The garrison captain of Castlon waited for a long time, but the cavalry did not return, and the commotion from the Crotone camp seemed to have subsided.
Out of suspicion, he personally led ten cavalrymen, exiting the city from the southern gate.
They crossed the pontoon bridge, went west through the small forest (where Alpons' light infantry had already hidden the scouts' corpses and removed any traces), and found nothing unusual until they climbed the high slope at the bend of the Trionto River.
The sight before them was shocking: the vast flatland where the Crotonians had camped was in utter chaos.
Collapsed tents, scattered weapons, and horses and pack animals running and wailing everywhere.
