Free Antioch Burns by Daniel Ottalini

shallow smile at the merchant’s tight fisted attitude even during a siege.
    “You’re forgiven… for now.”
    The attack of the bucerelli had shocked the eager attackers. Caught right at the moment of their triumph, they had fallen back, stampeding over each other in a frantic attempt to escape the unstoppable bucerelli. It was now that Regillus gave the signal, waving the laborem , the Laurel standard, in a tight circle. In response, the men still manning the wall on both sides of the breach revealed their last trick. Large clay pots of Greek fire were pushed off the walls right onto the heads of the retreating Mongolians. They splashed down, splattering the densely packed men. The flames were unstoppable, and amongst the densely packed Mongolians, it was sheer murder.
    Soon the entire breach was ablaze. Having planned for this, Regillus quickly evacuated his men, as well as the forces upon the wall. The engineers spiked their weapons and fell back, joining the legionnaires and Ioannes’ bucerelli on the long march west towards the citadel.
    “Why do we not continue to defend the breach?” asked the merchant councilmember, riding his charger alongside the plodding legionnaires through the cobblestone streets. Regillus shook his head.
    “There was no point. Without reinforcements, we simply could not continue to hold the breach. Any forces we would divert there would be unable to deal with any other attacks anywhere along the wall. And we would have to keep a large presence at the breach, even to deter the Mongols from striking.” He motioned to his men behind him.
    “Of my starting 2,000 men, I’ve got less than five hundred remaining ready and able to fight. Another hundred wounded. Most of the wounded were trampled under foot or killed before we could pull them from the fight. And that battle lasted less than an hour. Almost 75% casualties in an hour.” Regillus stated the facts coldly. Ioannes recoiled slightly.
    “I guess I was lucky. I only lost a few back there. We should have taken more casualties charging through that debris field, but it seems providence guides us.” Ioannes made the sign of the cross over his armor. Regillus was surprised at the gesture. The councilmember was Christian, a rare event considering the preference given to followers of the Old Gods in positions of power throughout the empire. It spoke of Ioannes’ own prowess that he had risen so high in spite of his adherence to a minor, if persistent, religion.
    “I am sure it does,” Regillus replied demurely. A messenger cantered up. The weary man saluted, handing down a folded slip of paper. Regillus paused, the stream of men flowing around him like a river around a boulder. Ioannes reined in as well, pausing to hear the report.
    “The Mongols have taken the garrison fort. The last transmission from the commander was logged an hour ago. Citadel observers report Mongol forces have breached the main northern gate of the Tiberian Wall as well. They also report that Mongol outriders have encircled Antioch to the south. Refugees have been sited streaming back towards the walls. Those barbarians are slaughtering any they can catch.” Regillus spat in disgust. “What type of army indiscriminately slaughters civilians?”
    Ioannes shook his head and shrugged.
    “An eastern army of heretical non-believers?” he asked, pausing for a moment. “Excluding present members of our western army of heretical non-believers.”
    “Do you not care one bit for those people outside the walls?”
    “How can I care, general , when I am more concerned about the enemy horde rampaging its way through our walls? Now I backed you in the audience chamber because you were decisive, but you have to maintain your focus.” The Greek merchant stared down at the younger man, his eyes glittering coldly. “Those people who fled the city made their choice. They knew the risks. Think about it in terms of assets and resources. We have limited assets here, and we