Epic Unearthed

by Thomas Turner

  Chapter XX

  The World of Hatred

  Five weeks prior to the summer solstice in Valtear, Atlantean divisions are ready to confront the Mantineian army. Laptos’ five battle groups are close to the Mantineian border. Persephone is very confident about the military campaign. Almost one-hundred-twenty-five-thousand Atlantean soldiers are preparing to face Nextear’s Army.

  In Sidra, the Valtearean capital, Quentoris has done well in persuading the Valteareans to become a state of Atlantis, and their Senate will vote on the issue of annexation next year. Even with less than a year of occupation, the Valteareans can see progress and are preparing for the transition to statehood. No one has gone hungry or died of an epidemic in Tulless’ kingdom since the occupation. The Atlanteans have irrigated farmland, and Valtear now has a surplus of food. Quentoris respects the Valtearean nobles and has become good friends with many of them. He has also helped create a military force from the Valteareans, training over five-hundred-thousand warriors who stand ready for battle. Those warriors still use crude weapons, but are trained in the Atlantean fashion. Tulless’ empire is growing stronger. The nobles of Valtear are becoming heroes and leaders to their people.

  Some Valteareans, however, still do not want to convert, and prefer that their empire return to its state prior to Atlantean occupation. The Valteareans who had good trade the old way have now been cut out of the loop. Nonetheless, the leadership of the Atlanteans is making Valtear more economically and socially stable. Despite drastic changes in Tulless’ kingdom, the masses want statehood with Atlantis.

  Within the last two months, Nextear has proclaimed himself Emperor of Mantineia. The new leader has united communities all across his lands. In so doing, he has gathered two-million able-bodied men to fight Laptos. Nextear’s army is not as well trained as the Atlanteans’, but his military is becoming stronger every day.

  Atlantis must conquer Mantineia to capture its resources needed to develop a sufficient amount of steel for their war machine. The Valteareans have been trading iron ore to Mantineia in exchange for other natural resources. Aten’s empire took Valtear, thinking that the iron ore was coming from them rather than Mantineia.

  As far as the Atlanteans know, Nextear’s main military force is only forty-five miles from the Valtearean border. If Laptos first provokes a fight with the proclaimed emperor, they can destroy his army and remove the rest of the Mantineians’ leaders one by one. The Atlanteans are outnumbered, but are confident of a victory. When Laptos’ army enters the Mantineian Empire, they will choose the battlefield so the fight can be on their terms.

  According to the Atlantean reports, Nextear has enemies in his own country; he thinks many tribes will not join the fight against Atlantis. Those tribes are wrapped up in and worrying about their own small affairs. Some of the Mantineian tribes want the Atlanteans to come dethrone Nextear. To the Atlantean generals, other than Nextear’s military, Mantineian armies are spread out to control areas of the empire. Atlantean spies have said that only Nextear’s seven-hundred-fifty-thousand men will put up a strong resistance to Laptos’ invasion. On the other hand, Mantineia is making sure the Atlanteans do not know the full strength and alliances.

  In Valtear, Persephone is second-in-command of the Mantineian Campaign. Laptos, son of the Atlantean Emperor and brother to Daygun, has been appointed Supreme Commander of the Valtearean territory. The Mantineian Campaign is Laptos’ first true command. He has decided to omit twenty-thousand Atlantean infantry from the battle to protect Valtearean assets, in case of an attack from the Sabathean or Kyrenian Empires. There have been some hostilities with their neighbors, but only small skirmishes. Laptos’ orders the infantry, led by Captain Presus to secure the borders of Tulless’ kingdom.

  The border between the Kyrenian Empire and Valtear is broad, with a thin line of Atlantean men to protect it. Presus’ division will be stationed at five different points. Atlantean scouts patrol the border of Kyrenia in intervals. If something goes wrong, the Atlanteans will know about it quickly, but all of the main Atlantean artillery and heavy cavalry are preparing to march across the border where the Atlanteans want to fight Nextear.

  Presus’ scouts scan the borders with Kyrenia and Sabathea. The atmosphere is relaxed. The Atlantean warriors play, understanding they are on a short-lived vacation. Most of the men wish they were in Mantineia, warring alongside their comrades.

  Quentoris’ small infantry legion is close to the Valtearean capital. If anything happens to Laptos’ offensive, he will take command of the Valtearean Army. Because of former diplomatic accomplishments with the Valtear nobles, Quentoris will best benefit the campaign should something go wrong.

  In Atlantean military politics, Persephone’s army is loyal to her, but does not consider Laptos to be the same quality leader as his brother Daygun. Laptos has not yet proven himself in battle. Being the Emperor’s son has worked to Laptos’ disadvantage. He has some strong points, but his inexperience is hard to overlook.

  The stage is set in Mantineia, and Aten’s son takes the high ground close to Nextear’s army. When Persephone reaches Laptos, they salute one another. The Atlantean Army has come together ten miles inside the border of the Mantineian Empire on Katula Hill. According to the Atlantean scouts, they will have the advantage.

  To ensure Laptos’ command, Persephone gives him military advice for the battle to come, but cedes actual ordering to the new Supreme Commander. She rides to the highest point of the hill, studying the army as it nears the Atlantean fortification. She travels back and forth, reporting what she sees to Laptos and advising him. After council, Laptos relays orders to prepare for battle.

  Looking up at Katula Hill, the Mantineian generals are hesitant to move first against the Atlantean fortification. Nextear remembers almost a year ago when the Valteareans attacked the Atlanteans, and not wanting to repeat the same scenario. Nextear’s army marches toward Laptos’ army, ready to fight.

  Laptos sees close to seven-hundred-fifty-thousand Mantineian soldiers cresting the horizon, the same number he was told to expect. Persephone and Laptos gaze over the hill to the valley below. Laptos looks through a spyglass toward his enemy, where he notices strengths and weaknesses of the Mantineian formations. This battle is his first chance to show his father that he can shoulder a difficult task. Nevertheless, the sun is about to set, and the Mantineians will not attack until daybreak.

  Late at night, more Mantineian and Kyrenian warriors march to the valley below the Atlantean fortification. They deceived Atlantean spies into thinking they were only seven-hundred-fifty-thousand men.

  Here, Nextear has three-million men from Kyrenia and Mantineia to attack Laptos. The Mantineian Empire has close to three-thousand mammoths, one-thousand giant rhinos, and twenty-thousand light cavalry, but no artillery. Nextear knows he can win this campaign with overwhelming manpower.

  In the valleys of Katula Hill, the Mantineian soldiers carry bronze swords and wooden shields to fight the Atlanteans. The Mantineians wear brown leather, but it is too thin to protect them from the thrust of an Atlantean sword. Nextear’s military uses thick, heavy swords to prevent their breaking in battle. The Atlantean infantry is outnumbered twenty-five to one against the Mantineians and Kyrenians. Nextear has brought together every tribe in his empire and their ally Kyrenia. The newly-proclaimed Mantineian Emperor has made this a Holy War. His men and neighboring empire will not only fight for him, but also for their gods.

  Dawn breaks and the Atlanteans are surveying the vast army. They are not surrounded yet, but within the next three hours they will have no way of retreat. Laptos’ artillery is moved to the front lines. The Atlantean heavy cavalry moves to the top of the hill. Aten’s son has over two-hundred giant crossbows and two-hundred catapults at his disposal. The Atlantean artillery is formed into a star shape and pointed in all directions. It will be hard for the Mantineian soldiers to penetrate the Atlantean defenses, even with their overwhelming forces. If the Mantineians launc
h a frontal assault, Atlantean rear crossbows and catapults can be turned around for a concentrated counterattack.

  Immediately before the battle, an Atlantean scout locates Laptos and Persephone, telling them that most of their reconnaissance patrols have not reported in. Laptos eyes see what is coming forth, and begins to feel uneasy about the situation. The two Atlantean generals notice more enemy warriors marching ever closer to their fortification.

  Persephone looks at the future battlefield and says, “There is something wrong here. This feels like a trap.”

  Laptos replies, “I agree, but we cannot retreat. I will not tell my father we had to regroup because we feared the unknown. Call for Presus’ and Quentoris’ men to regroup with us. We can use their armies to take our enemy on two fronts. The Valtearean warriors can protect us from the Kyrenian Empire if they get involved. Nextear wants us, and we will fight here.”

  The bells sound to alert the Atlanteans in Valtear that the battle is about to begin. However, the Kyrenians’ military has shut down the Atlantean bell posts to stop all lines of communication. Neither Presus not Quentoris will hear any cries for help.

  Persephone rides to Laptos saying, “There is no relay returning from our communication stations. We cannot get reinforcements. We stand alone.”

  Laptos responds, “We will endure here. We will not retreat because of the unknown.”

  In Valtear, as Laptos orders reinforcements, the first line of attack comes from the borders of Kyrenia. Over one-million warriors surge forward to engage Presus. The first objective of the Kyrenian and Mantineian warriors is to outflank Atlantean supply lines. Presus’ men remain at their posts until they know absolutely that their position can no longer be held.

  Studying Katula Hill, Nextear looks at Laptos’ fortification knowing that, although thousands of men may be lost, he must win this battle. The Mantineian Emperor leads his overwhelming force toward Laptos’ main fortification. Nextear has no artillery, but will use his light and heavy cavalry to compensate.

  The only advantages the Atlanteans have at the fortification are their archers and artillery. Laptos and Persephone have over thirty-thousand archers on the battlefield to protect their infantry. Every giant crossbow has thirty projectiles, and every rock in the region has been amassed to use as ammunition for their catapults. The Atlanteans still believe they can take on the enemy.

  Laptos and Persephone study their antagonists. They can see an innumerable horde rushing toward them. Ahead of the Mantineian and Kyrenian infantry are the enemy’s heavy cavalry of mammoths. The two Atlantean generals feel the whole world is about to attack their fortification. The Atlantean commanders can see the colors of the Kyrenian Empire. Persephone and Laptos look at each other fearfully.

  Persephone says in shock, “It seems the Kyrenians and Mantineians have formed an alliance. We cannot win here.”

  Laptos stubbornly replies, “We can not lose this battle. The entire Atlantean Empire depends on this day and this battle. If we can cripple the enemy here, they will think twice about fighting beyond their borders and entering our fatherland. We will win from losing.”

  Persephone says darkly, “The odds are heavily against us.”

  Proudly, Laptos replies, “This will put us in legends. Everyone will know what happened here at Mantineia. If we live, I’ll be ecstatic. If I die, I won’t care.”

  Persephone replies, “This is a matter of our civilization’s survival. We must send word to Tulless and Quentoris for reinforcements. We might be able to send a message by horseback to Sedra. Atlantis is too far to help. We need to regroup and fight where we might have the advantage.”

  Laptos says, “I agree. We have been training the Valteareans for months. They have over five-hundred-thousand warriors to assist in this war. Send Captain Balaris to advance Tulless’ men to the secondary position. Secure every bit of military equipment remaining in the Valtearean capital. Tell everyone to vacate their capital and find refuge. If we have to regroup, the region of Bardia is our best hope to inflict damage to this massive army facing us. Atlanteans and Valteareans can’t fight divided, but we can fight as one.”

  Persephone asks, “Shouldn’t we save the Valtearean capital?”

  Laptos responds, “Sidra has no natural defenses; unfortunately, Mantineians will take the city. I want them seeing us retreating, and then we will counter once we have the advantage.”

  Balaris, with a small garrison, rides for hours and is barely ahead of the Mantineians and Kyrenians which are surrounding Laptos. Upon arrival, Balaris rushes directly to Quentoris and says, “Kyrenia and Mantineia have formed an alliance. They have more men than were expected. Laptos will hold off the enemy so the Valtearean civilians can evacuate.”

  Quentoris responds, “Presus needs to retreat so we can regroup. We will leave a Valtearean division here to vacate the civilians.”

  Each military personnel in Sidra rushes to perform his duties; Quentoris goes on full alert, and sounds the bells. Because the bells of the Valtearean capital are large and powerful, the message to regroup at Bardia reaches Presus.