Horus makes his report

I awoke the next morning in the soft bed provided by Olivia. Martha and I had parted soon after our tryst as she did not want her mistress to know she had fucked me. I thought back on last night's conversation with Martha, apparently Olivia's quest to withhold her body from men extended to her servants as well. I made no issue of it with Martha as I did not wish her to get in trouble and she had serviced me well.

As I lay there half asleep I heard a light knock on my door. "Enter," I called out. I expected to see Martha or Gabriella with some breakfast; instead I was greeted by Horus my scout. His mud splattered clothing and tired face bespoke of hard riding in the darkness of the night.

"So Horus what have you discovered?"

He answered succinctly as he was a man of few words, "It is bad, my lord General. It is as the city man said the savages are massing in the hills, well over ten thousand strong as near as I can tell. Maybe five hundred horse, and the rest foot. They are stretched across the plains just on the other side of the foothills, no more than a day's march from the city. We will be hard pressed to hold against them even inside the city's walls."

I quickly made my decision; we had very little time to spare. "Ride for the legion, tell them to double march, I want them here in no more than three days. On your way out tell Centurion Marcus that I need to see him at once. That is all."

Horus left just as quickly as he had come and I sat running scenarios through my mind. I must get my legion here fast, and I must work to shore up the city's defenses in case we had to hold for a time. The walls were in poor condition, being broken down in several spots. Those would have to be repaired as best as possible in the short time that we had, and I would have to call up every man between the ages of fifteen and fifty to defend the city. Counting my own men that should give me about two thousand men to man the walls; boys and old men would not be much use against the savage power of the barbarians, but they would be better than nothing.

I went to the desk in the room and sat writing orders for the day. My first orders were to the Governor telling him that I was declaring a military emergency and that I was taking control of the city. I instructed him to send messengers to the outlying farms and estates telling everyone to head to the city. No doubt the barbarians would burn and attack everything outside the city to try and draw us out to where their overwhelming numbers could destroy us. Then I instructed Ruleus Generlus to make ready the defenses of the city. They would not be able to fully fix the city walls but by drafting all able bodied men and women for the next several days they should be able to close the gaping holes. Lastly he wrote orders for Marcus to have scouts sent out to keep track of the barbarian, to make sure to not engage them for any reason, but to make sure I knew where they were at all times. Five ten man patrols should be able to cover all directions and keep tabs on where the barbarians were moving towards.

Marcus arrived and I gave him my written orders instructing him to go the govener first. I added, "And if he makes a fuss tell him he should just do as I ask and it will be over in a week or two. Tell him he should not make me come over there and order him in person, he will not enjoy the process, and it will turn out the same either way."

Marcus laughed and made ready to leave. I told him, "Make sure our patrols take care to stay away from direct contact. I want to know where my enemy is, I don't want to lose men I will need to defend the city."

Marcus told me he would instruct them to do just that, and he headed out to deliver my orders. As he left I sat and pondered what I should do with myself today. I had set the machinery in motion to take care of the city's defense, now what should I do with my time?