Dictations of Shophet Protege Hamalcar son of Abdimiliki, 266 Stab
I'm told that it was a slaughter. Ah, my poor nephew...
I had just returned from a successful campaign in Sicilia, having finally seized Syrakousai and its valuable shipping lanes. My troops, most of them Greek mercenaries of one form or another, were just as eager as I was to return home to Kart-Hadast for a well-deserved furlough as I received new orders from Shophet Mago son of Abdimiliki.
As his son, Xanthippos, had been dispatched to reconsolidate western Africa from Numidian rule when I had departed to Sicilia, and thanks to our recent, if fragile, alliance with the Romans - apparently they consider the Epeirotes a greater threat - I was expecting orders to make a surprise assault on the Greeks; with those ports, we would control virtually all of Mediterranean sea trade!
It seems, however, that the Gods have a different plan for us...
Earlier that day
Kart-Hadast, Karthadestim capital
"Some victory celebration."
"Quiet you!"
Hamalcar son of Abdimiliki narrowed his eyes.
White banners...
The horses began to whinny and shuffle about. After a bumpy sea ride to Sicilia, long and fierce campaigning on the island and in the toe of Italia, followed by another bumpy sea ride home, the horses were in no mood to continue waiting in the hot sun of stab when they saw the walls of Kart-Hadast - shade, snacks, and blessed sleep were in store!
The Shophet Protege gently pet the head of his horse, Zeugos, and then popped his knees inwards into the torso. Instantly, Zeugos began to trot towards the gates of the city, the Army of the Mediterranean marching right behind.
***
"My liege, I, Hamalcar son of Abdimiliki, have returned to your court."
"Come now, no formalities needed amongst family, beloved brother!"
The brothers Mago and Hamalcar kissed each other's cheeks. Though born of the same father, Mago, the Shophet of Karthadestim, was 22 years older than Hamalcar, his Protege. And yet...
"By the gods, brother, you seem to have aged a decade! Even the sun does not create 60 year olds out of 50 year olds - have you been working in the fields?"
Hamalcar meant it as a jest, but Mago simply sighed.
"Why do I see white, brother? Why is the color of death all around me? Have I... have I failed you, Shophet?"
How could I have gone wrong? I took what I was asked to... Did my truce with the Romans anger him?
But Mago shook his head.
"No, no, your brilliant acheivements are not to be held against you. Indeed, they are a light in these dark times. I fear I have terrible news..."
"What is it, brother?"
"Your nephew... my son, Xanthippos... he has died."
Dictations of Shophet Protege Hamalcar son of Abdimiliki, 266 Stab
Oh! What a heavy weight I felt in my heart then!
Xanthippos son of Mago was my favorite of my nephews - not least because at times he seemed the most competent! I had noted with approval his appointment to lead the Army of Africa to clear the West of Numidian filth.
I learned later from Shophet Mago son of Abdimiliki that for several years, while I been leading most of our military in Sicilia, his son Xanthippos had been quite successful leading skilled cavalry mercenaries from Iberia against the Numidians, driving them from the desert and even capturing their capital at Kirtsan.
Trouble seems to have arisen after he took the city of Siga. The Numidians may be the bastards of the desert, but they certainly are skilled warriors, and he has suffered enough losses by now that he was forced to wait for reinforcements within the walls of Siga.
No sooner had my nephew entered the city when suddenly a force of Numidians, outnumbering him easily twice, besieged the city. Shophet Mago son of Abdimiliki told me that he had tried to organize a relief force, but was blocked by the last vestiges of Numidian garrison resistance near Kirtsan.
I was obviously unaware of all of this, being as I was occupied with the siege of Syrakousai. I would gladly have returned to Africa had I known but Shophet Mago son of Abdimiliki had decided that by the time I could be informed and return, it would be too late - and in the meantime, Syrakousai would remain an uncaptured port. I realize now that of course that was precisely the correct course of action, but it is a shame that it had to be so nonetheless.
While I was sieging, my nephew Xanthippos was besieged himself. Perhaps hoping that the Numidians would soon have to retire because of supply-line problems, he waited until there was no grain left in the granaries of Siga, at which point he knew that he must break out - or die.
Alas, die he did. He was at the head of some 630 or so Iberians, most of them cavalry skirmishers - which was, of course, playing right into the Numidian's accursed hands, who outnumbered him at least 700 men, according to estimates from one of our spies exploring the region. All were caught down in the hail of javelins even as Xanthippos son of Mago's men charged the Numidians. His father, Shophet Mago son of Abdimiliki, heard reports that Xanthippos himself was the last to die, fighting to the death among a horde of Numidian cavalrymen, but of course we have no way of knowing if that is true.
But one thing is certain: Greece shall to wait, for the Numidians must pay.
265 Abib
Kart-Hadast, Karthadestim capital
It was time to begin.
After reluctantly wintering in Kart-Hadast to reequip and retrain the Army of the Mediterranean, Shophet Protege Hamalcar son of Abdimiliki was ready to march on the Numidians.
Almost ready, at least.
***
"I must admit, brother, I am somewhat reluctant to march... the Interreggnum Pact is tenuous at best. The Getai certainly pose no threat to us, sitting in the Balkans, and I doubt the Spanish would try any treachery while I march towards the Iberian peninsular - though they're made enough to try it..."
"I am wary myself, but the Epeirotes should keep things stable long enough for you to conduct this operation. Our scouts from Rhegion report that Pyrrhus still has a large force in the south of Italia, so I doubt the Senate will dare to stretch themselves even further in a move against us, and the Koinon Hellenon are surely much too occupied with Pyrrhus and Makedon to bother with us - gods, our trade with them is probably all that sustains them!"
"True, brother, but..."
"Go, Hamalcar. Go and show me why you are my Protege. Bring our country revenge! Bring me my vengeance!"
Dictations of Shophet Protege Hamalcar son of Abdimiliki, 265 Kayits
Sometimes I wonder why the Numidians even bother.
Abib was a joke, in some ways. Two Numidian forces simply ran for the hills when I attempted to engage them. By now they've probably returned, but I am sure that Shophet Mago son of Abdimiliki will know as soon as they do, as my new watchtowers were erected for just that purpose.
Then there was the battle with that Numidian Theophanes Urso. The fool had taken to pillaging Mashiliem, and gotten too comfortable with hit. He had 1100 or so Numidians with him, but this time it was I who outnumbered the Numidians twice, and I've taken the lesson that my Greek mercenary peltasts, thanks to their shields and their swords, are more than a match than any rabble the Numidians can raise to heart. I walked away with, according to the official tally, 1870 men. The Numidians, after those citizens of Kart-Hadast who were both rich enough to possess horses and proud enough to join us when the Army of the Mediterranean set out, walked away with a dozen or so - nobody bothered to check just how many of them ran crying home to their wives.
And now, the sun is even brighter...
I admit, I hate kayits. The humidity rising off the sea is nigh-unbearable, no matter how many years I've lived by the coast. All for the better, though; perhaps the sun's rays have afflicted the Numidians with even greater-than-normal stupidity, for I easily swept aside their 500-odd man attack last week without a second thought.
Marching in this blasted heat is hardly uplifting to anyone with more than sand in their heads, but at least we, the Army of Mediterranean, can take comfort in knowing that Siga, where my poor nephew Xanthippos, son of Shothep Mago son of Abdimiliki, and the Army of Africa were slaughtered without mercy, is now just a short march away.
All are ready. We shall not fear defeat from the Numidian scum, for it is impossible. Instead, we will look forward, to victory!
TO BE CONTINUED...
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