Those whom I had summoned arrived soon after and I told them to sit at the table. I rose from my chair and walked over to a smaller table nearby, grabbed the hide map that lay on it and unrolled it before them. It depicted the western half of the empire, specifically the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
I looked at the circle of faces illuminated by the oil lamps hanging from the tent poles. There was no concern or fear in their eyes, only an expectation that I would reveal to them a plan that would get us out of the predicament we were in. As ever in these situations I felt the loneliest man in the world at that moment. The burden of command bore down heavily on my shoulders. Outside the annoying drone of the massed kettledrums of the enemy continued their tuneless racket. I pointed at the map.
‘We are around twenty miles west of the Tigris and eighty miles east of the Euphrates and, as you will all have gathered, currently surrounded by the enemy. I had toyed with the idea of offering battle tomorrow.’
I saw Orodes nodding in agreement, his high sense of honour sometimes overruling sound military sense.
‘However,’ I continued, ‘to do so would only invite defeat and possible destruction. Therefore I intend to withdraw back to Dura.’
Orodes frowned but said nothing while Domitus continued playing with his dagger. He stopped and looked at me. He tilted his head to the sound outside.
‘They might have something to say about that.’
‘I will keep them occupied while Orodes and Surena make good their escape with the horse.’
Orodes looked confused. ‘I do not understand, Pacorus.’
‘It is quite simple,’ I replied. ‘If we offer battle tomorrow we will either lose and be forced to crawl back into camp once more, after which we will be in a more dire state than we are currently in. However, if you and Surena lead the horsemen to safety then I will have saved at least half the army.’
The significance of what I was saying suddenly dawned on Orodes.
‘You intend to divide the army?’
‘That is correct, my friend,’ I said. ‘The horse can break through the enemy while I keep Mithridates and Narses occupied. If they know that I am still in camp they will let you go.’
Orodes folded his arms. ‘I will not desert the army.’
‘Neither will I,’ added Surena, earning him a scowl from Domitus.
I pointed at Surena. ‘You will obey orders.’
I looked at Orodes. ‘I cannot order you to do anything, my friend, and nor would I attempt to. But as a friend I ask you to do this. With you leading them the cavalry stands a good chance of getting back to Dura.’
Orodes said nothing, which I took to mean that he accepted the charge, though he wore a deeply unhappy expression.
‘And after the horse have left, what then?’ enquired Domitus.
‘If the legions stay here they will be destroyed,’ I said. ‘Our only option is to march northwest across the desert towards Hatran territory.’ I traced my finger from where we were presently trapped to the southern frontier of my father’s kingdom. ‘The distance is around eighty or ninety miles.’
‘Four days’ march,’ said Domitus.
‘I fear it will take longer than that,’ I replied. ‘Marcus, what is the situation regarding our water supplies?’
Marcus stroked his chin as he stared at the map, then he looked up. ‘The water wagons are nearly full, though they will be emptied soon enough if we stay here.’
‘And if all the horses and camels are removed from camp?’ I asked.
He weighed up the figures in his mind, gently moving his head from side to side. ‘If that is so then we have enough water to last for ten days, though it will have to be rationed strictly.’
‘Thank you, Marcus.’ I looked at Orodes. ‘You see, my friend, how it is impossible for the horses and camels to remain. Our only chance is for you to take the cataphracts, horse archers, squires and camels and strike west for the Euphrates.’
‘That still leaves over twelve thousand men and thousands of mules,’ remarked Domitus.
‘Over twelve thousand plus one, for I shall be staying,’ I said, attempting levity. Domitus’ narrowing eyes told me I had failed.
I looked at him. ‘You know that mules are hardier than horses, can endure extremes of heat and cold and can survive on limited amounts of water. Without the mules we lose the tents, tools, spare weapons, armour, supplies and Marcus’ siege engines.’
‘To say nothing of the wounded,’ said Alcaeus, speaking for the first time.
‘What is the position regarding the wounded?’ I asked him.
He leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his wiry black hair. ‘Half are walking wounded and can hobble out of here, but the rest will have to be put on wagons if they are to survive.’
‘It’s decided then,’ I said. ‘We will leave no one behind to fall into the hands of Mithridates.’
‘When will the horse break out, at dawn?’ asked Domitus.
I shook my head. ‘No, I will request a meeting with Mithridates first. That will give Orodes time to organise his breakout attempt.’
Orodes looked at me and was about to protest but I froze him with a glare. I esteemed him one of my closest friends but we were fighting for our very existence and I had no time for ridiculous notions of honour, especially not when it came to creatures such as Mithridates.
It was now past midnight and there was nothing else to say. There would be no sleep for any of us, though, as we all still had work to do. Alcaeus and Marcus would have to construct wooden roofs over the wagons that would carry the wounded, because once we were on the march we would be constantly harassed by the enemy’s horse archers. I understood now why there had been none when we had fought the battle earlier. Narses was many things but he was no fool. He had clearly developed a strategy for dealing with us and thus far it had worked perfectly. But his war was only half won.
Before I dismissed the council there was one more thing to attend to.
‘Surena, you are no longer an officer in the cataphracts.’
The colour drained from his face at my words. His mouth opened but no words came, his eyes filled with hurt.
‘Orodes will lead the cavalry tomorrow but you will command the horse archers. Don’t let me down.’
Where there was despair there was now triumph in Surena’s eyes, plus a certain amount of smugness. Domitus looked at me, raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
‘Remember, Surena,’ I added, ‘that you take orders from Orodes. I am entrusting you with three thousand men. Your task is to get them home safely.’
His cockiness disappeared, for the moment. ‘Yes, lord.’
The others filed out of the tent back to their commands. Domitus cornered me before I returned back to making my rounds of the camp.
‘You sure about promoting the puppy?’
‘He’s brave and well liked by the men. Besides, he’ll be useful directing a rear-guard.’
‘You are taking a risk.’
I shrugged. ‘The position we are in, I have no choice.’
I returned to walking round the perimeter of the camp, which by now was guarded by legionaries as well as squires armed with bows. The camp was ringed by a multitude of campfires spreading far into the distance. All of the enemy’s foot soldiers would be sleeping on the ground round their fires, the horse archers too. Only the cataphracts and the senior officers would sleep in tents on carpets and soft pillows, with the royal pavilions being the most luxurious. As I stood on the southern rampart staring at the two large pavilions that housed Mithridates and Narses I toyed with the idea of launching a large-scale night attack against them, but the ground between us and them was carpeted with sentries and sleeping soldiers. Even if we got to the pavilions there would be more troops to tackle. I dismissed the idea.
I saw a movement ahead and instinctively gripped the hilt of my sword. Was the enemy making a night assault? The squire next to me, a tall, skinny youth, brought up his bow and drew back the bowstring, which was nocked with an arrow. A hare ran towards us and then bolted right along the ditch and disappeared. I relaxed and laid a hand on the squire’s shoulder.