25. Stalling

  15th of February, Adaneus sold 1570 litrai of indigo, 1570 litrai of cloves, 1570 litrai of saffron powder and produced 1000 bolt shooters. 80,000 solidi was now reinforced with 40,000 more. Adaneus had no idea about the situation of the reinforcements, hoping that the army would at least arrive.

  “I need to hire more mercenaries, but the market in Ragusa is probably saturated,”

  “Your reputation for large income and large spending is well known,” Demetra said, “if anything, there will be more mercenaries gathering, we just have to hope Gocelin is not making any rash decisions.”

  “Sir,” a man said, “we have found the kentarches who just left has appropriated 20,000 solidi.”

  “So the actual treasury is 100,000 solidi,” Adaneus surmised, “maybe there’s a good reason, still how did the bastard manage it?”

  Demetra did not say anything, no one even suspecting her, but in her mind’s eye she grimaced a little.

  I’m sorry my love, it is the best for the state that it is this way, it is the last time I promise.

  The kentarches had 500 more bolt shooters than his 1000 force, and the ammunition for 3000 bolt shooters, he hired 1000 capable people, leaving the 500 extra as apprentice style runners, this boosted his force to 6500.

  “By Helios, I bless you Demetra, without your intervention the force would not be sufficient.”

  Zethos a man who had shaved his head bald in honour of Adaneus had likewise brown hair but brown eyes, a Greek by ethnicity, he had been a soldier in the service of Eastern Rome; now he commanded a force of the Western Romans, ready to devour the enemies of Eastern Rome.

  “We will relieve Gocelin and kick out those bastards from Italy!”

  The 16th of February, 2000 more men joined Guiscard who came every day to hurl insults at his kinsmen guarding the walls.

  “You swine! I will feed you to pigs! I will, I swear it on the virgin Mary.”

  “You married your cousin,” Gocelin shouted back much to the laughter of his men, “I will hear nothing of the virgin Mary. The Christian God is supposed to be all good, but look at god, he made you!”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Guiscard’s fury was palpable, magma and iron in his face, he roared fury unintelligible babble at first, his soldiers likewise jeering at the vicious jibe.

  “I will have your head on a lance!” Guiscard said, “you will die, and I will accept everyone’s surrender but yours!”

  Arrows came at Gocelin who quickly ducked.

  “They didn’t like that one,” Gocelin said.

  “Of course they didn’t, was that necessary?” Thorphinius said, “you don’t want to animate your enemies so much?” If you lose there will be no mercy.

  “Of course I do, a rash Guiscard is a foolish Guiscard.”

  “But a brave Guiscard,” Thorphinius warned, “who will not surrender.”

  By the 17th of February the markets of Bari were packed with Eastern Roman, Venetian and Arab traders, there was in fact a queue outside the harbour facilities because the traders attempted to get the most valuable commodities before others. Adaneus glanced at his wife, cornering her in a dark room.

  “Embezzlement is a huge problem for Bari, if rumours leak that I’m corrupt, Christianity might seep back into this city,” Adaneus said.

  “It was me,” she admitted, “I gave it to Zethos, he needs the funds to get more technicians, it’s vitally important for the battle that is to come.”

  “We sold 18,000 solidi worth today, 1570 litrai of myrrh and frankincense and some cloves,” Adaneus said, “but you should at least consult me.”

  “You are not the ruler of the Republic, that’s what a Republic is,” Demetra said, “but you are right I should have told you, the problem is, sometimes you conduct your meetings in public settings, I hired some agents and look at this.”

  Adaneus picked up the paper.

  Adaneus is hiring men and sending them to Taranto, the pope, the Holy Roman Emperor and every Christian lord should mobilise to save the city and Christendom from the infernal scum of Bari.

  A Norman agent, a Lombard spy looked upwards at Adaneus with fear, for usually such a person would be executed on the spot.

  “So there are spies, that’s why you didn’t tell me?” Adaneus said.

  “There’s more than one,” Demetra said, sighing, and sipping some wine, “they are mobilising everyone against us. Next year the Holy Roman Emperor will send an expeditionary force, not if, not a maybe, will. I heard some merchant chatter and bribed some merchants and they told of army gatherings, even disloyal lords wishing to engage against Bari. The Holy Roman Emperor even promised to make a Duke of Bari to whoever it is helps him capture it, so yes, the situation is dire.”

  “Even so,” Adaneus said, “fine I will keep it a secret.”

  “A secret huh?” Butros said, entering the room, “I thank your wife for finding some spies, but I cannot pretend I didn’t hear that.”

  “Butros,” Adaneus said, “she did it for the good.”

  “Quite, but we need formal power structures, rather than a woman acting on her own.”

  “You know the tale of Carthage,” Demetra said, “they let their best commander rot in Italy because the Republic disliked him, and they lost a winnable war. We must learn the mistakes of the past Butros.”

  Butros was impressed, laughing a little at the retort, but still pressed his point.

  “Quite,” Butros said, “but I still want some formality in the Republic, he is the head priest, an economic lifeline. Kwame is what, what am I?”

  “Advisor of the Republic,” Adaneus said.

  “Finance minister,” Butros retorted, “that’s an official position, advisor, kings have advisors.”

  “Kings have finance ministers,” Adaneus retorted, “but yes fine, we should make some formalisations of positions. That includes Gocelin, and our new cities, they don’t have enough artillery to be truly part of Western Rome.”

  “Zethos should be too,” Demetra intervened, “I understand he is new, but I assure you he will show his skill.”