It is indeed. Specially as the Epirotian army, being beaten by the Pelloponneses to have pretty much our size, was regenerating, standing on their own country.
Thus, striking quickly and deceisively before they could recover their strength was as adamant for success as Leo and Theodore's haste indicates.
Truth be told:
Leo had indeed learned organizer from studying warfare, and thus was able to march his men up on the Epirotians not just before they could recover, but indeed before they could fully regain their morale.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter eight
No prisoners
Naupaktos, April 781
Theodore was chasing a handful of fleeing Epirots through the hills. He had lost close contact to his men, Phillipos was far to his left with his guard, but he paid this no mind. They'd catch up in time.
Important was to chase down as many of the fleeing soldiers of the enemy as possible. Theodore casually slashes his sword to the left, as he rode down another man, not bothering to turn for the man's screaming or to check wether he was still running.
Theodore kept pursuing for over a mile, until he finally slowed down his speed, and gave the few scattered men that still fled down the hill a gaze from atop his horse.
"You run today, but we'll be back by next year!"
He elegantly reared his horse and turned in a sharp bow, directing his steed towards where his father and the army should be.
That was a good pose, he thought, as he rode back towards the celebrating men, cleaning his sword with a cloth. A pity I had no painter here, indeed.
Leo, Eremaios and Oghuz were meanwhile securing the Epirotian baggage train the army had gotten hold of, while the men already were celebrating- all against his usual conduct, Lord Leo had on the spot decided to open the two casks of beer secured from the enemy's supplies, to the great joy of the men, who were happy, but exhausted, having marched in haste all week only to give battle to the enemy on first sight.
Leo glanced around, and saw Theodore rearing his horse, over a mile in the distance on the edge of the hill.
That'd be an image for an artist, he thought, and smiled to himself. No question, what Leo Skleros had for numbers, his son had for battle- talent, and the will to use it.
It was a rare moment, but Leo was actually looking forward to see his eldest son for once, as he meant to honestly congratulate him and give some well deserved praise for his stern and deceisive command today.
Every single man had done their task today, no question- but it also was out of question credit for this should go to Theodore, who had held the line for the whole day and organised his charge just when it was time.
When Theodore reached the plundering army, he was greeted with salutes and cheers from all sides. He stopped his horse briefly, smiled happily and waved.
This was what he had been born and trained for. War, the thrill and rush of battle, the cheers of the men after a victory.
Theodore was a proud man in general, as suited his position as son of the Lord, but he could not recall ever having been actually so satisfied by one of his achievements.
And what was best, his father seemed alive and healthy, and also of the opinion he did well today, judging from his friendly gaze.
So much to bad dreams.
Even if the good part had worked out so far. But that was nothing Theodore wanted to ponder over further.
Theodore stopped his horse, handed the girdle to a squire and approached his father on foot, taking off his helmet in the motion, and bowed deeply as he faced him.
"My son!" Leo waved him to raise casually, then approached and pressed his son to his chest, hugging him both arms, and pecked his forehead.
"I am so proud, you did very well today."
He got an arm's distance from his son, his hand on Theodore's shoulder. Gosh, the lad had gotten huge. All the athletics and training at arms certainly was shaping his son.
Theodore smiled and nodded obediently.
"Thank you, my Lord. 't was nothing, given our perfectly orchestrated plan I just had to act out."
"You're learning understatement, good, Eremaios will approve."
Father and son laughed, while the priest rolled his eyes.
Oghuz approached the duo, as they went off to inspect their bounty and take the death counts.
The steppe rider himself had the head of the enemy commander, Rodislav, fastened to his spear as a trophy.
"Of ours?"
"Ten and eight fell, my Lord, and another twenty or so suffered injuries that will keep them from fighting." Eremaios reported.
"Of the enemy?"
"We're yet counting the dead and wounded, but it has to be around two hundred. And another fifty surrendered and are prisoner. Captain Oghuz has hold of them."
The mercenary nodded and grinned.
Leo whistled impressed.
"Now that I call a victory indeed. What about the prisoners, and ransom?"
"I have, but they're worthless, none of them can afford a noteworthy ransom, they're just peasants from the nearby villages. What shall be done with them?"
Leo contemplated a moment.
"From the nearby villages, you say?"
Again the man nodded.
"Yes, a banner of guards resisted on the flight, we cut them down. The armed peasants then surrendered."
"Give them some water, take their arms if any are left, and send them back to their fields. We don't need no prisoners. Prisoners just cost money. Don't drive them far off, I want them to tend the fields here nearby in future years to come, not in Epirus."
"As you command."
The mercenary grinned and saluted crudely, a gesture he had picked up while serving alongside the disciplined Theban soldiers.
"And what's next now?" Eremaios, being a clergyman, needed to be pointed out the obvious as usual. Theodore gladly assisted.
"Well, now we'll set up camp infront the castle, occupy the local tavern, and start to build ladders and rams for our siege of Naupaktos.
And then we wait until they surrender!"
Thus, striking quickly and deceisively before they could recover their strength was as adamant for success as Leo and Theodore's haste indicates.
Truth be told:
Leo had indeed learned organizer from studying warfare, and thus was able to march his men up on the Epirotians not just before they could recover, but indeed before they could fully regain their morale.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter eight
No prisoners
Naupaktos, April 781
Theodore was chasing a handful of fleeing Epirots through the hills. He had lost close contact to his men, Phillipos was far to his left with his guard, but he paid this no mind. They'd catch up in time.
Important was to chase down as many of the fleeing soldiers of the enemy as possible. Theodore casually slashes his sword to the left, as he rode down another man, not bothering to turn for the man's screaming or to check wether he was still running.
Theodore kept pursuing for over a mile, until he finally slowed down his speed, and gave the few scattered men that still fled down the hill a gaze from atop his horse.
"You run today, but we'll be back by next year!"
He elegantly reared his horse and turned in a sharp bow, directing his steed towards where his father and the army should be.
That was a good pose, he thought, as he rode back towards the celebrating men, cleaning his sword with a cloth. A pity I had no painter here, indeed.
Leo, Eremaios and Oghuz were meanwhile securing the Epirotian baggage train the army had gotten hold of, while the men already were celebrating- all against his usual conduct, Lord Leo had on the spot decided to open the two casks of beer secured from the enemy's supplies, to the great joy of the men, who were happy, but exhausted, having marched in haste all week only to give battle to the enemy on first sight.
Leo glanced around, and saw Theodore rearing his horse, over a mile in the distance on the edge of the hill.
That'd be an image for an artist, he thought, and smiled to himself. No question, what Leo Skleros had for numbers, his son had for battle- talent, and the will to use it.
It was a rare moment, but Leo was actually looking forward to see his eldest son for once, as he meant to honestly congratulate him and give some well deserved praise for his stern and deceisive command today.
Every single man had done their task today, no question- but it also was out of question credit for this should go to Theodore, who had held the line for the whole day and organised his charge just when it was time.
When Theodore reached the plundering army, he was greeted with salutes and cheers from all sides. He stopped his horse briefly, smiled happily and waved.
This was what he had been born and trained for. War, the thrill and rush of battle, the cheers of the men after a victory.
Theodore was a proud man in general, as suited his position as son of the Lord, but he could not recall ever having been actually so satisfied by one of his achievements.
And what was best, his father seemed alive and healthy, and also of the opinion he did well today, judging from his friendly gaze.
So much to bad dreams.
Even if the good part had worked out so far. But that was nothing Theodore wanted to ponder over further.
Theodore stopped his horse, handed the girdle to a squire and approached his father on foot, taking off his helmet in the motion, and bowed deeply as he faced him.
"My son!" Leo waved him to raise casually, then approached and pressed his son to his chest, hugging him both arms, and pecked his forehead.
"I am so proud, you did very well today."
He got an arm's distance from his son, his hand on Theodore's shoulder. Gosh, the lad had gotten huge. All the athletics and training at arms certainly was shaping his son.
Theodore smiled and nodded obediently.
"Thank you, my Lord. 't was nothing, given our perfectly orchestrated plan I just had to act out."
"You're learning understatement, good, Eremaios will approve."
Father and son laughed, while the priest rolled his eyes.
Oghuz approached the duo, as they went off to inspect their bounty and take the death counts.
The steppe rider himself had the head of the enemy commander, Rodislav, fastened to his spear as a trophy.
"Of ours?"
"Ten and eight fell, my Lord, and another twenty or so suffered injuries that will keep them from fighting." Eremaios reported.
"Of the enemy?"
"We're yet counting the dead and wounded, but it has to be around two hundred. And another fifty surrendered and are prisoner. Captain Oghuz has hold of them."
The mercenary nodded and grinned.
Leo whistled impressed.
"Now that I call a victory indeed. What about the prisoners, and ransom?"
"I have, but they're worthless, none of them can afford a noteworthy ransom, they're just peasants from the nearby villages. What shall be done with them?"
Leo contemplated a moment.
"From the nearby villages, you say?"
Again the man nodded.
"Yes, a banner of guards resisted on the flight, we cut them down. The armed peasants then surrendered."
"Give them some water, take their arms if any are left, and send them back to their fields. We don't need no prisoners. Prisoners just cost money. Don't drive them far off, I want them to tend the fields here nearby in future years to come, not in Epirus."
"As you command."
The mercenary grinned and saluted crudely, a gesture he had picked up while serving alongside the disciplined Theban soldiers.
"And what's next now?" Eremaios, being a clergyman, needed to be pointed out the obvious as usual. Theodore gladly assisted.
"Well, now we'll set up camp infront the castle, occupy the local tavern, and start to build ladders and rams for our siege of Naupaktos.
And then we wait until they surrender!"