Vengeance by S.J.A. Turney

Author:S.J.A. Turney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: history, ancient, charity, rome, roman, legion
Publisher: S.J.A. Turney

Chapter 8

Valens woke with a start, his hand going straight to the hilt of the sword that lay beside him. As reality crashed in on his groggy world, despite everything he felt a selfish and idiotic draw to stay in his cot, as warm and comfortable as it was possible to be in this place. He cursed himself as the insistent ringing of the alarm bell cut through the fuzz and pulled him into true wakefulness.

He’d not intended to fall asleep. He’d meant to change his sodden tunic and have a few moments of peace to marshal his thoughts and then return to the outside world. The next thing he knew he was waking up. Leaping from the bed, he slid his sword into the scabbard and fastened it round his waist. At least he’d changed his clothes for dry ones before he fell asleep, and now he found his second best boots and dress cloak, both of which were fresh and dry, and pulled them on, finally grasping his staff of office before emerging from his room at the end of the barrack block.

The snow had stopped. In a moment of gods’ blessing, the clouds had raised just a little and the blizzard had let up. He wondered how long he’d slept as he peered at the deep crunchy snowfall outside his door. There was no sign of the footprints his earlier arrival, certainly. He set off at speed and was rounding the end of the block just as the soldier sent to fetch him appeared.

‘Belliacus?’ the optio asked.

‘Yes sir. They’re coming again.’

Hurrying on in the bitter cold, but grateful that for now only his boots would get soaked, the optio reached the steps and hurried up onto the south wall, where he could see the veteran standing beside Rubellius, the man in the corner turret still clanging the bell. Behind Valens, two men shambled along the street carrying a box towards the gate and struggling under the weight. Valens ignored them for now, as he reached the parapet and peered out across the vicus.

Little remained of the conflagration. The buildings were now largely charred timber bones, with dying embers burning in their hearts, and so they caused little trouble for the natives who were, as the soldier had said, coming again. Now that the buildings were not in the way and the snow had let up, he had a much clearer view of the enemy. They were fewer than the thousands he had felt were there last time, but still they numbered around three hundred at a rough estimate, which made the odds ten to one. Not good.

‘Are we ready?’ he asked Belliacus.

‘As we can be. You’d best take control now.’

Valens nodded and looked at the mass who were moving through the burned-out village. ‘Ready pila, darts, arrows or whatever you have; rocks if you have to. The moment they’re at a range you’re confident of, loose at will. When they touch the wall, prepare to fight for your life.

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