light of the oil lamps. His helmet wastucked under one arm, his hand to the hilt of a long straight sword. The gray in his hair and his hard dark eyes were enough to gain him notice in a grouping of soldiers.
'I am Indemeer, Commander of theCataphracti.' Casca was familiar with this unit-Heavy Cavalry, whose horses as well as their riders were covered with heavy armor. The charge of theCataphracti was hard to resist. The lances they used in battle were so heavy that the riders tied a rope near the center of it, attaching the other end to the necks of their steeds. Utilizing the strength of the animal to bear the weight of the lance, they would tuck the butt of the weapon into a leather socket at their hip, guiding the point of the lance with one hand while guiding the horse's movements with the other. Their helmets were of one piece that reached below the chin with only slits for eye-holes in them. They were a fearsome offensive force when used properly, and next to the Immortals, the most favored of the Persian Hosts.
Casca acknowledged the ranking commander. 'Welcome, Indemeer. I trust you're ready to give me a situation report?'
Indemeer nodded confidently. 'But of course, Commander.' Casca took another drink of water. 'Then proceed! The rest of you be at ease and make yourself comfortable. If any of you have individual information to report, wait until after the general briefing, then we'll get down to any specifics pertaining to your troops.' He indicated for Indemeer to begin his report.
The Persian snapped his fingers and one of his junior officers came forth, handing the old warriortwo scrolls. He unrolled them and placed them side by side on the field table, pointing to the one facing Casca's left. It was, as Casca could readily see, a map of the immediate region. On it Indemeer had lined the disposition of the Persian forces in red and the Huns in black. Speaking softly, but with tones that came from years of command and self- assurance, Indemeer began his report.
'The savages are approaching from the north and east at a good rate of march. We have scouts out keeping up with them and each day their reports are sent to us in relays so that by now we should have their movements reported twice a day. At their current rate of march they should reach this point in two days' time.' Indemeer indicated a large plain in the form of a valley. Casca stopped him with a nod of his head.
'Is the valley you're pointing at the one we're in now?'
Indemeer shook his head. 'No! That one is one day's march from our present location.'
Casca told him to continue.
'The savages number sixty thousand, who, as I am sure you know, are all mounted horsemen, each one of them an archer and most carrying light lances for close combat.'
Casca responded to the light sarcasm in Indemeer's voice. 'Yes, I know the Huns well and have probably had as much experience with them as anyone here. Now, get on to something I don't know!'
Indemeer accepted the rebuke. He'd just been testing to see if this stranger was able to handle command and assert the authority designated tohim by Shapur. Before he could continue Casca asked him for the disposition and numbers of their own forces. Indemeer indicated the red lines depicting each of the encampments around them.
'We have twenty thousand warriors, of which five thousand are my own Heavy Chargers by order of the King, as sign of his favor.' Again the touch of sarcasm, Casca choosing this time to ignore it. Indemeer continued. 'The balance of our forces are comprised of ten thousand light cavalry, all expert archers, and five thousand infantry.'
Casca scanned the map carefully, noting the terrain differences. 'Have you thought of a place to engage the Huns?'
The officer pointed to a plain outside the valley two days distant. 'Here is where we will meet the enemy, with the valley to our backs. We shall place our infantry in the center at the entrance to the valley and position our cavalry on each flank inside. When the Huns charge, our center will fall back, luring them inside, at which point our two strong flanks will charge down from the high ground where they've been concealed up to this time.'
Casca thought this over for a moment. 'What of the other five thousand the King said would be here, and why didn't you mention them in your report?'
Indemeer sucked at his lower lip. 'I didn't feel they were worth mentioning, considering what they are.'
Casca rose from his chair, addressing not only Indemeer, but all of the officers present.
'When I say give me a status report it is not for you to determine what to delete. I alone will be thejudge as to what is or is not important and any of you who think otherwise will not live to see the morning sun. Is that clear?'
He barked out the last question and the officers responded to the authority in his voice. They saluted and as one voice they cried out, 'It is clear, Commander!'
Casca sat back down. 'Now, where are the five thousand the King sent?'
Now thoroughly chastened, Indemeer pointed to an area just outside their encampment.
'There, Lord. They are under guard and have so far presented us with no difficulties.' Casca asked him if they'd been told of their purpose in being brought to this place of battle, and of what they were to do.
Indemeer replied that all had been carefully instructed in what was expected of them and what their fate would be if even one failed to obey.
'Good! You've done well. But…' Casca touched the valley on the map that Indemeer had previously indicated as the engagement area. 'Here is not where we will meet the enemy. From what you've told me about the rate of march of the Huns, they should be camped at least twenty miles from the mouth of the valley by the time we take up positions. No, we are going to meet them here.' He indicated another, more narrow valley less than half a day's march from where they were presently encamped. 'Here is where we will meet them, and not at the front of the valley but at the end of it. We shall make them come to us.'
Indemeer started to protest but stopped at Casca's upraised hand.
'It will be here! By the time they reach this place they will have ridden all day, their animals will be tired and so will the men, giving us just a little more in our favor, andMithra…' he paused and changed the god's name, after clearing his throat, 'uh, Ahura-mazda knows we'll need all the advantages we can get should anything go wrong. In addition, our troops will be fresh and if your map is correct, the narrow confines of this valley will reduce the number of men that the Huns will be able to amass on their front at the charge. Then… if we can stop them and hold them and throw their front rank into a panic, the rest of the Hun force will be compelled to back up behind them, creating congestion and confusion-confusion that we'll be able to use to our own good purpose. As to the exact disposition of our forces, I will wait until I have seen the site before I make that decision.'
Indemeer sucked at his lower lip again, but this time when he spoke his voice contained tones of respect. This organized plan was better than his own and the wisdom of tiring the Huns out while their own forces remained fresh was obviously to their advantage.
'Do you have anything further, Lord?'
Casca spoke, standing now. 'Introduce me to your officers. I will entertain input from each as to anything that may hinder us in our mission. I wish to know the condition of not only your men, but also the animals and the pack train. Is the morale good or bad? What do the troops grumble at other than having me as their new commander?'
The officers looked at each other. The foreigner was no fool and spoke bluntly. Their basic hostilitytoward him began to change to that of professional respect. Regardless of where their new commander had come from, it appeared that he knew his business and theirs. They would obey now without the reluctance they'd felt earlier. Their new leader was a true warrior.
The night dragged on to the early hours as each officer in turn was questioned in detail and asked to contribute ideas that would possibly modify the commander's basic plan. It was dawn before Casca dismissed the last of them. Indemeer had stayed with him throughout the interrogations, making sound comments and judgments, familiarizing Casca with various problems each unit had faced on their arrival, each unit's history in battle, and a thumbnail profile of the unit leaders' histories and backgrounds. When they called it a night, both he and Casca felt they had put in a good day's work and were each more satisfied with the other as soldiers.
Two days and battle would be joined. Casca gave the order to break camp and move to the valley of his choice. The sooner they arrived the more rested his men would be when the time came for battle. He decided not to visit the five thousand men sent to him by Shapur. Those he would save until just before the engagement. He was confident now, after listening to Indemeer, that things would be as he'd said. But still he'd check on them personally now and then until it was time for them to be used.
