Running back to Ivomagus, I said, “Ordersome of the townsmen to go help get your wounded out of here. We’llbring them with us.”
Ivomagus did not respond immediately,looking past me to where the civilians were huddled together,understandably terrified.
I learned why he was hesitating when heasked, “What if they refuse?” Before I could reply, he added,“Turning that corner will put them at risk, Centurion. They willknow that.” Shaking his head, he said, “I do not think they willlisten to me any longer.”
It was clear that Ivomagus was indulging inself-pity, and there was no time for that, which I reminded him bygrabbing a handful of his tunic and snarling, “You can feel sorryfor yourself later, if we survive. But,” I thrust my other hand atthe men, “I can guarantee that they’ll obey you.”
“How?” he asked doubtfully.
“Because you’re going to tell themthat this will be the only way they’re allowed into the camp.Otherwise, they’re going to be left to fend for themselves once thelast of your warriors fall. Which,” I finished, “won’t be long fromnow.”
He did not reply, but he did nod, thentrotted over to the men, who clearly did not care for what theywere hearing, but when Ivomagus turned and headed back in ourdirection, they followed, and they only briefly hesitated, talkingto each other before the first of them turned the corner and randown the street to begin collecting their fellow tribesmen. Waitinglong enough to see them returning in our direction, with some ofthem slinging a man over their shoulders, while others paired upand carried a man between them, I walked over to the northern gate,which was still closed. I honestly cannot say why I did so, butbefore I opened it, I pressed my eye up to it, peering through acrack between two of the boards. Up to this moment, I have not beenkicked in the balls, but I cannot imagine it feels much differentthan what I experienced upon seeing, just a short distance away upthe road that led to the camp and to Segovax’s hall beyond it, amass of shapes that, from their height, had to be mounted men.There was a sullen glow behind them that helped in myidentification, and my guess was that it was from a fire about amile away, which would put it in the area of Segovax’s hall.
Ivomagus must have sensed something in theway I slumped and put my head against the gate, because he was inmy ear, asking, “What is it? Centurion? What is it?”
“It,” I had trouble forming the words,“means that we’re fucked, Ivomagus.” I straightened up and movedaside so that he could see what awaited us. As he did so, Icontinued, “I seriously doubt that is Cogidubnus sitting out thereletting his men and the people inside the town get slaughtered.So…”
“Diviciacus,” he breathed more thansaid the word, turning around and placing his back against thegate, sliding down to the ground.
He looked up at me, and even in the dimlight, I saw the haunted expression in his eyes.
I suppose this was what prompted me to say,honestly, “You did everything you could, Ivomagus. Once Cogidubnusgets here, he’ll see the truth.”
His reaction puzzled me, as he gave whatcould only be called a humorless laugh.
“Not that it will matter, Centurion,”he said bitterly. “For I will be dead.”
“I doubt that.” I shook my head.“You’re the brother of the King of the Parisii. You’re far toovaluable to kill.”
Before anything more could be said, thetownsmen had arrived, panting and puffing from the exertion ofcarrying men, most of who were moaning, using the universallanguage all men do when they are in pain, although I heard someonewhispering what sounded like a prayer. It was left to Ivomagus toinform them that their efforts would be in vain, and no translationwas needed when they learned. They were still reacting when, out ofthe darkness, another note from a horn sounded, but while I couldnot differentiate that there was anything to it other than a noise,it was the reaction of both Ivomagus and Tincommius that indicatedthis was meaningful, because they came alive, and even more oddly,ran to and embraced each other.
I cannot deny I was feeling a bit left out,but when I demanded to know why they were behaving in this way,Ivomagus only had to say, “That is Cogidubnus’ signal, Centurion.Cogidubnus has arrived.”
He had indeed arrived, and not amoment too soon. The Parisii king had driven what I would learn wasthe bulk of his army hard, but even so, the main force was stillseveral miles away when, making a gamble, Cogidubnus had comegalloping ahead, along with the entire complement of mountedwarriors of his bodyguards and chariots. When he was within sight,Cogidubnus had ordered his horn player to sound the call that wouldalert his men defending the town that the king had arrived. Thiswas true, certainly; he had ignored the burning outbuildings of theLord Segovax’s hall and was just a couple hundred paces on the townside of our old camp when he had ordered the signal that the kinghad arrived with his army. What was not true was that he had brought up a force withhim that had any hope of defeating Diviciacus. As we would learn,even if he had pushed the infantry and missile troops to theirlimits, they would not have arrived before dawn, and they wouldhave been too exhausted to do anything but watch the fall ofPetuar. It was a gamble, certainly, but the important thing wasthat it paid off, because with a speed that, frankly, was quiteastonishing to
