Barticus

You feel the pull of your father's Temple now more than ever, but you fight the call long enough to think over who to send back to your camp to reestablish control over your army before they decide to break the cease-fire. You doubt they'd deliberately set out to **** the leaders of the United Armies and Athenapolis; more likely those men would be taken as hostages to negotiate your release. However doing that without killing a significant number of hoplites would be impossible and the slaughter that could result would be just as bad in the eyes of the world. With tensions as high as they are, any spark could be enough to start an inferno as retribution for your disappearance.

Galeon is undoubtedly the most respected general of the elite warriors you've brought but you know him too well to believe that he is going to let you continue into the heart of a besieged city without him by your side. That leaves Alexia and your Oath Brother, Barticus. If he can find Victor, together they can call off the search and bring order to the chaos. Having the two princes in your camp would also be the first step in a new scheme you are considering to bolster Kalion's position without alerting either Lord Raxius or the High Council of Athenapolis to your plans - at least not immediately.

"You're right, Alexia." You concede without a fight, "Someone has to go back to reassure our troops, but before I choose who I must seek your wise counsel," Alexia makes no attempt to conceal the concern on her face but she agrees to listen.

"I am at your service as always, Sire, but we must act fast before something happens back at camp." This time it is your turn to nod in agreement as she describes the worst-case scenario. "With your sudden disappearance, the officers left behind might well start acting rashly perhaps even trying to seize the Lord Marshal and his war captains. The mercenaries in his United Armies" you hear the contempt in her tone as she stresses the word 'United', "might well go rogue." Your spymaster reminds you of how your absence could escalation of the current situation. "I'm not even that concerned about those private troops attacking us, Bruce. I think they'd head into the city hungry for the plunder that your cease fire has deprived them of." The knowledge of what those undisciplined mercenaries would do to a prize like Athenapolis makes your heart race. The United Army plan to capture and sell the women of the city was wicked, but the fate of these same young women and girls would be far more horrific without the control of the officers in command.

"OK, I'll be quick. I'm planning on sending Barticus and Victor both to our camp. I need them to start selecting men from their units who would be willing to surrender their horses and blend in with our troops when the rest of their forces leave with the evacuated the civilians." Alexia is about to object or question your tactics so you continue before she can speak. "Barticus and Victor will need every possible mount to aid in the evacuation of the city, and the troops hiding among our warriors will boosting our limited numbers." You are pleased to see her nod slowly as she begins to understand your thinking. Too often when you have these ideas, she picks them apart exposing the flaws in your schemes like a cold water quench exposes the cracks in a blade. "We need to maintain leverage once the fighting renews, or we may be **** to retreat with no gains just weakened diplomatic situation & more mouths to feed." For a heartbeat you think you see Alexia hiding a smile, and you realize again how beautiful she really is.

"I see," luckily she is deep in thought and does not notice your lack of focus, "it will appear that you kept your word, but even with a few hundred extra men we will be greatly outnumbered. We will also need support from within the alliance." A hint of a secretive smile once again teases her lips, "I have a candidates in mind, but they may need our aid in delicate matters." Before you can question her. she bows and whirls away once again to join Sandrine by the fountain.

As you fill Barticus in with what needs to be done, your mind keeps wondering which forces she has in mind, and what she meant by 'delicate matters.'