Warhorn

by J Glenn Bauer

  He waved weakly at the men before him. The rider in the center walked his horse forward and Caros recognized him in a moment of shock.

  “By Endovex! Is that you, Caros?”

  Caros smiled shakily. “Neugen! You sure know how to scare the shit out of people!”

  “Ha! It is you! Same lousy jokes!”

  Suddenly both riders threw themselves off their horses and embraced. They laughed hard and slapped one another’s backs as though making sure this was not the shade of the other, but living, breathing flesh. They danced a wild jig there in the valley surrounded by two lines of bewildered warriors. At last, panting and hands clasping one another’s shoulders, they took stock. Caros saw the flickering memories in his friend’s eyes and knew Neugen saw the same as a momentary sadness flashed across his own face.

  Then his face brightened. “Caros, I scarcely recognized you with that fine scar across half your head. You must have scared away every woman and child in the village by now!”

  Caros laughed. “Last time I saw you, you had a pretty nasty hole in your chest. Thought by now the last of your senses would have leaked out! Looks like I was right!” Insults traded, both friends laughed happily.

  Aksel led his Masulians back to their camp and Caros accompanied Neugen and his riders to the village. As they rode, Neugen explained how they had received the plea for assistance from Hunar and Alfren had cursed to hear of enemies at his back. They had been harassing enemy Oretani and Carpetani forces for the last week. He had been committed to a battle and could not spare any warriors to return to the village until the battle was decided. It had been hard fought just three days earlier and only then did Alfren send Neugen, who had volunteered to lead the relief column. This was why, despite the village sending their request shortly after the Masulians had shown up, they only came now.

  “So, the Oretani and Carpetani are truly at war with us?” Caros asked.

  The pair had arrived at the village and Neugen sent his warriors off to feed and rest where they could.

  “Oh yes, the Olcades stirred them all up. They are massing a host of warriors. Alfren has been hitting them where he can, but he has less than four thousand troops, most on foot.”

  Even so, Caros was amazed at the numbers. Four thousand warriors! “You say four thousand as though that were not enough?”

  Neugen grimaced. “Together, the Oretani and Carpetani must have upward of twenty or thirty thousand and still more are gathering every day.”

  Caros blanched, “They will overrun us then! We must draw forces from the south. Has Alfren sent for them?”

  “Of course, but this has happened so quickly. We suspect that they have been preparing for this for a long while now.”

  “They want to strike back at the Carthaginians. They will tear Barca apart along with every tribe loyal to the Carthaginians.”

  Neugen frowned. “Well we are full of optimism! We will defeat them even if we have to fall back to the very edge of the sea.”

  “Baria?”

  “Not likely, probably Cartagena. Combine with Barca’s army and then we will be able to match their numbers.”

  “This must be Alfren’s dream come true. Matter of fact, you look like you are bloody enjoying it as well!” Caros accused Neugen, who smirked.

  “I am, my friend! I lead five hundred mounted warriors! Come a long way since we met and much is due to you.”

  Caros swallowed. “Ach, well.”

  “You have had a bad time of it. Those things you said when you left Tarren’s farm... we all knew it was the wound and grief. Do not even bother apologising. If I had not been so badly injured I would have been able to stay with you.” His voiced trailed away uncertainly.

  “I am recovered, Neugen. Nearly killed myself with drink and self-pity, but Endovex interceded and sent the Masulians my way. They have a healer that trained in Alexander.”

  “I do not know where Alexander is my friend, but if you say so.”

  Caros laughed and then the two men were laughing together again like old times.

  Caros rose before dawn and shuffled beyond the camp unfastening his bracae as he went. He reached a tall pine and directed his stream against the trunk while bracing himself with his free hand. He swore and moved his footing to avoid the steady stream of piss flowing towards his unsandalled feet.

  In the distance, a lynx screamed, the sound waking him completely and causing the hair on his neck to stand. He heard movement from his companions. Neugen, Aksel and several of the Masulian warriors still lay about the campfire.

  They had returned to the hunt once Neugen had sent word to Alfren. Neugen had been only too happy to join them. Four days of racing down deer at sunrise as the animals warmed themselves. Hours stalking wary mouflon in the high passes and once seeing the flash of a lynx in its mountain lair all made for a high time. Today they would make for the best boar hunting lands in the region and hopefully the hunt would culminate in a kill of that ferocious beast. Now though, he needed some breakfast.

  “Hoi, whose turn was it to light the fire?” He laughed as he returned to the camp.

  Aksel sat up yawning, stretched and then bounded upright. “Ah, today we hunt the mighty boar! I have heard tales of these beasts and have longed for a chance to try my hand at killing one.”

  Neugen groaned and rolled over to face him, opening a single eye. “Well any chance we had is gone now.”

  Aksel’s face fell. “What? Why?”

  Caros lowered his head to hide his expression for he felt he already knew what Neugen was about to say and could feel a grin spreading over his face.

  “Oh, well it is not complicated, it is just that...” Neugen rose so he could better deliver the punch line and no doubt to see how big an audience he had. He was pleased to see the rest of the Masulians were awake now as well. “...it is just that your shouting just scared every one of the big, hairy bastards all the way to Albion!”

  Aksel’s mouth formed a perfect circle of surprise and then spread into a mischievous smile.

  “It is the noise is it?” He glanced at Caros. “All the way to Albion? Hmm, seems to me that any noise being made was made by you.”

  “What? I was asleep till just now when you started on about ‘the mighty boar’!”

  “You were asleep yes, but between your snoring and farting I hardly slept the entire night. Seems to me is what scared away the boar.”

  Caros doubled over laughing. He wished he had one or two come back lines as good as Aksel’s. Neugen and the Masulian shared the same vein of humour. Catching his breath, he snapped a handful of twigs and together with dry grass, shoved them into the embers of the night’s fire. He leaned close and blew, shutting his eyes against the inevitable billow of old ash. Soon Caros had a merry fire crackling and he leaned back on his haunches.

  “Right, we will warm up some food and then get after these boars.”

  Neugen grumbled, but soon rolled to his feet, discarding his coat. Caros heated meat left from their evening meal and soon the men were all washing this down with ale. “Time to go hunting, fellows. The valley I plan to sweep is the next one over. It is thickly wooded. My father took down many good sized boar there so I expect that with a few beaters to flush them out, we should have a good hunt.”

  The men split up at the head of the valley, the Masulians heading west on the upper slopes while Caros, Neugen and Aksel remained at the head of the valley until they judged the others had reached a suitable distance. They then split up and began advancing.

  They each carried two spears double the girth of throwing spears. The sun shone weakly through the canopy above to where the hunters stalked the valley floor. Caros inhaled the musky odour of rotting vegetation and focused his eyes ahead, accustoming them to the deep shade of the valley. This was the perfect place for boar. Untended deep forest with plenty of water, nuts and vegetation to feed on. It was no wonder this valley was a good hunting ground. Who knew what other denizens they might unearth?

&n
bsp; Aksel appeared momentarily on his right and after a few strides of his mare he saw Neugen appear in a shaft of light to his left. He tried to focus on the trail, but it was difficult. He was content again. He had not believed he could be, but being among men like Aksel and Neugen lifted his spirits. He felt raw inside at the fate of Ilimic, but that pain had somehow shifted. He thought of her as she had been and avoided the thoughts of her possible last moments.

  On the ground ahead, a flat pebble appeared unnaturally pale and Caros cocked an eye at it. At this point in the valley, sunlight barely ever penetrated as far as the ground below, so anything immobile was covered in moss or lichen. He scanned the ground and was excited by what he saw. This was not virgin dead leaf, but instead, a mulch of well-trod ground. This must be the path of one of the great boars. He had thought about hunting one in the way someone dreams about a beautiful, yet unattainable woman. Yet now he was, straddling the path of one of these monsters. To either side of him he had reliable men and under him his most valuable asset, a horse not broken, but compliant.

  Caros hefted the heavy boar spear, experimenting with its weight. From the tales told over fires and through ale, boars were brutally tough creatures. That together with a devious and vengeful mind, made them formidable adversaries. He felt a tingle of apprehension spiral through him and grinned stupidly. He felt good. He owed a great debt to the happy Masulian and his cheerful warriors. He had found, in their absolute joy of life, an antidote to the depression and guilt that had borne him down.

  He passed the pale pebble and glanced at it, noting a thin cover of dry lichen had been torn and folded off one side of the rock. This was what he had expected to see. Something was amiss though. He stared at the rock and the pattern formed when the lichen had come away. The imprint looked at first glance like a random pattern, but on closer inspection Caros discerned a sandal print. Whoever had stepped on the rock had slipped a moment before stepping off it which had distorted the footprint. What was clear was this had occurred just a short while earlier. The lichen was still partially flattened, but springing back into shape slowly before him. Caros glanced at the rest of the valley floor about him. The torn-up leaves and general size of the disturbance which he had taken to be a well used boar trail could be the trail of a band of warriors. He whistled to Neugen and Aksel. Both men immediately paused and shot him questioning looks. Impatiently, he beckoned them to him, not wanting to raise his voice, wary now that there were others in the valley.

  “What? Have you picked up a trail?” Neugen said softly before his horse stepped through a screen of low hanging branches.

  Caros did not bother to reply as he saw Neugen immediately register the fresh trail along the valley floor. Aksel approaching from the left also saw the tracks for what they were.

  “How long have you been on this trail?”

  “A fair while.” He admitted sheepishly. “Thought it was a boar trail until I noticed a sandal print in the moss on that rock.”

  “Well this is probably a boar trail. Thing is I do not think boars wear sandals.” He flashed a grin at Caros.

  Aksel stared at the rock for a moment. “They are heading towards the others. These tracks have been made very recently. Maybe five men with horses.”

  Neugen’s eyebrows rose and he gave the Masulian a look of grudging respect.

  “That is what I was thinking. We keep going down the trail and if they are enemy warriors, they will be trapped between us and your men.”

  “My men will not know they are coming. They may be taken by surprise.” He pursed his lips and then smiled, “...they will be fine. It is these men that will be worse off if they are hostile.”

  “Aksel take the lead, Neugen and I will be right behind you.” Caros pointed at the ground. “This stuff is ideal for muffling sound. We should keep silent unless we actually see something.”

  The three men nodded and set off down the valley. They had gone less than half a stadion when they heard a yell ahead of them. A barrage of voices calling and shouting in the Masulian tongue followed. The three riders froze for a heartbeat and then kicked their mounts forwards to catch the enemy in the rear. The shouting died down and apparently the alarm subsided. Now they could hear many voices talking and even the neighing of horses, but the sounds of battle were absent. Mystified, they slowed their horses to a trot as they rounded a natural bend in the floor of the valley. Before them sat their own riders smiling and talking with a group of seven Masulians who were not part of the hunting party.

  Jinkata rode out of the group a pace to greet him and introduce the new arrivals. Caros noticed the seven riders looked exhausted and all but two carried recently dressed injuries. That they had been in some skirmish or other was not in doubt. Aksel was listening intently as one of the seven riders spoke urgently. From his gesticulations and tone, whatever he was telling Aksel was important. Aksel listened silently until the man finished speaking then asked him a few questions. Apparently satisfied with the answers, he looked over the other six riders, noting their condition.

  “Does not look like we will be eating boar tonight.” Neugen mused. “What is happening do you think?”

  Aksel heard him and answered. “It seems the war everyone feared has now come my friends.” He said gravely.

  “Who are they? They looked pretty cut up.” Caros remarked with concern.

  “They are scouts and messengers on their way to Cartagena with news for the Barcas. It seems there is a large army on the move from inland to the coast. To the city of Sagunt.”

  “Why does that city keep cropping up whenever there is trouble?” Neugen grumbled.

  Caros agreed wholeheartedly. “Did the messengers say which tribes were in this army?”

  “Yes, Oretani and Carpetani.”

  “I knew it!” Neugen exclaimed and then looked puzzled. “Why Sagunt though? I would have thought they would tear straight through Bastetani lands to Baria and Cartagena?”

  “Hannibal has marched. He is no longer at Cartagena, but on his way to Sagunt. He may even be there already.”

  Caros’ eyes widened in surprise. There was a lot of enmity between Sagunt and the Barcas, but he had not expected the Carthaginians to attack the city. He surmised that the murder of Sagunt’s Carthaginian population might well have forced Hannibal’s hand.

  Aksel went on, “The Oretani and Carpetani will fall on Hannibal’s rear as he besieges Sagunt.”

  Neugen looked at Caros in alarm. “I told you how many of them there were. There are probably even more now! This is going to be one bloody battle.”

  Through the alarm, Caros could also sense excitement in his friend’s voice.

  “I’m no Greek Strategos, but being caught from the rear like that is a bad thing right? I assume other messengers are on the way to Hannibal’s army as well?”

  “Yes, their leading man thought it prudent to warn the garrison at Cartagena as well. I will be taking my men to join the rest of the Masulians with Hannibal’s army.” He looked at Caros. “Another day we will kill a boar together, you and I.”

  Neugen looked at Caros. “I will need to get back to my men and see what Alfren is planning. If I know him, he will be shadowing the bastards every step of the way while he draws more warriors from the south.”

  Caros was suddenly at a loss. Both men knew exactly what they had to do. He on the other hand seemed to have no purpose.

  As if sensing his thoughts, Neugen asked, “Why not join us, Caros? We will need every warrior we can raise and you are worth at least two.”

  Caros smiled. He did not have to consider his answer for even a moment. “Just two, eh? Well Runeovex knows I am not going to sit around on an empty farm while you have all the fun!”

  The three young men looked at one another for a heartbeat before whooping and laughing. Their eyes shone with excitement at the prospect of battle. They had no concept of the magnitude of the war about to be unleashed. Of the futile bloodletting, disease and the horrors a cornered foe will ex
perience and commit. Instead, young and filled with thoughts of glory and honour, they pointed their horses south and rode.

  CHAPTER 17

  JIMENO ABARCA CROSSED the courtyard amid a bellowing of warhorns and the sound of thousands upon thousands of voices raised in alarm and excitement. The day he foreseen and planned for had arrived. All his strategizing and preparations would be tested to the limit.

  Even with his limping gait, the result of a javelin wound long years past, Abarca moved speedily to the wall of the castro and climbed the stairs to the battlements overlooking Sagunt and the wide coastal plain surrounding the city.

  Sagunt perched on a promontory, overlooking the plain and some thirty stadia from the coast. He reached the highest parapet, sweating with exertion, but with fire in his eyes. In the south and west, long columns of warriors snaked their way across the plains. The heat of early summer together with clouds of dust obscured much of the converging columns, but that they were numerous was not in doubt. He swivelled to look to the east and saw yet another column. Easily many, many thousands strong. Hannibal’s army had arrived. Abarca’s heart beat wildly and he had to breathe deeply to calm himself. This was after all, exactly what he had planned for.

  Abarca motioned to his aide. “Are all the warriors within and the gates closed?”

  “Yes, Strategos. We have some seventy thousand warriors within the walls and all gates are sealed. The outer walls are now fully manned, and we have forty thousand warriors in reserve.”

  Abarca smiled. Seventy thousand warriors, most them of the Edetani tribe. It was no mean feat to bring together so many warriors, even of the same tribe. The tribes of the Iberian peoples were based on a loose confederation. Within any one tribe were numerous leading men who each ruled a large settlement and smaller outlying villages. The oligarchy of Sagunt had known that to regain their wealth they would need to bring together all these leading men and their warriors. Promises of plunder were made, but the rulers of Sagunt had still needed to front much silver to bring the various leading men together.