05 The Eagles Prey

  Cato smiled. ‘Just thinking.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘What comes next. Anything has got to be better than the last two years.’

  ‘You think so?’ Macro sniffed. ‘Believe me, there are worse places. And with our luck, you can be sure we’ll be seeing them.’

  Cato turned to look back over the stern, his eyes following the diminishing traces of the Ajax’s wake, until he was staring at the horizon.

  ‘I wonder if we’ll ever see Britain again?’

  Macro shrugged his heavy shoulders. ‘Frankly, lad, I fear we just might.’

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Although Caratacus and his warriors were driven from the battlefield by the legions in the year following the invasion, the indomitable British commander continued a spirited resistance against Roman rule. After his defeats in the south-east of the island Caratacus fled to the tribes that inhabited modern-day Wales. These wild and warlike mountain tribes shared his desire for independence, and were encouraged in their will to resist by the druid cult based in their refuge on the island of Anglesey. Their determination to fight on, coupled with the mountainous terrain, made life very difficult for governors of the new Roman province of Britannia for many more years. Caratacus shared his new-found experience of the most effective kind of warfare to wage against Rome with the mountain tribesmen. Fast-moving raiding columns posed a constant danger to the widely dispersed Roman soldiers and their tenuous lines of supply.

  Rome had a long tradition of never admitting defeat, or permitting pockets of resistance to continue in lands it had laid claim to. Eventually Caratacus was driven out of Wales and fled to the north of Britain, in a bid to whip up support amongst the powerful Brigantian confederation. A considerable number of Brigantian nobles were sympathetic to his cause, but their ruler, Queen Cartimandua, was afraid of provoking the wrath of Rome. How that turned out is another story. A story that may well require the return to Britain of two very experienced and talented legionary officers.

  Cato and Macro are on their way to Rome. We know from the tombstones of centurions that such men served in a variety of units across the length and breadth of the Empire. Our heroes can expect to travel to new lands and encounter a wide range of enemies in the future. But before Cato and Macro secure appointments in a new legion they must first overcome the rumours and suspicions surrounding their recent actions during the war against Caratacus. They must prove themselves worthy of being reappointed to the ranks of Emperor Claudius’ legions. Ahead of them lies a perilous undercover mission to secure a sacred artefact that will determine the destiny of the Empire.