“I judge those matters, not you! You just continue to do as you’re told and right now I am commanding you to come with me and swell the ranks of General Eumenes’ bodyguard for the Shields may kill him before the night is over.”
“I … I can’t go with you,” I responded weakly as Vettias’ face became grave. “I share the concerns of the Shields and I am going to rescue my family tonight. I am not asking for help and if I die in the attempt, so be it. I will not allow anything to happen to my son nor will I let Mara be violated once again through my inaction!”
With these last words Vettias set upon me like a wild dog – punching, kicking and choking me to the ground. “You little shit!” he exclaimed as we rolled on the ground. “After everything I’ve done for you … I treated you like a son … better than that pathetic excuse for a father you had … or that uncle who never gave a shit about you … and … this is how you repay me!”
Tears ran down my eyes as Vettias uttered these words. I had looked to him as a father-figure and he was casting me out of his life there on the ground along a riverbed in Persia. “Vettias, please! I love you as a father! I love you! Please understand!”
“I never should have let you near that whore!”
“I love her!”
“Well, she doesn’t love you! And there’s a good chance that bastard isn’t yours either!”
Vettias’ superior skill in wrestling and my superior strength resulted in a stalemate and we now lay on the ground in sweating exhaustion. We both stood up and Vettias’ expression was remorseful for the harsh words he spoke in the heat of passion.
“I understand you think I’m ungrateful and walking out on you and my oath. I will return. I have to bring my family to safety. I will make another oath to you right now – I will return and resume my struggle once they are safe. I love you and I am committed to the Argeads. I will return.” Vettias did not respond and walked away slowly.
I remained where I stood for several moments, thinking about what had just transpired. I was covered in blood, sweat and mud, while panting heavily trying to catch my breath. A light rain had started and I turned around and made my way toward General Antigonus’ camp.
CHAPTER 18
I walked alone across the barren desert plane through the thick of a pitch black night. The mass confusion of the day’s violence suffered by Antigonus made my chances of successfully slipping into the enemy camp more favorable. I skirted the battlefield and could make out a sea of broken spears, dead horses, dead elephants, trampled flags, ripped banners, shattered armor and torn sandals. Antigonus had burned the bodies and most items of value were picked clean. I could see the flickering light of fires and began hearing the faint din of mass activity emanating from Antigonus’ camp as I neared its location. I ascended a small dune to discern where best to surreptitiously enter the stronghold and decided on a portion of the perimeter dimly lit and seemingly free of activity.
I easily entered the encampment as men were running in a frenzy all around me caring for the wounded, establishing a defensive perimeter and making preparations for tomorrow’s actions. The Silver Shields had inflicted a massive defeat to Antigonus’ phalanx and those not slaughtered on the field now lay screaming and moaning in dozens of makeshift surgery tents. I estimated over one thousand men languished on cots or on the wet ground either waiting for medical attention or a merciful end to their torment. I locked eyes with several of these dying men and witnessed in them a sense of despair I had never seen before. I wanted to help them, to sit by their side as they suffered alone in agony, but the thought of Mara and Talos being mistreated at that very moment drove me forward.
My plan was to find Rhexenor or Davos in the quartermaster bivouac and use them to get me into the baggage train. Being unfamiliar with the camp, it took a long while to find the supply tents. Having finally done so, I began frantically searching for either of my two companions. I finally grabbed hold of a young slave and brought him out of earshot of any suspecting personnel. Being a slave I would take on the persona of an important staff officer and use fear to extract the information, followed by a payment of coin for his silence on the matter.
“I am looking for someone, slave … someone who joined this army after the Battle of Orcynia. His name is Rhexenor and you will tell me where I can find him, understood?” The boy was certainly intimidated and looked anxiously to his left and right to find anyone of authority he knew for help.
“Look at me, boy. No one is here to interfere. You will consider this a direct order from the battle staff and do as I command or be punished severely. Where is the man I seek?”
“I … I don’t know exactly where he is now, sir, but I can show you his quarters.”
“Good. I also want you to show me his normal station of work if he is not present and then you and I are to part ways forever,” I stated firmly while handing him several coins. “You never saw me and have no recollection of this encounter, understood?”
“Y-yes, sir,” the boy replied while pocketing the money.
“If stopped along the way you are to say nothing to anyone about me – I will do the talking. Understood? Now take me to his quarters at once.”
I followed the slave unnoticed through a crush of soldiers trying to accomplish orders barked out to them by frantic officers. We passed several rows of private tents near the main supply pavilions until turning down an alley and stopping in front of a nondescript dwelling.
“These are his quarters, sir. Shall I wait here?”
“Yes, if he is absent you will take me to his normal station of work and from there you will disappear.”
I called out his name in a whisper without reply. I called to him again and poked my head inside the tent. It was furnished with several luxury items – just as in Cappadocia. Seeing he was not present, I turned back to the boy and motioned for him to start moving when I saw my old friend walking in the direction of his tent holding various gold and silver trinkets, presumably from the newly acquired baggage train of the Silver Shields.
“Andrikos!” Rhexenor whispered forcefully. “What are you doing here?”
I turned to the slave: “That will be all boy. Thank you for your assistance and, remember, this never happened.” He nodded and ran off. “Let us speak in your quarters, friend,” I suggested to Rhexenor as we embraced and walked in to his tent and sat on his cot adorned with eastern silks and cushions.
“I am relieved to see you alive and in good standing since Orcynia,” I began. “I heard Davos recently sought you out and you accommodated him well, thank you.”
“Of course. He brought news of you and Stephanos and the bloodbath you two were pulled out from. I can only imagine what that was like. I know in the past I had asked you to get me into the fighting but, after my ordeal in Orcynia, I now see the foolishness of my request. I thought I was going to die when Antigonus’ cavalry seized our baggage train. The speed and violence of the raid rendered me immobile and I sat down awaiting a deathblow that very moment. Luckily, Antigonus had intended to use it as a bargaining piece and gave instructions to his men to refrain from plunder. Such is the same with what transpired today.”
“Yes, I can see everyone followed those orders strictly,” I commented looking at Rhexenor’s newfound loot.
“This? This is nothing compared to the unbelievable booty held within that magnificent baggage train. I’ve never seen such an accumulation of treasure in my life, not even on our way east chasing Eumenes.”
“Yes. It is because of that treasure that I am here. Something very dear to me lays within that massive horde of possessions – and I need your help to get it. You clearly have no issues removing certain items from it so this should not be too hard a task. Correct?”
Rhexenor looked at me quizzically and blushed a little after being caught disobeying a direct order from Antigonus. “These trinkets are nothing. You mustn’t tell anyone of their origin.”
“Relax friend, your secret is safe with me. The tre
asure I seek is far more valuable and may prove more difficult to obtain. I have a woman within the captured baggage. And not just any woman – the mother of my son. They both are now captive and I fear they could be injured at any moment – if not already. Rhexenor, they have become the most important thing in my life and you must help me retrieve them tonight.”
“A family? Andrikos, I am happy to hear this news, but why are they in the baggage train of the Silver Shields?”
“Because she is currently the woman of one of their staff officers. We are to make our escape from this place tonight so I can bring them to safety. Please friend, I will be forever indebted to you. Is Davos close by?”
“Yes, about that. I fear you may be too late and there will not be a Royal Army to return to if you leave now.”
“What do you mean?”
“They are here. Now. Davos has been observing their movements.”
“Who is here? What does this have to do with assisting me?”
“The Shields. They’ve sent a senior delegation to discuss terms for the safe return of their baggage. They are negotiating with Antigonus as we speak. He has already allowed them to post several men within the baggage train to ensure its contents are not disturbed.”
“And what are the terms?”
“General Eumenes. Delivered here tonight. General Teutamus has already agreed. They are now finalizing the deal. Andrikos, Eumenes will not last the night and tomorrow the entire army will be absorbed under Antigonus’ command. That is why I doubt my ability to help you now. Your family is not only under the guard of our army but of officers of the Silver Shields as well.”
“Has Davos sent this information to our army? General Eumenes must be warned.”
“Andrikos, I can do what I can to assist you and your family but I’m not going to risk treason to assist the enemies of this army. My suggestion is to get your family out and run.”
“Can you get me in?” I asked desperately, feeling time was running out and my family would soon be back in the hands of Hyllos and our commander betrayed.
“Follow me.”
We hurried out of his tent toward the baggage train. It was a short trek as the convoy had been brought alongside the northern perimeter of the camp next to the quartermaster bivouacs. Rhexenor walked up to two incompetent-looking guards and nodded as we were granted entry and made our way to the wagons holding the possessions of the Silver Shields’ leadership. Several of the ornate tents had been set up as a courtesy to the families of Silver Shields officers and I quickly spotted Mara’s quarters.
“There it is,” Rhexenor pointed out. “Look, I cannot be seen here or I will be killed as well. Andrikos, if I don’t see you again, please know you are one of my most valued friends and the bonds forged on that hellish recruitment march will never be broken.”
I smiled at my friend’s warm sentiment and hugged him. “I know, brother. Till we meet again.”
Mara’s servant Protus was standing dutifully outside her tent and we exchanged a brief acknowledgement as I opened a seam in the entranceway. Seeing her sitting on her bed I assessed she was in good health and had not been harmed. I whispered her name and poked my face through.
“Andrikos!” she exclaimed in a hushed tone while running over to me and kissing me.
“I’m getting you out of here. Take Talos and pack whatever you will need for a long journey away from this place.” As she complied, I looked in on Talos who was sleeping soundly and gently kissed his cheek.
“Where are we to go?” she asked.
“I am taking you to Ionia where you will live comfortably with my family and safely raise our son. You will never be harmed or live in fear again for the rest of your life.” As I said these words Protus entered the tent with a contorted expression on his face. I looked on in confusion as he moved further inside in an unnatural way. A blade began protruding from his stomach and blood gushed from an open wound, staining his tunic. His lifeless body fell to the ground to reveal Hyllos standing behind him with a look of bloodlust. He must have been part of Teutamus’ secret delegation and was alerted to my presence by his wife, Thessala, who now stood beside him staring angrily at Mara.
“You!” Hyllos hissed. “It was you all along.” I drew my short sword as he rushed toward me and delivered a blow so powerful I fell over a footstool, almost knocking the baby out of his bassinet. Mara let out a muffled scream as she took Talos, who was now crying, and put him on the bed. She then attempted to get in the way of Hyllos as he moved toward me and was violently smacked to the floor. Thessala’s screams at Mara were immediately silenced as Mara recovered from her blow, produced a small bow and shot Thessala through the neck, killing her before her limp body hit the floor on top of Protus’ corpse.
Thessala’s murder further enraged Hyllos as he now moved away from me and toward Mara. I used the opening to get to my feet and ran toward the two of them as Hyllos raised his right arm to bring his sword down on Mara. As he readied to strike I sliced his wrist through the bone at such an angle that it partially severed his hand, which now dangled from his arm, tethered only by a small sinew of flesh and muscle. He immediately turned toward me, grabbed my sword hand and brought me to the floor. The two of us struggled to control the sword as blood continued to pour out of his wrist and cover us both in a dark red mess.
Hyllos’ strength was unbelievable, given his age, and far surpassed that of Vettias or myself. It took both my hands to keep him from ripping the sword away from me. Mara began cutting and stabbing him with a small dagger that he blocked and parried with his bare limbs which splattered more blood over all of us. His grip on the sword handle remained impervious to the additional wounds he was receiving from Mara until finally an opening arose where I quickly let go of the sword handle with one hand and jabbed my thumb deep into his left eye socket – turning his eyeball into a bloody ooze resembling a cracked, fertilized chicken egg. This desperate strike succeeded in releasing his grip from the sword handle of which I now gained firm control and buried the blade through his face, killing Hyllos instantly.
I collapsed back on the floor, panting with exhaustion. Mara approached and assisted in getting me to my feet. She was bloody and bruised but not seriously injured. I ordered her to gather her belongings while I washed the gore from my face and dragged the three corpses into a corner of the tent. The tent entrance rustled as I dragged Thessala’s body. I immediately dropped her lifeless corpse and drew my sword. Mara now looked up to see Davos enter the tent. His eyes widened at the bloodbath he walked into.
“Are you alright?” Davos asked. “What happened?”
“We’re fine. What are you doing here? How did you know to come to this tent?”
“Vettias alerted me to the situation and I came to ensure their safety. General Eumenes has been captured and made prisoner within this camp. Antigonus has won and will assume command of the Royal Army tomorrow.”
“Davos, I … I’m leaving this place, tonight. Now.”
“Vettias ordered that I not only ensure your family’s safety but also kill Captain Hyllos,” Davos explained while looking at the pile of carcasses. “Since you managed to take care of that yourself, all preparations have been made for you to bring your family safely within our baggage train to be absorbed into Antigonus’ army. Emotions were high and things were said. Vettias understands your motives and if you come back to us now, all will be forgiven.”
“But the Silver Shields? Surely they will become aware of the brutal murder of one of their leaders, along with the murder of his wife and disappearance of his mistress and son. It won’t be long until they see Mara with me and take their revenge on us all.”
“I will get rid of the bodies and clean up here. Vettias has a plan for the Shields so your family need only to avoid them until it is carried out. Until then, the confusion that is to follow should preclude any investigation into what happened here. Mara, are there any valuables here that you can take with you?”
Mara nodde
d to the shrewd question.
“I suggest the both of you take whatever you can clandestinely carry out of here. I will do the same. We may have to self-finance our operations for the foreseeable future until Vettias can gain position and have access to the army’s treasury.”
Mara showed us to a chest containing gold and silver coins, jewels, jewelry and gems from over the entire eastern world. “Hyllos kept it here to keep his wife from knowing the total of their wealth. He of course keeps the majority of his account within the baggage train but this was in case the army was ever defeated.”
Davos’ eyes widened at the site of such treasure. “That will do just fine, girl. Take what you can and I will take the rest. And to think, this is only a small portion of his wealth. All right, there are two horses outside, take them and ride directly to our camp. You must be extremely careful, however. Since General Eumenes’ capture, the Silver Shields have usurped the joint battle staff and have installed martial law on the camp to keep its cohesion. You will need to avoid all contact with anyone from the Shields. Vettias will meet you in his quarters and will give you further instructions on where to hide Mara and the child. I’ll see you again once our armies are joined.”
Mara and I did as instructed and brought a sizeable bounty of loot with us as we rode back through the field of destruction under the black sky. We slipped back through our lines undetected and made our way to Vettias’ tent. The mood of our camp was calm yet tense. I could see on many faces the same blank look that belied the common feeling that our army won the battle but lost the war and were now under occupation by our former allies – the Silver Shields. We entered Vettias’ quarters to find him dejectedly sitting on his cot staring at his battle staff insignia. He did not seem to notice our entrance and I announced our presence.
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