‘Make sure that your fellows escort the prisoners to the rear as swiftly as possible and resume the advance.’

Alten nodded and was turning to give orders to his staff officers when a major of the Ninety-fifth came panting up the slope clutching a leather satchel. Unusually for an officer, the major carried a rifle like his men, and he nodded a salute as he handed the satchel to Alten.

‘Here, sir. We found this on the body of a French colonel.’

‘What is it, Richard?’ Alten asked.

‘Orders, sir. From the divisional commander. I thought you’d want ’em as soon as possible.’

The major nodded and turned away to trot back down the slope to re-join his men. Alten drew the slim sheaf of papers from the satchel and scanned the contents. At once his eyes widened and he turned to Arthur.

‘Orders from Joseph’s headquarters, sir! Dated yesterday. He’s called every available unit to fall back to a new position.’

‘Where?’ asked Arthur, his heart quickening.

‘A town on the Royal Road not far ahead, my lord. A place called Vitoria.’

Chapter 40 - 21 June 1813

Chapter 40

21 June 1813

The clouds had lifted and the sky was clear, and the air barely stirred in the morning sunshine. There was a clear view of the valley through which the Zadorra river meandered eastwards towards Vitoria. The day before, Arthur had ridden round the hills to the north of the valley to survey the French positions and make his plans, and he was relieved to see that the French army was still camped in three lines between the river and the Heights of Puebla to the south. The enemy pickets had raised the alarm at dawn when they had seen the first of Arthur’s men marching through the gorge into the valley, and now the French stood waiting. The dark lines of infantry and cavalry all faced to the west to meet the approaching threat.