“Having read all your reports and having seen the site for myself, I am ready to make my decision.” Valerius swallowed again and felt his legs begin to tremble. Was this how his life was to end after serving his legion? Accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy, was he truly a coward for making the only sensible and practical decision at the time? No, he didn’t believe he was but another man, this man could easily decide that he and those stood with him were.
“I could easily have you executed and perhaps I should as an example.” Here it comes, Valerius thought. “But I won’t…..” He couldn’t believe it. Did he just say they would live? Valerius felt dizzy, the Legate continued, “You will be absorbed into the existing centuries, I don’t need to lose more men especially needlessly. Be warned though the Primus Pilus will be told to watch you men very carefully, step out of line even with the smallest infraction, and I will expect him to come down on you so hard that you will wish you had never been discharged from your father.” He stood. “We face a barbaric and dangerous enemy here in Britannia, one that we can’t hope to defeat unless we are all working together for the same cause.” He walked around the table to where the legionaries stood to attention.
“Perhaps we need more centuries available in the forward positions, clearly almost two hundred wasn’t enough the other day and we underestimated the strength of the enemy, it won’t happen again rest assured.” He turned, “Primus Pilus.”
“Sir.” The senior centurion acknowledged stepping forward.
“March them out and have them put into different centuries, Valerius however, I want in the first century, the rest all within the first cohorts, two will have to go together but I don’t see that as a problem.” Valerius swallowed again. So they were to live but he would now serve in the first cohort of the lead century which meant that in any given battle formation, he would be at the front, the first to face the enemy. A cohort generally consisted of around four hundred and eighty men made up from six centuries each with eighty legionaries to a century. Valerius knew that the odds of him surviving the campaign in Britannia had just been greatly reduced.
Varro stared at Brenna in disbelief as she entered the room accompanied by another female, another Briton by the looks of her clothing he assumed. The other was slightly taller, with blonde hair, attractive but with a hard pinched face, she stared at the centurion and muttered something to her companion who acknowledged her with a nod. Varro felt rocked to his very core, what was she up to and what was she doing here?
Plautius motioned the Britons forward, “Come, come,” he turned to Varro, “Centurion Varro, may I introduce Brenna? She’s one of the many leaders of the different people here in Britannia.”
For a moment he didn’t reply, he looked at her petite frame with mixed emotions, he hadn’t had any contact with her for some weeks.
“Yes sir I know Brenna quite well sir, in fact she saved my life a few years ago.
The Governor beamed, “Oh good, good, that will make things so much easier.” He said smiling and indicating for the two women to sit down. “If only all the Britons were like her eh? We’d have a settled Province by now if they were that’s for sure.” He moved back to his seat and sat down, “So tell me Centurion, how was it that this young lady came to save your life?” He stared at Varro.
“Well sir, my men and I were captured not long into the campaign, days after we’d landed actually” He thought back, his mind trying to avoid the images of his friend tied to the tree next to him. “I already knew Brenna and her brother Tevelgus and fortunately she came across us as we were being tortured, demanded we were released and managed to persuade the Britons holding us that she had something even worse in mind.”
“Well, well,” Plautius said, “fortunate indeed.” He turned to Brenna. “Oh forgive me, where are my manners, excuse me a moment.” He stood and quickly walked to the door, opening it he shouted, “Osterius.”
“Yes sir?” The clerk replied from somewhere outside the office.
“Can you bring the refreshments in now?”
“Sir.” The clerk acknowledged.
Grattius exchanged a mischievous look with Varro.
Plautius returned to his chair and continued, “And I understand this woman is a cousin Brenna and I believe I’m right in thinking that she’s a Silurian?”
Brenna looked at the two soldiers to see if there was a reaction, there wasn’t but Varro felt Grattius stiffen, “Yes,” she replied, “her name is Lita and her knowledge of the territory will be invaluable.”
“Territory?” Varro asked but at that moment the clerk returned carrying a large tray with their refreshments. Plautius raised a finger to his mouth. Clearly he didn’t want word getting out as to the reason for this meeting.
“There we are sir, if there’s anything else.” Osterius said placing the tray on one of the many tables.
“That’s all for now.” The Governor said as he watched his clerk leave and close the door behind him. “Please, help yourselves.” He said, moving towards the table himself. He picked up a cake and bit into it, “Try these they’re very good, oat and berries of some description.” He held a plate out to the two females who each picked up a cake. “Please gentlemen.” He said, forcing the centurion and optio to their feet.
“Now this is to go no further than this office.” Grattius looked confused, “The conversation we’re about to have Optio.” He added.
“Right, yes certainly sir, I wouldn’t dream of mentioning it to anyone.”
Plautius looked at the large map detailing the area to the west where Caratacus was thought to be operating from. “Now,” he picked up a smooth thin stick and pointed, “I think, well it’s my firm belief that during times of conflict such as this, that we should make every effort to reduce the loss of lives on all sides.” He pointed to the garrison at Deva and then lower; to the one at Isca. “We have Caratacus and his forces virtually surrounded but this area here,” he pointed again to the land in-between, “is vast with valley and mountains that would make any assault extremely difficult. If we do decide to go in with force, I’ll make use of the navy but that would mean taking resources from elsewhere, resources that we can ill afford for the foreseeable future.”
“So your plan sir?” Varro asked.
“Brenna’s plan actually Centurion.” He looked at the cakes, “Mm I think one of these next.” He said choosing another, “Come on help yourselves, or they go to waste or worse, that grubby little clerk will eat them.”
Varro turned to Brenna, “Would you care to explain?”
“It’s quite simple,” she said, “I want to minimise the loss of life as well. I may be seen as a traitor by some but there’s a chance we can end this war before things get worse.”
The Governor interjected, “I’ve already got raids further south, villas have been destroyed, even forts have been attacked, one manned by auxiliaries was completely annihilated, every man killed. Now they’re even venturing into the mid lands,” he pointed his stick again, “an engineering detachment with two centuries and a squadron of cavalry was wiped out here. So you see, Caratacus is getting bolder and all attempts so far to draw him out have failed. If we could get him into open battle, we could finish this but he’s not willing to risk his warriors.”
“He learnt well and quickly.” Varro said.
“He also now has Silurian warriors and those of the Deceangli, the Ordovices and the Demetae ready to fight for him.” Lita said, “And my people tell me that there are at least five thousand Catuvellauni survivors with him, all ready to lay down their lives if your legions step into their territory.”