Roman - The Fall of Britannia (5 page)

‘
I
seek no trophies, Erwyn,’ said Gwydion.

‘
Then, I fear you will gain little honour,’ sighed the leader.
‘The heads of our enemies bestow much honour on the
taker.’

‘
I
am happy with my bow.’

‘
You
proclaim your weapon’s virtues, yet allow your arrows to fall like
firewood. You even allow a mere girl to take one from you. Is this
what you have been taught by those Catuvellauni dogs?’

‘
It
is only one arrow, I have eleven more,’ answered the young man
defensively.

‘
Only one,’ repeated the warrior. ‘Tell me Gwydion, how much
do you like my daughter?’

‘
Err…I suppose…’

‘
Speak up, boy,’ snapped the warrior.

‘
A
lot, Sir,’ he said quickly.

‘
Do
you wish to court her?’

‘
I
don’t know, I mean, yes Sir, I would like that very
much.’

‘
Tell me, why should I let a man who loses weapons court my
daughter?’

Gwydion hung his
head and silence fell again. They both knew there was no correct
answer to the question.

‘
You
made a mistake today, boy. It will be the first of many, but
consider this. Imagine we were under attack and you had already
used eleven arrows. Consider further, if an enemy then set his
sight on Gwenno and you reached for your last arrow in her defence,
what would become of my daughter?’

Gwydion looked
shocked.

‘
I
would defend her with my life, Sir,’ he said.

‘
I
would expect no less, but for that one lost arrow, the clan would
be less one warrior, and I would lose my only daughter.’

Gwydion hung his
head again, realising he was being taught a valuable
lesson.

‘
Lift up your head and look at me!’ snapped Erwyn. ‘You are
back amongst the Deceangli now and you bow your head to no man. If
you make a mistake, you will take your pain with head held high, do
you understand?’

‘
Yes, Sir,’ answered Gwydion, standing upright.

‘
You
have done well these last few weeks and I will not hold this
mistake against you. Learn from this and ensure it doesn’t happen
again. If it does, I will have you beaten in public. Do I make
myself clear?’

‘
Yes, Sir.’

‘
You
have a lot to learn, boy, but today you showed me respect. Take
your bow and ensure you become the best you can be. The Deceangli
have many warriors who wield sword, axe or spear, but few who are
archers. Perhaps you may yet find a role. You may visit my
daughter, but you will not walk out alone until her sixteenth year.
Is that understood?’

Gwydion nodded,
not quite understanding how this had turned around.

‘
Now, stable your horse and get washed. Tonight, you will eat
with us.’

Erwyn turned and
walked back into the village nursing a wry smile. The poor boy did
not know what he was letting himself in for with his daughter. He
knew how tricky she could be. After all, she was exactly like her
mother.

Gwydion watched
as Erwyn disappeared inside the stockade. He was bemused and not
sure what had just happened, but whatever it was, it felt good. He
picked up the reins and followed in his leader’s
footsteps.

----

Chapter
2

Cassus stood
naked in the dawn’s early light, shivering slightly in the damp
morning air. His hands rested on his hips, and his feet were
planted slightly apart, the soft loam of the forest edge pushing up
between his manicured toes. A day’s stubble darkened his strong
chin and his sun-bleached hair fell about his shoulders like the
mane of a desert lion. His body was muscular, and at twenty-one
years old, he was nearing his physical peak. Strong and healthy, he
was a vision of self-awareness that bordered on arrogance as he
surveyed the world before him.

In front of him,
the fertile hills of the farm rolled serenely away toward the
Adriatic Sea, the slopes already alive with the estate workers
making their way to the vineyards. Some were family, some were
freedmen who took their skills from farm to farm, as the harvest
demanded, but most were slaves, bought at the monthly market in
Asculum where captured foreigners or disgraced Romans were sold to
the highest bidder. If they worked hard and were loyal to the
estate they were treated fairly, however, those who rebelled, were
lazy, or tried to escape, were severely punished by the farm
prefect and risked imprisonment, beatings, or death depending on
their master’s whim.

He recognised
the familiar frame of Karim, the ex-gladiator who ran the estate
with an unbreakable loyalty to Cassus’s family. Karim had become
the hardest worker on his father’s estate and as prefect, had run
the farm with a fair but firm hand. He earned a small income and
after he wed the nursemaid, who helped him raise the orphaned
child, had been allowed to build a stone lodge for himself and his
family. The child, Prydain, grew up alongside Cassus on the farm,
and though they were the same age, the differences in upbringing
were obvious. Cassus was well schooled and literate and his
clothing was of the best quality. He ate the best food and spent
his spare time taunting the workers of the farm.

Prydain, on the
other hand, was the son of a slave and worked dawn until dusk in
the fields. His clothes were plain and often second hand from the
villa. It was a hard existence, yet despite this, he was a proud
young man, and over the years, had formed a close yet strained
friendship with Cassus.

As a boy,
Prydain was often summoned from the fields to play with Cassus. At
first, he would do whatever the spoilt boy demanded, but childhood
has a way of bridging gaps of upbringing and soon, they were
roaming side by side across the estate, swinging their wooden
swords enthusiastically as they fought imaginary battles with
invading barbarians.

As the years
passed, both boys dreamed of a future in the armies of Rome, though
in vastly different roles. Pelonius had already purchased a
commission for his son in the Ninth Hispana legion, while the best
Prydain could hope for was a place in the auxiliaries. Only true
Roman citizens could serve in Rome’s legions, but despite this,
Prydain was happy. Pelonius had granted Karim his freedom and as
Karim’s son, Prydain was officially classed as a freeman and could
enlist in the auxiliaries.

As they grew
older, the relationship changed, and Cassus often took delight in
taunting Prydain about the differences between legionaries and
auxiliaries. Sometimes, it was all Prydain could do to hold his
tongue, but the time was fast approaching when childhood dreams
would be put aside and the reality of manhood realised. Word had
come to all able-bodied men in the region. The new Emperor,
Claudius, had received a petition from a displaced barbarian King
called Vericus, asking him to help regain control in some little
known kingdom in the north. Claudius needed an opportunity to prove
his greatness to the senate, and this excuse was the one he had
been waiting for. The message was sent throughout the empire. Four
legions would gather at the assembly point in one year’s time and
any able bodied man wishing to join them, had to present themselves
at the Circus Maximus in Rome by the next full moon to sign up.
Rome was going back to Britannia, but this time, they were going to
stay.

This was the
chance both Prydain and Cassus had been waiting for, and plans were
made for them to go to Rome. They would travel together on
horseback across the Apennine Mountains, camping as they went, and
sign up to their respective unit alongside thousands of other men.
At last, the day had come for their journey to begin, and while
Prydain had spent his last night at home with his father, Cassus
had spent his, drinking and fornicating.

----

Cassus sensed
someone closing in from behind. The scent in the air changed
slightly, and the hair on his neck rose as he felt the body of
Marianna, the cook’s daughter, press gently against his back. She
opened the blanket she had wrapped around herself and folded it
around the front of Cassus, enclosing them both in a cocoon of soft
wool. Her naked skin was warm against his cold back. Marianna
ducked her head under Cassus’s arm and he held her close to his
side, continuing his gaze toward the horizon.

‘
It’s a beautiful dawn,’ she said quietly.

‘
It
is,’ he responded.

‘
When will you see it next?’

‘
Perhaps never.’

‘
Don’t say that, Cassus,’ she said. ‘You can’t think like
that. You have to return, I will be waiting for you.’

Cassus
smiled.

‘
Twenty five years is a long time for a woman with your, shall
we say, special needs. I can’t see you lasting that long. Can
you?’

‘
Stop it,’ she said, nudging him in his side. ‘You make me
sound like an animal.’

‘
You
were certainly an animal last night, as I recall,’ he said, wincing
at the scratches down his back.

‘
That was the wine,’ she said defensively. ‘Anyway, I don’t
hear you complaining.’

Cassus felt her
hand sliding slowly downward from his chest.

‘
Come back to the fire,’ she whispered softly, looking up at
him with nut-brown eyes, ’one more time, I promise I will be
gentle.’ Marianna’s hands teased his tired body into the reaction
she sought. He turned and pushed her long hair back over her
shoulders before kissing her deeply.

‘
You
are a demanding woman, Marianna,’ he said, ‘once more, but this
time,’ he threw off the blanket and picked up her slim body in his
muscular arms, ‘I’m in charge.’ He carried her back to the embers
of the fire, their young, naked bodies warming in the rising
Mediterranean sun.

----

Chapter
3

Cassus walked
out onto the veranda with his father, Gaius Pelonius Maecilius. The
labour of the estate gathered in front of the villa to witness two
young men set off to meet their destiny. Their horses, each with
side panniers packed with food and wine, were tied to a rail,
waiting to transport them on their journey.

Gaius Pelonius
stepped forward and the crowd fell silent. Pelonius was getting
old, and his voice was not as strong as it used to be, but despite
this, he spoke clearly.

‘
As
you are aware, this day, my son goes forth to seek his fortune in
the service of Rome. We weep no tears for the fate that awaits him,
for if he falls, then it is in the service of our Emperor and no
Roman can ask for more. No, this is a time for celebration, and in
recognition of this momentous day, I wish to make a gift to someone
very special. As you know, Prefect Karim has been with me for
twenty years. Many years ago, I gave him his freedom, but he chose
to stay on the farm. He is not only the prefect, but also my
confidante and close friend. He has made it clear that he will not
leave this farm until such time as he has paid homage at my funeral
or has died waiting. Well, friend,’ he looked over at the sombre
faced man, ‘I am becoming tired and I feel you will not have to
wait much longer.’

‘
You
will live forever, Gaius Pelonius,’ answered Karim in his deep
baritone voice.

‘
We
shall see,’ answered Pelonius, ‘but before I go to meet my Gods,
there is something I want to do for you. These past twenty years, I
have witnessed our sons grow up together in a friendship that has
made fools of those impostors’ race and status. Even today, they
set forth on this adventure as one, yet society demands that this
is where their mutual journey ends. As a freeman, Prydain cannot
join Cassus in the legions of Claudius, and though the auxiliaries
are no less important, it breaks my heart to see these two seek
different roads.’

Karim’s eyes
narrowed, realising where this was leading. Pelonius reached back
and was given a scroll by his wife.

‘
Karim, my friend,’ he announced, ‘I have in my hand a
document that I hope will demonstrate my appreciation and respect
for you and your family.’

The crowd fell
silent as he unfurled the scroll.

‘
On
the first day of the year, as required by the statute of Rome, I
registered the occupants of this household in the magistrate’s
offices in Asculum. On this register, I recorded the names of all
my family, as is our due as Roman citizens. However, on this
occasion, I also took the opportunity to include the name of
Prydain Maecilius. As you know, under Roman law, anyone named in
the census who is not already a citizen, become so with immediate
effect. This scroll, delivered only this morning, is confirmation
that the registration has been accepted. Karim, today in front of
my family and friends, in the name of the Emperor, I greet Prydain,
your son, as a Roman citizen.’

After a moment’s
pause, the gathering broke out in applause. It was not often that a
slave became a citizen in Rome. Pelonius held up his arms to regain
the silence.

‘
Prydain,’ he continued, ‘as a Roman citizen, you are no
longer limited to the auxiliaries. You can join Cassus in the
legions of Claudius, but of course, as a citizen of Rome that
choice is yours and yours alone.’