Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 00.5] Ulpius Felix- Warrior of Rome Read Online Free

himself by the time the tax collector and the officers had dismounted. The one he knew, the Tribune spoke, “Before we begin I have a request to make headman.  We are seeking warriors for a campaign against the Chauci.  We will pay and arm as many of your warriors who wish to join us.” He pointed to the south.  “The others we have recruited await us in their camp.  I know that you do not have many warriors, but any you have…”
    Abad almost leapt to his feet with joy.  The gods were smiling on him.  He could ingratiate himself with the Romans and be rid of all the bad apples in one fell swoop. “We have ten young warriors in the village and I am sure they would be suitable.”He glanced up at his brother.  “Fetch them!”
    “All of them?”
    Abad looked meaningfully at Wolf’s hut, “All of them!”
    When the ten young warriors were gathered all but Wolf wondered if they were to be punished by the Romans who seemed to be inspecting them. The one with the crested helmet came over and addressed them, haltingly in their own language. “Your headman says that you would be willing to fight for Rome for a year, for pay.  But I would know what you young warriors have to say for you will be fighting far away from your home and I would not have you desert. “He stared at them all.  “The penalty for desertion is death.  So, who will join?”
    The nine of them all looked at Wolf who said, “We will join, Roman!”
     

Chapter 2
    As they rode from the village, none of the young warriors looked back, nor did they speak. They were the youngest of the band of Pannonians which headed south. They had received a cursory inspection by the older, scarred warriors and then ignored although their place at the rear of the column which headed across the dirty plain was clearly a mark of their status; they were the untried warriors. Wolf was offended but he knew he had to prove himself to his fellow tribesmen.  His people lived separate lives and had only come together, albeit reluctantly and a little late, to fight off the Roman invader. Each clan used different weapons, horse furniture, even their style of hair and Wolf couldn’t help looking enviously at the neat Roman troopers who looked identical.
    “Wolf, where did they say we were going?”
    The officer’s words, although accurate had been hard to hear but Wolf had given the red crested Tribune his total attention. “To the west, by the sea.”
    Gerjen had never heard this word before. He had no concept what it meant.  He looked at Wolf almost willing his leader to give him the answer but he knew he would have to risk scorn to find out the answer to his question. “What is the sea?”
    Surprisingly Wolf did not heap scorn on his friend.  His action in the ambush had elevated Gerjen, he was now trusted by Wolf; he had earned his respect and Wolf understood his friend’s confusion.  He had had to ask his mother when he had returned for his arms and clothes. “It is like a pond except you cannot see the other side and it is salty.  If you drink it you drown.”
    “Why are we going there?”
    “The Chauci, brothers of the Marcomanni, live close by and the Romans will pay us to kill them.” Wolf had never been as happy in his life.  Someone was going to pay him, feed him and arm him to fight and, even better, to fight his enemies; the ones who had killed his father.
    As they approached the fort the three officers at the front discussed the men who had volunteered and then chosen to be the six men who would command this barbarian horde. They had only managed to recruit seven hundred Pannonians but it was a start and meant that each of the Romans would be responsible for a hundred and twenty men; Marius thought that was more than enough.  He needed the troopers to know the barbarians they commanded for he knew that the big issue would be control.  He had no doubt that the barbarians would fight but would they obey orders.  It was one of the reasons he