Chapter 37

"The final act begins."

"Let us hope." said Siri standing behind him.

Using the looking glass, Sevastian studied the lay of the land round the port, and then studied the fortifications. The dull yellowy hue of the sands and town contrasted starkly with the beautiful blue of the Mediterranean beyond.

Sevastain lowered the looking glass. "I do not like it Siri." He said low as she moved to rest one arm in its usual spot on his shoulder. "I worry I've fatally weakened this force by sending too many troops with Cleon. Usually in a siege its ten attackers to every one defender, we are below that.

"Had you kept more troops, Caesar might have doubted if his plan was working." She replied. "Besides," she shifted a bit leaning against him more, "You have us Amazons to make up for the difference."

"You know I do not disagree, it is reassuring to have Amazons on our side. This fight will be desperate and bloody, we will…"

"We will prevail, do not doubt yourself Sevastain. Caesar is brilliant, but he is only a man.

For just a moment he leaned back against her. How wonderful it felt.

"Meleager!" Sevastain called out.

The engineer rode forward, and then dismounted.

"What is your assessment of the situation?"

"The walls appear to be mud-brick, covered by a layer of plaster. Not particularly high." Meleager noted. "If you allow time Lord Commander, my men can set up at least one catapult and batter the walls down.

"No, it would take far too long." Sevastain shook his head. "Our Amazon scouts along the coast have sent word that the arrival of the fleet is imminent, we must-"

"That is why we moved so slowly!" Agis, had rode up, "to give time for our fleet to arrive!"

"That's right." Siri spoke. "Reinforcements are on those ships."

"Agis call your captains up," Sevastian raised the looking glass again. "I wish to show them the plan before we attack."

Agis reined his horse back, and then rode off down the slope to where the army was encamped, shouting orders for his officers to come forward.

"By Gods, Xena holds me in contempt!"

From the highest tower in the citadel Caesar stood upon a stone balcony. He gazed out at the gathered Greek officers and their commander.

The standard, emblazoned with a rising phoenix galled him. "She sends some minion to attack me, Julius Caesar, the single greatest commander of all time. I will make her pay dearly for this slight!"

Julius lowered the looking glass, "Paulinus in place?"

"Yes Caesar." His aide de camp reported.

"Is he sure, his force has not been detected?"

"Quite sure Caesar, he did not allow his men to use cook fires, the enemy could not have seen the troops in the dark of night."

"My cavalrymen?"

"Ready to strike."

"Good, all is ready. Now to the hard part, we sit behind these fortifications and wait for their commander to attack us."

"Here..." Sevastain used his finger to draw lines in the sand. "El Daba." His hand moved drawing more lines, "and here the docks." Looking up from his position on bended knee he watched the men nod. "The objective is to get over the walls and take the docks so our fleet may land troops."

"Here..." Sevastian drew more lines in the sand. "Thanks to the Amazon scouts, we know there is a force waiting to ambush us. "However, they are a full league away; it will take time for them to get in position."

"Before we take the town, would it not be best to fight the Romans waiting in ambush?" One of the captains asked respectfully.

"No."

"No?" Agis took a knee beside Sevastian.

"We go after that force and Caesar will march his troops out of El Daba. We shall find ourselves surrounded on the desert plain. "

"We shall be caught." Siri expounded, "Roman troops ahead and behind us."

"That is why, Sevastain continued, "the objective must be El Daba. We need the reinforcements from the fleet to successfully defeat the force waiting to ambush us. No matter what, we must... take... El Daba."

"Lord Commander, a league is not far, we won't have much time to get over those walls. Meleager spoke, his tone one of deep concern.

"This will be a very close run thing." Sevastain admitted. "Have grappling hooks and ropes at the ready, the best of our force must hit the walls and climb for all they are worth. We take the walls, we take the town."

"Understood."

"Right, then..." Sevastain stood, dusting himself off. "We race in, no slow march no setting up lines for a siege. The moment we near the walls, I want men climbing. Those Romans manning the ramparts should be placed on the defensive from the moment the attack starts.

The men surrounding him nodded once more.

Sevastain looked to Agis "As we don't have archers, pilum throwers must be near the walls, get men ahead of them, to protect them with a line of shields. We must knock as many Romans off the top of that bulwark as possible. Our men must have a chance to reach the top."

A nod from Agis told him his commander understood.

"Very well then." Sevastain looked once more toward the port city. "I feel we can end the conflict with Rome today here at El Daba." Moving round the circle, he clasped wrists with all.

"I'll see you at the docks."

"Dismissed." Siri ordered. As the men departed, commands were shouted, the rank and file solders standing.

For a long moment, he gazed up at Siri. Wanting to tell her...

"Be careful." Sevastain said simply.

"I will, for you." She responded.

Sevastain looked up at her, mouth agape in shock at her statement. "For me?" He finally sputtered.

She strode away, ordering her Amazons to mount up.

Sevastain walked to his own steed, stepping into the saddle, he drew his sword, which Xena had gifted him. For what seemed an eternity he waited as the men donned clunking metal armor, preparing for battle.

Finally, all stood ready.

Sevastain smiled wanly at Agis. "I wish I could know what will happen today before it happens. But it's enough to know that the day will end, and then the end will be known."

Forward at the double click!" the tip of his blade rose, pointing to El Daba.

The men cheered.

"March!"

"I see you are still alive Pompeius." Xena smirked down at the man.

"Still..." he croaked through parched lips. It hurt to move as his skin was terribly blistered by the rays of Sol Invictus, or Helios as the bastard Greeks called it. Pompey wasn't a praying man, but over the last seven-day, he had prayed to Mars, beseeching the god to smite Xena.

"You have lived long enough to see my victory over Caesar, though I doubt you will live to see me enter Rome."

"Overconfident..." was all Pompey could manage to say after so long without water. He lost sight of her as Xena walked away.

Moving to the far rail, she crossed arms over her chest, as El Daba came into view.

"Here, the line forms here!"

At the order from the Lord Commander, troops began to line up with ingrained discipline. One rank became two, then three. At the moment, Sevastain was pleased having judged the distance correctly, his line being too far from the walls for shots from Roman Pilum, or arrows.

"Move up!" Agis yelled out, getting pilum throwers in position. As these men were in range, the Romans tried to take advantage, throwing pilum down from the walls, the tips embedding into Greek shields with a solid thud.

Men filled in behind the shield line, rows of Pilum throwers at the ready.

"Now, loose!" Agis shouted.

The Romans upon the walls, ducked down as Greek spears flew. Sevastain was pleased to see a goodly number hit their mark. These walls lacked stone crenellations at the top, nothing for the enemy to slide behind for cover.

"Lord Commander!"

Turning Gisela, round Sevastain held the reins tight, patting his jittery steed on the neck.

Siri said nothing, only pointing.

"Ares, Hera, and Zeus!" Sevastain groaned. "Cavalry!" His plan had been to be ready for foot soldiers, the men were unprepared for mounted troops. The only bright spot at the moment was that to the enemy horsemen had lined up at a tremendous distance from his lines.

There was little time, but perhaps time enough.

"Siri take your Amazons and ride, circle round and attack the Romans from behind." Sevastain said tersely. "By all appearances they out number you—"

"We are Amazons—"

"Siri, there is no time for that! Listen! Pick off as many as you can with arrows, do not engage directly, Peel off as many riders as you can. Weaken their charge against us."

"Understood?" he asked.

"Yes, Lord Commander."

"On then Siri, and by gods above, no Amazon heroics!"

She eyed him coldly for a moment, and then rode away.

If battles could be fought using only attitude, mused Sevastian, Amazons would always win.

"That's right…"cavalry."

Caesar watched with undisguised delight as the enemy commander moved to hustle more men into position. A futile attempt to strengthen his line against the impending attack.

"Caesar! Ships approach!"

"What?" Julius shifted, walking back into the tower, cutting across the circular stone room he raised the looking glass, peering out at the sea.

"Those are Roman ships approaching. Pompey must have…" His voice trailed off a blood red sail came into view inscribed with a golden "X".

Greek troops walked the decks. Now Julius discerned why the enemy land force was under the command of an underling. Xena had done the unexpected, moving to personally take on Pompey at sea. A risky gamble, but effective Julius conceded, as now she controlled the ships of the Roman Navy.

"Pompey..." said Julius upon seeing the old general hanging from the bowsprit.

"Mattius," Caesar grabbed his aide by the shoulders. "Move every one of our onagers we've constructed from their position behind the walls to the docks. Use what Greek fire we have, catapult it toward any ship that comes near. Do not allow Greek troops to land!"

"Yes, Caesar!"

"Go now!"

Julius raised the looking glass once more using it to find Xena stalking the deck. "What a game! What a ploy!" He murmured. "But, I still gain victory if I keep you from landing. I will destroy the larger part of your army on land. And if you cannot land troops Xena, you can do nothing to stop the disaster from unfolding."

Hearing the cries, Caesar crossed the turret room again to look out at the land battle beyond the gates.

"That's it Publius attack!" urged Caesar from the high balcony. "Attack!"

"Here they come!" Agis yelled.

Thousands of Roman cavalry streamed over the open ground, the dust kicked up by the pounding hooves creating an ominous cloud.

He didn't have enough pike men in position, Hades!

For an instant, Sevastain sat stark still in the saddle, watching as defeat raced toward him.

"Squares!" He yelled spurring his horse down the line. "Form squares!"

The men fell back, forming three separate rows of squares, boxes of men with open ground in the middle. All dropped to one knee, raising swords and what pikes were available in defense against the slashing blades carried by the men on horseback. Any man foolish enough to jump his horse into the center of the square would be pulled from his mount and slain.

This tact had failed once, long ago against Xena at Olynthus. Sevastian desperately hoped that it would not fail on the second try.

Looking out, Sevastain saw the Roman Commander was no shirker, leading from the front and center of the charging cavalry.

The Romans, who usually maneuvered in silence, let loose with the Barritus, a guttural cry that had been borrowed from the Germanic warriors. It was designed to frighten, and from glancing round at the men in his line, it was working.

Bravery and cowardice are two very opposite emotions, but they are two sides of the same coin. Right now that coin was flipping end over end, and from appearances cowardice was about to win out. All soldiers know the square is a formation of last resort. Sevastian could feel the faltering nerve of these men at the sight of thousands of horses at full charge.

In that instant, Sevastain knew, he must do something, anything, to boost the confidence of his men. That or they would run.

"Stay here!" he ordered his standard bearer.

With sword drawn, and of his own volition, Sevastain spurred Gisela on.

Riding forward his own line Sevastian stood in the saddle raised his sword, circling the blade overhead.

With all he had, he cried...

"Για Aυτοκράτειρα και Αυτοκρατορία!"

For Empress and Empire!

A cheer went up from those nearest, those who heard the words. Those men began to chant those same words, the cry rolling through the whole of the Greek line.

Sevastain heard the shouts. His choice to move to the front of the line, to expose himself to such danger had the intended effect. The men, upon seeing his example, would do their best to hold. He also knew how insanely foolish this act was. Here he was, well out in front of his own line. One against the many.

The line might hold, but for him it would not end well.

Solari peeked over at the Conqueror standing beside her as the chant from the men of her army wafted over the water.

As always Xena was stoic, her jaw set in a determined line as she watched the Roman charge. The sailors picked up on the chant. In solidarity, they echoed it back to their compatriots on land with all their might.

Solari watched as a single tear traveled down Xena's cheek.

The next instant it was gone, having been swiftly wiped away.

"Hold Sevastain, hold against them." Xena growled while raising the looking glass.

Solari having long been an Amazon, long holding men in contempt, found herself rooting for the men of Xena's army, and their little commander.

"Break them!" yelled Julius while watching the charge from high above in the citadel tower. "Break them!" Both his fists slammed down upon the stone of the balcony.

Caesar did smile amidst it all, hearing the repeated sounds of catapults launching Greek fire at the Greek fleet. There was a certain satisfaction in knowing that the barbarians' own invention was being used against them.

The Roman cavalry commander slashed his sword in a wide arch.

Sevastain ducked, the shiny steel blade clanging against his helmet, knocking it from his head. Wheeling Gisela about, he slashed with his own blade striking the back of the man's armor. While his katana was sharp enough to cut through armor, the blow was too haphazzard to have effect.

The Roman horse soldiers slammed into the Greek line.

Chaos as thousands of riders attempted to bull though his men. The horrendous screams of animal and man were deafening. A terrible cacophony of death encased within billowing clouds of dust.

Sevastain barely had time to ready himself as another Roman came at him. This one was not as fortunate as his commander, his sword arm was severed by Sevastain's blade

The Greek Hoplites moved quickly to grab reins, pulling screeching horses down in order to wrench their Roman riders from their mounts.

"Die Barbarian!" The Roman commander had wheeled his horse round, his sword high, ready to deliver an angled slash.

Despite being in the fight of his life, Sevastain observed the shoulder holes on the man's armor were shaped like lions, their open mouths allowed for arms to go through.

Odd what one takes notice of in the mist of battle.

Eyes on the blade, Sevastain readied his own to parry.

Their swords never met, as a precisely aimed arrow struck the Roman directly in the throat.

By the colors on the fletching, Sevastain knew the arrow to be Amazonian.

"Thank Artemis for Amazons." He muttered. Barely had Sevastain said the words before a Roman grabbed him, yanking him off Gisela.

She lowered the glass. Her fleet was sitting off the coast useless…

Two ships that had braved nearing the docks had been set alight by the catapults along the shore. One of them was the Kallixena… she hoped that wasn't an omen.

"Lesothenes!"

"Yes, Empress?"

"We must land troops, beach these ships if need be."

"With your pardon Empress, we cannot reach the shore except by the docks." Lesothenes replied. Off shore to either side of the port are great bands of reef built by sea creatures. Any ship sailing over that will have its bottom tore out.

"There must be a way, Lesothenes!"

"Poor Xena…"

Lesothenes watched in apprehension as the continence of the Empress became very dark upon hearing Pompey speak.

"Here your conquests end…"

Taking chakram to hand, she let it fly, severing the rope. A wail, a splash, and Pompey was no more.

Sevastain felt the dagger cutting him and was glad his armor as slowing it, but it wouldn't be enough. He had lost hold of his sword. Vainly he reached one hand out, trying to find something anything to get the Roman off him. He found it… a large stone which he bashed against the man's skull.

Cheers went up from the Greek line as the Romans broke off the attack, giving chase to Amazon riders.

Sevastain stood slowly, wincing from the pain lancing through his side. Around him, the aftermath of the charge, men dead and dying, others standing, but wounded. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a pike man run a screeching horse though to put the animal out of its misery.

Urged on by Meleager, more reinforcements began to fill the line.

"Damnest thing I ever saw!" Meleager rode up. "Don't know if you are brave or plain stupid."

"Stupid." Sevastain replied causing the commander to smile. "Meleager, do your engineers have the caltrop in their supply.

"Yes."

"Good, have them spread those spikes over the open ground before us.

"That'll slow em down." Meleager grinned. "Nothing like a spike though the hoof"

"Or foot." Sevastain added.

"Where are the men?" Sevastain looked to the walls. "I do not see men climbing those walls."

"First wave failed, second wave, coming up now, Lord Commander." Meleager shifted in the saddle. Sure enough, men were lining up with ropes and grappling hooks. Rushing forward, they threw the grappling hooks with precision, putting tension on the ropes to keep the Romans from lifting the hooks off the wall.

"No horse…" Sevastian muttered with frustration after glancing about, looking for Gisela. Walking past Meleager, he moved though his line and up to the pilum throwers under the command of Agis.

The situation was not good, the men were doing their best, but the Romans on the tops of the walls were able to cut the ropes. Waves of men, fell, unable to reach to top of the ramparts.

"Could I just find one commander who is not an idiot?" shouted Caesar at witnessing his cavalrymen break off the attack. "No matter, we hold against you." he lowered the glass after studying the enemy commander. "Your men cannot breech the walls, and your fleet is of no use."

Julius scanned the horizon looking for the telltale dust cloud kicked up by troops on the march. "Now…" he took in then let out a long breath. "Where are you Paulinus?"

Both fists slammed down upon the ships railing. "Break them!" she yelled at seeing the attack on the walls failing.

Men standing near subtly scooted to the lee-side of the ship, fearful of Xena's wrath

Once more the plan to take El Daba was on the verge of failure, Sevastain could see it. Hades, a blind man could see it!

Hoplites retreated back from the wall, two waves of attackers having completely failed.

"We must take those walls!"

"Lord Commander, they are too strong, we must-"

"You say retreat, and I kill you here and now."

Feeling the tip of Sevastian's sword in under his chin, Agis thought it best to be silent.

"We must hit the walls again!" he ordered while moving down the line of troops, now positioned behind the pilum throwers.

The men looked at him, defeat in their eyes.

"Come now!" Sevastain urged, "The Romans are weakening!"

Not a man stood.

He leaned over so the hoplite nearest could hear him. "What will you think of yourself tomorrow?" The man lowered his head, all the fight had left him.

Straitening, Sevastian paced to Agis. "I place you in command."

A self-satisfied grin began to form on the man's lips. "Too much for you huh, giving up?"

"Shut-up and listen!" Sevastain shouted. "I will lead the next attack on the wall personally, when the gates open, send two corps into the town and then use every man left to hold the line against the oncoming Roman force. Understood?"

"Yes, Lord Commander." Agis did not believe Sevastain had any chance of topping the wall.

"Sevastain you cannot be thinking..." Meleager said from behind. Watching as the high commander wiped, then sheathed his sword.

"There are times when the life of a commander does not count."

"Sevastain! You musn't-"

I'll be damned to Tartarus if I give up now! I don't care if none chose to follow me, I will make some endeavor!" grabbing the coiled rope and grappling hook from the man nearest Sevastain looked to the wall, took a breath to steady himself ... then began to run.

"With me!" Sevastian bellowed while running though the Greek lines, "Who will come with me?!"

A yell rose from behind him as he continued to run forward. He did not look back, too focused on releasing the hook at the right moment. When he did, Sevastain was pleased to see it gain purchase on the wall.

With every ounce of strength he had, up the wall he went, the wound in his side protesting mightily as he climbed.

And then...

He was as the top.

Sevastian looked about in astonishment, shocked Romans looking right back. For some moments, no one moved, all staring at each other.

Then the spell broke and the Romans charged.

"What are you doing?!" Sevastain had turned, feeling the tug on his boot.

His standard bearer.

"Dammit boy!" Sevastain hauled him up on the wall. Kid had the standard of the Army, pole and all, clenched between his teeth.

Drawing his blade Sevastain slashed, cutting the leg the first Roman through. With a kick, he pushed the shrieking man over the wall.

The next he hit with his shoulder, toppling the man back into his compatriots, the lot of them tumbling down the wooden stairs leading to the top of the wall.

"Well, don't just stand there, wave that flag!"

The kid did his best, raising the flag and hauling it back and forth, the fabric catching the breeze.

Sevastain backed into something solid.

"Siri! What-"

"Someone has to save you," she replied. An instant later, the halidie in her hand was thrusting into the gut of a Roman.

Looking past, Sevastain saw Amazons by the hundreds, overcoming the wall.

"I thought I told you to draw off the Roman cavalry!" barked Sevastain.

"Felt like doing some -Amazon heroics- instead" she replied coolly.

This was not the time to discuss the matter…

"Amazons!" Sevastain ran past Siri. "Over the wall!" he ordered. "And open the gates quickly!"

"Yes Lord Commander!" replied Xanthippe with a wide smile. As he watched, she lifted a screaming Roman over her head and then casually tossed the man over the wall.

Gods! These Amazons were strong!

The Hoplites of the Greek army began to cheer at seeing the Romans being bested. A third, then a fourth wave of men now hit the wall and began the climb.

"That's the style Sevastain! That's the style!" Meleager shouted from atop his steed. He stood up in the stirrups and raised his sword high in salute

The city gates opened, and as ordered, Agis sent three corps into the city.

"Lo! Sevastian shows us how it's done!" Xena smiled most feral at catching sight the flag of the army fluttering back and forth at the top of the wall.

"Lesothenes, when our troops take the waterfront from the Romans, I want the ships loaded with Hoplites to dock first."

"Right Xena." Her admiral turned, shouting orders, multicolored flags then ran up the mast, signaling the ships of the fleet.

It chafed her not to be the first on the dock, but reinforcements were the priority.

"No!" Caesar cried at seeing Roman troops abandon the docks to fight the Greek Hoplite's steaming in through the main city gate. "No! No! No!" he wailed petulantly.

"Where is Paulinus!?" Shouted Julius. In frustration, the looking glass held in hand was thrown across the room to smash against the fall wall.

For a time, silence.

Caesar composed himself and came to the realization...

It was over, all was lost.

"Caesar, what are your orders?" asked Mattius.

"Close the gates of the Citadel."

"But Great Caesar, doing such will lock out our own retreating men! They will be condemned to death!"

"Do as I say!" Caesar spat. "If these men cannot win, they deserve death!"

"As you command, Caesar." Mattius slowly retreated from the chamber.

Leaning over, Julius placed both hands upon the desk, his head dipped down. "All my conquests, glories, triumphs, achievements… come to so little?"

"Felix."

The boy came near.

"Wine."

With a nod, the kid scampered to a side table to fill a goblet.

"Is not today the Ides of March?" asked Julius as the cup was placed before him.

"I know not, sir." Felix replied.

"I believe it is." Julius laughed mirthlessly. "Leave me for a time." he ordered.

"Yes sir."

Looking out beyond the balcony, Julius saw Greek ships docking, troops unloading.

"I do not consent to crucifixion Xena!" spat Caesar. "You shall not revenge yourself on me!"

Raising his right hand, Julius looked at the golden ring on this finger for a time. After letting out a pained sigh, he unclasped the lock. Opening the hinged top of the ring to reveal a small compartment. Tipping his hand he dumped the white powder held within into his chalice. For some moments, the wine bubbled and frothed before its surface became placid once more.

"A toast then!" Caesar raised the gold chalice engraved with his name. A jeering smirk formed on his lips.

"Xena, all hail!" he said with derision before draining the vessel of its contents.

"Beware the Ides of March!" The words filled with bitterness. He slammed the chalice down upon the desk. "Soothsayer!" Cried Caesar, "Your divination's come to pass!"

The poison lanced though his innards quickly, as well it should. He only paid for the best.

Coughing racked him, lips stained red with blood-filled bile.

Knees going weak, Julius stumbled back into a chair.

The world around him faded as had his hopes of conquering the world.

"Then…" Julius labored for a last breath "…Fall Caesar."