“I am told that you have slaughtered nearly a hundred people of the Regni and they are now gathering warriors as I speak to retaliate.” He took a sip from a large wooden mug. “They intend to ride north and take vengeance for your actions, no doubt intending to do what you did to their people to ours and I cannot allow that.” He looked at each son in turn.
“Why you could never be like your brothers, is beyond my ability to understand, you have always been so. How many times I have lain in my bed worrying about how you would behave if I died and you became king, I could not say. The nightmares you have given me I couldn’t count, you are like a shadow to my thoughts and a dark cloud waiting to hover over these rich lands.” He drank again his voice getting faint.
“In many ways you have made my decision for me, so I thank you for that. You have given me no choice in coming to the conclusion I have reached, that I had to reach for the future of our tribe and for those who live by our sides. If you were any other man you would be dead already, but as much as it hurts me to say it you are still my son and so shall live.”
Adminius saw some hope and his expression began to lighten but his Father continued, “Togodumnus is now my heir and will become the next leader of the people being the next son in my line. You Adminius will finally have your way and you can go live amongst your Roman friends as you will be banished from Albion. When I have finished speaking, you will be escorted from this place and will be taken to the coast where, if the Regni don’t kill you, you will be taken to Gaul never to return.”
Adminius was white with shock at his Father’s words and started to tremble, everything that he had ever wanted, everything that he was going to have, had just been removed and there wasn’t anything he could do to retrieve it.
“You can’t do this.” He shouted, “I am to become King, me….not him.” He said pointing to Togodumnus who looked as shocked as he. “I did what anyone would do. I was merely protecting our people because you couldn’t.” He shouted.
“Take him south and round up his close friends, they are to be banished also, I don’t want them here, poisoning others with their words.” The King ordered not looking at anyone except his soon to be exiled kin. “I will mourn you Adminius as you are no longer my son, this you have brought upon yourself, now go. Leave this place while you are still able.” The King struggled to his feet as Adminius continued to shout trying desperately to change his Father’s mind but it was to no avail. As the king slowly walked towards the door at the rear of the hall, Adminius tried to run towards him but was stopped by Togodumnus and Caratacus. He tried to resist, screaming and shouting at his Father but they were too strong and held him firm. As the King left without looking back, Adminius began to sob as he realised his life with his family was over.
Togodumnus immediately sent a messenger south trying desperately to avoid the blood bath that would surely come if the Regni weren’t told of Cunobelin’s decision to exile his son. He gathered as many warriors as he could for the journey, he and Caratacus would themselves escort Adminius to the port where a vessel would carry him across the channel.
Content that the rebel who had taken so many lives was to be sent across the water, the Regni king allowed safe passage for the Catuvellauni party as they journeyed to the Roman merchant vessel that stood at anchor unloading goods. Also exiled but at a time of their own choosing, would be the warriors who had followed Adminius and carried out the atrocities.
Negotiations were made with the captain of the ship, who agreed to take Adminius east when he saw the Regni tribesmen waiting nearby, ensuring that the deal was done. He didn’t want to become embroiled in an internal dispute involving angry Britons who it seemed were ready to kill each other.
“Despite all the differences between us brother, I’m sorry it has come to this.” Togodumnus said. “I never wanted to inherit Father’s title, I hope you know that?”
Adminius looked at both his siblings, tears in his eyes, “I know that Tog and I swear to you that I was only doing what I thought was right.” He looked at Caratacus, “Well little brother this is goodbye, look after him won’t you?” He said looking at Tog who was standing to one side. “I will miss you both, please tell Father that I’m truly sorry for any hurt I’ve caused.”
Caratacus let the tears roll freely down his face as he hugged his brother, “Goodbye Adminius, take care. One day I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
Adminius leant back, “Be certain of that.” He straightened looking at Togodumnus once more serious. “One day I shall return.”
Chapter Seven
Varro had watched in horror as the flames had grown higher in the distance at Restormel, bright red and orange licking upwards against the dark sky, the fires danced above the fort as it burnt. He and those around him knew there was little hope for the men in the small buildings inside, what they didn’t realise was that they would be next.
“Stay alert men, fire at will once you have a clear view of any targets, aim for the centre of their bodies or at massed groups, and make your shots count.” Cammius ordered looking around the walls. The command was specifically for the scorpion crews manning the large cross bows at each corner, underneath their covered towers. Other legionaries lined the walls wearing full armour and watched as dark silhouetted figures approached through the woods, but then stopped still under the cover of the trees, not entering the killing ground of the sterile area all around the fort. Roman archers sagittarius stood, every third man and lowered their bows their arrows still knocked and watched the ground outside.
“What are they waiting for?” A legionary asked nearby grasping his pilum, before anyone could answer the sound of chopping broke the eerie night.
“I would guess that they’re either fashioning some sort of ram or trying to build some siege equipment of some kind, maybe they’re learning eh? Whichever it is, it looks like they’ve changed their tactics from just running around and screaming like banshees, so it could be a long night.” Cammius said. “They must know we’ll slaughter them once they step out from under the trees, shame really.” He added almost lazily. “Don’t worry lads, we’ll have them lying dead and fertilising the plants before long, they won’t get in here.” The expressions on the men’s faces showed they weren’t convinced.
He turned to Varro his expression changing from one of mild humour to serious concern and asked quietly, “How long before you’re missed?”
Varro looked at him, his face full of anguish, “If we don’t return to the garrison by this time tomorrow night, and it looks like that might be a distinct possibility, the earliest we can expect to see some sort of relief is the night after probably. It’s a full day’s ride from Isca remember, but any search party would come here first.” He hesitated, “Well that’s where I’d head for anyway.”
“Bollocks, that’s what I was thinking.” Cammius said looking around at the soldiers looking to him for reassurance. “Don’t worry lads we can hold them off indefinitely here if need be and by the time someone comes looking to see what’s going on, we’ll have destroyed every last stinking one of them.”
The faces staring back at him said they didn’t share his belief. A lot of his men had known the auxiliaries at Restormel, they had been detached to the south at the same time and had met with them every day to share information and resources, jokes and laughter.
“I said it didn’t I?” Cammius remarked to Varro almost muttering. “I knew it. Those bloody stylus pushers haven’t got a clue. We should have had at least a full cohort down here, a squadron of cavalry and onagers.” He looked back to the flames, “The bastards wouldn’t have dared attack then.”