The Carpathian Interlude by Adam Alexander Haviaras

Author:Adam Alexander Haviaras [Haviaras, Adam Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781988309101
Publisher: Eagles and Dragons Publishing

* * *

If there had been any doubt that the group was going the wrong way, that doubt was dispelled when they reached the forest floor once more.

Dim daylight revealed a trail of Roman dead - pieces of broken bones, armour, torn scraps of red standards, pila, and the corpses of pack horses.

Gaius had the men move on foot through the detritus of three legions. The torn and scattered remains of men was more than he had seen on any campaign.

“We should bury them, Centurion,” Caelius whispered when they stopped.

“No time,” Gaius answered, as much as he felt the urge to do just that. “We have to find Varus and the rest of the legions’ officers.”

Tertius picked up a helmet with a head still in it and dropped it when maggots writhed out at the edges.

“Some of this was done with a blade, sir.” Vitorix said, pointing to a grouping of cleanly severed bodies. “Not all lykoi…which means-”

“They’ll be out in daylight,” Calgacus finished.

Everyone looked to the trees, their shields at the ready.

Gaius noticed several scuta with their leather covers still on. “Ambushes,” he said. “The whole way. They didn’t even have time to uncover their scuta.”

“These would have been un-liftable with the leather soaked through with rain,” Antonius added.

Daxos tugged on Gaius’ cloak and pointed to the shade of an optio whose ribs splayed open from his bloody chest.

The wraith was screaming and pointing down the path.

Gaius and Daxos could not hear what the man was saying, but he pointed emphatically down a path deeper into the forest.

“Let’s keep moving,” Gaius ordered, and pulled on his horse’s bridle. “Daxos, keep your helmet on, and your pugio drawn.”

The boy drew his blade as they passed between two tall boulders and on into the woods. The men had all been training him sporadically but he still felt nervous holding the Roman blade.

The forest was silent.

Gaius tried to plan for darkness. He knew now that they could not move at night, as that would risk them being hunted by the lykoi. They needed an advantage and perhaps Daxos was somehow a key to that advantage; the lykoi had left him alone, after all.

There was a sudden whistling sound, as though the air had been cut.

Gaius felt his head spinning and struggled to rise. He saw Daxos mouthing frantic words, but the boy sounded like he was under water. Then Gaius’ horse reared and a spear protruded from its belly.

“Centurion!” Daxos yelled more clearly. “Attack!”

Gaius scanned around to see barbarians rushing from the foliage and undergrowth, their faces muddy and howling.

“Shield wall!” Gaius ordered and his men surrounded him. Two, then three more horses went down.

Vitorix clung to the reins of the two horses carrying the scorpions and spare bolts and arrows, while Saguntus held onto the two carrying the naphtha jars.

“How many?” Gaius shook his head as he stared at Antonius.

“Fifteen maybe.”

“Yeah!” They heard Calgacus cry out.

“Make that fourteen,” Antonius corrected.

Now that the Romans had overcome the initial surprise, the Germans held back among the trees launching spears and sling stones.

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