“She assumed your father was now with your mother,” Alaric surmised, quickly wiping a tear from his eye. “And naturally she wished to be with my father again. A tragedy that she thought I had also passed into the afterlife.”
They walked in silence for some time. The rolling terrain extended as far as he could see from the top of the hill. Just to the east was the port village, where both merchants and fishermen plied their wares.
“I understand you spent time in the Far East,” Cartimandua said at last.
“Somewhere far beyond,” Alaric replied. “I was at sea for a number of years, never fully appreciating just how large the world really is. The lands of the east are dry, hot, and arid; far different from the temperate climate here. Not nearly as green, though beautiful in its own way. The people are fascinating, albeit they share one common aspect with us, in that they are constantly fighting each other. One sad lesson I learned is that the world is a brutal place no matter where you go.”
“Yes, the Judeans are quite the peculiar race,” Cartimandua concurred. When she noted Alaric’s perplexed look, she explained, “I have met a couple in my time. The occasional wealthy merchant has landed on our shores, although this is extremely rare. Traveling this far from their homeland is very costly, not to mention fraught with risk, as I’m certain you are far more aware than I. And the resources we do have, namely precious metals, can be found in other parts of the world readily enough, so there is no real need for them to ever journey this far except out of personal curiosity.”
“You mention the world, yet you never say Rome,” Alaric observed.
“Anymore they are practically one and the same,” the queen sighed. “Tell me, in all of your travels, did you ever spend time in any place not annexed by the Caesars?”
“Only here, when I returned home,” Alaric said. “And I wonder how long that will last. Mother was terrified that the legions would one day march upon our shores.”
“She was correct in her assumption,” Cartimandua replied. “The reason for my journey south was to meet with both members of the Catuvellauni, as well as a few nobles of the Atrebates who have chosen exile over being subjects of Caratacus. King Verica has gone to Rome with the intent of one day returning with a host of legionaries who will restore him to his throne; at least that’s what the exiled nobles said.”
“I thought you were not opposed to the idea of Romans coming to Brigante?” Alaric asked as they reached a small stone wall that overlooked a short cliff. Below them stretched vast farm fields, worked by both Brigantes as well as slaves.
“I don’t,” the queen replied. “But you understand I have to be very cautious. We know little about this new emperor, other than he is the uncle of the previous madman who sat on the imperial throne. If he elects to support Verica, will he make a farcical show of force, like Gaius Caligula did? Or perhaps launch an expedition with too few men, like Julius Caesar a hundred years ago? Either of these is possible, just as much as he will send a massive army, large enough to conquer the entire isle. If I side with the Romans prematurely, any coalition that is raised against them can be turned on us. And if I side against the invaders, and they do in fact come to conquer, then they will take our lands and annihilate my people. Whether the pride of our warriors can accept it or not, a Roman Army unleashed is an unstoppable killing machine.”
“So I have seen,” Alaric said darkly. “I spent time in Rome itself and have seen many wondrous things within the various corners of their empire. Yet what you cannot see on the polished marble surface is that their civilization was founded on the subjugation and destruction of other races.”
“All nations are built in such a way, not just Rome,” Cartimandua asserted. “When you left on that merchant ship all those years ago, I thought that perhaps you would make your home in some exotic land.”
“Home,” the young man remarked, shaking his head. “I’ve never known such a place, not even here. Although I suppose this is as close to a home as I will ever have. Something told me I had to come back, though in all honesty, I have not known what to do with myself.”
“Landon tells me you acquired some skill with a sword,” the queen observed.
“A little,” he shrugged.
“He also says you acquitted yourself well in battle during your travels.” Cartimandua’s words caused Alaric to stop abruptly. She gently pressed him further. “It was for the Romans that you fought, wasn’t it?”
“Believe me, I did not fight alongside the Romans willingly. I had no choice if I wanted to live.” He went on to tell the queen about his time aboard a Roman warship that was bound for Judea, and of their battle against a renegade pirate ship. He explained how he’d used his share of the prize money from the captured vessel to live on while in the east.
“I am vexed as to what I should do over the next couple years, should the legions march on Britannia.” Alaric raised an eyebrow at this, and Cartimandua was quick to explain. “Like I said, my business in the south had to do with the Atrebates. You may have passed through their lands, or at least what used to be theirs, during your journey.”
“I did. And I saw the burned out remains of what I guess was once their king’s great hall.”
“Verica was a friend and valuable trading partner,” the queen stated. “His former nobles, now living in seclusion, told me the Atrebates were Roman allies. If true, and if their king has left for Rome to petition them to restore him to power, you can bet they will come. Claudius has not been emperor long, and honor will demand he stand by his allies.”
“You have not said what you will do if the Romans come to Britannia.”
“Trust me, brother, when I say it’s not a question of if, but rather when,” Cartimandua replied. “Unlike the Atrebates, we are a very large kingdom. Our lands cover much of middle Britannia, up to Caledonia1. We even still possess territories on the east coast of Hibernia2. And Caratacus, for whatever he has done to the Atrebates, is highly respected amongst all the tribes, and is also a close personal friend of my husband.”
“Ah, yes, your husband.” Alaric cursed himself for being unable to hide his gloomy feelings at the mentioning of Venutius.
“My dear Alaric,” Cartimandua consoled, sensing the hurt tone in his voice, “I have always known your feelings for me. Ever since the day you and your mother came to our shores, I have always viewed you as a younger sibling. As we grew older, I knew your feelings were different than mine for you.”
“I also knew that it could never be,” he confessed, his face turning red and eyes downcast. “You were the daughter of a king, and I nothing more than a refugee from a defeated Germanic tribe.”
“You are right; it can never be between us. But know that I do cherish your love for me, for it is something that is otherwise unknown in my life. Make no mistake about my husband. Ours is a political alliance, meant to keep the various factions within the kingdom united. The issue with us being so large is that our diversity is both strength and a weakness. There has never been love between us, and Venutius has not shared my bed in years. I also know that he will be easily swayed by Caratacus, as well as those tribal leaders who would oppose the Romans.”
“And what of you?” Alaric asked once more. “You have not answered my question. You told me once, many years ago, that you would welcome their presence in our lands. Do you still feel that way, now that they may be on our doorstep?”
“Britannia is not a unified nation,” Cartimandua continued to explain. “I suspect that even in a thousand years the various tribal kingdoms will still be in constant conflict with each other. Were they united, perhaps the Romans would think twice about launching an invasion. As it is, the Atrebates going to Rome will give their emperor all the justification he needs to invade. And with the kingdoms of this isle divided, the legions will simply roll right over each one in turn. Those who align themselves with Rome will be welcomed as friends and assimilated into the empire. Those who oppose them will face annihilation. Your people learned the harshest of lessons; that the Roman Army unleashed is virtually unstoppable. I will not allow my people to share their fate.”