All remained quiet as they contemplated Vettias’ proposal internally, with varying degrees of sophistication. “General Eumenes, it is my proposal to rewrite the oath exactly as it is written, and substitute the name of The Kings for the name of Antigonus. We will present both oaths to our foes and ask them which of the two is more righteous. I suspect they will choose our version, thus allowing you to take the oath in front of them in good conscience.”
Vettias’ ability to generate elaborate plans in a matter of moments never ceased to amaze me. Silence persisted as General Eumenes pondered the scheme. It was clear no one had a plan that could match the logic and cleverness of Vettias’ ploy.
“Does anyone have any ideas other than me signing the oath in its current form or rejecting this overture outright?” Eumenes asked. None came forward. “All right, assemble a delegation to ask for a week’s time to respond. I will deliberate my options.” With the meeting thus concluded, Vettias smirked at me as we all departed the headquarters building.
“See you around kid,” he whispered as we went our separate ways. “I’ll send for you when the time comes.”
CHAPTER 11
The week that followed was tense. The army accepted our request for delay but four days had passed and still no word of Eumenes’ decision. I divulged much of the situation to Stephanos, leaving out my part in it, and made him swear he would not speak of it to anyone.
The idleness forced by our surroundings began to wear on my nerves and I marveled at Stephanos’ continued high spirits. Others were not as positive as my closest friend and a tangible malaise had settled over our stronghold. Tempers were quick to flare, several fights were broken up each day, and the repetition of performing the same mundane tasks grated on everyone. On the fifth day, I was summoned by a battle staff attendant and brought to Vettias’ quarters. I had only seen him in passing for the past five days and looked forward to catching up with my mentor. As the attendant led me in and departed, it was clear he was in no mood for idle chatter.
“That crazy old fool did it! Polyperchon, that son of a bitch! A runner brought news late last evening that Antipater is dead and Polyperchon has been named Regent. Get your stuff together. General Eumenes leads a delegation to present the two oaths. Assuming it goes as planned, Eumenes will address the men and we will break camp this very day. We must move with all haste before Antigonus receives word of these events and rescinds the offer.”
I quietly collected my belongings while the rest of the men went about their business ignorant to the coming events. I took position along the fortress ramparts to watch the rapprochement. Our enemies had built an impressive bulwark encompassing the entire perimeter of the mountain. Our delegation was allowed passage through the fortified gates and disappeared behind their parapets. Enemy activity beyond the walls was scarce at first but after a half-hour a large contingent of their manpower could be seen assembling in formation. After another quarter-hour the formation broke up and General Eumenes could be seen leading our delegation back to our fortress flying our banners. As they passed through our gates orders were barked and men ran about. In mere moments our army was in formation ready to be addressed by General Eumenes.
I was never officially integrated into this beleaguered contingent of our army that now stood before our general, so I spied Davos and stood with him out of sight of the main force, yet close enough to remain within earshot of all that was said. The relatively short time I spent here had already begun to wear my patience thin and I could see the look of exasperation on the faces in formation after spending a year in this cramped confine. General Eumenes faced the army on horseback in full battlefield regalia. He dismounted and addressed his tired followers.
“Men, you have done all I have asked of you and more. You fought gallantly against Satrap Neoptolemus, General Craterus, General Antigonus and, most recently, you have conducted yourselves admirably in this fortress – bravely defying those who contest our righteous cause. Unlike your fellow Greek antagonists, however, you have done so not for my glory or your own self-serving interests – you fight for an ideal; you fight for the legacy of Alexander, the greatest man that ever lived. You that stand before me having done more for the Argead cause than any who yet draws breath in this world and your patience and loyalty will be rewarded in this life or the next.”
“Brothers in arms, I am pleased to report that we have honorably come to an agreement with our besiegers and your time on this damned rock is over as of today.” The men burst into a loud roar at this unexpected news.
“Better still, we depart this bastion not as defeated men who sold their principles to their enemies and thus must leave the field with their heads hung low. No! We leave here victorious and with a renewed vigor to combat our adversaries once more in open battle! All of you are to report back to this parade field in one hour in marching formation. Dismissed.”
Organized chaos ensued as our small army rushed to gather their belongings after a year of rot. They reformed as instructed into an improvised marching column that snaked around the diminutive parade ground awaiting orders to move. Eumenes led his prized Cappadocian cavalry at the front of the formation and sounded the order. His war horses were ecstatic to be moving freely once again after their arduous stints in Eumenes’ exercise contraptions. Davos was able to procure me a horse and we took up positions in the rear of the column with our meager supply train that had been thoroughly depleted during our army’s long stretch at Nora. Our besiegers lined the narrow path leading out of the fortress on either side in full battle colors and their leadership met ours on our way out with full pomp and circumstance.
As the last of our contingent passed our besiegers, it was clear General Eumenes’ ruse had worked and word of the coup in Pella had not reached Antigonus’ detachment. We marched for the rest of the day until sufficient distance accumulated between the two armies and General Eumenes halted our march and called an informal formation around him.
“Men, for security measures I withheld information that furthers our cause. It was imperative our besiegers were unaware of these recent developments or we would not have been granted leave. The Empire of Alexander remains strong and it now has a new Regent – General Polyperchon, a loyal servant and commander to both his father, King Philip II and Alexander himself. Lord Regent Antipater has died and he names our ally his Successor. I hold in my hand a decree, complete with the royal Argead seal and signed by King Philip III, naming your leader, General Eumenes of Cardia, Royal Protector of the Kings, and General of Asia.” The formation again broke into an enthusiastic roar after hearing of their unexpected reversal of fortune.
“Our campaign will first take us south, to the rich cities of Cilicia, where I will draw upon the royal treasuries to reward your loyalty. There you will find many entertaining ways for you to spend your hard-earned salaries. The legendary Silver Shields will bolster our ranks and we will put a call out for all able-bodied men to join the reinvigorated Royal Army of The Kings. We will then seek out and destroy the outlaw Antigonus and welcome his surviving men back within the ranks of the Royal Army of Asia to consolidate Alexander’s Empire and ensure his descendants occupy his throne.”
****
During our march south, Davos and I passed the time trading stories, with me recounting our exploits in Pella and him lamenting over experiencing the longest gap in his adult life without enjoying wine or female companionship. The road south did not boast any settlements of worth and Davos complained daily about his need to bed the first woman he came across. I was able to procure Stephanos a horse after several days’ march and ensured he and Davos became fast friends. One evening our army camped outside a modest town with a small tavern and brothel. Stephanos, Davos and I avoided the settlement due to the crush of our many deprived men. To our delight, Vettias appeared at our campfire with three jugs of wine and two women from the town. The four of us held our own private celebration long into the night where we drank enough wine to kill a horse. St
ephanos was beginning to enjoy the benefits of knowing Vettias.
Throughout this time I hid my excitement about reuniting with Mara from my mates despite thinking about her constantly. The thought of us together again educed a burning warmth of nervous energy in my stomach. Would she still want me? Did she think Vettias and I broke our promise to her in Triparadeisus? Had she been mistreated since we were forced to leave her in the care of Hyllos? These questions churned in my mind constantly as we made our brisk march south.
Our private party, courtesy of Vettias, was the only respite for the remainder of the journey to Cilicia. Our army passed through the rocky Cilician Gates and entered the rich Cilician coast after several more days’ march. We set up our camp on the outskirts of the ancient city of Cyinda along the Middle Sea near Tarsus. The city was heavily fortified with an impenetrable fortress atop a hillside housing vast amounts of Alexander’s treasure plundered from the east. The city sent out a delegation to greet our leadership and determine the meaning of our visit. They had not yet received word of General Eumenes’ new title and were initially hesitant to allow an armed force so near to the royal treasury. General Eumenes presented his royal decree and was granted entry. Cyinda was a wealthy city large enough to support our contingent of armed men and General Eumenes determined we would remain camped outside its gates and use it as our primary headquarters to rearm, recruit and rally with the Silver Shields.
Runners were sent to Tarsus, where the Silver Shields were camped, to inform them of our presence and instruct them to make their way east to Cyinda as per the instruction of The Kings. After their near mutiny in Triparadeisus, they had been sent to the ancient Achaemenid capitals of Persepolis and Susa to escort the vast contents of their treasuries back west to the fortified coffers of Cilicia, where their wealth could be better accessed for imperial purposes. A large portion of this wealth was also to begin its journey back to Pella as well. The Silver Shield’s long mission served the dual purpose of keeping them occupied east, far from the concerns of Antipater and Antigonus who were not going to take the chance of having so influential a force make trouble for their grand designs again.
A small quartermaster and baggage train was stood up and supplies began pouring in from the surrounding region after being procured with money from the royal treasury. General Eumenes kept his word and paid all outstanding salaries plus generous bonuses to all who had remained loyal to him during the miserable year in Nora. New sarissas, arrows, armament, bivouac equipment, swords and artillery weapons were procured and constructed over the course of the next few weeks.
Eumenes reorganized the army with his Nora officer corps and Cappadocian cavalry serving as the foundation of our new force. Men, young and old, began swelling our ranks as well, drawn to the royal army by news of our access to the royal treasuries. These fresh recruits were segregated from our Nora force so they could be drilled and disciplined.
After three weeks, the Silver Shields arrived at our encampment with all the fanfare one would expect from such a legendary band of heroes. They marched along the coastal road in a perfect column, each holding their gleaming shields and wearing their polished brass cuirasses. Years of battlefield glory and unit cohesion meant each member of the three thousand-man unit was very wealthy and owned the most expensive and extravagant weapons and equipment of any comparable force. At the head of their formation was Commander Antigenes and Deputy Commander Teutamus. They were followed by their battle staff, the main force, quartermaster and finally their prized baggage train which they dragged throughout the eastern world.
The men themselves were all battle-hardened veterans with the youngest of them looking to be in his fifties, with the majority being in their sixties, and some being as old as seventy. Despite their age, they appeared able to defeat our force with ease and it was reassuring they were here as allies as oppose to enemies. They halted about three hundred feet from our encampment and Generals Antigenes and Tuetamus led a small party forward to formally present themselves to our army. General Eumenes and several from his battle staff rode out to receive them.
Despite the amicable undertones of the parley, I sensed a palpable uneasiness about the display of unity. It was true the Silver Shields were the most ardent supporters of the Argeads and their very presence here spoke to that fact. But it was also true General Antigenes murdered Lord Regent Perdiccas in Egypt, with help from Queen Adea, and eventually came out for Antipater in Triparadeisus against the Queen. They were our enemies just weeks prior and their presence now spoke to the perilous state of Alexander’s Empire just four years after his death.
Furthermore, if General Eumenes had difficulties rallying native Macedonians to his cause because of his Thracian origins in the past, these three thousand would prove even more problematic to rein in.
All I could think about while observing the détente was Mara. I would carefully seek her out and arrange for us to meet in secret for the time being. A more permanent solution would require help and much planning. Vettias could not know of my designs lest he order me to cease them at once. The thought of her being within mere feet of my grasp after so recently being thousands of miles away was almost too much to bear and I struggled to keep a stoic composure in formation.
At the conclusion of the Silver Shield’s official attachment to our army, both leaders returned to their headquarters and General Antigenes marched his men to a separate area from ours to establish their own encampment. Vettias sought me out shortly after and ordered me to meet him in his quarters that evening. I arrived at the appointed hour and took a seat next to him on his cot.
“It’s time to talk about your future in this army. I allowed you to fight at Orcynia with your lochos and I almost lost you there. You will not be reintegrated into the phalanx under our new organization. You have served me well over the past year and it is time to take your place as my aide on the battle staff.” Vettias produced a gold brooch to be worn on my tunic. “This insignia will grant you instant respect and deference by all in the army – and you will punish anyone beneath your station that does not do so. Understood?” I nodded with a smirk. “You also need to start looking the part, put this on,” Vettias commanded as he handed me a new tunic and sandals.
“Being an aide on the battle staff requires you to be present for all general staff meetings that are to occur and you will perform all duties on behalf of senior officers without question. In reality, you will be shielded from most of the staff bureaucracy and continue in your capacity as an operative for The Hand. You will move your quarters into the battle staff bivouac area and you will report at dawn to the command tent for the first joint staff meeting tomorrow between us and the Silver Shields’ leadership. You will be one of the most junior men attending these meetings and you’ll need to act as if you belong there. So congratulations, pack your stuff and be on time tomorrow.”
“What about Davos? Is he to be your aide as well?”
“Davos has been dispatched to further our cause elsewhere. As we speak he travels west to infiltrate Antigonus’ army. Having an operative within Antigonus’ camp has many benefits besides the obvious. While we swear our allegiance to General Eumenes, our larger goal is to protect the bloodline. The Hand must always be thinking strategically and Davos will provide a way for us to integrate into Antigonus’ army should General Eumenes be defeated. I have given him a list of names that will be sympathetic to our cause. Your friend Rhexenor was one of them.”
I had been too fixated on our current struggle to give one thought to what we were to do in the event of our defeat. I was thankful Vettias was doing so and he yet again proved his superior strategic abilities. Still, it was a little unsettling that he was planning so thoroughly for such a disastrous event. After being dismissed I sought out Stephanos to inform him of the news. My friend informed me he had been named First Officer in a newly structured lochos. I offered to assist him in any way my new position could provide and promised we would make an effort to spend time with e
ach other as much as possible.
The next morning I rose early to ensure punctuality to my first staff meeting at the command tent. In my eagerness, I was first to arrive and waited anxiously outside for others to appear. As they did, I entered and took a seat in the far corner of the room, not wanting to occupy any position of implied prominence. Vettias now entered and took a seat nearer to the middle of the table, motioning for me to join him. As General Eumenes entered, the room stood to attention and waited for him to be seated before taking their seats again. The pavilion was rectangular, with a long table holding various maps and organizational charts in the center. Two rows of benches ran parallel to both sides of the table with one section remaining empty for our anticipated guests. As the hour approached, Eumenes asked the whereabouts of the Silver Shields’ leadership, who had not yet arrived.
“Unlike our famous friends to be late isn’t it?” Eumenes asked sarcastically. A nervous laughter could be heard throughout the room as a herald wearing the Silver Shields colors entered and announced General Antigenes was cordially inviting the battle staff to conduct the morning staff meeting in his command tent.
“While his invitation is gracious, it is a little too late, for I have already put word out that the morning staff meeting is to be held here and I expect their delegation presently,” Eumenes replied with deliberate hostility. “Please inform your general that he is expected here this morning.” An awkward silence overtook the room as the friction was clear to all. The herald took on an expression of dread as this was probably the first time he had to deliver news that was contrary to his commander’s wishes.
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