Centurion (c-8) by Simon Scarrow

Author:Simon Scarrow [Scarrow, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adv_history

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Macro felt a chill clamp round the back of his neck as he heard Cato's cry. Instantly, he turned and bellowed towards Balthus and his men. 'Stop! Cease shooting!' He gestured frantically towards the dim figures sheltering behind their round shields. 'They're on our side!'

Balthus lowered his bow and shouted an order to his men and they followed suit, easing the tension on the nocked arrows. Satisfied that the danger was over Macro thrust his way through the front ranks, and started running up the hill towards his friend, bellowing the order for the column to continue their advance towards the citadel.

'Cato! Cato! Where are you, lad?' Macro slowed as he approached the men warily rising up from behind their shields. One man was down, lying flat on his back and quite still, shot through the throat by an arrow. Another man lay on the ground clutching the shaft that had pierced his thigh. A third man was wounded in the shoulder and was being helped up by one of his comrades who had already pulled the arrow free.

'Cato?'

A face turned towards him, and in the growing light Macro felt a wave of relief wash through him as he recognised his friend. He forced a laugh.'Might have guessed that you'd be lucky enough to dodge those arrows.'

Cato's expression remained grim. 'It's a bloody miracle that any of us are still standing.'

'Well,' Macro waved his hand dismissively, 'we were hardly expecting to see friendly faces before we reached the citadel. In any case, it's easy to mistake friend for foe in the darkness, as we all know.'

Cato stared coldly at him for a moment and Macro fervently wished he had not said what he had. He stepped forward and reached down towards the man Cato was helping. 'I'll take his other side.'

'No, wait.'

But Macro had already slipped his hand under the man's arm and lifted him with a powerful heave. The mercenary rose to his feet with an agonised groan and Macro saw that the stump of the shaft still protruded from the wound where it had snapped off.

'Ah, sorry, mate. Couldn't see it there.'

The mercenary clenched his teeth together and rolled his eyes as he fought back the agony burning through his shoulder.

Cato shook his head. 'Nice going, sir.'

'Only trying to help.' Macro's tone was momentarily surly.'Anyway, what's the situation and what the hell are you doing wearing that get-up?'

'I'd hardly be able to sneak into Palmyra with Roman kit, would I? In any case,' Cato looked away as he supported Archelaus, 'I wanted to be there to make sure the relief column reached the citadel safely.'

Macro was deeply moved by his friend's concern for his safety, and then felt a surge of embarrassment. At once he tried to push the feeling aside before Cato could guess at it. He turned away to urge the relief column to pick up its pace before he could trust himself to address Cato again.

'These Greeks of yours look tough enough. I assume there's more like 'em in the citadel.

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