“We will gain nothing by dividing our forces.” At the note of assurance in Constantine’s voice Dacius glanced at him sharply. The old soldier had not missed the moment of panic yesterday when, sickened by the carnage on the plain, Constantine had felt a perfectly human urge to flight. But no sign of that panic showed in his manner now, though their position could hardly be termed less than desperate.
“Many of my band are wounded,” Tiridates said. “Shall we leave them behind so the rest can march faster?”
“Together we number close to seven hundred, about a fourth of a legion of experienced fighting men and, as far as we know, the only organized body of Roman soldiers existing in this region,” Constantine said. “It will not help the morale of the troops if we leave the wounded behind. And by staying together, we may win our way clear of the Persians. After all, the farther west they go, the more scattered their forces will become.”
‘What is your plan of action?” Dacius asked.
“What a shepherd does when his flock is ravaged by wolves.”
“The hunted becomes the hunter!” Tiridates’ eyes suddenly began to glow. “It is a daring idea, especially for so small a band ”
Caesar Galerius to gather his troops
“If I were the Persian general,” Constantine said, “I would expect us to turn north and would send forces in that direction. So we will turn south and perhaps be able to fall on those who are following our army. That way we can gain time for Caesar Galerius to gather his troops and make a stand somewhere between here and Antioch.” He looked at the other two. “Are we agreed as to the overall strategy?”
“My vote is in favor,” Tiridates said promptly.
“And mine,” said Dacius.
“Sound the call to get under way then, Dacius. We don’t want to be here when the Persians arrive.”
Since both were made up of experienced soldiers, the detachments were soon on the move. Those able to march went on foot, while the wounded who could ride were boosted up behind Constantine’s cavalrymen. The few not able to travel that way were carried on improvised horse borne litters. All waterskins were filled, since some barren country must still be crossed, and a scouting party of a dozen men was sent ahead under the command of Dacius. Soon the great river was left behind, for Dura was on the western side of a huge curve in its course and their route of march was now directly toward Antioch. It was almost noon when Dacius and one of his scouts appeared ahead.
“You were right,” he reported to Constantine, who rode out to meet him. Tiridates, at his own insistence, was marching toward the back of the column with his own men. “The Persians split their forces and sent a large body of cavalry back to the river early this morning.”
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