Legionary

Chapter 54

Balamber roared the horde onwards, who cheered in reply like an innumerable pack of starved wolves. They had formed now into two loose wings, numbering nearly ten thousand each, and the ground rumbled violently as they made their way towards the network of hills and valleys. Balamber rode beside the turncoat foederati captain, who was explaining the situation with the legion as he fingered the gold cross hanging around his neck.

‘The valley is steep and narrow, but flat at its bottom. At either end you will have a plain large enough to swamp them and block their escape,’ he purred, pointing to the hills by the coast. ‘Their column is perfect for a flanking strike — we will cut through them like a knife through oil.’

‘This tribunus, Nerva, he will not suspect?’ Balamber asked.

‘Absolutely not,’ the foederati captain affirmed. Then his eyes dropped from the stern gaze of Balamber. ‘Nerva is a spent commander. Good in years past, but now he relies too much on those outdated glories. His keenness of instinct is gone and he’ll lead them blindly into your hands…and onto your spear tips!’

Balamber continued to stare at the foederatus after he fell quiet. ‘Something else you want to tell me?’ He asked quietly.

The Goth’s eyes widened and he licked his lips. ‘The rider, Horsa,’ the foederati captain answered grudgingly, ‘he presumed to lead us. But he’s an excellent rider. If your men don’t catch him and he returns to the legion first to warn them…’

‘You’ve seen the skills of my riders. Do you think any man could outrun them, or avoid their arrows for that matter?’ Balamber growled inside as he remembered the blubbering excuses from Apsikal.

‘Of course not, Noble Balamber,’ he replied sheepishly.

‘And in any case, the final piece of the jigsaw is nearly in place, is it not?’

The foederatus looked puzzled momentarily, then a grin curled across his features. ‘Indeed, Noble Balamber. Contact has been made. They will be in place at the allotted time.’

‘Excellent. This XI Claudia will be crushed from every direction.’ Balamber turned to face the rolling landscape in front of them. ‘When this Roman legion is destroyed, we will descend onto the great River Danubius. There they have left themselves stretched and vulnerable. We will flood into their proud cities, bearing their precious standards with their tribunus’ heads upon them. Their walls will tumble and their blood will stain the streets. Before the winter falls twice more, I will sit on the throne of the empire. Tengri wills it from his realm of the sky.’ He pulled a handful of the gold crosses from his purse. ‘Some in this scheme believe they are the puppet master when they are in fact the puppet.’ The foederati captain nodded, his eyes glimmering at the treasure. ‘Don’t concern yourself over the whole affair, rider. All you need to know is that when I have achieved this, you and your warriors will form a new wing in my armies.’ He traced a finger along the edge of one cross. ‘Who can stop me,’ he grinned, ‘when I have a path into the Roman heartlands paved with gold from God himself?’