‘Sir!’ the lookout shouted towards the defenders.’It’s Nepos.’ Tullius turned to seek Cato out. ‘Centurion Cato, come with me.’

They climbed down and marched towards Nepos as the legionary covered the last stretch of the slope leading down from the hill.

Tullius drew up in front of him. ‘Make your report! What happened at the fort?’

Nepos struggled for breath and, licking his lips, he glanced quickly at Cato.

‘Tell him what happened,’ said Cato.

‘The villagers, sir, they ransacked the place . . . set it on fire … I left the tent to see . . . to see what was happening. They saw me; gave chase . . . I tried to get back to the headquarters tent . . . but some of ‘em had got there before me.’

Tullius shot a horrified look at Cato before turning back to the legionary. ‘And Maximius? Felix?’

Nepos lowered his head, struggling for breath.

‘What happened?’ Tullius grabbed his arm. ‘Tell me!’

‘They’re dead, sir. Nothing I could do to save them. The villagers went after me. I had to run . . .’

The man was spent and had nothing further to add. Tullius released his grip and stared back towards the diffused column of smoke hanging over the valley.

‘Poor bastards.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Cato nodded. ‘But how could we know the villagers would attack the fort?’

‘We should never have left them there.’

‘Sir, we weren’t to know. And we had to deal with the threat from Caratacus.’ Cato spoke calmly, and with direct emphasis. ‘No one is to blame. Fortunes of war. Nothing we can do about it now, sir.’

Centurion Tullius looked at him, and was silent for a moment. ‘No. Nothing.’

‘And now, sir,’ Cato continued,’the enemy’s building up for another attack. We should get back on the wall. Nepos?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Take some equipment from one of the casualties, then join me on the rampart.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Tullius watched the man trot across to one of the bodies and help himself to a sword, helmet and shield. ‘I hope he’s telling the truth.’

‘Of course he is, sir. After what Maximius has been doing to the locals recently, I’d be surprised if they didn’t take the chance to get their revenge at the first opportunity. Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t anyone else?’

Tullius turned to look at Cato, fixing him with a searching stare. ‘There’s nothing you want to tell me?’

Cato raised his eyebrows.’I'm afraid I don’t understand, sir.’

‘What did you-’

Before Centurion Tullius could ask his question there was a cry from the palisade.

‘Enemy’s on the move!’

05 The Eagles Prey

CHAPTER FORTY