Chapter 23

It was getting dark. A fog had started to develop as cooler air came in. It was about five o'clock but this was just a guess when I felt that something was wrong.

I could not see far into the fog but I got the smell of unwashed bodies from north of us where there should be none. Scouts had been ahead of us but they had not reported anything.

A tree we had just passed with a twisted trunk told me that we were very near our old camp site.

"Jón we are riding into a trap!"

"Where?"

"To the north but probably all around."

Rather than call out, Jón turned abruptly and raced back along his column. He got Forni that was guiding the first team to stop. Jón said, "Load grapeshot now. Enemy from the north but there may be more."

Jón continued down the line and had the others pull up and form a circle facing outward. There should be seventy lancers and four more to the rear and they came instantly alert and lowered their visors.

There was only the noise of the cannons being disconnected quickly. Arrows came out of the fog in great numbers and didn't hurt us very much but they did hit unprotected areas of the horses. They also came from all directions except the west where the marsh was.

The lancers were going to attack when Jón's voice called out to stop. The men and horses didn't like this at all but they did stay. Some walked forward to give a bit more warning. All of them stayed out of the line of fire of the cannons though.

Leather covers went over the back portion of the cannon to keep out rain. Powder from the carts went in and was rammed home then grapeshot loaded. More powder was poured down the small hole and in the pan above.

Jón called out, "Number two gun, fire." This was the one pointing to the north. The rope was burning but the powder in the pan just fizzled and went out. Dina cleaned out the hole then poured more powder in from her horn and then tied again but it didn't light.

Jón got close and said to Klaasje, "Dump the powder and put fresh in. Keep it as dry as possible. Do exactly what we did in training."

With hand signals now Jón directed the other cannons to fire but only the one to the south was able to discharge. Before another gun could fire we heard the yells of the Gauls as they attacked. The lancers wanted to get out there and fight but they knew what would happen if they did. If Jón refused to fire because they were there then everybody would die if they stayed then the cannons could fire freely.

Jón said to me, "Do you see anything?"

"No but we are surrounded on every side but the west. Our bridge is just ahead."

Jón yelled for the cannons to fire but they would have done so if they could. Again the south cannon fired then the north. I could see the two to the east working frantically before one fired.

The teams of horses were hobbled but they moved frantically to get away. Our own mounts were wanting to run too and they were hard to control. Jón went to one of the carts and tied the reigns to a wheel. He took out a grenade and lit it when I said then threw it as far as he could.

Some of the lancers were called and the ones without horses started to throw grenades with their adult strength.

The flash illuminated men running towards us and some of the pebbles came back our way to rattle off our armour. The screams of men were readily heard even before this. More lancers came and tied up their mounts to add to the amount of grenades being thrown. Not all of these blew up

Other lancers had to attack now and when they rushed off so did more. Jón called them back but they didn't hear or want to. The rain of arrows never let up and the horses were taking more hits. The mounts were lightly armoured but the draught horses were not.

The rain came even more forcefully and Jón took a rope and lit it but it sputtered until it caught. It was coated with wax but this chipped off with use. With the cannon failing more than they shot he moved forward and threw the grenades he carried. He didn't want my help but I didn't know if I could do much better.

Men came running out of the mist and Jón used his katana to take them out. They were experienced soldiers and I had to take the small sword again to defend Jón's right side. These men were small and wiry and very Roman. Their footing as well as ours was treacherous but I took out the right which left Jón free to take the left.

With two dying men laying at his feet, Jón took a few breaths and hurried to the carts that were not being used. He took more grenades and threw more of them because these would kill more.

I noticed that all four cannon were taking from only two ammunition carts and figured that the other two were just too damp. Lancers came in out of the fog and just turned to race back into the melee they had come from. I was sure that they were killing a great many of the enemy but we were suffering casualties too.

I could hear the cry of the cadets as they were hurt but didn't say anything to Jón for fear that he would abandon his fight.

When he was catching his breath I said, "We have to get over that bridge or die here. We cannot see the enemy but they know where to aim from our muzzle flashes."

"We can't leave."

"Get one cannon over the other side. It can fire from there. We can use the mortars too."

"We can't. We have to stay here and fight."

"Do you understand how many there are? The arrows are coming too fast for a few. There must be a thousand and part of them are Roman. They are either the other legion or Lucius. The man knows about cannons or at least enough to think of a way to defeat us."

"We are going to stay here and fight."

"The children are being hurt. Look and see."

Jón threw more of the grenades and made his rounds and found Epje sitting on the ground and leaning on the side of an ammunition cart. An arrow was sticking out of his neck and nobody was treating him. He was crying and Jón ran to him.

Epje looked up to Jón and said, "I am sorry. I tried not to get hurt."

Jón now wanted to hold the boy but I said, "There are more. Look."

Jón said, "Wait here Epje. I will get rid of the Gauls and get back here to help you."

Epje didn't answer but there was hope in his eyes.

Jón didn't want to move but went to the next wagon and saw Dina on the ground with a long heavy spear used by the Romans to stop the calvary. This one was through her chest.