Slaves of Fear: A Land Unconquered by James Mace

Author:James Mace [Mace, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Legionary Books
Published: 2016-04-23T23:00:00+00:00

The following day, many of the wounded who were unable to walk were loaded into supply wagons. Others had makeshift stretchers made from their cloaks with javelins used for poles. These were dragged behind their pack animals or by fellow soldiers.

Scapula first thought to crucify all of the enemy prisoners. However, with Caratacus long gone, there was no one to terrorize with the image of crucified warriors. He opted instead to have his men cut their throats and leave the carcasses to rot in the sun. The one exception was the treacherous Oelwein, who had survived an arrow to the back. The governor ordered him savagely flogged and then hung from a cross along the shoreline of the lake.

It took the better part of the day to make their way around the hills to the west following the river. They soon came to an open plane approximately two miles from the sea. The army was able to spread out into several columns, and they followed the coast another few miles before camping for the night.

Though there was at least another month of warm weather before the autumn rains, there was a sense of relief among the soldiers of Scapula’s column. Scouts reported no signs of the barbarians since the Battle of Trawsfynydd, as it was now called. The terrain along the sea was a lot more open, negating any attempt for the enemy to set an ambush.

The following day they reached a tidal river so wide they had to make their way several miles inland, hugging a range of steep hills before finding a viable fording point. Still, there was no sign of Caratacus. It would be another two days before they reached their destination. Along the way they burned two settlements, taking at least a hundred sheep and other forms of livestock.

By midday, scouts had reached another large tidal river, with a large beach and wide open hills to the east. With only grass, scrub brush, and various white and yellow flowering plants, it was the perfect place for the vast army to encamp.

“At least there won’t be any nasty surprises from Caratacus,” General Paetus observed as he, Paulinus, and Scapula sat astride their horses on a modest hill overlooking the region. The legate turned to Scapula. “Governor, are you not well? Your face is rather pale.”

“I haven’t slept in days,” he confessed. “Not since Caratacus got the jump on us. And I wasn’t resting well even before then. We’ve had no contact with the rest of the province. I fear for what may have transpired during our absence. Will the restless provincials attempt some sort of uprising, what with half our armed forces trapped within enemy territory? And what about the constant troubles in Brigantes?”

“You’ve left your deputies in command,” Paulinus reassured him. “When a province is at war, it is the governor’s duty to be with his men. That being said, it would probably be best if you returned to Camulodunum for the winter. Not much you can do from here.

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