Varro bit his tongue not wanting to make a scene in front of the assembled Britons but Grattius couldn’t resist saying something.
“I think you’ll find that most of those families that were murdered were treating the slaves they had very well.” He said.
“And I think that YOU will find Optio Grattius, that all of those people were free people before your armies arrived and that the land they worked, used to be theirs.” Lita replied stabbing a knife into a chunk of meat and carving it as Grattius imagined her doing to his chest, at that moment, if she were able.
“And that,” Brenna began, “is just one of the obstacles that you’re going to encounter when you begin talking to Caradoc. The self-appointed Roman Governor of Albion…sorry, Britannia,” she corrected herself, “may have come up with some ideas to try and pacify him but there has already been a lot of blood spilt. The Roman army is not here at the invitation of our people and even if, as you claim it was in some circumstances, the behaviour demonstrated so far has been less than friendly to say the least.” She finished her drink, “What exactly does he propose in his message?” She filled her cup again, “Will he allow Caradoc to rule the west without Roman overseers? I can’t imagine that he would agree to anything less and I cannot see that he would agree to pay any tribute or taxes, so just what does Plautius propose to make us all one big happy family?”
Varro looked at her angrily, “Look Brenna I’m just here to relay the message that’s all. I took no part in creating its content, as I’ve said before I’m a soldier just like him.” He pointed at Grattius who was back to eating large chunks of meat off the end of a knife, “We do as we’re told and when we’re told. Sometimes we like what we do and sometimes we don’t but, we have no choice, that’s all there is to it. I will reveal the contents of the scrolls to Caradoc at a time of his choosing and when he’s ready to sit and listen.” He looked at the Britons on the other table, “I don’t think that this would be a good place to discuss such things in the present company but I’ll leave that to the King to decide.”
Lita leaned forward, “So you know what the scrolls say?” She asked.
“I just said that I wasn’t prepared to discuss it now but I wouldn’t have come all this way not knowing what I was carrying. Any number of things could have happened to the scrolls, so I felt it best that I and Grattius for that matter knew what they contained.”
“So Caradoc isn’t going to be happy about their content?” She asked.
“I didn’t say that and there’s no point in continuing this conversation because you, just like everyone else, will have to wait to hear what is written on them, they are for Caradoc.”
At that moment a door at the rear of the hall opened and a group of large hunting dogs, accompanied by young men entered. The dogs ran inside, noses twitching at the smell of the cooked meat.
“Here.” Caradoc shouted and every dog stopped in its tracks, turned and went to his side, there were at least ten that Varro could count. They were taller than the dogs he was used too, the dogs the legions used to herd their cattle, sinewy but clearly powerful. Caradoc looked over to their table.
“Do you like dogs?” He asked of no-one in particular.
“We use them to herd our animals on campaign but they’re shorter, stockier than those.” Grattius said, he got up and approached them, all but one were now lying down. The dog that wasn’t was sat erect and watched Grattius’ every move as he got closer. The animal growled and showed its white teeth, lips curling.
“Careful Optio Grattius,” Caradoc warned, “he can be very protective.” This dog was male and had grey and black flecked fur, its face wolf like. Its black eyes stared at the Roman as he went down on one knee.
“Hello boy.” Grattius said, the dog didn’t move but a growl rumbled from somewhere deep inside.
“Shhhh dog.” Caradoc ordered, the animal’s head half turned, ears twitching, the others just lay watching. “We use them for hunting and even sometimes in battle Optio Grattius, have you ever seen a man get taken down by a dog?”
“I’ve seen the results,” Varro said, “after the battle of the rivers some of our auxiliaries were attacked by them.”
“You were there?” Caradoc asked.
“I was and I went looking for the men in the swamp after the fight, when they failed to return,” Varro said, “there wasn’t much left of some of them. There were pieces bitten out of them, they stood no chance, it must have been an awful way to die.”
“Yes I’m sure it was, nearly as awful as the people they had cut down before they entered the swamps including my brother.” Caradoc said. “Death is death though don’t you think Centurion Varro and if you are fighting for your very survival, you will use any means necessary?”
“I wouldn’t use dogs.” He said.
“Really, but you use those giant bows that fire long arrows and impale my people by the handful, if you are looking for a fair fight, I think you’ve come to the wrong place. After all, it is you and your soldiers who are the invaders here is it not? We didn’t ask you to come from Gaul, in fact we didn’t want you to come but you came anyway, despite years and even generations of peace between our two people.” He paused taking a drink. “In fact I think you will find that we were at peace and there was trade, exchanges of information. Even my traitor of a brother was educated in Rome.” There were nods of agreement from the other Britons. “Despite this, your Emperor decided to send his ships, carrying men like you to kill and butcher our people, why did he do that?”
“I’m just a soldier Caradoc and I follow orders, I don’t question them, it’s not my place.” Varro replied, Grattius had given up trying to be friendly to the dog and had returned to his seat.
“Do you not have your own mind Centurion?” Caradoc asked but went on before Varro could reply, “We heard your men refused to board their ships and had to be persuaded, is that true?” Varro looked at Grattius.
“It is true.” He replied.
“You were lucky that they delayed you because as it was before, a great army waited to greet you on the southern shores, you probably wouldn’t have got onto dry land if you had come when you were supposed to.” Caradoc said biting into a chunk of meat.
“We’ll never know that now will we?” Grattius said.
“We know what happened before when your great Caesar came to our shores, he was pushed back into the sea when he first came. Then on the second attempt, he was harassed and attacked so much that he gave up and returned to Gaul again and never came back.” Caradoc said.
“Are we here to discuss history?” Varro asked, “Or are we here to talk about the present and how we can avoid more bloodshed?”
Caradoc looked up from his meal. “You are the one who has come to us, are you not?” Caradoc said, “We are content to fight to protect our land, our people, after all you have left us no choice, what would you do if the circumstances were reversed?” He asked.
“I’d fight.” Varro replied.
“So, what are these words of wisdom that your leader has said that will persuade us not to fight?” Caradoc asked. Varro picked up the bag containing the scrolls.
“They are here. Shall I read them, now?” Varro asked. Caradoc looked around the table at the faces waiting for his response.
“We will hear these words, but not now.” He said, “I think that it is probably wiser to discuss this with a head clear of ale. Thank you but we’ll talk of it tomorrow, the grog has a tendency to addle the brain and conjure up all manner of things. Please accept my apologies for the talk of Caesar, you are correct, it is history and what is important now is the present. Rome would do well to make an ally of us Varro and we would certainly be more valuable as allies than enemies. It would be of benefit to us all in the long term, I just hope that Plautius has the right offer or we’ll find ourselves no further forward.” He drained his cup. “We want nothing more than peace with the empire but we won’t be subservient slaves, especially on our own land,” he paused, “I’m doing it again,” he smiled. “Tonight we eat and drink and welcome you to our home, tomorrow we’ll discuss your scrolls and their content.”