I left the command tent shortly before dawn. Sleep had mostly evaded me during the night. I wasn't tired though. Nervous, tensed and excited would be more fitting to describe my current mindset.

I looked to my left and saw Cycnus sitting next to the tent's exit. He was snoring. Sleeping minotaurs sounded a bit like an angry bull. A kick to his calf awakened my bodyguard. He looked around sleepily and spotted his lord.

"Morning", he got up, stretched and yawned. I ignored the lack of proper conduct.

"I hope you are ready for the battle?", I asked him. We made our way to the other centurions and Alaric.

"I was born ready for battle. Came out of my mother wielding axe and shield", Cycnus proclaimed. I smiled at that revelation.

"Did you? Where you big as well?", I indulged myself.

"The biggest baby ever seen! I tell yah, I was massive!", he used his hand to emphasize the proportion.

We reached a group of people. They were the respective centurions for every division in my legion. One for the light cavalry, heavy cavalry, heavy infantry, light infantry and for the skirmishers and archers. Five in total plus Alaric. They all greeted me with a fist to the chest. An old tradition from the empire.

"Lucius, the enemy is preparing to meet us in battle", Alaric informed. "The centurions advocated for some changes to your strategy."

"Then let's hear it", I answered.

They spoke their mind and I listened. We had been throughout when appointing the positions of centurion for the legion. All of them had served in actual military campaigns between nations and had led their own missions.

While I prided myself with an in deep education on historic battles, it was still no replacement for actual experience. That's what made these five men so valuable for me and also what separated them from Alaric and myself.

We would stick to the cavalry charge. The heavy cavalry would charge, flanked by the light cavalry on both sides. The foot soldiers though would not participate from the beginning. The heavy infantry stays in the camp, while light infantry and skirmishers with the archers stand to the camp's eastern side.

If the charge fails to break the enemy, they would become the second wave, while the heavy infantry guarded the camp. The plan was to separate the faster enemy troops from the slower ones by making them follow our retreating cavalry. Then defeat them in detail.

We made two changes to the strategy. First, a big part of the heavy infantry would stand outside the camp and reinforce the battle, if the tide was in our favour, or retreat totally back into the camp if not.

Secondly, the light cavalry would retreat completely to circle behind our encampment and hit the enemy’s side. The heavy cavalry would charge their pursuers after meeting up with the light infantry. We made some more small adjustment to the strategy and finished the last meeting before the battle rather quickly.

"Alaric you will lead the light cavalry with Centurion Sempronius Densus", I said and received a nod from him. "Be careful. May the gods watch over us."

"May Selene watch over us", Alaric replied in kind. I think she was the goddess of the moon and vampires? Something to check later. My mind shifted to the battle ahead.

"Cycnus are my armour and weapons ready?", I asked him. I would probably not use the pilum, but the shield and gladius was a must. My four crossbows would be held in reserve for emergencies. The small ones equipped at my sides, the middle and big one on my back. All loaded.

"Yeah, already in your tent by now. I think. Are you sure about staying with the heavy infantry?", he asked. We were on our way to collect the equipment in questions.

"Of course. It is the best place to observe the battlefield. Why do you ask?", I inquired.

"Seems boring. Leading the charge sounds better", he admitted.

"Centurion Pullo will enjoy your company, of that I am sure", I replied. One was strict and kept to traditions, while the other was … well Cycnus.

There was a crate in the command tent. I opened it and saw my armour and weapons. All clean and shining. Even decorated with small jewels and a phoenix on purple ground marked the shield and chain-mail. It screamed shoot me I am important! I donned the armour, found a way to fix my crossbows to the chain-mail, and equipped gladius and pilum.

Cycnus went through a similar process, though he wore proper iron armour, not a chain-mail. He wielded a big shield and a two-handed sword in one hand. The prowess of minotaurs never failed to surprise me. The other twenty men of my bodyguard followed us to the front line.

Around 800 men stood before our camp, armoured legionaries. I stood behind them on an elevated position joined by Centurion Pullo and a few of his men. Pullo was the only demi-human from my centurions. The others were all humans. We hadn't managed to find someone capable of the sea-folk for one of the positions.

Not many from the sea-folk decided to join the legion and only a fifth of our legion consisted of demi-humans. The rest were humans from Aegyptus. There were many theories of why that was the case, but one thing was certain. They didn't trust me much. There was still a lot of work to do.

"Greetings your eminence", Pullo said with raised fist. His bat-like ears stood tall as always.

"Greetings Centurion", I now stood next to him and observed the field before us. Orders had been issued. The battle would commence. The scouts reported the enemies' movement every quarter-hour.

The enemy legions had left the city through the northern gate. We stood southwest of Bari. They used the distance to organize ranks properly and marched towards us in a tight formation. Dust whirled upon their flanks and the scouts affirmed our guesses.

The enemy cavalry was positioned on their flanks. Infantry in the middle and archers right behind. A core of heavy guards in reserve. Those should be the combined personal guards of the nobles. The count of Bari slowly crept towards our position.

The other two gates of the city opened and two smaller forces of footmen headed out to flank our right. A horn was blown and flags raised. Our plan for the battle was immediately discarded.

'No plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force.' A wise citation from an unknown man. A good book from the Alexandrian library.

Our cavalry headed for the force leaving the southern gate.

"Pullo ready the men. We will need to occupy the enemy for a while. Send notice to the light infantry and archers. They are to reinforce our right flank. The reserve is to reinforce our left", I commanded.

"Sons and daughters of Aegyptus prepare to march!", the man shouted. I noticed a smile on Cycnus face.

We started to march when the flanks were reinforced. The distance of two kilometres between both legions began to shrink. Two became one and a half. One and a half became one and one became a half. The enemy horns were blown and they charged. Simultaneously our cavalry reached the southern force and charged into them.

"Hold the line! Stand your ground! No step back!", I shouted.

The order was repeated by my legionaries and our force of two thousand strong prepared to receive the enemy charge. The force before us already outnumbers us two to one.

Their cavalry reached us first. Their right got hit by a volley from our ranged troops. The left received two hundred pilums into their ranks. Then they hit our flanks. The left, guarded by heavy infantry, held after receiving the charge and the enemy cavalry began to disengage. Preparing to charge again.

The right crumbled under the pressure. The ranged troops joined the melee to make a difference.

"Pullo rally the left and centre! Cycnus, we will support the right!", I shouted and began to run. My heartbeat accelerated. After making five metres an arm pulled me up.

Cycnus pulled me up on his back and I watched astonished as the minotaurs ran with double my speed.

"Hold onto your mount!", Cycnus shouted with a laugh. The surrounding guards joined in. I was tensed as we closed the distance.

We passed our men. Some looked to flee the battlefield at any moment but joined our charge when they saw their own leader coming to their defence. Cycnus let me down. I threw my pilum shortly after at an enemy.

My pilum reached the back of the rider, the woman fell from her mount. I changed to gladius and shield. My guards protected me in a circle. More than one enemy went for the guy in shining armour.

What followed can only be described as a mess. I reacted on instinct and raised my shield to defend against enemy swords and spears. The blind spots entrusted to my guards. I misdirected some blows amateurishly and received scratches or small wounds for it. The armour protected me from worse.

A man with an emblem on his chest struck and disarmed me. My shield rose but was struck to the side by the follow-up attack. I quickly pulled out and fired a small crossbow. The weapon embedded a bolt into his heart and the sword fell down before my feet.

"Pick up the sword!", yelled Cycnus behind me.

I did as instructed and the fierce melee continued. We held if only barley.

Blood, shouts and cries of pain filled my surroundings. I saw men fall before me. I blocked several attacks on my person. It seemed the enemy started to focus more and more on me and my guards. It at least allowed the rest of the regiment a breather.

"No you don't!", Cycnus pulled me behind him as two riders went for me. One was pushed aside by his shield in an impressive proof of raw strength. Rider and horse losing control and falling to the ground to our right. The other received a bolt into his chest and fell down, his horse continued to ride without him.

A yell behind me captured my attention. One of my guards fell with a spear deeply embedded into his chest.

"Bastard! Protect the prince", Cycnus threw a pilum at the offender. Killing his horse.

My guards formed an even tighter circle around us. There were a few remaining. The same could be said for our light infantry and ranged troops.

"Surrender!", another rider with emblem and fancy armour neared our circle. Just to retreat when I missed my shot. That was so close! Damn it!

"Surrender yourself!", I shouted.

"Yeah!", came the well-timed answer of my guards. Horns were blown, our horns, the horns of our riders. The cavalry had arrived.

The tide of our riders hit them on the right and relieved the collapsing front. The exhausted regiment pulled back. Starting to reorganize.

"Charge! Keep them occupied!", I ordered. My orders were heard and repeated. The heavy infantry set into motion in one last charge as our cavalry responded in kind and began to ride the enemy down.

A short and intense struggle followed. Then the lines collapsed. The enemy had begun to rout. We pursued, first with all forces, then only with our cavalry. Some reached the safety of the walls, others fled towards the open fields. We followed the latter ridding down nearly all of them.

I raised my sword to the sky and shouted. Soon the rest of the legionaries joined in. We had won. Wed had defeated our enemy. We had survived.

It has been four hours since our victory. We were preparing to storm the city and to bury the dead. I would personally ignite a pyre of my soldiers. They would pass into the underworld with all honours.

Currently, the centurions, Alaric and I were still discussing the aftermath of the battle. Two of them were missing. Centurion Hegio and Centurion Gripus Protus had both fallen while we held the right flank.

"That's the last one of the reports", Alaric said and I skimmed over the content.

"How many does that make?", I asked with difficulty. Their deaths were my responsibility.

"1126 dead. 684 wounded, severely 128", Alaric answered. A moment of silence followed. "The light infantry, archer and skirmishers regiment have too few survivors to continue operating."

"Disband them then. Let them join the heavy infantry. Further news from the spies or scouts?", I inquired. The enemy had been silent so far.

"No, some of the enemies managed to retreat into the city. The rest scattered over the countryside. There has yet to be an official announcement from the count", Centurion Sempronius Densus answered.

"What of the other two towns around Bari?", I further inquired.

"Both agreed to work with us and cease the cooperation with the count. Yet they won't allow our troops access into their towns", Centurion Pullo informed. "They have agreed to sent supplies and medical personal though."

"Something at least. We need all the extra help we can get", I said. The lack of action from my enemy stopped me from relaxing. Had they given up or were they planning a response?

"There are some … uh … enemy nobles, that want to speak with you", Cycnus said as his head popped through the tent's entrance.

"You will not interrupt again. Tell them to wait", I replied. His head disappeared.

The meeting continued for half an hour. We finished the reorganisation of the legion and issued several commands for the cavalry cohorts. They were to patrol outside the walls reach to stop the enemy leaders from attempting an escape. Our ships were instructed to keep an eye on the harbour.

The dead would be seen off shortly before sunset. Envoys were also sent to spread the news of our victory and to establish a connection with my families' forces and allies. We were so close to ending the rebellion for good.

We concluded the session by making plans for storming the city. The reduced garrison should allow us to simply use battering rams to breach one of the gates. Those however would take their time to be constructed.

"Then we will see each other again at the pyres", I stood up with Alaric following. Cycnus waited at the tent's exit.

"Where are they?", I asked.

"Kept them near the prisoners", he answered. This got him a glare from Alaric. Cycnus just smiled in response.

Both followed me in silence as I made my way to them.

We passed soldiers mourning, crying and fighting to survive their injuries. Nobody was celebrating the victory. Cycnus had tried, but I had forbidden it. It would have casted a wrong light on me and my guards.

The fenced area with soldiers keeping order had a little addition to its left. There was a circle of my bodyguards. Inside were the group of nobles.

"Open up!", Cycnus instructed and the ring opened.

The nobles shortly looked over us before falling on their knees, heads on the ground. A young man began to speak.

"We surrender to you. Prince Vespasianus please forgive our wrongdoings. We were deceived by the count's silver tongue", he pleaded. Not looking up from his position.

The comparison to my father irked me. Even if he didn't mean it that way.

"You say you were deceived. Yet you went to battle against your lord's son just a few hours ago. A bit of a paradox. Wouldn't you agree?", I asked. Forgiveness was the last thing on my mind. Not after the casualties we had received.

"We know what the count plans to do!", another noble interjected. Now they had my full attention.

"Speak. The value of information given will decide your fate", I said. All of them immediately started to speak of what they knew. And of course, I couldn't understand any of them. I shot Alaric a nod. He pulled out a dagger and slit his hand open. The next moment a blood whip struck to the groups' left. Leaving a deep mark in the ground.

"One at a time", Alaric informed. The nobles started with fear at him and complied after looking at each other. A woman took the initiative.

"He plans to flee through the sewers. There is an exit in a nearby forest", she said. "The rest of his legions will lead a counter-attack on your forces. Just a diversion for his escape."

"They will still fight?", I asked surprised. We had expected that their legionaries might desert or rise up in a rebellion themselves.

"No. Only the noble retinues will still fight. Lead by the count's heir. Few know of his escape. And all that do will escape with him. Except us", she proclaimed. Now all of them looked at me.

"You will be kept here. Your claims will be verified, then I will judge you", I said and turned around.

Orders were given to patrol the nearby forest and prepare for an enemy attack. The pyres would have to wait for now. I will not let any of them escape.

South of Sicillia, Ionian Sea

The flag of Carthage flew over a small fleet of six ships.

"Has the general told you when or where we will arrive", a sick looking demi-human asked his sailor companion.

"The sea is not to your liking then?", the sailor only received a frown in return. "No, he hasn't. All of it is to be kept a secret."

"Damn it!", the demi-human kicked the railing. "This is torture."

A quick evacuation of the stomach followed.

"You see that as well?", the sailor asked looking into the distance.

The soldier looked up and shook his head.

"I see nothing there", she replied tiredly. "What do you see?"

She looked to her left, but he wasn't there.

The fleets alarm was raised. Soldiers ran up to the deck equipped with bows and crossbows. She equipped her own and looked to her comrades.

"Who is attacking?", she asked.

Nobody answered, instead firing a volley behind her. A few shots nearly hitting her.

An angry roar answered. Black flames engulfed the neighbouring ship. Burning shapes jumped towards the water. Fully cladded in armour.

"Wyvern!", the soldier screamed.