by John Hicks
*
For the next four days the company marched back towards Fenton. The merchant and his people gave no problem which made Olivia uneasy. Were they expecting to be rescued? Several times Olivia saw Sergeant Crandall talking with the merchant. She also found herself assigned the dirtiest camp-tasks by Sergeant Crandall. This happened so often that Olivia’s friend Darra noticed.
‘He seems to have got it in for you.’
‘Yes. I don’t know why. (Sigh)’ *Or do I?*
On the fourth evening of the march Olivia had second watch. As she walked the camps perimeter all appeared quiet at first. Then Olivia stiffened at the faint ’crack’ sound in the long grass. Quickly Olivia realized what it was - someone creeping towards the camp had stepped on a stick. As she hesitated Olivia saw Darra heading towards her on her section of the perimeter. Olivia beckoned her towards her.
‘What is it?’
‘I heard something - someone is out there creeping up on us. I’m going for the Lieutenant. Keep down. Standing up you’re an easy target.’
‘OK’
Olivia headed straight for the Lieutenant’s tent. The tent was dark but there was a torch in a holder outside the tent with a sentry on guard. Olivia quickly explained to the sentry what she had heard and he at once turned and opened the tent flap. Olivia could just see the form of the lieutenant wrapped in a blanket, her sword in its scabbard on the ground beside her. The sentry shook the sleeping woman by the shoulder. ‘Lieutenant, wake up. We’re under attack.’
The lieutenant woke up quickly and sat up. ‘What is it soldier?’
Olivia spoke quickly. ‘Ma’am there are people trying to sneak up on us in the long grass from the Eastern side at least. We’re under attack, Ma’am. It’s a rescue attempt, Ma’am.’
‘Rouse the camp - quietly. Ready new torches but don‘t light them until I signal,’ snapped the Lieutenant as she threw off her blanket and reached for her boots.
Olivia headed for the tents where the privates slept while the sentry went to the tent where Sergeants and Corporals slept.
‘W… What is it?’ Rob sat up quickly when Olivia shook his shoulder.
‘We’re about to be attacked. People creeping up on us from the Eastern side at least. Lieutenant’s orders are to rouse the camp quietly, so all of you quick - arm up and report to your posts - quietly. New torches to be ready but not lit until she signals.’
The camp was quietly roused and so when the attack came a quarter hour later the surprise was on the attackers. Instead of a camp of sleepy soldiers blundering in confusion the attackers found themselves facing wide awake disciplined soldiers armed and ready for them. Olivia was with Darra and Rob and when attacked by a screaming sword wielding group found that she was too busy to be afraid. Olivia sent an arrow into the first attacker she saw and succeeded in also shooting the next one too. By then there was only time to drop her bow and draw her sword. She blocked a sword thrusted at her with her shield and replied with her own sword which went under her attackers arm and into his side. Olivia quickly pulled out her sword and immediately swung it at another attacker while blocking a third with her shield who was swinging at Darra. She attacked this foe that fought back viciously and this time Darra came to her aid. The two women faced the next two attackers together This continued for what seemed to Olivia at the time like hours but was really only about fifteen minutes then the surviving attackers ran off leaving a good part of their number behind.
Olivia and her companions then learnt of the aftermath of battle. Olivia helped a wounded soldier to the surgeon’s tent. There she had to help the surgeon by holding the soldier still while the surgeon removed an arrow from the man’s side and closed the wound. The cohort remained in this camp for another day whilst the wounded were seen too. Then the march was resumed. The return to Fenton was completed without further incident.