With Petronius wounded and the contubernium lost deep in Nervii territory, the survivors argue: wait for rescue, surrender, or fight their way out. Marcus is a common soldier with four months of training — but he's the only one who will make a call.

He takes point, gives orders, and the others follow, not because he has authority but because the alternative is to stay in the clearing and die. Then the Nervii close in again, a spear takes Drusus between the shoulder blades, and they run.

When the pursuit finally falls behind, six men collapse in the forest — and Marcus understands what command actually costs.

Eagle's Edge is a Roman adventure story for kids 8-14 — a sixteen-year-old recruit takes the oath, marches into Gaul under Caesar, and learns what war actually is.

Perfect for kids 8-14 who love history, battles, and adventure. For fans of Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the Ninth, the action of Percy Jackson, and classic stories of ancient Rome.

📚 Grab your copy of Eagle's Edge: The Making of a Soldier (Book 1) — available now on Amazon: https://us.amazon.com/stores/Reed-Sterling/author/B0H2ZM86WQ

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00:00:00 — Petronius takes the arrow — the squad reaches the fallen oak
00:02:30 — "How bad?" — assessing the wound
00:03:30 — Marcus breaks the shaft and pulls the arrow through
00:06:00 — Bandaged and braced — a moment of relative calm
00:07:30 — Six survivors, two dead, cut off with night approaching
00:10:15 — "We should surrender" — the argument breaks open
00:13:00 — "We move or we die" — Lucius cuts through the panic
00:15:45 — Petronius watches Marcus — waiting, assessing
00:19:45 — A twig snaps — the hunters are closing in
00:21:00 — Marcus reads the land — east to the river
00:23:30 — "We move east" — Marcus gives the order
00:25:00 — A formation forms around him without question
00:27:00 — Drusus's identity disc, carried instead of his body
00:28:15 — "Move out" — six men, one direction
00:29:30 — CH 10 — What Comes Next

I am the author of serialized fiction books for kids, teens, tweens and young adults, including:

- Brickhaven: A Bricks Fan Fiction Adventure

- Colony In Danger: A Fire Ant Adventure

- Eagle's Edge: A Story of Rome, Gaul and the Making of a Soldier

- Treasure Island: A Classic Adaptation

- Iron Rails & Ruin: A Novel of Steam, Sorcery and the Lawless Montana Territory

📚 All five books -- are now available on Amazon: https://us.amazon.com/stores/Reed-Sterling/author/B0H2ZM86WQ

📖 Wanna check out all five series for yourself? Get all five Chapter 1s free: https://compass-codex.kit.com/middle-school-reader-group

Thank you for listening! This is Reed Sterling. Remember: Never stop exploring unknown worlds.