Macro handed the wolf’s head standard to the king as Cato barked out, ‘Bedriacus! To the front!’

There was a moment’s stillness before the man behind Bedriacus gave the hunter a gentle prod. Bedriacus started forward, marching as stiffly as he could as he approached his king. Even so, the moment the standard passed into his care, his face split into a wide smile and the craggy teeth glinted in the sunlight. He turned back to the Wolf Cohort, and impulsively raised the standard high over his head, thrusting it up and down. The air was split with a fresh wave of cheering as Bedriacus capered over to his comrades.

‘Sure he was a wise choice?’ Macro grumbled.

‘As I said, keeps him out of the way. And now he’s got that thing I think someone’s going to have to kill the man before they get it off him.’

‘Fair enough.’

Cato was suddenly aware of a mud-spattered warrior pushing his way through the nobles towards the king. When he reached Verica, he leaned forward to be heard above the cheering. Verica listened intently, and as soon as the man had finished speaking he waved him away. He turned to the two centurions, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

‘Seems you’ll discover the mettle of my men sooner than we thought.’

Macro had guessed the nature of the message and couldn’t conceal his excitement. ‘The Durotrigans are out!’

Verica nodded. ‘That scout saw a column a day’s ride to the south. They’re almost certainly after the next convoy.’

‘You can bet on it.’ The prospect of action instantly erased any sense of decorum. ‘How many?’

‘He says no more than five hundred. Mostly infantry, with horse and a few chariots.’

‘Marvellous!’ Macro smacked his hands together. ‘Bloody marvellous!’

04 The Eagle and the Wolves

Chapter Eleven

‘Don’t think I’ve ever seen a better spot for an ambush,’ said Macro, hands on hips, as he surveyed the terrain around the ford. ‘And there’s just enough of the day left to make a clean sweep of it.’

‘Thought you’d approve, sir,’ smiled Cato.