51. Utbah’s March
Utbah’s army was chased out from village after village. Loyalists to the Republic ever increasing shot and cursed at him, those loyal to Mendek were shot at in Wersh, but at least another 5000 ran out of the city and followed Utbah. Utbah hired another 2000 mercenaries using his personal war chest, 13,000 camel riders and 5000 infantry marched through Yerek territory bound for the Rajun city of Jitun. The sun was hot and beat down on them, some died of dehydration but even Utbah had sense to lug some water.
“We are heading for the city of Jitun! That will be our new home!” Utbah said, “there I can enact my rule on a city in a true manner!”
Ethra focused on rebuilding efforts in Wersh, bringing wood and stone for rebuilding, massive subsidies were given and efforts at stopping any more defections. Utbah’s presence from Wersh was rooted out, with many of his followers fleeing to him or having already died. While Yerek began rebuilding and recovering from the devastation Utbah marched his force straight for Jitun, a city of some 120,000 and a worthy base for his operations. Utbah had saved his own gold reserves carrying some 5000 gold coins a worthwhile sum to purchase mercenaries and generally cause trouble. He decided against accompanying his own infantry instead delegating the task to one of his lieutenants who walked them through the desert and through the province of Amoreb near the southern sea where they could be given ships and sail to him. Yerek had no real fleet so the chances they would be intercepted were low, meanwhile his 13,000 camels travelled light and went across the desert sands to Jira. He could have attacked the Yerek city of Isra but decided against it fearing the casualties he could incur from such an action.
It’s best I avoid such a quagmire for my own sake. These pesky flies are even trying to harass me and my army.
Mercurius and Salutius shadowed the army, taking out officers much to Utbah’s chagrin.
Such assistance was not awarded to me when I was battling hordes of the Church of Light, these bastards. These fucking bastards.
The last few words came out, and his troops grinned and cackled at their commander’s words.
“For sure milord,” one of them said.
A lord with their own land, that would be nice. None of this peacenik common land business. I will be a lord god damn it, I will have my own fief, women, land and lots of gold for all my desires.
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Mercurius stared at Utbah’s army, whittling it down somewhat alongside Salutius.
“They seem to be running away which is good,” Mercurius mused, “still what a disappointment,” he said.
“Hopefully they run all the way away from our country,” Mercurius said, “the last thing we need is bandits.”
“Most of the people loyal to that ass have gone to him,” Nichomachus said, “I am glad to see he is running. Unfortunately through our territory.”
Mercurius and Salutius continued tailing Utbah making sure he would not take Isra. Nichomachus returned to Portus of Peria at the onset of the afternoon sun, where he found Spendius had begun an assault on the city.
Nichomachus and Symachus spent a week making life difficult for Spendius and Utbah marched to the city of Jitun. Finally reaching the city with a hasty march through the desert sands. He found a fortified city with many Rajun soldiers guarding the city walls. The orange flag with golden flame fluttered proudly over the walls replacing the flag of Jira the black flag with the golden flame. Utbah marched his troops near the walls and he surged forward onto the battlements and onto the gatehouse. He took out the guards with gusto, fighting even faster than the other generals, his men moved fast, surging through the gate he had quickly opened. He promptly slaughtered any Rajun troop who got in his way, capturing thousands of them that began promptly surrendering. The governor’s palace soon fell to him, and he quickly assumed control. There he came across a decision that would irk him.
Do I really need to pledge myself to Mendek? Am I going to be someone else’s dog? I conquered this city. Sure the God of Battle gave me the powers, but it was me who did the work. Why should I fork out taxes for him?
Utbah pondered on matters of state. Not immediately putting the Mendek flag up. His troops were loyal to him, not to Spendius or the state of Mendek. So he put up his own flag, a flag of a black camel on a golden banner. Utbah to Mercurius and Salutius’s amazement had declared independence rather than side with Mendek.
“I suppose that’s perfect,” Mercurius said, “his selfishness will bite him.”
“He might be twice as annoying as Spendius, so be careful,” Salutius warned.
The two of them stared at the sight with amazement.
“We still need to undermine his control…” Mercurius mumbled, “otherwise it will be difficult.”
Salutius agreed, nodding and then teleporting himself to Suria ready to undermine the rule of Mendek there. Mendek despite the distractions of the day was too busy trying to capitalise on their conquests into Rajun territory. Antiochus and Robert pressed on into what was Lir, taking territory and routing Rajun forces there. The stability of the Rajun state seemed precarious, so many crushing defeats was about to make the entire state fracture into the Raja states of before.
“Sir Utbah revolted against Yerek and has since established Jitun as his fief,”
“He outright conquered a Rajun city?” Antiochus asked in confusion, “is he friendly.”
“He fought like a God of Battle evangel,” the spy said.
“What on earth is going on,” Antichus thought aloud.
No one quite knew. Rajun was on the back foot, Mendek was conquering but being subverted and Utbah’s allegiance was to himself. The revolt was not successful, but Utbah was still a threat and the Republic had to take him seriously, slowly investing in revolts in Mendek. Spendius and Hereward used their new westerly domains to launch a campaign of attack in the west. The world was getting even more chaotic than before.