What are you planning this time Vespasianus?, thought Valens as he noticed the growing mass of mist. The sight of the enemy disappeared bit by bit until even the wyvern riders couldn’t spot the enemy from above. The mage with mana sight confirmed that at least some of the mist was created through magic.

We lack our own fitting mages to dispel the work of the enemy. The east should have invested more resources. We shouldn’t have underestimated the deserter’s descendants, Valens lamented about the lacking preparation and support from the east.

Their supply lines had improved again after Jagu pulled part of his fleet out of the Adriatic Sea and into the Tiber river. It was still hard to get supplies over, but anything was better than the tickle of supplies they had for the last weeks.

“Fabius tell our mages to stop the spread of mist in our direction. I want our position and the way to Roma to be secured”, Valens commanded his second in command Fabius. A noble elf from Dacia.

“Yes my lord”, said the elf and relayed the command.

The two legions of Valens shifted their position and stood with the back to the city, while they waited for the enemy to pass the mist. The mist now stretched over 20 kilometres from Roma down the river.

Scouting reports and random volleys shoot into the mist didn’t result in anything worthwhile, except for the lost ammunition. The first useful report reached Valens after an hour. Two to be precise.

“Great general Valens somebody has compromised the city’s canalization system. Roma is being flooded. We are trying to fix the problem but will need time. The defence on the walls on the other hand is still functional enough to repel an enemy attack”, the scout spoke and was dismissed.

“I have spotted enemy movement down the river. Jagu and Duran are crossing the river 17 kilometres from our position”, explained the other scout and was dismissed as well.

“Enemy wyverns sighted near Roma”, a third messenger arrived out of breath. “We don’t know the strength of the force attacking the city”

“You heard the man. The enemy is 17 kilometres down the river. I want the legions to immediately march to Jagu’s crossing. We will attack him while parts of their army are still crossing”, Valens gave the command and the legions began to move to the enemies position. “Sent 300 men to reinforce Roma against the enemy attack. They can’t be attacking with much.”

An elven archer looked at her comrade. The young boy trembled when he loaded his bow with an arrow and waited for the signal to shoot. Poor soul to be dragged into such a bloody and useless war.

The war had not been easy for them. Every small victory was hard-fought and didn’t change the fact, that they were stranded on the Italian peninsula. Lack of supply and reinforcements pressed morale down.

Elven eyes noticed the moving shapes and noise coming from the misty river bank. The first volley was fired before an actual legionary was spotted. A few shades fell down and screams were heard.

The enemy breached the mist before another coordinated volley could be fired. Heavy cavalry, transformed demi-humans and a monstrosity led the charge.

Ranged troops retreated uncoordinated after spotting their enemy. Trying to get to the rear as fast as possible.

The retreating skirmishers and archers broke the formation of the troops behind them. The infantry didn’t manage to close the resulting gaps in time. The enemy charge hit them full force and was only slowed when their elite troops in reserve were deployed.

Valens started to fire at the back of the enemy lines and prepared to encircle the charge with his own cavalry forces. His own wyverns were already making short process of the tarrasque. His confidence vanished when Jagu’s footmen emerged from the mist to his right and left and threatened to encircle him.

Valens had to make a decision. Encircle and try to destroy the enemy cavalry or use their own forces to prevent the enemy from encircling them. He decided on the second one.

The eastern cavalry changed course and headed for the two legions respectively. Iron, blood and bodies flew when both sides collided. The eastern cavalry had problems breaking the enemy lines completely and with the momentum of the charge lost the situation turned into a stalemate. A bloody melee between infantry and cavalry followed.

Valens observed the three battlefields with caution when the enemy cavalry split in two and headed to their allies help. Valens attempts at stopping them from disengaging failed but inflicted heavy casualties on the Neapolitan cavalry.

The suicide attack from the tarrasque and a few units from the cavalry stopped all attempts at a quick pursuit. The enemy cavalry was long on their way when the tarrasque collapsed after another volley of arrows, bolts and spells.

Valens could only look helplessly as the enemy charged his cavalry units from two sides. Only their own wyverns managed to arrive in time to help a few units of cavalry escape, but Jagu’s troops followed them relentlessly.

The battle ended in a slow retreat to Roma’s walls, while casualties piled up on both sides. The fighting ended when Valens retreated into the flooded city and Neapolitan legions held their advance.

“How many did we lose?”, Jagu asked as he looked through the reports. They had managed to drive the enemy back but miscalculated the timing and distance of their pincer movement. A lot of their best men were lost when they disengaged with their mounted troops.

“All wyverns and their riders dead. The tarrasque is dead as well, as are most our four elite hundredth riders of heavy and special cavalry”, Duran reported and was disappointed as well from the looks of it, they even lost more troops than the enemy did in this engagement.

“How is the construction of the siege ring going?”, Jagu inquired. The first thing they did was to start the construction of moats and a palisade around the city. Valens had sortied several times only to be pushed back into the city under heavy fighting.

“It goes as well, as a tired and exhausted legion can be. The moats are there, but it will take days or weeks for a palisade. Titania has established a supply line over the river. We should get enough reinforcement and help to get both of the legions to 40 percent fighting strength”, Duran said.

Most of Titania ships had headed back to the Adriatic Sea and resumed to raid eastern supplies. Their own wounded from the last battles were rejoining them as they spoke. Enemy survivor had to be executed. There were not enough supplies and manpower to take care of enemy prisoners.

“Keep the schedule tight for the patrols. I know this is quite taxing on our legionaries but the moment the siege ring stands the east will have lost this war for good”, Jagu ordered and yawned. Duran shook his head but complied anyway.

If they made a mistake now everything would be lost. They had to keep the enemy troops in the city no matter the cost. A lot more engagements followed over the days and ended up in small victories and losses. Neither side managed to make progress. The east couldn’t escape the city and the palisade was constructed at a snail pace.

The siege of Roma had begun.

“Queen Galvalla the expedition to Italia is a disaster. We were supposed to win the war months ago. Heck, we were told to meet minimal resistance. There are only two legions left at this point”, a human shouted at the elven delegation and locked eyes with their queen.

A woman with white hair and dark blue eyes. With 32 years the youngest sovereign of the elves in history and his partner in the ongoing invasion of Italia.

“The royal house has kept its promise Lord Cicero. We will have to invest just a bit more to tip the war in our favour. Valens reported to be close to a deciding engagement”, Galvalla spoke and observed how Cicero’s expression softened.

“I hope you are right. The lords of Graecia would be hard-pressed if the invasion failed. We are already under pressure from the dwarves, sea-folk and demi-humans”, said Cicero and left the room and meeting with mixed feelings.

A loss would mean disaster for the eastern humans, but the worst would be, that he would be made into a scapegoat. Because Cicero was, technically speaking, the leader of the expedition and they would blame him for the loss. Even if the queen was the one to be actually in charge.

The queen turned to her advisor as soon as she was sure, that their ally had left.

“How is it looking actually?”, she asked.

“It is hard to say your majesty, but from prior engagements, I would think that Neapoli might win the war. Without control over the Adriatic Sea, we will fail with time. Valens was unable to win before and will not win anytime soon”, the advisor answered.

“What about Duran and Jagu, are they both still alive?”, she asked.

“Yes, we have no reports which say otherwise. It is also unlikely that either of them sustained a heavy injury or illness. Both are probably in excellent health”, he said. The queen looked disappointed at the news.

“How about the heir, do we know his position? It is bad enough that the brother wants my uncles head and probably mine as well”, she said.

“Yes, the governor of Alexandria has reported the position of the prince. Lucius Vespasianus is currently studying in Alexandria. The governor asked for support in his power struggle, and I was so free to give it to him for the information”, the advisor answered.

“That was fine. I want a squad prepared to kidnap the prince. Also, tell that useless daughter of mine to help with the operation. She should be currently in Antioch”, the queen ordered.

The advisor bowed one last time and left the room. The queen was silent when her eyes wandered from Italia on the map to Alexandria. A smile tugged her lips when she tipped a figure in Alexandria over.

Alexander the Great defeated the last King of the dwarven Persian Empire. Ending over 200 years of dwarven rule and establishing his own empire. From Hellas to the eastern edge, from the Caucasian mountains to the land of the pharaohs.

I closed the book over the history of the shortest, but greatest, demi-human and human empire. It is really a shame, that the story ends with Alexander’s death by an illness. I wonder where he would have gone next. Italia perhaps, would he have destroyed the young republic?

I stopped my train of thoughts when Alaric arrived with a roll in his hand.

“What are you reading?”, he asked despite already seeing the cover.

“A book about Alexander the Great. A capable general, but a miserable ruler. He never stopped planning invasions and war. It is to no surprise to me, that his realm collapsed after his early death”, I said and grieved about the loss for history. Never again should the demi-humans rise to such power. Not with the republic storming through the countries of the Mediterranean Sea.

“A yes, an inspiring general, but incapable administrator. I have something better for you though”, he said with a smile and moved the books from the table. He placed a map on the table. Not any map, but one every race contributed to complete.

“Impressive. It shows us again that the combined efforts from all races can accomplish great things”, I stood up and circled the map.

The most detailed part was the heart of the map the old borders of the empire. To the south the great desert with the old kingdoms. In the west the Empire of Songhai, in the furthest south the Empire of the Noks and to the east the Kingdom of Aksum. Those three countries were lying at the southern edges of Octanian and were supplied by water from great rivers and oases.

The countries in those places all collapsed when the south dried up completely in the Great Change. Resulting in the migration of the demi-humans into the empire.

Many islands showed on the map in the great ocean. Most used to be settled by sea-folk and their countries. All inhabitable with the now never ending storms and floods raging. The sea-folk fled to the coast of the biggest landmass on Octanian, Telluris. And at the heart of Telluris, the Mediterranean Sea stood the empire.

To the north was a great mass of ice which holed the northern part of Octanian in long and harsh winters. To the south was a smaller mass of ice, which didn’t affect Telluris much due to the distance.

East of Gaul, north of Italia, Dacia, Thracia, Illyricum and the Caucasian mountains was a great forest. The old home of the elves and the most species-rich place on our world. The jungle turned more into a tundra the nearer it was to the northern ice, and more into a forest the more west you went. This resulted in different zones of the forest and even more different plants and species.

“Lost in thoughts? I was also astonished. Imagine how it would be to explore the great ice or desert. Sail to the furthest islands in the ocean or finding the heart of the jungle and climb the highest peak in the eastern mountain range”, Alaric explained and I found, that I didn’t share his view.

“You will not explore such places. Most expeditions never return and those who do advise everybody to stay away. You can throw your life away when your services to me are fulfilled”, I replied with a commanding tone which even surprised me.

Alaric stood still for a while until his expression softened in a smile, which showed his vampire teeth. He circled the table and stood right in front of me. I stared back into the eyes of my closest friend. A challenge burned in his eyes, a challenge to me.

“My father may have made plans for me to follow you, but I have yet to decide if I wish to enter your ‘service’”, Alaric said and continued to stare me down.

“How about a bet. Let’s have a bout one week from now. Close combat, you against me. The loser owes the winner a favour”, I extended my hand and Alaric shook it immediately with a triumphant smile and laugh.

“You will regret that bet Lucius. I will not go easy on you, like in our bouts”, he said and left after reassuring me about my certain defeat.

I had to admit he was probably right, but I loved a good challenge. Niloticus’ training had shown me how to overcome impossible odds with skill, concentration and a bit of luck. Also, cheat whenever possible.

I continued my studies about ancient countries before the republic took over and later the empire.

Alexander the Great was one of many. The Achaemenid Empire of the dwarves was the largest of its time. Shattered by the Hellenic League under Alexander. Hellas, or Graecia, was populated at that time by humans and demi-humans. The demi-humans though were the ones in a dominant position. Sometimes they were also referred to as Macedonians and Greeks.

The ancient kingdom of Aegyptus consisted of sea-folk and demi-humans. The sea-folk lived close to the rivers and lakes, like the Nile, while demi-humans populated the rest. Their pyramids are still the highest buildings of Octanian.

The Levante used to be populated by a mix of all races. They didn’t found much in empires themselves, but one of their colonies evolved into the Carthaginian Empire, after its independence. There was Phoenicia, a city-state and small trading empire as well. They were the old overlord of the Carthaginians.

In the west from Britannia to Hispania, from Gaul over northern Italia to Illyricum, where the Celtic people the rulers. They consisted mostly of small tribes and kingdoms, but were often the enemies of the republic and empire and even sacked Roma itself once. They consisted of all races.

Mauretania and Numidia were two smaller kingdoms, which often fought with and against the republic and Carthaginians. The history of the Roman Republic, also called Rome, had been learned to me since I was 9 years old.

There is not much new I learned, despite the fact, that our books were definitely less neutral and accurate than theirs. Thanks to western propaganda during the one hundred year war against the migration, a lot of historical documents and texts were changed in favour of the west.

The history of Rome itself was an interesting one. From a small city-state to the local power of Italia, to a big player around the Mediterranean Sea, to the dominant power on Telluris. The rise of the empire and republic is only outshined by the one century-long decline and final dissolution of both halves.

I closed the book when the last ray from the sun disappeared from the window. I had made notes about the most historical events and countries. Those notes had to be made into a summary for teacher.

Following that would be the analysis of the administration tactics and military tactics of all those old countries. Niloticus’ plan was to give me as much information as possible so that I can create my own style of government. Preferably one who learned from the historical mistakes of my predecessors.

Another thing would be my first visit to governor affairs with Livia Caesar. I would get insight into the administration of the population. Like how many people live inside the city, which profession they practice, which race they belong to and what their earnings are.

I could already imagine how screwed up and inaccurate their system would be. With the ongoing power struggle between houses and the corruption, it would surprise me to see even a resemblance of the old imperial system.

The imperial system was by far not the best, but still better than most systems the new countries are currently implementing. Why they were avoiding its usage was still a mystery to be. Probably because of a stupid reason.

Another problem would be the stolen wyvern egg. I had long considered if I should give it back, but decided against it in the end. After all … why not? Why shouldn’t I keep it? There were three main reasons for me to keep it.

- I trust Alaric’s abilities to a point and he said they couldn't trace the trail.

- I trust my status as a royal visitor to protect me from an investigation.

- And there was no way to prove, that the stolen wyvern was the one in my mansion.

I had already found a rune that marked the egg and it was easy to remove all magic that pointed to the original owner. Thanks to teacher’s training. Nobody would be able to confirm the truth, even less when it hatches.

And with those thoughts, I left the library and headed to the mansion with a few guards and servants.