​Charley Brindley

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From the novel, “Hannibal’s Elephant Girl, Book Three”.

 

At sunrise Hannibal led his nine mounted soldiers from the ravine and entered a large area that had been cleared of trees and bush.

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A slight breeze rustled the tall weeds, but otherwise all was quiet.

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Near the center of the clearing, a piercing battle cry signaled a horde of fighters to leap from their hiding places in the grass and attack from all sides.

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The ten Carthaginians drew their swords and spears, striking down on the attackers.

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The Tartessians cruelly slashed the horses’ throats and bellies, slaughtering all ten and knocking the Carthaginians to the ground.

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Hannibal and his men fought viciously with sword and shield, inflicting many wounds, but this was a very different battlefield from the practice arena where their comrades stood back to watch two combatants who had plenty of free space to turn, attack and swing their swords.

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On this bloody field, being attacked from all sides by throngs of screaming barbarians, the ten men were soon overwhelmed and disarmed.

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Their hands were bound behind their backs and with ropes around their necks, they were marched through the woods and along the foothills.

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Before midday they came to a large village where they were greeted by the jeers and taunts of hundreds of women and children who threw insults along with rocks and sticks at their hated invaders.

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Hannibal and his men were bound to posts and forced to watch the jubilant natives feast on the flesh of their horses.

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