“That was quick.” Brennus said.
“I told you I was good!” Ardwen could be heard shouting from somewhere in the forest. The rest of the hunting party crashed into the trees on his trail. It wasn’t difficult to follow him thanks to the barking of the dogs and Ardwen shouting at them to slow down every now and again. He was no doubt getting pulled along by the dogs on the rope he’d attached himself with. Caradoc had learned a long time ago, back in his own territory that there was only one place to be when hunting boar and that was on a horse. They were quicker than a running man and could not only sense danger from animals such as boars but they could avoid them when they turned as well. He also knew that Ardwen would be getting scratched to pieces as he was dragged through the foliage. He led the rest of the party deeper into the forest as the dogs yapped and barked at their quarry, leaning low on his mount to avoid branches.
“This way.” He shouted as he guided his horse onto a thin path running along the forest floor where he could build up speed.
“We’re gaining on him,” Brennus shouted, “but I think he’s over there, that way.” He nodded to the right.
“This path runs level and we can go faster using it.” Caradoc shouted in reply kicking at his horse for more speed. An excruciating yelp broke through the canopy of the trees just then. It could mean only one thing. Within moments the rest of them had caught up with Ardwen who was crouched over one of the dogs. The others were straining against the rope trying to continue the chase.
“What happened?” Brennus asked.
“It turned and went for the dogs,” he said, “hurled this one into the air. It looks bad the tusks must have got him.”
Caradoc jumped down from his horse. The dog was lying on its side panting heavily, it didn’t raise its head but he saw its eyes turn as he approached. Blood was pulsing out of two large gashes in its chest. The other dogs were nearly pulling Ardwen over in their excitement to continue the chase, seemingly unaware of the other dog’s injuries. Caradoc knelt down by the injured animal’s head where he put a reassuring hand.
“There boy take it easy.” He said as the dog whimpered. “He won’t last long he’s losing too much blood.” Caradoc said to Ardwen.
“I know but I’m not leaving him to die on his own. That was the biggest boar I’ve ever seen,” he looked down at his wounded hound, “nearly as big as Raider here.” Ardwen replied.
Brennus grabbed the rope holding the other dogs back. “I’ll go and track it while you stay here with him.” He said looking at the stricken hunting dog. Ardwen didn’t argue, he just let the rope go. Brennus crashed off into the bushes dragged by the wailing hounds.
The injured dog’s breathing slowed, his big black eyes looked round one final time, flickered and then he was gone. Caradoc saw that Ardwen had tears in his eyes but he quickly turned away trying to hide his face.
“I’ve had them all from pups,” he said, “they were in the same litter, but he was the best. Never knew when to back down, I always told him to choose his fights.” He said.
Caradoc stood, “Come on let’s make sure his death wasn’t in vain.” He ran after Brennus. Ardwen patted his dog on the head one last time, “I’ll be back for you boy,” his voice cracked. “I won’t leave you here.” He wiped his eyes, stood and ran after Caradoc.
It took a while for the dogs to gain on the boar after the injury to Raider and the chase went on for some time, but now Caradoc could see the large hairy dark brown back of the animal as it careened through the bushes and undergrowth. Brennus and the dogs had been overtaken and were falling back with the huntsman gasping for breath, his job done.
“It’s mine!” Ardwen shouted as he crashed past Caradoc on his horse.
“Be careful.” Caradoc shouted back as the tail of Ardwen’s horse disappeared into the leafy bushes. He kicked at his mount once more trying to pick up extra speed as branches whipped at his face, arms and legs. He clung onto his horse praying he didn’t fall off, he knew a boar could do as much damage to a man as it could to a dog, especially if you were unfortunate to face one on the ground. A memory flashed into his mind of a childhood friend who was attacked by a large rogue boar in his homeland, the boy was lucky to survive and had carried the scars to manhood. He quickly dismissed the image from his mind and concentrated on the task in hand as he heard Ardwen shout.
Breaking into a clearing Caradoc saw that he was now one horse length behind Ardwen but couldn’t quite believe what he saw next. His cousin climbed up onto the back of his horse and hurled himself forward and off the animal’s rump. Time seemed to slow briefly as Ardwen screamed bringing his spear down with both hands towards the charging boar. He landed with a thump and a flurry of dust, Caradoc heard an inhuman scream and quickly pulled on his reins desperately trying to stop his galloping horse. Before it was stationary he cocked his head over his mounts head, leapt out of the saddle and to the side, landed and rolled, the momentum allowing him to get straight back to his feet. He turned quickly towards Ardwen who was stabbing down furiously with his weapon repeatedly, blood spraying up from the mortally wounded boar who still screeched. As he approached Ardwen, he saw the boar’s legs twitching frantically as it squealed again trying to get up but it was to no avail, Ardwen continued stabbing until there was no sound and the animal moved no more. Panting for breath, Ardwen collapsed over the dead creature, he was covered in sweat and blood as his chest heaved for air.
“I think you got him.” Caradoc said just as Brennus fell out of the foliage behind them, dogs straining to get to the carcass.
“Well done……!” Was all Brennus managed before his legs gave way and he fell flat on his face exhausted. Later with Raider buried and a leg of the boar roasting over a fire, the men recounted the hunt.
“You could have killed yourself leaping from your horse like that.” Caradoc said to Ardwen.
“He wasn’t going to get away after killing Raider. I’d have given my own life as long as I took his.” He replied with a distraught expression on his face, turning the leg over on a spit.
“At least he died doing something he loved.” Brennus added. “He was a good dog.” He turned patting the others who had dragged him through the forest, they were now tied to a tree and were sat salivating at the smell coming from the cooking meat, drool dripping from their panting mouths. “These are good hunters as well. I thought they were going to drag me straight into a tree trunk at one stage today, they were that keen to get to it.” Brennus added.
Ardwen didn’t respond, he just sat there staring at the flames and watching fat drip from his victim. Caradoc threw a drinking skin towards him, it landed near his feet.
“Take a glug of that my friend, it’s not water.” Ardwen reached out and took the skin and drank heartily. The hunting party ate their fill as did the dogs and they camped out overnight, before heading home the next day.
Miles to the south Dumnoc had identified his next target, despite the dead and injured after the attacks of the two Roman forts, his determination to do as much damage to the enemy had not diminished. He had returned to his adopted settlement where he worked as a tanner, telling the man he worked for that he had been home as his mother had suddenly taken ill. For a few days he had kept his head down and got back into the routine of working for a fellow Briton who provided leather and hides for the local area including the Romans. Dumnoc had questioned his motives for working with the occupiers but the man had simply said that he had to support his family. It angered him that a man who had survived quite easily before the invasion was now lying about having to trade with the Romans, Dumnoc vowed to ensure that his family would lose their provider if things didn’t change. After the destruction, loss of life and theft of land he had witnessed, nothing less would do, as far as he was concerned if his fellow Britons weren’t part of the solution, they were part of the problem.