A Medieval Story: The Italian Rivalry

Chapter VIII

As that happened in Italia, the Tsar of Akhens was observing as they fought. He knew that the victorious side would most likely later stand against Akhens, and that war would be a fight between two colossi, two giants. He was worried that the Akhenian army could not successfully fight the Slavic-Roman alliance, so he began making reforms and preparations. I have to say the Tsar made very wise decision.

However, returning to our main interest, which is the Italian peninsula. Sometime later, when Andronikos was fully recovered from his injury, he attacked the city of Rome. He had over twenty-five thousand men on his side and counted with siege engines and a brand-new cannon, a bombard.

Early in the morning, the papal forces heard an explosion. What was it?! They were confused until they saw the bombard and that it had made considerable damage to the wall. They then quickly prepared for the battle and some minutes later, there was a breach in the wall.

The Eastern Romans quickly entered the city as they fought the papal garrison. The generals, Adnah and Michael were fighting in the first line, making sure the legionnaires were with a good morale. Andronikos, however, had taken around nine hundred men with him and then began surrounding the city as they later climbed the walls with ladders. Andronikos had seized the city's garrison in less than one hour and later went to help the other part of the army.

The battle ended being a victory for the Eastern Roman Empire, and the Catholic leaders were later taken to imprisonment by order of Andronikos.

Michael sent a messenger to Naples, asking for an auxiliary force to be sent to Rome to act as garrison. It took some time for the messenger to get to there, and as soon as Hassan read the letter, he prepared an auxiliary legion, consisting of around eight thousand auxiliares. However, before sending him back to Rome, he had a conversation with the messenger.

"Tell me, is my liege fine?" Hassan asked.

Messenger "He is, sir. He is doing fine and ready to fight over a dozen of battles in the name of the Empire."

"Thank God he is fine." Hassan said with relief. He took a brief pause before adding, "By the way, whenever you get back to Rome, give this letter to Adnah; it is from his wife."

The messenger nodded as he took the letter. "Oh, I had a question, sir."

"What is your question?"

Messenger "I was informed that there is a woman in charge of the Legio III Rapax."

"That is correct. She was directly raised to said position by the Caesar, apparently because he knew the woman was somewhat better than the former legatus, who was killed by a Polish soldier during an ambush."

Messenger "I am pretty sure she could not last much in that leading position."

"That is very possible. However, it is time for you to go back to Rome. Go in peace."

After that, he then walked away and began making his way back to Rome, accompanied by the auxiliary legion. In addition, after some time, they finally got to there.

Andronikos quickly prepared everything to keep marching with his three legions and made the Praefectus Castrorum Fernando the garrison leader. After doing all of that, he and his cousin and Adnah, along with the three legions, departed from Rome, now heading towards the North, towards Lombardy.

They walked for days, until they found a desolated village; apparently, the Crusaders had been here before. However, there were survivors. There were a couple women and men along with two kids of around ten years old. Andronikos pondered over the situation and eventually ended taking the survivors with him. They followed their way until the evening, which is when they camped.

Andronikos had made sure to keep the survivors alive and sent physicians to treat any of their injuries. Meanwhile, Claudius was telling his stories about the Eastern Roman Empire.

"Mhm, I remember reading that the Eastern Roman Empire once had the whole Mediterranean in... 1137 AD until 1159 AD. France had declared war on the Empire and took some land, which was later taken by Akhens in 1303 AD. About the coast of Iberia, it was Aragon and Hispania that declared war on us and took it. About the Italian peninsula, we lost the North and Center because of the rebellions."

"And now we are going to fully take Iberia and Italia. It is thank to the Caesar." Adnah said.

"The Caesar is an instrument in the hands of the one above all of us, the one whom I believe is the creator of this universe and of everything that has existed, exists and will exist." Claudius commented.

"That is right." Michael said, ignoring about whom Claudius was truly talking. Hah! Poor fool; he thinks that he was talking about God while it was me... the Writer! However, this should probably stop. It may be getting tedious for the Reader.

As they kept talking, Andronikos was planning the next moves when a survivor, who was permitted to enter his tent, interrupted him.

"My liege, I thank you for saving our lives." The survivor said as she bowed towards him.

Andronikos turned around then said, "You are welcome. However, you just come in an importunate time." Nevertheless, he did not exactly seem bothered.

"I apologize." She said. Afterwards, she looked at a map then asked, "If it is not much to ask, may I go closer and look at the map, please?"

Andronikos nodded, however, wondering why she asked that.

The survivor, whom we will call Irene, approached the map and silently looked at it. She took around a dozen of seconds before speaking, "We are here, right?" She said as she pointed towards a certain part in Italia. At that, Andronikos nodded then she added, "We are close to Viterbium, which is an important city of the Holy See."

"That is right, however, why do you mention that?"

"You could maybe take it before the Lombards do so. I heard some drunken Lombard officer telling that to another soldier before the Crusaders came and attacked the village."

"Are you sure you heard the officer well?"

"I am sure, my liege."

"All right, then. I shall do so. By the way, what is your name?"

"My name is Irene, yours is Andronikos, right?"

He nodded then said, "Very well, go head back to your tent. Thank you for the information."

Irene respectfully bowed towards him, then exited his tent and walked towards hers.