Caesar Ascending-Pandya by R. W. Peake

Author:R. W. Peake [Peake, R. W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

With Abhiraka’s decision to suspend their activities, it was decided to remain in their current encampment for at least the next day, while the two kings and their respective subordinates discussed what to do next, and they were in fact engaged in these discussions, which had begun early that morning and were now dragging into the early evening with no clear strategy, when their version of the bucina sounded from the outer edge of the camp, playing the signal that a party was approaching.

“Are we expecting any of the scouting parties to report today?” Abhiraka asked Ranjeet, who shook his head as he rose from his stool.

“Not that I’m aware of, Your Highness,” he said, already moving towards the flap of the tent. “I will go see what’s happening.”

Abhiraka resumed the original conversation, although it was really better described as a long-running disagreement that was gradually becoming more heated, but within a matter of moments, everything that they were discussing previously was forgotten.

They were forewarned by the running footsteps, followed by Ranjeet pushing through the flaps of the tent, entering and sliding to a stop in front of Abhiraka, panting so hard that it made it difficult to understand him as he gasped, “Caesar has left Bharuch again!” As might be expected, this brought everyone to their feet, but Ranjeet wasn’t through. “He took the entire fleet with him, and it appears that most of his army went with him!”

Before Ranjeet could continue, he had to pause to catch his breath, but even if he had no need, he would have been interrupted by the shouts of surprise and happiness at this news. Like the others, Abhiraka had come to his feet, but between the somber conversation of the night before and the tenor of the discussions during the day, he wasn’t one of the celebrants, his eyes still on Ranjeet, who clearly didn’t share the mood.

Holding up a hand, Abhiraka barked, “Silence!” Ignoring the look of outrage on the face of Puddapandyan at what was the kind of rebuke that had been known to start wars, Abhiraka kept his attention on Ranjeet as he said, “Judging from Ranjeet’s expression, there’s more.”

If Puddapandyan was disposed to make an issue of Abhiraka’s rudeness, it only lasted as long as it took Ranjeet to answer his king. “As usual, you’re correct, Your Highness. There is more.” This time when he took a breath, it wasn’t because he needed the extra wind, but an extra moment to decide how to proceed. “As I said,” he continued, “Caesar was seen boarding a ship, along with a substantial portion of his army. However, while we knew that when Caesar returned, there was one of their Legions with him, another one arrived more than a week later, so he has replaced the two Legions we destroyed.” This was sobering news, but by now, with their collective attention on Ranjeet, they all also could see there was even more. “Our scouts learned of all this from some

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