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thousand.’ Not near enough for the probable ten thousand men on the other side, but he had the surprise. He hoped it was enough. He also had position. From then on, there was a steady flow of traffic until they arrived in the main camp.
    Even up here, the snow melt was almost complete, and all that remained in front of them was several snow drifts. The path through the mountains was almost clear.
    Soon after arrival, they were escorted up to a vantage point to inspect the valley and the impending battlefield. Conn asked Brys what he had in mind, and he explained his preparation.
    It was an unusual battlefield. The Ancuman had to march steadily uphill through a valley. They would then march through the gap in the mountains – some hundred yards wide. If they passed that, they would enter another wider valley that snaked its way down to the ocean.
    The defensive force had the advantage here; they held the higher ground and the towers and walls that covered the pass. Better positioned and protected, it was why Efilda’s rebellion still survived; it was easier to defend than attack the pass, and any successful attack would come at a huge cost.
    If the attacker had sufficient numbers, and was prepared to suffer significant losses, it was possible to wear out the defenders by draining them of arrows.  You needed willing men and a strong will, and it seemed that Dagrun now had both. Mungan had indicated that a lot of Ancuman wiga had arrived in Samria over the last few weeks, with horses. Conn understood the Ancuman thinking; bring in troops to help squash the rebellion. After the rebellion of course, all bets were off. In a year’s time, Dagrun would be dead, and Samria would find itself totally controlled by Axum, and all the inhabitants would soon become theow.
    Conn congratulated him on his work. They could see both encampments, and Brys and Conn inspected the Ancuman camp with telescopes
    Brys stopped looking first. ‘They are ready – there are no more on the trail below. They had oxen towing carts up the valley for days. Everyone must be here.  You have arrived just in time.’
    Conn continued to study the camp layout. He could see several hundred buckskin cavalry horses in stalls.
    ‘Have you counted the buckskins?’
    ‘We have tried. Over four hundred.’
    Conn nodded as he studied. ‘They have catapults. I was wondering how they thought they will get through the walls.’
    Across the gap in the mountain were two old gatehouses; formally an inn to rest in on your journey each way, having climbed the valley. Reinforced with huge rocks, they provided a physical defensive line that, combined with the guards houses built into the hills, meant that going through uninvited was not advisable
    ‘I thought the plan was to let him through.’ Derryth added curiously.
    ‘It is – but we need him to think that it is all his own work. And if the catapults are too effective, it might just be. What I’d give for open ground and more cavalry. We have to do the best with what we have, I guess, but we will need to eliminate the catapults.’
    Conn looked back at Brys. ‘Have you heard of the testudo formation used by men-at-arms?’
    ‘No.’
    Conn explained.
    ‘Didn’t your fyrd use that in Rakiak? On the attack of the castle?’
    ‘They did. And the Ancuman will know how to use it. Even with the catapults, it is the only way they can get enough men to the gates. I’d like to make some modifications to your plans so that the testudo doesn’t work too well.’
    Derryth took in his surrounds, and had a separate question.  ‘Why haven’t they tried to climb up the other side? We have the advantage up here.’
    Wystan agreed. ‘They have – but it is slow and very dangerous. We have bowmen up here to lessen their enthusiasm for trying.’
    As soon as they reached the valley floor, two dozen men were delegated to carry two of the lighter catapults up to the top of the mountain. The crews should have fun targeting the