Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 10] Roman Hawk (35 page)

Drugi and the hawk were close by the river.  The hawk appeared to enjoy the taste of wild ducks and, when he could get one, a goose.  A brave bird, he would attack the bigger goose but if there was a pair then he would always have to beat a hasty although still dignified retreat. Still, he always looked for another chance to get the bird he relished eating. Drugi could speak Brigante like a native and all of his conversations with the hawk were in Brigante. “Well Macro, I have seen your brother’s wife this morning and her waters have broken.  By the setting sun he will have a son.” The hawk fluttered its wings and half raised itself up. “Soon you will have to find a mate and have chicks of your own. Come we will see if we can catch a squirrel for supper.” Drugi contentedly led the bird up the trail through the forest to the farm. 

Orm heard the voices and hid in the bushes.  He fitted an arrow.  He had learned over the past two months that every man he met was his enemy; it made life easier.  When he saw the huge figure of Drugi wander into the clearing he knew that his prayers had been answered. He pulled the bow back and sighted along the arrow.  He would need two to kill such a big man but, as Drugi was fifty paces away he would easily have time for three shots and then he could finish him with his knife. He sighed with the joy of an end to a journey as he released the arrow.

Drugi sensed the movement as did the hawk; suddenly before Drugi could react the bird had spread its wings, taken flight towards the hidden man and taken the arrow to the chest.  With a roar of rage Drugi ran towards the spot from whence the arrow had come.  Orm hurriedly fired a second with thudded into Drugi’s leg. The giant merely snapped it off with his left hand, his right drawing the Roman sword he used as a knife. Orm had no chance for a third shot as Drugi plunged the blade up through his stomach, twisting as the blade went on to pierce the heart of Orm.  As he withdrew the blade, shiny with blood and entrails he saw the strange smile of happiness on the dead Tencteri. Racing back to the hawk he picked it up.  Its heart was still beating weakly and there was defiance in its eyes. He began to head back to the farm as quickly as he could.  When he was within sight of the buildings he heard a loud cry from inside and then the unmistakeable wailing of a new born baby. He glanced down at the hawk and saw the light of life pass from its eyes. The Spirit of Macro had gone to reside elsewhere.

The End

Author’s Notes

The idea for this book came when I was researching Hadrian’s Wall.  I discovered that whilst the wall was being constructed there were barbarian raids from across the sea.  I also watched the Neil Oliver television programme, “The Vikings” and discovered that the lives of the people of Scandinavia were the same in the Iron Age as in the medieval period. As the Vikings, as they became known, did not colonise the lands they raided until the seventh and eighth century it seemed likely that they would just plunder. The Eudose tribe, of which the Tencteri were a clan, did indeed live in what is now Jutland but they had come from Norway originally.  As the Scandinavians had an oral rather than a written tradition then I have had to make many assumptions to create the world of Trygg Tryggvasson.  At the end of the day it is a world out of my own head but I have tried to make it as realistic as possible.

I have used the generic name for the bird as a hawk rather than a specific type. This is partly because it is a better title but also the people of the time would all have had a different name for each species of bird.  The days of falconry were still to come. The evidence for ports and buildings in Denmark is sketchy, mainly because Iron Age people did not build in stone and wood rots away.  The places I describe are from my imagination and the research into Iron Age peoples.

The Emperor did indeed modify his plans for the wall when he was in Britannia and saw the difficulties with both the terrain and the natives. Even after he left the concept of the wall was still his but the later modifications came as a result of the Governors and Legates in the Province.  The wall was painted white as it was plastered and this was deliberate to show the native population that this was Rome.  Needless to say the natives did not like it. While the wall was being built there were constant raids both from north of the wall and the east and west.  The Brigante also began to rebel more frequently.

There will be more books to follow, mainly because I like the people who inhabit the world of Northern Britannia at this time.  I thoroughly enjoy the research and talking to others, who like me, love Hadrian’s Wall and the country which surround it.

Griff Hosker

October 2012

People and places mentioned in the story
.

Fictional characters are in italics

Other books by Griff Hosker

If you enjoyed reading this book then why not read another one in the series?

Book 1               The Sword of Cartimandua

Book 2               The Horse Warriors

Book 3               Invasion Caledonia

Book 4               Roman Retreat

Book 5               Revolt of the Red Witch

Book 6               Druid’s Gold

Book 7               Trajan’s Hunters

Book 8               The Last Frontier

Book 9               Hero of Rome

Book 10              Roman Hawk

The first five are available in paperback and all are available in the Kindle format

Also available in paperback and Kindle is the book aimed at 12-15 years olds,
Great Granny’s Ghost

Carnage at Cannes
is a modern thriller and is available in the Kindle format
.

For more information then please go to the author’s web site at
http://www.griffhosker.com
where there is a link to contact him.

Table of Contents

Dedication

The Northern Empire 123 A.D

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Author’s Notes

People and places mentioned in the story

Other books by Griff Hosker