Two-hundred and eighteen years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a Carthaginian general has risen to power, seizing loyalty and undying dedication from an army of seasoned veterans. Now, with the backing of his capital Carthage, the richest city in the world, he will finally realize the blood oath that will drive him for the rest of his life. His name is Jaune Arc, and with the aid of Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, and Lie Ren, he will bring the most renowned civilization in all of Europe to its knees.
I was only nine years old. Young, foolish, ignorant, but eager of battle. My father was reluctant to allow me to watch as he and his army ravaged the southern half of Spain for Carthage. He took me to a temple and cut the throat of a lamb, carefully pouring its blood into a bowl. He told me to place my hands in the bowl. I obeyed, and he then told me to swear that, to my dying day, I would never be a friend of Rome. He was wise to enact the blood oath when he did, for he died in battle eight years later.
It's warm today. This weather will make it harder for me to scrub the blood off my sword and shield. "Bah." I grunt to myself. I'm twenty-six years old, and I dote over myself like a child. Scratching my clean and shaven skin, I yawn as I continue my stroll through the camp. In my left hand is a torch, which I use to light posts as I walk. On either side of me are tents that house supplies and my troops who fought for my father to claim the lands that we currently rest upon. They laugh and drink together, shouting and making much noise.
These men and women will be the instrument of Rome's destruction.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha Nikos calls to me. I turn around and see her jogging up, still in her armor. I am still in mine, however, so I cannot criticize. "Might we walk together? There are matters that I wish to discuss."
I raise my right arm up and motion for her to take my side. "You need not waste your breath, Pyrrha!" I call to her. She meets my right side and walks with me. "What be this trouble that plagues you so?" I ask as I stop to light another post.
She sighs, "It be the loyal army of your father that follows you, Jaune." She informs me, "They partake of wine and merriment with such haste. It worries me."
We continue to stroll. "They have much to be merry about, Pyrrha!" I laugh. "An eight month siege of Saguntum has left many weary! Let them take their moment's rest."
"I am most aware of the victory, general of Carthage." She reminds me, "I too was with you when we scaled Saguntum's citadel walls." I chuckle, recalling the fierce slaughter that was shortly enacted upon the foolish people who chose to ally with Rome, knowing full well that their city lay on Carthaginian soil. "And the city has been reduced to ash, but I fear that if we do not move soon, Rome shall be upon us."
"I should hope so." I declare, much to her dismay, which she signals with a groan. "That be the very reaction I hope to pull from the accursed Republic. But they have also inadvertently dealt a blow to themselves, for their allies shall soon hear that Rome did not once send military support over the eight months of siege." I cannot help but grin at the thought. "Rome shall lose her allies to our cause."
Scoffing, my friend informs me, "You need not bleed my ear with your ire for Rome." She sighs. I look to her with a grin. Her opinions of Rome are merely of patriotic distain.
The roar of laughter from a massive tent draw our attention. As we come upon it, I light the post and run my torch into the dirt, putting out its flame.
"Come." I order her as I remove the flap of the tent and motion for her to go inside. "We have much to discuss."
She ducks her head and goes in. I move in after her, dropping the flap behind me. In front of us stand a crowd of men and women amassed around Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie engaged in an arm wrestling match. Nora is toying with Ren. "Soldiers!" I shout over their noise, drawing their attention and much desired silence. As they turn to me, I see that their clothing is stained with blood. "I would be most grateful if the lot of you would take this merriment elsewhere! Your general has much planning to do!"
They all nod to me and quickly gather whatever they came with and leave. I sigh as it is just the four of us now.
"General Arc." Ren nods to me. "I see that you are in fair health. I feared that you had perished in the streets of Saguntum." He informs me with a breath of relief.
"Nonsense!" Nora laughs as she slaps Ren's shoulder and stands up from the table. "Look before yourself, Ren! Here stands the man who has verily vowed the destruction of Rome!" She quickly places two more barrels around the crate that is being used as a table. "He shall not be so easily vanquished!" She pats the barrel that she originally sat in. "Please, Jaune, sit! And do you intend to join us, Pyrrha?" She beams with a smile.
"Indeed, friend, I most certainly do." Pyrrha nods as we seat ourselves with Ren and Nora. A single post is lit in the corner behind Ren, who sits across from me. Nora sits to my left, and Pyrrha sits to my right.
Nora looks to me with a gleam in her eyes. "We have amassed the booty and slaves from Saguntum, Jaune. The entirety shall soon find its way into the hands of the people of Carthage, and their support for your war shall be solidified." She informs me with pride, crossing her arms and smiling.
I nod in appreciation of her efforts. "I am most pleased by your good news, Nora." I begin, folding my hands together and giving all three my gaze. "The die has been cast, my friends. Rome shall soon learn of their ally's fate, and I can assure thee that it shan't be mere envoys seeking peace like before." I shake my head and continue, "No, it shall be citizen soldiers seeking my death, now."
"Not as soon as you may expect." Ren quietly speaks. "They shall most likely seek to capture you alive, Jaune." He reasons, "Taking back a prisoner and publicly humiliating him should be far more appealing to their egos, rather than burying a rotting corpse."
"It shall be us who humiliates them in their own capital!" Nora shouts with a smile, dimly lit by our sole light.
I declare, "On the morrow, our men and woman shall surely be in need of rest to recover from their drunken state. Today we destroyed Saguntum. Tomorrow we rest. The day following, we march."
"We shall be ready at your command, Jaune." Pyrrha smiles at me.
I nod. "The gods have blessed me with the most loyal of friends. But this success shall not be a cause for deviation." I deadpan, "The original plan shall be put into motion."
"And again, Jaune," Ren motions for me to let him speak. "I must protest. The coastal roads leading into Italy shall suffice. We need not cross the Alps."
"Nay, friend." I shake my head at him. "For much time shall pass before we arrive at the Rhone River. By then, a Roman army shall surely be entrenched and awaiting us."
"By the time we reach the Rhone River," Ren counters, "We shall have amassed an estimated one-hundred thousand soldiers." He adds, "By your estimations and intentions of recruiting the Gallic tribes to join your cause."
"And we shall." I nod. "But you seem to forget that we shall also be depositing garrisons throughout Iberia and Gaul to defend our territory." He is not satisfied.
"Your target is Rome." He states, frowning.
"Indeed, it is." I nod.
Remaining unconvinced, he points out, "To take Rome, one would require an army large enough to decimate the Legions that shall surely be mustered in Her defense and siege equipment to destroy Her gates and walls." He looks at me as if I have not thought this through. I am slowly growing tired of his doubts.
"Speed shall be paramount in this march, Ren." I declare. "I cannot waste my time hauling siege equipment, nor can I carry it on my back through the Alps. I already run the risk of arriving late, and the winter already upon us before we ascend."
He stands up. "Then let the Alps freeze and take the coastal roads that Roman slaves have already laid for." That is exactly what they shall expect me to do.
"They would only fortify those roads." I too stand up. Slamming my hands down on the crate, I raise my voice. "Were I to do as you advise, I would suffer losses too great and be left lacking the man power to take Rome." He draws breath to speak, but I interrupt, "I shall lose fewer people in a march through the Alps than a forced battle on Roman terms with the scales sharply tipped in their favor! I can then recruit the Gallic tribes that harass the northern border of the Italian peninsula, and I will have replenished my losses!" We all know that a land invasion is the only way. Rome gained control of the Mediterranean after defeating Carthage in the first war, so an invasion by sea would only result in total destruction. Rome has naval superiority now, but I intend to restore Carthage to glory both on land and on sea.
We glare at each other for a few moments. He sighs, bowing his head and sitting down. Placing his head in his hands, he asks, "We are going through with the original plan?"
"Down to the most minute of details." I declare. Pyrrha and Nora look at each other with unease. This is not the first time Ren and I have had this argument. But it will be the last.
"Then I am to remain here in Iberia?" He looks up to me, seeking not just confirmation but reassurance that I know what I shall do.
"We have sacrificed much for Iberia, I more than anyone." Grimacing, I recall seeing my father's corpse on the battlefield. "I intend to march, knowing that I have left this land in capable hands." I lean over and place a hand on his shoulder. "You do indeed have good reason to be skeptical, friend. But rest assured that I shall defeat Rome with nothing short of total victory."
"And the Alps?" He asks of me.
"I shall find a way." I nod to him.
"And if there be none to find?"
I smirk.
"Then I shall make one."
Next time: Having just finished a war to the east, and still reeling from the catastrophic losses of the first Punic War, Rome is far from ready to engage their greatest rival in a second war. Two Romans, Senator Blake Belladonna and Consul Yang Xiao Long, will confront Carthage. Reinforced by pride and the sense of invincibility, they will make a decision that shall bring about one of the darkest hours that their republic will ever see.
