Chapter 5
A Terrifying Encounter
The knights rode together keeping their distance from the Romans, who obviously wanted nothing to do with the knights. The knights regaled Arthur with the news he had missed while in Londinum. Marcus had been busy apparently.
He had begun to relocate the Centurions from the western end of the wall to the main milecastle or the eastern end of the wall. In Arthur's military savvy mind, the move was suicidal for Roman occupation. Keeping the wall too lightly manned would be inviting the Woad inside.
"The damn fool doesn't know a damn thing!" Yelled Bors, who was scaled by Dagonet to keep his voice down.
"Yet the Centurions follow him," Lancelot continued.
"They don't know any better." Galahad allowed.
Arthur noticed Gaius pulling his horse back a bit in order to hear the conversation between the knights. "We shall discuss this later." Arthur told the knights and nodded toward Gaius. The knights understood that their conversation was being listened to by unwanted ears.
Tristan came galloping up to the others, as always with a stoic face. "Arthur… we're being followed."
"Already Marcus has allowed those demons in," Bedwyr said in a disgusted tone.
"Tighten formation on the Lady. Tristan ride ahead with Cai and try to keep the road clear." The two sped of in front of the caravan. The others followed Arthur's orders without hesitation.
Arthur and Lancelot took the head with a few Centurions to their sides. Gawain and Galahad took one side of Lucilla's carriage with Bedwyr and Gaius on the other. Bors and Dagonet took the rear.
Tristan never minded traveling with Cai, both were quiet and attentive to detail. They glared into the dark places of the forest, the places they knew Woads would hid when planning and ambush. There was a tension to the air than sent a slight shiver of excitement through Tristan; Cai on the other hand was a bit more tense than excited.
Although not as talented as Tristan, Cai was becoming a good scout. A few years younger than Tristan he learned from him. Learned how to be quiet even when the world is quieter, and how to kill a Woad not allowing him to make a noise.
They killed a few of the blue demons but realized the majority of the army would be behind them, leaving the forest they looked onto the caravan and saw a single arrow fly from the woods.
Lucilla noticed the outline of soldiers surrounding her carriage. Slightly lifting up the corner of the fabric covering on the window, she was able to see two horses and two men she had never seen before.
They certainly were Sarmatians, she thought to herself. They wore armor from their home villages, no doubt and carried weapons that were well broken in.
Suddenly an arrow shot through the fabric in front of Lucilla. The caravan halted throwing her forward; she could see knights skirmishing with others. What was she seeing? Blue men, oh no, she thought, men painted blue. "Blue demons," she whispered.
The knights were racing about killing anything blue they saw. The Woads had come out of the trees as if waiting for the knights to loosen their guard. But the knights were very aware.
Arthur heaved Excalibur up and down each time taking a soul with him. The steel was covered in red dripping all over Arthur and his horse.
The others knew how to kill a Woad and some even took pleasure in the task. Tristan's arrows never missed their mark and Cai's spears always struck.
Lancelot had his double swords swinging away. Bedwyr fought closely beside him swinging a single blade, but killing just as accurately.
Gawain spun the axe around loping off a blue head as his dagger killed another. Galahad, like Bedwyr, had the single sword and knew how to use it.
Bors and Dagonet, the older two, used slightly larger weapons. Dagonet's sword was as long as his arm and Bors used his fists to be deadly.
Lucilla could see her Roman escorts were not holding their own. In fact Gaius was the only Roman still alive. How could Roman have survived so long, making such poor soldiers?
Suddenly Lucilla was being pulled from the carriage by a pair of strong blue hands. Kicking and screaming she tried to break free, but the Woad's grip was strong. He had successfully pulled her to the ground and started to drag her towards the forest. She knew if she was pulled into the forest she would certainly be killed… or worse. Thankfully by know the knights had heard her screams for help.
Not wanting to act like the damsel in distress she always hated reading about, Lucilla had to think quickly. Grabbing the sea horse hair pin from her head she slammed it into the Woad's hand. Screaming from such an unexpected strike he let go. He turned back towards Lucilla, who was looking up in surprise to what she had just done, he lunged again. This time Lucilla kicked him the face, he stumbled backwards, but that did not stop him.
He lunged once more and slapped the defiant Roman across the face. Yet he then fell on top of her, giving a small shriek she pushed the body off of her. She noticed there was an arrow piercing his heart. Looking away from the body she saw Tristan still mounted on his grey steed with his bow in hand.
Lucilla stood, realizing the battle was over. Could that even be called a battle? She was a bit out of breath but not hurt. Cai was the first one over to her.
"Are you right, Lady?" He was a bit taken back by her stunning beauty. Even with her hair in complete shambles, and her dress dirtied and torn she was beautiful.
"Yes, you all have my thanks, infinitely." She smiled an intoxicating smile.
Gaius rode up and ordered her back in the carriage, before the others were able to get near her. She nodded and delicately returned to the carriage.
"She's all right?" Questioned Arthur as he and the rest of the knights reached Cai and Tristan.
"Yea," Tristan replied.
"Our Roman friend ordered her back in the carriage." Cai said.
"For the best, we need to be aware for the rest of the trip." Dagonet told them.
"Let's get moving," Arthur said, a bit tired.
The wall was finally on the horizon as the sun fell below it. The silhouetted barrier built in the first century was a wonderful sight for someone who had never seen it. Lucilla marveled at it, looking through the fabric covering. Gaius was riding next to her and the knights were situated around the caravan.
In the tight space Lucilla had been able to change into another dress, one that she was hoping wasn't too bright a color. She also realized she had left the sea horse pin in the hand of the Woad, regretfully she added a light golden chain around the curls. She hoped that Marcus wouldn't mind the lack of glamour, but she wasn't in Rome. She kept the make-up to a minimal amount.
"Was she hideous?" Galahad questioned Cai as they approached the outer gate. The other knights gave him a questioning glance. "What? I heard that Roman women are ugly."
"From who?" Gawain wondered.
"The Centurions," Galahad admitted.
"They lived in Rome about as long as we lived in Sarmatia; some of these men have never even seen Rome. You're so gullible." Gawain said laughing.
"You still never answered my question Cai."
"Only if you're blind," Cai allowed.
"Do not speak of the Lady in such a manner." Gaius intruded in the conversation. "You disrespect her."
"We speak of her beauty, is that so wrong?" Gawain questioned.
"She is another man's property." Gaius rode ahead to Arthur as they passed under the gate.