‘The trick of it will be to get our men into position without alerting the pickets that Bannus has established round the fort.That’s why we have had to wait for the fire to die down - can’t risk them seeing us quit the gate. A party of scouts will go out ahead of the main force and clear the pickets on the north side so they can’t give any warning to Bannus. We’ll have to go carefully until we clear the belt of defences, but then I want the cavalry to run down the pickets closer to the enemy camp. Centurions Scrofa and Postumus will be in command of the cavalry squadrons. Once the pickets are dealt with they will move half a mile north of the enemy camp and form up on the flanks. Centurion Cato and I will follow with the infantry. When the line is complete we’ll approach in silence for as long as possible and when I give the signal we sound every horn we have. Make sure the men give it full voice when they respond. I want Bannus to think every Roman soldier between here and Armenia is charging down on him. Tell your men to go in hard.They’re to charge on until they hear the recall.At that point everyone is to retire through the breach, covered by the cavalry.’ Macro opened his hands. ‘That’s it. Any questions?’

Centurion Postumus raised his arm.

‘Yes?’ Macro growled.

‘Who dreamed up this nightmare?’

Macro glared at him for a moment before he turned back to address the rest of the cohort’s officers. ‘That’s it then. I know it’s a tough job, but we’re in a bitch of a situation, gentlemen, and there’s not much else we can do. If this works, then we’ll have bought ourselves a few more days, and perhaps frightened off many of the men Bannus managed to recruit from the local villages. All right then. Get your kit and join your units. Dismissed!’

The officers tramped out of the courtyard and Cato edged closer to Macro and muttered, ‘I think we need to keep an eye on Postumus, sir.’

‘Fair enough, but he’s in the same boat as us. He fights or dies. We can trust him that far at least.’

Cato glanced at Macro wearily. ‘If you say so.’

Macro frowned. ‘How long since you had any rest, Cato?’

‘Not for two days, at least. Same as you.’

‘I can take it, but you look done in.’

‘I am,’ Cato admitted. ‘But there’s nothing I can do about it until after the attack on their camp.’

‘No.You can sleep afterwards maybe.’

‘Yes. Afterwards.’ Cato forced a smile. ‘One way or another.’