Siege of Trapezounta (4)
The battle unfolded as usual. That's when I sensed the moment had come.
"It's finally time to move."
Chaur's eyes lit up at my words. Worn down by the stagnant fighting, he gazed at me with keen interest.
"You mean..."
"Yes. We've received a report from the scouts."
When a battle dragged on without progress, it was only natural for anyone to want to break the deadlock. I figured the ambitious Serdios fell into that category too.
Serdios—blessed with grand ambitions, bold action, and the talent to match. People like him always believed they could turn the tide themselves. In other words, they preferred bold moves to flip the situation.
Of course, acting on mere speculation would be foolish. That's why, before the battle even began, I'd positioned scouts under Alton's command in key spots to monitor the enemy's movements closely.
And that's when Alton's watch caught them: a band of mercenaries slipping across the plain under cover of night, heading into the forest.
In normal circumstances, it might look like desertion. Mercenaries suffered the heaviest losses in prolonged fights. But this couldn't be desertion—they were moving in perfect formation.
Deserters had to flee camp fast; tight ranks like that were impossible.
"At dawn, a group of mercenaries crossed the plain toward the forest. Follow the treeline, and it leads straight to our camp."
Bachana nodded at my words. He'd been assigned to support Chaur in this battle.
"That means the enemy is targeting our rear."
Both men radiated the eagerness of warriors ready to charge.
"Entrust the vanguard to me, Your Majesty."
"Let me earn glory in this battle and spread Your Majesty's fame."
Their morale was sky-high, in perfect shape. I turned to Bachana.
"Take three hundred cavalry and intercept the enemy at our rear."
"As you command."
"On the march, tie branches to your horses' tails to kick up dust as you head back."
"Won't that alert the enemy?"
"That's the point—to draw their eyes while hiding our numbers."
Bachana nodded. Judging cavalry strength by the dust they raised was Reconnaissance 101. By amplifying it deliberately, we'd inflate our apparent force and sow confusion.
"But that will surely make them reinforce their rear."
"Drawing their focus there is the second objective."
My second goal. No sooner had I said it than I explained how we'd seize their attention.
"Chaur, take the rest of the cavalry and strike the enemy's main base at Trapezounta."
Raiding the enemy's headquarters mid-battle. One of history's most devastating tactics.
Trapezounta barely had walls worth mentioning. Back when it was grouped with Trapezus Kalesi, it had been a commercial district. Sure, it had some defenses—not as robust as Trapezus Kalesi—but mainly coastal barriers against Viking or Slav pirates.
With no real fortifications, a cavalry rush would devastate them. Of course, that hinged on the enemy not interfering with Chaur's flanking force.
Hence my odd orders to Bachana's riders: pin them down, keep them from breaking off.
Bachana got it. He bowed reverently and stepped back. Chaur came forward to receive his orders.
"I receive Your Majesty's command."
His voice brimmed with loyalty. I met his gaze and issued one crucial reminder.
"Unlike Georgia, this battle aims to take Trapezounta intact. No civilian massacres—absolutely none."
Words were one thing; battles another. Even the U.S. military in Afghanistan hammered home "zero civilian casualties" in doctrine, yet they happened. Combat was a storm—it ravaged everything nearby.
Still, I gave the order to test Chaur: was he a savage nomad warlord, or a ruler who upheld law and order?
If he let plunder or bloodlust cause deliberate civilian deaths, no talent would save him. A fine steed that wouldn't obey was just a pack mule.
This mission was his proving ground.
"Can you handle it?"
Without hesitation, Chaur dropped to one knee in steppe custom and boomed his reply.
"It shall be done as Your Majesty wills."
Serdios surveyed the battlefield with smug satisfaction. As the fight bogged down just as planned, he couldn't hide his glee.
"Everything's proceeding smoothly, right on schedule."
"Yes, my lord."
"Once the mercenaries hit their rear, it's over."
He planned crushing pressure from front and back. Even the stubborn Varangians would crumble.
Just then, he spotted the mercenaries emerging from the woods. Lazica's forces hadn't noticed yet—if any had, it was too late to react.
"Rogerius. All that fame from your victories? Just exaggerated rumors, it seems."
Serdios smirked and signaled. The rear mercenaries charged.
Rogerius's troops recoiled in shock. Locked in combat with Trapezounta soldiers, a sudden enemy at their backs was a nightmare.
"Panic won't save you. This battle's fate is sealed..."
A chilling thunder of hooves cut him off—from behind Serdios.
"M-my lord! N-nomad cavalry... at our rear!"
"Cavalry?! How did no one spot them breaching our flank?!"
He berated his men, but silence answered.
"You must retreat, my lord."
"Impossible. If we fall back, the line collapses, and we're prey for those horsemen. They're masters of pursuit—fleeing now is suicide."
Enemy on both sides. In this death trap, survival meant one thing.
"If our mercenaries disrupt their rear first, we win."
His aide gaped. Logical, but the odds sucked.
"The risk of failure is too high, my lord. Retreat while you—"
"I do not retreat."
To Serdios, withdrawal equaled defeat. His long-time aide knew further argument was futile. All he could do was buy time until the mercenaries struck.
He grabbed weapons and shield, rallying the troops.
"We hold here and protect the lord! Follow me!"
The aide led soldiers to block the cavalry. Alone, Serdios turned and glared at distant Rogerius.
"I do not retreat, Varangian. I'll stand here and watch you fall."
Prideful Serdios clenched his fist, blind to how this choice would cost him everything.
"As Your Majesty predicted, the enemy isn't fleeing."
Arslan's report drew a pleased smile from me.
Serdios had carved out his power amid chaos with real skill: building a house, growing a city, filling coffers, raising troops. In turbulent times, he was a hero.
But his belief that he'd done it all alone made him rigid, stubborn.
"Ideally, he'd withdraw, regroup, counter our cavalry, and reassess the field."
Serdios knew that. But now, reason yielded to sheer defiance.
"A golden opportunity for us."
Word came: Chaur had reached Trapezounta with a thousand riders. Conquering a wall-less city was just a matter of time.
Victory neared. No need to maintain the stalemate.
I summoned Trapezus Kalesi's katepano, Andronikos.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?"
"Our full cavalry has arrived at Trapezounta."
Andronikos's eyes widened. With most of their forces here, this meant victory was all but sealed.
"At last...!"
His face flashed with memories of Serdios's humiliations—the time he'd sued for alliance, only to be mocked with demands to surrender.
"Vengeance draws near, Dux."
I invoked the title I'd promised; his eyes gleamed with realization.
"I will now lead the men to annihilate the foe and execute the rebel leader Serdios."
"I follow Your Majesty."
Andronikos mounted up, loyal aide Peter at his back. I drew my sword, swung into the saddle, and roared:
"Warriors! Raise your swords! The hour has come to sweep the enemy away!"