They had a duty to their people he had told him. A way of life to protect, they were proud of what they had achieved and if Adminius was prepared to throw all of that away, then so be it. The remaining brothers had not discussed this since he had made his decision and gone into exile, a matter that was of no doubt once he had broken the treaty with the Cantiaci and raided their lands. The loss of Adminius was a double blow for their father, not only had he lost a son but he had lost him to Rome, the beast that was threatening to destroy their entire way of life.
Within days of Adminius setting sail their father’s health started to fail. At first it was barely noticeable and he claimed he was just ill, suffering from one of the many illnesses that often swept through their people. Within ten days however, he had asked Togodumnus to deal with matters that he alone normally dealt with. Within weeks he took to his bed and had virtually stopped talking and took little food or water and he quickly began to look frail, old. In health he was normally a giant of a man but he began to rapidly go downhill. The brothers didn’t have the luxury of a mother to nurse their father as she had died some years before so their wives nursed the ailing King.
Nothing however seemed to help and within three months of the departure of Adminius their father and King of the Catuvelleuni was dead. The remaining brothers believed it was because Adminius had gone against his wishes, had broken his heart and knew that had he died a warrior’s death against an enemy instead of joining them, their father would have survived but to lose him in the way he had was not something he could come to terms with. Togodumnus and Caratacus blamed not only their brother but the reason for his defection, Rome. With their legions now moving through their woods, forests and pastures they swore to right that wrong or die trying. In their eyes Adminius was no longer a brother, he was lost to them and if the druid was right; a traitor who had to pay and the price was death, death for the betrayal of their father and his treachery to the tribe and themselves.
Mersax had confirmed their worse fear, their lost sibling and former brother had returned to the land of his birth with an army, intent on conquest and a foe that was more powerful than any other they had ever faced. They had agreed that at any cost, including even their own lives, Adminius must pay with his life. He was also understood to be giving the Romans strategic information about not only their own tribe and warriors but of land and tribes elsewhere, rivers and terrain. Including no doubt rivers that included the one where they were now camped.
He would also tell them of the people who would fight against them and that was an act that could not and would not go unpunished. The information he had to give was vital, vital to the success of the invaders and a possible death nail to them as defenders.
Adminius wasn’t the only Briton to turn on his own people. Others who believed they had been badly treated by them were also known to be selling their souls to the enemy. The truth of the matter was that these people had broken laws and tribal rules and treaties that they had previously agreed to abide by but they had failed and they had been discovered and for that they had been exiled. A few had broken treaties, some had executed people under their protection for minor infractions and some had wanted to give their riches and resources to the men from the east in order that they would become clients of the Romans. Now they would begin to pay for their treachery and crimes with their lives.
The brothers had pushed their people hard in order to get breathing space and to lose the scouts who they knew were following them. Nothing more than small skirmishes had taken place since the landing and they now believed they had a day to prepare for what was to come.
Chapter Eleven
Through the swirling morning mist carried on an infrequent breeze, Varro slowly advanced with the cavalry cohort he had been attached to for the attack. Vespasian had deemed it necessary that all men and equipment available to him would be involved in what he believed would be the final and decisive battle against the Catuvellauni. His philosophy was that it was worth taking a greater risk to destroy Caratacus and Togodumnus and take casualties now rather than draw out the war and lose more men in the long term. Now all the Britons had to do was line-up and allow themselves to be slaughtered like never before.
When Varro and his small party including Brenna and her brother had originally ridden out in search of the enemy, they had originally lost contact with them despite being convinced that it wouldn’t happen with such a large body moving together. The people they sought though had managed to evade them by moving faster and not stopping and it had forced the pursuers to spend time trying to locate them. The Britons had also used some of their carts, horses and people as diversions and he was shocked to find only old men and women when he had eventually tracked some of them down. They had posed no threat but had caused him to waste valuable time and he was angry at his own naivety. He had told those he found to return to their homes or risk losing their lives. In the main they agreed but some shouted abuse and one had even asked Varro questions.
“Why are you here Roman?” A man shouted sat on one of the carts. Varro looked at him, he assumed was about sixty years of age. He had long unkempt hair and was sat next to a woman of similar age who he presumed was his wife. Brenna translated his words but the man looked only at Varro.
“Togodumnus and Caratacus have seized the crown from Adminius of the Catuvellauni, rightful heir to the throne and loyal client King to the Emperor. They have also invaded other Kingdoms and plans on rebelling against Rome and cutting trade.” Varro replied but even as he spoke his words were met with shaking heads.
“Adminius is the traitor and liar not Togodumnus or his brother. Your Emperor is either a fool or a liar and has been duped by Adminius and has allowed his greed to overtake his morals and mind. Tell me Roman what trade has ceased?” The old man stood on the plank seat of the cart as if to emphasise his point and make himself heard.
“Trade still flows from Britannia to Rome and from Rome to Britannia under Togodumnus. Adminius is the one who broke treaties and launched attacks on other regions. It is well known that it was he who was exiled by his father, a loyal King. It was he who called for rebellion here. Why else would the King have exiled him, his own son? It was he who was hungry for power and it is he who should be punished not an entire people.”
Varro calmed Staro who jerked around underneath him, sensing tension. “My argument is not with you or your people old man. I am a soldier and go where I am ordered and I’m ordered to track Togodumnus down and you have delayed me long enough. I do not concern myself with politics but with what I can see, now where has he gone, which direction?”
The old man raised his eyebrows as if surprised by the question. “Do you expect me to betray my King Roman?” He looked around at the gathered Britons.
“I cannot help you no matter what you say or do. We live here and have lived here all our lives and we know what has happened. We have seen the greed of Adminius not Togodumnus. You may see yourself as an honest man merely doing his duty but you have been used as have all your soldiers. I am sorry but my new leader is a brave and proud man who is serving and trying to protect his people as you would and I cannot assist you against him.” He sat down again as if to signify the end of the conversation.