a thin line at the top of the rise. Ulpius knew they were sacrificing themselves and he raised his arm to acknowledge their action. Without the ponies to slow them the Roman horses soon put the diminishing daylight between them. He couldn’t see the enemy but he saw the back of the bodyguards disappear down towards the stream and hear the class of metal on metal and the whinny of horses. When he heard another cheer he knew that those in the ambush had attacked. Twenty against fifty. They could not succeed but they might slow them down and cause enough casualties to enable them to escape.
    Had he been an eagle he would have been able to look down and see that the Queen’s bodyguards were doing better than could have been hoped. The last thing the Carvetii and Brigante scouts were expecting was to be attacked. The shock cost the first warriors their lives. The momentum of the riders and horses threw the rest into confusion and once they were amongst