“Standby Second Augusta,” Optio Crispus shouted from somewhere behind in the crush of armour and men, “not long lads.”
Two hundred yards out, all eyes were fixed on the beach ahead, it looked to be mostly clear sand, a site chosen by Plautius where he knew the vessels could ground themselves on the low tide. He knew that he was taking a huge risk but a sudden, swift strike to the rear of Caradoc’s forces could end the conflict in the west and he would be able to return to Rome a hero.
One hundred yards out now and the trireme had found another gear as it sliced its way through the grey foaming water. The swell here was less significant as the pale faces of the legionaries aboard exchanged hopeful glances that their ordeal would soon be over.
“Row you dogs, like your life depended on it.” The captain shouted, his voice cracking through the effort. Men held their pila tight in their right hands, shields hefted up in their left, half above the side rail in the event of attack.
“Get that fucking shield up.” Crispus ordered to someone near the bow. “Just because we can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they’re not there you fool.”
With an enormous crunch, the ship embedded itself into the beach as men lurched forward at the waist, and then there was a moment of silence as they waited and listened. Another trireme hurtled ashore, its occupants also waited, senses straining for any sign of the enemy, nothing.
“Ashore!” The order was given and troops climbed over the railing, dropped onto the external decking and then into the water below.
“Ugh,” Valerius muttered as the cold sea took his breath away, it came up to his chest, “gods that’s freezing.” He lifted his shield up and over his head as they’d been taught, and angled it downward, the base in the water. It was heavy enough and now the movement of the sea pushed it in all directions. Bodies splashed into the water all around him as he struggled to balance and stay upright. Men shouted, swore and cursed as they began to move forward towards dry land.
Taking large strides Valerius breathed heavily, the strain already showing on his face as he fought against the surging waves. For a brief moment he wondered about the effect the sea would have on his armour and an image appeared to him of it rusting, brown, stained and dirty and then the arrows began to fall.
“Did you know about this, about the attack?” Brenna asked Varro and Grattius after they’d been escorted back to the roundhouse under guard. Varro removed his cloak and threw it down on the table.
“Of course not Brenna, do you really believe that we’d come here knowing that Plautius was planning this? What is the man thinking? There was a real chance that Caradoc would have listened but now…” He slammed a fist down onto the table, “The idiot, why didn’t he just wait? A few days, weeks, until spring even, I don’t understand.”
“He’s used us and launched a surprise attack,” Grattius said, “in winter, using the sea to outflank them, it’s bold I’ll give him that.” He picked up an apple and took a bite, “The trouble is what do we, do now?” He asked.
“We have to escape, get away from here.” Lita said. “You heard what he said, he’ll deal with us when he gets back.”
“If he gets back, that is.” Grattius added.
“If we do that then he’ll think we knew all along.” Brenna said.
“Ha who cares what he thinks, if we stay here we’re dead.” Grattius replied. Varro pulled out a chair and sat down.
“We stay,” he looked at those around him, “we risked our lives to come here and Caradoc could have left us to die in that village. He didn’t he saved us and had us brought here, so he deserves more than an empty roundhouse when he returns.” Grattius sat down.
“I’ll agree to anything you say, but I don’t like it.” He took another bite of the apple and chewed.
“How can you eat at a time like this you great stupid lump?” Lita asked angrily.
“I’ll eat when I like woman, you heard the centurion, we are staying.” He said spitting pieces of apple out in the direction of Lita, “now shut up and calm yourself down before you burst something.”
Lita leapt forward and slapped the apple out of his hand, it flew across the room and hit the wall, “You stupid bastards will get us all killed.” She tried to hit Grattius but he held his arms up blocking her and then grabbed her wrists.
“So fiery you Britons are in your foreplay.” He said laughing as Lita struggled to break free.
“I’ll gut you like a pig.” She shouted.
“Stop this,” Brenna shouted, but the pair carried on fighting and wrestling with each other, Grattius sat laughing, Varro watching not amused and Brenna getting angrier, “I SAID STOP!” She marched over to Lita and grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away, “You are behaving like children, now stop it and shut up.”
“Alright Brenna, so what would you have us do?” Lita asked. Her face flushed.
“We stay as Varro has said, it’s his decision but I happen to agree with him anyway. Caradoc has shown some trust in us and I believe that we should return it. How were we to know that Plautius would do this? I’m convinced that he was actually beginning to listen and saw that there was an opportunity for peace even if he didn’t agree with the initial terms or how it would work.” She pulled out a chair and slumped down next to Varro. “All I’ve ever wanted was peace, I’m sick and tired of constant fighting, death and destruction, it’s getting us nowhere. People should live and work together not be at each other’s throats constantly, that goes for you two as well.”
“I was just eating an apple.” Grattius replied, feigning being hurt.
“Shut up.” Lita said.
“Enough! Why don’t you ever listen?” Brenna added and looked at the door, “I can’t even leave to get away from your childish bickering now.” She held a hand to her stomach.
“Are you alright?” Varro asked frowning. He reached out and touched her hand.
“I’ll be fine if those two will be quiet.” She moved his hand away, “I’m going to lie down.” She said smiling and got up. Varro looked at Grattius and Lita.
“No more fighting or arguing, understand?”
“Fine by me,” Grattius said, turning to Lita, “maybe you’d like to go to bed too? Give me and the centurion time to talk.”
“As long as it’s not with you.” She said standing. Grattius looked back to Varro.
“Are you sure you want us to stay here?” He asked.
“We’ve got no choice in the matter, the way I see things. If we try to leave and get caught, Caradoc will think we knew of Plautius’ plan and probably have us killed. If we somehow managed to escape and get free, he’ll still think we knew of the attack.” He put his head in his hands. “For better or for worse my friend, we stay…for now.”
Above, the skies darkened, streaked with arrows and then they began to land zipping into the water, striking armour and flesh, men screamed in pain or anger. Valerius was mildly aware of the sound of the scorpions opening fire aboard the trireme as the highly wound ropes let fly their own deadly barrage. A few marines launched arrows from bows that were previously stored beneath the ships railing. He pushed forward through the water, now waist high as others joined him. They tried to form a line, to get organised as they would on land.
“Shields, keep em up lads.” Someone shouted from the right as they created a jagged wall. He was aware of others behind him and Pollo shouting, “We have to get out of the water.” The man next to Valerius suddenly went limp and let out a sigh. He saw an arrow deep inside his flesh, somewhere below his eye line but where exactly, he couldn’t see. He fell into the water and disappeared under a swirling blend of blood and froth, he couldn’t be helped, not now. Blood swirled up, touching and merging with the cloth of Valerius’ braccae leggings, cold and warm. The volley of arrows whistled all around as the men of the Second took cover as best they could behind their shields.