Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 04] Roman Retreat Read Online Free Page A

death.  No-one is coming to aid them.  There are warbands to the south of the fort watching for the relief column and we will end their resistance in our first attack.” He looked around the war bands and saw, with some sadness that many of his oath kin had died in the terrible fighting of the previous day. The Romans had fought well and not yielded a single piece of their fort. Some of his younger warriors looked less confident and that was no bad thing for it would make them better warriors in the future. “Today, when we attack, there will be no arrows, no missiles.  There will be no fire and the spiked ditch is no more.  We will push down their flimsy wooden wall and fight them man to man and this time, my brothers, we will win. When we have destroyed this fort and the Romans who come to their aid we will join with my father, King Calgathus, and fall upon the rest of the Romans like wolves upon sheep. We will retake our land and then take the land the Romans stole from the Brigante, the Novontae and the Carvetii.  We will not stop until they are driven all the way back to Rome.”  This time it was the Batavians who heard the cheers and then they saw the hordes of Caledonii marching in step from the woods.  Those who had shields were banging their swords against them; the noise seemed to increase the size and numbers of those coming towards them.
    Inside the fort soldiers clasped hands with comrades and prepared to sell their lives dearly. Marius’ voice boomed out as he gave his last order. “Centurions I want one man in two in the centre of the camp.  Those on the walls, when the buccina sounds, retreat to the centre.  We will make a shield wall and make them pay a high price for this little piece of worthless land.” He turned to Gnaeus the aquifer.  “Watch for my signal. I only want them close enough to the walls so that they are committed to the attack.”
    “You think that a shield wall will hold them?”
    Marius shrugged.  “I would prefer legionary shields but it does give us the best chance we have. Fate has loaded these dice against us Gnaeus but we must play with what we have.”
    Marius’ Horse had made it through the forests to appear behind the Caledonii. Macro and his scouts returned. “They have a camp a mile into the forest.”
    “Are there warriors?”
    “A few and old men and some women and children. They have carts and draught animals.”
    Decius nodded.  “So they plan on advancing further south. Decurion Cilo.  Take your turma and destroy the camp burn everything.” He paused and looked significantly at the Decurion. “Kill everybody.” The soldier opened his mouth as though to speak but Decius continued. “I know it goes against the grain but our arses are hanging out here. We may not survive the day.  Do you want this army unleashed on the rest of the province?” Cilo shook his head.  Decius glared around at the rest and they all shook their heads. “Right and when we go in I want no mercy.  We haven’t got that luxury.  Our only chance is to surprise them, get the cohort out and meet up with Prefect Strabo. That is the only way we will survive. We go in two lines.  The second line will be made up of archers.  Tell the lads to wait until the arrows have hit before they give their war cry and then hit them.” It was a mark of the training of the ala that Decius did not need to say when their arrows would be loosed.  Each man knew that.
    “Usual formation?” Macro looked questioningly at Decius. Since Gaius had inherited the sword of Cartimandua his turma had led the line from the centre. The ala regarded it superstitiously as a sign of good fortune whilst the men of the Second Turma regarded it as a mark of honour.
    Decius grinned at Gaius. “Usual formation. Keeps me safer a bit longer. Decurion Cilo when you have fired the camp follow up and mop up any survivors. If we come through this we will meet at the Batavian camp and see who is left