In Britannia Salutem

[Lindseyman]

Venta

Lucius had puzzled over the documents for a couple of hours but had not found anything untoward in anything that was written thereon. He decided to try and get a few hours’ sleep he collapsed on a cot that he kept in his office and was soon fast asleep.

He woke up suddenly. Something had disturbed his sleep! He listened carefully. There were the muted sounds of an argument coming from where the Night Decurion sat during his shift. Lucius got up and crept to the door and listened carefully. There were two voices one was Strabo the new Night Decurion and the other was Gordianus. He had obviously missed the start of the argument but his ears pricked up on what he did hear.

“..Strabo let me in to see him. Something has occurred to me about what he said earlier and I wish to follow up on it”

“Not without the Praefectus’ direct orders” replied Strabo.

“Strabo you know as well as I do that the Praefectus is too close to this. After all it was his brother”

“Are you suggesting that the Praefectus is wilfully misleading the investigation?”

“Na but he wants a certain resolution and he is ignoring everything that contradicts it. I’m not blaming him but he is only human and a family member is involved.”

Strabo snorted

“Shows how little you know the Praefectus!”

“What do you mean?” asked Gordianus

“The man who put his own father behind bars for his involvement with Falerix twenty odd years ago”

Strabo paused

“But you weren’t here then were you”

“Na, I was serving in the Army under Marius”

“So you say. Anyway the answer is still the same. You’re not having access to the prisoner”

Gordianus snarled

“You’ll live to regret that decision”

He turned on his heel and stalked out of the Watch House

Lucius moved. Strabo turned and smiled

“I thought that you were there!”

“How? Na don’t answer that. Very interesting conversation you had with Gordianus”

“Sa. I’ve never fully trusted him. He has been a good watchman but..”

“Go on” prompted Lucius

“He seems to pursue some criminals less than others even when their crimes have been more heinous. It’s as if he gives them a chance to get away before he has no option but to apprehend them”

“Interesting” mused Lucius.

“I’m also interested in the fact that you are going to regret thwarting him. I think that I’m going to have to see Decidivatus.”

Lucius sighed

“I need Gulielmus back. I can’t make any sense of this but he could”

 

[Lindseyman]

Decidivatus' Office

Lucius stood before Decidivatus’ desk. Decidivatus looked long and hard at him

“I’m afraid that the answer is no”

Lucius looked startled

“But I haven’t asked anything yet!”

Decidivatus sighed

“It is plainly obvious why you have forced yourself to come here at a time other than our usual meetings, and as I said the answer is no”

“But I can’t make head nor tail of this case and Gulielmus would be able to!”

Decidivatus smiled

“That’s better! You’re using your brain. Now what else can you tell me?”

“You’re not releasing Gulielmus because he is involved in doing something for you”

Lucius sighed

“Which is of no doubt of greater importance than this case”

He paused

“However I doubt that he is involved willingly but he saw no other suitable course of action to take”

Decidivatus positively beamed

“You have come on in leaps and bounds. You bear little resemblance to the man who started the Watch”

“Thank you, I think”

Decidivatus grew solemn

“You are right Gulielmus is involved in a very important mission for me. It is not more important than your case but it would be difficult to extract him from it without the loss of lives. Actually the two cases are interlinked and the solution of one will undoubtedly aid in the solution of the other.

However that does not aid you. I have a solution”

Decidivatus rang a bell and his secretary appeared

“Bring him here”

The secretary nodded

“This man read as much into those transcripts as did I and made very similar deductions as well. He is as intelligent as either Gulielmus or myself but has led a much less sheltered life in some respects. His family come originally from a coastal area to the east of Anderitum. They settled in Anderitum and have been involved in keeping the iron smelting in the region as a going concern. He is the younger son and not much interested in iron but joined the army and rose rapidly through the ranks. Certainly Marius thought highly of him”

Decidivatus smiled wryly

“You should have heard the screams when I detached him from the Quartermaster’s Department and brought him to work for me! Corruption in the areas under his control was non-existent. He was wasted and he has shown that by the work that he has done for me”

“So why are you seconding him to me?” asked Lucius

Decidivatus shook his head

“Na, I’m transferring him to you. You are right, you need Gulielmus to complete the team. As you can’t have him I’m giving you the next best person available. Conatus has the potential but is still a girl chasing, beer drinking youth. He needs to settle down.”

The secretary returned with the man. Lucius looked him up and down. He was of above average height, balding but with his hair cut short. What struck Lucius about him was his calm peaceful expression which belied a pair of very bright eyes and an air of restrained great intelligence.

“Praefectus, this is Christophorus”

“Christophorus, this is the Praefectus of the Watch. Now why don’t you tell us what you have deduced from the transcript that the Praefectus sent us”

 

[Lindseyman]

No comments/guesses as to whom Conatus and Christophorus are expys?

 

[clem attlee]

No comments/guesses as to whom Conatus and Christophorus are expys?

Is Conatus Endeavour Morse? Conatus attempted, ie endeavoured in the Latin.

I've really enjoyed catching up on the last ten months of this this evening. Your writing and storytelling just continue to get better.

 

[Lindseyman]

Thank you for your kind words @clem attlee .
Yes, Conatus "is " a version of Endeavor Morse.
Christophorus might become more obvious later on.

 

[perdu42]

No comments/guesses as to whom Conatus and Christophorus are expys?

He was of above average height, balding but with his hair cut short. What struck Lucius about him was his calm peaceful expression which belied a pair of very bright eyes and an air of restrained great intelligence.

Go out on a limb here... The name gives me nothing but following the lead given by @clem attlee , the description reminds me of an illustration of Sherlock Homes.

 

[Lindseyman]

Go out on a limb here... The name gives me nothing but following the lead given by @clem attlee , the description reminds me of an illustration of Sherlock Homes.

No, Gulielmus is the Holmes/Pons expy. As for Christophorus, I have used much less imagination for his name, the character upon whom he is (vaguely) based was named after a bookshop.

 

[perdu42]

No, Gulielmus is the Holmes/Pons expy. As for Christophorus, I have used much less imagination for his name, the character upon whom he is (vaguely) based was named after a bookshop.

D'oh...
(and I thought him being from Anderitum which is just on the edge of the Sussex Downs where Holmes retired to...)

 

[perdu42]

Gulielmus is obviously a Holmes/Pons expy. Decidivatus is Mycroft (I keep seeing Robert Morley as I write him, and I pinched the name from another much better thread). Lucius is Watson/Parker crossed with Lestrade with a touch of Sam Vimes and who Conatus is/will be is obvious from his name (at least to me).

D'oh... d'oh... d'oh

 

[clem attlee]

The physical description of Christophorus makes me think a bit of Adam Dalgliesh, but the name doesn't fit. Btw what does expys stand for?

 

[perdu42]

He is as intelligent as either Gulielmus or myself but has led a much less sheltered life in some respects. His family come originally from a coastal area to the east of Anderitum. They settled in Anderitum and have been involved in keeping the iron smelting in the region as a going concern. He is the younger son and not much interested in iron but joined the army and rose rapidly through the ranks.

The physical description of Christophorus makes me think a bit of Adam Dalgliesh, but the name doesn't fit. Btw what does expys stand for?

Expy = exported character.

I'm now thinking Brother Cadfael...

 

[clem attlee]

@perdu42 I think you nailed it. Christophoros in Greek is a Christ bearer. Surely that stands here for a monk. Cadfael was a former soldier turned monk and his tonsure would make him look balding. Calm and mild are attributes of monks, well of good monks.

 

[Lindseyman]

Lucius sat with Christophorus in his office. He had been amazed at the deductions that Christophorus had made from examining the transcripts of the interview and to be honest didn’t quite believe some of them. However he had had to accept the logic of the reasoning especially when Decidivatus stated that the conclusions reached were very similar to those that he had reached. The clincher for Lucius though had been when Decidivatus had added that his nephew also agreed.

That was good enough for Lucius he had just been told that Gulielmus agreed with Christophorus. So Christophorus was busy looking at some maps of Venta whilst Lucius looked at the manpower available. After about twenty minutes Christophorus had looked at Lucius with a wry smile

“So what deductions have you made about me? You have been glancing in my direction obviously trying to size me up”

“I could say the same about you” retorted Lucius.

Christophorus inclined his head

“I shall start then. You are an ex-soldier. You did not accept discipline too well especially when enforced by a senior officer whom you considered a fool. However you rose to be Commander of the Venta garrison because you are an intelligent man who can delegate effectively. You recognise your limits and this realisation was instrumental in you forming the Watch.

You inspire loyalty and men who would disregard other officers follow your lead without question”

Lucius looked at him with jaundiced eye.

“You could have picked that up whilst working for Decidivatus”

Christophorus smiled

“I could indeed some of your past history I did. However one does not become Commander of the Venta garrison as a man with your background with the street gangs without intelligence. Not accepting discipline is shown by the brand on your upper arm which has been cancelled but is still plainly visible to those who observe. There is only one so only one superior officer felt the need to punish you that severely. That you considered that officer a fool is conjecture on my part but a subsequent officer cancelled the brand which would otherwise have prevented you from rising above Centurion, so there must have been mitigating circumstances. The first officer issuing nonsensical orders and you questioning them with him being insecure and thus acting foolishly.”

“Hmm the rest?”

Recognising your limits. Well you realised that being in the army was a young man’s game but straightforward retirement would have been stultifying, so you founded the Watch. Delegating, well your use of Ianus and Gulielmus shows that you let able men have their head and don’t interfere. Inspiring loyalty I have just to mention one name Strabo.”

Christophorus looked at him

“Well what have you deduced about me?”

Lucius smiled

“I’ll leave deducting to you and Gulielmus. However although the scion of a wealthy family you worked some years as a labourer probably farm work given how your fingers have thickened. You escaped that life some years ago because your calluses have all but disappeared which is reasonable given the length of time that you worked firstly for Marius and then Decidivatus”

Lucius paused

“I used the word escaped deliberately because if I am not mistaken you have a callus on the back of your neck. Soldiers have those under their chins. Convicted felons have throat collars but they are always much wider than the neck so that they don’t rub. It was a thrall ring was it not. How long were you a Saxon slave?”

Christophorus’ eyes opened slightly

“You surprise me. Decidivatus said that you now noticed things that others didn’t. It wasn’t Saxons, they were Jutes. Not that there is a lot of difference and it was for five long years. I escaped when Ambrosius rode through to Tanatus after the slaughter at the Great Henge.”

Christophorus sighed

“I was all but killed by a Briton trying to defend some children. We were found by a wandering Monk, a Brother Nennius. He healed me and ensured that the children were found safe homes. I lived with him for two or more years learning how to keep bees and how to grow crops more effectively. I left because I grew restless and heard rumours about my family. They had long thought me dead and I was now a bit rustic for their refined tastes, so I joined up. Marius had been a friend of my father and looked out for me. I found my niche in the Quartermasters Department and rose.”

Christophorus chuckled

“I was rather too good at my job. I rather think that if Decidivatus hadn’t co-opted me after Marius went to Lindum that my life expectancy would have been months at best.”

Lucius stuck out his hand, Christophorus took it.

“I do believe that we shall work well together” remarked Lucius

“I am not Gulielmus” answered Christophorus

“Na nor do I expect you to be. Just be yourself”

 

[Lindseyman]

Venta
As the night of the raids wore on Lucius’ face grew darker and darker with anger. They were only capturing a few people and all records had been thoroughly destroyed. It was blatantly obvious that there was a spy in the organisation of the raids who had pre-warned their leaders.

To make matters worse he wasn’t sure whom it was. The two most obvious were Gordianus and Christophorus but being the most obvious didn’t mean that either of them were especially as both of them were currently in the Watch House. However he had organised something which nobody else in the watch had known about. Mind you what if members of the Lord’s Household were also involved? He shook his head. He would see.

“I’m going for a walk to clear my head” he growled

Christophorus looked at him

“Shouldn’t you take an escort?”

“If I need an escort then I’m far too old for this job” snarled Lucius

“Let him be” counselled Ianus

“He will take it out on anybody foolish enough to try attacking him. He will be back within a couple of hours in a much better frame of mind”

Lucius stomped out of the Watch House. He wandered round apparently aimlessly for about half an hour until he was satisfied that he wasn’t being followed. He then made a beeline for Livia’s brothel.

“They’re waiting for you out back” said Livia.

Lucius gave her a peck on the cheek

“Thank you”

Livia looked hard at him, pulled him to her and kissed him hard

“Take care you fool. You are going to make some powerful enemies if this goes wrong”

Lucius gently disentangled himself

“I didn’t know that you cared”

“Yes, you did!”

Livia patted him on the cheek

“Now get going”

Using a less known exit to the brothel Lucius left. He met a group of men in an alleyway.

“Ambrosius” he whispered

“Aurelianus” came the whispered reply.

Lucius grasped arms with Bors who lead the Guards whilst Artos and Bedwyr were absent.

“Are you sure about this?” whispered Bors.

“Na, but I’m going to do it anyway” replied Lucius

“This was the one place mentioned that EVERYBODY wanted me to stay well clear of when planning the raids. That has made me suspicious so..”

Bors shrugged

“Let’s get it over and done with then”

They raised their hoods and quietly moved into a more affluent area of Venta. The party split up into five groups.

“You all know the signal. Nobody move until I give it” whispered Lucius.

He waited ten minutes to give them all time to get into position and get ready, the hooted softly. Four hoots came back and he led his party through the doorway.

“You can’t come in here” blustered a servant whom Lucius assumed was the Major Domo.

“Don’t you know whose property this is?”

“Sa” replied Lucius.

“They will have your head for this” blustered the Major Domo as Lucius and his men pushed past him.

They made their way through various room as did the other raiding parties herding all before them. Luckily the building was just on one level so they didn’t have to worry about an upper floor. Finally everybody was herded into the courtyard.

Lucius smiled as he recognised several people

“Fancy meeting all of you here” he stated as he pulled down his hood.

 

[clem attlee]

A cliffhanger!

 

[A. Morgan]

A cliffhanger!

I’ve only got one thing to say. Aaaarrrrrrrgggh!

There are other words ......

Well done Lindseyman excellent update!!!!

 

[Lindseyman]

An article from the Karbrok Journal 1st April 2000

Allohistory has become popular in recent years but has been a staple of more fantastical literature since the days of the Rhumadi. Generally speaking it has been split into three overlapping types:

• Counterfactuals change an event in history (known as a Point of Departure, often abbreviated to POD) and describe what happens in the immediate aftermath of such a change (usually a period of up to 10 years or so)
• Speculative Histories are very similar but follow the changes over a period of a century or so, or are set in a period between twenty to 100 years after the change
• Fantastical Histories are spread over a much longer period of time possibly thousands of years or are set at least hundreds of years after the change.

Counterfactuals are the respectable face of Allohistories and many have been written by eminent historians and are generally accepted as a useful tool in understanding the period in question.

Speculative Histories are not as accepted by serious academic historians (at least openly) but have proved popular with certain groups. The best known example is probably “The Years of Salt” which follow the aftermath of more severe plagues in the 13th Century.

Fantastical Histories are the fringe, but do have a small following and one or two have even broken into the mainstream. An example of this is “Kaisarioniad” which follows the events 500 years following Anthony and Cleopatra having won the Battle of Actium.

The book discussed in this article manages to be all three.

“For Want of a Nail” was written by an author writing under the pseudonym of Robat Marten. The title is based upon the old saw "The wise tell us that a nail keeps a shoe, a shoe a horse, a horse a man, a man a castle that can fight."

It postulates what would have happened if instead of Vortigern slaying the Saxon leadership at the Great Henge in 451AD, it had been instead the Saxons slaying the Prydannian leadership of that time. It then follows the rise of various Saxon and Angle Lordships in Prydannia, their subjugation and marginalisation of the Prydannian culture into North West Cambria (here called Wales, a corruption of the old Ostangle term Wealasa meaning foreigner (ironic given that they are the native population!)), their near collapse under the invasions of the Vikings and then eventual conquest by a Hallian Lord (here called Frankish after the Franks, an important Germanic tribe of the 5th Century)

On its original publication it received mixed reviews. Many praised the first few chapters which dealt with the immediate aftermath of the Saxon treachery at the Great Henge. Indeed some have postulated that the author must have at least studied that period in depth, as it discusses that period in great detail.

However as the years roll by more academic reviewers disagree with the outcomes although all do, grudgingly in many cases, accept that the events do logically follow on from each other. The major sticking point seems to be the history of the man our history calls Cerdicus. Here instead of being adopted by Majorian and founding the Hallian Empire he becomes a Saxon Leader, eventually founding a Lordship of the West Saxons in what was the territory ruled by the descendants of Artos.

This had knock-ons in Europa such as the earlier conquest of Gallia by the aforementioned Franks who rise to replace the Rhumadi Empire.

The development that causes most adverse reaction is the description of the collapse of urban life under the Saxons as the old Rhumadi towns and cities are emptied by the plagues of the 6th century and never recover with the rural populations adopting the Saxon and Angle culture instead of retaining their own. This did happen to some extent in the Balkans during the Slavic invasions of the 8th and 9th centuries but never as comprehensively as described in this book.

That having been said the book reads like a more accessible academic history text book, which adds to the supposition that the author was an academic historian, even to the extent of having a rather savage critique attached as an appendix written by a fictional historian who disputes the interpretation of much that is written in the preceding volume.

“For Want of a Nail” has recently been republished by the Caedmonian Press as part of their Allohistorical Classics range. This reviewer recommends it as an interesting read although to be taken with a sizeable pinch of salt.

 

[Lindseyman]

A Fable from Alba

On the top of a high rock on the mountain known as Nepestis [1] in the land of the Picts, there stood a unicorn [2], which a white dragon [3] perceiving from the valley below, addressed her in this manner:—

"My dearest neighbour, why do you keep to that dry barren rock to feed on? Come down to this charming valley, where you can feed luxuriously upon all sorts of dainties, amongst flowers in shady groves, made fruitful by meandering brooks."

"I am much obliged to you, mistress," replied the unicorn; "perhaps you mean well, and tell me the truth, but you have very bad neighbours, whom I do not like to trust, and there are your teeth as well, so, despite your promises, I prefer staying where I am."[4]

[1] OTL Ben Nevis

[2] Although not as common as the Pictish Beast (often thought to be a seahorse or kelpie), horses were often depicted on Pictish standing stones. However the Saxons misinterpreted these as unicorns due to the stylised nature of their depictions and over the years the Silver Unicorn has become the animal associated with Alba, in the same way as the White Boar of Norsaecs, the Red Dragon of Prydannia and the Blue Lion of Prythland.

[3] Although as mentioned above the White Boar is now associated with Norsaecs, for a long time the arms also bore a White Dragon or Wyvern

[4] The origin of this fable is thought to be the continual skirmishing which took place between the Picts and the Saxons even after the arrival of the Norse. It seems to refer to the fact that those skirmishes that took place on Saxon lands ended badly for the Picts whilst those on Pictish lands did not end as badly.

NOTE: OTL this is a Welsh fable which I have adapted. I will return to Lucius soon. I have finally worked out what (and whom) he discovered and the fallout.

 

[Lindseyman]

Venta

Lucius was stood in Eucherius’ office while Eucherius ranted at him over the fallout from the raid that he and Bors had mounted. He had stopped listening after about two minutes and just let Eucherius’ anger was over him. After a while Eucherius stopped

“You’re not actually listening to me are you Praefectus”

“Pardon” replied Lucius

Eucherius sighed

“You really don’t understand the hornet’s nest that you have stirred. I have half the local dignitaries calling for your head, others demanding that you be rewarded and yet others keeping their counsel to themselves, waiting to see which way the wind blows”

Lucius just stood there still saying nothing

Eucherius continued

“The whole situation is made worse by all the evidence that you found on that raid! Life would be much simpler if you had found nothing but no you just had to find material which ties a lot of very important people into this conspiracy. Far too much for it to be just lost. I cannot even just claim that you manufactured it all, those idiots were stupid enough to put their names and seals on the material and it is all from too many sources which would be difficult to fake! Why could you just not take the hint and leave that place alone! Heaven knows I and Decidivatus were not at all subtle in implying that it should be. Not because it was unimportant but because we feared that you would find what you did!”

Lucius still stood there saying nothing

“Have you nothing to say for yourself?”

Lucius looked Eucherius in the eyes

“If I had my time again, I would still do what I did. Do you wish my resignation? If so it can be on your desk within the hour”

“What! Let you go! Leaving others to clear up this mess? Na, you are going to have to help clear it all up. You can start by sifting through all that material and deciding on a ranking system of all those involved. Well except for one, I shall have to deal with her in another way”

Eucherius breathed out

“As chance will have it, that decision will soon be out of my hands. A message has reached us from Armorica that the Lord Artos is expected back within a month. He can decide what to do with those really highly connected.”

To Lucius’ surprise Eucherius now actually smiled

“There is enough dirt here to keep certain people in line for a very long time.”

He shook his head

“How they could so wilfully misinterpret what Guitolinus wrote in his reply to their request to Cerdicus beggars belief!

Have you got what you needed to solve what happened to your brother?”

Lucius nodded

“Sa”

Eucherius nodded in his turn

“Very well. Now go before either of us does or says something really stupid.

I expect that ranking list within a week and don’t second guess me. Put it in the order that you think correct.”

Eucherius put his hands on the desk

“Despite the trouble that you have caused, and will cause, because of this raid I do actually trust your judgement in such matters as to those peoples relative importance in actual involvement. Of course that may not be the order with which they are dealt!”

Lucius threw a salute and left.

 

[Lindseyman]

Caer Ebrauc

The summer meeting of the council was full of rumours. Although Eucherius, and Decidivatus, had kept a tight a lid as possible on happenings in Venta news had got out and several of the Lords were, to say the least, rather uncomfortable about what had been discovered and whom might be implicated.

It was the evening before the day of the meeting and a few of the Lords had assembled to hold talks.

Pascent of the Silures, chuckled. Medraut of Cesrien who was sat next to him raised an eyebrow

“What is so amusing My Lord?”

Pascent drank deeply of the goblet of wine in front of him

“These fools who thought to manipulate Artos into accepting the High Kingship despite all that he had said before. They thought that by making it a done deal that he would acquiesce! Little do they know what drives him!”

“And you do My Lord?”

Pascent shook his head

“Na, I’m naught but an old tribal leader who is reaching the end of his days. I do not understand Artos’ reluctance but I accept it. There will be a High King of Britannia one day but no one here shall live to see it no matter what they wish”

Medraut looked steadily at him

“What makes you say that My Lord?”

“Medraut, you are intelligent enough to work it out, or your mother failed in her education of you.”

Pascent drank again

“And Morgause would not have done that!”

Medraut sighed

“Na, I do understand your reasoning. At some point either a Dux Bellorum or a Leader of the Council will take the title. Probably at a time of great crisis or because people will have forgotten the chaos in the days after the Eagles had flown”

Pascent nodded

“Time will do that. It dulls the memories or they fade”

Pascent waved his goblet at the others in the meeting

“Look at them all desperately trying to find out who has been implicated,”

He snorted

“They could all be up to their necks in it but Artos will do as little as he can get away with. He cannot afford for the Council to fail. If it does he will have no option but to do as they think that they wish and become High King!”

Pascent paused

“And he will not be the sort of High King that they wish! He would interfere in their lands and enforce his wishes on all, and the army would back him.”

Pascent snorted again

“Oh, he would be a “good” ruler but what of those who follow him? For every Augustus, Marcus Aurelius or Constantine there is a Caligula, Commodus or Julian!”

Pascent drank again

“Not that Julian was a bad ruler but he tried to stem the flow of the tide. Never a good idea!”

Medraut smiled wryly

“Just an old tribal leader heh?”

“I have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Also I knew both Vortigern and Catigern very well. Neither was evil, just ill-advised and in Catigern’s case stupid as well!”

He stirred and signalled a servant

“Enough of such musings. More wine!”

Whilst a servant approached, Pascent leaned forward and whispered to Medraut

“Take care young man, you play a dangerous game, much as did your father and mother. I hope for your sake that you are successful”

“I’m sure that I don’t know what you are talking about”

“Of course not. Your goblet is empty, here is the servant with an amphora. Fill up and let us drink to Artos’ continued good health”