Read Cato 04 - The Eagle and the Wolves for Free Online

gates of Calleva, Vespasian was in a foul mood as he marched up the stinking thoroughfare towards Verica’s enclosure. And not just because he resented the curt summons he had received from the king of the Atrebatans. As soon as he had recovered his breath after entering Calleva Vespasian marched the survivors of the convoy, and the last of his scouts, to the depot. Every spare man had been placed on the walls in case the Durotrigans decided to chance a more ambitious assault on their enemy. At the depot the legate had to deal with a stream of junior officers jostling for his attention. Taking over the small office of the late Centurion Veranius, Vespasian dealt with them one at a time. The hospital was filled with casualties, and the legion’s chief surgeon was demanding more men to set up a new ward. The centurion in command of the convoy requested a cohort of the Second Legion be placed at his disposal to guard his wagons on the journey back to the base on the Tamesis.
    ‘I can’t be answerable for any supplies until I can get adequate protection, sir,’ he said warily.
    Vespasian eyed the officer with cold contempt. ‘You are answerable for supplies under any circumstances, and you know it.’
    ‘Yes, sir. But those bloody Spanish auxiliaries I was given are useless.’
    ‘Seemed to be doing well enough just now.’
    ‘Yes, sir,’ the centurion conceded. ‘But it ain’t the same as being protected by legionaries. Our heavy infantry put the shits up the natives.’
    ‘Maybe, but I can’t spare you any of my men.’
    ‘Sir-’
    ‘None. But I’ll send a request to the general for some Batavian cavalry tomorrow. Meanwhile I want a full inventory of the supplies in the depot, and then get as many wagons ready to move as you can.’
    The supplies centurion paused a moment, waiting for further explanation, but Vespasian curtly nodded towards the door and beckoned the next man. His priority was getting rations to his men as soon as possible. Already one of his scouts was riding back to the Second Legion with orders to send two cohorts to Calleva. It might be a disproportionate response but Vespasian needed to be sure that he could transfer as much as possible from the depot to the legion. With the enemy raiding in force there was no chance of guaranteeing a steady flow of supplies.
    Caratacus had presented him with a neat paradox: if he continued to advance, his supplies would be cut off; yet if he concentrated on safeguarding his supply lines, the advance would be stalled. Further north General Plautius’ forces were already stretched perilously thin, and almost none was available for strengthening the convoy escorts, or garrisoning the way stations and this vital depot at Calleva. The miserable show put on by the garrison that afternoon was indicative of the calibre of the men who could be spared for such duties. What Vespasian needed now, more than anything else, was manpower. Fit and well-trained. But, he realised with teeth-clenching bitterness, he might as well wish for the moon.
    There was a further problem. The commander of the garrison was dead. Veranius had been an adequate enough officer - adequate enough to be spared for this command - but the Second Legion could ill afford to send another centurion from the campaign being waged against the hillforts. As always, the casualty rate amongst centurions was disproportionately high, given their duty to lead from the front. There were already a number of centuries being commanded by optios, hardly a satisfactory state of affairs . . .
    It was at that point that a messenger had arrived from Verica requesting Vespasian’s presence at the earliest convenience.
    All of this weighed heavily on his mind as the legate made his way along the dark streets of Calleva, taking care not to slip on the mud and ordure beneath his boots. Here and there orange pools of light spilled across the rutted streets from the open doorways of native huts. Inside, Vespasian could see