40. Hopping

  Zethos marched the next day on the 19th on the town of Grottole to the west, going from early morning to late evening. It was raining, but thankfully the mud didn’t knock any of the wheels with the runners in the army pushing the wheels back into place. They reached the town in the twilight hours, securing a quick surrender after the gates were kept open. 100 men volunteered to join the army, so there was no net gain in solidi from the town, they were strong enough to wield maces so they were added to the mace-men unit. The army made a decision to rest.

  March 20th Zethos marched down south to Ferrandina, hearing that it was a town worth taking, he decided to sacrifice speed for effectively taking the area.

  “There are some nice churches down there,” one new recruit said.

  “Then it is a town worth taking,” Zethos whispered, “I wonder what compels the Catholics to hoard so much wealth in them, even when I was a Christian I did not understand that, what use does god have for gold?”

  “Gold is for the clergy to spread the word of god,” a recruit said honestly.

  “And usually a bit more than just that,” Aspar retorted.

  The views were spectacular. The scouts scurried about trying to spot any foul play, but this time around there seemed to be none. Perhaps it was the fact that the news of the Republic’s general advancing in the area and being generous had done its work.

  “Everything comes back to you in the end,” Zethos whispered.

  “Quite,” Lucanus said.

  They marched peaceably on the heights, rain tiring the men, as they attempted to keep dry.

  Gocelin received his 1500 reinforcements, grateful to the Republic, but he noticed a military build up in Andria, and this time there was no weak point of a dock that he could exploit, likewise Barletta seemed to be too fortified. He left the extra 500 to guard the new city. Deciding to hold and request more people to garrison his newly captured city. He gave the usual promises that the Republic gave, no taxes bar only a minimal market tax. These were all fine, and encouraged support for the Western Republic over the other regimes, but the situation was hardly perfect. Gocelin's own men were reporting worrying movements of more men.

  “I got rid of those at least…” Gocelin said.

  “Of course they are going to try and beat us,” Thorphinius said, “the Normans are not going to let themselves be this humiliated.”

  Gocelin sat tight in Trani, likewise hiring spies to make sure the towns of Molfetta and Bisceglie did not fall to the marauding Normans.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  March 21st The Republic itself managed to get the town of Bitonto to rebel in favour of the Republic. Kwame had organised his Helios priests to storm the city, propaganda and economic tales had generated a rabble which toppled the local government. The economic arguments were already quite convincing, taxing nothing more than market taxes, and the prosperity of Bari had the town defect. The central government dutifully sent bolt shooters, catapults and ballistae utilising oxen shortly after the town’s defection. 10,000 solidi had been generated from selling goods in southern France, with a haul of iron and wood military production. It was not exactly a lot, but it was helpful in it’s own way.

  “Had they left later, I would have sold indigo, and we would have ten times the solidi,” Adaneus muttered a little bit annoyed.

  “That is true,” Demetra said, “but the iron and wood is invaluable to the city, we have enough reserves for years, and Greek merchants charge premiums that they won’t be able to anymore.”

  Kwame organising priests for Bitonto was surprising. I honestly thought about hiring a new mercenary army to take the town. I might still need to, but for now I know the town can’t be used as a staging point for Norman aggressors.

  “Did you know anything about this operation?”

  “He didn’t tell me about it, and my spies were just as surprised as you are,” Demetra admitted quietly, “I did hear something else.”

  “What?” Adaneus said.

  “I’ll tell you somewhere else.”

  They went to their private residence. Hidden from ears and Adaneus looked at her with surprise.

  “He’s making his own private religious army,”

  “He is?” Adaneus said astonished, “what do you mean a private religious army.”

  “A holy order.”

  “Holy order?” Adaneus repeated.

  They both sat in silence for a bit.

  “He’s claiming the right of conquest for Bitonto, the 5% market tax, but he already has some donations and has managed to cobble 1000 troops together.”

  “Really now?” Adaneus said, “that’s astonishing, to think he would do that.”

  “We have two generals moving in directions contrary to the Republic, the fact we can fortify the towns makes them loyal to the Republic, but now a central figure, before there even was a Republic is making his own private army, Adaneus this is dangerous,” Demetra said.

  “I am the reason we have a Republic, why we have resources, we shouldn’t have to panic, as long as his forces are outward, we are ok.”

  Butros knocked on the door, flanked by two guards Adaneus and Demetra looked at each other, Demetra having a knife ready.

  “Easy,” Butros said, “I am an old friend, Kwame’s actions are cause for alarm but he has come to parley by himself.”

  “Right?” Adaneus said slowly, “you know about this too?”

  “Adaneus, I am humbly using my command as the religious minister to make a force loyal only to the faith and to the state,” Kwame said.

  There was silence, Adaneus almost wanted to shout at the man, a man filled with scars, his personal African contingent had gone already, a crucial element to his initial turning of Bari, they now had gone to Bitonto.

  “Do not forget our religious tolerance, do not cause trouble for the disbelievers, for that will only destabilise the Republic!” Adaneus said.

  “Of course,” Kwame said, “I thank you for your generosity, seeing the revolution of Bari, the growth of the city, it has been beautiful,” Kwame admitted, smiling in a white smile, “but now I must go, to Bitonto, where we will make Italy fall to the will of Helios, to Magec. I raise Hermes and Artemis Shadows to rally our forces in Italy.”

  Hermes and Artemis? Demetra thought confused.

  “You are still loyal to the Republic?” Adaneus said, looking directly at his friend and confidante.

  “Always,” Kwame said.

  Adaneus, Butros and Adaneus watched as Kwame left the city to his new power-base, the politics of the Republic becoming even more complicated.

  “If I accept his forces, we become a theocracy or a monarchy effectively, Butros what do you recommend?”

  “That’s it now,” Demetra warned, “he has a town, and we have a problem.”

  “The Republic cannot stop it without war, he should at least respect the constitution and our laws.”

  “Perhaps all our religious ministers will have these rights…” Adaneus thought aloud.