Akilos stood at the rear of his faltering formation, surrounded by the chaos of war. He could not see the full scope of the battlefield, but the signs of disaster were undeniable. His warriors were retreating, their screams of pain and shouts of confusion reaching him through the clamor. To his left and right, scattered groups of Lucanian warriors had begun to flee, their courage shattered. A mix of rage and dread boiled within him. The great chief of Picossis knew that if his line collapsed, the entire Lucanian alliance would fall with it. Akpiru, the dominant leader of Grumentum and his in-law, would not forgive such failure. The humiliation—and the consequences—would be severe.
Akilos had little time to contemplate his next move. His Picossis warriors were fully engaged and beyond his immediate control. His only remaining option was the Brutti warriors of Vigg, held in reserve.
