"Why do I have to stay here with you? All my comrades can fight for our freedom, but I sit here with an old witch", a young man grumbled as he watched the horizon for signs of a hostile fleet.
"You will appreciate the guard work in the future. Less death and misery than a soldiers life", the old woman said and dusted off her rusty chain mail armour off as she stood up. Her eyes fixated on the Adriatic Sea. "Tell me boy do you see the same thing as I do."
The man stood up annoyed and looked in the direction his superior was looking. He stared for minutes until he did see something.
"And I thought you started to lose your eyesight. That is a fleet!", the young man exclaimed excitedly. "Are those the reinforcements the count promised us? Do you think now they will let me go with the legion? Can we finally kill the tyrant Vespasianus?"
The old woman ignored the boy as she searched for something in the chest. A telescope was pulled out and the woman used it to get a better look at the approaching ships.
"Don't know that flag. Here you take a look", she said and gave the telescope to the eager boy.
"That is the flag of the council of southern Italia. Those are the reinforcements. Combined we now have two legions", the boy said and gave the telescope back. He ran to report the news to the captain.
The woman continued to keep watch and would from time to time take a look at the ships. When the fleet neared she started to notice something else.
"What is happening over there now? Is that smoke?", she asked herself.
She observed how projectiles, burning and not burning, impacted the sails of the ships at the front, while a second fleet appeared at the horizon.
The woman put down the telescope and rubbed her eyes before resuming her observation.
"That is the Neapolitan flag, but the building style is definitely eastern and those ships look more like hastily armoured merchant vessels than proper warships, but why would the East attack? Did they break the treaty? Wait, some ships do look like wart ships", she spoke to herself and observed the reinforcements trying to fight back the pursuers.
"Why are they fleeing? Most of the enemy ships are clearly not made for combat. Stand your ground cowards!", she cursed and put the telescope back into the chest. She moved slowly down the tower to report to the captain as well. The enemy had been sighted.
------------------------------------------------------
"Why are they fleeing? The plan was to capture a few ships, sacrifice some of ours and then retreat", I repeated the question again looking for answers. This was a sorry excuse for a battle. The enemy didn't even try to stop us from approaching.
"That is the difference between a legion and a proper legion", Cycnus provided with a thoughtful expression. "Your lump of legionaries wouldn't have performed better against better equipped or more experienced troops."
"Maybe that was one of the reasons your father had when he ordered your assistance for this rebellion. Better learn now instead of against more dangerous foes", Alaric guessed and I nodded half heartily. This didn't sound like father or mother at all. More like something uncle would do.
"Maybe you are right, maybe not", I made my own guess. "Tell the legionaries to board the ships one for one. That way we have the strength in numbers."
Cycnus bowed shortly and distributed the message by shouting at the other captains on their ships. An ability of his which I really admire. He said the trick was to use a bit of wind magic, but wouldn't tell me the details. He headed back under deck to his men.
I lost interest in the ongoing fight. It seemed five ships managed to escape our grasp. Their commander should be part of that group because the rest of the fleet started to panic and fought back while trying to retreat. It was just a giant big mess on their side. All cohesion was lost.
This should be a lesson for me. Even an enemy outnumbering me couldn’t compensate for the disadvantage of losing their order and leaders. A good general should never lose under those conditions.
I watched in amazement as one of the enemy ships managed to block our boarding group and headed straight to our vessel. A valiant and heroic effort. Doomed to fail nonetheless.
"Tell Cycnus and his men to get ready it is time to prove his own worth", I commanded calmly. "What was it again? Twice as strong as the Varangian Guard?"
"I believe he claimed sixteen yesterday", Alaric said and headed down the ship. The minotaurs were currently rowing. Not because I ordered it. They lost several games against the rowers and were unwilling to pay those debts back with gold. I only allowed such behaviour, because the plan was to keep them in the back as my ace for situations like this.
"Jackpot, you called?", Cycnus was the first to emerge back on deck and stood now beside me.
"Oh, it seems we will get see a bit of action as well," he said as the enemy ship was about to ram our front.
I grabbed the shoulder of the minotaur. I would need the support for the incoming collision. Cycnus ram his two-handed sword into the wood and the ships collided. Several minotaurs fell down the stairs as I tried to hold onto the mountain of flesh beside me.
The first enemies boarded our ship, while my men were still in the process of standing up again.
"Get up you calves! Didn't your mothers teach you how to walk?", he shouted and curses were thrown back at him. This was definitely something they had to work on. At least for later public appearances.
The enemy didn't charge us and instead started to form up in a phalanx. Spears slowly crept forwards as the woman in charge ordered the bowmen behind to shoot.
"Archer fire! Kill the enemy leader!", she said and pointed in my direction. Not good.
Cycnus violently pulled me behind the next cargo chest and I heard arrows hit wood.
"Testudo! Slow advance forwards. Archer fire on my command", I ordered.
My elite guard of mercenaries formed up behind the crates as the enemy moved on. When the formation finished they met the phalanx upfront. The enemy archer fired, but their arrows didn't manage to pierce the Testudo formation.
I worried about the long reach of the phalanx. An unnecessary worry. I broke out in laughter as the first spear lost its head when a hoof stomped it quickly into the ground.
"See, everything under control", Cycnus proclaimed and joined with his own laughter.
Soon the whole elite guard started to laugh as the enemy lost their weapons to the feet and swords of my soldiers. Iron tips began to accumulate on deck. Most enemy soldiers only held wooden poles in their hands.
The confidence of the enemy crumbled under our reaction and they tried to retreat back onto their ship. They tried to hold formation as they did.
"Archers, fire behind the enemy", I commanded and the enemy stooped dead in their tracks as the wood behind them was marked by our arrows.
"We surrender!", the person in charge shouted and they put their weapons on the ground. Most of them looked relieved now that the fight was over.
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"Bind them, secure their ship and collect the weapons", Cycnus ordered. His men moved.
"And bring the enemy leader to me. I am in the cabin of the captain", I added and Alaric joined me in the cabin as we went through the reports of the battle.
We took few casualties. Most of them due to enemy arrow fire. The enemies crews surrendered shortly after their ships were boarded. Not many dared to put up a real fight and those who did were already dead.
War vessels were the one thing we lacked so far and now we had 18 enemy vessels captured. The east had not allowed me to construct any. They would be of little use in the upcoming siege but should make future marine operations easier.
With the 50 transport ships, we brought to this fight, the ten warships loaned by house Bilibin and the 18 war-ships we just captured my fleet now had 78 vessels.
The plunder the legionaries brought back was mostly inferior weapons, armours and crates of supplies. Only a few of the crates were filled with food.
Most of the enemy troops had been farmer or craftsmen, we asked the captives about their origin and professions. A lot were recruited by force and threats and with zero military experience. They didn't even know where they were headed. Nor why they had to fight.
"It should be easier to manage them as prisoners. I suggest to release them on land your father controls", Alaric said. " They should be able to supply them for a while."
"I agree, but first we need more information. We need to know who rose up in rebellion and who we might be able to persuade to lay arms down", I answered.
"Diplomacy should not be necessary. We can crush any number of peasants", Alaric said and I heard the disdain in his voice.
"We need those people alive. The rebel leaders will be punished later", I reminded him. "I don't blame simple folk for following orders of nobles nor do I plan to slaughter thousands of future taxpayers and workers."
Alaric nodded but looked far from being convinced.
We skimmed through the reports that were coming in from other crews. Fifteen of our merchant ships were strongly damaged by ramming manoeuvrers. The rest were still operational. The enemy sails were too damaged to be used as a replacement for our own. We had to use our reserve sails to replace them.
The enemy weapons and armour were inferior to ours and for now, we stored them in crates on the captured ships. We would need reliable men to wield them and lacked those right now.
"We could force the prisoners to fight and use them as meat shields", Alaric suggested.
"We could, but the last thing I want is to have rumours spread how I sacrifice my soldiers for victory. Nor do we need untrained men and women in our legion", I declined.
"We separated the nobles and leaders from the common folk. Some of Cycnus men are watching over them on our flagship", Alaric informed me.
I looked at the floor and imagined how many of the enemy high-born were currently cowering beneath my feet. What should I do with these traitors? What would father want me to do with them?
"What about the woman who boarded the ship? Is she ready to talk?", I asked. Remembering the heroic and stupid attack. Though her attack did allow one more ship of the enemy to escape.
"I believe Cycnus took it upon himself to make her speak", Alaric answered. "Let me check on his progress."
Alaric left the room and I focussed on our supply situation. The extra prisoners strained our capacities, but we would hold out for now. The villages near Bari hopefully still held some provisions. Otherwise, the prisoners will have to starve. And we will have to ration ours.
Alaric entered the room with the woman as I was reorganizing the legionaries across the newly acquired ships. She seemed to be a young noble daughter. Probably a few years older than me. Her hair was short and black. The armour and some parts of her face were bloody. Her hands bound behind her back. Alaric stood two meters behind her.
"I respect your effort to lead a charge against the enemy commander. Still those acts are nothing more than treason against your rightful lord", I said and waited for a reaction on her side. There didn't come any instead she looked on the ground, while slightly trembling.
"Alaric what did Cycnus do to her exactly?", I asked.
"He threw her into the compartment for the horses", he informed. "That also explains the smell."
"Your name?", I asked again.
"Lithia, first daughter and heir to the lord of Matheola", she answered quietly.
"Do you know who I am?", I inquired.
"Some eastern warlord?", she looked up again with a puzzled expression. It seems the rebels do not know who we are. Or it is just that nobody bothered to explain the situation to her. The count should be able to figure out who I am. Shouldn't he?
"Lucius Vespasianus. Heir to this country and your future liege. You did not only rebel against your liege, my father, but also fought against your own prince", I informed her. Her rebuke followed immediately.
"You attacked our ships first! We just wanted to know what eastern ships were doing near southern Italia!", she shouted and took a step forward. Alaric moved to intercept her, but I raised my hand to stop him. He followed my wish but kept close watch over the captive.
"We asked once for you to surrender. You had the chance to avoid bloodshed and chose to fight", I corrected her. "Though there is a way to lessen the punishment you would normally receive as a traitor."
Hope surged up into her eyes. Lithia's posture relaxed and her breathing calmed down. It seemed a way out for her had appeared.
"You want me to provide Information on my allies and friends?", she guessed. Lithia sounded not averse to this trade.
"Yes. Depending on the usefulness of the information given you will receive a full pardon or at least house arrest instead of landing in the dungeon", the mention of a cold, dark and wet cell seemed to further her urge to cooperate.
"Swear it on your house’s honour. By the lives of your family", she requested. Smart to not take my words at face value.
I thought about lying. Breaking an oath was not unheard of. On the other hand, her life was unimportant for my future plans. The gains were not worth it to sullen the name of my family.
"I swear. Now talk", I ordered as my counterpart further relaxed.
"The count of Bari has allied himself with the Carthaginian Republic and the duchies of Sardinia and Corsica", she started. "Those three keep your fleet and legion busy while he plans to secure Italia."
"And did they succeed in their plans?", I asked interested. This was the first pieces of information I would get about the current situation in Italia. I will need to plan with what I will receive from her.
"The legion of veterans left to relieve the siege of Messana. Your admiral has lost a battle against the Carthaginians and should be repairing the fleet in Syracusa", she said. The gears in my head started to turn as Lithia continued.
"The count has gathered the troops in Bari and plans to march against your father's loyal followers first and then against the city of Napule itself. Bat weather has slowed preparations", Lithia added.
"How many soldiers has he gathered and are there veterans among them?", I asked.
"About ten thousands? I am not sure, but most are peasants who were forced to join the legion. There should be a unit of mercenaries and noble guards as the core of their legion. I guess those are around a thousand or two", she supplied sounding unsure. Still, an estimate was better than nothing.
"Would you be able to identify anybody important from the prisoners? A relative from the lord maybe?", I asked further.
"Our commander was on one of the ships who fled the battle first. I am not sure about any other relatives, but can try if you want to", Lithia answered.
"We will visit them as soon as our little discussion is over", I informed. "Do you know anything about the equipment of the count or any war-beasts they could have?"
"The noble guards and mercenaries should have the same quality as your father's legion. It is not the best, but also not the worst. I did not hear of any bigger war-beasts, but there are a few bigger wolves and three oceouses", she said. Thank the gods nothing bigger. Wyverns or even a Tarrasque or anything similar is always hard to deal with. Those things are unpredictable.
"Do you know anything about the tactics the count or his general like to employ in battle", I asked my final question.
"No sorry I don't", Lithia answered. I tried to gauge if she lied, but it looked to me like she didn't.
"Alaric do me a favour and change our plans with the details she provided", I said and my friend moved to sit down on my chair after I went next to our captive. She looked a bit puzzled as my supposed adviser sat down on my chair.
"A knife my friend", I said and a steel dagger was thrown by Alaric. I cut the restraints holding Lithia. She turned to me with a thankful expression.
"Thank you", she said slowly.
"Thank you. Your information will be greatly valuable for my plans. Now get on, we have a few lords to identify", I said and could see a short conflict in her eyes. Nobody liked to be the one to betray friends and allies, but most would do to save their own skin.
"You could use a bath afterwards. You smell like the mounts", I added and watched her turn red. "Cycnus will provide one for you. He is the loud and big minotaur without a shirt nor manners"
And with that information provided we headed down to the other captives.
Cycnus' men made way as we entered the room with the bound prisoners. A few of them were even gagged. Others were crying or trembling.
"And recognize any of them?", I asked.
Lithia went around the room to inspect each of them. A few who recognized her as well.
"I knew you bitch would be the first to turn traitor!", a young man shouted and spit at Lithia. He received a punch in the stomach from a minotaur in return.
"Who is he?", I asked.
"The son of a baron. Nobody important. Oh, and he is also my fiance", she said without worry and continued to inspect the captives.
"Poor man", I said to myself. I observed the young noblewoman at her work. She returned back to me after ten minutes. Having some shorter conversations with a few of them.
"All of them are minor lords or their children. They are willing to trade information as well. This one though is the only one with higher standing. She is the fiance of one of the count's children. His sixth son to be precise", Lithia informed me.
"We will speak with them one at a time and see if their information matches yours. The fiance will receive her personal cell", I said and left the room with one of the guards and Lithia.
"You bring her to Cycnus. He shall provide a bath and room for her. And maybe a set of proper clothes", I ordered and left for my office.
Now it was time to craft a plan. The count needed to be defeated and Bari conquered if we wanted to end this rebellion.