old stuff Chapter five - Explanations

Chapter V - “Explanations”

“If you listen to the tales of travelers,
you will find them full of embellishments.
They tickle the ears and numb the heart.”
--Mardus of Macedonia

Tears flooded down Alexenah’s cheeks as she drew the twins close to her breast. Her face lifted to the ceiling and she opened her mouth in a sobbing silent scream of relief. Then, disregarding their filthy condition, she kissed them over and over. With the two boys cradled in her arms, she rocked back and forth as she had done on the road hours before. She kissed them again, gently on their foreheads - both of them - and held them tight against her heart. “My Lord,” She sobbed. “You have brought my sons home.”
Mara gasped, grabbed some rags and ran to Alexenah.
One of the boys gave a tiny moan.
“They have been drugged!” Mara exclaimed and looked over her shoulder at the large man still standing there. He stepped back toward the door and bowed his head.
Everyone was looking at the mother holding her babes. Adminius, turned to Caradoc and with his hand still on his sword started to speak, but was cut short.
Caradoc stood up rather quickly and faced the crowd “I took the boys to be dedicated to Belinos.”
The men turned toward him.
“To dedicate?” Adminius said.
“To murder.” Alexenah whispered. She held the boys tighter as Mara tried to clean them with the dampened rags.
“He only thinks of himself,” Mara whispered back. Alexenah gave her a shocked look that she had said this out loud to her mistress.
“Ahhh, You mean, to sacrifice.” said Togidumnus so all the men could hear. “That is good is it not?”
Caradoc stepped to the center of the floor raising his hands to quiet the room and boomed out his explanation
“Our great father, is he not named Cunebelinos? Is he not truly the great hound of Belinos? The war hound of a god?”
Alexenah made a face.
“Honor. Honor to our father was to be given by a great sacrifice.” Caradoc continued.
“The children are a gift from the gods in certainty.” Adminius said.
“Alas it could not be.” Caradoc said shaking his head woefully.
“They are strong and healthy.” Fergus said
Kendall nodded and said, “They could be useful in the fields.”
“As well as carrying the burden in military endeavors when they became of the age to be warriors. Couldn’t they?” Fergus said sticking his chest out.
Caradoc grunted.
Looking around at the men in the room he then stepped toward the hearth fire in the

center and put his arm around Caedman.

“Will they not be trained as warriors?” Caedman said, “Will you not give them

the markings of our people?”

“They are not of our tribe” Caradoc spat as he picked up a stick from the embers.
“What do you mean? Are they not your children?” Adminius interjected.
Caradoc turned to Alexenah. “Ask her.” Then turning to Adminius he said, “She is a slave.”
Caradoc cleaned some bark off of the stick in his hand and then

brandished it like a sword, pointing it toward Adminius. “If I claimed them would they
receive the woadmark? Would they run with the others in hunt, or with you in battle?” He nodded to Fergus. “Would they have a voice? On the High Council? I dare say they will not.” Hitting the stick on a log on the fire he declared, “They are NOT mine”
“Then what good are they?” Togodumnus said to the others.

Caradoc played with the stick in the flames before him.

“They could learn a trade, or you could sell them. As you say, they are

basically slaves anyway; are they not?” Caedman said.

“Who knows what will become of them. Of the gods? I do not know. Whatever they are or what ever their plans are,“ and he threw the stick in to the fire, “I’m done with them.”
“But, brother, “Adminius questioned, “Why did you bring them back?”
Caradoc ignored him.
“What did the Druids say?” Adminius insisted stepping closer.
Caradoc did not look at his brother but pulled over a chair and grabbed another mug of mead.
Adminius hung on. “Where were you when we were battling the fire last night?’
“Yes, tell us,” said Togidumus stepping between Caradoc and Adminius with another chair, “Tell us the story.” and he too took a seat by the fire. Several of the others moved closer to hear the tale.
As the men moved into position, Alexenah made ready garments for the children and now that they were clean, she dressed them as Mara quietly prepared their sleeping place. As she lowered them to the pallet on the floor she kissed their closed eyelids. It was then that she smelled the wine on their breath and understood their seeming peacefulness. She glanced to Caradoc and bit her lip in a tight frown.
Caradoc stared back at her.
Togidumnus looked at his boots. “Please tell us your story, brother”
“When I got there I was too late,” Caradoc said to the men. “I had hoped to dedicate them. I went to the grove -- like I said -- and found it desecrated. I was too late to help the dead.”
“I can’t believe they are all dead.” Fergus said.
“Yes, slaughtered,” Caradoc said “I saw firebrands. I followed. Yes, to the south it was.”
“Firebrands.” Togidumnus said rather matter of factly.
“Amazing, who were these marauders?” Adminius questioned.
“Antrebates”
“Really? From the south, they must have…’
Caradoc slammed his mug down hard on the table, “I caught up with them at the Andredsweald…”
“The wood where no one dwells?” Caedman asked.
“Yes, yes. I circled around them and saw their camp. I came upon them unawares in ambush and fought with them there.” He looked at the men one at a time and then refilled his mug. Walking through the men he pushed them aside and waving his mug in the air he said, “A terrible deed had been done. I was fortunate to arrive when I did.”
“Yes, you were my brother.” Togidumnus said.
“I fought with the marauders and chased them running away like dogs taking their wounded with them like bones to their hidey holes.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I returned to the grove. The men were all beyond rescue except the one over there.” He pointed back to the giant not realizing he was sloshing his mead from his mug in the gesture. The men stared in silent awe.
“Giant, Is this true?” Kendall gestured for the man to join them.
“He will not answer?”
“Does he not speak? Is he dumb?”
“He cannot speak. I rescued him from certain sacrifice and flame and he has given me his life. Look at him. Even now he stands in obeisance,“ Caradoc said clapping his mug to his chest.
The men nodded to each other.
“That we can see. Amazing!” Togidumnus said.
“And, what a face it is!” Togudumnas said.
“Ah yes, you will surely see why I call him Epos”
“A horse?” Caedman said.
“Yes, that he surely is.”
“You now have a shield bearer.”
“Admirable.”
“How did you say the fire started? I cannot believe they would do that.” Adminius said.
“It was obviously the Atrebates who killed the druids and set the fire to destroy the grove.” Caradoc yelled. “They wish to give the land away and only wish to remove all obstacles to Rome.”
“This was a strike against our very heart.” Caedman said.
“My brethren, honestly if it be told, I believe Rome is involved somehow and if no one else will join me, I have my purposes. I will get to the bottom of the matter and bring it to Cunebelinus himself.”
“It is Tasciovaunus, not Cunebelinus, whose purposes are important, brother. You are not king here.” Adminius said.
“I know who the high king is. But I will not sit idle on this.” Caradoc threw his mug to the ground. Everyone jumped
“Yes, it would be good,” said Togidumnus, “Cunebelinos will know what to do. He would be proud and you can tell him yourself. Did you hear? Cunebelinos has called us to Camalodinum.”
“News travels fast doesn’t it.” Caradoc mutterd.
“He has summoned all the leaders of the tribes, even the Iceni King.”
“Prasutagus won’t come. His wife won’t let him.” Caradoc said. “Prastagus is tied to his wife’s skirts.”

The men laughed.
“Prastagus will be there, as will all the chieftains. “ Adminius said
“Verica will certainly be there.” Fergus said.
“Hmmf,” Caradoc said as sat down and poured another draught of the bitter beer. “Don’t think so.”
“The Atrebates live closest to Rome. Verica only does what he can to maintain a delicate balance.” Adminius said.
“And brings in Roman gold.” Caradoc said putting both arms on the table and leaning into the table. “The red-crests will pollute our land for certain; they make everyone a bloody-red Roman.” He took drink, sat back, spit mead on the ground. Then raising his glass high in the air, exclaimed loudly, “Let them try to take – MY – freedom!”
All the men raised their cups and cheered. All except Adminius.
One of the boys began to cry.
Alexenah looked up to see Adminius looking at her.
“Well. Well. It has been a long night” Adminius said in a calm voice. And then he pulled up a chair, sat at the table and said “You need not be worried, brother. Caesar himself could not take our lands? Could he?”
Togodumnus broke in before Caradoc could answer Adminius’ question. “Brother, Caradoc, you were only doing what was right. Adminius, our brother only gets angry at the mere mention of anything to do with that ‘evil city’ because the Roman’s are indeed a threat to our beloved land.”
“But Togidumnus, it is a constant, frustrating obsession for him.”
Alexenah rose, directed Mara to watch the boys and approached the table. She picked up another cup and gave a furtive look to Adminius. How could he get pulled off subject so quickly? It was what Caradoc wanted, she thought. Couldn’t he see this? She had seen the two fight many times about Rome. Adminius was open to the idea of trade, yet would not say so. She saw it in the way he would tense his jaw and remain silent as Caradoc went on about his own ideal world. She saw Adminius as a man who considered all options evenly while Caradoc sought only fulfillment of his own desires.
“Caesar? He left with his tail between his legs” Caradoc finally spoke. “The Romans are not brave Catavaulini. They are rapers of our land. They create desolation and call it – peace.”
Alexenah could hear the beer in his voice and knew at this point, that this would not end well.
Caradoc knocked over his chair as he stood, slinging mead out of the mug. As he stumbled back a few steps Togidumnus caught his arm.
“I declare. I…declare. I declare, to you all,” he said sloshing his mead, “it will not be long until the Roman legions invade and the red-crested soldiers will kill, or worse -- enslave the whole island for their evil purposes. Their commerce is only bait, a front, a ploy, a trick. Blast it, a prostitutes ploy –“ and looking at Alexenah, “a way to sneak in unawares and take what they want.”
Alexenah saw concern on Adminius’ face as Caradoc slurred his words and rambled on.
“You tell it, Caradoc. Yeah! ” Togidumnus said steadying his brother.
Caradoc took a step toward Adminius. “There are some in Albion who embrace the empire and what Rome could bring to their island,” he said.
“Brother, can’t you see what is before your eyes? The trade so far had been good in the south and many are becoming wealthy because of it. The flourishing continent to the south of our island is not as far away as some would think; it is just across the great water. What a great opportunity for us to prosper. We have been trading tin with them for years.”
Caradoc looked at the cup in his hand and dropped it to the floor with a clang, then brushed Togidumnus away and stumbled over to the fire and said in a hushed tone, his back to the men, “When our traders of tin, copper, and even our precious wheat, came home from their travels,” he turned to face them,” did they not tell wonderful stories of beauty and grandeur?”
“This is true,” they agreed.
“Ahh, that it is, “ Caradoc continued as he turned and opened his arms wide and bowed in mock reverence to Alexenah, “The men in the south of this Island and their oh-so-beautiful wives, seeing how others might profit, have a way of saying, ‘Should our neighbor’s wife have things I don’t have?’”
The men chuckled at his tone.
Alexenah’s cheeks burned. The comment mocked her for something she had never thought, let alone had voiced. She did not have a desire for material things. She lowered her eyes, clasped her hands and took a gentile step backward.
Caradoc swung around and in a flourish and pointed to each man one at a time as he continued, “Because of their endless envious moaning, their weak husbands were not willing that they should be without any new trinket or the latest Roman . . .uh..nuh.. who-knows-what!” He then went over and grabbed a towel from the hands of Mara and draped it around his head and said in his girlish voice. “Aren’t I be-you-ti-ful?” “Aaagh!” he said , “The southern merchants sought more stuff only to get more status, and thus ultimately gain peace with their woman folk.” He tossed the towel across the room. ”That is their only purpose in sucking Rome’s teat!”
Putting his foot up on Adminius’ chair, Caradoc grabbed him by the side of his head and leaned into his face looking him straight in the eye and said, “They wish to be …..” he wrinkled his nose and wagged his head, “ROMA POPULARI”.
Alexenah took a deep breath and remembering the proverb prayed that Adminius would not answer this fool according to his folly.
Adminius didn’t blink, didn’t say a word.
The men stared at each other.
Then in a quiet voice Adminius replied. With all the men watching him, he said,
“The lands, roadways, great buildings, and great riches are all immense in Rome. I know. I saw it too.” Brushing Caradoc’s arm aside he stood and faced him. “You were there with me, Little Brother, remember? And,” He said, “I brought only memories back with me. What did you bring home?”
Caradoc narrowed his eyes. There was silence.
Alexenah shivered. She touched the knife rolled in her belt. The air in the room seemed to thicken. The suspension of time felt to her just how it would feel putting your hand into an adders den. This snake would either strike or leave. She was afraid of what her husband would do next.
“Yes, we both saw it.” Caradoc in a strained quiet tone.
He bowed his head and walked to the center of the room and talked as though he was remembering wonderful things. “Large meeting halls carved out of stone. Great water roadways that ran for many leagues seated high above the ground on arched pillars,” and in a tone of mock admiration Caradoc then said, “the strict discipline of their blasted armies.” Then to the men and not to Adminius he said, “And you want them here? Vast buildings to block our peaceful countrydside views? The cities, the filth of their sewers? The change to our ways of peace?”
Togidumnus reached out and put his arm around his brother and addressed the men. “The Roman baths… did you see the roman baths? I hear the men not only bathe together, but have elaborately built houses made for the sole purpose of relieving themselves.”
Caradoc laughed, “Yes, my brother, they do.” Caradoc said.
In one swipe of Togidumnus’ tongue the men began to laugh.
Caradoc elaborated. “There are rooms with as many as a dozen toilets where men would sit and talk of the business of politics while doing their daily natural business. They sit there all day and gossip like a bunch of old women about their leaders and what the people in the community are doing. It is as if they are in a public tribal council. To them it is an acceptable, social thing to do.” He waved his hand and leaned Togidumnus into the men. “Do I want to make it more personal and include names?” He pointed at Adminius “No one in Rome thought it unclean or uncivil. Why not go in the woods like everyone else?“ His voice trailed as he took Togidumnus aside and told him of the vices of their enemy.
Alexenah looked at Adminius and his rolling eyes said, “We have all heard this many times.”
Adminius walked over to Alexenah and in a soft voice said, “Even in his cups his oration can move people.”
She nodded and he continued, “Caradoc speaks often about the disgraceful acts of the great civitas. Using words that the Romans call everyone who wasn’t Roman, he goes around telling everyone he can about the ‘barbaric’ and ‘savage’ ways of Rome. It has been like this for years. One day he will do more than talk. He can’t win this fight. Not this way. Not tonight. He will not win by lofty speeches. One day he will get an army together. Mark my words -- and I am afraid of the outcome.”
“Adminius,” Alexenah sighed, “I too have been in Rome. The people there called him ‘Caratacus’. Latinizing his name was just another way of controlling others, he had said. For that, he may have somewhat against them.”
“Did you know his name – Caradoc,” he told her, “means ‘love’ in our tongue? He feels it is fitting. He loves this land of ours, even when others are not loyal.”
“Yes, he does act as if he is the protector of the land and you can see he takes that role seriously.” She watched him tell the men of how he would fight the Roman scum to his last breath. “In that, I can honor him, Adminius, but… the name’s definition has no meaning to our relationship. Even when I gave him -- not one child -- but two, it only made him angry as though I too am his enemy. I don’t understand.”
Caradoc threw another stick into the fire and got up to leave. “Let’s get on to

Camalodinum.” He said. Then, looking at the giant, “Hey, Epos, Ready the horses.”

The men laughed and pointed at the large man as he bowed. She felt sorry for him. When the man -- Epos he would obviously be called from now on -- came and stood by the babes earlier he had nodded to her. She understood the look in his eyes. With the look came the strong feeling in the deepest part of her that with this man around the boys would be safe. He was not here to serve Caradoc, but to protect her sons. She promised to herself to ask this man later what had really happened.
At that point in her musing, Caradoc stumbled past the table, knocking it over. Then he turned, struck her on the face with the back of his hand. Through tears she watched as he went outside, the men following him.
Adminius was the last to head for the door. He paused, turned and then walked back to Alexenah. She felt uncomfortable with him there. They were now alone.

Next chapters - chapter six, seven , and eight- found in July , 2008 posts