Caratacus The Coward

For Caratacus, this would have to rate as his worst nightmare yet. Chained and visible. No way to run, and nowhere to hide. He hunched and tried to sidle behind the men flanking him. A shove in his back from the prisoner behind made him whimper. He felt sick to his stomach, his limbs weak and shaking, his brain yelling at him to run! Run! Yet he couldn’t. He found himself unable to appreciate the irony that it was his swiftness and speed that had elevated him to Cornicen, but his propensity for using that talent to avoid danger had brought him so low.

He heard the others whispering around him, “Coward”, “craven”, “spineless”

A passing soldier looked over at the whispering, saw him and knew him for what he was: Less than a man, a weak-spined yellow-bellied coward who turned tail and fled. Originally everyone thought he was good luck, the way he always emerged unscathed from a battle. This had led the Centurion to give him the trumpet and make Caratacus stand next to him. It was only then, visible to all, at the height of battle, the century sorely pressed upon three sides, that the Centurion turned to order the withdrawal, to see Caratacus’ backside disappearing behind the lines.

So he stood, and shivered, dying the coward’s death a thousand times, knowing he would be pushed forward, inexorably, into the face of the enemy, by the swords of his betrayed companions.

Cornicen (Hornblower for centurions orders) - Gaul - Caratacus the Coward - arrested for cowardice

Apt to run away if scared, intimidated, or just no-one looking - dodges like crazy, runs like the wind.

Character Sheet