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

alive.”
    Ninian was confident that his four thousand men would be victorious. He could see from the walls that barely a hundred men remained twenty five per wall. His decision to send the other six thousand to meet the relief column was a wise one. The four hundred men on the far side of the fort, hidden in the forests would ensure that any survivors would be dealt with. “Forward.” The line of blue painted warriors moved slowly across the battlefield still littered with the detritus of the previous day’s conflict. There was no need to rush for they did not have to run the gauntlet of missile fire and they would arrive fresher.  They had also learned that the auxiliaries preferred their enemies to come at them piecemeal. Today would be won by weight of numbers.
    The pall of smoke from the burning camp was behind the advancing barbarians but the ones at the rear could smell the smoke. They feared some trick by the Romans and paid it no mind.  The first they knew of their danger was when they felt the thud of arrows into backs and the shouts as men fell. The attack by Marcus’ Horse coincided with the roar as Ninian’s men leapt forward and the buccina sounded. The Caledonii were perplexed; had the Romans retreated and were attacking the defenders placed on the far side of the fort?
    Decius heard the buccina and shouted over to Macro. “Looks like some are still alive. Sweep your turma around the left flank. See if you can turn them.” Macro nodded and his turma swept majestically and magnificently in a line to the left. The first of the ala’s javelins were now raining home. The Caledonii were climbing over the crumbling wooden walls. Decius shouted to his aquifer, “Sound the buccina. Let ‘em know we are coming.” The strident notes of the buccina echoed across the field and those warriors still to cross the wall looked around in panic. The spathas of the ala cut and hacked the unarmoured bodies of those to their front for the armoured warriors were already climbing the walls.
    Inside the fort Marius looked at Gnaeus. “Was that a Roman horn?”
    “Aye but it is coming from the wrong direction. “
    “Do you think they have captured one and playing tricks with our minds?”
    Gnaeus shook his head. “You have to be trained to play one of these. A Roman blew that.  We might just survive yet old friend.” With renewed heart and optimism they fought even harder.
    Marius shouted his order as the first wave of warriors surged over the wall destroying whole chunks in the process. “Lock shields. Go for the legs first.” The men who were heading towards him were dressed in captured Roman mail and Lorica segmenta. Some also had helmets which meant they were almost as well protected as the auxiliaries. Romans knew how to defeat such warriors. Go for the legs and when they fell, the unprotected neck. Although tired with arms heavy with fatigue, the auxiliaries performed like a well oiled machine and the first Caledonii fell to the waiting gladii. Some of the warriors at the back began hurling their war hammers and this began to take its toll as the heavy weapons of war struck shields and helmets, incapacitating all that they struck. The second ranks stepped up to take the place of fallen comrades but the weight of warriors was taking its toll and the depleted Roman ranks became even thinner.
    Macro had taken his turma to the very edge of the barbarian attack.  When they wheeled to charge those on the left of the Caledonii line found themselves assaulted and attacked by men from the flank and the rear.  It was too much for unarmoured men and they began to flee towards their comrades in the middle.  It was a confused mass of men who were trying to escape the vengeful Roman blades. They became compacted and the arrows began to fell more men as every arrow found a target.  Some of the warriors evaded the Roman line and ran back to the safety of the tree line.  Their escape was short lived for Decurion Cilo and