Chapter One: Black Wolf
No war band at that time had a uniform or standardized weapons and only the Roman army approached uniformity. And even they were not completely uniform. Richardus Castellum had seen the advantages of uniforms in a closely packed melee. It not only made it easier to tell your own men from the enemy, standardized weapons and training meant a disciplined method of fighting not each warrior doing his own thing. Discipline meant the confusion of battle affecting the enemy more than your own men.
Richardus took less of the spoils for himself and put more of it into arming and equipping his men. In addition, merchants then, as now gave better deals for large purchases than small ones. Just as in the Roman army each man bought his own equipment but Richardus subsidized them as much as he could. His men all wore a tunic, cloak and trousers as did the Romans but all were dyed black. He had captured all the equipment of a Cataphract century, one that was due to return to Rome within a week and were not as alert as they should be. His men had simply silenced the sentries and caught the main body asleep. They could have slaughtered them in their sleep but chose not to. The Romans were simply bound with their own belts while the weapons armor and horses were taken, leaving the centurion to explain it to his tribune. Not a happy prospect for the centurion or the sentries. They also ambushed a convoy transporting the contents of a military storehouse to ships for transport to Rome.
Those supplies, arms and equipment allowed Richardus to equip his war band as he chose. In a little over a year not only did he have his three hundred fighting men but his birth clan had, after a meeting of the chieftains and elders had declared him clan chief.
The former chief, as was his right had challenged Richardus to a duel. By the rules of the clan, it was to the death. It was over in a very short time as such things usually are. The former chief was a warrior, all such chiefs are but he was up against a much larger man. A man who was also a warrior but also a trained, professional soldier. Richardus regretted doing it but after the challenge, he had no choice.
He had been away for over ten years and had forgotten some things. To his surprise, there was no anger or bitterness from the man's family. Those were the accepted customs of that time and place. The man could have accepted the council's decision and lived. He chose not to and paid the price. The family mourned him to be sure but honored the new chief. Yes he had killed the man but publicly honored his courage and swore that his widow would always be cared for.
There was an abandoned Roman villa, in good repair on a hill at the base of a secluded valley. He took that for his headquarters and built a typical Celtic hill fort around it. His Cymbrogi were his cavalry arm. Forty of them armed and equipped as Cataphracts (heavy cavalry) Men and horses both covered in scale armor armed with the long cavalry sword the Spatha, a dagger a long heavy lance and in some cases, individuals added a war axe or a mace. Forty more were light cavalry armed with the Spatha, a dagger and a light lance or spear, a quiver of six javelins carried at the saddle bow. Twenty were horse archers, armed with a composite recurved bow and arrows, the Spatha and a dagger. The light cavalry wore chain mail armor, the Lorica Hamata and all wore the roman style helmet.
He had what amounted to two centuries of infantry although most of them spent more time as farmers and herders than soldiers. They were, in fact a militia long before that practice became common. He kept a solid core of fifty heavy infantry as professionals. The rest trained two days in seven. When they took the field his foot soldiers were divided into one century of heavy infantry and one of light infantry. The heavy infantry carried spears, a relatively long sword the Gladius Maximus, a dagger and the rectangular shield, the Sputum. His light infantry was divided into Javelin armed men, foot archers and slingers, all carrying a short sword the Gladius and a dagger. The heavy infantry wore segmented armor the Lorica Segmata while the light infantry wore the Lorica Hamata. The light infantry carried the lighter round shield. As with the cavalry all wore the Roman helmet.
Richardus had several different types of armor which varied with what he might be doing at any given time. The set he wore least was what he considered Parade Armor. Used only for basically diplomatic purposes. A polished bronze cuirass or "muscle armor" over silvered chain mail. Bronze greaves, vambraces and pauldrons with a gilded bronze "tribune's helmet" sporting a black horse hair plume. In the field he usually wore a plain iron cuirass over chain mail, iron greaves and vambraces and an officer's helmet with a black plume. His usual armament was a lance, the Spatha, a dagger and a short hafted double blade war axe. He was perfectly capable in using the horse bow if needed.
Even when relaxing in his hall, wearing only a tunic and trousers a long dagger and Spatha were always belted on.
In all of Britain, the only larger, more powerful war band was that of Arthwyr Y Ddraig, (Arthur Pendragon) and his men were mostly Cataphracts with a few horse archers.
Arthur had imported the idea from Rome of a knightly order known as Ordo Equestris. He was implementing it his war band which would come down through time as the Knights of the Round Table although not known by that name at that time. Arthur used the same term as Richardus did, Cymbrogi in fact it was a Welsh term Richardus had borrowed. Unlike Richardus, Arthur created an elite group of twelve men within the Cymbrogi the Ordo Equestris. Originally only intended to create a cadre of personally loyal guards it would cause resentment and dissention later on.
I am only a bard my friends, seeking a warm fire, a crust of bread and a little wine. Now here is the story as I heard it so long ago. I was only a lad then.
"Tell us the story Great Grandfather, begged little Seamus, tell us the story of Richardus the wolf and the Ard Ri Arthur"
"No, pleaded Morgana, tell us the story of the beautiful Catraoine and how she loved Richardus."
"They are not separate stories, laughed Caoimnih O' Riain, they weave together like plaits in your hair, Morgana. Richardus was not just loved by Catraoine but also Morgaine and many others though only Catraoine won his heart. It was many years ago, I wasn't much more than a stripling myself, though a member of the Cymbrogi. This is how it was."
The wagon stopped in a small clearing alongside the road and the ten men dismounted. Nine of them were Irish, one was a Briton. The bound man was left in the wagon while the two women were dragged out and thrown down in the grass. Mother and daughter, both were beauties. The women were quickly stripped of their clothing. The older woman was held, spread eagle in the grass by two men while the third viciously raped her. The younger one was forced to her knees and her arms pulled forward so that her rump was forced up. "Hold you idiot, Bracken wants this one virgin."
"That's only her front we can enjoy her ass." Catraoine of the brook gritted her teeth and prepared herself for the pain and degradation of an anal rape. She was a virgin but knew enough to know what was coming. Suddenly she felt a warm fluid on her naked back. Had the bastard ejaculated before he entered her? At the same moment, her arms were released.
Richardus Castellum rode out with five of his Cymbrogi on a scout of the land. He often did this as he felt that he should set the example for his men and work as they did.
He heard screaming and cursing coming from somewhere close ahead. He halted his men, dismounted and crept forward to peer through a screen of Gorse.
Slavers! By Mithras how he hated slavers. Irish by the looks of them although one appeared to be a Briton by his dress. There were about ten of them, not counting their captives. The bound man looked to be between thirty-five and forty although hard to tell because of his bruises. The two women appeared to be mother and daughter. Both were beauties and both naked in the grass. Slavers and rapists. Not on his lands by Mithras!
He quickly remounted and tersely gave his orders. The six men charged down the hill, Richardus roaring his war cry; "Buaidh No Bas!" The man standing behind the girl died with his pants around his ankles and a lance through his back. The man holding her arms was kicking out his life with a black feathered arrow through his throat. The two men holding Siobhan's arms and legs looked like pincushions. The rapist managed to roll off her only to be pinned to the ground with a spear. Thomas the snake had been getting a wineskin from his horse when the attack came. No fool, he jumped on his horse and galloped away. One of the slavers hefted a spear and cast it at the big man on a black horse. The spear was deflected by the man's shield and before he could draw his sword his head parted company with his body. The remaining three dropped to their knees, raising their hands in surrender. They quickly found themselves stripped to their loincloths with their hands bound behind their backs.
Richardus dismounted in front of the girl, who was struggling to her feet, difficult to do with bound hands. He drew his dagger and cut through the thongs binding her wrists. Disregarding her own nudity she ran to her mother and knelt by her side. Siobhan was tougher than she looked. There was some blood on her thighs from the rough penetration and she was slightly in shock but still coherent. "Help me up, please." Catraoine helped her mother to her feet and she hobbled over to the wagon. She picked up a water skin and washed the blood from her body, then wrapped a clean cloth between her legs.
Catraoine placed a blanket over her mother then turned to look at the tall stranger. All she could see were a piercing pair of blue eyes. A mail coif covered the lower half of his face.
She blushed and then said; "I thank you for our rescue warrior but you must not stare at me as if I were some village harlot. I am a priestess of the moon. Avert your eyes and give me your cloak."
A booming laugh came out of the soldier's mouth. "A priestess of the moon are you? I see nothing but a naked girl and I will look where I please."
She stamped her foot in anger. "I demand a covering or I will curse you."
The mirth disappeared from his voice and it got very cold. "Curse all you will. I worship at the temple of Mithras when I worship at all. Know this you arrogant thing. NO ONE demands anything of Richardus the wolf. Find your own covering. Cymbrogi we ride!"
Siobhan called out. "Please hold Centurion. Forgive my daughter's rudeness. We beg your aid. We are injured and helpless. If you leave us here we will die or worse. I am Siobhan of the Brooke, my husband is Seamus of the Brooke, a druid and a mage. My rude daughter is Catraoine we beg mercy."
Richardus strode over to the wagon, unlatched the coif and removed his helmet. Despite her anger, Catraoine caught her breath. He was a very handsome man. The thin white scar on one cheekbone did nothing to diminish it.
"Very well Siobhan of the Brooke your words are polite. I will grant you mercy. But keep your daughter quiet or I will gag her and spank her like a naughty child. He removed his cloak and gently laid it over Siobhan.
"Caoimhin, give your cloak to this harpy." Catraoine was sputtering with rage but had no desire to be gagged or spanked. She settled for giving Richardus a death glare. Richardus stepped into the wagon and cut Seamus loose.
"Are you well enough to drive this wagon druid?" Seamus stretched cramped muscles and struggled to his feet, his many bruises paining him. "Aye I can drive." Richardus nodded. He looked at Catraoine. "Get in the wagon girl or I'll leave you behind."
Still fuming, Catraoine got into the wagon. The slavers horses were roped together and tied to the wagon. The three captive slavers were roped together in a coffle and also tied to the wagon. Richardus mounted and looked at the captives. "Keep up and stay on your feet. If you fall you will be dragged behind the wagon. I doubt that you would survive that." With that, he led off to his stronghold.
It wasn't a long journey, only around five miles but the captives were parched and stumbling when they entered the fort. Dismounting Richardus began issuing commands.
"Chain these dogs up and give them water. I will dispense justice on the morrow. Take these women to my mother's chambers and call for Shelana the Nubian. See that she treats the druid as well. I will be in the baths. Ask Xavierus to join me."
In that she wasn't a virgin Siobhan's injuries were no more than some minor cuts and bruises from where she was thrown to the ground and bruising and slight tearing to her vaginal walls. A warm bath and healing salves did much to restore her A bath, salves and a tight binding for three cracked ribs were all that Seamus required.
That evening all three were able to join in the evening meal. Siobhan, as to be expected was withdrawn but alert. Seamus was quiet and Richardus was amused at a still angry Catraoine keeping quiet. She in turn was trying to keep her anger in place while trying not to admire the physical attributes of Richardus and failing. He was dressed in a black tunic with gold embroidery around the neck, sleeves and hem. His hair was freshly oiled and the golden torq of a chief was around his neck.