“I am Tevelgus and this is my sister Brenna we are of the Cantiaci.” The large male announced with a thick accent leaping from his horse. Quintus saw he stood at least a head taller than Varro and was just as wide. Most Britons like all barbarians were taller than their Roman counterparts but thin and bug ugly but this fellow was especially large in all areas. His sister was remarkably stunning and both had darker hair and skin than most he was familiar with.
“Our tribe rule this land by the sea but many of our people have been persuaded to carry the sword and spear to your forces by Caratacus.” She said to Quintus her Latin good but heavily accented. Her bare arms were well muscled and Quintus assumed she had been trained as a warrior as most females in this strange and foreboding land.
“If you rule this land why can’t you control your people?” Quintus asked walking to the stream and cupping his hands to gather water to splash his onto face.
“People are led here in this land but they cannot be ruled or bent like bronze Quintus.” She replied taking in his uniform.
“They saved us from a baying mob Quintus, if they could have stopped the others I’m sure they would have. If it wasn’t for them Decimus and I would have been put to death as well. You can trust them my friend as I do believe me.”
Quintus seemed to relax a little and took in how the Britons were dressed and their weapons. Tevelgus and Brenna must have been quite high ranking as they both carried long swords and small round shields, he knew most only used the spear as a primary weapon. Tevelgus’s sword handle glistened with colourful stones and Quintus saw detailed inscriptions engraved into the handle but could not decipher the meaning.
The other Britons he noticed although large of build carried the customary spears but no swords. They eyed Quintus with suspicion as he did them. They wore no garments on their upper bodies, their muscles defined by sweat and the blue war paint they extracted from local plants called woad. The Britons believed that by dying their hair with lime it not only protected them as the hair itself became very stiff and hard and therefore negated the need for a helmet but it was also a sign of respect for Epona their horse Goddess. Their belief was that when their hair was limed they looked like they had a flowing main of a horse. The drawback from such tradition was that the chemical within the liquid of the plant eventually made their hair fall out and it never grew back.
Bald warriors were looked upon with respect and merely applied woad to their scalps as well as their arms and upper bodies. They were deemed to have served their time as warriors but most remained active and had generally risen through the ranks of local tribes.
Tevelgus and Brenna however, had full heads of hair and with the lime they appeared even larger. Quintus tried not to stare at Brenna’s rounded breasts that she or someone else had covered in swirling woad curves, they accentuated her figure even more and they were already more than appealing he thought. She like her brother and the others wore long pants down to their ankles and leather sandals over their feet, almost Roman like in their appearance.
“We’re ordered to scout Caratacus and find a suitable place for ambush. The General wants his army destroyed as soon as possible.” Quintus reported to Varro.
“I’m certain he does,” he replied, “but it won’t be easy. Now that he’s had his teeth smashed he won’t make the same mistake again if he can help it. He hasn’t ruled his own tribe with his brother for these years without being tactically aware of that I’m sure.”
Quintus studied one of the Britons chariots, the workmanship was quite remarkable. Pictures of horses had been carved into the wood and intricate Celtic designs decorated the wheels, swirling in concentric interlocking patterns.
“We stopped using chariots a long time ago Tevelgus.” Quintus remarked. “Why do you still use them?”
Tevelgus walked to the horses at the front of the chariots and unhooked them leading them to the water. “Some of my people worship the horse Goddess Epona, she is said to give the warriors power and speed. The people cannot show their love for the Goddess without a chariot on which to carve their pictures.” He pointed out the detailed carvings. “With a chariot you have the power of two animals not just one and with a chariot you can carry more than one warrior into battle. In here,” he indicated to the chariot itself, “two or more warriors can travel as well as those on the backs of the horses themselves. From these positions, spears can be thrown at the enemy before they are engaged on foot and many spears can be carried not just two.” He pointed to his horse. “Men can be moved to positions around an area of conflict very quickly and sometimes can even prevent it altogether if the enemy sees that they are at a tactical disadvantage.” The big Briton smiled. “We can also carry more food and water, so you see, our chariots are very useful.”
“It makes you wonder why we don’t use them still if they’re so valuable.” Quintus said still admiring the artwork on the side of the chariot.
“We don’t use them because we don’t need them.” Varro said. “But that’s only because we have the manpower to get round it. Our cavalry make up the speed in battle, our columns make up the numbers tenfold on the battlefield and our wagons and horses, mules and oxen carry the other equipment needed. It comes down to what you have I suppose and what you’re used to having, I can see advantages to both. Besides I trust Staro here,” he said giving his horse a pat on the nose, “if he was rigged up to another horse, I don’t know how he would behave.”
Tevelgus said, “Our horses are trained from an early age to pull the chariots. Children are given small versions to break them in when they are young so they are used to them at a very early age.” He saw Quintus admiring the art work on the wood of the chariot. He pointed to the swirling patterns carved into the wood. “They are never-ending circles that represent life, a very important symbol for us.”
As the group settled down to rest, Varro and Quintus decided on a plan of action. Varro and Decimus had to get new equipment and they could only find that with the Legion and hopefully at the same time they would find Marcus and Lucius. Quintus and his men would scout forward and try to find a good ambush point for Caratacus.
Brenna brought them food and together the two groups rested while the horses paddled in the stream and fed on the lush, rich grass at the side of the water.
“Caratacus was still heading west when we last saw him and his army. In another two or three day’s he will be at the Regini land far to the west.” Brenna began, “I cannot say how the Regini will react. They may try to repel Caratacus or they may join with him. He could double his strength in a matter of days and I’m sure he will have already sent riders ahead to talk to them. You could be facing far more warriors than you or your General ever expected very soon.”
“That maybe the case but I’m sure he knows what he’s doing. In Gaul we faced five to one enemies, sometimes six and still we were victorious. It maybe that Vespasian would actually welcome an alliance between Caratacus and other tribal leaders. They would be bolder with greater numbers and throw themselves at the shields and spears of the Legions with greater abandon. Your warriors have the bravery of any we have ever faced in battle but their bravery is also their downfall, their tactics are old and not well thought out. Hurling the bravest man at a pointed sharpened blade is foolhardy at best and stupid at worst and a tragic waste of life. I wish I had ten Legions of Britons, trained and schooled in our ways, with them I could conquer the entire world.”