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  “Caros, welcome! I had hoped you would reach us before we taught those thieving crows a painful lesson!”

  Alugra was popular among the Bastetani people and his village had grown and seeded several smaller villages through his skilful leadership. Not many graybeards would have been able to field a column of sixty well-armed warriors so quickly. Alugra’s skill as a warrior was well-known and his reputation as a fierce enemy went a long way to preventing continuous strength-sapping raids on his territory by enemy war bands. Caros expected that the chief would pursue the Arvenci with a vengeance, not just to avenge the attack against a friendly neighbouring settlement, but in the interests of protecting his own reputation and honour. “I’ve buried my family and settled affairs with the elders. Now my falcata hangs at my side thirsting for a taste of their blood.” Caros gave the chief a cold smile to reinforce the ancient warrior mantra and then smiled more warmly at the other horsemen, “Greetings.” The men nodded their greetings to Caros.

  Alugra motioned to him to ride beside him. “Come on, ride beside me. I am hoping we get news of their movements before nightfall.” He urged his horse along the trail with Caros keeping pace.

  “Have they been sighted?”

  “The only people who have seen them are a couple of hill shepherds. Seems they have all the plunder they can manage. They are avoiding settlements now and pushing hard to outdistance us.”

  “Murdering thieves!” Caros spat into the undergrowth beside the trail. “They will stop at some point, they have to as they are at least five or more days journey from their lands.”

  “That they will, son. Before then, they will scatter into still smaller groups as they near their lands and as each group makes their way to their settlement.”

  Caros found himself partly resenting Alugra’s calm. “They are more than a band from one village then?”

  “From the tracks and fires, there are more than two hundred of them. Not many settlements that can boast that many warriors.” He noticed Caros glance back at the less than seventy men Alugra had in his column and gave a barking laugh, “What do you see there, Caros?” Alugra asked with a wide grin.

  Caros felt his cheeks burn and feared Alugra would think him afraid. “Er, your warriors. Though they are less than half the numbers of the Arvenci.”

  “That is right, son. Good to know you trader types can count and do sums.” His face serious a heartbeat later, he looked hard at Caros. “Anyway, why did you think I was so glad to see you and that falcata of yours?”

  Caros’ jaw dropped open in shock. Alugra retained his sombre expression for three more paces before laughing out loud and he was joined by those riders nearby who had heard the exchange.

  Caros shut his mouth with a snap and after a moment managed a smile in return. He did not mind a good laugh at his expense occasionally and he could laugh at himself as easily as the next man.

  He assumed a nonchalant expression. “Well, I am known to have a half-decent sword arm and there are few men who can launch a javelin as far and true as I.” He shrugged, enjoying the look of surprise that swept over Alugra’s face. The graybeard glanced back at his leading men, as hard a group of riders as you could expect in this part of the land. They looked on dumbfounded at Caros. Now that he had them thinking he thought they really needed him, he could enjoy the joke more and did so, laughing out loud.

  Alugra shook his head, grinned and laughed with him. “Young cock!” Caros felt his mood lighten and it occurred to him why Alugra the leading man he was. He could lift his men’s morale when it flagged and ease tensions before they escalated. They rode south, the sun bisecting the western sky, and the land rose and fell gently about them. In the far distance they could occasionally see the fractionally darker blue of the sea between hazy, grey hills.

  Towards dusk the scouts ranging ahead began reappearing. These did not ride back to the column, instead they simply waited alongside the trail for the column to reach them. Caros’ stomach lurched each time he saw a stationary horse and rider in the distance. This was not a good sign. If they had had news, they would have come galloping back.

  Alugra greeted each as they approached and the scouts shrugged and told the same tale. The Arvenci were moving at speed, always south. Alugra decided to set camp at the approaching watercourse. They could see the darker green vegetation that mimicked some small stream’s sinuous course through the hills. Caros was disappointed, but he knew that realistically it could take days to overtake the Arvenci if they were no longer stopping to plunder and especially if they suspected they were being pursued. The chief had explained why he was not concerned about the numerical superiority of the enemy during the afternoon’s trek. Many of the raiders were most probably boys just bordering on manhood. As a fighting force they would be fickle. The experienced warriors among the Arvenci would allocate the young and inexperienced to guarding the booty and livestock they had rustled. That would leave maybe half or fewer to fight. Additionally, they would have been on the trail for days and were not as fresh as Alugra’s men. Finally, their primary focus was to escape and any fighting they did would be just enough to allow them to flee. Caros wasn’t sure of the logic of the last reason, but someone of Alugra’s experience in war would surely understand better than he.

  A murmur from the column penetrated his thoughts, and he looked back just as a yell went up from the men. A dust plume on the near hillside fingered a rider scrabbling his mount downhill. The man was just balancing the horse, and the warriors drew a breath as the rider and mount twisted, slid and leaped down the hillside. Alugra spurred his horse forward as did his men. Caros followed as they rode to intercept the man who reached the foot of the hill and jumped his mount across a tangle of thorn bush before galloping across a rocky field towards them.

  The rider pulled the lathered mount to a skidding halt amongst Alugra and his Captains. “Arvenci! I have spotted them making their way west just beyond that hill!” A growl rose from the throats of the warriors on the road and they surged and rippled.

  “Hold!” Alugra snapped at them. To the scout, “How many and what was their nature?”

  “I counted twenty maybe thirty, difficult to be sure as they were in the trees and brush, plus they had maybe sixty horse and cattle with them so there was plenty of dust.”

  Caros nodded, thinking it would be difficult to count an exact number in those conditions and evidently Alugra was of the same opinion. “What of their nature? Warriors?”

  “Arvenci warriors, some very young though. They were moving fast, but quiet, no yelling. They don’t want to be found.”

  Caros felt his heart racing at the thought of catching this first breakaway band of raiders. He glanced at the lowering sun, estimating the time till sunset. They could take them as they were setting camp, lighting fires and readying their meals. His hopes were dashed when the chief ordered them to keep heading south to the tree line. Caros quickly dragged his horse around and caught up with the chief. He was furious at the development. The Arvenci were there and while they may not be the whole force, they would be easily wiped out and by tomorrow Alugra’s warriors would be ready for the next day.

  Alugra didn’t wait for him to speak, “You want us to attack them now, today, tonight even. Yup? Just thirty of them, kill them as they eat and regain all the stolen livestock. In and out. Am I right?” He glanced at Caros who swallowed back pretty much those words. “Yup, I see I was. I don’t need to explain my decisions Caros, but let’s just say I’m more cautious in my old age. We’ll see what we see tomorrow.” He spurred his horse ahead and joined several of his Captains as they approached the designated overnight camp. Caros sighed inwardly, frustrated. He had a lot to learn about the ways of warriors it seemed. It all sounded like action and glory. So far what he’d seen was the horrifying aftermath, the victims and the toil, just to watch the enemy slip away. He wondered where the rest of the raiders had gone and why this group had broken west so early in their flight. Maybe this was what Alu
gra was thinking. It was possible this was a trap. Too many thoughts were tumbling through his head and the afternoon was waning fast as the sun sank. Somewhere out there his enemy hid.

  The camp was a boisterous one for the most part as Alugra’s men gathered firewood from the nearby creek. Past summer floods had left large piles of broken trees in drifts at the flood mark on the steep banks. There they had dried and whitened like skeletal remains. The men broke and snapped off all they needed and soon had several large fires burning in the dusk. Caros took his time grooming his mare. He was fortunate that he had taken her on the trip to Tagilit that had seen him absent from his home when the Arvenci attacked. She was a beautiful roan mare with a startling black mane. His father had overseen her training and presented her to Caros just two years ago on his sixteenth birthday. Caros still remembered the joy and pride he’d felt when he saw her colours and form. This was one of those fine horses his father had been able to breed from their herd of handpicked stallions and mares. He was glad of the mare’s company now as the grief he had kept in check all day gripped his heart at thoughts of his father. The mare must have sensed the sadness in him and nickered quietly and turned her deep brown eyes to him. He held her cheeks, breathed in her breath and felt his sadness lessened somehow. “Good girl. I’ll bring your friends home too. How would you like that eh! That handsome desert stallion as well, I’ve seen you making eyes at him.” In reply the mare nickered again and snorted. Caros laughed out loud. Feeling better, he made his way to where the creek flowed quietly from one shallow pool to the next. He filled his waterskin and then washed the day’s dust from his face. Darkness was settling in and the fires were bright as Caros returned. Fowl was roasting on more than one campfire and the aroma awakened a hunger Caros had not felt. At one fire, a group of five men sat quietly, in contrast to men at the other fires who acted as though they were on an adventure. Caros recognized them as men from his own valley. He didn’t know them except by sight. They were probably farmers or tradesmen. He strolled over to the group who he noticed were not eating. “Do you mind if I share my meal with you? There’s not much, but please help yourselves. I am Caros, the son of Joaquim.” He laid the food Suls had packed for him next to the fire. The men murmured appreciatively and shifted their seats so Caros had room before the fire. They gave their names as they broke off chunks of heavy bread and salted goat. They ate in silence for a short time until a warrior from a nearby fire strolled over to the group. He was a tall, lanky man with sun-browned skin and a nose twisted faintly to the left from an old break. He hefted a waterskin in his hand and Caros heard liquid sloshing about in it.

  “Fellows, it’s been a long, dusty day. I’ve some ale here if you wish. It’s cut so don’t get too excited.” He chuckled as he handed the skin over to Caros who thanked him and introduced himself. “Greetings Caros, I’m Neugen. I noticed that horse of yours. She’s worth her weight in silver that one. Never seen colours like that.” Caros passed the ale to the man on his left and invited Neugen to sit. “Thanks, I won’t stay too long, the bird’s nearly done and those bastards will guzzle the lot!” He raised his voice so the men at the nearest fire could hear. They laughed and agreed. Neugen chuckled and shook his head. “They’re good fellows. I grew up with them and we’ve been on three campaigns together.”

  “Do you ride then Neugen?” Caros asked.

  “No. I am just a simple warrior, but I can. Just no silver to get my own mount!” Neugen laughed. “One day though. Just one good campaign with rich pickings. I hear rumours that the new Carthaginian General is levying many warriors for a big campaign in the north again, maybe against the Ilerget of Athanagia. That will be a campaign worth fighting in. Loot and spoils in abundance.” Caros winced and Neugen paled as he realised he was talking to a group of men who had just had their entire valley pillaged. “Aargh, my big mouth again. Please do not take offence.”

  Caros shook his head and looked around at his fellow villagers. “None given. We are just thankful you fellows have come to our aid, Neugen.”

  The warrior smiled with relief. “Best get back and claim some fowl before I am left with just feathers and bones for a meal.” He rose smoothly, “Tomorrow then, keep an eye on me, I will show you what I can make my falcata do to the Arvenci.” He patted the sword at his hip, nodded confidently and strode away.

  A cold breeze blowing off the northern mountains woke Caros just before dawn. It had dewed heavily during the night and despite his youth, he woke with stiff hips and ribs. The cold ground seemed to have leached heat out of him. He grimaced at the damp cold and sat up. He had slept in the company of the village men and like they; he only had his cloak and tunic to keep the night cold at bay. They were struggling to hold onto to sleep a little longer or waiting for someone else to light the fire. Caros rose and walked groggily into the nearby bracken to relieve himself. Warriors of Alugra’s company were up as well and one or two fires were crackling weakly. He thought about lighting a fire and then decided he’d rather go find Alugra and see what the chief had planned. He strapped on his falcata and loaded his travel bag onto the mare tethered with the other horses. Leaving her there, he strode down to the stream to fill his water skin. Although still early spring, if this day was like yesterday, the rising sun would soon burn off the ground cold and the dust of the road would thicken the men’s saliva. He nodded greetings to others at the stream doing the same.

  “Caros!” Neugen came up beside him, “Good sleep? Ready for some action?” The man seemed to be perpetually high-spirited.

  Caros grinned back at him. “Do you know something I don’t?” He didn’t expect the reply he received.

  “Don’t know what you know, but we’re going to do some circling this morning.”

  “Circling?” Caros was mystified.

  “Ah, well those Arvenci the scout spotted, they are either a diversion or bait. Either way, Alugra is planning to encircle them and find out which. Fifteen of us are going to circle their camp and see which. Fancy coming along?”

  “I would, but I’m not leaving my horse.”

  Neugen laughed. “We will all be mounted. We are using the spare mounts so let’s get up there and see what’s going on.”

  Caros was elated at the news and together they met the rest of the warriors just saddling up. The men were eager to get going and Caros was grateful he had already readied his mare.

  Alugra saw Caros and came over to him. “You are certain you want to go with these men Caros?” The chief gave Neugen a glare, but that man was hard at working staring into the distance.

  “Could not be more certain. I will not slow anybody up and the mare is good too.”

  The graybeard smiled. “That is the spirit. Keep up with Neugen here and do what he says. If there is a fight, let my men take the sting out of them first. That is what they are good at. No disrespect meant.”

  Caros felt a bite of anger, but forced it aside knowing he was nowhere near the calibre of warrior Alugra’s men were.

  One of the Captains, a stocky man with piercing black eyes trotted his gelding past them and grunted to Neugen, “Keep to the rear and keep off the ridgeline. I don’t want them seeing us before we see them. Let’s get moving.”

  Caros smiled at Neugen who shrugged. They both knew the advice was for Caros.

  The sun was just struggling over the eastern horizon when they rode north. Caros recognized the scout from the day before at the front of the short column talking with the Captain.

  Neugen pointed, “His name is Alfren. He’s not Bastetani, but he fights like a cornered lynx.”

  “Who, that scout?”

  “No, the Captain.”

  “Oh. Where is he from?” Caros had thought he looked out of place among the taller Bastetani.

  “North. Luistani. Kissed the wrong girl as the rumour goes. Has a bug up his asshole most of the time, but he is all right. Anyway, I reckon we’ll hear the warrior songs tonight. Alfren gets bored when he’s not lopping off heads.”


  Caros prayed that was true and that Alfren would lead them into the Arvenci. Bait or decoy, he didn’t particularly mind which. They struck off the regular track and edged their mounts out along a game trail that wound north through the hills. The breeze had already dropped, and the sun had cleared any lingering mist from the hillsides, leaving just the steeper, shaded valleys still misty.

  Neugen nudged him, “See?”

  Caros was surprised he’d not noticed the smoke earlier. Smudged by the earlier breeze, there had clearly been a small fire lit in one of the valleys west of them.

  “We’re going to come at them from the north, the west if we make good time. We may hit them about noon. By then Alugra will have the main body up behind them.”

  “So we drive them into his men?” Caros asked.

  Neugen snorted. “We’re scary bastards, but not that scary. They’ll come at us, not run. We call them cowards, but the truth is the Arvenci are tough as old hide and usually give as good as they get. We’re playing them at their own game and we’re the decoys. Alugra’s men are on foot, so need to get in as close as possible. We’re just a distraction. When they realise they have an enemy on their backs, it’ll be too late to flee so they’ll have to make a stand.”

  Caros wondered why they wouldn’t flee if they weren’t trapped, but decided not to ask. He suddenly hoped he’d be up to the task. He knew how to swing a blade and throw a javelin, but had never fought in anger. He hadn’t even competed in contest bouts. They rode on, keeping to the hillsides and off the ridgelines on which they would be silhouetted, making them easy to spot. Caros examined the riders ahead of him. They were all armed with swords as well as three or four javelins. Caros wished he had brought his along. He was far more confident with them than with a sword. The men were all partially armoured as well, wearing light chest armour of leather and bronze or iron. On their heads they wore dome shaped bronze helmets with thick leather folds extending down to protect their necks and ears. Some, including Alfren, also wore greaves on their forearms and lower legs. They looked formidable and experienced. He trusted they would live up to the reputation Alugra had built.