The enemy cavalry had been given the slip and Lucius Caesar and his men were about halfway between Amlada and Mulassa, somewhere to the south of Lake Caralis, when there was a shout from the rear. The enemy had caught up with them.

This time, however, it was the Romans who had the advantage of being on slightly higher ground. There was no cover in sight; the ground was rolling and bare as far as the eye could see. The enemy appeared to be the same force of about 1,500 troopers as they had previously spotted.

To run would be both dangerous and undignified. His men all looked to their young commander for orders.