The Way Of The Water, The Way Of The Sand: The Story of the Sab'yn

[Parallel Pain]

Prologue: Tamane


The Sun sets as the last of the travellers enter the city of Tamane. The Desert Wolf has returned home. His home was Tamane, in Arabia. He had no father, no mother, no siblings, and no child. When he could barely walk, he left Tamane. When he left, he had nothing with him. But he survived. He survived without a name. He survived without a goal. He survived by watching and learning from everything around him. When he gave advice to generals seldom would they taste defeat. No one knew his name, not even himself. No one stayed close to him, for he was dark, his face always angry. But his band of mercenaries followed him everywhere. They gave him the nickname “The Desert Wolf.” Tamane had never helped him, had abandoned him when he was a child. Now, when Tamane needed him, the Desert Wolf returned without question. When he left, he had nothing with him. Now he returns with his weapon and his armour. He returned with a band of loyal followers.
The Sab’yn tribe of neighbouring Maryab had started war preparations. For years the Sab’yn had been buying their time, building up strength to rebuild their once mighty empire. Now they thought the time was right, and their eyes were set on Tamane. So the Desert Wolf returned to defend his homeland.
The Desert Wolf marched in front of his troops, and marches through the iron gates of the settlement. The garrison welcomed him. The citizens cheered him on. Karab, the ruler of the city, watched with a stern face from his little wooden stage in front of the gate. The Desert Wolf walked up to the foot of the stage and bowed deeply. "Lord Karab. I have come to offer you my services. I have come to defend my birthplace, my homeland."
Karab stood up and smiled. He walked down the steps with open arms. "The legendary Desert Wolf! The pride of our city! We are honoured to have you with us today! With you here, do we even need to fear those Sab'yns?" But he could not fool the Desert Wolf, not the likes of him. The Desert Wolf returned the smile, and bowed deeply. But he knew he was in for something. He knew this Karab would be no good to the city. He knew.
The gates started to close behind them. Just then a young couple rushed through the gates. The guards stopped them. "What are you doing! The gate is closed an hour ago! This is just for the Desert Wolf!" The crowd turned around to look at the young couple. The Desert Wolf looked, and his face hardened.
"Please, sir! My name is Yusif. I was born in Maryab. I grew up in Maryab. I married in Maryab. Now the Sab'yns have taken over! I need a place to stay!" Yusif knelt down on his knees.
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The Desert Wolf walked up to the young man. "Yusif." He hissed through his teeth.
Yusif looked up, and his face turned white. "Desert Wolf..." He stuttered, but quickly regained his composure. "Desert Wolf! You got to help me! Tell them I need to stay!"
"Who is this man, Desert Wolf?" Karab walked up to them.
"A friend from Maryab, my lord," the Desert Wolf answered. "He was chief aide for Yazil Il Watar during the last campaign season, when we cleared all rebels within the province. I was still there when he planned out the building of roads around Maryab under the orders of Yazil, so their troops could march faster. Obviously an act in preparation of expansion. I know Yazil very well."

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He paused. And before anyone knew what was happening the sword of the Desert Wolf was neck of the young women beside Yusif. Everyone froze. The blood rushed out of the young woman's red cheeks. Yusif watched her, not letting out a word. The entire gathering was silent, and the Desert Wolf's voice could be heard loud and clear. "Speak! Why would a chief aide like you need to flee the city! Speak or she dies!"
"Wait! Wait!" Yusif shouted. He turned his body so he was kneeling to the Desert Wolf. He crawled up to the Desert Wolf, and pulled at his leg. "I'll speak, I'll speak. My wife has nothing to do with it. Please."
"Then speak!" Some of the citizens watched the man with pity. Others had clear caution on their faces. The soldiers all had their hands on their weapons. Karab was speechless.
"There was a coup," Yusif stuttered out. "Halik had overthrown Yazil and taken over the city. Everyone who were loyal to Yazil were hunted down! Me and my wife barely escaped with our lives! We didn't even have time to gather our belongings! Please, Desert Wolf, trust us!"
"Come now, Desert Wolf," Karab started. Everyone turned to the lord of the city. "The man's in tears. There's no way he's lying. Let him stay."
The Desert Wolf looked at the lord, then at Yusif. He grinned, and sheathed his sword. "As you wish, my lord," he paused, then continued. "May I suggest we use him."
"Use him?"
"Perhaps as an advisor. This man knows the Sab'yn army well. He'll be of great use." He turned to Yusif. "How about it, Yusif? It will be a good pay."
Yusif looked at Karab. "Why not." Karab smiled. Let him come report to me first thing in the morning."
"Sir! Thank you sir! Thank you oh great lord." Yusif, still kneeling, bent down deep, his head touching the dirt, showing his thank. The young woman followed.
Karab started walking back to his villa, the civilians bowing as their lord passed. After a few steps, he turned around. "Desert Wolf," he said. "I would be delighted if you could join me for dinner tonight."
"Of course." The Desert Wolf bowed. "It would be a pleasure."
The Desert Wolf followed behind Karab's bodyguards. As he passed one of his men, he eyed the mercenary and jurked his head, slightly but sharply. The man nodded and slipped off into the crowd.

At the villa, Karab comfortablly sat down with his wife and concubines, enjoying his bread and wine. "Sit, Desert Wolf. Have some food."
"Thank you, sir." He took a piece of bread, and had a bite. Then, without warning, he started. "Sir I believe Yusif is a spy."
Karab, annoyed, snapped back an answer. "Ah come on. I told you, the man was crying."
The Desert Wolf shook his head. "He did not panic soon enough. He had took a pause to think. If the woman was really his wife, he would have moved before I even spoke. Yusif is a skilled man. He thinks fast."
"Don't be stupid. Here." Karab signaled for a maid to give the mercenary general mug of wine.
The general refused and continued. "I am here to protect the city, my lord. As you know the enemy is less than a week away. I need to take every precaution..."
"My lord," a guard came in. "A man wishes to see the Desert Wolf. He says he's ordered to report in."
Before Karab had a chance to ask or answer, the Desert Wolf was out the room. He returned moments later. "Yusif was seen throwing a large rock outside the settlement. No doubts now, he's a spy."
Karab was now angry. "Well what do you propose? You also agreed to let him stay!"
"I did. I say we use him," though sensing his lord's temper, the Desert Wolf proceeded calmly. "By forced night march, the Sab'yn could arrive at the city in a three days. If we fool Yusif into thinking I will be leaving with my men in three days, and won't be returning for a few days, he would send the word out, and the Sab'yn captain would rush his men here. And when he arrives, I'll be waiting inside these walls with your garrison, and we shall crush them."
Karab shook his head. "Enough of this. We'll talk tomorrow." Karab raised his voice. "Sit, have some wine."
"I am sorry sir. I always dine with my men. And we have a lot of preparations to do if we will be facing the troops of Sab'yn, trained under my supervision, in one week." The Desert Wolf bowed deeply at a shaking Karab. "Now if you'll excuse me."
"Go! Go!"
The Desert Wolf nodded and moved walked out the villa. Five of his men immediately came up to him. One of the whispered to him. "Sir, do you think it is a good idea to talk to the lord like ths?"
The Desert Wolf turned and looked at him. "You know what is the kind of person I can't stand, so leave this. We have work to do."
Inside the villa, Karab was swiping the food off his table, throwing the mugs, and beating his servents. "This mercenary general in my settlement, in my villa, shows me no respect and moves as he wishes!"


The message reached the Sab'yn camp in no time.
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Captain Yasir had just dismissed a soldier coming to report on the construction of battering rams. He read the papyrus tied on the rock, and immediately sent out a dispatch back towards Maryab. They were the same message: "The Desert Wolf is in Tamane."
The message soon reached Maryab. The first man to read it was none other than the young prince Halik. He sent the messenger to his father Yazil, and immediately set out for Tamane with his bodyguard. Old Yazil could only shake his head at the rashness of his son, but he did not stop the young man. He knew they could still win, he knew why, and he knew his son knew why, and why his son actually rushed towards Tamane.

Two days later, a message was delivered into Captain Yasir's hands from Yusif.
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It was the message he wanted.
Meanwhile, inside the settlement, Yusif approached a side of the wooden pallisades. It was late at night, and the streets were quite. He took out a large rock and a long rope and started working on a few knots.
"Going somewhere? Yusif?" Yusif snapped around. The Desert Wolf and ten of his mercenaries were there. "Or maybe, tying a message to be thrown outside?" The mercenaries were on top of Yusif, pinning him to the ground, before he could do a thing.
"You planned this?" Yusif stared at him wide-eyed.
"Quick as always." The Desert Wolf chuckled. "Yes I planned it. The talk about going out for a day to get supplies two days ago, going out this evening as planned, then sneaking back at night. They are all my plans. Now your troops would attack facing the might of my mercenaries and the garrison combined."
"Well what are you waiting for! Kill me!"
The Desert Wolf's face turned stern. "No. You of all should know I don't like to kill needlessly. After my victory, I still need you to return to Sab'yn and tell them not to think any more about taking Tamane while I am still alive. I still want to serve your masters. But tell them not to think of taking Tamane, or I would have no choice but to oppose them till I die." He turned to the soldiers. "Lock him up. No one touches him." They bowed, and dragged away struggling Yusif.


At dawn, the Sab'yn army prepared the army. Captain Yasir was still inspecting the troops when a company of soldiers arrived. It was young Halik and his bodyguards.
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"Sir! Why are you here?" an amazed Yasir asked.
"I need to fight, captain." An out-of-breath Halik answered. "I need the Desert Wolf. The Sab'yn needs the Desert Wolf."
"No worries, my prince." the captain replied. Yusif has sent word that the Wolf would not be in the settlement today. He and his men had left last night. We could take the settlement, and then talk to him."
Halik stared at him. The prince, though rash and young, also had a quick mind. "It would be nice if it was so. It would be nice." He sighed. "Let's move out."
The troops moved forward. Just in case Yusif could not open the gate, the troops brought along two battering rams. When they reached the gates, they were prepared for the sight of shut doors.
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But not the sight of the Desert Wolf's band of mercenaries. The Desert Wolf's men were organized to recieve their assault inside the walls, but ready to march out and fall on their rear should they try to turn around and lift the siege. All were shocked. The only person in the Sab'yn ranks not to be discouraged by the surprise was Prince Halik.

The battle commenced.
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Karak and the garrison stayed in the town square. The Desert Wolf and his mercenaries were in front of the pallisade. With no choice but to fight with tired troops against superior numbers, Halik quickly ordered slingers and archers to clear the gateway. The Desert Wolf, saving his own ammunition for later, withdrew to the town square, leaving the walls to the Sab'yn.
Without a garrison, the walls quickly fell. The Sab'yn troops rushed into the settlement. It was at this momment the Desert Wolf gave the orders to fire. His archers let loose the arrows. The garrison slingers, without orders from Karab, sent forward their stones. Karab looked on with annoyance.
Halik and Prince Yasir ordered the men forward, for that was all they could do. But they were tired from night march, while their enemies were well rested. The Desert Wolf's crack troops pushed them back time after time. Soon the street were filled with the bodies of Sab'yn troops.

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Sensing trouble, Prince Halik withdrew his troops. Many were ordered to take cover behind buildings. Halik and Yasir frantically tried to reform their troops.

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Seizing the moment, the Desert Wolf ordered the charge. His veteran spearmen and archers rushed forward, clashing into the tired, confused Sab'yn. The Sab'yn line started to break.

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Seeing their lines falter, Prince Halik rushed into the fight with his bodyguard. Captain Yasir also commited his cavalry. The Desert Wolf laughed at this attempt, for they would not be enough to hold back the attack. But he soon realized the garrison were not committed. He had not with him the force that could break the Sab'yn. Together, the defenders of Tamane outnumbered the Sab'yn attackers, but individually they were less numerous.
The Desert Wolf looked back in horror at the town square. The men of the garrison could be seen irritated, wanting to rush forward into the fight.
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But there was one man holding them all back.

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Prince Halik realized what was happening, and rallied the Sab'yns.

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The Desert Wolf, horrified, rushed back towards the townsquare, calling for the garrison to charge. He pleaded with Karab.

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But Karab sneered back. "You think I don't know what you are planning? You plan to win, take all the credits, then remove me from this town and take it over yourself!" The Desert Wolf tried to reason with the lord of the town. He begged, kneeled down, even swore allegiance, but to no avail.

Back at the other end of town, the mercenaries put up a hard fight. They took down half the Sab'yn army. But being vastly outnumbered and surrounded, they finally gave way and were destroyed.

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Betrayed, with his men dead, the Desert Wolf charged the Sab'yn ranks. He killed many, but soon were hit hard by the shaft of a spear, falling unconcious to the ground.

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Without the mercenaries, without the Desert Wolf's leadership. The settlement quickly fell, with minimum casualties to the Sab'yn army.

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The Desert Wolf woke up ours later. He was lying on sheep skin in a dark tent. On top of him was another piece of sheep skin, there to keep him warm. He could hear the celebration of the Sab'yn troops outside. "Finally, you're awake." He heard a familiar voice. He sat up, it was Yusif. Behind him was Prince Halik.
"Desert Wolf." Prince Halik began. "You and I both know I should have lost this battle. You and I both know it was Karab that lost the city, not you."
"What do you want?" the injured wolf hissed.
"The Sab'yn needs you. Please. We need you to lead our troops to greatness. You had fooled us all yesterday. To build a mighty nation, we need you!"
The Desert Wolf shook his head. "I told Yusif and I will tell you. You attacked my birth place. Now I have to fight you until I die." He got out of the sheep skin, and stood up. "Now kill me."
The Prince shook his head. "No, I will not." He sighed. "Leave. We will meet again. I hope I can convince you the next time."
The Desert Wolf was surprised. But he nodded, and without a word of thanks he left. His destination was Carna, the city of Il Sharih. A compotent, but over arrogent ruler. He arrived at the city just in time to see Il Sharih send off the Sab'yn diplomat with threats.

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He had not wished to serve Il Sharih, but Carna was the starting point of his mercenary career. Here, he is well known. Here, he has some power. And here, he will oppose to Sab'yns one more time. From here, he will plan the retaking of his birthplace, Tamane.

[General Appo]

Wow, nice twist, portraying your faction from the eyes of the enemy. And a Eleutheroi enemy as well. Great start PP.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
It had to be good after Spear & Shield, and it looks it is! :2thumbsup:
.

[Parallel Pain]

I actually wanted to try practicing novel writing. But I started at 3:30~4, then 7:30 and when it got to 8:30 I realized that it's going to be take way too much time. So I stopped the novel-details and just listed the main parts. It's not as good (imagine reading all the action details) but oh well. Got to sacrifice something. You don't want to see a 3 year long AAR after all.

[Obelics]

very nice! if i well understood, desert wolf is a sort of strong indipendent charachter who you will try to take at your side... if so it remember me a bit of Lawrence D'Arabia...

[Chaotix]

Great AAR, keep it up! I definitely like the twist- you're writing it from the point of view of your enemies!

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Astonishing work, this chapter! I can hardly await the next one, it will be a pleasure to read, I am sure!:yes:

[johnhughthom]

Very, very nice. Looking forward to the next chapter.

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 1: The Sieges of Carna

The Desert Wolf was covered in sand. Zari' Shams Asri', the Sab'yn diplomat, saw him stumble towards the city gates and rushed up to him. The Desert Wolf had walked for days without rest, and now he almost collapsed in the diplomat's arms.
"Desert Wolf! Good friend!" Zari' stared at him wide-eyed and worried. "What made you into such a mess?"
The Desert Wolf recovered himself and look at Zari'. Zari' retracted his arms and stepped back from the devil's stare. "You know what made me into this mess. A messenger coming here had passed me by on the road. I know the news reached here. And I saw you getting kicked out. Now you better leave, and I better enter." He stumbled past a frozen Zari towards the city gates.
Zari' turned around. "Join us, Desert Wolf." The Desert Wolf stopped. A few of the guards had sawed him and called out his name. People had gathered to see the once great mercenary general coming back to the city. Il Sharih also approached. All could hear their discourse. "This land has been divided long enough. We're trying to make it peaceful and strong once more. We need your strength! Join us!"
The Desert Wolf turned around, and stumbled in front of Zari'. He sneered, swung back his head and spit in Zari's face. The crowd cheered. Zari' calmly wiped his face. He looked at the Desert Wolf's pitiful composure, shook his head and walked off. The Desert Wolf turned back towards the city. He took a step, and another, and finally collapsed. The soldiers quickly rushed up to him. Il Sharih looked on from the crowd with a grin on his face.

The Desert Wolf found himself on a comfortable bed. A few maids were tending to him. Il Sharih came into the room. "Well, I'm glad you're awake." He walked in and stood over the bed. The Desert Wolf sat up. "I head about Tamane. I assure you I well crush them when they come, and then I will help you retake Tamane."
"Thank you, great lord."
"Come. I need you to join me for dinner, I need to tell you the plan for defending the city." Il Sharih turned around and started out the room.
The Desert Wolf flinched. There will be no discussion. He will be told what to do. This is why he had left Carna. He shook his head to get rid of the thoughts. "How long have I been asleep, sir? And how many days away are the Sab'yn?"
"You've been asleep for an two day. The Sab'yn army have moved back to Maryab, and just started out. We have a week left."
The Desert Wolf stood up and followed the lord to dinner. He listened to the plan, a simple plan. Just hold the gates and defend the walls. There wasn't much else to do. Then, a well dressed man entered the room. Il Sharih moved to welcome him. The Desert Wolf was examining the documents and a map of the city. He looked up and froze. Under the rich cloths and jewels of a merchant was none other than Yusif.
"Why, welcome again, Yusif Um Namran. What new wares have you brought me?" Il Sharih received his guess with wide open arms.
"The wood you have ordered to reinforce the palisades have arrived, great lord." Yusif bowed. "The best quality wood for the best city." He turned to the Desert Wolf and bowed again. He said with a bright smile, "Ah! You must be the great Desert Wolf. Your stories are spread far and wide. Even my clients on the coast of the Gulf of Persia have heard of you." He walked in front of the Desert Wolf and took out a chest. "We merchants must thank you for clearing out so many rebels, making our business safer. Here is a small token of our gratitude."
The Desert Wolf swiped the chest out of Yusif's hand, grabbed his clothing and pinned him against the villa wall. The over the shocked lord and servents, the clinking of jewels could be heard on the floor. The Desert Wolf Roared. "You? Again? I've let you live last time. Don't expect I'll let you live every single time."
"S-sir...I don't know what you are t-talking about." Yusif stuttered with a frightened face. "I- I've n-never met you, s-sir."
"You little." The Desert Wolf threw Yusif to the floor and reached for the sword of a palace guard.
"Stop! Desert Wolf! You are in MY villa!" The Desert Wolf stopped and turned around. "Explain yourself." Il Sharih ordered.
"This man was the spy at Tamane," the Desert Wolf answered. "I caught him, and I let him live. Now he's here to help the Sab'yn."
Il Sharih laughed. "Don't be silly. This man has been of great help. He reported to me the movement of the Sab'yn and told me of their numbers and their conditions. My scouts have confirmed all of them. He has brought in great wares for the soldiers. He has pointed out points on the wall that needs fixing and the best way to fix them. He has come up with a plan to quickly reinforce the gates. Why would a spy do all that for his enemy?"
"To earn his trust, sir." The Desert Wolf stared at the lord.
"Are you questioning my abilities?" Il Sharih boomed.
The Desert Wolf backed down. "No, sir. But I am sure this is the man."
"Go off and rest, Desert Wolf. You are tired."
"I have seen him. He worked as the Yazil as chief aide."
"I will hear no more of it! Do not test my patience. He has brought me arms, supplies, and information. What have you brought me? Nothing but a scene in front of the people. How do I know you were not acting? How do I know YOU are not a spy?"
"My lord..." the Desert Wolf looked at him, shocked.
"Go off and rest."
The Desert Wolf bowed and backed off. Yusif, lying on the floor where the Desert Wolf had thrown him, smiled. The next morning, the Desert Wolf watched Yusif sent a young merchant out the city. The young merchant reached the camp of Captain Hutar, the temporary leader of the Sab'yn force while Yazil is busy with construction planning.

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Hutar smiled, and sent the message off to Maryab. Yazil smiled at the news. He quickly finished up his work, and marched off with his bodyguard to lead the army in the up coming battle.

At dawn five days later, the alarm sounded. The Sab'yn army had arrived, ready to engage. The troops scrambled to get into position.

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The Desert Wolf had been tailing Yusif. But Yusif had skillfully not allowed any concrete evidence to be left, or any obviously devious actions to be seen. He had acted like a high class merchent, telling his underlings what to do. It was these underlings that did his job. And now when the battle is about to commence, the troops found the gates of the settlement, which should have been closed for the night, wide open.
The Desert Wolf rushed to the gate with many men. "Hurry! Close the gate!" They did. They turned the levers. They pushed. But the gates wouldn't budge. It was, somehow, stuck. The Desert Wolf rushed back into the street to look for Yusif, but Yusif had long disappeared into the crowd of panicing people.

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But all was not well for the Sab'yn. They had barely rested from the fight at Tamane, and most units had not been retrained, and so were under strength. The worst thing is that Yazil had been delayed by a sandstorm, and Hutar had never fought. He was a young aristocrat. This was supposed to be his first battle where he learned from the king. Hutar knew the gate was important, and ordered his troops to rush the gate. The slingers, being the lightest of the troops, reached the settlement first. They were easily pushed back out the gate by the few handful of disorganized troops that arrived.

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At this time, Yazil arrived to take over command.

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He ordered the archers to drive back the disorganized defenders. Then, charging at the head of the army, he lead the attack on the gate. The disorganized defenders of the gate, though much more numerous now than before, were pushed back with heavy casualties.

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Il Sharih, though arrogant, was competent. He was not Karab. He sent forward a group of light troops to buy him time to reorganize the garrison.

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The light troops fought well, but were in the end broken.
But they had served their purposes. Hutar's blunder, together with the light troops, had bought the defenders enough time. With both Il Sharih and the Desert Wolf running around shouting orders, the garrison had reorganized.

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"My lord..." the Desert Wolf started.
"It's not Yusif!" interrupted Il Sharih. "It must have been someone else!"
"My lord, put that aside. We'll find him later. Give me the troops. I'll drive them out the city."
Il Sharih squinted his eyes at the mercenary general. "No. I know what to do. Send in the second company of light troops. The archers shall support them."
The Desert Wolf nodded. The order was good.
The archers pelted the Sab'yn army, suppressing the Sab'yn archers who were again low on ammunition. The light troops used the narrow streets to wear down the attackers. Though the light troops took heavy casualties, the Sab'yn army was soon worn out, their ranks disorganized.
Il Sharih ordered the heavy troop forward. The Desert Wolf lead the charge. Soon the outnumbered Sab'yn were pushed back, and taking heavy casualties. The Sab'yn had counted on surprise to take the settlement, and they had lost it. One last good impact would break them. The Desert Wolf heard the sound of whining horses behind him. He turned around, expecting to see Il Sharih's bodyguard noble cavalry lining up for a charge. He needed to order the men to make room for the cavalry.
Instead, he saw the cavalry heading back towards the villa. He could not believe his eyes. He rushed back to the townsquare to find Il Sharih.
"What are you doing!" the Desert Wolf bursted into Il Sharih's villa. The guards and servents that tried to stop him were all knocked aside. He yelled at Il Sharih lying comfortably on the sheep-skin bed. "Send in the cavalry. We'll crush them!"
Il Sharih took a drink of wine. "Why bother. We've won, you know that."
"We've won, but we have not crushed them! We need to crush them now or they will come back!"
"And have me enter battle myself? Battle is below me. I do not fight unless I need to, and I don't need to now."
"You need to fight right now! Your citizens need you!"
"I already won the battle for them."
"Your Ethiopian mercenaries you hired for this battle will not last you forever, especially if you loose them now. The Sab'yn are the most numerous of the tribes. You need to minimize your casualties."
At the battle, Yazil sensed his troops were breaking. He knew his chance of winning was slipping from his grasp. To save his strength, he sounded the retreat.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%201/09Retreat.jpg

The Desert Wolf heard the Sab'yn horn. "Then give me your cavalry. I'll lead them. I'll chase down and break the Sab'yn power forever. I'll give you Yazil's head!"
Il Sharih laughed. "Sorry, my noble cavalry is not for the command of a mercenary general." The Desert Wolf is left without a word. He stormed out the villa.

The casualties on both sides were terrible. Without the punch of the cavalry, the infantry had to fight a battle of attrition. In the end, they had lost more men then the Sab'yn. The stench of the dead filled the streets.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%201/10BloodyVictory.jpg

The sun started to set. The Desert Wolf walked through the much diminished ranks. The men, both Arabic and Ethiopian, were exhausted. Many had lost good friends. No one was in the mood for celebration. Some were too tired to notice him walk pass, or too tired to stand up and greet him.
As he walked pass the entrance to a narrow back alley, he took a quick glance inside. He slowed down. "Tell Yazil I am leaving the city."
Yusif walked out into the street, wide-eyed. He followed a few steps behind the Desert Wolf. "You'll join us?" He asked excitedly.
"No. But I will not serve this lord."
Yusif stopped. "Where will you go? If the city falls, then all your base of operation would be under Sab'yn control."
The Desert Wolf stopped. "I will head to Sabata. The old man Waty'ath is a close aquaintence and a wise man. I have no power in Sabata, but he'll use me well. I'll see you again." He started took a step forward, but stopped. Yusif looked at him. "Tell the people of Carna the Desert Wolf had not abandoned them. Tell them I have only abandoned their lord. I will come back to the city for them." He started off again and slipped into the desert night.

Yazil marched back to Maryab with his defeated army. He arrived in a week. His own Ethiopian mercenary, after two fierce battles, had seized to exist as an effective fighting force. So he dismissed them. He was in no mood for any more trouble when Yusif's message arrived, very late for a message from a top spy. Yusif reported had escaped the city, but established a spy ring that he could control from a near-by villiage. His messenger delivered the message of the Desert Wolf. Yazil smiled. He saw hope. Not the hope for a city, though that was there. But he saw hope for a general that could take for him city after city.
A young girl, merely twelve, walked into the room. "Father? Why do you smile at a defeat?" His beautiful daughter Mubsamat asked. She had came to cheer up his father, but found his father happy.
The old man looked at her young daughter. "The Desert Wolf might join us after all." The young girl was caught speechless. She had finally recovered and was about to start when a messenger entered the room.
"Sir! Message from the master Akh Athtar Yazi'. He request you discuss his proposal to marry your daughter."

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%201/11Suiter.jpg

Akh Athtar, though young, was a rich and powerful man in Maryab. He had inherited his fortune and title. He had many followers. When he had supported Yazil, things went well. When he op. Now he was going to take advantage of Yazil's defeat and gain himself further power. Yazil knew it, but there were few things he could do so fresh from a defeat.
But before he could even answer, young Mubsamat snatched the message and threw it in the fire. The messenger was shocked. The king shocked even more. "Tell that big ugly bully I would rather marry no one than marry him." The young girl did not know politics, but she knew her father had been pushed around by this man before. Plus, she already has feelings for someone else.
Yazil smiled at the messenger. "I'm sorry for the behaviour of my daughter. But inform the master Akh Athtar if my daughter feels so strongly against him, they would not have a happy marriage. A man needs a good wife in the house so he could shine outside. A man with a bad wife would have a bad life. Tell him to reconsider." The messenger was caught speechless. He had been informed on what to say shall Yazil refuses, but not if the girl throws the proposal into the fire. He bowed and exited the villa.
Yazil waited for him to leave, and turned to his young daughter. "You, young girl, are far too rash for you own good. Thanks to you I'll be having a nightmare in my court for the rest of the year. Without Akh Athtar's support, my army could not quickly refit, and my campaign would have to be delayed till next year." The young girl stared at the floor, dejected. Tears were forming up in her eyes. The old man put his hand on the girl's head and stroked her hair gently. The girl looked up. "But thanks to you I've been given enough time to go forward with reorganizing Tamane. And thanks to you, I do not have to send my loving daughter to marry a brute." The young girl burst into a tearful laughter and jumped into her father's arms. Old Yazil laughed. He whispered into his daughters ears. "I'll make sure the Desert Wolf will come and play with you again." Mubsamat's face turned red.

The next year, Yazil returned to Carna with his army. Yusif had again successfully opened the gate. Il Sharih had faced much political problem when word got out that the Desert Wolf had abandoned him. He did not recieve enough support to refit his own army.
Yazil first ordered his archers and slingers to pelt the garrison, the few mercenaries and citizens soldiers still loyal to Il Sharih.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%201/12Rematch.jpg

Il Sharih rashly charged many of his remaining men forward. But Yusif had made arrangement with a few of the households, and Yazil was able to set a two side ambush at the gate. Though the total garrison is slightly bigger than the attackers, the disheartened troops melted away into the street as soon as the trap was sprung.
Yazil surrounded Il Sharih at the town square and killed him. Carna was his.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%201/13FinalVictory.jpg

Now the tribe of Sab'yn controlled Maryab, Tamane, and Carna. They are by far the most powerful tribe in the region. Their rise to power would be challenged, but not stopped by the other tribes of Arabia.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%201/14TheKingdom.jpg

In the mean time, the Desert Wolf had not headed straight for Sabata. He spent the time gathering new followers and hunting around for information. Now he is finally heading off for Sabata when news arrives. The old Waty'ath is dead. His son Luthy'ath is now lord of the city. The Desert Wolf did not know this Luthy'ath well, but the rumors about him have not been kind.
The Desert Wolf camped in the hills a couple days away from Tamane. As he sat in his tent wondering what his move should be a rare guest arrived. It was none other than Zari' the Sab'yn diplomat. He stumbled inside the tent, helped by two mercenaries. They laid him down on the sheep carpet to rest.
"Well who have we here," the Desert Wolf looked at him and smiled. "Why such a mess, good friend?"
"Desert Wolf!" Zari' started. "The bandits. The rebel bandits."
The Desert Wolf jumped to his feet. Rebel Bandits? So near Tamane? "Who leads them? Where, how many?"
"I don't know how many. They're lead by a man named Magabazou. He had stopped my company on our way back from Sabata. I barely escaped and ran here. The others are captured. When I ran, they were just discussing about raiding a small village not far from here!"

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%201/15TheRebel.jpg

The Desert Wolf rushed out the tent and sounded for his men to gather.

[General Appo]

Another great chapter. I just hope the Desert Wolf will finally join the Sab'yn, he can´t run forever.

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Wow, gameplay-wise there's so few going on, but story-wise, it's like reading a chapter of a novel! One must have good writing skills to achieve this and you surely have such!:2thumbsup:

[Reverend Joe]

Reminds me of an old movie... very far out. :2thumbsup:



The one unfortunate side effect being that, for reasons I cannot fathom, the Desert Wolf sounds like Charlton Heston in my head. :wall:

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 2:
In, To, From, and Through the Hills of Qataban

The city of Carna, under Il Sharih's competent rule, was peaceful and prosperous. Though arrogant, Il Sharih was able to clear much of the bandits and provide the people with a save place to be. It was there that so many years ago the Desert Wolf, barely seven, had joined the militia to clear out the rebels. Carna was the Desert Wolf's real home.
The city of Maryab had gone through a dark age. Ever since the diminishing power of the old Sab'yn kingdom, and the break up of Arabia into different tribes, Maryab had been filled with crime. All that changed when Yazil took over. For years and years, he had worked day and night to restore the city to its former self. After he had done that, he looked to the rebel problem in his province. For that problem he hired the best mercenary leader around. This man was terribly young, yet at fourteen years of age, he had risen fast through the mercenary ranks throughout his seven years as a soldier. His strategy could not be sounder, his tactics brilliant, and his character had astonished everyone as not that of a young teenager but that of an experienced adult. He was the Desert Wolf. Thanks to Yazil, his son Halik, and the Desert Wolf, in a single campaign season the province was cleared of bandits.
But Tamane was different. Surrounding the Desert Wolf's birth place of Tamane are the hills of Qataban. Karab, busying enjoying wine, women, and jewels, had not bothered to keep the bandits in check. Many times the Desert Wolf had paid his mercenaries out of his own pocket so he could launch a campaign into the Qataban hills, as Karab could not be convinced to cover even one tenth of the cost. But the Desert Wolf's treasury was limited, and without help of Karab, he could only bring enough men to drive the bandits deeper into the hills. He could not annihilate them without financial backing from Karab. Indeed, some of the bandit leaders even paid Karab handsomely to stay in his city and let the bandits be.
The most powerful of these bandits was the gang of Magabazou. An ambitious man, Magabazou had eyed the city of Karab for a long time. A skilled bandit, Magabazou knew his own gang's limits, and never made this mistake of confronting the Desert Wolf's mercenaries that many of the other large gangs made. Taking advantage of the movement of the Sab'yn troops to Carna, Magabazou combined many of the bandit groups in the hills into a large rebel force. It was this force that Zari's company stumbled upon on his way back from Sabata.
The Desert Wolf quickly sent out scouts to determine the situation. His men were readied to move at a moment's notice. It was nearly dawn the next morning when the scouts returned, and their news was not good. The rebel force was about the size of the Sab'yn army that had assaulted Tamane, and thereby outnumbering the Desert Wolf's mercenaries nearly fourteen to one. They had set out to plunder the villages in the Qataban Hills, travelling west. They were going to attack Tamane. The only Sab'yn troops in Tamane were Halik and his bodyguards.
The Desert Wolf walked back to the campfire. The tents had been taken down and packed to move. Zari' laid there on the sheep skin resting. The Desert Wolf gave a few orders to the two soldiers guarding the diplomat, then walked up to Zari'
"Wake up. Wake up Zari'"
Zari' snapped awake. "What? What is it." He stared at the Desert Wolf. "Where are the rebels?"
"They are heading to plunder the villages. Their ultimate goal is Tamane." Zari' jumped. The Desert Wolf held him down and put his hand on the man's mouth. "I need you to go back to Tamane and warn Halik. Send word to Maryab and Yazil to bring troops over. These men will accompany you."
Zari' looked at the soldiers, and then back at the Desert Wolf. "What about you?"
"I'll see what I can do to slow them down. I will not let them plunder my birthplace without a fight." Zari' looked at the mercenary general speechless. "Go quick. I need to move out as well." Zari' nodded. The Desert Wolf stood up. "I want that sheep skin back the next time we meet." He turned around, ran to his horse and jumped on it. With a whistle he and his men, mounted on horses for speed, rode off into the hills.
Zari' quickly stood up. He rolled up the sheep skin, mounted a horse prepared for him, and rode off for Tamane with the two guards.
The Desert Wolf was not going to foolishly throw away the lives of his men. He looked for opportunity. When Magabazou's men were ready, concentrated, and marching, he tailed them from a safe distance, hiding his own force in the safety of the Qataban Hills. When the rebels spread out to plunder, camped to prepare a meal, or when the night guards were dozing off, the Wolf would strike. He struck from behind the hills like sand storm, like the river flood. One moment he caused havoc amongst the rebel ranks, and before anyone knew what was happening, he was gone, leaving the rebels badly mauled and very scared.
Magabazou had no answer for the problem of this Desert Wolf. His men, though numerous, were bandits. They were not soldiers, could not respond fast enough to such a tactic. Their march was slowed, and they could not frequently plunder for fear of the Desert Wolf. Frustration in the rebel camp rose. Many started questioning Magabazou's leadership. Finally, a group of them, one of the larger gangs, left Magabazou and headed back into the hills. The next day on the march, the rebels found the head of these men lying on the road to Tamane, one every ten meters. The message from the Wolf was clear: Go back to your homes and live an honest life. Attack Tamane and suffer the consequences.
One by one, disheartened bandits deserted Magabazou to returned to honest living. Soon, the ratio of bandits to mercenaries dropped to ten to one. It was under these conditions that the men the Desert Wolf sent to guard Zari' returned to the Hills of Qataban with another men: Yusif Um Namran.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/00Rebel.jpg

Yusif had been sent by Halik with an additional group of riders to make contact with the Desert Wolf, and inform him troops under the experienced Captain Yada' were rushed from Carna and Maryab. But as soon as they entered the hills, the mercenaries slipped into the sandy dunes. Yusif and his riders searched all around, but could not find the Desert Wolf. Finally he gave up, and moved to the camp of Captain Yada'. Together they marched off to confront Magabazou.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/01BattleofQatabanHills.jpg

The army of Sab'yn faced off with the rebel force in the Qataban Hills. The rebel force, originally the size of the Sab'yn force, was now outnumbered. They took up position on a hill, hoping to defend themselves. Captain Yada' manoeuvred his own force onto an opposite hill and readied for battle. It was at this instance that a messenger appeared out of the sand dunes. Yada' and Yusif looked at the man, a peasant in rags.
"Who are you? What do you want? Who sent you?" Yada' inquired. Yusif stood there beside him, watching the peasant moving with skill, as if used to moving quickly on horses.
"I'm from the militia force formed by the surrounding villages." The peasant replied. "Our leader Captain Shamdar sent me to inform you he has position himself behind the hill on the rebel's left flank. He will wait for you to strike, and then he shall fall on their rear."

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/02Reinforcements.jpg

Yada' thought for a second. "Tell your Captain Shamdar that we will welcome their help, but tell him not to commit his forces unless he sees trouble. I do not want to risk the lives of innocent people. The peasant nodded. His job done, the peasant rode off and disappeared back into the sand dunes.
"Peasant militia?" Yada' asked Yusif.
"I don't know. He didn't move like a peasant." Yusif answered. "He seems very used to the horse, more than a peasant should be. And his speech was very organized, as if he had done this many times before."
"Yes, I felt the same way."
Yusif thought a while. "I am afraid this could even be Magabazou's trap. Be careful."
Yada' nodded, and sounded the advance. Yusif stayed behind in the camp with the few camp guards. He was ordered not to go into battle, for his talent was too important.
The Sab'yn advanced. Yada' looked to his right. He could see a few horsemen hiding in the hills, watching the battle.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/03Lookson.jpg

Careful not to expose his own right flank, Yada' manoeuvred his force onto a high hill to their left. Magabazou turned his army around to be opposite the Sab'yn army. Now the hiding horsemen were behind Magabazou. If they be friend, they could hit the enemy rear. If they be foe, they would not fall on an open Sab'yn flank.
Before Yada' can complete his manoeuvres, Magabazou lost control of his rowdy host. His red sea axmen rushed towards the Sab'yn ranks unsupported. The Sab'yn let loose a shower of arrows and javelins, putting the rebels to flight.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/04BattleCommences.jpg

Seizing his chance, Yada' sounded the charge. The infantry rushed down the hill at the rebels yelling their battle cries. The rebel line faltered. In one last attempt, Magabazou with his own band of light cavalry, lead a charge at the Sab'yn ranks. The rebel infantry followed suit. The charge was strong, and Yada's own red sea levies suffered quite some casualties. The fighting was fierce, but the disorganized rebels soon lost ground. Magabazou, fighting ahead of his ranks, was surrounded and killed.
Seeing the rebel line falter, Yada' led his cavalry on a fierce charge at the rebel's right flank. The rebels broke. The Sab'yn gave chase. Yada' saw the fleeing cavalry of Magabazou and lead his own cavalry in pursuit leaving his infantry behind to hunt down the rebel infantry. When he had put some distance between he and his infantry, another band of rebel cavalry appeared. It was a reserve Magabazou had not committed, and now they charged the Yada's cavalry.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/05InTrouble.jpg

Yada' did not expect to face a fresh force of cavalry reserve. The Sab'yn cavalry's horses were winded. The men had used much strength in the battle. The Sab'yn cavalry were starting to loose ground when yet another force of cavalry appeared, this time from the hill behind the rebel cavalry. It was the so called peasant militia. Yada' remembered Yusif's warning and prepared to sound the retreat.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/06Rescue.jpg

But it was not needed, for at the sound of these horsemen, the rebel cavalry panicked. And soon the last of the rebel unit was put to flight. The rebels fled back into the Qataban Hills. The Sab'yn army let rise the cry of victory.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/07Victory.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/08Talk.jpg

Yada' watched the fleeing rebels with his cavalry. The peasant militia grouped behind him. "Thank you for your services, Captain Shamdar. You and your militia had been of great help." He turned to look at the militia captain, and was shocked at what he sees as a young man in his late teens. "You are very skilled. I want to recommend you to the lord Halik. The new Sab'yn kingdom needs men like you."
"Thank you for your kindness, Captain." The militia leader replied. "But I must lead my men back to their homes first."
"Of course, of course. When, you are ready, go to the barracks in Tamane, and I'll be there waiting for you."
"Thank you, sir." The peasant captain whistled, and his men rode off into the hills. Yada' watched with surprise at the organization of this rag-tag militia. "Sir, if you don't mind, I'd like you to deliver a few words to Lord Halik for me."
Yada' turned his head back to the militia leader. "Certainly."
"Thank you, sir." The young man bowed. "Please tell Lord Halik, and King Yazil as well, that if they can't even clear a province of bandit gangs, they will have no chance in building a mighty kingdom. Tell them that I will be waiting for them in Sabata." Before Yada' could say anything in response, the young man turned his horse around and rode off into the sand dunes.

That night at camp, Yada' described his encounter to Yusif.
"That's the Desert Wolf!" Yusif exclaimed.
Yada' stared at the spy speechless. "You mean, THE Desert Wolf?" Yada' inquired.
"No doubt about it. He was here helping us all along and we did not even realize it!"
"But you said you were not able to get the message to him."
"I wasn't. He must have kept everything in the area under his eyes." Yusif stood up and walked outside the tent. Yada' followed.
"What does he mean by his message?" Yada' asked.
"If he and his men weren’t around this time, the rebels would have taken Tamane." Yusif stopped and looked up at the night sky. He continued, "He probably want to tell us that if we can't even drive the bandits from the Qataban Hills ourselves, we will have no chance of defeating him at Sabata."
Yada' looked up at the sky, following Yusif's gaze. "He has always helped us out hasn't he? He cleared out the bandits around Maryab for us, and then used his authority to help us weaken Il Sharih's hold on Carna. And now he saved Tamane from the rebels."

Halik and Yazil were both shocked by the message. It was as if a strong wind had blown away the morning mist, and their own incompetence shone blindingly in their eyes. They first sent Yusif to Sabata to look for information and to mislead Luhay’ath, but more importantly to try to open a dialogue with the Desert Wolf.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%202/09Yusif.jpg

They then spent the next two years working harder than they had done in many years, finally clearing the Qataban Hills of bandits, turning the province into a prosperous, peaceful province.
Two years later, they lead an army together towards Sabata to face the Desert Wolf. As they passed through the Hills of Qataban, ordinary villagers came out in the hundreds to the side of the road to greet them and thanked them for their works. With a sense of accomplishment, and reminded once again how much they owe their kingdom to the Wolf of the Desert, they marched out from the Qataban Hills toward Sabata.

[General Appo]

Wow, another update already. If Sabata falls the Desert Wolf will have nowhere to run, unless the Ptolies or someone takes him in, butt hat would be a bit over the top wouldn´t it? Anyway, continued great story.

[schlappi]

Really good story. I enjoy it a lot!

[d'Arthez]

Great perspective, great story. Keep it up.

[Parallel Pain]

Glad you guys like it. It means the hours I spent fiddling with paint for the screenshots and the many more hours spent writing the story was well worth it:beam:

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Oh yes, it is surely worth it, it is magnificant!:2thumbsup:

[Reality=Chaos]

Awesome stuff, reads like a novel. Perhaps you could show a little bit more of the native culture and traditions? It's not criticism it's a genuine open suggestion.

[Parallel Pain]

The problem is I don't know any. The only Arabic culture I know is that they are Muslims so they pray to God at set points in the day. But this is obviously pre-Islam, so that takes that out.

[Reality=Chaos]

The problem is I don't know any. The only Arabic culture I know is that they are Muslims so they pray to God at set points in the day. But this is obviously pre-Islam, so that takes that out.
Wikipedia maybe? under pre-islamic culture in the arabian peninsula. EB gives some hints with the buildings. Apparently, there was a priest class and a noble class, and those of lower station. If you don't want to bother yourself with the research I would totally understand. This AAR is full of life already, I just think a pinch of culture would make it even more special (cause special it is, other AAR's read well, but you have a very interesting story line alongside a interesting campaign line, like I said before it really reads like a novel) Oh and one bit of background I do know. The south arabian cities got rich buy harvesting incense and other aromatics. The earlier Saba'yn Kingdom had also dominated the trade with India. Over sea from the peninsula and back, then up the red sea towards the greek colonies there, or with caravans north across the desert.The south of Arabia was also divide between nomadic bedouin and sedentary city dwellers. I do not know much of the cultures in these cities, except that religion was very important. There were many gods, but the largest were those of moon deity's There's more on them in EB. The bedouin would have a very similar culture to the one they have today. Simply look bedouin traditions up on the net and replace Islam with an naturalistic polytheistic belief, you are quite close to what they would have been like. If you want me to stop going about this, just give the word BTW

[Parallel Pain]

No no no by all means continue. It'll help my story (how much I don't know, after all it's about the rise of the faction, which means the focus lights is set on character and events, but I'm sure it'll help).

And I can't find much of use on Wiki, not even enough about bedouin culture.

Meh, according to http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ISLAM/PRE.HTM

Sab'yn have a different culture from bedouin culture, as Sab'yn are a sedimentry farming people in "good" agriculture land to the south while Bedouin Arabs are pastoral nomads.

[Reality=Chaos]

No no no by all means continue. It'll help my story (how much I don't know, after all it's about the rise of the faction, which means the focus lights is set on character and events, but I'm sure it'll help).

And I can't find much of use on Wiki, not even enough about bedouin culture.

Meh, according to http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ISLAM/PRE.HTM

Sab'yn have a different culture from bedouin culture, as Sab'yn are a sedimentry farming people in "good" agriculture land to the south while Bedouin Arabs are pastoral nomads.
Indeed the bedouins were a different culture, but one which was in many ways connected to the cities. You'll see that most light troops are actually from the surrounding tribes. Only the Archers heavy infantry, Noble Cavalry and the saba'yn city militia are completely Saba'yn units. You might be able to incorporate something about the trade center the region was, ships from India. Frankincense Myrhe and other aromatice were produced in the region. The Caravans might give you another useful lever for your story. To get a caravan up and running a city had to negotiate with the Bedouin tribes that lived in the territories which the caravan would cross. Some tribes would fight for the Saba, others might raid the caravans. A Caravan was far from a simple thing to organize but once established very profitable (as represented by the increasingly large bonuses you get from building a large caravan. To be true it is rather difficult to correctly portray the Saba, cause historically we don't know too much about them. What we know is that the culture there was polytheistic. They also had a culture which was similar to current Arabian culture minus Islam. That means that the cities would be rich trading cities, with enough arable land to support them surrounded by many different Bedouin tribes (What p*sses me of is that the Saba have nothing in the way of bedouin cavalry (camel or horse)in the game, which would be rather realistic:shame: . Also you might do something with that wicked ass huge dam you have as a special structure in Maryab.

[Parallel Pain]

I'ma painstakingly taking a screenshot of every single building/unit description and province and then cutting them out and keeping the description so I can read them for referance

Hope it'll help, it's takeing quite a long time.

EDIT: Hope I can write tomorrow. And I got Darth Formation Mod 2nd version + First Cohort/Phalanx/Elephant mod. Pray to Almagah that I'll still be able to win...

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 3: Luhay'ath

In the mean time, the Desert Wolf had his hands full preparing Sabata for the coming siege. New troops had to be levied, and the old troops, slacking in discipline after years of idleness, had to be retrained. But his biggest problem is, by far, the young Luhay'ath
Under Waty'ath the town of Sabata had truly been prosperous, trading out the finest brewed wine and the fattiest, healthiest of livestock to the surrounding cities and provinces. Waty'ath was good at playing with the surrounding diplomacy of the land. He had invited the southern groups of Bedouins, the desert nomads, to participate in the frequent ritual hunts to the rain god Athtar. He offered them good wine and fine meat regularly, as well as precious metals obtained from Maryab. In return these Bedouin tribes not only left Sabata alone, they watched over the caravans to and from the city, making sure bandits, plenty in these turbulent times, could not attack the traders. These tributes to the Bedouins from Sabata had continued for over a hundred year, but never before Waty'ath had the Bedouins been so closely tied to the city that they would protect its people.
If Waty'ath had made one mistake, it was spoiling his son Luhay'ath. Luhay'ath had worn the best clothes, ate the best food, smelled the best incense, and surrounded by the prettiest girls. He had never worked in the governing of the city, and seldom went to court. He has no knowledge of the delicate diplomatic balance his father had skilfully maintained, and the first action of him as ruler of the city is to insult every Bedouin in the city by calling them smelly illiterates. The second is to cut off the tributes to the desert nomads and cross them off on the invitation list to the ritual hunt. The third is to divert the timber the late ruler had set aside to building a defensive wall into building his own palace.
This is the situation the Desert Wolf found himself in. The city was far from the jewel he was when he last came here with his men so many years ago. It was Waty'ath who had hired him to be used as a balance chip of power between them and the Bedouins during a tense situation. But in the end Waty'ath was able to sort out the situation, and even invited him and his mercenaries to the ritual hunt.
Now the Bedouins had given up their defence of the city, and some even turned on Sabata's caravans, significantly reducing the city's supply of wood, arms, and even food. The city has no wall, no Bedouin protection, and a self indulgent ruler who has not gone to his court since the first ten minutes of his reign.
Thankfully, the Desert Wolf was able to convince the lazy young man to entrust him with organizing the defences of the city, as Luhay'ath was too busy with his pretty maids to care. Without a city wall and with no new timber to construct one (Luhay'ath had told him he'll be skinned alive if he tries to take the timber for the palace to build the walls) the Desert Wolf concentrated on equipping and training new troops. The citizens who joined, he supplied with what light weapons and armors he could find. For heavy troops, he relied on his own heavy infantry (their fine horses Luhay'ath took as price for being garrison commander) and the Ethiopian mercenaries he was able to get together through the pulling of some strings.
Luhay'ath had mounted his own noble infantry with the mercenary's horses, but even so the Desert Wolf knew he could not count on these show-cavalry. Even so, he had with him a fine army, well led, well trained, and well disciplined. They were ready to take on the Sab'yn in the field.
It is at this time the Sab'yn army, under both Yazil and Halik, with Zari' accompanying them, had arrived. Yusif had sent them the report that there were no walls in the settlement, but after seeing the dedication of the Desert Wolf in the training of his new army, Yusif added that it would be most unwise to assault the town head on. It is not the Sab'yn had no chance of victory in an assault. Many were trained by the Desert Wolf himself, and those who weren't were trained in the same style. They were well equipped, and most had seen battle. If they attacked, they had a good chance of winning. But fighting in the streets would mean the civilians would be harmed. The longer the fight, the more civilians would be harmed, and facing the Desert Wolf the Sab'yn leaders all agree they'll be facing a terribly long fight. Many civilians would be hurt, and as conquerors that would not hold well for when they try to rule the city, especially when the Sab'yn strength are really spread out.
So the decision was a siege. Meanwhile, without walls and without authority, the Desert Wolf could only watch as Yusif walked in and from the settlement. In he comes with expensive incense for Luhay'ath, and propaganda for the people. Out he goes with information about the city's supplies and morale. The people of the city, both the citizen and the soldiers, are frustrated. The food is running low, and yet Luhay'ath did nothing. There is even a rumour that Luhay'ath plans to cut back the troop's payments to get more incense. Fighting broke out amongst the units, with a few of the Desert Wolf's own men wounded. Men from other units started deserting.

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Finally, the Desert Wolf has had enough. He stormed Luhay'ath's villa. The guards couldn't stop his rage, and the servants and maids all hid. He reached the inner courtyard. Luhay'ath was lying on his bed, enjoying the afternoon sunshine, sleeping while a courtier played him music. The Desert Wolf's face turned a deep red. He grabbed the musicians flute, and swung it at a flowerpot. It crashed, breaking apart with a loud clank. Luhay'ath jumped up from the bed. The musician fled the scene.
The Desert Wolf grabbed Luhay'ath's clothes and started dragging him out the villa. "What do you think you're doing?!" Luhay'ath tried to stand up, but could not regain his footing. The Desert Wolf did not speak. He dragged the ruler like a slave through the streets towards the government court. The people watched in amazement. Some started clapping and shouting their approval.
They entered the court. The Desert Wolf forced Luhay'ath onto the throne chair. He walked to the gate, forced the it shut. He turned to Luhay'ath and boomed. "You specifically told the men that you will lead them out to fight the invaders, and anyone who goes out without your orders won't get paid! Now they have been sitting around for ten months, waiting! The food is running out, the men are deserting, and you still pay that spy for incense!"
"H-he's not a spy..." Luhay'ath stuttered.
The Desert Wolf looked at him, his face twisting from the anger. He paced back and forth, and then turned back to Luhay'ath. "All right, let's say I saw the wrong person and he's not a spy. Why exactly did you cut back of money for the men and use them to buy incense?"
"No..."
"I've heard it from Yusif, and I've see it in your clerk's documents myself! Explain!"
"I..."
At this moment, someone knocked on the gates.
The Desert Wolf turned around and walked up to the door. "We're busy!" he yelled out the door.
"I'm sorry, sir," squeaked the voice of a servant. "But the merchant Yusif is here with a Sab'yn diplomat."
The Desert Wolf paused, and then opened the gates. Yusif walked in, accompanied by Zari'. The Desert Wolf watched them walk pass him towards Luhay'ath. Zari' spoke "Yazil Il Watar, the Great King of Sab'yn, the conqueror of Carna, the ruler of the provinces of Saba, Qataban, and Ma'in, comes to give Luhay'ath an offer. Surrender the city and you will be allowed to live."
Luhay'ath stared at Zari', wide-eyed. "Surrender? Why?" A normal ruler would have said those words in a mocking tone. Luhay'ath, on the other hand, asked a question.
Zari' laughed. "After ten months of siege, your food stores are running out. While we have been rationing our food as well, our supplies have just been replenished by the harvests from YOUR fields. Your men are underpaid and they are deserting you. The Bedouins have abandoned you. The people are dissatisfied with you. You can't win this. But your life is of no value to us, Yusif have told us all about your skills. We will let you live and give you a piece of farmland, so you can taste what the people went through for you to sit there comfortably."
Luhay'ath was speechless. It is the Desert Wolf walked up beside Zari' and Yusif and spoke. "I ask you to give us one night to consider it. Come back tomorrow afternoon and we will give you our answer."
"Yes, of course." Zari' bowed to Luhay'ath, and turned to the Desert Wolf. "King Yazil and Prince Halik both want to talk to you, Desert Wolf. I hope we will get good news tomorrow." Zari' and Yusif bowed to the Desert Wolf, and left. The Desert Wolf walked them to the gate, then closed it behind them.
He turned around and faced the lord of the city, still frozen in disbelieve. He sighed. His anger had left with the messengers. He shook his head. "This is why I asked you to meet them in the field as soon as they got here. That was the moment when we had the greatest chance of victory."
Luhay'ath unfroze and turned to his general and advisor, the only one left still willing to serve him. "What should we do?"
The Desert Wolf walked up to the steps at the foot of the throne chair and sat done. He turned to the young governor. "It depends on your decision, my lord. If you decide to surrender, I will quietly sneak out the settlement tonight. If you want to fight, then I will lead the men into battle and try with the best of my ability to give you victory."
Luhay'ath thought for a while, and asked the Desert Wolf. "What do the Bedouins have to do with the defence of this city?"
The Desert Wolf looked at his lord, surprised at the question so out of time. But he answered "Your father, the Lord Waty'ath, had been on great terms with the nearby Bedouin tribes. The relationship between those tribes and the city was so good that the Bedouins protected our caravans and our cities. In return, Lord Waty'ath regularly gave them large amounts of wine, livestock, as well as precious items. It is the Bedouins that kept this small city safe from outsiders during the reign of your father."
Luhay'ath fell silent once more. The Desert Wolf continued. "Such diplomacy are always delicate business. And you because of your careless remark, and bad decision, the Bedouins have turned on the city. It is not surprising if they support the Sab'yns now."
"I never knew ruling a city required so many things." Luhay'ath said to the empty court space. "My father had not taught me these, but let me do what I wanted."
The Desert Wolf stared at Luhay'ath. "Well, what's your decision my lord."
Luhay'ath turned around and looked at the Desert Wolf. The Desert Wolf saw in the young man's eyes the strength that the late Waty'ath was famous for. "We fight. Tell me what I should do."
The Desert Wolf smiled. Luhay'ath's eyes had given him a tiny glimpse of hope. He could see himself supporting Luhay'ath and returning Sabata to its former glory. But first, the Sab'yn army must be dealt with. "I think we should fight tomorrow morning at dawn, before usual breakfast time. We'll fight before they have breakfast. With this we might be able to catch them not as well prepared, to make up for our desertion. And even if they come prepared, time is not on our side, so we should fight as soon as possible."
"What should I do?"
The Desert Wolf thought a while. "Think of some way to raise the spirits of the men. Their morale is quite low. But in a way any spies in town either can't find out or would find out too late." That was all he could think of, for the men did not know their lord, and their lord did not know them. The Desert Wolf stood up. "I'll go and give out the orders."
The order was passed. Everyone was to go to sleep early. Wake up call was three hours before sunrise, breakfast was two hours, and they move at dawn. On that order alone, the spirits of the men rose, for they finally would be fighting.

It was a particularly chilly late-autumn morning, but that was not the reason Halik woke up early. He did not know why he woke up in the darkness, but he could not go back to sleep. There was supposed to be no worries, for the surrender of the city was today, but he could not sleep. He walked around the camp, inspecting the guards.
He left camp and lied down on the grass outside. He put his head on his hands and looked up at the stars. After a few moments, he heard the sound of someone walking through the grass towards him. He turned his head to look. It was Yusif. He returned to his original position.
"My Lord, may I..."
"Sit, sit. You know I don't like being called that." He cut off his childhood friend. Yusif sat down beside Prince Halik and looked at the sleeping city. "Can't sleep?"
"No." Yusif answered. "You yourself, my lord..."
"I said don't call me that." Halik snapped.
"I'm sorry," Yusif laughed. "I'm getting used to using it in public."
"Yes, all the formalities of court."
"It's..."
"Yes, yes it's needed to keep the noble families in place I know."
Yusif chuckled. "I'll try to remember not to use it in private."
There was a calm silence. Yusif waited, as he's always done. "I think to myself once in a while," Halik started, "that a peasant life wouldn't be so bad."
"How so?"
"They don't have to face all those loud-mouth nobles, don't have to play politics, don't have to pretend." Halik stopped and swallowed, then continued. "They don't have to make so many decisions, and the lives of hundreds do not rest on the decisions that they make. All they have to do is farm and look out for their own family."
"That is true." Yusif agreed. "But only because you and King Yazil are in power." Halik turned on his side to looked at his childhood playmate. "My grandmother told me when I was young," Yusif continued, "that during her mother's time there wasn't a farmhouse that were not robbed by someone at least once, not one household that had not lost someone to war and famine. There was a funeral in the city nearly every single day." Yusif turned to to look at his lord. "Our kingdom is no longer like that thanks to King Yazil and you. Our kingdom are peaceful and prosperous. The stomach of our people are full. They have warm cloths on their bodies, and they don't need to fear robbers and invaders day in and day out. You and the king are doing a magnificent job."
Halik smiled and turned back on his back. "Thanks, Yusif."
"Any time." Yusif turned back to look at the city. "Of course we have to thank the Desert Wolf as well."
"Yes, that's why we've been trying so..."
"My lord!" Yusif spoke, startled.
Halik sat up. He knew something's up. "What?"
Yusif stood up and pointed at the city. Halik followed his point. In the pitch black, rays of firelight were coming out from the city. Small columns of smoke were popping from here and there, rising up into the night sky. Yusif squinted. "Cooking fire? So early in the morning?"
Halik jumped to his feet and sprinted back to camp. Yusif followed him.

Luhay'ath had figured out a way to further lift the spirits of the men. He had his servants pass out his best wine in cups to warm the bodies of the men in the chilly morning. He personally went around distributing his personal possessions and valuables to the men. The Desert Wolf followed him and smiled and the promises shown by this young man. He could see from the movement of this young lord the bight future of the city of Sabata, and for a tiny moment he forgot his goal of retaking Tamane.
They were ready, and at dawn they marched forward. The Desert Wolf could see that they had not taken the Sab'yn completely unprepared. They were quick to line up for battle and position themselves midway up a ridge.
But one unit was left isolated at the bottom. It flew the colors of Prince Halik.

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"Desert Wolf." Luhay'ath spoke. He was riding with his noble cavalry in the front ranks.
"Yes, my lord?"
"If the enemy looses one of its generals, its morale would drop and its ranks be disorganized, right?"
"Yes, but..." Before he could finish, Luhay'ath rushed ahead with a great shout. His cavalry followed. The Desert Wolf cursed himself for letting such a raw, young, but important young man be in the front ranks with the cavalry. Luhay'ath had just gained his fire, he had not yet learned how to use it. In order to protect his lord, the Desert Wolf sounded the charge.
As soon as Luhay'ath made his move, Halik turned and raced towards the Sab'yn ranks.

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The first part of his plan had worked, and now he needs to make it back to his army alive. But the quick horses of the noble cavalry were soon right on his tail.
Just before he was overtaken, a shower of arrows came down from the Sab'yn lines and flew over his heads. They struck Luhay'ath's cavalry hard. Soon the skirmishers of the forward line let join their javelins.

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Luhay'ath tried to rally his cavalry in the storm of missiles. But they had outstripped their own missile support. While turning to rally his troops, a javelin struck his horse. At the same time two arrows entered his back, one beside his right shoulder, one at his waist. He fell off the horse. Seeing their lead fall, most of the remaining noble cavalry fled. A few men, good loyal troops to the late Waty'ath, dismounted and rushed to protect their lord.

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The Desert Wolf arrived on the scene. His men formed a wall of shields. He threw aside his spear and shield and knelt down beside Luhay'ath, holding the young lord up in his arms. "My lord!"
Luhay'ath looked up at him. There was a deep purple under his eyes. "I guess..." he coughed. "I guess it's too late for me to try to fix my mistakes."
The Desert Wolf shook his head. "No, my lord. You have to live! Live and I'll make you ruler of all Arabia."
Luhay'ath smiled at him. "Don't be silly..." blood was starting to choke his words. "Go, go and join the Sab'yn. They will unite Arabia. Help-help them accomplish that. Th-they'll be a be-better ruler for Sabata th-than me..." With those last words, Luhay'ath lost consciousness. The renewed fire of the late Waty'ath had lasted barely half a day before it was swallowed by the even large flames of war.
The Desert Wolf put down the body of the lifeless young man. Barely a day ago he had wished to killed the man himself, but now he felt an rage from the deepest depths of hell boiling up inside him. He stood and looked around. The men know their leader had fallen, and they were faltering under the shower of Sab'yn missiles. He picked up his spear and shield and turned to face the Sab'yn lines. His men looked at him. The remaining noble cavalry, dismounted, looked at him. With a mighty battle cry he charged forward. The men around him heard the cry, and, raising the same cry, rushed forward to follow him.

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Soon the cry echoed throughout the defenders of Sabata, and the men with swords and spears followed the charge, while the men with bows and slings doubled their efforts. They hit the Sab'yn left flank hard, and a desperate melee ensued.

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The fierce battle forced King Yazil to commit his own bodyguards to the fighting. Meanwhile, Prince Halik seized the moment of weakness in the other parts of the enemy line and ordered a charge. He lead his own bodyguards down through the center. The spearmen around him followed. They pushed aside the enemy center and turned around on the enemy right. The cavalry, concentrated on Sab'yn right flank, committed themselves to the charge and swept aside the skirmishers of Sabata, then wheeled around and hit the defenders of the city in the rear.

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The defenders started to flee. But the Desert Wolf did not back down. He fought and fought. He threw away his shield so he could use his spear more effectively. And when his spear broke, he drew his own sword with his right hand and picked up one from the ground with his left. The Sab'yn were afraid to get close to this monster, but he was not afraid to get close to them. He rushed through the Sab'yn ranks like a madman, with no one brave enough to face him, and, under orders, no arrows or javelins were let loose at him.
He finally stumbled upon the guards of Halik and Yazil. They closed in on him from all sides. He pulled back his sword to strike. But before he could, a heavy blow landed on the back of his head and he fell unconscious.

Meanwhile the defenders had disintegrated, their lines broken, their morale non-existent.

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Sab'yn cavalry mercilessly rode down the routing defenders, killing the few who reached the town square. The archer-spearmen, prevented from firing on the Desert Wolf, turned their attention a few fleeing slingers and shot them down before they reached the city.

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After a ten month siege and a hard battle, the Sab'yn army let raise the cry of victory in the town square of Sabata. The settlement was theirs.

The Desert Wolf woke up amidst the sound of celebration of the Sab'yn army. He found himself lying on a bed inside a brightly lit tent. It has been almost five years since he had heard the same sound in nearly the same situation in Tamane. Just as he sat up, four men entered the tent. They were Yazil Il Watar, Halik Il Watar, Yusif Um Namram, and Zari' Shams Asri'

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They saw him sitting up, and let out looks of relieve. "I am glad you're awake," King Yazil spoke. "We need to talk, great Wolf of the Desert."

[Reality=Chaos]

WOW, This just get's better and better. Will the Desert wolf finally join the Saba'yn? Or will his honor prevent that? I am honored that you chose to use some of my suggestions. When are you going to be published:yes: ? Well keep up the great work. I hope I did not give you too much extra work...

[Parallel Pain]

Heh, you actually made me do a lot of extra work. But it's worth it.:yes:

I'm actually afraid that many people around here won't read this because it's too long.:sweatdrop: They want to see an AAR, not a sort-of novel.~:mecry:

And I'll publish it if you'll buy it.:2cents: Maybe even donate some of the profit to EB:smash:

[White_eyes:D]

Yeah, its a little hard starting off but its more then worth it in the end:beam:.
The part I liked the best was this speech:"After ten months of siege, your food stores are running out. While we have been rationing our food as well, our supplies have just been replenished by the harvests from YOUR fields. Your men are underpaid and they are deserting you. The Bedouins have abandoned you. The people are dissatisfied with you. You can't win this." Wish I could say that in the EB diplomacy screen:laugh4:. Great AAR kept going Parallel Pain:whip:

[Gebeleisis]

i one read it all and i one like the novel type of aar.
stands out from the rest,and its better reading then a lots of books now'days:2thumbsup:

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 4:
The Way Of The Water, The Way Of The Sand

King Yazil walked close to the bed. The Desert Wolf waited for him to get close, then suddenly flew up from the bed, whipping up the sheep skin covering him and throwing it over King Yazil's face. Quick as lightning he bent down, bent his arms, and pushed down hard on his feet. His elbow rammed into King Yazil's stomach hard as the flood waters. Yazil is knocked off his feet, falling to the ground. The Desert Wolf swung back his leg for a kick. But at that instant Halik, who was close to his father when the Wolf of the Desert went mad, jumped on him and knocked him to the ground. Yusif quickly added into the struggle, and pinned the struggling Wolf firmly to the ground. Zari' bent down to tend to his king and called for help.
The bodyguards of both the king and the prince rushed into the tent. They found their king lying on the ground coughing, holding his stomach in pain, their diplomat trying to tend to their king with a frightened face, and their prince, together with their spy, pinning down a howling Desert Wolf.
The Captain Yasir, the captain of the Sab'yn army during the assault on Tamane, and now captain of the king's bodyguard, drew out his sword and rushed towards the struggling Wolf. His cousin had been killed by the Desert Wolf's mercenaries, and now this mad mercenary knocked over his king. Like any bodyguard of the king would do, he was going to end the life of this miserable Wolf.
Halik still struggled to pin the Desert Wolf down. It was Yusif who looked up when Yasir closed. He saw Yasir standing before them, his sword drawn back, the shining iron blade ready to be plunged into the Desert Wolf's neck. "Yasir!" A voice from the bodyguard ranks yelled out. Halik noticed the shadows and looked up to see the sword, like a speeding arrow, started its plunge down. He had no time to react, and the Desert Wolf was pinned down beneath his body, unable to move.
A sudden loud clang resounded in the room, followed by a soft swish. The Desert Wolf looked up at Captain Yasir. He was no longer screaming. His face was not one of anger, but an unusual calmness for one who had faced death. A tiny stream of blood trickled out from his right shoulder, dying his soft, sandy brown cloak red. The sword had entered the soft earth just to the right of his shoulder, cutting a shallow gash into his flesh. On top of him, still pinning him down with the left knee, was Yusif. In Yusif's out-stretched right hand was a curved dagger, held firmly in the hands of the spy.
Yusif stared at the bodyguard captain. "Back off." The words were quiet, but heavy. Yasir did not move, but stared back at Yusif in amazement. Another bodyguard rushed forward. He was Yada', the captain of the army that fought the rebel Magabazou. He was Yasir's best pal, and now captain of the prince's bodyguards. He had called to stop Yasir, and now he tugged on his friend's arm.
"Yasir." A gentle voice sounded throughout the room. Everyone turned to the source of the voice. It was King Yazil Il Watar. He sat up an coughed. "Yasir, I understand your anger and pain. I had lost my favourite nephew in the chaos of Maryab eight years ago." Still squinting in pain, Yazil held his stomach with his left hand, and tried to support himself on his right. Zari' pulled the king to his feet. "I know it's difficult," the gentle king continued, "but I ask you to let this man live. Our kingdom needs this man."
Yasir looked at his king for a long moment, and bowed deeply. He pulled his sword from the ground and sheathed it. Halik and Yusif stood up, pulling the Desert Wolf on his feet with them. Halik spoke. "Keep your guards outside, and do not come in unless we call on you again. And don't let anyone else disturb us tonight." His voice was calm, but everyone could hear hidden under the calmness a vast volt of anger ready to burst open. Yasir and Yada' turned to the prince and bowed deeply, and hurried their bodyguards outside.
The Desert Wolf had lost all sense of struggle, and stood, as if lifeless, watching the bodyguards leave. Halik and Yusif sat him down on the bed. Zari' grabbed a chair for King Yazil to sit down. "I am sorry, Desert Wolf," the king started, still holding on to his stomach. "I am sorry for the behaviour of my bodyguards."
The Desert Wolf stared blankly outside the tent at the campfire and night sky. Yusif left the tent for a moment, and came back with a bowl of water and some pieces of clean cloth, and started washing the cut on the Desert Wolf's shoulder. The Desert Wolf, as if he had not even felt anything, continued to stare out the opening of the tent. Halik followed his gaze. The others did the same and saw what looked like the carnage of the battlefield on a gentle slope covered with dried grass. It was the battlefield from that morning.
"You killed Luhay'ath." They turned back to looked at the Desert Wolf. He was still staring blankly outside the tent. "Your men killed young Luhay'ath."
Yazil stared at him, wide-eyed. "He was a tyrant, that young man. You know how he treated his men, and yours."
Finally the Desert Wolf turned to face the Sab'yn king. On his anguish face were tears, little droplets fresh out of his eyes. Everyone was shocked, even the Desert Wolf. "He was NOT a tyrant." The Desert Wolf could hear himself talk, but did not know what he was saying anymore. "He was NOT a tyrant. He had his father's skills, his father's drive, his father's eyes. He would have been the best ruler for Sabata. I could have made him so. The people of the city would have gladly died for him. Even the Bedouins."
The four men from the tribe of Saba were shocked at the words of this man of the Qataban. Even the Wolf did not know why he felt so strongly for a person he had wanted to be strangled not even two days ago. But he continued, "He was so young. He was five years younger than me, at only sixteen. His father had received a son at fifty two years of age, of course he would have spoiled the young man." The Desert Wolf swallowed. "But for half a day, for just half a day. For half a day he let be believe the city could still be held, the battle could still be won. For half a day looking at his figures working tirelessly over the city plans like his old father, he gave me hope that the Bedouins could be brought back, that the city could be peaceful again. For half a day looking at him cheering up the troops, looking at the fight returning to the men's eyes, I had forgotten I had set out to retake Tamane. For half a day he had been a master that I would gladly have died for, that I SHOULD have died for."
A few more drops of tears fell on the bed. Though few in number, these tears carried with them more despair than all the water of the red sea. The tent was silent. "I am sorry." King Yazil said, an apology coming from deep inside his heart. "I did not know there was such promise in this young man, or I would not have issued such harsh terms of surrender." King Yazil stood up. He was deeply pained, not at how strong a tie the Desert Wolf felt towards the dead Luhay'ath, but at the fact that his army had killed of a potential subject of great skills. "Rest for today, Desert Wolf. Tomorrow we march back towards Saba and Maryab. There are things I want to show you in my kingdom."

Leaving behind a small garrison, the Sab'yn army headed back for Maryab. Once again they entered the hills of Qataban. Once again the peasants from near-by villages rushed out to the sides of the road to cheer on the victorious troops. They rode in front of their bodyguards marching on foot, at the front of their army. Halik turned to the Desert Wolf, who was looking at the cheerful faces of the people. "We had taken your advice, and cleared out these hills of bandit clans." The Desert Wolf turned to the prince, who continued. "We have even invited some of the Bedouin tribes to take up their territories in these hills, and they have agreed in return to watch over our caravans from the other tribes to the north and clear the hills of bandits for us."
"This is all thanks to your guidance, Desert Wolf." Yusif joined the conversation. "If you had not left us the message, we would have marched to Sabata while the rebels are still in the hills. Because of one suggestion from you," Yusif stretched out his hand and picked up a tiny yellow desert flower held out at him from a young peasant girl. He continued, "because of one suggestion from you, these peasants can finally live a peaceful live after years and years of chaos. Look at the liveliness in their eyes."
The Desert Wolf looked at the prince and his childhood companion. He turned back to the peasants, and picked up a piece of bread offered to him. He smiled. He heard familiar sound of hoofs. He looked up into the hills. His mercenaries had been given back their horses by King Yazil, and were travelling with the Sab'yn army as light cavalry for as long as their leader remained with the army. He smiled again.
They entered Maryab amidst the cheers of the local population. They were showered with praises. The soldiers marched with their heads held high. The Desert Wolf looked around, examining the shop stores and buildings and the cheering crowd. "What are you looking for, Desert Wolf?" Zari' noticed and asked. The Desert Wolf shook his head in silence, but continued to look around.
They reached the town square. King Yazil dismissed the troops, who headed for home and their families. Then Yazil led them inside the palace. A beautiful young woman in her late teens rushed out to greet them. Yazil and Halik rushed up to the young woman. Yusif and Zari' stopped in the courtyard, observing the court custom. The Desert Wolf stood frozen at the entrance, admiring the woman's beauty. Her long, dark brown hair flew gracefully behind her. Her eyes gleamed in the sunlight like jewels of a colour yet unnamed. Her beautiful body moved gracefully in a snow white robe. She moved eloquently, unlike the maids they had passed by. "Father, Brother, so glad you are home. The year had been long without you around."
"Oh my dear, your mouth are as sweet as always." Yazil laughed.
"How is mother?" Halik asked.
"Oh she's fine." The woman answered. "She came down with a slight cold about a few weeks ago, but when news came of your victory, she suddenly got well without needing any herbs." She giggled. "Come, come, we'll talk about this later, go inside." She walked down the steps and out into the courtyard in front of Yusif and Zari'.
"Princess." Yusif and Zari' bowed. "Glad to see you lively as always." Zari' said.
"You have turned so pretty we did not recognize you at first." Yusif added.
"You flatter me with that same sentence every time, Yusif" The young princess giggled.
"I do?" Yusif asked, pretending he didn't realize. They laughed.
"Come, come in. We have a great feast all ready." She gestured them towards the inner palace and walked towards the last guest, who continued to stand frozen in the gateway. She walked towards him with open arms and a wide smile. "Welcome to..." she stopped, her smile disappeared, her hands dropped to her side. She looked carefully at the man standing in front of her. The man was tall, dark black hair, with thick eyebrows, a strong build, and the eyes of a lion, the eyes she had seen only once before. Her face turned red. She spoke with a voice so soft, it was inaudible to anyone but her and this new guest. "The Desert Wolf."
Yusif and Zari' looked at each other confused. Yazil and Halik smiled. Halik walked back out the palace, through the courtyard, and to the couple staring at each other. "Desert Wolf," the Desert Wolf turned to look at him. "Do you remember my sister, Mubsamat?"
The Desert Wolf's eyes widened. He looked at the woman standing before him, the beautiful lady. The last time he had seen her she had been a cute, playful little girl of eleven, and he had been fifteen, having just earned a name for himself for clearing the bandits around Maryab. He forgot to bow, and looked at Mubsamat, who twitched uncomfortably under the glance, her original light skin on her face now red. Halik laughed and put one arm around each of their shoulder. "Come on. The feast is ready, right? I want to meet my young Tawbtawan."
They walked inside. Yusif and Zari' told the guests of the successful campaign, and the welcoming peasants. Yazil and Halik listened to the Queen Hamlat, Halik's young wife Lady Tawbtawan, and other nobles talk about what went on in the city while they were away. The Desert Wolf was silent, examining the ranks of nobles and the atmosphere. Mubsamat was unusually quiet today, walking around directing the maids and serving the guests. The two changed momentary glances, and always quickly turned aside their vision. There wasn't a person at the feast (besides the two of them) that didn't notice the queer atmosphere between the young mercenary general and the princess.

A week later, Mubsamat woke up from a restless night. King Yazil had took the week to show the Desert Wolf around Maryab and the surrounding provinces of Saba, and Mubsamat had followed them around. During the first few days she had wanted to ask the Desert Wolf about her promise, but she soon realized the seriousness of the matter and contended herself with following them. She quickly got dressed and went to the courtroom to look for her father. Instead he found her brother and Zari' already busy at work sorting out matters of state, and receiving complants from the citizens. She saw Yusif, preparing to leave, and stopped him. "Where's my father?"
Yusif bowed at the princess. "He took the Desert Wolf into the city to show him around, my princess."
"Thank you, Yusif." The princess hurried out the palace. Yusif looked at her figures, greeted on both sides by happy citizens, disappear into the streets. He chuckled, and set out for Carna.
Mubsamat wondered through the street, asking around for the king. It took her quite a while, but she finally found them near the southern gate, examining the crowd coming and going. She walked towards them, but Yasir, loyal bodyguard, stopped her. "I'm sorry, princess, but the king asked not to be disturbed by anyone."
Mubsamat nodded, and stood with the bodyguards. 'I had just wanted to follow them, that's all,' she told herself. 'And I can do it with these men.'
She listened closely, trying to pick up their conversation over the morning crowd. She saw Yazil walking up to a large caravan parked for inspection. The Desert Wolf followed. "You see all these caravans, packed with the incense of the red sea coast, the livestock of Hadramaut, the silver of Saba, the gold of Ma'in, and finally the ivory of Qataban." She heard her father speak. "These caravans are packed with expensive goods. But there are no mercenaries following them."
"It is true." Mubsamat heard the Desert Wolf answer. "Not so many years ago, such large caravans would have hired mercenaries to keep away the bandits, or would have paid heavy fees to Bedouin tribes for protection. It is quite amazing what you have done."
"It's thanks to you. Clearing the bandits around Saba, and then telling us to clear the bandits around Qataban. You have done much in making these lands safe and prosperous, and the people know it. You heard those shop keepers greet you." Yazil turned to look at the Desert Wolf. "You are well known for your deeds in these lands. I will need help to unite Arabia. I am no great general. My son is much more talented in those arts than I." The Desert Wolf nodded in agreement. The king continued, "but to build a strong kingdom in Arabia, I need more generals than just my son. And I need competent advisors, especially men who has seen through the hardships of the people and could tell me how to benefit their lives. I need you, Desert Wolf. I am begging you to join us."
The Desert Wolf shook his head. "I am a mercenary general, great king." He answered. "Men like me causes suffering of the people. We kill for a living, and when we do, the women and children cry, and the lines of families are ended. Men like me are not fit to advise you about the hardships of the people. As for uniting Arabia, Prince Halik would be sufficient." The king moved to speak, but the Desert Wolf continued. "I have seen too much death. Many good men who followed me had died, and I had with my own hands caused the deaths of many more. Now I only wish to be another trader, so I can witness the rise of your prosperous kingdom in peace. I only ask you take care of my men."
The Desert Wolf bowed deeply, and, without waiting for an answer, turned around to head back towards the palace for his belongings. He froze. Standing a few steps in front of the bodyguards was Mubsamat, tears of anguish running down her face. She turned, pushed her way through the bodyguards, and ran into the bustling streets. The Desert Wolf watched her figures getting smaller and smaller, as the peoples parted to make way for here. Yazil walked up beside him, his gaze following her daughter. "You had promised my daughter six years ago that you would come and work for me, and then you would play with her again. For six years she has rejected suitor after suitor, waiting for you. She has never made a scene like this in the streets."
"I broke that promise when I chose to become your enemy and defend Tamane." The Desert Wolf took a few step forward.
"Desert Wolf." Yazil spoke behind him. The Desert Wolf stopped. "There are a great many more things I want you to see. Make your decision after you see those things. If then you still want to retire and become a trader, I won't stop you. So I want you to follow me around my kingdom for a few weeks."
"Yes, great king." He answered without even turning around, and resumed his walk back towards the palace.
"Leave your belongings in the palace, Desert Wolf." King Yazil called behind him. "We're heading out for Ma'in, for Carna. We leave first thing tomorrow."

The princess, after crying through the rest of the day and night, decided to follow them. They went slowly, Yazil showing the Desert Wolf the homes and farms of happy citizens. They reached the outskirts of Carna in about a week's time. At mid-afternoon, they entered the city. Instead of a bustling market scene, the people were lined up on the side of the road bowing down to them as the pass. The entire city was out in the streets, from the nobles to the merchants to poor farmers and their children. The Desert Wolf turned to Yazil. "What are they doing?"
"They're bowing to you, Desert Wolf." Yazil answered. "They are bowing to you."
The reached the town square, and there at the centre, before a large group of wealthy merchants, was Yusif. He walked forward, with a little box in hand. He walked before the Desert Wolf. "Great Wolf of the Desert. The merchants of this city would like to offer you this gift as thanks for your work in making this region of Arabia safe."
He held out the box. The Desert Wolf took the box and opened it. Inside were a number of gold and silver pieces, as well as large number of jewels and crafts. They reflected brightly in the mid-afternoon sun. The Desert Wolf shut the box and turned to Yusif. Before he could say a word, Yusif rose his hands and clapped. The merchants behind him parted, and a few men carried forward three large chest and placed them in front of him. He bent down and opened them. The first was filled with finely made textiles, clothing, and expensive incense. The second were filled with hunting trophies. There were elephant tusks, gazelle antlers, goat skin, fox skin, even an Arabian Leopard hide and an Arabian Ostrich egg. The third was filled with fine crafts of every kind from small statues of himself and his band to silver drinking vessels, to jugs of the finest wine with him and his men painted on it. Before the Desert Wolf could speak a word, Yusif clapped again, and more men walked forward. This time they had with them three fine Arabic horses, tall and muscular, with dark brown skin and eyes of black jade.
The Desert Wolf turned and stared at Yazil with a disgusted face. The king smiled and shook his head. "You think I am trying to buy your loyalty. I am not. On hearing of your return from Sabata, people from all over my kingdom rushed to put together gifts for you. They picked representatives from their community and sent them to Maryab with their gift. The people who had expensive items picked out the best, the people who hadn't put together some money to buy a few items. And these are what they ended up putting together. You can ask anyone here whether I had bought, or even ordered them to bring out these goods. They will tell you no."
The Desert Wolf looked up and around the crowd in disbelieve. But wherever his glance went it was made with nods. A few men even answered his questioning eyes with words: it's true. "Great Wolf of the Desert." Yusif spoke, and the Desert Wolf turned to him. "The people had asked me to speak for them, and to thank you for making this kingdom safe. They want to say no matter if you choose to continue to serve, your deeds would always be remembered."
Yusif bowed deeply. The merchants behind him followed. The Desert Wolf looked at them, speechless. There was a great silence, then a voice rose up from the crowd from behind him. "Great Desert Wolf!" Everyone turned to the source of the voice. It was a young farmer, with his young son, about ten years of age, standing beside him. They stood in front of the crowd. "Great Desert Wolf! You might not remember us but you and your men had saved us from a group of marauding Bedouins seven years ago. We beg you. Please protect our homes like you have done. Please!" The man and his son bowed deeply, their upper body almost perpendicular to their legs.
Yusif rushed forward past the Desert Wolf and King Yazil. "What are you saying? We agreed not to beg and let the Desert Wolf deci..."
Before Yusif could finish, one of the rich merchants in the town square cried out. "Desert Wolf! You might not remember, but five years ago I had just been robbed by bandits and left to die in the desert. Not only did you save me, you got back a large portion of my cargo! I beg you too, to keep watching over this land! Please!" Soon the crowd all put forward their stories and pleads. There was a sudden rush or words, and then silence as the people all bowed.
King Yazil smiled. Yusif was stunned. The Desert Wolf froze for a long moment, then looked all around the bent bodies around him. "I..." he started, and trailed off. He knew he had made a name for himself, but not like this. "I can't accept this, I..." He looked around again. "Raise your heads, please, all of you, I didn't..."
"The Desert Wolf will hold back on these gifts for now." King Yazil spoke. The Desert Wolf turned to look at the king. "He is tired after a long journey, and we still have much road to cover. Let him rest. When he made his decision, then he will receive the gift. Yes?" The Desert Wolf could do nothing but nod. They walked forward, past the piles of gift, towards Il Sharih's old villa. The people before them, like the stories of Moses told by the Israelites, parted like the waves.

They were in the hills just north of Ma'in the next day. Yusif had headed back towards Maryab, but Mubsamat still followed them, standing with the bodyguards. The Desert Wolf was thinking about the sight he had witnessed yesterday, his mind numb. As they reached the top of a hill, Yazil spoke "You told me when I first met you, that your way of being a general was to follow the way of the water and the way of the sand." He stopped.
The Desert Wolf stopped beside him. A wind blew across his face. Beyond the hills was a sea of sand, the Arabian Desert.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/00Desert.jpg

"Yes, I did," the Desert Wolf answered.
The king turned to the mercenary general. "Can you explain to me again what you meant by the way of the water and the way of the sand?"
The Desert Wolf nodded. "Both water and sand are flexible. They can adjust to any crack, go through any hole. But a flood water will burst at the dike you least expect when you least expect it to, and the force of the flood will destroy anything that stands in its way." He turned and pointed out at the Arabian Desert. "The sand, on the other hand, are strong like those dunes. You can't move them. Yet they move fast with the wind, like the wind, and are on top of you before you in a sandstorm before you know it. And when they cover up a well in the desert, you don't know it's a death hole until you step on it." He turned back to look at Yazil. "An army need to be flexible, fast, stand strong, and strike hard. Its movements need to be unpredictable, and its traps unnoticeable. That's the way of the water and the way of the sand."
The king nodded and turned to look out at the vast sea of sand. He stared at it for a long time. The Desert Wolf followed his gaze. The sun warmed their faces, and the wind cooled them. Finally, Yazil spoke. "Beyond this desert are the lands of the great empires of the Seleucids of Mesopotamia and the Ptolemy of Egypt. They are fighting for the lands beyond this desert. You know about them?"
"I've heard."
There was another long pause, then Yazil continued. "I have my own theory about the way of the water and the way of the sand. It's about the workings of my kingdom."
The Desert Wolf turned to look at the king, but the king continued to look out towards the desert. He pointed at the sea of sand. "This desert is all that stands between the divided tribes of Arabia and those great empires. The harsh terrain of the desert are the homes of the Bedouin tribes, and they are loyal to no one. It's the desert and the Bedouins that kept those empires from taking over our home." He dropped his hand and turned towards the Desert Wolf. "The sand is our barrier against these great powers. But there will come a day it will not stop those empires. They will come down the coast and try to take over us. When that happens, the people of Arabia need to be its new barrier."
Yazil bent down, grabbed a handful of sand, and stood up again. He opened his palms face up and held the sand out to the Desert Wolf. The Desert wolf examined the sand, then looked back at Yazil. Yazil looked at the mercenary general. A wind blew across the hill top, and Yazil spoke. "We are sand, Desert Wolf. We are the sand of Arabia. The powers of the empires are like this wind. It's not that strong, not that fierce. It's not enough to blow away a large sand dune like the one we stand on. But little handfuls of sand like this will be easily brushed aside and blown away." The sand in Yazil's hands were carried away into the wind. Yazil turned and looked at the sand flying in the wind until they were out of sight. He turned back to the Desert Wolf. "To build a large sand dune that this wind can not move, I need sand. I need lots and lots of sand. I need men like you, Desert Wolf, to help me protect Arabia from these winds. Will you join me?"
The Desert Wolf did not know what to say. He is ashamed at himself, and amazed at what this man of almost fifty years of age has seen. The king looked at him. "Don't answer my question yet. I still want to tell you the way of the water." He turned and started down the hill. "We're heading back to Maryab, for Saba." His bodyguards followed their lord down the hill. The Desert Wolf stood on top, looking at them. Mubsamat climbed the little distance to stand beside the Desert Wolf. She did not say anything, but looked at him. He looked back at her, and couldn't say anything.

A week later, they were back in Saba. This time Halik, Yusif, and Zari' were all there with them. King Yazil lead them up a tall, long staircase of a thick stone wall. This staircase was usually off limits to normal people, for the wall contained a very important resource: water. It was the Great Dam of Marib.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/01MaribDam.jpg

They reached the top of the dam. In front of them was a lake, of river water that from the mountains that had gathered behind this wall. Yazil started, "Our ancestors had toiled for hundreds of years to build this dam." Yazil pointed at the lake. "The water is not very high right now, for it is late in the year and the water had been mostly used up. In a few months the rain will come, and soon this dam would be full again." He pointed into the mountains to the north. "In those mountains are many, many streams. They come together to form rivers, and those rivers come together into one large river that gives us the water of this dam." Yazil turned to the mercenary general, stunned by the sight. "If those streams don't come together to form small rivers, and those small rivers don't come together to form a large river, this dam would be useless, and our people would starve." He let his arm drop. The Desert Wolf turned to look at this great king. "Each of us is a stream, Desert Wolf. The more streams, the more people that can be fed by the water of this dam. To feed the people, I need streams. I need more streams."
The Desert Wolf looked emptily at the Yazil. "Desert Wolf." Yazil spoke with a stern face. "For the good of the people of Arabia, I ask you to become a handful of sand in my fist, a stream in my mountains. No, I beg you." He bowed. He did not bend as far as the people at Carna, but the weight of his bow was heavier than all of them combined.
Zari' suddenly rushed up, and held out in his arms a nicely folded sheep-skin. "This is yours. You had told me when you left it with me three years ago that you want it back." The Desert Wolf turned and looked at Zari' and slowly took the sheep skin. Zari' walked beside King Yazil. "I am beg you, also, great Wolf of the Desert." He bowed. Prince Halik and Yusif walked forward and stood beside Zari'. They said nothing, but bowed deeply.
Mubsamat rushed forward, and knelt down in front of the Desert Wolf, tears streaming down her eyes. "I am begging you also, Desert Wolf. I don't care if you forget about me, but please, help my father." She rested her head on the stone blocks of the dam.
The Desert Wolf looked at the five people in front of them. A long moment of silence passed, the wind blew from the mountains, rippling their robes and blowing their hair. Finally, the Desert Wolf smiled, and looked up at the sun above their heads. "I need a name." The group in front of them raised their heads. Mubsamat rose to her feet. The Desert Wolf looked back down, at the people in front of him. "I need a name," he repeated. "A lord need a name to serve."
Another moment of silence passed. It was Halik who spoke. "You agree to join us?"
The Desert Wolf smiled at them, and suddenly bent down on his knees and put his head on stones of the dam, warm from the sun. King Yazil smiled. "Very well. I give you the name of my great uncle, the man who held the last threads of the old kingdom together. I give you the name of Nasha Yuhan'em."
"If I may," the Desert Wolf spoke without raising his head. "I would like to make one change to my name."
Yazil looked at the Desert Wolf, surprised. "What's the change?"
"I am not fit for such a great name." The Desert Wolf answered. "I would like to add the name Karab behind Nasha."
Yazil smiled. Yusif, confused, asked. "The name of the tyrant of Tamane? Why?"
"The name is to always remind myself not to become a lord like Karab." The Desert Wolf answered. "I want to be Nasha in front, not Karab behind."
"Very well." King Yazil spoke. "You shall be Nasha Karab Yuhan'em."
The Desert Wolf looked up. "I, Nasha Karab Yuhan'em, born Tribe of Qataban, grew up Tribe of Ma'in, the Wolf of the Desert, pledge allegiance to King Yazil and the kingdom of Sab'yn."

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/02Name.jpg

King Yazil clapped his hands. The sound resonated on the dam. The bodyguards of the King and Prince approached. The Desert Wolf stood up and looked at them. From their midst, a group of men stepped forward. Captain Yasir and Captain Yada' were amongst them. "Lord Nasha." Yazil spoke. "I present you with your bodyguard. Captain Yasir shall be your spear carrier, Captain Yada' your drill master. You have met both of them. They are both skilled men. Use them well."
Nasha Karab Yuhan'em bowed to the king of the Sab'yn. "I will."
Yazil continued. "And I give you the governorship of the town of Tamane and its surrounding province of Qataban. I also decree that any word spoken by you about the governance of Carna and its surrounding province of Ma'in could overrule any order of the current governor unless that governor is myself, or any future king of Sab'yn."
The entire group stared at the king, their mouths wide open. The king had effectively given to this newcomer control of two of the four Sab'yn provinces. "My king, that's..." the new Lord Nasha started, but one look in Yazil's eyes and he stopped. "Yes, my king. I shall make sure nothing happen to these provinces, or die trying."
The king smiled. He stretched out his hand and held the army of his daughter. Mubsamat turned to look at her father. "And if you don't mind, I want you to take my over-playful daughter for your wife."
Mubsamat's face turned red. Lord Nasha looked at the princess, and spoke. "If the princess does not mind marrying such a young, inexperienced lord who has not been able to keep even his simple promise, then I shall be my honour to take her hand in marriage."
Mubsamat rushed up to the young lord four years older than her, and threw her arms around him. Tears of joy were streaming down her face. "You, idiot, what are you saying? You HAVE kept your promise."
Young Nasha put his hands around the princess, and gentle stroke her hair like he had done once before when she had dropped her clay doll. "I am sorry, Mubsamat. I am sorry for making you wait so long."
Mubsamat shook her head, and buried it in Nasha's embrace. "You kept your promise, that's all that matters." Nasha continued to hold his new bride tightly, stroking her long, dark hair.
The others looked at scene before them with a wide smile. It was Zari' who finally spoke. "Come on, let's go down. The mating wolves needs some room." They laughed, and started descending the stairs down the Great Dam. The young couple was embarrassed for a short moment, but only a short moment. And after, they were back in their own world.

King Yazil announced the addition of Lord Nasha Karab Yuhan'em and his decreed in court the next day. He announced the wedding, and announced that funds had been set aside to expand Lord Nasha's villa in Tamane and the building of a new temple in Tamane dedicated to Almagah, the supreme god of Sab'yn.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/03Construction.jpg

Many noble families voiced their protest, but King Yazil silenced all of them with a list of accomplishments of the new Lord Nasha, even giving him the credit of the taking of both Carna and Sabata.
Soon after, a lavish wedding feast was held in Maryab in celebration of the marriage of the King's daughter to the legendary Wolf of the Desert. The gifts from the people of the kingdom to Lord Nasha at Carna were presented once again, this time as a wedding gift from the people throughout the kingdom to the newly wed couple. It was a feast fit for a king.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/04Marriage.jpg

Over the next year, Lord Nasha toiled daily over the works of Tamane, with frequent visits to Carna. Mubsamat was always beside him, helping him with work and giving him much needed comfort and advice. With Halik left in charge of Maryab, and King Yazil sorting out and overseeing the consolidation of Sabata and the province of Hadramaut, the kingdom was as peaceful and prosperous as can be.
Finally, it was time to continue with the unification of Arabia. The target was Ubar, on the edge of the coastal hills, which receive a yearly monsoon, and the dry barren desert. For this task, King Yazil entrusted Lord Nasha with the entire Sab'yn army minus his and the prince's bodyguards and a few units of town garrisons.
Everyone was shocked by this order, for this placed the actual powers of the Sab'yn kingdom in the hand of one lord. Neither the king nor the prince were accompanying Lord Nasha on campaign (though Mubsamat insisted she goes along). As a show of thanks, just before they left, the lord and lady Yuhan'em dedicated Tamane and Qataban to the god Almagah.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/05LandsofAlmagah.jpg

After a long march, the army met up with Yusif Um Namran in the rolling hills beyond Sabata.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/06NewMission.jpg

Yusif was sent ahead to Ubar to spy and deliver false information. Meanwhile Lord Nasha and the army marched through the roadless low hills of Hadramaut, making their way slowly towards Ubar and the coastal desert.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%204/07Ubar.jpg

In the meantime, with both the Sab'yn army and its best general away, the noble familes of the Sab'yn started to make their complaints heard.

[Parallel Pain]

There. I present to you over 14 microsoft-word-12-font-times-new-roman pages about absolutely nothing.

Anyone getting sick of the detail and/or story and just want to see an AAR let me know.
Anyone who want it to keep going like a sort-of-novel let me know too.

[Reverend Joe]

This is actually fantastic... my favorite AAR so far, and I've been reading them since 0.72. Keep on chooglin', man.

[Hooahguy]

i like it- plz continue....

[Gebeleisis]

dont change anything!
continue i please:beam:

[General Appo]

Wow, great story. A lot better then the ~15$ book I bought a couple of days ago.
Really, I like this different approach, keep it up please.

[Gebeleisis]

parallel if you won't write as much ill request the .org staff to ban you for making us sad,becasue you gave us such good reading and after that left us to only remember it :no:














keep it up!:2thumbsup:

[Parallel Pain]

LOL point taken

Though university started again. But then I'll probably skip studying to write anyway haha.

K voices heard, won't bothering asking next time. Just thought some of you might be sick reading 14 pages about nothing. I personally liked writing it so it's all good.

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Yeah, continue like this! It's a great read, with it's unique style and good characters. I wouldn't mind you writing a novel...:clown:

[White_eyes:D]

:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
Need I say more?:smash:
Kept going I love this:yes: it makes me want to write a AAR but mine would be more about a Civil war:skull:

[Gebeleisis]

keep on!


(btw i am copy pasting everything in a notepad :laugh4: just to read it later and go to make it a book after you are done with the story and i shall make a fortune from your writing and you wont recieve nothing BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAH





j/k:beam:

[Reality=Chaos]

:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: It's not about nothing. The detail and Novel writing style is what makes it so freat. PLEASE continue

[Geoffrey S]

This is easily the best AAR I've read in a long time. The way you flesh out the static characters of the campaign map, create motivations from AI movements... masterly, and I really hope you see this through. I really enjoy the style, the drama, that I can picture it all in my head. I want to know what happens to the Desert Wolf!

[carthage_supreme]

Superb AAR man , if you published it as a book i'd have bought it. It keept me excited staring at the screen for 2 hours !.

[Parallel Pain]

Thanks for da support guys.

Wish I could write. I can't this week due to English midterm and essay, which I suck at because I am good at imagination not arguement writing.

It's due tomorrow so I can probably write tomorrow night.

Hopefully

[PersianFire]

"This is the 1st opportunity that I have had to read this and I as you problay know, I love a good story based AAR which delves into the plot a bit and has some depth to it. Well done Sir."

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 5: Friends and Enemies

The army of Lord Nasha Karab Yuhan'em was camped in the foothills of Hadramaut, northeast of Sabata. The army was in celebration, there were food and wine for everyone. It was as if a great battle had been won. Indeed one could say a great battle had been won. The only difference was that this battle was fought between the princess of the Sab'yn and vengeful spirits released by Athtar. These spirits, having already done their job but not wanting to return to their lord, had decided to pick a fight with the princess. It was a hard struggle, but Mubsamat came out on top. The cries of a new life sounded the horns of victory, and the spirits rushed back to the heavens.
"Mubsamat," Nasha danced into the tent with joy. He had been, just like a male wolf, out of the wolf den during birth. But now, no one could hold back this happy wolf. "Mubsamat, my lovely Mubsamat." He knelt down beside a tired princess, clutching her sweaty hands. "Well done...well done."
"My Lord..." Mubsamat smiled at her husband. They looked at each other, both at a lost of word. But they needed no words, for no amount of word could have described their joy.
But that does not mean others don't need words. Captain Yasir entered the tent. Nasha turned to look at him. Even Yasir, always serious, always stern, and usually stone-faced after Tamane, had a wide smile on his face. He bowed. "My Lord, Yada' is out there stirring up the men. They request to see the young lord."
The new couple had, after weeks of marching, became the star of the army. The Lord inspired the men with his leadership, and his past record gave them confidence. But the real sight was the Lady. Though no laws were written about this, no woman was supposed to accompany an army, and few wanted to. Mubsamat, a pregnant princess, had insisted so forcefully that she accompanies her husband that no one could stop her, not even the fierce Wolf of the Desert. And while pregnant, she insisted she share a few light duties that she can still do with a big stomach. Her presence comforted the troops, and seeing the loving couple together made the men forget all about the possibility of death in the mission to come. Now, this new life in camp gave the men something to protect, and reminded them of something worth dying for: their families back home.
A new string of cheers could be heard from the outside. "A name! A name!" Yada' could be heard leading it. The cheer started outside the tent entrance, and quickly spread throughout the camp.
The nurse, a peasant woman from a nearby village, gentle handed the sleeping cub to the father. Nasha turned back to his wife. Mubsamat smiled at him. "What should we name our son, my lord?"
Nasha thought. Yashir saw his lord and turned and waved to Yada' outside. In a few moments the camp was silent in anticipation. Finally, Nasha decided. "Anmar. The wise advisor to the legendary king Yatha'. Anmar Yuha'mem. That shall be his name."
Yasir turned and walked out the tent. Soon the camp was filled with the name of the young lord. Mubsamat continued to smile at her husband. "I wish my father and brother could see little Anmar."

In the mean time King Yazil Il Watar was in Sabata. He busied himself with the reorganization of the city. The plans for sewers needed to be overlooked and approved. The judge needed to be told of changes under the new ruler. The local Bedouin tribes needed to be pleased with gifts. Though a year had passed, many things still need to be done before Sabata and the province of Hadramaut could be completely integrated into the Sab'yn kingdom.
He had left Maryab in the hands of his capable son. Saba, Qataban, and Ma'in are peaceful, prosperous provinces. Halik had watched his father work all his life, and had helped many times. The King had thought that Halik could keep these provinces peaceful and prosperous. He was not entirely right. The cities and provinces were peaceful, but the king's court was not.

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"He was given control over the entire Sab'yn army!" Yelled out Lord Nawfim Athat Yafish. "There is not a single other lord with him! What's to stop him from turning his army around and take over the kingdom!"
"Princess Mubsamat is in his hands!" Joined in Lord Awsalat Athat Yuhaqbiz. "That is the equivalent of having a hostage from the royal family! Why did the royal family give this mercenary general a hostage without demanding three in return?!"
"Lord Nawfim. Lord Awsalat." Prince Halik tried to calm down the opposition. "I know you are both competent captains. I know you are both decedents of the noble tribe of Saba. I know you are loyal, and you genuinely fear for the welfare of the Il Watar family..."
"Then!" Nawfim cut in sharply "Then, my prince, you should know we have reason to fear this wild wolf!"
The court fell under a dangerous silence as everyone stared at Nawfim. "Nawfim!" A deep voice echoed throughout the room. Everyone turned to look at the source. It was that of Lord Sha'ram Yuha'nam. He is the direct descendent of the great Nasha Yuha'nem, and had a strong claim to the throne of the Sab'yn king. Yet during the chaos in Maryab years ago, he had thrown in his lot with Yazil Il Watar. He was instrumental in securing the position of Yazil and ending the chaos, and in return he was made high general of the Sab'yn forces, in charge of the training of the lord's bodyguards and the garrison of Maryab.
"Nawfim!" Lord Sha'ram slowly walked out from the line-up of lords towards Nawfim and Awsalat, who stood in the middle of the court. "You disrespectful runt! You are the youngest in this court. If your father had not died two years ago, you wouldn't even be standing here." He stopped in front of Nawfim. Then, without warning, he swung his fist, ramming it into Nawfim's chest and knocking him onto the marble floor.
"Lord Sha'ram!" Prince Halik yelled.
Sha'ram paid no attention. He looked down at the young lord. "You have not stood here for two years and you dare interrupt the prince!"
"Sha'ram!" Halik stood up from the prince's chair. "You are at the king's court!"
Sha'ram turned to the prince. "Pardon me, my prince." He bowed, and walked back towards the line-up of lords.
Behind him, Awsalat helped Nawfim to his feet. Nawfim stared at the back of the high general, still clutching his chest in pain. "Yes." Nawfim started. Awsalat tried to stop his friend, but Nawfim shook him aside. "Yes, I apologize for my rudeness. But you! Lord Sha'ram!" Sha'ram stopped. "You are the most senior here! Are you not the least worried about this Desert Wolf?! Do you not think it inappropriate that a mercenary general be given more power than the king?!"
Another short silence hung over the court. Then Sha'ram laughed. "Perhaps it is inappropriate, but I trust in the king's decision." He started without even turning to face the young lord. "It is precisely because I am not some young, rash lord who has no experience and doesn't know what he's doing, that I can trust in the king."
"You!" Nawfim started to rush forward. Awsalat grabbed his shoulder and stopped him. Nawfim stared at his friend in court, merely three years his senior. Then he threw aside his friend's arm, turned around, and stormed out the palace.
Awsalat turned to Prince Halik. "Pardon the rude behaviour of Nawfim, my prince. He meant well."
"That I am sure." Halik answered.
"But I share his fears, my prince." Awsalat continued. "A subject should never have more power than the king. But Lord Nasha does."
"He also commands the provinces of Qataban and Ma'in, my prince! If he..."
"As long as he is away!" Prince Halik raised his voice. "As long as his away, the provinces are under our control. I will hear no more on the subject of Lord Nasha's loyalty today. The Bedouin tribes plaguing the trade routes north of Ma'in should be more urgent. I want to hear ideas on that."

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Lord Nasha encamped before the desert province of Zufa. Making the final preparations before pushing into the province. The trek through the road-less foothills of Hadramaut had been painfully slow, and he ended up having to deal with bandit gangs and some wild Bedouins. Operating constantly in this harsh environment had worned down his men, and he decided to camp and let the men rest for a long while.
He had finish reading a message sent from King Yazil, telling him all was well in the kingdom and not to worry about the kingdom, and expressing his wish to see Anmar, now almost a year and a half. He wrote a reply, telling the king about their progress, and about the princess being pregnant again.
"Sir." Yada' peaked in from outside. "There's a lone man outside the camp, asking to see you."
Nasha gave the message to Yasir beside him and looked up. "Who is he?"
"He calls himself Shamah, my lord." Yada' replied. "He says you are acquaintances. He also says he has important business, and won't leave until he sees you."
"Shamah..." Nasha shook his head. 'Can't be.' He thought. 'Not here.' "Guide him in here."
"Yes, my lord." Yada' bowed and walked off.
Mubsamat entered the tent a just a moment later. "Who is it?" She asked.
"I am not sure unless I see him." Nasha paused, then added. "Come, sit beside me here." Mubsamat tilted her head, not knowing what her husband is thinking, but she complied.
"My lord, I have brought the man." Yada's voice came from outside.
Nasha stood up and walked out in front of his table. He blocked Mubsamat's view of the tent's exit. "Bring him in."
Yada' entered the tent. An Ethiopian man walked in behind Yada'. He was slightly shorter than Nasha and dressed in fine armor with a long scimitar, like a commander of some kind. Yada' saw Lord Nasha's threatening face, the face he never showed in the presence of his wife. The Ethiopian man bowed. "Lord Nasha. Good to see you alive."
"You are?" Lord Nasha asked. "I thought sending an assasin after me meant you wanted me dead." At those words Yada' jumped around and reached for his sword. Beside Nasha, Yasir's sword was already drawn. Mubsamat twitched. The guards raced into the tent, their hands on the hilts of their swords. The only two man who stayed as if nothing happened was the Desert Wolf and this mysterious Shamah.
Shamah smiled. "You can't blame me, sir. You were running me out of business. My men need to live on something. And that was years ago, can't we approach each other on better terms?" He reached for his scimitar. The captains and guards approached threateningly, but he smiled at them. He untied his scimitar and threw it to Yazil. "There."
Nasha nodded to Yasir. The stern man sheathed his sword, walked up to Shamah, and searched his body. Confirming the man has no other weapon with him, the captain backed off. The guards left the tent. Yada' sat Shamah down on a chair, and sat down beside him. Nasha sat down on his wooden table, still blocking Mubsamat's view. Mubsamat realized what her husband is doing, and moved quietly towards the rear of the tent. "Well, what is the pirate lord of the red sea doing here?" Nasha asked.
"To offer you my services of course." Shamah answered with a smile. "Thanks to you and the Sab'yn royalty, I am not making enough to pay my men. Most of them have gone off further north to join some other pirates. I and the rest figured we might as well." He turned to Mubsamat, who had just lifted an edge of the tent and was bending down to sneak out. "And I have some gifts for the lady and the young lord too." He yelled just as Mubsamat stepped outside.
Nasha walked back to his chair and sat down. "So, how does a pirate lord who tried to assassinate me intend on earning my trust?"
"With this." Shamah took out a small piece of parchment and handed it over to Yada'. Yada' stood and delivered it to Nasha. Nasha looked at it. It was a message from Yusif.

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On it was Yusif's report about the city's garrison, supplies, and defences. He had also written that he believed the people, while not happy with Murthid as a ruler, are frightened into resistance by the invading force.
Nasha turned to Shamah. "How came you by this?"
"Why Yusif handed it to me himself. I was a part of his spy ring, and he sent me to deliver the message."
Nasha put aside the message and leaned forward. He looked at the former pirate. "Well then, you must know about what's going on in the city. What do you suggest we do?"
Shamah also leaned forward. "I suggest we do not approach the city directly. The province is in chaos. Bandits fill the hills to the south of the city, making the peasant's life hard. In the deserts to the north, the Bedouins terrorize the caravans. We will earn the good will of the people first. Then we can march on Ubar."
"That's going to take months, or years." Yada' spoke. "Are we supposed to tell the king that to keep sending us supplies when we have achieved nothing yet?"
Shamah turned to Yada'. "Oh but you have. You have made Hadramaut peaceful."
Yasir walked up to Shamah. "Are you sure you are not just buying time for Murthid to prepare?"
Shamah leaned back and shurgged his shoulder. "Who knows? I'm just offering my suggestion."
Nasha looked at Shamah. "All right, I'll write to King Yazil." Yasir turned to look at his lord in disbelieve. Yada' started to speak, but Nasha rose his hand to silence him. "We march for the low hills south of Ubar. We will clear the bandits to secure the path for supplies to come through. Then, we will march north and lay siege to Ubar. We shall deal with the Bedouins while we lay siege."
Shamah smiled and turned to Nasha. "Thank you, Lord Nasha. And one more thing. I have about fifteen men with me. They are camped in the hills not far from there. Can some preparations be made for them while I go lead them here?"
Nasha did not smile. But his threatening face had soothed. "Yada', go see to it."
"Yes, my lord." Yada' and Shamah stood up. They bowed and left the tent.
Yasir watched them leave with his stone face. Nasha looked at his stone-faced captain. "You don't trust him."
"No, my lord." Yasir answered, his voice heavy as always. "I don't."
Lord Nasha nodded and stood up. "Good, because I don't either." Yasir turned to look at his lord. "That plan was my original plan. He had nothing to do with it." He walked beside Yasir and looked out the tent. "Watch him."
"Yes, my lord."

"My Prince!" Awsalat spoke up in court. "The Desert Wolf had been gone with the army for two years! Should any of our enemies decide to invade now we would be vulnerable!"
"And, Awsalat, who's going to invade us now?" Prince Halik's annoyance was evident. He had been hearing the same complaints since the departure of Lord Nasha, and the people complaining had been growing. People jealous if the power of Lord Nasha, people who are afraid for their own safety, and people who had just never supported the Il Watar clan, they are all speaking out. "The Ptolemies and Seleucids are busy with each other. The Akusmites from across the sea are busy with the Ptolomies. And our army is fighting Murthid right now. Who's going to invade us?"
"Is not Lord Nasha simply storing up the supplies we are sending him, so he could turn around and march on us?" Nawfim added in. "Is he not trying to gain the loyalty of the troops?"
"And how would he do that? The army is paid for by the kingdom. Yusif is in contact with him. Our trusted captains Yada' and Yasir are there to watch his moves. How would he go about turning the troop's loyalty against us without us receiving word of it?"
"What about the Bedouins and bandits, my prince?" Aswalat questioned.
"From your report, young captain, your men are doing fine." Halik snapped. "The Bedouins are on friendly turns right now, and you both know that. I will hear no more today. We have went through all other cases, so today's court is here dismissed."
"My prince..." Aswalat and Nawfim started together.
"The king will arrive back in Maryab today." Halik cut them off. "Safe your complaints for tomorrow."
Aswalat and Nawfim bowed unwillingly, and left the court with the rest of the nobles. Sha'ram, the old general, stayed behind. "Don't mind them, my prince. They are but jealous." Halik nodded. Sha'ram bowed and left. He walked out the palace and into the crowded street. As he carelessly turned into a narrow ally, a servants came up to follow him. He passed on a note to the servant. "Tell these people. We meet again in six days at my courtyard. The time will be decided later." The servant nodded and sneaked off.
At the palace, Halik and the royal family greeted the return of his father and explained the situation. Yazil smiled at his son. "You must not be angry with Aswalat and Nawfim. They are willing to voice their opinions. As long as they speak out in the manner they do right now, they are still loyal. And their fears are not unjustified."
"So why not recall Lord Nasha?" Tawbtawan, Halik's young wife, asked. "If those fears are a real possibility, the why not recall Lord Nasha?"
Hamlat the queen answered. "It is just a possibility, dear daughter. And we do not want Lord Nasha to think we doubt his loyalty." She smiled gently at her inexperienced daughter-in-law. "There's always a risk when we trust someone else. But the more we doubt them, the more likely they are going to betray us out of fear for themselves. Even the wife of the prince needs to learn when to trust and when to doubt."
"That I understand," Halik began. "But why should we not allow Lord Nasha to know the situation right now? Should he not be ready to turn around at a moment's notice?"
Yazil put his around his son's shoulder. "There is no such risk yet. I do not want to needlessly rush Lord Nasha. If needlessly rushed, a general wouldn't be able to properly conduct a campaign. Remember that, my son." Halik nodded. Yazil continued. "When such a risk really arises, I shall let Lord Nasha know."

Nasha sat on his horse and watched Murthid's cavalry pull away towards Ubar. Behind him, his men were rushing around to put out the fires in a small peasant village. Yasir was directing the effort. Yada' and Shamah sat on their horses beside Nasha.
Shamah smiled. "He's good."
"Only in battle." Nasha replied.
"Hey, hey." Yada' joined in. "Don't get impressed with the enemy."
"I am not." Nasha turned to Yada'. "He's not fit to rule, trying to burn down a peasant village like this."
"But don't forget we won." Yada' added.
"It's only a light skirmish." Shamah said, but added. "But look at them running back to Ubar." Yada' and Shamah laughed. The two had seem to become good friends in the months since Shamah's arrival. Their light-hearted personality matched each other. Nasha looked at them laugh and shook his head.
He turned to the village. The fire has been mostly put out. "How did he know that we plan on storing our supplies here?" He asked quietly to himself.
"I think he can answer that." Yasir walked up to Nasha, dragging behind him Far'am, the person that had led Nasha and the Sab'yn army here. Behind Yasir and Far'am gathered the angry villagers, with clubs, pitchforks, and other dangerous objects in their hands. Nasha dismounted. Yasir threw the trader at Nasha's feet. Yada' and Shamah also jumped off their horses.
Nasha looked down at the shaking merchant. "Far'am, you lead them here?"
"Please, my lord, please." Far'am kneeled in front of Nasha.
Yasir took out a bag and chuck. It landed beside Far'am and its contents of gold coins spilled out. "His bribe."
"No, it's not like that." Far'am pleaded. "I didn't work for the bribe. I simply went into town to meet my brother. Murthid caught me and said if I don't lead them here they would come and murder my family."
"And for that you let them burn down our village!" A voice rose up from the crowd. "Why don't you let them burn down your own village!"
Nasha looked at the crowd. He looked back down at Far'am. He bent down and picked up the bag of coins and stood up. "Yasir, take Far'am back to camp. We'll deal with him there."
Yasir stared coldly at his lord. He bowed without a reply. He pulled Far'am back to his feet and started dragging the merchant toward his horse. Nasha turned to the crowd. "I apologize." He bowed to the crowd. "If I had not chosen this site, this would not have happened." He threw the bag of coins to the town leader. "This should be more than enough to cover the damage done. And I'll leave half my man here today to help you rebuild some of the buildings. I'll see if I can find some timber that could be of use. I promise this will not happen again." He bowed again. The peasants looked at this foreign lord. They had never heard of a lord who bowed down to mere peasants. And soon voices of thanks rose from the crowd. Nasha left Yada' in charge at the village, and rode back to camp with Shamah.
Yasir and Far'am were already in his tent. Far'am was cowering in a chair. Yasir stood over him. He looked as if he was ready to execute the merchant. Mubsamat was outside the tent, looking worriedly at her husband. Nasha stopped and told his wife what happened, and asked her to bring some water. Shamah walked ahead inside. He walked up beside the captain and slapped him on the back friendly. "Hey, don't look so scary." Yasir turned to look at Shamah with the same deadly stare. "Hey, hey, now. I didn't do anything."
Nasha walked inside and sat down behind his table. "Yasir. Tell the men we are leaving for Ubar tomorrow. We are done here. The men will be glad to hear this."
Yasir stared at his lord. "And him, sir?"
"Don't worry about Far'am. I'll take care of it." Yasir bowed, again without an answer. "Shamah, go with Yasir."
"Aye aye, sir." Shamah danced out beside a stirn Yasir.
Mubsamat walked into the room with a bow of water. Far'am looked up at the lady. She smiled at held out the bowl. "Here." She said kindly. Far'am took the bowl of water with shaky hands, and drank it.
Nasha waited for him to finish drinking, than spoke. "How would you like to be my servant, Far'am?" Far'am looked at Nasha wide-eyed. Nasha smiled. "I'd like a trusted servant and friend. How about it?"

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It was the month after the birth of Masihum, Nasha and Mubsamat's second daughter. Young Anmar was now four, and Haywat, their first daughter, two. The siege of Ubar had lasted for seventh months. The Sab'yn army were strong enough to assault the wallless city, but the decision was to wait while they talked with the Bedouins. Now the business with the Bedouins was almost over, Lord Nasha called an unexpected meeting. Even Yusif sneaked out the city to attend.
"I have here a message from Maryab." Nasha began. "Read it to everyone, Far'am."
Far'am bowed and took the piece of parchment. "My princess." Far'am began. "Tell Lord Nasha that the nobles are becoming restless. The king wants him to be prepared to march back at the fastest possible speed. The end."
The four summoned men looked at each other, then back at Mubsamat. "It was from Lady Tawbtawan." She answered. "It was given to a messenger at Sabata by one of her servants. We had been exchanging messages this way since the start of the campaign."
"The King and the Prince do not frequently send messages, and had not send any since three months ago." Nasha began. "For the king to go through Tawbtawan, he wants to minimize the chance that the rebellious members of the nobles know he contacted me." "The situation is serious then." Shamah spoke.
"It is. This meeting is to decide on our action. Should we assault the city now? Or should we wait one more month for the city to surrender? Or should we start back for Maryab."
"We march back for Maryab." Yasir spoke first, without a moment of hesitation. Everyone looked at him. "The kingdom is most important."
"I am for marching back to Maryab also." Yada' agreed.
"But if we march for Maryab, Murthid could fall on our rear." Shamah said. "I am for assaulting the city."
Everyone turned to look at Yusif. He thought for a moment, then spoke. "When did this message arrive, Lord Nasha."
Everyone was confused at a question instead of an answer. "This morning, Yusif." Nasha answered. Yusif let out a sigh of relief. "Why?"
"Murthid had spoken about meeting you for a talk since yesterday. In fact I was allowed out to ask you for a meeting tomorrow at dawn." Yusif answered. "I was afraid Murthid had got this news from a spy in camp, and that's why he wanted to talk." Yasir stared with his cold glance at Shamah first, then Far'am. Yusif continued, "I think we should decide after the talk tomorrow."
Nasha nodded in agreement. He arranged the time with Yusif, and dismissed the meeting. The men stood up and bowed. As they turned to leave, Nasha glanced at Yasir, who lightly nodded, and walked out the tent.
"Far'am." Nasha called to his servant, who was staring blankly at him.
"Y-yes? My lord?"
"Is there something you want to say to Lord Nasha?" Mubsamat asked.
"No, no my lady."
Nasha pouted a bit, then spoke. "Then, could you bring me a blanket? There's extra work tonight."
"Yes, my lord." Far'am walked out the tent.
Mubsamat sat down beside her husband. "Murthid wants to talk because he heard from a spy that we're done dealing with the Bedouins. Far'am's the spy isn't he?"
Nasha turned and smiled at the princess. "I believe so, and this is a good time to use this belief. Would you grab me a bowl of your hot soup?"
Mubsamat smiled. "Of course." She stood up and walked toward the tent flap.
"And tell the Yada' and Yusif not to do anything to Far'am. We will deal with the servant tomorrow." Nasha called after his wife. Mubsamat turned and smiled again. She nodded and walked out.

The next morning, the two armies lined up in the field west of Ubar, so their generals could have somewhere to run shall things heat up. Nasha and Murthid rode out from their respective army with a few chosen men. Nasha had taken with him Yada' and Yasir. Amongst the people Murthid took was Yusif. The two groups stopped a small distance away from each other. The two lords dismounted, walked up to each other, and clasped the back of each other's arms in greeting. They smiled at each other. Nasha started. "Well, Lord Murthid. Why have you called this meeting?"
"Lord Nasha Yuhan'em. The great Desert Wolf." Lord Murthid spoke. "I only want to be your friend."
"And I yours. If you would kindly hand over the city of Ubar, I am sure I can ask the great king Yazil Il Watar to give you command of some troops."
Murthid laughed. "No no no, Great Wolf. I do not need that command. Instead I am going to give you an offer of friendship. You turn your army around to help your king, and I promise I will not fall on your back."
Nasha's smile faded. Murthid laughed again. He rose his hand. At the signal, his bodyguards knocked Yusif off his horse. Two of them jumped off and dragged Yusif forward and threw him at Nasha's feet. "You have your spy, I have mine. Do we have a deal, Desert Wolf?"
Yada' and Yasir dismounted and rushed to help Yusif up. Nasha looked at Murthid's sneering face. "Fine, you have a deal."
Murthid laughed, and walked back to his horse. Nasha walked back to his own. They all mounted, with Yusif sitting behind the Lord. The two groups departed for their lines. Nasha could hear the troops of Murthid cheering behind him. "Well, Yasir?"
"Shamah didn't do anything, sir." Yasir answered. "It's Far'am without a doubt."
Yada' chucked. "He is good."
Nasha smiled. "Yes, he is."
"Looks like you are better, though." Yusif added.
"Then, let's show him." Nasha said.
They galloped back to their lines. Yasir rode for the line of light infantry. Yada' rode for the cavalry on the Sab'yn left flank. Nasha rode up to his bodyguards behind the line. He jumped off his horse, letting Yusif ride it back to camp. He grabbed a horn from his belt and blew into it. At the sound, Shamah waved raised his hand, and then let it fall. The archers and slingers of the Sab'yn lines let loose their missile at the unsuspecting defenders of Ubar.
Murthid, who had confidently rode back to the town square, heard the sound of battle behind him. He rushed back out the town. And examined the situation. "I've been had!" He hissed through his teeth. The meeting had tricked him into lining up his forces in the open. Now, his men lacked the cover of the city's buildings, and faced the missile superiority of the Sab'yn forces. They could not turn around and run back for cover, for the Sab'yn cavalry would fall on the rear of the confused ranks of defenders, followed quickly by the light infantry of the Sab'yn. They could not stay where they are and face the missile superiority of the Sab'yn.
There's only one thing to do. Murthid rode out in front of his men. "Forward!" he yelled at his line. "They are all lightly armed! I have given you good armor, good spear, good shields, and good swords. Take them in the melee and beat them." The spearmen and levies from the east coast rushed forward. The battle for Ubar had begun.

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The infantry of Ubar rushed forward under the missile exchange and crashed into Yasir's light infantry. A fierce melee ensued in the center. As more and more defenders piled into the fight, the more heavily armed defenders started gaining the upper hand. But Yasir was not going to let his line give away that easily. Yada', at this moment, also committed his cavalry into the fighting. Cutting the defender's momentum.
Seeing his infantry not being able to push through. Murthid moved his bodyguard cavalry to what he thought was the unprotected right Sab'yn flank.

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But there waiting for him was Nasha's bodyguard infantry. Murthid did not even get the chance to charge before his cavalry was forced back by a shower of arrows, javelins, and slinger-bullets.

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On the Sab'yn left, Yada' disengaged his cavalry from the melee, and rushed for the unprotected archers and slingers of the Ubar defenders. His cavalry did much damage to these lightly armed skirmishers.
Seizing the chance, Nasha ordered Shamah's archers and slingers forward to cover the left flank. He and his bodyguards rushed into the melee at the center from the left.

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The defender infantry, who were steadily pushing forward, now had to run and face this new threat. They put up a great fight. But finally, Yada's cavalry returned and fell on their rear.

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The route began. Many surrendered. Murthid fled back into the town, somehow evading Yada's cavalry. He was finally taken down by the spear of Yasir himself. The battle was over. Lord Nasha's first campaign was successful. Ubar and the province of Zufa were now firmly in Sab'yn hands.

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That night, amidst the celebration, Far'am was called into the lord's tent. He crept up to the tent flaps and peaked inside. The Lord and Lady sat behind the table. To their right stood Yasir, and to their left stood Yada' and Shamah. They were all staring at him. He wanted to turn and run. But before he could do so, a hand slapped him on the back. He jumped around. It was Yusif, and this time he was also stone-faced. "Not going in?" Before he could answer, Yusif grabbed his arm and dragged him inside.
Yusif threw Far'am before the table. "Far'am," Nasha started. "I spared your life once for guiding Murthid. I asked you to be my friend, and promised your safety and the safety of your family. You chose instead to try to fool me and be my enemy. Why?"
"I am sorry! I am sorry!" Far'am knelt down before Lord Nasha and placed his forhead on the cold ground. "I had lied under Murthid's orders. I am not a merchant, I am Murthid's slave. My family are all his slaves. I was threatened with their life, my lord. I had wanted to speak up many times, but I was afraid for their lives."
"How can a slave be such a good spy?" Yusif questioned.
"Murthid didn't trust the spies he can hire." Far'am answered, still kneeling. "He trained me as one since I was young. I had always been used to spy the realm, and I had been doing it since I was seven."
An uncomfortable silence came over the people inside the tent. The sound of celebration outside got louder. Far'am, scared, slowly looked up. To his surprise he saw a grin on the face of Lord Nasha. "Go back to your home, your family is waiting. Yusif has ensured their safety."
Far'am could believe his years. He turned to look at Yusif. Yusif smiled and nodded. Far'am turned back to face Lord Nasha and put his head on the ground again. "Thank you, my lord. Thank you."
He got up and turned around to leave. Lord Nasha called behind him. "If you'd like, I would still like to have you as a servant and a friend. You can bring your family too."
Far'am turned around and bowed deeply. "I will do, my lord. I will do." He turned and ran out the tent.
Nasha turned to Yasir, the only person in the tent who still has a stone face. His expression was one of disappointment and anger. "You disapprove of my decision, Yasir?"
"Beg your pardon, my lord." Yasir started. "The man was an enemy spy. He had betrayed the chance you gave him."
"He had betrayed no one. He was a spy from the start, and not my servant. And he had no choice."
"In times like these, who has a choice?" The tent fell silent again. Yasir bowed and walked out.
"I'm sorry, my lord." Yada' broke the silence. "My family and Yasir's family had been enemies of the Il Watar clan during the period of chaos." Yada' said in a sad voice. He was not his cheerful self. He was never cheerful talking about the past. "Yasir had lost his father in the struggle. Afterwards, we were both forced into the army as hostages to the Il Watar clan. His cousin was also. He had taken great comfort from watching over his young cousin, much more like an older brother than a cousin. But his young cousin had fallen at Tamane."
Yet another heavy silence came over the tent. The Desert Wolf looked outside the tent at the celebrating soldiers. "The only thing," he began. "The only thing I know about my parents were that they began as bandits in the hills of Qataban. They had turned their life around and entered Tamane as traders. They were successful. But the bandit leaders didn't like the examples my parents set for the other bandits. They had my parents murdered, then bribed the authorities to overlook the murder." He paused. Mubsamat leaned to her right side and put her arms around her husband and placed her head on his shoulder. Lord Nasha continued. "At least that's what my father's trading partner always told me. He had taken care of me like a father. He took me to Carna and tought me about trading."
"What happened to him?" Yusif asked.
Nasha looked up painfully at the ceiling. "Some marauding Bedouins got him and his cavaran when I was seven. I couldn't find any shop or store that would take a starving kid without a family as an apprentice, so I joined the mercenary ranks."
"And look at where you are now!" Shamah spoke up. Everyone looked at him. "Come on. We all have some wierd story. I was born on a pirate ship. My father was a pirate and my mother his captive. We're all doing fine now. That's what's important. Cheer up, it's supposed to be a celebration night."
"Save the celebration for later." A voice came from the tent entrance. Yasir walked in with a piece of folded parchment in his hand.
"You've been listening?" Yada' asked.
Yasir nodded. "A messenger from Maryab gave me this while I was listening. It's a message for Princess Mubsamat." He walked up to the desk. Mubsamat held out her left hand and took the message, her right hand still around her husband's shoulder. She unfolded the parchment and held it out. Nasha looked down to read it with his wife.
After a quick scan, Lord Nasha looked up at Yusif. "I'll leave you in charge of the city with some troops." He turned to Yasir. "Go tell the men to be ready to move at dawn tomorrow. We are going home to kill some friends."

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[General Appo]

:2thumbsup: Great! True novel style.

[Parallel Pain]

Say, anyone know if I can get copyright for this?:laugh4:

[Tellos Athenaios]

By default the author has copyright. Needn't do anything, you already got it. At least this goes for Dutch law, and I imagine elsewhere too ... (it being the most practical solution to an otherwise nasty can of worms...)

[Reality=Chaos]

Wow, your ability to turn gameplay stuff like a rebel army turning up into the storyline is truly awesome. I'm quite lost for words on how good I think this is.:dizzy2:

[Reality=Chaos]

By default the author has copyright. Needn't do anything, you already got it. At least this goes for Dutch law, and I imagine elsewhere too ... (it being the most practical solution to an otherwise nasty can of worms...)

A fellow dutchman! Hi Tellos Athenaios. whereabouts are you from. I'm from Utrecht. I won't type in dutch here, cause I find it really annoing when other people do that.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Passewaaij.

[Reality=Chaos]

Passewaaij? where is that, sounds like somewhere in Brabant.

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 6: Divided

The sun was rising. Far'am woke up early like a servant was supposed to. He walked towards the cook's tent. He needed to prepare the lord's breakfast. Even just a piece of bread and some meat, he needs to get the lord to eat something. The lord had skipped breakfast for days, ate only a few hard break cakes on the march, and would not have a proper dinner. As he walked pass the lord's tent at the center of the camp, he saw a weak candlelight shining through the flaps.
Far'am walked into the tent to find Lord Nasha Karab Yuhan'em standing in front of his table with his back to the tent flap. Far'am look at the young lord, over ten years his junior, walking first to his table to look at the outstretched map, then over to the chairs to Far'am's right. On the chairs were stacks of reports from the scouts. Lord Nash picked up one, and walked back to the table. Princess Mubsamat was sitting in one of the chairs to Far'am's left. Her eyes were closed and her husband's sheep skin covered her body. She had probably wanted to watch over her husband, but ended up falling asleep.
Far'am remembered the story Shamah had told him a week ago, the story of the young orphan that became the most famous mercenary general, the story of the struggle of this mercenary general and his final decision to join the Sab'yn. Now this young orphan was working without rest while the rest of the army was fast asleep. Far'am felt a deep sadness and his face begin to warm. "My lord..."
Nasha turned around. "Ah, Far'am..." He stopped and looked outside. "Great Almagh. It's dawn."
"My lord, had you not slept?"
Nasha looked at Far'am and smiled. "Sorry, Far'am. There's too much work left." Far'am looked at the smiling lord, and he felt like the young son watching his father working without rest, worrying. "Will you go wake the captains and have them meet here?"
Far'am nodded silently and walked out the tent. Nasha looked at him walk out. His eyes suddenly felt dry. He closed it and let the moisture return. The army had been marching at the maximum speed for nearly fourty days through the road-less wilderness of Zufa and Hadramaut. He had sent Shamah to negotiate with the nearby Bedouins. Those desert nomads, always loyal to no one but themselves, refused to take part in this rebellion. But they agreed to not fight for either side. He had taken a great risk in not spending each night setting up camp defences. The camp of his army had no walls, no gates, only a disorganized array of tents. Should anyone launch a night raid, his army would disintegrate before anything could be done. All this just so his men could march a few more hours each day through the desert.
He opened his eyes. They had reached the Qataban Hills. The reports had started to increase greatly since two weeks ago. The rebels had finished gathering. For every two men Nasha had with him, the rebel had three. They were ready to march on Maryab. Thanks to them, Nasha had not slept for nearly five days, and he was starting to feel the effects. He had gone on without sleep for five days many times before, but no longer. Now he asked himself if he was ever going to get some sleep. He turned to look at his wife. The princess had said she would not go to sleep before her husband, saying she would rather wait. He chuckled.
Yada' and Shamah entered the tent. Yada' looked at the Lord Nasha's ghastly face. "My lord, had you not slept again?"
"No time. I'll rest when the situation stabilizes."
"Hey, good wolf." Shamah spoke. "Don't go chasing a gazelle without sleep, or the gazelle will come back and relieve itself on you when you faint." He laughed.
Nasha chuckled. It was half insulting, half advising, always crude, and, when Shamah said it, always funny. His face hardened. "Yasir's messenger had arrived last night. He reconfirms his goal was accomplished. Sha'ram is now marching on us."
"So Yasir's first report wasn't a mistake? Sha'ram really fell for it?" Yada' asked, surprised.
"That's weird." Shamah spoke. "Sha'ram has enough men to assault Maryab and take it before we arrive. He is experienced, so why is he choosing an open battle by marching on us?"
"Either way, Maryab is safe for now." Lord Nasha walked up to the map. The two captains followed behind him. "Yasir report he and the cavalry would arrive at this village here by evening. We will march in an hour. We shall reach here by noon and set up a defensive camp. Let the men rest while we wait for Yasir."

Halik surveyed the empty camps of his teacher. He had rode the long distance out from the city to looked at his teacher's camp. Sha'ram had taught him how to lead troops. He had risked his own life to protect the Il Watar clan during the years of chaos. Of all the noble families, why did he rebel?
"Well, my son." He heard his father spoke beside him. "You know war better than I. What do we do now?"
Halik shook his head to get rid of the thoughts. "We stay in Maryab."
"My prince." Awsalat Athat Yuhaqbiz objected. "If we march out now we could fall on their rear. We could end the rebellion right now. They are all inexperienced rebels..."
"Rebels who outnumber us three to one." A voice behind Awsalat cut him off. It was Shamdar Il Yakif. "Not to mention led by a skilled general."

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"You merchant!" Beside Awsalat, Nawfim Athat Yafish turned his horse around. "You dare talk like that to a nobility." Nawfim reached for his sword.
"Lord Nawfim." King Yazil's heavy voice sounded. "He might be born a merchant, but he is still the garrison commander of Carna."
Nawfim turned back to the king. "Sire," Nawfim objected before Awsalat could stop him. "He bought his position from that wild wolf."
"Lord Nawfim." Shamdar rode up in front of Nawfim and Awsalat. He smiled. "I didn't buy my position with money alone. I bought it with talent also."
"Oh? And what talent do you have?" Nawfim smirked.
"I was able to bring Carna's garrison to Maryab before the rebel forces finished gathering was I not?" Shamdar continued to smile. "What about you, my good lord? What were you able to accomplish?" Nawfim's face turned red with anger. Awsalat rode forward to place himself between his fiery friend and the upstart merchant. Shamdar continued. "With the addition of my men, the city, with its strong defences, would not fall easily to Sha'ram's inexperienced troops. Lord Nasha has marched his men back from Ubar much faster than anyone had expected him to. If I was Sha'ram, I would not want Lord Nasha's army to fall on my rear while I am assaulting the city. Therefore I believe he is marching to fight Lord Nasha."
"Or join up with him." Nawfim cut in.
"I trust Lord Nasha." Halik spoke weakly.
"You also trusted Lord Sha'ram, my prince."
"Did we?" Everyone turned to look at the king. He smiled and said no more.
"Either way." Awsalat started. "We need to march out. Lord Nasha's men did not get to rest after their battle at Ubar, and they would be further worn out from the long march. They are in no shape to fight the rebels. We need to fight them instead."
"We might loose." Shamdar said.
"You said yourself they are but raw recuits. Even if they do outnumber us three to one, they are all in inexperienced light troops. We can win."
"Yes we can." Halik spoke. The gathered nobility all turned towards him. "Even if it was a trap to lure us out, even if Sha'ram was able to form his troops up and force a battle on us, we can win." Nawfim sneered. But before he could say anything, the prince continued. "But we can also loose." His voice was cold as the night wind in the desert. Nawfim and Awsalat could say nothing more.
Halik turned and rode back towards Maryab ahead of the gathering. He was not angry. He was just tired. Sha'ram must have had a reason. His father knew what it was, but he did not. He had trusted his dear teacher, and Sha'ram had helped him govern Maryab well. He did not understand, and he did not want to listen to any more accusations of treachery.

Yasir had been sent ahead with the cavalry to harass the rebels. He was to purposely let Sha'ram know that Nasha's forces had arrived. As planned, Sha'ram turned the rebel army around and marched to meet Nasha's worned-out army. With his task accomplished, Yasir rejoined Nasha with the cavalry.
The Lord Nasha was at the camp gate to welcome him. Yada' was there to congratulate his friend and Shamah was there with his terrible joke and laughs. Nasha dismissed the cavalry and ordered them to rest. They walked to the lord's tent. "Why did Sha'ram march for us?" Nasha asked as soon as they sat down in their respective position. "Even if you are there to harass his rear, his best bet is still no assault Maryab."
"That merchant somehow marched the garrison of Carna all the way to Maryab in time," Yasir answered. "And then he somehow snuck all that men pass the rebel force into the city without being attacked."
"Shamdar?" Yada' asked. Yasir nodded. His face was still stone, but he was just as surprised as his friend.
Nasha smiled at the news. His eyes had not decieved him. The merchant who had the reputation of sneaking his caravan through the desert safely without paying the Bedouins must be clever. Or lucky. In any case Maryab was out of danger for the time being. Nasha looked down at the map. "Shamah, how much rations did you say we have stored?"
"Enough to make the men so full that they can not move for..." Shamah looked down at the report, "twelve days."
"The rebels are mostly light troops. If Sha'ram march them hard they can be here in two days ready to fight." Yasir said.
"We better assume Sha'ram will march his men hard." Yada' suggested. "He wouldn't want to give our men enough time to rest and reform properly."
"What's to worry?" Shamah punched Yada' playfully on the shoulder. "We'll rest one day, and then strengthen the camp one day. Let them lay siege to the camp. When they do, King Yazil will lead the defenders of Maryab and fall on their rear. Should we not be able to hold the camp, the rebels would still be in no position to fight the King's men when they arrive. Either way we will win."
"Yes, but now we need to see how to lessen our losses." Lord Nasha spoke. "The army will march for Tamane." The captains turned to look at him. "Sha'ram leads the rebel force, but its men are mostly paid by the Lord Akh Athtar Yazi'." He explained.
"And as rich as that big bully is," the captains turned around to see Princess Mubsamat and little Anmar walk into the tent. Mubsamat looked around at the captains and began again. "As rich as Akh Athtar is, he can not keep paying the rebels forever. The rebels must have thought they could win over the kingdom before my husband's return, and so they would be disheartened to hear of our arrival. Akh Athtar would need to offer up more money to keep them in their ranks. The more time that passes the more restless the rebel force would become, and the more money Akh Athar would need to spend. When that bully uses up his money, the rebel force would dissolve by itself." The captains stared at the princess, all of them speechless. She turned to her husband. "Am I right, my lord?"
Nasha smiled. "You are." He turned to Yasir. "Yasir, I want you to ride ahead and inform the city of our arrival and prepare. Then send a messenger to Maryab and inform the king of our plans." Yasir nodded.
Nasha turned to Shamah. "Shamah, you will organize the infantry and march with me to Tamane."
"Oh yes, sir." Shamah answered. "And might I suggest that we take not the road, but instead march through the hills to decrease the chance of being discovered by enemy scouts."
"My thoughts exactly. I am, after all, a Qataban, and I had many campaigns into this area." Nasha turned to Yada' "Yada', you will remain here with the cavalry. I want you to move them and have them strengthen the camp so it seems we have remained here. When the rebels arrive, tell Sha'ram and Akh Athtar if they give up the rebellion I will help them negotiate a lesser punishment, and at least keep their lives. And tell the rebel ranks if they return to their homes without causing any more trouble, they wouldn't be punished. Shadow the rebel force and inform me of their movement."
"Yes, my lord."
Nasha looked at all of them in turn. "We move tomorrow morning." The captains stood up. They bowed to Lord Nasha, turned around and bowed to the princess, then left the tent.
Nasha turned to look at his wife and son. "Well, what have we here?" Nasha smiled and held out his arm. Young Anmar ran into his father's embrace. Nasha laughed and picked him up. He turned to Mubsamat. "What is it? Where's Haywat?"
"She's asleep. Far'am's family is taking care of her." She sat down beside Nasha and rested her head on his shoulder. "My lord, Far'am tells me that you lied to me this morning. You have not slept last night either."
Nasha flinched. "That Far'ram. I told him not to tell."
Mubsamat smiled. "Well then." She grabbed Lord Nasha's left arm and started dragging him towards the tent entrance.
"There's still a lot of work to do." Nasha protested.
"What can a general do if he collapse before battle?"
Before Nasha can say anything else, young Anmar, still holding on to his father's shoulder, spoke. "Father, come sleep."
Nasha looked at his four-year-old son and admitted defeat. He looked back at his wife. "Only a few hours." She smiled and nodded. Unfortunately for her, it really was only a few hours.

It was pitch black when Lord Awsalat rode into Nasha's camp hidden in the Qataban Hills. It was not only the night that was pitch black, but the entire camp. Sharmah came to greet him. He bowed. "Welcome, oh great lord to the wolf pack's camp."
"What kind of camp is this?" Awsalat asked, annoyed. "No walls, not even a simple ditch and dirt rampart. The tents are disorganized, and not a single fire is lit. Who are you anyhow, where is Lord Nasha."
"I am the Used-to-be Pirate King of this part of the Red Sea. They call me Shamah." Awsalat jumped back. Shamah chuckled. "Not to worry. I am but a wolf in the pack now. If you would follow me, I'll lead you to the alpha's tent."
He turned around and stepped out.
Awsalat left his bodyguards with their horses and walked up beside him. "So why is there not a proper camp?"
"We have left our wooden stakes behind as a gift for the rebels. It's a good break for the camels anyhow." Shamah answered. "And Lord Nasha ordered the men not to bother with digging a ramp."
"And the fire?"
"Besides a few candle-light and cooking fires, no one is allowed to light fires until we reach Tamane."
Awsalat stopped. "This is the work of the great Desert Wolf?" He boomed. "He does not care about his men's safety, does not let them warm themselves in the freezing night. What kind of..."
Shamah turned around and held out his palm in front of Awsalat's mouth. "Don't bark too loud, royal guard dog. You'll wake the cubs." Awsalat opened his mouth to answer to what he thought was an insult. But Shamah just shook his head with a smile. He motioned again. "Come, good lord."
As they passed by a tent, Shamah stopped. Awsalat stopped also. "Listen to the cubs snore." Shamah said. Awsalat listened, and sure enough, deep snores came out from the tent.
Awsalat turned to Shamah. "So early in the night?"
Shamah motioned yet again, and they started walking. "The men had been marching continuously for about fourty five days now. Except the camp we made back at the village, we had not set up a proper camp for the same amount of time."
"Why do something so foolish?" Awsalat inquired. "What if some maurading Bedouins fall upon you."
"Then we'd be dead." Shamah laughed.
Awsalat looked at him. "Then why?"
"So we can march that few hours more each day, my lord." Shamah answered. "And now the situation is stablized, the men can get that few hours more of rest."
They reached the commander's tent. Shamah flipped back the flaps and walked in. Awsalat followed. He had planned to enter the tent with a loud congratualtions. But he said nothing and stood at the entrance. In front of him, an old servant laid sleeping on the ground in the middle of the tent. On the chairs to Awsalat's right were a pile of reports. On one to his left, the young princess Mubsamat sat sleeping with a blanket of sheep skin. At the back was the general's table. A map was outstreched on the table. On the map were various pieces of parchment, more reports. Lord Nasha had crossed his arms on top of all those parchement and placed his had on his arm.
"Lord Nasha had only slept a few hours in the last ten days. We tried to help him get the work done, but he would order us to sleep." Shamah chuckled. "Do you want me to wake him?"
Awsalat shook his head. He had not shared his friend's suspicion. But at the same time, he was with most of the noble families. He had thought it unfair for a mercenary general to be given so much power, so much of the king's trust. But at the sight of the sleeping wolf and the pirate king's explaination, all the grievances disappeared. He turned to Shamah. "I am but here to congratulate Lord Nasha, to pass the word of thanks from the king for coming back with such speed. I could do so when he's awake."
Awsalat walked into the tent and sat down in an empty chair. Shamah sat down beside him. "So tell me, used-to-be Pirate King, why did you give up piracy? I heard most of the pirates simply moved north or south where they could still pillage in safety. Why did you not simply follow them?"
"Oh me and my men are just weird, my lord." Shamah chucked. "We never liked being pirates, even with the easy gold. There's a chance for a good life here, so we took it."
"So why did you not join the large empires and instead picked this small kingdom?" Awsalat asked. "I am sure they would have welcomed you."
"We're weird. We thought this small kingdom looked pretty." Shamah kept his laughing at a low volume. "Besides, with any luck it could become a big kingdom."
Awsalat joined the laugher. "We'll need all the help Almagh can give us for that's to happen."
"Perhaps he has, who knows." Awsalat looked at Shamah, surprised. "He has given as a wise king, a talented prince, and a desert wolf."
Awsalat nodded. A day ago he might have taken that line for an insult, but now he could not agree more. "One can only expect such a brilliant plan from the Desert Wolf. If Sha'ram march on Tamane, the king will fall on his rear. If he march on Maryab, Lord Nasha will fall on his rear. Both cities have strong enough defences that he can not take one before the garrison of the other arrives, and the longer we wait, the weaker he becomes."
"I and the other captains had wanted to fight at the village." Shamah spoke. "But Lord Nasha said now victory was assured, he wanted to win with as few losses as possible."
A sharp whine of a horse broke their conversation. Awsalat and Shamah rushed out the tent. A messenger ran up to Shamah. It was from Yada'. They dismissed the messenger and walked back into the tent, unfolding the message while walking.
"What says Yada'?" Awsalat and Shamah looked up. Lord Nasha sat up in his chair, looking at them.
"Yada' says the rebels have set out towards Maryab, my lord." Shamah answered.
"Now all you need to do is fall on their rear once they start besieging the city." Awsalat spoke brightly. "Victory is ours. I've been sent to congratulate you."
Nasha shook his head. "I will hear the congratulation when this is all over. But thank you, Lord Awsalat." He brushed aside the reports on his desk and examined the map. He frowned.
"What is it, Lord Nasha?" Awsalat asked.
"Sha'ram is not stupid. He knows he has no chance of victory if he tries to assault Maryab." Nasha replied. "I would have thought he would try to race me to Tamane. The men are worn out, and Sha'ram has use of the road. It is possible he could arrive at Tamane and took it before I could arrive. Tamane's garrison is not enough to hold very long, and that's why I sent Yasir ahead."
"But he's marching for Maryab." Awsalat said.
"He must be out of his mind." Shamah laughed loudly, waking Mubsamat and Far'am.
"Or..." Nasha traced his finger along road drawn on the map. His hand froze, and formed into a fist held together so tight it was shaking. "He's heading for Carna." The others at the tent looked at him. "The road to Carna pass right by Maryab. By marching to Carna, it would look like he's marching on Maryab. King Yazil and Prince Halik would then busy strengthening the city's defence, while he simply turn north and march on Carna."
"Carna? Carna is defenceless!" Awsalat exclaimed.
"And if my father march out the city to try to stop him?" Mubsamat spoke.
Nasha shook his head. "If King Yazil march out, Sha'ram would turn around and fight, and possibly win and take Maryab from the defeated troops."
Amidst the tension, Shamah stood calmly waiting for his orders. Nasha looked at him and thought for a moment. He turned to Far'am. "Far'am, go write a note." Far'am stood up. "Write a message to give to the messenger. Tell Yada' at the present speed Sha'ram could arrive at Maryab in five days shall he force march at top speed. I want him to keep harassing the rebels without break to slow them down. I need seven days. After he that, return to the army." Nasha stopped, the added. "And tell Yada' if he is not able, then do not do anything rash. I want my cavalry ready for battle. His life and my cavalry are more important than those extra two days." Far'am nodded.
Nasha turned back to Shamah. "Take a few men and take my banners and flags to Tamane. Put them up on the city so it looks like I've arrived. Then come back with Yasir him to bring the garrison with him."
"You got it, my lord." Shamah's usual smile returned.
Nasha nodded and turned to Awsalat. "I apologize for this kind of rushed reception." Awsalat shook his head. "I need to ask you to return to Maryab and explain the situation to the king and prince. Tell them before I arrive with my men not to leave the city to fight. Even if we loose Carna to the rebels, our united force can take it back." Awsalat nodded. "And I have a personal request."
"Anything that I can do, Lord Nasha."
"If you could take princess Mubsamat and my children with you, along with the family of my servant Far'am, back to Maryab with you."
Mubsamat stood up and opened her mouth to protest. She had stayed with the army for four years. She did not want to part at such an important moment. But before she could speak, her husband spoke sadly. "It's more safe." She froze, and nodded.
"Of course." Awsalat answered.

Yada' was able to buy Nasha the time he needed. When Sha'ram, Akh Athtar, and the rest of the rebel force reached the outskirts of Maryab, they found the road blocked. The once divided Sab'yn army now faced the rebels together.

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From the Sab'yn lines rose mighty cries of "Traitors! Traitors!"

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Sha'ram rode out from his lines to meet King Yazil. Halik and Nasha was there also. They stared silently at each other for a long time. Finally, Halik broke the silence. "Lord Sha'ram, please stop this madness."
Sha'ram shook his head sadly. "It's too late to turn back, my prince."
"You have no chance of victory." Nasha spoke up. "Why waste the lives of more men?"
Sha'ram turned to Nasha and smiled. "The great Desert Wolf. I have underestimated you, and so I admit my defeat. You are more skilled than I. But as I said, we are all too far gone."
"Surrender and we'll spare your life and keep your position as well." Halik pleaded. "Please." Sha'ram shook his head. Halik turned to Yazil. "Father, promise Lord Sha'ram he'll retain his position." Yazil did not move, did not speak. He only stared at the rebel general. "Father?"
"You have been waiting for this day, haven't you, Sha'ram." Yazil spoke.
"So have you, Yazil."
The two stared at each other. They laughed. The men around them looked on, confused. Yazil spoke. "In that case, let's get started."
"By all means."
They both swung their horses around and rode back towards their lines. Their respective followers, still confused, followed. The Sab'yn King reached his lines and dismounted. Halik and Nasha silently followed suit. Halik stared painfully at his father. Yazil looked aside, at the rebel ranks. "Give the orders, Lord Nasha." Nasha nodded silently. He took out a whistle and blew on it.
Shamah ordered the archers and slingers forward and showered the rebel ranks.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%206/03Commence.jpg

Yasir lead a detachment of light infantry and cavalry on the rebel right flank, while Yada' lead another on the rebel left.
The heavy infantry moved at the rebel center. Halik lead the charge. His frustration turned into anger. His sword and his skill with it were both gifts from Sha'ram. Now he used them on the man that gave them to him. The rebels were all light troops. None of them had seen battle. Under the ferocious attack by the battle-hardened veterans of the Sab'yn army, the rebel center crumbled.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%206/04LineCrumbles.jpg

Sha'ram tried to rally his men. But both Yazil and Yada' had brushed aside the rebel ranks opposite them. Shamah brought up his archer-spearmen and overwhelmed what's left of the rebel line.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%206/05Overwhelmed.jpg

Seeing that all is lost, Sha'ram turned around and fled.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%206/06Escape.jpg

With their leader gone, the remaining rebel force surrendered.
Halik survayed the carnage. His anger had turned back into sadness and frustration. He heard Lord Nasha's voice beside him, telling Yasir to go off and search for Sha'ram. "No, let him go." He heard the questions flying at him. Sha'rams a traitor, he must be caught. Even if we want to keep him alive, we need to find him first. Halik did not want to listen. "He is my teacher. He is not..." Before Halik could finish, he felt the cold iron of an armor hit his left leg then slide down it. He turned and looked down. "Lord Nasha? Lord Nasha!"

[Reality=Chaos]

Keep bringing on the good stuff!!!. :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: Great installment again. about the game though. What direction are you going in? I went east in my saba campaign, and unfortunately it wasn't really worth the trouble. The two african provinces have mines though (or the possibillity to build them) as well as african units you can use. Problem there is, that you might get into a war with the ptollies, and that's not very nice at all. Still if you go east you'll bump into the seleukids and the provinces out there are not nearly as rich as the african ones.

[Parallel Pain]

Zat's going to be revealed next time.

BTW, who liked the huge amounts of maneuvering that took me hours to make up and figure out? (and who didn't like it)

Don't think I'll be able to do it every time though. Just needed to fill some spaces and make some believable reason why Maryab didn't fall to a veteran general.

[Reality=Chaos]

Zat's going to be revealed next time.

BTW, who liked the huge amounts of maneuvering that took me hours to make up and figure out? (and who didn't like it)

Don't think I'll be able to do it every time though. Just needed to fill some spaces and make some believable reason why Maryab didn't fall to a veteran general.

I liked it. It gave a more real feel to the whole thing. Wars in those times were very different, sometimes armies were unable to find each other, manouevering is a big part of war in these ages. Perhaps to make it easier on yourself and prevent repetition do a little less the next time?

[Parallel Pain]

Guys we have a huge problem

So I decided to go on a huge playing spree yesterday and today. I got Homna, and decided that's it for Arabia and moved into Africa (hey the Ptolemy attacked me at Carna first)

Anyway that's fine. I took that city on the coast, then beat Ptolemy to Axum, they as my strategy took umm that city that was named Thebes not sure how's it's spelled now Dsomething. Then I moved inland and took that walled rebel city that the Ptolemy took and so I took it from the Ptolemy. So I have taken 4 settlements in Africa and is sieging my 5th one.

So after playing hours and hours I got here, which is fine.

Then I minimize to check on my screenshots...

And I was like WTH Fraps stopped taking screenshots like 2 turns after I took Used-to-be-Thebes and there were like 20 battles after that till where I am now and I took hours to get here. (It's VERY HARD, afterall I am playing on Very Hard/Very Hard with elephant/1st cohort mod and darth AI formation mod).

As I was planning on looking at the screenshots to refresh my memory, I don't remember everything. In fact I don't remember a lot of things.

So we are down to a few choices
1) I write what I remember and you guys do without the screenshot
2) I make it up to fill the blanks and also make up the screenshot (as in take stuff out of context)
3) I play it all again from a previous saved file (which means it'll take me hours again, and the file I got is from BEFORE I took Thebes)

And just for the sake of options though no one will vote for them
4) I just do simple reports and no more story
5) I stop doing the AAR all together

So vote 1~3 (and 4 and 5 if you really want though I don't and I doubt you do) or suggest something.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

That sucks. That's happened to me before, but I've never lost more than a single battle's worth of shots.
I'd go with option one.

[Reality=Chaos]

That's very annoying indeed:no: Very sad.

I would prefer option 3, but I can't really expect you to play that huge amount of battles again (unless you really want to of course, but I doubt that) Option one seems good to me. Your writing is very strong and can carry the story a long way all by itself. Still hoping for option three though....

[General Appo]

Dammit! Though option 3 would indeed be fun, I guess we´ll have to do with option 1. Stupid Frap, that´s why I don´t use it, sometimes it just doesn´t take screenshots no matter what you do.

[Parallel Pain]

I downloaded the recruitment viewer and found out there are things I could have done better.

So it's option 3

Let's hear some cheers!

And maybe in the meantime I'll experiment with a writing style

[Reality=Chaos]

:cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: Woohoo. Great news. I can't wait:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: Oh and by the way I really feel that this AAR deserves a balloon, so here it is::balloon2:

[General Appo]

*Cheers* *A lot*
Woho!!!! Yaaayyy!!!!

[Ibrahim]

awesome! I'll support the last baloon and raise you 2 :balloon2: :balloon3:

[Reverend Joe]

You're playing Saba on VH/VH?! Are you, by any chance, a masochist? :dizzy2:

Anyway, keep on chooglin'. I really dug the last chapter.

[Parallel Pain]

*cough* *cough*

I DID finish VH/VH with Saka Rauka you know. Just looking for a challenge.

I am thinking to port the game to ALEX.exe or BI.exe after this campaign is done, see if it makes things even harder. Though it is very hard right now as it is.

Anyways sorry about the delay (which would be a bit longer too). Lots of tests and assignments at university and the new writing style takes a lot longer than I thought it would.

And of course I'm addicted to Little Busters! at the moment.

[Ibrahim]

:laugh4: :laugh4: if you want challenge, get nintendo and play silver surfer-now that is a challange.

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 7: The Sacrifices for Unity

Halik stood silently, looking at the two figures in the candle-lit room. Lord Nasha laid on the bed at the back. The wool sheets covering the young lord rose and fell gently. His eyes were closed. They have been for the last three days. His face was slightly pale. Halik could see the soft wrinkles on the Nasha's face, and the few strands of grey hair amongst a black forest. The young lord suddenly seemed very old. He could not stand the sight anymore. He turned. His beautiful sister sat in a chair beside the bed. She was leaning slightly forward. Her eyes were also closed. Her long black hair hanged on her shoulder in a mess. He had never seen his sister like this. The proud princess, always prim and proper, always so strong. That's the younger sister he knew. This young woman in front of him looked so weak, so fragile. Halik spread out the blank in his arms. He covered the sleeping figures of his beloved younger sister with it. Then he turned around and walked out the room.
Nasha's servant Far'am had told them about the young lord. In the past fifteen days Nasha had barely slept. He had received a small cut on the shoulder during the battle. The doctors and priests had said Athar's demons took advantage of Nasha's weak state to enter his body from the wound. They had left only a few hours ago at sunset. Nasha's body had been hot. It had been hot enough to boil water. He had worked so hard. He had forced himself through so much for our victory. And those lords, those useless men who had done nothing. Halik's servants had reported hearing the conversations of these "noblemen", and the spies had confirmed it. How can they still doubt his loyalty? How could they discuss the ownership of Tamane, of Ubar, of the division of power of Carna? How could they? When the hero of the campaign was struggling for his life, how could they? And father, Yazil Il Watar, the great king of Sab'yn. He knew Sha'ram would rebel. He doesn't want to tell anyone, fine. But the wise king knew Sha'ram would rebel, and he still sent the army off to Ubar. He knew a rebellion was coming and he purposely left the kingdom defenceless. What does he want? To destroy the kingdom? And Lord Nasha. The victory was secured as soon as his army arrived at Maryab. Why did he force himself to fight? I could have won such an easy battle. If he didn't fight then... Halik shook his head. Not thinking straight. Then no use thinking.
Halik walked into his own bed chamber. Tawbtawan was sitting upright on a chair, still dressed up. She was waiting for him. She asked him about Mubsamat. That's right. Best friends would worry about each other. He sat down on the bed and faced his wife. He tried to show her a smile, to reassure her. But he could not. He did not know what his face looked like. Perhaps he still looked angry. He answered. His sister was asleep. He heard his own voice. No he was not still angry. He was tired. Tawbtawan came and sat down beside him. He felt her arms going around his shoulders. He heard her speak. "I'm sorry." About what? "About Lord Nasha and Lord Sha'ram," she answered his thoughts. He bit his lips and shook his head. What's the use of feeling sorry? Nasha will wake up soon and Sha'ram's a traitor. He felt a dull pain in his chest. "Let's rest. It will be another long day tomorrow." He nodded.
He woke up the next morning in a daze. He looked about the room. Tawbtawan was not there. A servant said she had gone to find Princess Mubsamat. He nodded. He got changed and walked towards the court. It was unusually hot for late autumn, and the wind does not blow in the walled-in corridors of the palace. Too bad. He approached the court and could hear them arguing. You would think the heat would tire their body and dull their minds. He stopped at the closed side door and listened. Zari' and Shamdar lead one side. Nawfim lead the other. The issue...the ownership of Ubar. The king...doesn't seem to be present.
Halik opened the door. The court fell silent. Everyone turned to him. He walked into the room and closed the door behind him. He took his place in the prince's chair. His eyes were aflame. He stared at each one of the noblemen in turn, and each one cowered under his glance. "Do you all have nothing better to talk about, huh?" He could hear his own anger. "Lord Nasha is still unconscious. The whereabouts of Sha'ram and Akh Athtar is still unknown. The troops still need to be refitted, reorganized, and rested. Small bands of rebels still roam the countryside. And all you can think about is who gets to govern a small town at the edge of the desert?" No one dared to speak.
A horn was blown. The king has arrived. Yazil walked through the front gate and into the room. The noblemen bowed as he passed. He took his place in the throne chair. "Any word from Awsalat?" The answer was no. Awsalat had been sent out with Nasha's captains and the cavalry to round up what's left of the rebel force and look for Sha'ram and Akh Athtar. Halik didn't know what to feel at the answer. He heard the gathering continued. He threw out his thoughts and joined in the discussion. The garrison of Carna was going to be sent back. Most of the army would be dismissed for the year. The rest would be camped outside the city. Then there were other issues such as taxes, gifts for the Bedouin tribes. They went through the issues one by one.
It approached mid-day. Yazil stood up, signifying the day's meeting was over. "My king," Everyone turned to look at Nawfim. Halik saw the signs an oncoming headache. Oh no, not again. "There's one issue I'd like to have resolved today." Yazil nodded. "Yusif has been the temporary governor of Ubar for almost two months." Here it comes. "I'd like to have a permanent governor decided today." That's right. That's all you selfish nobleman can think about. "The king has also returned from Sabata to take control of the situation, leaving Sabata lacking a governor."
"Do you have some people in mind?" Yazil asked.
"No, my king." Nawfim replied. "But..."
"I do, my king." It was Shamdar. Halik saw it coming. "Captains Yasir and Yada' should be given the posts."
"I agree." It was Zari's turn. "Either one of the captains has worked long and hard for this kingdom. They have both demonstrated their skills. They deserve to be rewarded."
Yazil nodded. It would have been nice if it would end here. But Halik knew better. "Most definitely not! Neither of those captains have demonstrated skills of governing, only in the army." Many of the older nobles behind Nawfim voiced their agreements. The old and fat ones who had been "neutral" during the years of chaos. Cowards. Just so they would pitch in for the winning side. Didn't do anything. Probably realized that, and that the power of their clan would be taken away as soon as they died. Want that governorship now more then ever. Just like crows. Overwhelming a wolf with their numbers and rob the real hunter of his kill. Just like crows. May Athar punish them.
"Come up with someone who has!" Zari' raised his voice. "I have been governor of Carna. Lord Nasha has been governor of Tamane. King Yazil himself has been in charge of Sabata, and Prince Halik Maryab. Who here else has experience governing a large city?"
Nawfim wasn't going to be outdone. "Being governor of a small town is still governing experience. Fits the job better than the captain of an army." Halik closed his eyes. You've done it now, inexperienced Nawfim. You have insured your own defeat.
The rush of voices began. Halik opened his eyes. Behind Nawfim, the old nobles started listening out their own achievements. No one listened to anyone else. Everyone is eager to say which town they have governed, what year did they reap an excellent harvest, did they collect such and such an amount of taxes. The battles for those provinces were not on the battlefields. They were here. And no one had the upper hand. Nawfim had turned around, waving his arms, motioning for everyone to be quiet. He could not even control his own supporters. "Silence!" Halik heard his father's voice echo throughout the room. "Lord Nawfim, you do not have candidates in mind and yet object to Captain Shamdar's idea so strongly."
Someone from Nawfim's crowd yelled. "He's a Captain! And a merchant who bribed to get his position! He shouldn't even be here!"
"I'd like to hear what you've done to calm this rebellion!" Shamdar yelled back. He was angry. He had a right to be angry. He had been hearing that same complaint at least a dozen times since after the battle.
"Silence, I said!" Silence again. "I had specifically asked Captain Shamdar to participate. The next man to question his presence would be stripped of his titles. Is that clear?!" The reply came clearly, and full of fear. Yazil turned back to Nawfim. "Lord Nawfim, as you object so strongly, I will not decide on the issue yet. But you'd better come up with your own candidates, and soon." He turned to the entire court and continued. "As for awarding land. I would be dividing up Hadramaut equally." The court nodded their approval. Of course they approve. They just got some land. Land they did not work for. Land we had spilled blood over while they enjoyed their wine and incense. Yazil raised his hand to regain attention. "As for Ubar and its province of Zufa, I'd like to award it to Lord Nasha for taking it and for his work in the calming of this rebellion."
At once the argument renewed. It was Nawfim's group again. The young lord himself said nothing. But his disapproval couldn't have been clearer even if it was carved onto his face. Shamdar and Zari's side were yelling back. Their faces were aflamed. Their anger at those useless lords were as heated as Halik's. "Be Quiet!" It was his own voice. He had not spoke, but it was his voice. The room fell silent once more. Everyone turned to look at him. He realized he had been clenching his fist. It was full of sweat and it hurts. "I can't make out a single word, let alone an entire sentence! You have objections, say them one at a time!" He turned to Nawfim. "You lead them," he snapped. "You speak first."
Nawfim gave a small nod. "King Yazil, Prince Halik." Extra formal, I see. "If you give Zufa to Lord Nasha, he would have control of three provinces. What's more these three provinces would surround ours. Any trade outside the kingdom would have to go through Lord Nasha's lands. Any coming in would have to go through his hands first. And should he..." Nawfim stopped. He had just moved his eyes on Halik. Halik knew how he must have looked. He knew it was inappropriate for a prince at court. He knew and he did not care.
"Go on." Halik heard his father's voice. A calm voice. Why? He must know what's going to be said.
Nawfim nodded again. "Should he rebel, he would be surrounding us."
"You still distrust Lord Nasha, Nawfim?" Still a calm voice. How could he still be calm? "Even though I have trusted him to fight this rebellion and he has proved himself worthy of my trust?"
"Yes, my king."
"Is that why you so strongly disagree with Yasir and Yada's appointment?" Halik spoke before the king could say anything. "You think they are Nasha's men and would join him if he rebels." He was growling.
Nawfim hesitated a bit, but answered. "Yes, I do, my prince." Halik turned to face his father. The still old, gentle face. He heard Nawfim continue. "Lord Nasha was a mercenary, my prince. He worked for gold. If someone offer him a good price, he could work for gold again." Punish him! Punish him, father! "Surely, my prince, you saw on your way back. The cheering crowd of Maryab. As soon as they saw Lord Nasha was not riding with us, their cheering dimmed. And as soon as they heard he was unconscious, their happy faces clouded. Their cheers turned into whispers of worry. Lord Nasha has the people's hearts. It would be too easy if he wants to rebel. We do not want to give him more power."
A flash of anger came over Yazil's face. But it was gone the next moment. That's right, the king is angry too. Of course he is. Halik turned back, waiting for the king to announce a punishment. It did not come. Zari' spoke. "Lord Nasha had many chances to betray us. He could have joined Sha'ram, but he did not. He had proven his loyalty."
"Lord Zari'. You yourself had been with us since the years of chaos. Sha'ram could have betrayed us many times. My father had spoke of times when his betrayal would have meant the complete destruction of the Il Watar royal clan." Halik turned back to his father. The king was angry, and was showing it. Halik heard Nawfim continue. "But Sha'ram did not. He earned our trust. And now when we were vulnerable and least expecting, he betrayed us." Punish him, father! Punish him! Yazil turned to his son. He was angry, Halik could see. But he shook his head.
Halik had enough. He turned and marched towards the side door, the one that lead back to the calm of the palace. He heard the king call after him. He continued. He put his hand on the metal ring and pulled the door open. He froze. In front of him stood three familiar faces. On his right was his younger sister. She was shaking with anger. Tears were running down her face. Tawbtawan stood beside her with her hands on Mubsamat's shoulders. She was trying to calm down the angry princess. Beside them stood Lord Nasha. His face was still slightly pale. He did not look angry. Halik wished he would look angry. He wished the Desert Wolf would storm into the room and let loose a thunder. But Lord Nasha did not look angry. He had an expression that Halik could not bare to see. One look at Nasha's face and Halik felt his heart turn to ice. Lord Nasha, the Mighty Wolf of the Desert, had frozen. His posture looked like he was about to push the door open. He was staring down at his hand. But his eyes told Halik he was not looking at anything. His face looked like one of a weak child who had been bullied and abandoned. He looked hurt. He unfroze and looked up. "My prince." He showed Halik a smile.
Mubsamat saw her husband's weak smile. She could not hold her anger any longer. Halik felt her push him aside, and before Tawbtawan could grab her she was running into the court. Her sobs echoed throughout the room. The entire gathering was too stunned to stop her. She ran right up to Nawfim. "My husband!" she screamed up into the young lord's face. "For twenty days before the battle, my husband had not slept for even twelve hours! He..." Mubsamat choked on her words. "He forced himself to fight under that condition! He had almost died! He had almost died for you! You ungraceful pig!" She raised her hand and slapped Nawfim's face with all her strength.
"Mubsamat!" Halik heard Nasha's voice. He was the first one to stir. He ran through the stunned lords. The princess punched and kicked at Nawfim. Nawfim did not dare to strike back, but tried to protect himself as best as he could. Nasha threw his arms around his wife and pulled her back from Nawfim. She continued to struggle for a while. Slowly, she stopped. The screams the echoed the room turned into sobs. Nasha walked his wife to Tawbtawan. "Will you take care of her?" The lady nodded. Halik watched as his wife put her hands on Mubsamat's shoulders again and guided her out the room. The princess's sobs continued to echo through the corridors.
Halik watched as Nasha turned around and walked back towards Nawfim. He stopped directly in front of Nawfim. Nawfim took a step back, expecting a punch to be flying towards him. But instead, Nasha took a slow bow. "I apologize for the actions of my wife." He left a speechless Nawfim and turned towards King Yazil. "My king, I thank you for your kindness at considering granting me the province of Zufa. However, I must decline your offer."
Yazil looked at the pale general for a long time. "Normally, a lord wouldn't wait to accept a piece of land."
Nasha replied. "That is true. Normally, I would be delighted."
"But you decline." Halik looked at his father. Yazil was not angry. He was not shocked. He was saddened, like Nasha. "Why?"
"You had told me how a kingdom works, my king. It was by the way of the water and the way of the sand." Nasha answered without any hesitation. "For a kingdom to work, all the rivers need to come together to irrigate our land, and all the sand need to come together to form our walls. I am a general, my king. There are many a man who can govern better than me. I am prepared to do my best to watch over what land I am given. However, if me receiving land means the rivers branching out instead of coming together. If me receiving land means the sand scattering into the wind. Then I'd rather not have that piece of land. And for the same purpose, I would also like to give up the province of Ma'in. My birthplace of Qataban and Tamane are more than enough."
Yazil looked at his general. He sighed. "Very well."
Nasha turned to Nawfim. "I suggest the two positions be given to Captain Shamdar, here, and Lord Awsalat. Captain Shamdar's decision had been crucial in defeating Sha'ram. Lord Awsalat's message at night through enemy territories had also been important." Nawfim stood silently. Nasha turned to Shamdar. "I shall talk to Yasir and Yada' when they return. I am sure they would not mind passing on the job of governor." Shamdar nodded.
Nasha turned back to the king. "That's all I have to say, my king. With your permission, I would like to check on the princess."
"Go." Nasha bowed and walked towards the door. He stopped beside Halik. Halik saw him flash him the same sad smile. Then, without a word, he walked out the room. Halik turned to look at the gathered men. There was not a single person who did not hung his face down in shame. He heard his father dismiss the meeting. The men all walked out, weakly and silently. Only Nawfim stood still. Zari' looked at the inexperienced lord. He shook his head and followed the last of the crowd out.
Nawfim collapsed onto his knees. Yazil stood up from his throne chair and walked towards the palace gate. As he passed Nawfim, Halik heard him speak. "Now do you understand why I trust him?" Halik watched his father disappear down the steps. He looked at Nawfim. His anger had long disappeared, and he felt strangely sorry for the young lord. But he said nothing.
Halik turned around and walked into the palace. He thought of checking up on his sister, but decided against it. He called a servant for some lunch. Something light, did not feel like eating too much. Tawbtawan joined him. She told him about Mubsamat. The princess had calmed down a bit when Nasha came. Tawbtawan said she heard her flare up again when Nasha said what went on in the court after she left. She was yelling at her husband, and he sat quietly through it. Halik heard anger slowly creeping into her voice, her face. "Don't get angry. You don't look pretty when you're angry."
"Husband?" For a second Tawbtawan didn't know what she had heard. "Oh, I am sorry." She tried to soften her face. "It's just that Lord Nasha worked so hard. He took Ubar and secured Zufa. He then marched back to help us." It tensed up again. "And instead of being rewarded, he's forced to give up half his domain."
Halik felt his own anger rising up. "Let's not talk about this." He tried to get the emotion out of his head. "It was his own decision. It was for the good of the kingdom." He said it as if only for himself to hear.
"But it's so unfair." Tawbtawan was getting worked up. A rare sight for a noblewomen. "How can punishing a man for his achievements be for the good of the kingdom?" Halik grabbed a few dates and put them in his mouth. He agreed with his wife, but he didn't say anything. He shouldn't say anything. And everything was already said. Even Nawfim knew now.
Halik asked Tawbtawan to play some music. She nodded and walked off. She knew not to bother her husband too much about what went on at court. She was more passive than Mubsamat. But then every woman is more passive than my sister. Halik chuckled. He saw his wife return with her rebab and bow. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. He let the smooth music comfort him. He felt himself drift off with the music. Tawbtawan's music.
"Husband." He felt his body been shaken. "Husband." He opened his eyes. It was his wife. Halik looked around. It was almost dark. He turned back to Tawbtawan. "Husband, Lord Nasha's here to see you. He says it's urgent."
Halik looked pass her wife down the corridor. Nasha stood there waiting patiently. He was looking out in the courtyard. The sunset had died all the plants orange. Halik nodded. Tawbtawan went and spoke to Nasha. She then retreated down the corridor.
Nasha walked up to Halik. He motioned at the chair, but Nasha shook his head. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yasir sent word to me they have caught Sha'ram and Akh Athtar.".
Halik jumped to his feet. "Where?"
"Yasir says they are returning to Maryab. They'll be here at dawn tomorrow." So they've been caught. The issue will be decided tomorrow then. "My prince." He looked up at Nasha. He was staring straight at Halik. Worried eyes. "He will be executed." Halik said nothing. "Most of the court will no doubt condemn him to execution. My prince, the king will agree."
"I have a request, Lord Nasha." Nasha nodded. "Call me Halik in private. I shall call you Nasha. I do not like all the formalities."
Nasha opened his mouth to object, but Halik stared at him hard. He gave in, and nodded. "Well then, Halik. Am I right in thinking you will object to his execution?"
Halik motioned for Nasha to sit again. He sat. "What's your opinion, Nasha?" He was asking Nasha to pick a side. "Should he die?" Nasha answered. Halik stared at him. He knew this answer was coming. He knew, but somewhere he had wished it was not so. He felt angry, betrayed. No reason to feel this way, but he did. "Even if he is a capable general?" Halik heard his voice raising. Nasha nodded. "Even if he has done so much for the kingdom?"
"Percisely because he has done so much for the kingdom!" Nasha had rose his own volume to match the prince's. Halik froze. Nasha caught himself. "I am sorry, I have not been well." Halik shook his head. Couldn't think. They sat silently for a short while. "I do not want to see him die either." Nasha began again. "But if he is caught then we have no choice." We have no choice. If he's caught then we have no choice. The idea formed.
Halik stood up. "Ride with me." Nasha looked up at him. "I am going to set Sha'ram free. As long as he doesn't get into Maryab, he will live." Nasha jumped up. He moved to speak but Halik cut him off. "You want him to live, too, right?" He started pacing down the corridor towards. He was excited. Yes, that's all he need to do. Sha'ram can live.
Nasha rushed up behind him. "He needs to die to keep the unity of this kingdom."
"Akh Athtar can take his place."
"They both need to die." Halik swung around and looked at Nasha. Nasha stopped his feet, but not his mouth. "He's a rebel."
"He's my teacher!" Halik was yelling. Couldn't control himself. "Now you come with me or I'll make you pay for it. And it'll be easy right now, with most of your army disbanded and your territory down to Qataban and..." Halik caught himself. Nasha had completely frozen. His face was still pale, and now it looked as if he had seen the demons of Athar. Oh god what have I said. Damn fool. Threatened the kingdom's best general, most popular man. Threatened a friend. "I am sorry. I didn't mean that." Nasha nodded. "I'll go alone."
"If the prince insist, then I shall follow."
The night was cold. Halik, Nasha and their bodyguards were all puffing white vapors. They rode without a word. I've scared him. Got to apologize properly later. Must think right now. A plan. Need a plan. But he was a prince. He could release the man by his authority. At least for a while. Father would be furious. Oh well.
They reached Awsalat's camp in the middle of the night. Must be fast. Father would sound a chase in the morning. Awsalat and Nasha's three captains came out to greet them. They dismounted. Before any words of greeting were said, Halik cut them off. "Take me to see Sha'ram." The four of them looked at each other, but said nothing. Awsalat nodded. The prince and the old general's relationship was common knowledge. Awsalat led Halik and Nasha to a wooden cage. The two rebel leaders were inside. Akh Athtar was restless, moving all about the cage, looking out. Sha'ram sat calmly with his back against the cage wall. His eyes were closed. They were not given woollen cloaks for the night. Of course they weren't, they were prisoners. But Halik could not help feel a deep annoyance at seeing his teacher in such a state.
Akh Athtar saw Halik approaching. He frantically got down on his knees. "Please, my prince." He was begging for his life. "I'll give my entire property to the king. I'll become a slave. Anything." He was almost crying. Perhaps he was, just that the tears were not visible in the black night with only dim torches. He was far from the rich bully Halik had known him as. Halik ignored him. He looked at his old teacher. Sha'ram slowly opened his eyes for a quick glance at his student. He closed them again.
Awsalat motioned to the guards. One of them opened the cage door and pulled the old general onto his feet. He led Sha'ram outside. Akh Athar tried to struggle outside. Another guard kicked him hard on the shoulder and closed the cage door in his face. Halik turned to a guard. "Prepare some food and clothing and a fine horse." Sha'ram's eyes snapped open. Nasha painfully closed his own. Awsalat and the captains couldn't believe their ears. "Do it." The guard bowed and ran off. Halik turned to Awsalat. Before the lord could say anything, Halik spoke. "Bring me to your tent." Awsalat hesitated for a moment, but nodded.
They left the whimpering mess of Akh Athar behind and walked towards Awsalat's command tent. Sha'ram was weak from cold and hunger. Halik himself supported the old man, surprising everyone around. They entered the tent. Halik gently sat his teacher down. "Sha'ram. Wait a bit." He turned to Awsalat. "The things I ordered are for Sha'ram. You will let him go and escape."
"He's a traitor." Awsalat voiced his objection.
"He's a skilled general we will need."
"He's a traitor, and a traitor needs to be punished no matter how skilled he is." It was Yasir's cold voice. Halik turned to the captain, annoyed.
But before he could speak, Yada' spoke. "Do not forget the history of Maryab. There are many clans who had been punished for their actions against the Il Watar clan during the years of chaos. How will they feel if Sha'ram is not punished.
"But he has been punished. He has already been stripped of his rank and property." Halik sounded like he was begging. A prince does not beg. "It's an order from the prince of Sab'yn. Obey it or you'll be punished."
Shamah was about to speak. He closed his mouth and turned to look at Nasha standing at the corner of the tent. Nasha saw Shamah's questioning glance and painfully shook his head.
"I shall remain here, my prince." Everyone turned to face Sha'ram. "I shall remain here."
"What are you saying? Just go into hiding for a few years." Halik was really pleading now. "When the time is right, I'll recall you. The kingdom will need you."
"The kingdom need me to die." Sha'ram answered calmly. "And die I will."
"How can I let you be executed?" Halik but his hands on Sha'ram's shoulder. "You tought me everything. My father had always concerned himself with the issues of his domain. You have brought me up since I could barely walk. You have been my real father."
"Enough!" Halik stepped back. The entire gathering froze. "Prince Halik. My first lesson to you was that a prince does not beg! He can ask with all his heart. But he does not beg! Your father never begged. He may have used the word, but he does not bring himself so low. I do not remember having a student who can not observe my lessons!"
Halik was stunned. He stood frozen as Sha'ram walked up to Nasha. "Lord Nasha. What should you have done?" Nasha looked confused at the old rebel, over twice his age. "What should you have done?" Sha'ram repeated.
Nasha thought for a few moments. "Report the prince’s actions to the king," he answered.
For a moment, Halik thought he saw Sha'ram smile. But the next moment his face was stern again. "And what did you do?"
"Follow the prince here."
"What did you not do?"
"Stop the prince."
"May I?"
Nasha nodded. Sha'ram drew back his right arm. With all his strength he punched Nasha on the face. Nasha staggered back a few steps and fell back onto the ground. Halik and the others rushed up to Nasha. Nasha sat up. Blood was running down his nose. Yasir reached for his sword, but Nasha shot out his arm to stop the captain. Halik turned to Sha'ram. "I had threatened Lord Nasha into coming. Do not blame him." He tried make it sound like an order. But it sounded like a request from a confused child.
Sha'ram walked towards them. He stopped and looked down at Nasha. "He was afraid for his only life, or his family or property. It is precisely because he gave in to your threats, that he needs to be punished." Halik could say nothing. This was a side of his teacher he had heard about many times, but had never seen it. Sha'ram held out a hand at Nasha. Nasha took the hand and let Sha'ram pull him to his feet. "Remember this, Desert Wolf. When the king's action plans a action that is wrong without a single doubt, it is the duty of the lord to do everything in his power to stop his king. He must not let any threats stop him from the preventing that action, not even threats from the king himself. Remember it." Nasha bowed deeply. Drops of blood fell from his chin and was absorbed by the sand. Sha'ram put his wrinkled hands on Nasha's shoulder. Nasha looked up. "I leave the Il Watar clan in your hands." Nasha nodded.
Sha'ram turned to Halik. Halik was still stunned by the actions of his teacher. His gentle teacher, who had taught him everything from writing to war. "Prince Halik. This is my last lesson to you. You must not let your emotions cloud your judgement. You must not let your personal feelings prevent you from carrying out the right action. Understood?" Halik did not speak. He disagreed. Why must I not be allowed to act on my feelings? When all the peasants could do as they please, why must I be restricted so? "Understood?!" Sha'ram's voice boomed. Halik stared at his teacher painfully. He nodded. "My prince. I know you have never wanted to be a prince. But you are. And one day you will be king. This kingdom's peace and prosperity rests on your decisions. Remember my lessons. Be strong."
Sha'ram's face softened. "My dear little prince. Remember when you were nine? You got up late for the festival of Almagah. You were only about ten minutes late and I punished you by not giving you a share of the festival offerings. Do you remember that?" Halik nodded. He looked doing at the sandy ground, trying his best to fight back his tears. "I remember it like it was yesterday." Tears were running down Sha'ram's wrinkled face. "Do you still want that share of offerings?" Halik shook his head like a young child. Sha'ram smiled. "Well, I have one last present for you." Halik looked up. The old general returned to his stern voice. "Tomorrow at court, those old sheep of noblemen would be arguing strongly to keep me alive. They fear for their own position. They would be hoping you would lead the argument. Tell your father, and tell those sheep, that it is only right for me to die. I shall be a sacrifice for the unity of this kingdom."
Sha'ram stepped back. "Well, it's certainly going to be cold tonight." His voice was cheerful. He gave the others in the tent one last smile and walked out the tent. Nasha followed him out. Awsalat and the captains were close behind. Halik was the last one to step outside the tent. They stood just outside the tent flap and watched Sha'ram. The old general walked up to a guard standing beside the cage. He asked the guard to open the cage, and quietly walked inside. A man lead a horse up to Halik. It was the other guard, the one he had ordered for the provisions for Sha'ram. He reported to Halik. The provisions and the horse Halik requested were ready.
They rode silently into the city at dawn. The captains parted, and the remainder three took their position at the court without exchanging a single word. Halik heard Awsalat reporting to the king of Sha'ram and Akh Athtar's capture. The issue of punishment was immediately brought up. Nawfim, Shamdar, and Zari' were for execution. Most of the other lords were. It was to be expected. But many of the older nobles argued fiercely for a lighter punishment. Those useless nobles. The crows and sheep. They behaved just as Sha'ram said they would. Halik heard the king ask for his opinion. "Father." He began without hesitating. "I have grown up during the years of chaos." He turned to the sheep and crows. "We have all seen the chaos that engulfed our city, our country. We have all worked hard to restore the old prosperity to the kingdom of Sab'yn. For prosperity, we need peace. For peace, we must have unity. That is the answer we all found." Halik paused, trying to keep his voice from shaking. "Lord Sha'ram had broken that unity. He had threatened to break the peace we all worked so hard to obtain. He needs to die." No one said anything. There was nothing more to say.
The execution was carried at dusk. The rebels were to be buried alive. Akh Athtar had kept up a futile struggle. Sha'ram, with dignity, calmly welcomed his own death. Halik returned to the palace. His steps were heavy. His mind was paralyzed. He walked into the courtyard. Tawbtawan was playing with Nasha's son, Anmar. He walked to the bench and sat down. After a while, they saw him and stopped their game. They turned to him and bowed. Halik looked at the tiny wooden sword in Anmar's hand. It was badly carved, it almost didn't look like a sword. He felt a dull pain in his chest.
Tawbtawan looked at his husband. She bent down and said good-bye to Anmar. Anmar ran off to find his father. Tawbtawan turned back to Halik. She sat down beside him. Halik felt a sudden surge of emotion, of weakness. "He refused to call me Halik."
"Husband?"
"No matter what I said, he always called me 'Prince Halik' or 'My Prince' He never..." Halik was shaking uncontrollably. His voice cracked. "He never called me Halik." He felt his wife's arms around him, pulling his head gently into her breasts. A dam broke inside him. Like a small child, he began to cry.
As the sky darkened, a lone old man walked up to Sha'ram's grave outside the city. He took off the crown on top of his white hair and held it tightly in his hands. For hours he stood looking down at Sha'ram's grave. Drops of tears fell from his wrinkled face onto the soft earth at his feet. He knelt down beside the grave. With his bare hands, he dug a small hole. In it he gently placed his crown. He covered the hole tightly. He looked at the grave. "Thank you," the old man said to the dead lord. "Thank you." He stood up, looked at the grave one last time, and walked back towards the city.

[General Appo]

Incredible! Now, time to invade Africa!

[Parallel Pain]

Not yet, Homna's first.

And I am running out of ideas:help:
I got Idea for Homna and for the first few in Africa. But then it's just rush and conquer and rush and conquer.
Hard to think of a story for that:dizzy2:

Say how do you guys like the new writing style? Hard to keep writing in that though. I think I'll go back to more tvstyle

[Chaotix]

Your writing's great, Parallel Pain! I love this AAR, I probably wouldn't read it if it wasn't your writing, because it's really long... but not boring at all!

[Reality=Chaos]

Not yet, Homna's first.

And I am running out of ideas:help:
I got Idea for Homna and for the first few in Africa. But then it's just rush and conquer and rush and conquer.
Hard to think of a story for that:dizzy2:

Say how do you guys like the new writing style? Hard to keep writing in that though. I think I'll go back to more tvstyle

WOW that was absolutely captivating:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: . I like the new style.
Well I think it's all about where you want to go. Perhaps you could do something around the theme of a kingdom turning into an empire. That is a difficult struggle. New peoples need to be made to accept there new rulers. It's one thing to conquer a lot of land, it's quite another thing to keep it. The extreme cultural differences between all the large mediterenean cultures and the Saba'yn culture (except maybe for the kart hadastim, the phoenicians came from Tyre (or one of it's neighbours) and those cities had contact with the nabatean arabians, but even here. Kart-hadast probably culturally evoled away somewhat from their ancestral cultures) How would the proud Arabians deal, with the arrogant romans, the commercial kart-hadastim or the devious hellens, let alone any european barbarians that are nearby. Just some ideas. Maybe you like some of them.

[Parallel Pain]

So I was a digging around the UBC Koerner Library since I had free time to see if I could find anything on Saba.

And my find?

ONE FREAKING PARAGRAPH IN THE ENTIRE LIBRARY:furious3:
I'm serious the game had more information for god's sake:whip:

They have stacks and stacks about Islamic Arabia, why not anything on pre-Islamic:wall: And all their pre-Islamic middle-east material are Mesopotamia or Egypt with tiny sections on Nubia and then zip about anything else:thumbsdown:
Oh nevermind there were like a book about the persian gulf but also mostly Babylon/Bagdad and Islamic.

Damn it.

Oh and sorry about the slow update. Caught up with school and Little Busters! School ends in less than a month. I promise the speed will pick up after school ends.

[Reality=Chaos]

So I was a digging around the UBC Koerner Library since I had free time to see if I could find anything on Saba.

And my find?

ONE FREAKING PARAGRAPH IN THE ENTIRE LIBRARY:furious3:
I'm serious the game had more information for god's sake:whip:

They have stacks and stacks about Islamic Arabia, why not anything on pre-Islamic:wall: And all their pre-Islamic middle-east material are Mesopotamia or Egypt with tiny sections on Nubia and then zip about anything else:thumbsdown:
Oh nevermind there were like a book about the persian gulf but also mostly Babylon/Bagdad and Islamic.

Damn it.

Oh and sorry about the slow update. Caught up with school and Little Busters! School ends in less than a month. I promise the speed will pick up after school ends.
I've been told ( by EB team members) that there is info about the saba, but it's mainly academic work. Still compared to the islamic period relatively little is known (it took a bit of time, but once the arabic language was codified the islamic Arabs wrote a lot of stuff)

[bovi]

I don't usually read AARs. Yours was really captivating with the great embellishment on the persons involved in the game (and even not yet involved, as was the case with the desert wolf for long), thank you very much for sharing your great writing :2thumbsup:.

[Olaf The Great]

:laugh4: :laugh4: if you want challenge, get nintendo and play silver surfer-now that is a challange.
Its like if you touch the top of the building you die, you touch the ceiling you die, you touch the floor you die, too far to he right you die, too far to the left you die, you die, you die, you die, you die, you die, die die die die die, DIE!


https://youtube.com/watch?v=6s1FkMLVRDo

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 8: New Relations

Lord Nasha Karab Yuhan'em jumped off his horse before it had even reached a full stop. He had been summoned from Tamane. All the Lords have been summoned to Maryab. Such an urgent meeting had not been called for three years, not since Sha'ram's uprising. They were going to war.
Nasha rushed through the palace gate and up the steps. Nawfim entered from a side corridor. "Your watchtowers worked well." Nasha said. Nawfim had spent much of the last three years designing a system of watchtowers. He had asked merchants throughout the land for information on the watchtowers used by the Seleucid Empire to the north. He had personally designed the watchtowers as well as organized their placement. He then traveled tirelessly from site to site to oversee their construction. The watchtowers he build were not just watchtowers. They were also signal beacons and small forts. The beacons could quickly warn the king at Maryab of an external threat. The forts housed a small amount of light troops and cavalry to fight bandits and enforce security. His watchtowers now dot the land, keeping the roads safe and warning the Sab'yn kingdom of any danger. Privately, Nasha thinks Nawfim had been working the hardest of all people these three years in building the kingdom. Nawfim had worked even harder than the king. He worked so hard he looks a man near his forties, not one just entering his thirties. But of course Nasha couldn't say that in public, at least not until the king says it first.
Nawfim thanked Nasha, and they hurried into the palace. They were stopped outside the throne room by Awsalat. Awsalat had ridden out as soon as he saw the beacon is lit. As beacon light would not reach Tamane, Nasha had to be summoned. So Awsalat was thereby able to arrive a few hours before Nasha even though Sabata is further away. "We can't enter yet. The king's meeting a diplomat sent from the Ptolemy."
"The Ptolemy? Here? Now?" Nawfim was surprised. He was right to be surprised. What would the great empire from across the Red Sea want with this kingdom that had just managed to unite its own peoples?
The door opened. The Ptolemy diplomat stood tall and straight with a wide smile on his face. The Sab'yn lords parted to make way. They watched as a servant showed the diplomat down the steps. They turned around and walked into the room. Zari' was already there. As chief diplomat, he had took place in the discussion. "Well? What did he want?" Nawfim asked.
"It's very strange." Zari' replied. "He only asked to exchange information about the our two kingdoms and asked for government-sanctioned trade between us."

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%208/00Ptolemy.jpg

"That's it?" Awsalat said. "He looked as if he had accomplished something big!"
"And that's why it's strange." King Yazil spoke. "Especially during a time like this, with the beacons so freshly lit."
"My king, what did he speak of?" Nasha asked.
"Just that his empire is mighty, expanding deeper to the west along the coast of the great sea to the north-west. He said they're also slowly beating back the Seleucids in Asia. He listed a few other kingdoms to the north that have allied themselves with his empire."
"Did he ask anything?"
"Yes. He asked about our relationship with our neighbours." Prince Halik answered. "We told him the Axumites are our distant relative and we're on friendly terms, Hutar's Hagara Kingdom on the coast of the Gulf of Persia has just declared war on us, but we expect no problems fighting them off. Other than that, we just wish to remain in Arabia and keep on friendly terms with our neighbours so we can trade in peace." Nasha stroke his short beard and thought. The court has turned towards him. "What are you thinking, Lord Nasha?"
"My king, just before I was called here, I had met with a few traders from Axum," Nasha answered. "They said the Ptolemy are preparing to attack them."
"That the diplomat certainly did not say." Zari' spoke.
"He purposely left it out?" Awsalat suggested. "He didn't think the news would travel this fast."
"He doesn't want to dispatch an army to help defend Axum." Nasha added. "That is for sure. So he would be glad that Hutar is attacking us."
"Could the Ptolemy had contacted Hutar?" Nawfim suggested. "Just to be sure that we can not help Axum." The court turned to focus on Nawfim. He continued. "Think about it. Hutar has the ambition to conquer the whole of Arabia. And to outsiders so do we. What better way to keep us in check by letting us fight one another."
"Let's not jump to conclusions." Nasha replied. "And in any case we are in no position to help Axum with Hutar on our back."
"Nasha's right. We've got to focus on the Hagaras first. Is Lord Shamdar here yet?" Yazil asked.
"No, my king," Aswalat answered. "He should be a about two days behind me."
"No, I'm here." The court gathering turned towards the throne room's gate. There stood Shamdar, leaning on the gate out of breath. He took a sheet of palm bark out from his coat. "I have a message from Yusif." Nasha rushed up to Shamdar and took the bark from the tired lord. He scanned over the message and smiled. This shall be easy.
"What does it say?" Halik asked.
"Yusif gives us the layout of the enemy army, my prince." Nasha answered. "About 3200 men under Kanarang. 2500 infantry and 350 cavalry from set out from Homna. About another 350 from a few disgruntled Bedouin tribes that had joined them."

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%208/00InvadingArmy.jpg

"That's three quarters of the men he conquered Homna last year with is it not?" Halik asked.
"Yes it is, my prince." Nasha walked up to Aswalat and passed the bark on. "And he is not starting his march to Ubar yet. He is waiting on the border for more troops to join him from Homna and other Bedouin tribes."
Aswalat read the message and smiled. Of course, he would. Anyone would. There isn't a better opportunity to end the war right here and now. "We have plenty of time to gather a larger force." Aswalat spoke as he passed the message on to the prince. "If we can defeat Kanarang the road to Homna would be open."
"No, we should take the ship." Nasha spoke.
"The ships?" the king asked. The others also turned to stare at Nasha questioningly. Nasha expected this. The Arabs, after all, like the land and like to trade on land. Nasha and Shamdar were the only two lords who knew the real importance of sea trade because of their upbringing. They had to argue with almost everyone to have a harbour an expensive fleet built at Bab al Mandab to protect sea trade from pirates. Yes, they are all nobilities from Maryab. They prefer dry land. After all, they've never been on a ship. Well neither have I, but this is too good an opportunity.
"We spent the time and money to build a fleet, why not put it to use? Hutar has no port to build a fleet. The most he could do is bribe some pirates, which would be no match for us. We should sail straight to Homna and take the city. By that we bypass Kanarang's army and cut off his supply line. He would have to march back to Homna to fight us there."
"I agree." Shamdar added in. He had caught his breath and taken his place. "I have here other messages from Yusif. I rushed from Ubar to deliver the last message, and was half a day's ride from Sabata when I saw the beacon lit." He took out more pieces of bark and passed them amongst the lords. "Malki, the governor of Homna surrendered last year to save his city from a siege. But the people of Homna is not happy. They do not like being forced into the army the way Kanarang has done to them. Yusif said if we attack Homna, it would fall easily."
"But if we fight on land, we can get some helps from Bedouin tribes of our own." Halik objected. King Yazil had offered Bedouin tribes in the kingdom and on the borders land to settle down. They were also paid handsomely shall they help Sab'yn forces enforce order across the kingdom and protect trade caravans. Most were settled around Nawfim's watchtowers. That way not only was it easy to get a message to and from the Bedouin tribes, the garrison can also keep an eye on the Bedouins.
"I had already told sent word to the Bedouin tribes under our banner to harass Kanarang's army. I will lead a small force towards the border and trick them into thinking I have a larger force and is preparing to fight. Kanarang wouldn't know our real plan until it is too late. We well gain Homna much faster with less losses if we travel by sea." Shamdar replied. Nasha smiled. Once again he was proud that his eyes had not deceived him. Shamdar had act quickly and his plan is impeccable.
Yazil chuckled. "It seems the two of you have it all planned out before war is even declared. Very well, I leave this campaign in your hands. The rest of us will stay behind. I suspect we'll be hearing more from the Ptolemy and our friends the Axumites from across the sea."

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%208/03WatchtowerSystemSettingOff.jpg

Nasha set out from Tamane with 4700 men. Hutar had really hired pirates to block the path. But the Sab'yn navy had better armed ships built under the direction of craftsmen called in from the Seleucid and Ptolemy empires. The Sab'yn crew was trained under the supervision of Shamah, the pirate king of the red sea. The captains were also taught naval tactics by Shamah. Facing such a force, the pirates were easily swept aside, fleeing in all directions in their smaller, faster ships.
The Sab'yn army landed near Homna and marched to the city unopposed. The Hagara garrison of about 1000 men tried to fight the Sab'yn army out in the open, but Yada' and Yasir quickly lead the cavalry around their rear and surrounded the Hagara troops, doing great damage and causing many to surrender. The rest of the troops in Homna, being inexperienced levies and never wanted to be on the battlefield in the first place, followed suit.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Chapter%208/04Battle.jpg

Nasha lied awake on a bed in the villa of Homna. The candles were blown out, though it's not quite time to sleep. He and his captains had been invited by Malki to stay over. The army is stationed just outside the settlement. Malki had offered to cover half the cost of provision for the time they stay at Homna. Of course he would. He needs this army to protect him. The ruthless Hutar would skin him alive for surrendering. And it was easy for him to do so anyway. Homna was a huge centre of trade. Anything coming and going from Persia and India gets to Homna first. Well, as long as Malki pays his tributes and supply troops demanded of him as a vassal, no reason to remove him. He's good at commerce, and the people seem to follow him.
Nasha put his hand on his forehead. He had a terrible headache, and is the only one lying here resting while his captains dined with Malki in the courtyard. He had been the laughing stock of his captains - though the ranks and file were worried. The man to argue so hard for the creation of a fleet had got the heaviest attack of sea-sickness in the entire army. He couldn't even do much during the battle. Well, the captains knew what to do. It all worked well. Shamah had suggested they throw a bucket of his vomit at Kanarang's army, then tell them it's from the Desert Wolf and threaten them with more of it and they would come begging for mercy. He chuckled. Shamah had been offered a position as admiral, but he turned it down. Got to thank Almagah for that, don't know what to do without his jokes.
He heard someone walked into the room. "I got some cold towels, my lord." It was Far'am.
For a moment Nasha thought it was Mubsamat. Somehow their footsteps sounded similar. Well, I did have to force her to stay at Tamane to take care of the children. "Thank you, Far'am." Better this than if our ship met a storm. "Why are you not at the feast?"
"Oh I ate enough, my lord." Far'am answered, putting the towel on Nasha's forehead.
Ah, this is nice. "So what are they talking about?"
"Well, my lord. Yasir's trying to plan the town's defenses, it not being walled and all. But Yada' and Shamah keep cutting him off and asking the merchants around here for stories about Persia and India. Then the merchants ask them about things in Southern Arabia and Africa. And Malki seems pretty happy to be talking about anything."
Yasir, the best captain I have, and a person who doesn't know how to enjoy being a person. "Tell Yasir not to worry, Kanarang is more than eight days march away with Shamdar on his tail. He is outnumbered and I suspect the Bedouins would be deserting him now. There's nothing to worry. If he keeps tense like this he'll never get to marry."
"They already told me all that in the courtyard, my lord." Yasir walked into the room. Nasha thought about sitting up, but his body felt too dull and he decided to stay down. Yasir pulled a chair up beside the bed and sat down. Far'am relighted the candles. He turned to them, gave a small bow, and left. "How are you, my lord."
"Tolerable." Nasha smiled. "Can't imagine the return journey." He chuckled. It's true. "So why are you here, my good captain? Why are you not at the feast."
"Jokes and stories don't suit me, my lord." Still the stone voice. "I would only damage the lively mood."
"Well there's nothing here but a sick wolf and the potential for a bucket of vomit." Nasha joked. Yasir smiled a bit, but his face quickly returned to its usual seriousness.
A moment of silence passed. "My, lord. Have you ever," Yasir finally spoke. "Have you ever wondered would there come a day we would not have to go to war anymore?" Nasha forced his dull body upwards. He sat and looked at Yasir for a moment. So you're asking this question too. "Though I suppose lords like to go to war to achieve fame and acquire some land. I mean Lord Nasha you have been a soldier since you were seven. There must be something that make you not put down your sword. I know I have been a captain for many, many years now and it must sound weird coming out of a captain statue..."
"Mubsamat had asked me this, too. I have thought about it." Nasha cut him off. He could see the captain looking at him surprised. Nasha let out a small laugh. I must have looked like this. "I had asked the same question when I was about ten to the mercenary captain I served under. I didn't join the mercenary just to survive. I was searching for something. I don't know what. When I was on the battlefield, my blood would boil. I would loose something. I would forget I was searching for something. I was able to throw aside the emptiness I felt. But when the fighting stopped, that something I lost I always picked up again, and I would feel more empty than before. So I kept wishing to go back onto the field." Nasha paused. Yes, this was how it was for me. It might not be how it is for you, but this is how it was for me.
Yasir looked at him wonderingly. He continued. "After a while, I forgot I was searching for something. I equated my search with battles. My companions called me statue just like they call you now, because I always had a blank expression off the battlefield. They had great difficulty pulling me back to camp when the battle was over. They saw me as blood-thirsty, so they joked that I was like the desert wolf. That's how that name started, not to praise my skills but to laugh at a boy barely ten who acts as if he's blood-thirsty."
He rose his right hand and held it out against the dim candle light. On his brown skin, between his forefinger and his thumb, was a scar in the shape of a bite mark. The wound still pains him every so often when he looks at it. "During a battle near the coast one day, a boy, the same age as me, made these marks. I choked him to death, and bashed the back of his head against a rock. He was already dead. For the first time in years I felt sick at what I had done. I found out I did not like to kill. I told my captain that, and he laughed. He said his dead friend was blood-thirsty at first, like me. But after a while he didn't felt like killing anymore. His friend got killed, and he has always wondered what made the big change. I asked him the question you had just asked me. He told me that as long as there are different people, different governments, different kingdoms and empires, there will be war."
Nasha stopped. He could hear the sound of lively dancing coming from the courtyard. "If only there's no kingdoms, or the whole world is one huge kingdom." Nasha heard Yasir speak. He laughed. Oh Athtar, you trickster god, this is exactly like that time.
Yasir stared at his lord. "Yes, but that's not possible." The aroma of the frankincense drifted into the room. Nasha flipped the sheets off his legs. He forced his tired body to stand up. "Come." Nasha staggered out the room and into the courtyard. Yasir followed behind him. Yada' was the first to see them, and came to ask for Nasha's condition. Nasha answered with a smile. The music stopped, and everyone turned to look at them.
Nasha turned back to Yasir. "Well, my good captain. I order you to dance."
"Pardon me, my lord?" Yasir looked at him with a blank face. Shamah and Yada' laughed.
"Dance, my good captain." Nasha waved his hands. "Come on, let's have some music."
"My lord..."
Nasha felt a small headache. Ah darn, just when I am sick. Well he was sick too. "My good captain. Not only do I order you to dance, I order you to dance with me." The crowd cheered. And before Yasir can say anything, Nasha dragged him into the middle of the crowd and started dancing.

[Reality=Chaos]

WOW I'm so happy this AAR isn't dead yet:yes: :yes: Another great update. Giving Nasha Seasickness was good! Can't wait what's going to happen with those deceptive ptolemy's

[General Appo]

Hooray!!! Fantastic!

[Parallel Pain]

Now if only someone could make one of my safefiles 1.1 compatible i'd be very happy:beam: :yes:

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

This is the best AAR I've ever read.

You could make it into a real novel one day, if you have time and inclination. With a bit (OK quite a lot!) of work, it could be as good as Simon Scarrow's books about two Roman centurions, Macro and Cato.

I'd pre-order it if you did, that's how impressed I am with your writing skills!

[Emperor Burakuku]

Excellent stuff mate! Congrats!:2thumbsup:

[Parallel Pain]

Repeat after me!

This AAR is not dead
This AAR is not dead
This AAR is not dead
This AAR is not dead
This AAR is not dead

Because 1.1 have came out and I've been dying to get it, I have decided to plow through the entire game before continuing the AAR.

I suspect there to be lots of good things coming.

As for my VH/VH campaign with Darth AI formation and TW Fanatic's hoplite/elephant submods

Here's the Sabyn empire at the death of Lord Nasha Karab Yuhan'em, the Desert Wolf of Arabia.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/SabynAAR/Mapatdeath.jpg

I'll put whatever's after this in a epilogue summary I guess.

EDIT: Meh, can I just claim victory? Why in the world do I have to go take stuff in India anyway? They aren't even connected to my empire!

[Reality=Chaos]

Because you Can? I think it has something to do with the saba controlling the Indian territories that usually trade with them or something. I'm very happy that this AAR Ain't dead:yes:

[Chaotix]

Yes! So happy the AAR hath not met its end! Now hurry up on the next chapter.:whip:
:thinking: :laugh4:

Wow, you've really crushed the Sele's and Ptolie's, but that Baktrian empire looks like a pain to take on when you go for India!

[Parallel Pain]

Actually Bactria and Ptolemy crushed the Seleucids, I just took Ptolemy land.

Besides a slight round of engagement with Carthage and fighting rebels, Ptolemy has been my only enemy so far in my entire campaign.

[General Appo]

Hooray!! Not dead!! Too bad the Desert Wolf didn´t get to spearhead the invasion of India, it would have been an appropiate end of such a man. Oh well, I guess taking down the Ptolemaic Empire is quite appropiate as well.

[Parallel Pain]

Done VH/VH Saba 190BC

Now I can finally get writing

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/TheRam/RTW/RomeTW2008-05-1704-23-02-51.jpg

List of campaigns I finished:
Vanilla:
Julii M/M
Julii VH/VH
Rebel VH/VH
Brutii VH/VH
Carthage VH/VH (With house rule of only skirmisher, slinger, iberian infantry, round shield cavalry, mercenary, and one general per army allowed)

BI:
Western Roman Empire VH/VH

EB 1.0:
Saka Rauka VH/VH
Saba VH/VH

List of Campaigns I started but deemed too easy to continue:
Vanilla:
Numidia VH/VH

RTR 6 Gold:
Parthia VH/VH

EB 0.81:
Romani VH/VH

[General Appo]

:applause:

[Chaotix]

Don't forget VH/VH Saka!
If I may ask, how did you manage to play as the rebels? :thinking:
I remember even after I unlocked them through descr_strat it wouldn't let me play as them

[General Appo]

That might be because if you unlock all Vanilla factions one of them won´t show up in in-game, just not enough room for it. Just make one of them un-playable.