The Royal Council

[Incitatus]

Alexandros rises and speaks to the clerk

That is quite a different matter. While the towns themselves might be of little value their geographic positions are significant. In other words, Petra is well within Ptolemaic territory – Bostra is not. Indeed, Bostra opens up an additional front. If Bostra is taken, the town could be used as a staging ground for attacks on the Levant or even across the desert into our heartlands. I am not familiar with the current positions of our forces assigned to the area, but I believe that the Ptolemaic threat must be dealt with.

In a larger sense, we have only ourselves to blame for this. We decidedly underestimated Ptolemy’s strength and cunning and we are now suffering the consequences. We also suffer from the lack of an organized strategy of defense. I believe we would ensure the security of our lands if first the Bostra threat is dealt with, and if troops can be spared the town should be taken for the Arche. Second, Hierosolyma should be taken as soon as possible. This will allow the establishment of a much more comfortable perimeter that can be held until the Invasion of Aegyptos. If anyone has a different understanding of the situation, and I believe it to be grave, let him speak. I do not see any other way to proceed.