by Griff Hosker
“Do you not follow them?” There was contempt in her voice and Aindreas had to restrain himself. He was not used to be spoken to like this by a man and certainly not a woman.
“We regroup. The King is attacking them further up and he wants us to draw them off.” The lie came easily to the treacherous warrior.
“My husband will soon drive them back and we should aid him.”
“Very well. If your forces take the right we will fight along the river bank.”
The two warbands moved forward, more cautiously this time throwing spears, hurling stones and firing arrows. The rear lines of legionaries took casualties. Those who died lay where they fell whilst the wounded were dragged to their feet slowing the column down even more. As the trail narrowed so did the frontage and this allowed the two warbands to attack the narrower flanks. When they closed with the legionaries they were defeated by the well practised and organised soldiers but they learned their lesson, withdrew and used missiles to thin the ever diminishing enemy. The half a mile the First Cohort retreated was marked with a line of bodies. Eighty men were already dead and First Spear knew they had another mile, at least before they reached the edge of the woods.
* * * * * *
Cassius slipped into the icy Tinea waiting for the flurry of arrows which would mark his demise. Perhaps the attention of the archers was on the legionaries and not on a deserter slipping away from the impending slaughter. Whatever the reason, Cassius found himself upstream and out of sight of any enemies. He headed for the right bank and climbed out of the chilly river and onto the muddy bank, into the scrubby bushes. He strung his bow and notched an arrow for now he was truly behind enemy lines. Anyone he met from now on would be an enemy. The first Selgovae to die was seeking treasure from the Votadini and Roman dead. The surprised look on his face reflected the thoughts as he died; he was amongst the dead and had not expected the living to be hunting. The shot gave Cassius confidence for the enemy on this side of the river would not be expecting an enemy to be wreaking vengeance upon them and he moved more purposefully.
The further downstream he went the more dead Romans he saw. It was a picture which reflected the battle ahead as both Romans and Votadini died and their bodies lay where they fell or struck the water and drifted ashore. He headed up the valley sides hoping that he would find a way out for some of the legionaries. He was disappointed for Lugubelenus had assembled his reserves and those who had arrived to the muster late; they were gathered towards the top of the tree line. There in the clearings towards the top of the valley sides were almost two thousand fresh warriors. Whilst neither the youngest nor the best equipped soldier, Cassius knew enough to know that these fresh reinforcements might just be the tipping point of the precariously poised battle raging below him. When they joined the fray, fresh and well armed they would tear into the tired, hungry and battle weary Romans.
Perhaps Cassius had watched and pondered for too long but he felt a sling shot flash across his horse’s rump and then heard a roar as the Votadini reserves spotted him. Kicking his horse down the slope he turned and fired an arrow at his pursuers; they slowed but then plunged on once they saw that it was but one man, and a scout at that. Cassius had the slight advantage that he was mounted and, having just climbed the valley sides, knew what to expect. Even so it was a white knuckle descent down the valley sides and fortune deserted him when his horse hit the hare hole and they tumbled down the hill. At first Cassius thought that the crack he heard was one of his own limbs breaking but when he stood he saw that his mount had broken its neck and was dying. He had no opportunity to put the beast out of its misery for the Votadini were closing in on him. He saw the icy river and, without a pause, threw himself into its bone freezing water. The current quickly took him towards the deserted camp. As the stones and arrows fell in the water about his head he ducked below the waters. It was strange to see the arrows hit the water and then slowly fall to the bottom. When he thought his lungs would burst he broke water and saw that he had been carried beyond his enemies. As he peered around he saw pockets of legionaries fighting to the death surrounded by Selgovae and Votadini who were not risking the deadly gladii but killing slowly, from a distance. Having seen the reserves, Cassius now knew that they had all the time in the world. His legs were becoming numb as he floated quickly along the sides of what had been Tamburgh. Here there were larger groups of legionaries but they too were suffering the same fate. The first real line of resistance that he saw was the valiant rearguard where First Spear Piso was leading a fighting retreat away from the river. Cassius kicked towards the bank. Even though he would have to make his way around the attacking Votadini he knew that he had to tell Piso and the Prefect of the reserves he had seen. As he left the water he wondered if his maniple had survived or was he the last of the Explorates left on the battlefield.
The air in the forest seemed strangely colder than the river and he found himself shivering as he crouched amongst the dead men at the river’s side. All eyes were looking away from this one bedraggled warrior. He had lost his helmet and looked, for all the world, like a barbarian. He stood and boldly made his way towards the rear ranks. One of the chiefs saw him and his bow. “You can thin them with that. Begin firing.”
“The bow string is wet I will go and find a dry one.”
“Aye well be quick. Our King wants these warriors dead and then we can celebrate our victory!”
As Cassius jogged away from the inquisitive chief he saw that the majority of the warriors were Selgovae and he noticed, for the first time the King of the Selgovae standing away from the battle watching with a disappointed look upon his face. He had not time to speculate for his conversation with the warrior meant that, for the time being, those who had seen him assumed he was one of their warriors. He made his way into the trees and saw the bodies of sentries and legionaries who had tried to escape that way. He realised that they would be waiting for any escaping the battle higher up and he turned to march parallel to the battle. He had to, somehow, slip through the enemy lines without being killed by his own men; it would not be easy.
He could see that the First Cohort was moving steadily towards safety but the cost could be seen in the mangled and bloodied corpses that marked their path. First Spear was trying to minimise losses by rotating those in the front line with fresher, rested men from further back but Cassius could see that the numbers of men were down to three hundred and they still had some way to go. Slipping down the slope Cassius could see the eagle still standing in the middle of the other cohorts. Its position marked the presence of the Prefect. The two groups of legionaries were less than half a mile apart and Cassius wondered if First Spear knew that. Joined the two elements might stand more chance of survival. He took his chance and went to the flanks of the Roman line. The Selgovae allowed him through when they saw his bow and he reached the second rank of the barbarian line. A warrior reeled back, his face a bloody mask and the warrior next to Cassius pointed at the huge centurion who had just despatched his comrade. “Take that big bastard out and we stand a chance!”
Cassius saw his opportunity, “Get me to the front rank and I can’t miss.”
“You’re a brave bugger. They could hit you with a javelin.”
“I’ll take my chance.” As he was pushed to within twenty paces of the waiting Romans he saw the front rank readying their spears. His fate was in the hands of the Allfather and he jumped forwards, rolling to the ground and shouting,”Explorate! Coming in!” As soon as he spoke in Latin the Selgovae realised they had been tricked and surged forward. The Centurion recognised Cassius and, with the two men next to him, stepped forward and raised their shields to allow Cassius to roll and rest at their feet. The Selgovae fell on to the spears of the Roman line and soon retreated away from the sharp tips of the gladii which had thinned those eager to get to Cassius.
Cassius stood. “Thank you Centurion.”
The Centurion spat a gob of blood at the dead Selgovae. “I have no idea why you have ret
urned to this killing ground. Were I an Explorate I would be away and gone.”
Cassius shrugged, “You fight in line. This is what we do.”
The legionary standing next to the Centurion grinned, “Mad buggers, the lot of you.”
“I need to find First Spear.” Cassius could see Piso directing the fighting and he ran next to him.
“Ah Explorate. Do you have good news for me? Are the auxiliaries already on their way?”
“Sorry First Spear, no. The enemy have a reserve of at least fifteen hundred fresh men and they are ready to fall on you. I would suspect they will slip over the river after dark.” Piso nodded as though the news was to be expected. “But the good news is the Prefect and the other cohorts are only half a mile ahead and the enemy is thin between.”
Piso’s face lit up with hope for the first time. He turned to the Centurion of the third century. “Keep falling back slowly but be ready to move quickly when I give the command.” The Centurion did not know what Piso intended but anything was better than dying piece by piece. “You Explorate come with me. That bow of yours might help us.”
The two of them made their way through the First Cohort. In the middle were the capsarii and vexillifers tending to the wounded and then they reached the spear point, the fifth century hacking their way forwards. Cassius pointed, “See there is the eagle.”
Beyond the Votadini they could just see the eagle waving not five hundred paces away. First Spear clapped Cassius on the back. “You start picking off their bigger warriors.” To the legionaries around him he roared. “Right ladies! We are going to make it to the eagle in double time. Right?”
There was a roar as the legionaries responded; as they could now just see the eagle they had a focal point then they pushed forward, powered by the sight of their powerful emblem. Those in the Tenth Cohort who were at the rear of the prefect’s column heard the roar and saw the standard of the First Cohort. The Senior Centurion shouted to his men. “Stop retreating, push forwards towards the First!”
The combined efforts of the First, the Tenth and the accurate use of Cassius’ bow brought together the legion for the first time that day. The disheartened barbarians pulled back, disappointed that they had not defeated the Romans in one day. As Lugubelenus pulled his men back to form a defensive ring the Prefect breathed a little easier. They had survived the first day. But with no food, increasing casualties and no sign of relief, would they last a second?
The Prefect greeted Piso like a long lost son. “Well done First Spear. We have made it part of the way at least.”
First Spear looked around at the shattered and exhausted bodies. “But at what cost Prefect. If they come in the night then it will go ill with us.”
The Prefect went from elated to deflated in the blink of an eye. “I had hoped that they would rest. They must be as exhausted as we.”
Piso nodded at Cassius. “The Explorate has some unwelcome news which will change that view.”
“Sorry sir but there are at least fifteen hundred reserves across the river and they are eager to have their own piece of Rome.”
“Like those you mean?”
The Prefect pointed up the hill where the eyeless skulls of the Hunni seemed to laugh at them. “So the Legate and his men did not escape then? There is an Explorate trick you could try sir.” The Prefect and Piso looked interested. “When we are out in pairs we know that we both cannot sleep and so one watches whilst the other sleeps. When the watcher becomes tired he wakes his partner and so on. Neither gets a full night’s sleep but you are at least refreshed.”
First Spear nodded his thanks, “Seems worth a try sir. I’ll tell the centurions.”
When Piso busied himself organising the defence the prefect took Cassius to one side. “I am afraid you will get little rest tonight. I would like you, and your two Explorates…”
Cassius face lit up like a beacon. “Two still live? Which ones?”
The prefect smiled, for the first time in a long time; the affection of the officer for his men was quite touching and renewed the Prefect’s hope in men. “The two boys; they were just behind the Sixth the last time I saw them. I would like the three of you to find out where the forest ends for if we are spared this night then I want to make a rapid push to get into the open. It will give us our best chance of survival.” He looked gloomily at the forest which hid the barbarians, all of them intent on slaughter. “However slim that chance is…”
“I will fetch the boys and we will devise a plan.”
“Cassius! You live!”
“We thought you might have... you know.”
“I understand what you are saying Marcus but someone was looking out for me. Never underestimate the power of the Allfather and our dead comrades.” He looked around as though his other comrades might materialise. “I see none of the others have returned?”
“No sir, but you never know they might have reached safety.”
Although Cassius hoped that was the case he was not confident. He had been lucky and, but for the proximity of the legion and First Spear, he too would have perished. “The Prefect wants us to scout the tree line.” The two young Explorates faces showed none of the fear they both felt. They had seen many brave and strong men die that day and knew this was not a game. “I think that if you two can cause a diversion by shooting their sentries then I should be able to slip through the line.”
“The trouble is sir we are out of arrows.”
“So am I, Macro.” Cassius looked around as a capsarius tended to a wound. As he did so he noticed the arrows which had been removed from some of the patients. “Go around the men and find any arrows. There will be some stuck in shields. I will try to get some from outside.”
Cassius went to the line of watching legionaries. “I am just going to crawl out and collect some arrows. When I return I will say ‘Cassius’ so that you know it is not a Votadini.”
“Rather you than me. I would watch out, some of them were playing dead. The Centurion just finished them off.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
Cassius lay on the ground allowing his eyes to accustom themselves to the dark. He could see the untidy shapes of the bodies of those who had fallen and he slithered forwards, mindful of the legionary’s comments. He found the first body and he explored it with his hand feeling revulsion when he found the open wound of the sword thrust. The first body had no bounty and no head the legionary having been decapitated by a war axe. By the time he had investigated three bodies he began to despair of finding any arrows. He had more luck with the next man, it was a legionary and three arrows were protruding from the scutum. He managed to get two out without breaking them. He suddenly smelled horse; to a cavalryman it was as distinctive a smell as one could ever wish for. He crept closer to the dead beast and found that it was one of the Hunni ponies. He felt around for the saddle and, to his delight found a quiver full of the unique Hunni arrows; longer than the Roman ones fletched with a larger feather. He slipped the quiver from the horse and began to make his way down the slope. The moon which had been hidden behind a cloud suddenly came out and the light seemed to bathe the battlefield with an unnatural brightness. He froze and hoped that he would not be spotted by a hawk eyed sentry.
He heard a movement behind him and a sixth sense caused him to roll to the side. The spear plunged harmless into the earth by his head. He swung both his legs around in an arc and the warrior who had seized the opportunity to kill a Roman, had his feet taken from him. Cassius did not waste a moment and sprang to his feet. He didn’t waste time by turning his head for the whiteness of his face would have made him a better target than the darker back of his head. He heard feet pounding on the pine straw as they chased after him and then he saw the dark line of shields which marked safety. Yelling, “Cassius!” he threw himself to the floor and the four warriors who were chasing him ran into the swords of the waiting legionaries.
“Thanks lads, I owe you.”
The lugubrious legionary sn
iffed and said, “Four less for us to kill in the morning.”
Marcus and Macro had also acquired arrows and they found that they had thirty between them. They returned to the Prefect. “You just need to know where the trees end then. Do you want me to go beyond the trees to scout the ground there?”
“No Cassius. Once we are out of the trees then we can move in formation, we could even do as Caesar did in Alexandria and have a giant testudo. No the hard part will be fighting our way to the open. You need to get as much intelligences as you can. Remember we want the most open route.”
“Right.” He turned to the boys. “I will use the Explorate trick of marking the trees.”
Marcus looked at him apprehensively, “Why are you telling us that?”
Macro said, “It is in case he doesn’t make it back then someone else can read the sign.”
“I will be back but it doesn’t do to make assumptions. Now you two, take no chances. Keep three or four arrows each. We will need them tomorrow. Stay together and stay hidden.”
Macro murmured, “Sounds like Mother when we were little.”
“You’ll do. Now the moon has gone behind a cloud again. Let’s go.”
The three of them slipped out of the gap in the shield wall. Macro and Marcus went ahead, their eyes flicking from side to side as they sought the enemy and Cassius followed. They moved carefully over the corpse littered field. Cassius crouched as the two boys moved to his right and notched arrows; the two of them crept forwards. He knew when they had sighted their targets for, as one they raised their bows and fired and then slipped away to their right. Cassius remained still as the two screams from the dying warriors was heard. He heard the flight of two more arrows and then there was a commotion in front of him as two warriors stepped from behind a tree and ran towards the commotion and chaos caused by the two Explorates. Praying that they would be safe Cassius ran towards the gap created by the departing sentries. He stopped and looked around. There were just the two trees close by and they were the ones used by the sentries. He took out his knife and made a mark in one of them. Moving quickly on he found that the trees were thinning rapidly and he had happened upon the perfect escape route for the legion. He marked the next tree and a third and then suddenly there was a hedgerow before him. He turned to orientate himself with the last tree he had marked and made another mark, to be visible from the hedge side. He moved along the hedge to the south as the slight slope ran that way. He was looking for either a gap or a low part which could easily be crossed. He found nothing. He returned to the marked tree and examined the hedgerow more closely. He saw that it was rowan and elder rather than hawthorn or blackthorn. He took out his knife and tentatively tried to cut it. The soft wood did not resist his blade. The barrier was not a barrier; it was a cloak hiding freedom and could be ripped apart by the Roman gladii.
