Chapter 247 - 245
The sun dipped low over the hilltop fortress the Romanus legion had created, casting long shadows across the battlefield below that really only served to create a no-mans land between the attacking and defending sides.
General-King Julius stood on the summit, his armor dulled by weeks of dust, blood and the need to preserve what water they had.
The siege had turned their once-proud rudimentary fortress defences into a ragged shell, its defensive wooden was chipped and its entryways reinforced with hastily nailed planks across a dug out trench forming a drawbridge of sorts.
And yet, the Romanus banner still fluttered defiantly in the wind visible to all for miles around.
Beyond the romanus defences, the Greecian levy army sprawled in a state of disarray within their expansive siege camp.
What had once been a moderately disciplined force of tens of thousands was now a ragged collection of men slumped against their tents, their morale crushed by hunger, disease, and whispers of betrayal.
The first clash weeks ago had been a slaughter—the Romanus defenders, seasoned veterans of countless campaigns, had broken their advance with fire, arrows, and unyielding shields.
And now, General Julius’s spies had even been sowing discord in their camp like seeds in a barren field.
As he scanned the enemy battle lines, Julius allowed himself a grim smile.
A cluster of men near the Greecian command tent were arguing loudly.
Fists flew.
The Greecian general, a once-proud leader, stood nearby, shouting to restore order, but his voice carried no authority anymore, with the built up tension coming to a boiling point with no where for them to vent it.