The Captive Celt Read online

  “No, but I don’t want to see a kind friend like you die, Deri. Now, speak to the emperor for me.”

  EIGHT

  Caratacus told me what to say. Many years later, the writer Tacitus put the great speech in a book. But the words came from my lips. As Caratacus spoke, I changed the words into Latin.

  “I am a great lord in Britannia. If I had been greater in battle, I would be here now as a friend not a prisoner. I would have come here in peace. But I stand here in disgrace, and you stand here in glory. I had horses, men, arms, and wealth; you cannot blame me if I fought to keep them. Not all beaten people wish to be your slaves. If I had just given in, you would not have had any glory. Now, you have defeated a hero.”

  The great senators of Rome muttered as if they agreed. Then Caratacus said something as mad as it was daring.

  “If you keep me alive, then all the world will see how great I was … and how great Rome must be to capture me!”

  There was silence. Then the ugly little emperor laughed aloud. The lords joined in and then began to clap and cheer.

  “A brave speech, Caratacus. And it’s true what you say. We will let you live. We will give you a house in Rome and the sort of wealth you are used to.”

  I told Caratacus what the emperor had said and he gave his reply. “I want just one thing, Emperor Claudius … I want this boy Deri as my slave.”

  My heart swelled so large I swear it choked my throat and made my eyes water.

  “No!” came the shrill voice of a girl from the back of the senate. “He insulted me – he insulted Rome – he must die!”

  It was the cruel Livia.

  The emperor frowned at the senator, Livia’s father. “Take the child home and give her a good whipping,” he ordered.

  My master … my old master … bowed quickly and hurried off to take the raging girl home.

  My new master, Caratacus, took me to the mansion the Romans gave him.

  So was I still a slave?

  No. Caratacus didn’t treat me as a servant, but as a son. He taught me all the skills of fighting that had made him such a great warrior. I learned quickly.

  Then, three years later, when I was older and stronger, Caratacus let me slip away one night and take the road back to Britannia. My master was lost to the fight for freedom, but I could carry it on.

  One day, Boudica and our Iceni will rise up and carry on the fight against the Roman enemies. We will never give in. Never.

  AFTERWORD

  The boy Deri did not exist. But Caratacus and the Roman emperor Claudius did.

  Caratacus was betrayed by Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes tribe. He was taken to Rome in chains. Just when he was expected to die, he made that famous speech in the senate and Claudius spared him.

  Nine years later, in AD 60, Queen Boudica led a rebellion against the Romans with her Iceni tribe. Many Romans in Britain were massacred. But in the end the Romans won.

  They stayed until about AD 409. The city of Rome was under attack and the Romans in Britain were sent back to fight for their city. They never returned.

  By then the Christian religion had come to Britain, and the druid religion died away. There would be no more spilling of guts … you’ll be pleased to hear!