54. Attrition

Spendius had killed Hippalus and conquered Portus of Peria. Despite his apparent victory he had trouble replenishing troops, relying on Hereward’s 20,000 to pacify the city that was evidently hostile to Mendek. Spendius’s victories in the west and east were undermined by massive losses in his central territories. Sostratus, Cleophon and Aristonikus endlessly bought and sold goods to pay for massive freeing of slaves and subsidies, Xeniades, Symachus and Oxyartes likewise bought and sold and turned Balna against Mendek, overthrowing small garrison after garrison. Gold from the Raja states and the Zhong empire funded the freeing of slave after slave, which in turn facilitated more evangels to the God of Trade. Masses of people were armed with crossbows, evangels to the God of Farming and Water plopped into cities to facilitate quicker distribution of goods. Themison and Archippe both former slaves, the former dark and short hair and the latter bald but blonde had he bothered to grow it out were both new evangels to the God of Trade and soon joined in the cascading momentum of the Republic. The cities of Bethyr and Busur both revolted in favour of the Republic, leaving only the mountains to be somewhat loyal to Mendek.

Spendius spent two days constructing a fleet, his armies restless as they sat on the southern shores of Peria. Nichomachus attempted to coax the city of Castra into revolting. Mercurius and Salutius watched events closely hopping between locations restlessly.

“We have Spendius in the west, and Utbah in the east,” Salutius warned, “both could be very dangerous if they decided to go on the march. Symachus and Xeniades and the rest of them are doing phenomenal work. I can’t believe it.”

“Spendius has few evangels in his core territories thinking they are safe, he will lose those territories now.”

Xunur was facing nine evangels all by himself, he had no way of defeating them or protecting himself, while the Republic bribed the Republic they increasingly began bribing the Hunur, who in turn turned on Xunur. Vistra was imprisoned by her clansmen and the Hunur turned the God of Trade. The Chenep were undefended and likewise quickly turned to the God of Trade as the Evangels teleported endlessly bringing in endless goods. Due to the militarised nature of the nomadic groups crossbows weren’t really needed, but food and water was greatly appreciated; like Gatula pastoralist cities were organised that gave feed for the herds of the various herders. Rather than demanding coin and men like Mendek all the God of Trade evangels asked for was worship of the God of Trade, Farming and Water. Statues began appearing, and Mendek was now firmly split into two.

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Nichomachus attempted to rally resistance in Portus, but the people there were broken, many dead littered the once populous city, it was a nightmarish grim spectacle, a failure of the Republic to act on time and with proper speed. Many people were pissed off that the Republic did not send proper reinforcement. Nonetheless despite Hippalus’s death and the death of many, news that the Republic had eaten out Mendek’s heartlands was welcome news. Balna and Uruq had fallen, and the evangels had moved onto the Mendek province of Asur. Demetrius could not hold off Yerek subversion losing the city of Cilica to a revolt being left with only Eda and much of the hinterland. Once again two more evangels were created to the God of Trade who yet again accelerated developments for the Republic. Hereward marched on Palga and Spendius guarded the fleet, his army almost outnumbering the smouldering city.

Hereward arrived with 20,000 troops determined kill the Republic’s hold on Palga and end Yerek influence. Mendek influence had collapsed in other provinces which he was not aware of, but Nichomachus was, he knew that every moment the God of Trade accelerated it’s hold, freeing the slaves, purchasing the loyalty of the citizenry and supplying an ungodly number of crossbows so that a revolt would be possible. Despite the successes, Nichomachus was left largely alone, while other God of Trade evangels accelerated their successes at the expense of Mendek. Utbah and his lieutenants still had room to expand to and mitigate the losses, but Spendius was trapped without anywhere to conquer, slowly having his empire eroded. Hereward arrived at Palga with an army equal to the entire citizenry of Palga. Nichomachus defended the city most valiantly, shooting crossbows and throwing knives, but Hereward was a maniac who was extremely adapted to fighting. Three days into the siege, and many nights of the two fighting each other, Spendius arrived with his army and Nichomachus had to go summon reinforcements. Salutius and Mercurius arrived. The tango was bloody and awful. Mercurius shot at Spendius, and Spendius attempted to slice his throat. The crossbowmen shot at the 28,000 troops, and the battle got more heated. Men were dying, Salutius set the camp on fire, Hereward and Spendius increasing their speed, incensed that they would do such a thing. Salutius nearly lost an arm trying to catch Hereward’s axe strike.

“He’s faster than you!” Mercurius warned, “don’t try to go quicker than them! You will die!”

The city of Palga held on until the night, and into the morning. Despite the gatehouse guards deaths, the city held on for dear life.

“Thank you for coming to my aid…” Nichomachus whispered, “I would have died had you not come.”

“The revolution is not going to waste lives,” Mercurius said, “I thought Hippalus could cope, I was wrong and he paid with his life.”

“Spendius is an exceptionally good fighter, even without the God Powers,” Nichomachus said.

The three of them were covered in nicks and cuts, Salutius in particular was panting, not out of tiredness but at the close call with death.

“Do you think they know their Empire is falling apart?” Nichomachus asked.

“Hereward probably not, but maybe Spendius has an idea,” Mercurius said, “there he is camped outside the city.”

“Do you think we could assassinate him in his sleep?” Salutius asked.

“I hear that the recent successes in Uruq came about because of that,” Nichomachus said.

The siege continued, but Spendius might not have realised it, but his entire empire was under siege and was coming undone, piece by piece.