Chapter 80: Breaking Through

Marcellus sat within his encampment while drinking from a bottle of wine. By now, word had reached him about Ordius' encounter with the Franks. He was well aware of their intentions to flee, and had calculated for the variable. It was highly likely that Hagen returned to the army and convinced Constantine to break through the mountains, in a desperate gamble to save themselves. However, things weren't so easy. 

Out of his nine legions, eight of them were guarding the major mountain passes, with the last taking up a position higher up in the hills. Regardless of which route Constantine took, there would be two legions to face him, and a third to act as reinforcements.

Now Marcellus did not know the exact numbers of Constantine's armies, but according to his allies in Hispania the fool had waged an unsuccessful campaign for control of the region and lost most of his army in his vain attempt at pursuing his so-called claim to the Empire.