Varro caught his eye but thought better of speaking. He knew that what he said was true, most Romans regarded them as inferior, a people to be governed and manipulated, to be used. His relationship with Brenna and other Britons had showed him that there was a different side to the Celts of Britannia. They were most certainly related to the Celts of Gaul and elsewhere but he had come to learn that was a good thing. Like some Romans there were good and bad in all people. Caradocs’ words brought him out of his thoughts.
“You still have my word that you will be safe whilst in these lands, I will provide an escort for you tomorrow. I want you to return to this Plautius, this man of Rome and tell him these words; there is no need for them to be written down like these lies.” He pulled the scrolls that they had brought with them out of his tunic and threw them on the fire. “Tell him that I won’t be fooled again and that I was so close to giving him the peace the required; the peace that would have allowed him to return to Rome, as a hero, and to have his victory. No more blood would have been shed by our swords and no more sons of Rome would lie rotting on our soil.” He walked to the door. “Do you know that Ardwen and I had even said that we would concede certain things if it meant peace, no more war?” He smiled, “How stupid we were to believe that we could trust such a people. No doubt the emperor would have drained our land of its wealth, sold our people into slavery and kept us under the heel of his legions boots. I’m glad in a way that he decided to attack, because now we know where we stand, there can be no peace, we can’t live with serpents. Tell Plautius this when you go back, the retribution I have sought and gained so far in raids across the Roman made border, will pale into insignificance compared to what he has brought upon himself now. Burning forts and destroyed villas will be the last of his concerns. Your people started this war, we neither wanted nor desired it, we considered ourselves friends with your empire but still you came to murder and rob.” He lifted the door skin, “You won’t see me without a blade in my hand again and I won’t be talking to you like this, if we should meet. Tell Plautius, I’m coming, if he’s lucky he’ll be back in Rome, if not, he’ll die by my hand.” He went to leave.
“Caradoc,” Varro said stopping him, “I can’t even begin to understand how you must feel, but please know that we knew nothing of the fleet, I promise you.”
“In another life,” Caradoc said, “we could have been friends, brothers. If your leaders were like you, there would be no war, of that I’m certain. I believe you and I think that you’re a man of honour.” He looked at Grattius and the others, “Of the company you keep, I couldn’t say the same, but I have been known to be wrong, I can admit that.” Grattius was tempted to speak but didn’t.
“Goodbye Centurion Varro, may your gods go with you, and watch over you and your friends here, but for the others, I will show no mercy. No act will be beyond my reach or conscience now. I will seek to destroy everything that Rome stands for here in Albion. My warriors will strive to strike at the very heart of everything they hold dear.” He smiled, “It’s probably better this way, no more pretence with dreams of peace. Plautius will either die or return to Rome having failed, empty handed. I vow this will happen on my father’s spirit.” He took one last look at those listening to his words and then ducked under the door skin and left the roundhouse.
An eerie silence fell over those sat near the table, no-one spoke for a while, Grattius poured some water from a jug into a cup and drank it, not saying a word. Brenna stared at the table, Lita looked at her and Varro gazed at the floor.
“Well,” he said eventually, “we’d better get our things packed up and get ready to move out tomorrow.”
“Thank Mithras I say,” Grattius said, “the sooner we’re back behind our lines the better, no offence ladies but you know what I mean.”
“None taken,” Brenna said quietly, “the sooner we’re out of here the better. Ardwen and the others may be content to listen to Caradoc for now, but it wouldn’t take much for them to turn and take matters into their own hands.”
“Do you think we’re safe tonight?” Lita asked.
“I think we’ll be safe until we get across the mountains and back into friendly territory, you heard what he said. It’s after that I’m more concerned with.” Varro said.
“What do you mean by that?” Grattius asked.
“He’s already struck at will along the border and deep into Roman occupied lands but now, now he knows it’s a fight to the death. He’s got nothing to lose, one way or another he that knows Rome wants this land and will do anything to get it. If that means wiping out all those that live here, then so be it. There’s nothing to hold him back anymore, or others. Word will spread of the failed attempt by the fleet, of the trick that Plautius tried to employ, even if it’s not true. It will give them heart and encouragement to rise against us and they are everywhere we are. If every Celt here decides to rebel, there’s nothing, even five legions could do about it and the Governor may have just given them the reason that helps them decide to do it.”
Brenna stood up, “What you say is correct, but it won’t happen, not with all the tribes anyway, some are more than happy to live this way, under Roman rule, but others will never stop fighting. I’ve told you before that this war will go on for as long as you Romans are here. Some battles they will win, others you will be the victors, but you will never completely dominate a people that don’t want to be beaten. It’s not in our nature to lie down and let ourselves be kicked and beaten, we fight back, we always will.”
“And yet you work with us.” Grattius said.
“I work alongside you Optio, there is a difference, I want peace, but not through any means. I can live side by side with any kind of people, irrespective of where they come from as long as there is harmony, some sort of common understanding. What I will not do is live as a slave or as something thought of as inferior. Centurion Varro has shown me that not all Romans are evil and wicked, we have spoken of this many times and I believe his words, but there is still doubt. Not that he is lying or is trying to deceive me or my people but that those above him, your superiors, have different plans for Albion and her tribes. Your Emperor Claudius clearly thought that invading this island would be easy and yet he’s already been proven wrong. Four long years ago, the legions arrived on our soil and still you haven’t taken the southern shores entirely, never mind the west and the north. I doubt that we’ll ever see an end to the conflict here during our lives if Rome decides to stay. As it is, the Roman way is to dominate and take from others, so it is the way of the Celts to resist and to fight until our dying breath. We are a proud people and will not, cannot live like animals, ruled over by others. This is what you face Optio, we accept the fate the gods have given us and although I want peace and will work by your side to achieve it, others will not, ever.”