Fortress of Spears

In the sequel to "Arrows of Fury", Calgus finds that the Venicone, a tribe he'd persuaded to join his battle against the Romans are no longer interested in fighting the Romans.  Durst, their leader, plans on taking them home.  Unbeknownst to them the Romans are at their walls.  Marcus and his cohort have burst through the south wall of their fortress.  Unfortunately Marcus' friend Rufius is killed in the battle while King Durst and his Venicone warriors manage to stream out to the north.

Although Marcus' friends have eliminated the one person set on catching him, all are unaware that there are new men on his trail.  Men who will stop at nothing to gain their objective.

The cavalry have lost several men in running battles with the barbarians.  As a result Marcus and a few of his men are pressed into service because they know how to handle horses.  Meantime Durst and his men are escaping to the north, harried by another squadron of Roman cavalry.

It is while Marcus is far to the north that the two men set on getting him, kidnap Felicia, Marcus' fiancé in the hopes of luring him in.  Dubnus, one of Marcus' friends, who was wounded in a previous battle has overheard a conversation telling of the kidnapping.  He requests and is granted a group of men to go in pursuit of Felicia and the kidnappers.

Although the Romans and their allies successfully take the fortress of spears, they can't keep it.  It lacks water and food for a long siege, because Durst and Calgus are on their way to attack it.  The Romans must prepare for battle.

Author Anthony Riches has provided the reader with an exciting tale of war in Roman Britain.  Throughout he gives hints about things to come and then gives greater detail later on.  A great read and I am looking forward to the next in the "Empire" series.