Nikephoros Dekanos looked around, but could see nothing. Nothing at all. He was surrounded by infinite white light. Up, down, left, right, every where he looked, there was a bright white light. "Where am I?" he called out, doubting that anyone could hear him.
Suddenly, St. Alexios appeared as if from no where. The Saint stepped closer towards Nikephoros, and put his hand on the Supreme Commander's shoulder, "Nikephoros, do you remember the promise I made to you?"
Nikephoros nodded, "I do. You promised me that I would have one final day of glory before my hardships arrived."
St. Alexios smiled, "Well, my son, that day is today. When you awake, the army will be preparing for the assault of Medjerda. When your turn to fight comes, be wary, at first. Wait for my sign. When you see my sign, everything will be well. At that time, fight as though you were the only Morean soldier in the battle. Do not hesistate. Do not fear. For I shall be fighting along side you. No Tunisian blade will touch you. By God's Grace, you shall single-handedly win this battle for the Morea."
"What will your sign be?" asked the Supreme Commander.
"You will know it when you see it," was the reply.
Nikephoros bowed and said, "Thankyou, father." Though St. Alexios was not his father, but indeed, his Great-Great-Grandfather, and though he had only seen Alexios in visions, the Saint had been more of a father to him than anyone else in his life.
St. Alexios commanded Nikephoros to rise and said, "Do not thank me. For it is God Who will deliver them into your hands. I am merely the tool He shall use to grant you this victory."
Nikephoros opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, St. Alexios said, "There is no more time for talk. You must awake. It is time for the battle."
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Nikephoros awoke suddenly. He looked to the entrance of his tent, and saw a young soldier's head poking in. "You are up at last, sir! I have been calling you for a good few minutes now."
"Are we preparing for the assault?" asked the Supreme Commander.
"Yes, sir," said the soldier. "Begging your pardon, sir, but how did you know we were assaulting the walls today? The orders were only given thirty minutes ago."
"That does not matter," said Nikephoros. "Now leave me, so that I may prepare."
"Yes, sir. King Georgios requests your presence once you are dressed."
Nikephoros nodded, "Tell him I will join him in a few minutes."
"At once, sir!"
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Nikephoros entered the Command tent in his full armour. His chainmail coat protected his torso and upper arms. His red cape rested gently along his back. A skirt of chain mail also protected him from the waist down to just above his knees. Greaves protected his shins. His helmet, which was fashioned after the helmets of the Argyraspides, the ancient elite guard of the Seleukid Empire, he held in his left hand. At his side was the Sword of St. Alexios, resting in its sheath. All he lacked was a shield, which he would pick up after his meeting with the King.
As he entered, he noted the others present in the room. King Georgios was there, obviously. The King was also in a full set of armour. However, the King's torso was protected by a breatplate of the finest polished iron. His arms were covered up to his hands by long sleeves of chainmail. Studded Leather covered his legs down to his feet. Over the leather, he wore greaves on his shins, identical to Nikephoros' own. The King had no helmet. Georgios had chosen instead to wear the Golden Circlet which had belonged to his father, Prince Draganos, since the coronation of Petros I thirty years ago. At the King's side was the Sword of Georgios the Pious.
Across the table from the King was Crown Prince Athanasios. The Crown Prince was armoured entirely the same as his father. However, instead of the thicker circlet his father wore, Athanasios wore a thin Golden Band.
Arsenios Karamallos was there, as well. He wore chainmail body armour and a chainmail skirt, as Nikephoros did, but that was where the similarities ended. Protecting his legs was Studded Leather like the King's, but there were no greaves to reinforce the leather. Karamallos wore no protection on his arms. The old veteran never had.
King Georgios looked up at the Supreme Commander and said, "Nikephoros! Welcome!"
Nikephoros returned the King's greeting and took his place at the table.
The King then looked at his three companions and said, "The situation is dire, gentlemen. We are running low on supplies. We must either abandon Medjerda, and leave our flanks open to an attack by the Tunisian army, which outnumbers us already, or we can assault the city. Without numerical superiority, an assault will be just as dangerous as exposing our arses. I have decided that if we must face them, I would rather we do it as men, face-to-face, rather than as cowards, with our backs turned. Remember the old Spartan saying, 'Come home either with your shield or upon it' and also 'Bear your scars proudly on your chest, rather than shamefully on your back'. Those men are our ancestors. Let us live by the same courage they did!"
All three men concurred.
Georgios nodded to them, "Good. I am glad we all agree. We don't have time for any sort of delay. We have two siege towers ready. Karamallos, I want you to command 1,000 men and take them to the tower on the left of the gate. Nikephoros, you will command 1,000 men and take them to the tower on the right side. In total this means that you two will be leading 2,000 men against 5,000 defenders. We cannot risk more lives assaulting the walls. I want you to focus all your efforts on the gatehouse. Take it, and open the gates, and Athanasios and I will storm the city with the remaining 2,000 men. There is no other way we can assault so many without greater numbers. Does everyone understand the plan?"
They all nodded.
The King returned the nod, "Then to your stations,
Strategoi! And may God be with us all!"
Nice chapter.
