Eagle in the Snow: A Novel of General Maximus and Rome's Last Stand

All day they fought. Fabianus’ fort was too strong for them, so they concentrated their attacks on the islands and upon the town. By the afternoon it became apparent that the islands could hold out no longer. A message from Didius, in command of the harbour area, asked for instructions and begged for permission to withdraw. I agreed. A trumpet blew the retreat and the garrisons there broke out and backed across the ice to the harbour where an ala of auxiliary cavalry was waiting to cover them. The tribesmen massed along the edge of the river, awaiting the signal to move forward, while the horde that had captured the south island the previous day, moved against the south wall of the town and fort. Foiled in their efforts to break through the palisade and the stakes, they prowled along the walls and established themselves in the ruined theatre, seeking a weak point at which to attack, while others entered the harbour area and engaged in hand to hand fighting with the rear-guard of Didius.

Presently, a great mass of horsemen moved from behind the harbour island and came up towards the bank. They were caught in a cross-fire projected by both my own ballistae and those of Fabianus and, before they had moved a hundred yards, had lost a third of their men. Those who still remained mounted, rode on to the bank and then turned right, intending, no doubt, to head down river. They checked at the sight of the auxiliary camp and then made towards it at an easy canter.

“They think it is a dummy still, which it was,” I said to Quintus. “Now watch.”

Quintus said calmly, “Someone is going to get a big surprise.”

A cavalry ala came riding out of the camp fast, in three squadrons. The squadrons closed up smoothly and rode towards the enemy. At the very last moment they moved effortlessly into the charge and we could hear the crash of arms as the two groups met. Our men rode straight through them, turned and rode back. The Vandals broke and fled, and those that managed to reach the ice were killed by the archers in Moguntiacum fort.

“Well,” said Quintus. “How does it seem to you?”

I looked towards the east. The entire width of the river was covered with their dead and their dying, and the ravens circled ceaselessly above, waiting to keep them company.

“I would have been happier if the islands had held. We still have them contained between us, the auxiliaries and Fabianus. They won’t be able to break the two camps, and to get at us they must come up the slope.”

In the distance, across the river, we could hear shouting and see great columns of fire and smoke streaming up into the sky behind the masses patiently waiting on the bank.

“That must be Goar,” I said. “Why didn’t he attack before?”

Quintus said, “He’s going for the baggage waggons.”

Messages continued to come in. The commander at Borbetomagus had made a counter-attack with his cavalry and had destroyed the Alemanni in his rear; the enemy before Salisio and Boudobrigo had fallen back across the ice, but were still massed on the far bank; Bingium was still under attack and the native village there had been burned to the ground.

We went on waiting, and then at last the enemy moved. The mass of men who had over-run the lower islands split into two. One half turned right and rolled towards the camp of the auxiliaries; the other half, the greater, moved towards the slopes where we stood.

“Now,” I said, and the artillery opened fire. “Quintus, take the horse behind the camp and send two alae down to the help of those wretched auxiliaries. Wait with the rest of your men till I give the signal. Then hit them right-handed. Keep a tight control and don’t let any one over-ride.”

He smiled savagely. “Trust Maharbal,” he said.