Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 10] Roman Hawk Read Online Free Page B

you as his true brother. He had the times with you and I know they were special to him.”  She looked up in the sky, seeking the hawk that had begun to soar above the farm, “Which is why he watches over you still.”
    A cloud passed over Marcus’ face.  His brother was not with the Allfather and he had sworn an oath to protect his brother until he had redeemed himself. Whenever Marcus heard a hawk he knew that his brother was close at hand.  He would rather his brother were with the Allfather, his father and Gaelwyn. He shivered for he did not like the supernatural and he changed the subject. “How is Nanna?  We have to visit her to collect some remounts.”
    Decius laughed.  “It is like having a female Cato.  She works harder than any man I know and her workers always look exhausted and yet they love her.  As for the horses, she is Cato’s equal that is all I will say.”
    “That is good to know and Metellus will be pleased.” Marcus had been privy to the courtship of his friend and the Brigante that had rescued.  Marcus felt a certain ownership when it came to nana for he had been instrumental in saving her a second time when her wagon had been attacked by the Selgovae. “I will be visiting frequently for we are travelling in the valley of the Dunum for the next month.”
    Marcus blushed at the reaction from his family. He was not one given to fuss but all of them showered him with hugs and overt signs of affection.  The warrior could not understand it and did not know the high regard the whole family had for this quiet unassuming warrior who was the embodiment of his father. Ailis could see, day by day, the son she had borne becoming the man she had married and it comforted her greatly.  It was a circle of life and a sign that there was an Allfather, and he did have a plan, however convoluted and complex it might seem to the mortals who strove to exist in his dangerous world.
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    Marcus had decided to take the first consignment of stone on the wagons back to the frontier.  The patrol along the Dunum was an easier task and Marcus knew that Decius was inexperienced; he could learn leadership with neither pressure from peers nor enemies.  He would be a good officer but he needed time to develop those skills.  He remembered how others, Cicero and Graccus amongst them, had not had the time to become good officers and had both been taken too soon. The journey north with the stone filled wagons was quite pleasant for the first twenty miles as they were still within Morbium’s area of influence but, as they drew nearer to the border the old Explorate began to smell danger. The slow pace was too predictable and any barbarians waiting to attack them would have much time to prepare. His loyal turma, all oath brothers of the sword, recognised the signs and they too looked around for the danger.
    Suibhne had been sent by King Lugubelenus to watch the Roman road. He had with him his own loyal warband. They were forty of the most experienced warriors in the tribe and all of them had lived close to the frontier all their lives. They knew every path and tree in the huge forest which lined both sides of the Roman road.  They had been chosen for this task by the king himself and all felt honoured to have been chosen.  All of them hated what the Romans had done; it was unnatural to cut straight lines through the holy forest and to use stone to do was even worse. Stone was for monuments, for men to marvel at, not to plant their feet upon.  The gods did not want man to leave his mark on the land and yet these Romans did just that, leaving their scar throughout the land. Days earlier, Suibhne had seen the wagons heading south, empty, and knew what it meant; they would be returning and when they did they would be full.  He knew not what the Romans would bring, their needs baffled the simple tribesmen, but if he could stop it then it might persuade them to leave their land and to stop scarring it even more.