There was agreement around the fire. “So what we are to do?” Asked another voice, Togodumnus looked into the eyes of those around him. Sat amongst the group was a man whose head was hooded, his body covered in a long dark grey robe, greyer even than his long straggly beard. He had sat listening to the group as they discussed the situation, he had eaten but not drank the brew. He was a druid from the far western island of Mona where many of the spiritual men and some women were trained and lived before teaching others across the lands. He like all of his kind was highly respected and revered.
“If I may,” he asked his voice strange to those around him, he talked differently his accent almost rhythmic and guttural. Caratacus nodded his permission for the man to speak.
“These Romans are many and they fight in an army although not large compared to the warriors we have, you can call to your banner, they are well equipped and trained in warfare. Even as we speak now, more are coming to our shores. My scouts tell me there are at least three landing points around our east and south coasts. Those already on the beaches are fortifying their position right now while we sit here.” Anxiety spread from face to face around him.
“Our lands face their greatest threat, the greatest threat they have ever faced. There are druids who tell me their Emperor sends many Legions to our people. In Gaul they say that over forty thousand trained men will soon be on our soil. Our enemy also has an advantage we haven’t considered as well as those that we have.” Confused faces looked at the druid as he stood and began to pace taking in their expressions.
“When these men came before a long time ago, certain peoples welcomed them and even drew up treaties, alliances, paid for peace with gold, women and children and animals so in awe were they of the invader and their power. Some even sent tribal envoys with them back to their great stone city. These Romans made friends of tribes and even gave some sanctuary across the water. Even your father Cunobelinus worked with them and we had peace. Just two years ago before this Claudius came to power, your great tribe traded with Rome and they with you. That has all gone now because certain Britons have turned their backs on their own because of their own greed and have run to Claudius and lied. We cannot trust all those who we should be able to rely on.
He looked around those sat by the fire, a new fear written over their faces. Tribal conflict had always been a way of life, it was something that they were used to and could live with, or die with as the case maybe. No one tribe now had the power to defeat another entirely after many years of war, lesser tribal lands had been swallowed up and so eventually those that survived came to agreements and fractious peace remained. None would encroach onto another’s land unless under a banner of peace and then only for talks with other tribal leaders, They would respect their neighbours livestock, they would trade and even have marriages for the sake of peace and stability. It didn’t always work but that was what the leaders had agreed to do.
The peace was sometimes fraught however, and every now and again an unforeseen crisis would happen and deaths would occur but conflicts were kept to a minimum. The coming of the Romans under Caesar had changed all that and certain tribes had taken advantage of it by siding with the foreign invader instead of their neighbours. For years when the wars outcome in Gaul was uncertain one tribe in particular kept a low profile but now rumours were rife that they had once again sided with the Romans and now it seemed so had others. Some who had left when the enemy were sent back into the sea were said to have returned and were able to speak the strange language of the invader. They were said to wear the clothes of the enemy and the adornments around their wrists and had promised the same for those others who had been left behind.
They spoke of the places they had seen, great settlements made of rock, shaped into blocks that towered taller than the largest tree and made into great buildings, images of the Roman leaders carved from mountains and of their gods of which there were many, buildings many levels high, plentiful water supplies from rivers and lakes many miles away carried on high man made rivers of stone, schooling of the stars and many other things the Britons hadn’t even imagined.
“The invader is truly strong and powerful and they are the worse threat we have ever faced, our entire way of life is under threat, you can believe that but they will not defeat us. They will not conquer us entirely as they,” he pointed eastwards, “now face an enemy they will never truly conquer. This is where they are stopped. This is where it is written that their mighty advance is halted. This is where they begin die. This is where the victorious legions of Rome will meet their end.”
The gathered crowd were now on their feet cheering and roaring applause, they took heart in his words and some of the faces previously filled with anguish now had expressions of joy.
“How do you now this?” A voice asked quietly but went unheard. “I said, how do you, know this? “He shouted looking at the druid with suspicion as the crowd quietened.
He looked in the direction the voice had come from. “Our lands will face many threats over the coming years and centuries, many lives will be lost. Invaders will always come from the east. It is there the threat exists and where it will always come from but never truly succeed. Across the water is where our enemies grow and sometimes friends as well.
Long, long ago the water between our eastern coast and their shores didn’t exist and we were one land until the gods separated us many, many centuries ago. This they did for a reason to protect our shores and peoples from barbarian hordes. In recent years we have enjoyed peace with our Gallic brothers across the water, for many of us came from those lands as well. Now we have trading and treaties which have helped us all live in peace. We even sent warriors to help when the call came from Gaul but the enemy crushed all who stood before them. They are now an enslaved people, their women soiled and sold around their empire along with their children but some prosper under this way of life.
Now as we begin our fight against them, they are still enslaving Gaul’s and people from the great Germanic tribes but not all. Resistance will always fester for the invader like a wound that will grow and eventually kill its host. Those who take or give them gold and betray their own will be slain without hesitation. They may live like Kings and Queens for now but their time will come and they will pay dearly as those who help them will pay. Already there are some who have returned to our lands with the invader.”
The lighter expressions on the faces around him were replaced by confusion. “Caratacus, it is the gods will that you and your brother lead and unite our tribes but even you have an enemy closer to home who, now walks with the Romans.” Heads turned to face Caratacus and Togodumnus who both stared at the druid.
“Your brother Adminius expelled three years ago by your father has returned. He is not alone however, more lap dogs cast from our lands have returned with promises of power in exchange for their corruption.”
Both Togodumnus and Caratacus stood red faced clearly offended by the druid’s words, rage flowed through them as they suspected what he would say next.
Togodumnus took a step towards him, “Be careful druid. You may know many things but insulting my family is something I will not allow. My father expelled Adminius for reasons that will remain with me and my brother Caratacus. Rest assured, he was exiled for good reason and had shamed our name.” He looked around at those gathered around the fire. “Know this all of you. If indeed my brother Adminius has returned and has allied himself with the enemy, he will be hunted down. It was my fathers will that he be expelled and if he has gone against those wishes he will pay for it with his life as will any others who betray us. If he is now betraying not only his father but his forefathers then this blade,” he drew his long sword as it rasped out of its sheath, “shall take his life.”