24. Styles

  13th of February Adaneus sold 1570 litrai of cloves, 1570 litrai of cinnamon, 1570 litrai of pepper and 1570 litrai of cardamon; selling at a cheap overall price of 14,000 solidi with an additional 1570 litrai of indigo that added 14,000 more solidi, 135,500 solidi in the treasury, whittled down with the hiring of 5000 mercenaries that he had to then empty his treasury, spending 500 solidi to promote another Kentarches to commander.

  “You will assist Gocelin in taking the key city of Taranto!” Adaneus shouted, “Guiscard and the Christians will soon understand our method of war better than anyone! We will grind them to dust.”

  2000 heavy infantry guarding 1000 bolt shooters, 1000 glaives, 1000 macemen with 3000 handling the bolt shooters, they trundled along the roads to Taranto.

  “Is there any way to tell this guy reinforcements are coming and to not do anything rash?” Adaneus said.

  “Since Gocelin has wrapped around the coast, I think he is keenly aware of his limitations, Taranto is nothing like the other cities, it is almost certainly a mustering point,” Butros said, “I would not be surprised if Guiscard himself is there after failing to take Bari.”

  “We can still survive if we fail, but our goals will be limited,” Adaneus said, “that is the biggest problem, seizing Taranto probably weakens Guiscard by a third, the Catholic world will be shocked, and we will accelerate their opposition to us.”

  The army left the safety of the walls with wagons, hiring 10 ships at a cost of 10,000 solidi for temporary transport heading to the front in perhaps 3-5 days.

  Gocelin stared at the formidable city from his ships, he could see the problem immediately.

  “Knowing that bastard, he is holed up with his whole army there,” Gocelin grumbled, “should I push on land.”

  “He is there with his army no doubt,” Thorphinius growled, “I heard something in Monopoli?”

  Gocelin’s blue eyes glinted at these words.

  “Yeah?”

  “Something about papal relief,” Thorphinius said.

  “Fuck! Why didn’t you tell me that sooner!” Gocelin said, “the more time we waste, the more unattainable the town is, I know he is funnelling reinforcements.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “You think you could beat them in a pitched battle?” Thorphinius grinned.

  “Crossbowmen!” He shouted, “we take something a bit better.”

  He made his decision, sailing west, and heading for the town of Casalnuovo in land, he made his intentions known to the fleet, heading overland to take the town leading into Taranto. Gocelin wasn’t so lucky this time, encountering 300 Norman scouts who harassed and then fled to Taranto.

  “Oh I’m fucked,” Gocelin said, “on the double, our lives depend on holding that city with our lives!”

  The army jogged to Casalnuovo, reaching the city, they stormed the citadel in a quick effortless siege, losing 200 men and then having the problem that Gocelin anticipated. He had the town draped in the flags of the Western Roman Republic; hiring 500 new soldiers and implementing the land reform, and acquiring some 3000 solidi to use for his personal use.

  “We have 6400 troops, and 500 militiamen whose loyalty and morale are relatively untrustworthy,” Thorphinius said, “this town will either be your graveyard or your legend.”

  “Quite,” Gocelin said, “hunker down, for a storm is brewing.”

  14th of February all forces were gathering, 2000 papal cavalry raced down the coast to Taranto led by a papal commander. Guiscard had heard the smattering of reports that the heel was falling rushing all his forces to take out the infernal Bari. 1000 Holy Roman Imperial cavalry gathered in northern Italy likewise rushed down south arriving in Taranto. Gocelin was right to be cautious, he didn’t know it, but the stakes got that much higher, Guiscard had put a price on his head of 5000 gold coins, and he was wanted by clerical authorities for apostasy. His crossbowmen repelled a small scouting assault led by some scrappy 200 Normans.

  “Who do you fucking think we are?” Thorphinius interrogated one of the perpetrators, “200 of you only, are you insulting me?”

  The man spat at Thorphinius, hitting his face square. Thorphinius stared at Gocelin as if to ask ‘are all your people like this?’

  “Yes,” Gocelin said, “that is the Norman way, for bad or good.”

  The captive grinned.

  “How can you serve those devils of Bari?” The Norman asked, “and a Norman too, you betray so much.”

  “And you think so little,” Gocelin said, “the Normans do not understand Adaneus and the Republic, but I do.”

  “Disloyal scum,” the Norman captive said, with a toothy grin.

  He was released without a ransom, Gocelin’s generosity an act of goodwill considering the situation. He heard reports but the Catholics were gathering around him.

  15th of February, 15,000 men led by Guiscard were gathering around Casalnuovo, the man himself rode up to the walls.

  “Gocelin you filthy dog! How dare you unfurl those banners near us. I will gut you like a fish.”

  Gocelin smiled at the insult, approached the walls and shouted:

  “I am leader of Poseidon’s Wave, so you will know of fish soon enough!”

  Guiscard spat on the floor hearing Gocelin, his dark hair and blue eyes contrasting with the blonde soldier he saw on the walls. Guiscard’s men used their index finger to indicate throat slitting of Gocelin.

  “You will burn impious scum!” Guiscard shouted, and his men repeated.

  “Sir, he has 6000 cavalry at least, 3000 foreigners, 1000 mercenaries and 2000 of his own Norman knights,” one man said leaning up to Gocelin.

  “We can’t face him in the field,” Gocelin said in a grimace, holding his blade with anger and desperation, “Adaneus I hope you didn’t forget me out here.”