The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [88]
‘Sorcery, I said it was sorcery!’ the other soldier next to Titus Antonius cried. ‘We must report this to the Camp Prefect at once.’
‘I’ll make the report. Make sure nothing is disturbed. Maximus needs to see this for himself or we’ll get the blame,’ Titus Antonius informed them, but before he had chance to leave the quadrangle the silence of the night was shattered. The horn sounded five times from the top of the northern gatehouse.
There was a stir of excitement throughout the camp.
‘A rider approaching,’ Titus Antonius announced. ‘I must go and see what’s happening at the gate first before I go to the Prefect and report the prisoner’s escape. You two must stand guard here until I return.’
Drusus stood a little way from the post after the centurion left the quadrangle. He didn’t look happy.
‘It must be something important,’ whispered Camelin.
They listened intently. It wasn’t long before they heard hoof beats pounding down the main street. The rider pulled the horse up outside the offices, jumped off and banged loudly on the Camp Prefect’s door.
‘An urgent message for Quintus Flavius Maximus from the Commander of the Fourteenth Legion,’ the soldier shouted. When he didn’t get an answer he banged even louder on the door.
In the distance they could hear Titus Antonius shouting orders. The commotion from the fort continued.
‘Gaius Rufus Octavian,’ the rider announced and saluted when Maximus eventually opened the door. ‘I have a message for you from our commander. Mona is taken, the Druids are slain, their groves destroyed.’
Camelin and Jack exchanged looks. They were both aware from history what had happened but to hear the news, delivered like this, was quite a shock.
‘Excellent,’ Maximus said joyfully.
‘I also have an urgent order from the Commander,’ continued Octavian. ‘We have been recalled to march to Londinium as soon as possible. Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, has raised an army. Camulodunum has been destroyed.’
‘You’d better come inside and tell me all you know.’
The soldier tethered his horse to the nearest post and went inside with Maximus.
‘That’s not good news for Medric,’ explained Camelin. ‘If the legion is moving out they’ll kill and eat him before they go.’
‘We’d better warn him.’
‘It won’t be necessary. I’ve already told him we’ll help him escape, you know, in return for helping us. As soon as we’re in the shrine and you’ve transformed open the gate. Before he goes he’ll show you where Maximus hid the plates.
‘Couldn’t he have flown out of there before?’
‘Medric’s a big bird. He needs a long run up to take off and gain height. There just isn’t room to do that in the shrine. He needs the main street. He’ll try and escape once you’ve let him out.’
‘What if they see him?’
‘They’ll shoot him. He’s lucky there’s no moon tonight. Lets hope they’ll all be busy once the news about marching out spreads.’
‘The soldier mentioned Camulodunum. Was that Colchester?’ Jack asked.
‘It was. Boudicca’s army destroyed London and St Albans too. They were heading this way before they finally stopped her. Her tribe, the Iceni, really put the wind up the Romans you know.’
‘Do you think it’s safe to go down into the shrine? I’d like to get this over with as quickly as we can.’
‘You’re right. Medric will be waiting for us.’
‘Once I’ve got the plates I can throw them in the spring can’t I?’
‘That’s the plan,’ croaked Camelin. ‘Ready?’
Jack nodded, but as they were about to fly off the roof they heard louder knocking on the Camp Prefect’s door.
‘It’s Titus Antonius!’ exclaimed Camelin. ‘It won’t be long before Maximus knows you’ve escaped.’
‘Not now centurion,’ Maximus shouted when he finally opened the door.
‘I wouldn’t have disturbed you if it wasn’t important,’ the centurion replied.
‘Be quick,’ snapped Maximus.
‘The prisoner has disappeared.’
‘Disappeared! How?’
‘I don’t know Prefect. The tunic is empty and the leg irons are still closed.’
Maximus, still dressed in full armour with his sword and dagger, pushed past Titus Antonius and marched around the corner towards the quadrangle.