1875-12-02: From Across The Mountains
From Across The Mountains
Summary: Alia receives word of a Qatunax force marching on Paras. (Related to Bounty 10)
Date: 1875-12-02
Related: None
NPCs: Aeneas Salvius, Tribune of the Legion XIII.
Players:
Alia  Darius  Ludovic  Maximus  

"How many?" Alia looked up from the parchment she had been handed, onto which notes as well as a crude map had been drawn, her eyes settling on Aeneas Salvius, as he stood at the window, his back to her, looking down on where the business of the city seemed to be carrying on as usual. It was winter now, and the joyous days of summer had passed. Now was the time for laying in stores, for preparing for the quiet of winter ahead. For taking what well-deserved rest was possible in these lands of blood and war. She could read the report, but she asked, as if the man to whom she spoke would give her better news than she had read.

"Well near to two thousand, Princepsa, though I pray that that is being over generous. Coming from the mountains to the south and east of the City. A combined force of warriors and slaves. More slaves than Qatunax themselves, so that is a mercy." The tall, willowy Tribune turned back to study the slight figure of the woman. "They will be to the city within the week, if they continue to drive ahead as our scouts report."

Alia opened her mouth, about to do as she would normally do, and ask for word to be sent to Darius. But then she paused. Darius was already encamped and preparing for his own operation. He could not divert the forces under his command and return them to Paras in time to defend against the force that were marching towards them. No, they would have to make due with what they had. "And we have only the 5th Cohort still in residence?"

Aeneas nodded, leaning back against the sill of the open window. He had grown accustomed to that oddity of his Princepsa. She seemed to welcome the coldness of winter and regularly went without fire and left the windows open to catch the cold drafts that whistled into the upper chambers of the central palace in Paras where the business of the city was conducted.

Alia answered one nod with another, her expression hiding the curse that rang in her mind. "Very well. Prepare the 5th for the coming battle. Raise as many of the militia and the levies as you can, and direct them to guard the city proper as well as to provide support for the cohort guarding Candeo. Inform Tribune Maximus Olympicus of the danger that might threaten his command at Candeo. If they mean to attack us and move on towards the Pass, we will have to create a chokepoint there. And we cannot afford to meet them too far afield from the city, or risk losing the safety that our walls will provide if they mean to siege us. We will hold the militia in reserve, if the battle turns poorly for the cohort. I will handle fielding what members of the auxillia we have available here and what I can draw from Cotswold."

Alia glanced out of the window, though she was far enough from it that she could see only the clear winter sky over Aeneas' shoulder, "Send word to the 3rd in Cotswold. Have them move the people into the pyramids and strengthen the defenses of the city as well. And command them to send half of the auxillia there to assist us. Direct them to march to Paras by the most northern road, using the border with Eosphora as a buffer.

Aeneas nodded, though he never quite lost that look of languid calm that he seemed to wear like a cloak. "Very well, Princepsa. I will make certain that preparations are underway immediately."

"And Aeneas? Send word to Darius. Even if he cannot assist us, he should know what we are facing, in case they should break off and attempt to attack his location. At the very least, he should have word of the movement of the enemy in our lands. Perhaps he will have some good word, or will deign to send us a bit of the One's own luck that seems to follow after him."

Aeneas laughed, as he made his way to the door, "He is a lucky son of a vitch, our Praetor."

Alia waited until Aeneas has stepped out, before she went to put her things to order. She had much work and too few days in which to do it.

She took a moment, settling long enough to pen a short letter.

Dovi,

A force of the enemy marches towards Paras. We are preparing to meet them. We have the 5th cohort and what aid I can glean from Cotswold. I have called the militia and the levies to defend the city and Candeo, in the hopes that they will not make the pass, if we fail to stop them at Paras. I would welcome your aid and that of your men, but I understand if you feel that you must focus on the defense of Hellsmouth.

Alia


Ludovic's reply takes barely a full day to arrive on Alia's desk.

Alia

I'm sending some cavalry out from my border forts and I'll bring a contingent of Horned Knights myself. We'll come via Steven's Pass. Send word if the need is urgent enough that you need us to risk the trade road.

Don't worry the border forts will do just fine without them for a while.

Don't start without me.

Ludovic

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