Post

The Northward Expansion

In the chambers of the Thiton sat many chairs. It is said that every Karku invader founded a lineage in Nesketos, and each of these lineages went on to form a part of the aristocracy. The trouble was that many lineages makes legislation unwieldy. Some of the lineages were unable to handle the costs involved in operating an entire noble family, some had too little land to actually comprise a full domain, and a few had died out entirely or been exiled in the years since the founding of the city of Nesketos, but their chairs still littered the hall. It was circular, windowless, with a large table surrounding a firepit in the middle of it. Those closest to the centre were the most important lineages of the land, given the most prestigious tasks and the largest slices of land. Gradually moving further out were the less important lineages, all supposedly equal in vote, but their voices did not matter until their patriarchs made their voices matter, shouting and being heard by those around them. Charisma ruled in the Thiton. If you could curry the favour of the other patriarchs, and not have your lineage relegated to obscurity, becoming of little more importance than the Heleni citizens of Nesketos, then you survived in the Thiton. If you could make others fear you, respect you and obey you, you became a centre patriarch. And if they respected you enough to put their trust in your lineage to lead, you might be selected to become Zematu, Archon of Nesketos and the most powerful individual of the city and land. But there was a saying in Nesketos - "Respect the man who keeps your snakes". It roughly meant that power resides in the ones who give you power. Resting on your haunches led to assuming safety. You could never assume safety when you held power. But just as the Zematu could never assume safety from the patriarchs under him, the Thiton could not assume safety from the Land Court, who had always moderated the Thiton and the aristocrats to ensure that they could not become too omnipotent. And yet being critical of power did not mean being fearful of the power holders.

The light of the sun lit up the chambers, as the doors to the chamber were thrown open. A General in his black cloak, helmet beneath his arm and ears up in anger, stood in the light, casting a shadow, while beside him, standing meekly with both hands in front of him, was a member of the Land Court, a Heleni. The both of them moved forward into the chambers, amidst the mild protestations of the two chamber guardsmen at either side of them. The General dismissed their shrieks with a wave of his hand. Two of them moved in front of the two as they entered, lowering their spears in a threatening manner. The General lifted his black cloak, his hand on his sword. The Zematu rose from his seat and looked towards the guards.

"Stand down. Let them pass."

The two guards shouldered their spears, and made a parting between them for the General and the member of the Land Court to pass. The General took his hand off of his sword and lowered his cloak again. He stopped where he stood, and spoke accusingly to the Zematu.

"Lejenna!" he cursed, "You approved an illegal operation of the Nesketan military into foreign territory, sending our citizens and others to likely die on a foreign soil? How could you?"

There was silence in the Thiton chambers. The Zematu leant on the table behind him, relaxed. He did not fear either of them. He gestured to the Heleni; "Did the Land Court not deem our operation legal?"

"Some in our court approved your proposal, not all of us," the Heleni spoke, his voice wavering, "And we never believed for a second that you would commandeer a General and send an army to invade outside of our borders without consulting the military first! Is that not a violation of our own traditions?"

"These are our traditions!" A member of the Thiton shouted to the Heleni, rising from his chair.

"Calm!" the Zematu instructed the councillor. The aristocrat sat back down, and the Zematu continued, addressing the Heleni; "They make a point, however. Whatever traditions you feel are being violated are simply in the nature of Karku. We invade, we conquer," there were murmors of approval around the Thiton chambers; "Is that not what brought our rule to this great city? Is that not why we sit here today?"

The General scoffed, "You curry your favour with the Thiton, all the while using my resources?"

The Zematu made a mockingly confused face, stroking his right whiskers with his hand, "I'm sorry, General, isn't the Puedes He made up of many Generals, not just the one?"

The General strode forward. The guards crossed their spears in front of the Zematu, blocking the General from moving closer. He gripped onto his sword, anger in his eyes. The Zematu stood to his full height, batting the spear away with his hand, before continuing; "You think me some King who has failed in his predictions? You kill me, you die. See if the Land Court objects then. My actions are permitted by the state and the Karku Constution - legally speaking, anyway. Will you reject me in my right to use the state's resources as I see fit?"

The silence was deafening. The patriarchs of the Thiton eagerly awaited the General's response. He looked around, again loosening his grip on the sword.

"The dead of this campaign of yours will be forever on your shoulders," the General spat, venomously.

"And what if they return home in victory?" the Zematu crossed his arms and cocked his head.

"Then the Land Court will carve up the territory," the Heleni spoke up finally, peering from around the General's cloak, "You do not get to claim it for yourself by conquest alone."

The Zematu did not even look at the Heleni as he spoke; "You hear, General? You've gone soft. Worse than soft, you've become servile, like the very Heleni who would tend to your chambers, or fill your army as vhepasi. You have lowered yourself to below where a Karku should stand. Or even beyond that, you have listened to their lies so long that you think they speak the truth. What do you really think, General?"

The General paused for a moment. The Heleni looked from Karku to Karku, as the Zematu waited for his response.

"If they are victorious, it changes nothing," the General spat back, "You have still left our state without a significant proportion of its defenders. What if Cajapoya attacked, or Elotomek? You have stretched our army out thinly, only moreso if many die. One day, when you are campaigning, you will come to see that this is a poor choice."

"Maybe," the Zematu responded, "But maybe not."

--------------------------------------------------

The rolling hills of this new region were home to sparse livestock farmers, herders and the occasional village. Sheep and cows, those were the main fare of the region. They had crossed a river on their third day of campaigning, and had circled north, taking village after village. Finally coming back southwards, they set their sights on the main town of the region. It was a small town, nothing compared to the larger city of Nesketos, or even some of its satellite towns. The houses were made of straw, mud and a little bit of stone and timber, while the roofs were thatched. The army met little resistance thus far, but that would change as they stood opposite this defending army on the field.

"How many do you see?" General Jaukusu asked one of his lieutenants.

"400 men, mostly levies I believe. Weakest in the centre - might be that they'd try to envelop us?"

Jaukusu nodded, "Move the Nesi Natui to the left flank. I'll lead the right flank myself."

The opposing army blew a horn. They waved a grey flag, obviously made from the same wool that the troops' grey cloaks were made of. A signal for parlay. Jaukusu considered it merely polite to accept their offer of parlay. The enemy commander began to trot out on his horse, flanked by two retainers on horseback. Jaukusu turned to his lieutenants.

"Make it so. Pazu, with me."

Pazu and Jaukusu rode out into the centre of the field. There was not much ground to cover, the battlefield would not be large. There was little to stop the more rowdy Nesketan troops from hurling insults at the enemy Ikori on the field, or for insults to be hurled back. As the commanders approached each other, the enemy commander spoke first.

"I am Apollon, King of this region. And you?"

"Jaukusu, General of Nesketos."

Apollon smiled, "Then we now know each other. Let us speak, Ikori to Ikori. Your troops have raided my lands and taken my villages, but I cannot imagine what benefit you feel this would bring. We are a peaceable people, we have never once infringed upon Nesketan territory. If we can pay you tribute, you could leave us. Let there be no cause for bloodshed here."

Jaukusu nodded to Apollon, "Indeed, your people have not yet put up much of a fight. Let me say this, as an Ikori... As Karku... It sickens me."

Apollon's face instantly became more dour. It was as if he had been struck by some form of moving object. Jaukusu continued.

"Your people are peaceable. But you are also leaderless. Nesketos would lead you. Nesketos would make you better than you already are, improve your lands, utilise your resources, mobilise your people."

The rival King sneered, "You Karku... You never were content just to let others be. Your thirst for conquest will be your undoing."

Jaukusu nodded once again, "Perhaps. We shall decide the outcome for today on the point of the spear."

Jaukusu moved back to his army, as Apollon slowly moved back to his own. Apollon carried himself as an already defeated man. He must have known the futility of what was to be undertaken here. He must have known that the Nesketans would invade his territory and that, even if they were merciful, he would be subjugated to them. Though the likelihood remained, Apollon would die in the snake pit of the Nesketan King. Nesketans were not known to be merciful. Perhaps it was better to die on the battlefield than live longer.

Jaukusu gave the order. The army moved forward.