Warrior: The Epic Story of Caratacus, Warrior Briton and Enemy of the Roman Empire... by Simon Scarrow

Author:Simon Scarrow [Scarrow, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Action & Adventure, War & Military, Thrillers, Historical, Ancient, General
ISBN: 9781472287465
Google: lO91EAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2023-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

It was a clear autumn morning when we departed for the assembly at the sacred ring. A small crowd had gathered in front of the main gate to watch our delegation leave. The mood among the locals was subdued and anxious, with none of the usual cheers of support for the king, and I was relieved when we had passed beyond the gate and started down the track leading south towards Lhandain. Our party numbered more than a hundred men. The royal bodyguards formed the head of the column. I rode behind them, alongside my father, Adminius, Togodumnus and the rest of the king’s entourage. Our youngest brothers, Vodenius and Maridius, had been ordered to remain at Camulodunum, much to their disappointment. Behind us rode the various minor chiefs of the Catuvellaunians, followed by their retinues. Each man wore his individually styled torc and carried a long sword or a dagger. The sword of Tasciovanus hung by my side, looped through the metal belt fastened around my waist.

We travelled south through a series of low valleys and lush meadows. Men sang as they toiled in the fields. Scrawny children raced out of their huts to watch us pass, some excitedly running alongside our horses, while others begged for food or silver coin. Young women smiled coyly at the bodyguards. At that moment war seemed distant.

‘The old man looks tired,’ Togodumnus muttered as he drew up alongside me. He pointed with his eyes at our father. The king rode a short distance ahead of us, scanning the horizon with a strained expression, Adminius at his side.

‘Are you surprised?’ I said. ‘He’s carrying the fate of the kingdom on his shoulders.’

‘Father shouldn’t worry. Even if this goes badly, our war-bands will crush the Atrebates like vermin. We can look forward to the day the bards sing of our glorious victories over Verica’s men.’

‘Glorious victories?’ I arched an eyebrow. ‘The Atrebates are some of the toughest warriors in the land, brother. What makes you think it’ll be easy to defeat them?’

‘It’ll be a hard struggle,’ Togodumnus conceded. ‘But fighting is in our blood. That’s what makes us Catuvellaunians.’ He gripped his reins and spat on the ground. ‘Anyway, I’d rather settle this dispute with cold steel instead of talking like old men.’

‘You think Father was wrong to take the matter to the Druid council?’

Togodumnus chewed his lip. ‘No. He wants to try and spare bloodshed on both sides, and I respect his decision. But perhaps it is for the best if the talks do not succeed. At least with a war, we can win Lhandain with honour and put paid to any ambitions Verica may have to undermine our place above the other tribes.’

‘Maybe so . . .’ I thought a moment before I continued. ‘Even if we do defeat Verica as easily as you say, then such a victory might cause its own dangers. There are some Druid cults who fear the growing power of the Catuvellaunians. They regard the Atrebates as a counterbalance.

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