The Parthian Read Free Page B

my sword to bring it down on its holder, but this man was experienced and he moved expertly aside so I cut only air. My left hand was gripping Sura’s reins as I swung wildly at the standard bearer with my sword. But then he rammed the eagle into the ground, drew his sword and sprang at me, smacking his round shield into my side. It was enough to send me sprawling from the saddle and crashing to the ground. Sura bolted away. Bozan’s words came flooding into my mind. ‘If you’re on the round you are already half-dead. Get to your feet as quickly as possible, otherwise you’re finished.’
    I sprang to my feet and faced the standard bearer. I was at a disadvantage as he had a sword and shield whereas I had only my sword. He lunged at me and I parried his blow. I could see that he was sweating. So was I. He charged forward, his shield in front of him, and crashed into me. The blow caught me on my left arm and a pain shot through my shoulder. He tried to thrust his sword into my neck but I caught the blade with my sword’s cross-guard and pushed it aside. I suddenly felt tired and was breathing heavily. He came at me again and once more I parried his blows.
    Then I attacked, gripping my sword with both hands and raising it above my hand. I brought the blade down to split my opponent’s shield and shatter the bone in his arm. He screamed in pain but still managed to swing his sword, which hit one of my helmet’s cheek guards. He stumbled in pain, I swung my sword above my head again and brought it down again, screaming as I did so. The blade was a blur as it found my enemy’s exposed neck. The blade cut down at an angle, cutting through the flesh and spine to send the head spinning onto the earth.
    I stepped over the headless corpse and wrenched the eagle standard out of the ground, holding it aloof for all to see. The battle that had been raging all around seemed to cease instantly as I waved the silver eagle in the air. It was as if it was a magic charm, which to the Romans, I suppose, it was. Their senior officers dead, individual legionaries began to ram their swords into the ground, discard their shields and kneel as a sign of submission. Our men, most of them having fought all day under a merciless sun, gladly accepted their surrender. Soon, whole groups of Romans were giving up, the loss of their legionary eagle having shattered their morale.
    Bozan, his armour missing many steel plates from the blows he had received in the fight, walked over and embraced me.
    ‘I knew you wouldn’t fail me, Pacorus. Well done.’
    He winced as he let go of me, blood showing around his armpit.
    ‘You’re wounded.’
    ‘It’s nothing,’ he replied.
    Around me cataphracts were dismounting and walking over to me, offering their congratulations. Among them was Vata, the son of Bozan and my best friend. Like his father he was squat and stocky, a barrel of muscles, and like his father he had a carefree attitude to life. But, like me, he wore his hair long, his black locks falling to his shoulders. He embraced his father then grinned as he gripped me in a bear hug.
    ‘You’re not saying much.’
    ‘That’s because you’re crushing me,’ I managed to say. He burst into laughter as he released me.
    He slapped me on my left arm as he stared at the eagle.
    ‘So, this is what we’ve been bleeding for. Haven’t seen many of them in my travels. I reckon the Romans will be mightily aggrieved when they discover we’ve got it.’
    ‘Let them come and get it,’ I said, trying to sound impressive.
    ‘Yes,’ spat Vata. ‘We’ll beat them a second time.
    Then I felt a curious sensation in my arms and legs, as they began to shake. I suddenly felt afraid. Was I dying; had I been wounded? I sank onto all fours and looked at Bozan in despair. He knelt beside me.
    ‘Easy, boy. It’s just the shakes.’
    ‘The shakes?’
    He grinned and handed me his waterskin. ‘Drink. A lot of men get the shakes after battle. When you fight the