Attropolis XLVIII

Clanks and clinks echo throughout the camp as soldiers are preparing for war. Swords, spears, shields and helmets to be clad by some of the soldiers. For others bows and arrows, and for some horses too. The shine of the sun goldens the plains as Caesar looks with full confidence towards Creetus. Between the tents the soldiers barely speak, only passing the necessary information to each other. Man by man, little by little they gather in formations around their generals and their commanders, and their general’s general and their commander’s commander.* They start briefing their soldiers on what they had discussed with Caesar on how to win this war as efficiently as possible. Once the commanders and generals finish their speeches, the soldiers start looking at each other and salute with the utmost respect. As this is the most important day in their life, since they might die.

Once they all set into their positions, the Caesar starts walking from his tent towards the front line, looking at his men. Silence has set between the troops as he walks, with the only noise accompaniment being nature and his footsteps. He breaths in, his muscles start to tingle from excitement, a smile appears on his face as he looks at the troops surrounding him. The pain of losing one of his best friend will be avenged by his glorious victory, is his thought as he looks again towards Creetus. A soldier on a horse starts riding as quick as he can and disappears into the woods. The Caesar arrives at the front line, where on horses, his most trusted generals await him together with a soldier with a horse for him. Augustus mounts the beast and looks at his army.

Romans! Friends! Family! Our dear friend, Olanus was killed by a monster. A monster that killed our governor. And instigated us with violence! These barbarians attacked us, a peaceful kind! We dath showed them mercy, but they did not yeld! We, the free of hatred, pity, anger and friendship, have seen now the truth! These barbarians are cowards! And as they die once more, we will make sure to put them out of their misery! Now, to those foolish, we must teach, as they lack knowledge, they lack civility, they lack humanity and rational thought! To you, my soldiers, my commanders, my generals, know this! Beware the barbarians, as the greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would even look! But the fault is not in our stars! It is within us. And to win by strategy is no less the role of a general than a win by arms! As we have not to fear anything, except fear itself! Inspired by the speech the armies explode: Hail Augustus Caesar!

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

*Author’s note: Even though this series is historical fiction, most of the beliefs, politics, army structures and most everything is based on actual real beliefs and facts we have. And here too I wanted to stay really true to the hierarchy of the Empire Army. But, that would have meant a segment on just repeating the same hierarchy of the army over and over again from the highest position to the lowest. Since more or less it would be the same, except some special roles within each level. And of course, the naming would be different.

Attropolis XLVII

The golden rays of the sun bestow upon this land a shine that brightens everyone’s day as the Caesar opens his eyes. A gentle breeze passes through the camp, a nice fresh scent of earth, grass, moss and everything nice the world has to offer under his feet. At the entrance of his tent, two guards standing tall and proud, watching over him. Augustus gets out of the warm bed, lays his feet upon the cold refreshing grass, takes a deep breath in and goes to urinate. He takes a cloth, wets it, and starts brushing his teeth. Done with both with a smile, he heads over to his table where slaves prepared his breakfast, a pancake and some cut fruit. He starts eating, pondering about the greatness of the day that was about to unfold. After the breakfast, a quick workout to warm up and get his muscles started.

With his fresh clothes and threads on him, pumped up, ready and happy, Augustus gets out his tent. Looking around his face lights up even more, seeing the beauty in the world and the manpower he has laying in the camp, waiting to crush their enemies. A maimed soldier breaks in through the camp screaming, waking up everyone and putting them in fighting stance. Looking to find an enemy following the soldier, yet finding nothing. The soldier runs and falls to the feet of the Caesar, out of breath. Blood flies on his feet, as the soldier looks up to tell Augustus what had happened, he spits blood on his white threads. He slaps the soldier, and tells him to calm down because they can’t understand him. One of the guards gives the soldier a flask with water, as he sits and tries to calm down. The Caesar’s generals gather around the tent, wanting to see what happened.

The soldiers tells them in detail everything that had happened, the graves, the tall giant, a bunch of pointy logs surrounding the small city and a bunch of archers. The Caesar thanks him and tells him to sit and take it easy. The generals ask him what they will do next. I will destroy them! A massacre! I will wipe them off from the map of this glorious earth they are tainting! August fuming with anger, frustration and regret that he didn’t stop him from going when the oracles had warned him. The generals once again ask if they should prepare for an assault. He turns around, smiles and tells them to wait…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XLVI

A bloody sword, a giant man over two graves, a small girl talking, the red skies dawn and with bated breath I turn around. An arrow lands at my feet, I run, the blood rush makes my skin feels like its burning, sweat rolls down on me like my body is crying. Every breath of cold air fills my lungs and energizes my every running step as I stomp down. Tree after tree passes me, as the brown of the earth beneath my feet is covered in last’s autumn leafs. The green, lush, crowns of the trees let cover me from the blinding sunlight. My sandals bury into dirty, but my arms pull me forward, and the fear of death thrusts me further into the woods. Everything starts to look the same, the noises of the forest start to overwhelm me, as I stop to try and guide myself in the right direction. Nothing looks familiar, nothing hints at the place I should head towards, because I ran, and I ran out of fear and without thinking too much, but where it felt natural.

The sun will set, the night will take over and I will be alone in a pitch black forest without any help, lost to the gods of nature. Now I ponder what I did to deserve to be punished by them, when all my life I had followed laws, thanked the gods and lived a peaceful life. Panic settles in my heart, hand on my sword, on guard from the movements and sounds of the environment, the trees seem to grow by the second as the close out the sky and hold me prisoner. The end of the forest is nowhere to be seen, left, right, ahead are my only options. Afraid to look back, because they might be after me, because they might be there and I don’t want to know. I start running again, trying to tempt fate, the gods, and with hope that no forest is infinite and has an end to it, any end to it.

Blue hues start to appear on the sky, signaling my demise getting closer and closer. So, I run and I run, the palpitations of my heart make me feel like I am burning and getting near to the end of my powers. In my haste, my eyes pick up a red color, like that of blood dried on the earth. I stop. The mane of a horse, yet built like a bull, inward curved horns, pitch black eyes like that of a monster, and a furry lizard like tail, a monster! I thought I was hallucinating from all the panic, I thought I was seeing the impossible, the Bonnacon. Out of desperation, I throw myself towards it screaming like a lunatic with my sword erect. The monster turns, raises its tail and a nasty smell hits me in the face, it burns. It burns so horribly, it smells. I faint and wake up in the arms of another Roman soldier that found me laying face down in a turd. I am safe…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XLV

As the blood flows, as he screams, the sky turns orange and red. The pain of losing the woman he loved and thought he had a child with is immeasurable. Dropping his sword on the ground, grasping for her, yet he can’t touch her, feeling like he doesn’t deserve to even look towards her. Anus stands up, picks up the sword and looks at his brother. I’m going to put you out of your misery, brother, you won’t have to suffer, says Anus as he pushes his sword through Olanus’ chest. Crying and bleeding, Olanus puts his hands on the sword that was sticking out through his chest, before collapsing on the ground, looking at Alicaria. Anus kneels to hold his hand, I wish this wouldn’t be the end. I wish this wouldn’t have happened like this. I wish we could have lived in harmony. I am sorry, brother.

Anus calls for some of his men to help him bury them there on the field together. Thinking it is the least he could do for his brother. Shovel of gravel after shovel of earth after shovel of dirt thrown on the two bodies, Anus is now thinking about what’s to come, the fight, the war, the death toll. The Caesar will march and death will follow, he knows that much. A small fort, thin city walls, around thirty decent archers were their defenses. Stones, boulders and some boiling water were carried for the rest of the soldiers to throw down the walls during the siege. A few letters sent North, South and East for help in their rebellion against the Romans, maybe someone would be crazy enough to join them. The few hundred that had come before the letters were wrote had heard by chance and were already fed up with the empire. Anus still hopeful that from those letters months ago, someone would respond before it would be all too late.

From the forest by the mountains a girl arrives at Creetus, once she sees the Giant, she runs towards him. He had finished burying them and now was looking East towards the Roman army. The girl gets to him and starts crying, he looks down and picks her up. She hold him tight, he looks for Hippos if he came back running too. And he asks her if he’s on his way here too, or if it is just her. She tells him that they were found by Romans and they were slaughtered, but she was the only one to get away. Anus now in pain, thinking about Hippos and the fact that his corpse now lays somewhere by the edge of a forest, killed by monsters. A Roman soldier arrives at edge of the forest, from where Adpetentia had come, seeing that Olanus was nowhere to be found, he runs back towards the Roman camp. It had happened once more…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XLIV

Swinging his sword towards Anus, Olanus is very much careless in his attack, another swing diagonally towards his chest, misses. Anus with a quick punch to Olanus’ face, it doesn’t phase him as he pushes himself into Anus and throws him to the ground. Falling to the ground together, they both headbutt, Olanus now with a headache rolls off of Anus while holding his sword erect towards Anus. Alicaria screams at them to stop, Anus cautious her to stay back, yet she is hesitant to listen, wanting to jump in and stop Olanus. Anus runs towards his brother, sword tip towards the ground, step after step he gets closer and Olanus is ready. He swings up and the words meet in the middle with a loud clash of steel, quickly they swing again. but to no avail. Swing after swing and parry after parry, the two were dancing like they a fine choreographed theater piece.

Olanus flustered and frustrated plunges ahead sword first trying to pierce through his defense. Anus tightens his stance, brings his sword close to his body, and deflects it, leaving Olanus wide open at the back. But, being a giant he is, he barely turns back thus missing, with the tip of the sword. Olanus turns and with a wide swing of his sword hits Anus’ sword and destabilizes him. Sword first he throws himself towards him. In his fall, Anus dodges the sword and trips his brother up. Anus plunges his sword into his leg, Alicaria seeing this screams. He pulls his bloody sword out and plunges it into the ground through Olanus’ leg, rendering him useless. But Olanus rolls ahead, pulling the sword from the ground and getting away from Anus, bleeding from the leg, he pulls the sword out and stands up. Anus coming from behind tries to tackle him before he can do anything, yet he turns and Anus stops in his track.

You underestimated me, brother. You are good, but not good enough, even one legged I managed to win. Surrender. Anus displeased declines his offer and tells him that he’d better be prepared to kill him. As you wish, I could at least grant you this wish. I am sad that it had to come to this, but it is either you or the rest of the people here, and I don’t want that, not for you and your stubbornness. Olanus raises the sword he has in his left hand, Anus looks him straight in his eyes. I had a child, says Olanus in a sad tone as the sword comes down. Alicaria jumps between the sword and Anus and has her neck sliced, as she smiles and dies. Blood paints the fields and the two brothers red, in shock Olanus falls back, tears start to flow down his face as he screams in agony…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XLIII

With the sword to his neck Olanus is slowly getting up, looking straight into Anus’ eyes and smiling. Who would have thought that you remained a fool, says Olanus. I’ve grown to accept who I am and to be at peace with how the world is, but not accept the brutality of it, says Anus. Olanus starts laughing. Yet here you are, sword in hand at the throat of your brother. Doesn’t that say anything about you? Asks Olanus on a smug tone. I am only defending against vile brutes that force others into their submission. I am protecting those weaker than an empire. And yet you call yourself civilized and merciful, when you have forced to live be your rules and under a filthy delusional king. After hearing this Olanus snaps and slaps Anus’ sword away from his neck. And gets into his face. He is merciful! He is good! He brought peace to the empire! How dare you call him a king when is he simply a man doing a good deed to keep these people safe? They were fine, you brought them danger by uprising against those that wanted to help!

Hearing this, Alicaria runs and gets between the two, trying to pull them apart. After spending the last week listening and trying to figure out a way to get back on his good side, Alicaria couldn’t do much, but observe and learn from a distance. She also knew that the Caesar wasn’t a very patient man after setting a goal in his mind and now his goal was to crush this rebellion as fast and as brutally as he possibly could do it. Olanus with a fist clenched and another hand on his sword is looking directly into Anus’ eyes. And Anus with his sword out, looking back into Olanus’ eyes, Alicaria could barely fit between the two giants that were ready to kill each other. She screams at Olanus to only be pushed to the ground by him, he had lost all the respect for her. Anus seeing this goes to help her back up.

Olanus turns his back to them and tells them that this isn’t over and that this will be the gravest mistake they will ever make. That their lack in judgment and lack of vision for the grater good is but a shame thus worthy of his pity and frustration. Olanus starts moving back towards the Roman camp. You are the blind one! You coward! That’s what you always did, you hid behind the Caesar! You never had the gumption to face me, not then, not now, not ever! And I’m going to see to it that if we’ll see each other next, you will choke on your blood and words, screamed Anus. Olanus without flinching turns back running, pulls out his sword and…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XLII

At the gates of Creetus Olanus arrived, an arrow flew towards his hand, one handed he caught it mid air. He shouts in Latin telling the guards that he is there to talk to his brother, Anus. One of the guards runs to Anus, to brief him on the situation and the fact that now, there is a strange giant man at the gates sitting down, yelling that he wants to see Anus. He informs The Giant Anus about the men that wants to see him, only for him to react with a surprised face. Anus tells the guard to open the gate, as he straps his sword to his hip and wants to meet with his brother face to face. One of the soldiers warns him that it could all be a trap, trying to stop Anus from making a big mess out of this already messy situation. But, Anus couldn’t be stopped as he wasn’t listening.

The gates open, Anus exists the fortification and Olanus is ecstatic seeing his brother. Anus, my brother, says Olanus, long time no see. Anus smirks and they embrace each other, warmly, like a day had not passed since they last saw each other. How did you end up here? What happened? Anus sits down as he wants to answer his questions, Olanus follows suit and sits down too. After everything happened, I had to go somewhere, I couldn’t bare to live in a place I disagreed with. So, I went east, to Dacia, since I knew that it had been well over fifty years since the empire tried to lay foot there. There, I had made some friends, I had grown accustomed to their rituals and language. They’re quite interesting, and their wine is rather good. But, my friends there had warned me that it wasn’t going to last. Telling me to go south, I honestly declined, yet they insisted that if I stay, I will be drawn back into war. So I came here, a remote little place by the sea, to live a rather simple life, there was just one governor and a few Roman soldiers, and since the empire had it secured, I thought I could at least protect the people here.

Olanus starts laughing, this is so you, my brother. You ran from trouble only to get in more trouble. You should surrender. And no harm will come to you, or any of the people here, I promise I’ll see to that. Anus smiles and tells Olanus that he can’t count on his promises, he had broken them before, since he had abandoned him and forced him to leave. Olanus tells him that it wasn’t his doing, that Anus had forced his hand and there was nothing he could do, beside push him to leave, since a worse fate was awaiting him. This only angers Anus, as he pulls out his sword and points it at the throat of Olanus.

Alicaria arrives at the scene and…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XLI

Olanus stood there shocked, thinking that the day when he could re-see his brother Anus would never come. Shock turned to happiness with that thought, but then it caught up with him that he’d have to face him on the battlefield. This thought had him turn to sadness and sorrow. The Caesar stood there, observing Olanus and his emotions. Alicaria unable to even get close to him, was too, just sitting there, waiting to see what his response would be. Olanus simply couldn’t decide, couldn’t think, no matter how hard he tried to get to a favorable decision, a way to try to save his dear brother Anus. He had pity on him, even though he was the adopted brother, after his own mother had died at birth the same night Anus was born, it was still their child that they had to cast aside after rebelling against the emperor.

After three hundred years, the oracles from the top of the mountain near Creetus came down. This had never happened, since they were birthed and grown there, and their conception was at the same as that of the settlement of Creetus. They came shrouded in black attire, they look at Alicaria and call her the doomsday device. They get to the Caesar and tells him that he won’t be remembered for what he wants. Then they go to Olanus and they apologize to him. Boy, my dear boy, they speak in unison. The prophecy was about you and your brother. We were mistaken, we were blinded, we couldn’t see the truth and we mistook a coincidence for your greatness. Olanus simply looks confused, as Caesar is prepared to behead them and burn them for insulting him. Do not fight him, cause if you do, this will be the end of you two.

This puzzled Olanus, made him think again. Alicaria finally spoke to him again, telling him to go alone and talk to Anus. Augustus asked for an explanation, what all this meant. But the oracles didn’t respond. Thus the Caesar ordered the soldiers to tie them up. As they dragged the oracles, the black cloaks fell off them. Revealing young women with pure white skin and long flowing hair. Thick red lips, blue eyes and a mesmerizing beauty which made you stare at them and admire them in detail. The Caesar ordered to have them kept by his side at all time. And in all this ruckus, Olanus took his leave towards Creetus, trying to talk to his brother, Anus. Olanus wasn’t a coward, he knew that if he sent another messenger, nothing would come of it. Which is why he preferred to go alone.

And then…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XL

Eyes red, heavy and tired. The Giant couldn’t sleep well last night. Nightmares, anxiousness, stress and all the uneasiness was fueling his unrest. The heavy burden of an end that was to come, the responsibilities of leading men into a doomed battle against an opponent with unlimited resources was haunting him before it all even started. The morning cold dew that had set in Creetus was giving the city a shine to admire. The song of the roosters and the rhythm of the waves as they were hitting the shore was the song of the Creetin people. But for The Giant it was now just a somber song foretelling of the near future. Thought after thought after thought running through his head. Replay after replay after replay of a thing that has not happened yet, was in his mind. Strategy, strategy and even more strategy, he was thinking about. So much so, that exhausted, he fell asleep.

Swords clashing, sounds of metal blades turning dull. The Giant screaming and overpowering a soldier as he sticks his sword into the soldier’s neck. The blood gushing couldn’t bother him as he was surrounded in a sea of men willing to kill him and survive. Another swing of a sword from the right, The Giant barely unhinges his sword from the corpse to deflect the enemy’s attack. With a quick swing right under the helmet, his sword gets stuck in the neck of the soldier that attacked him. The blood and mud had turned his blade into an ax-like weapon. Without room to breathe another soldiers launches at him, sword first. The Giant kicks him and falls on his back with the soldier he had his sword stuck in, crushing his throat and killing him. And another soldiers attacks him while he’s on the ground. The Giant tackles him, sword flying out of the enemy’s hand. While punching the soldier, a sword pierces his chest, he turns around only to see his brother.

He jumps up all in cold sweats, hyperventilating, red in face, shivering. A soldier enters his chambers telling him that a Roman messenger had arrived. He gets up and goes to meet with the messenger. To the keep of Creetus. Surrender peacefully. Give me the one in charge and we will show mercy, as I the one true Caesar Augustus am a merciful and peaceful one. These are my terms, if not obeyed, I will come for your heads. Everyone looked puzzled, The Giant with veins showing on his hands, fists curled and ready to strike, smiles to the messenger and says to him… I know ye are the messenger. So I ain’t going to harm ya. But I have a question, if ya don’t mind. The messenger nods to accept his question. You mind telling me if the Caesar is really here? And if he is, does he have by his side a big burly man? The messenger nods. And The Giant smiles and tells him… Well, this is my message then. Tell that Caesar that for a god he seems a mere delusional counselor. And to dear brother Olanus that Anus sends his regards. Thus the messenger was sent on his merry way back.

And then…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO

Attropolis XXXIX

The path north was getting harder and harder, the people had to avoid towns and roads in order to avoid the Roman armies. Without shelter, with food getting scarce, the weather getting colder, this nightmare was ongoing. People dying, one by one, either starving, illness or due to old age. Adpetentia broken, sad and now with a giant void in her heart. Going through the motions emotionless, surviving day by day. Hippos by her side, silent, confused, awkward and unhelpful to her in any way, didn’t know what to do with himself. Whatever purpose he thought himself to have, kept slipping through his fingers. He still had hope, in his heart, she was still alive, and if there was someone he could protect, it was her. But she was fearing for their lives, thinking that this was just a mistake, and now, a regret.

Flowers, hugs, kisses and passion, were the weapons Hippos was trying to use to cheer Adpetentia up, to see her smile again, to fill that void in her eyes ones again with life. It was the fight of grief against love, in the heart of a young woman. Fruits, love, songs and poems, were things he tried to make her heart skip a beat again, and fill the cold heart of hers with warmth again. It was the great war between pain and joyfulness, that was taking part in the soul of a young woman. Whether the boy was doing these out of a sense of love or purpose was something he didn’t know either. Food, silly faces, jokes and tricks, were things he used to try and make her laugh a bit, to fill that hole left there by trauma. Yet as he failed, he heart grew colder, as days past, their path was getting slower and slower grey.

As they found in a morning, a forest on a hill, from which you could see in the far distance a settlement, they laid down to rest, eat and sleep. Tired, hungry and sleepless, they had all fallen asleep. Man, child and elderly, all sleeping peacefully. With the fun keeping them warm, with the grass as a bed. Cockroaches, ticks and worms, crawling over them, but not one of them was bothered. A cold snot of a dog was sniffing them, one of the women woke up screaming. The dog started barking and biting, Hippos jumped up and with a strike between its eyes, had killed the dog. People started waking up in terror, some died from the scare. Until they got their things together. The Roman soldiers got to them. Killing the men, that tried to fight, the women screamed in terror. Hippos tried to jump and fight, he was gruesomely murdered. The women were all raped, but Adpetentia had fled, when Hippos jumped ahead to try and save her.

And in Creetus…

Consider donating: https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO