Hippolyta 4: The Trade Wars

Hippolyta 4:

The Trade Wars

By Ian Johnstone

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 Ian Johnstone

Publishing by Strict Publishing International

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CHAPTER ONE

Almost two years had passed since Hippolyta’s battles with one of Attila’s rogue generals, and dealing with the treachery of the Alani.

Now, there was a port on the Black Sea by Hippolyta’s village. Ships regularly arrived and dropped off a caravan of traders, or picked them up and took them one northwest. Most were only small traders and dealer, but some were rich and it was those that Hippolyta traded with, although she had little interest in spices or semi-precious jewels. In previous years, traders had often passed her village, but few stopped because they feared Hippolyta and her army. However, now that it became known there was a safe port near the village that would cut journey times by several weeks, they overcame their fear.

The port was below the village, protected by the village’s north wall manned by Romans and Amazons. An additional gate had been built into the western end of the wall, enabling traders to use the port without having to enter the village, and an additional wall had been built to completely separate the village from the port, thus ensuring the village’s security. Roman soldiers patrolled the port on foot to ensure that law and order was maintained.

From time to time a small fishing boat would dock and bring the village fish that they had found hard to catch from the shore. Hippolyta allowed a few dwellings to be built on the shores for the people that helped load and unload the boats.

All travellers that passed through the docks paid Hippolyta a tax as they moved either way. It was only a very small charge, agreed between her and the captains of the boats. It was a good business, and now Hippolyta was sending her patrols of warriors halfway to the Big River she sent a quarter of the revenue to Attila who offered her assistance against the Alani if she needed it. Attila’s forces were still stretched out over his empire, and there were few places where an army of any size could be assembled at short notice. The biggest army was the one commanded by Bleda in the east, but the Amazons had never been that far. They had run into smaller forces of Hun on many occasions, but because of the alliance there was no friction.

* * * * *

Early one morning, Hippolyta was sitting near the fire talking, after the council meeting, and the lookout shouted down. There is an army of about four thousand Hun riding in from the northeast.

The two queens and commanders were on their feet in no time, and heading down to the north gate. The army stopped at the top of the hill and dismounted, before a general rode alone down the hill towards the bridge. At the gate, he stopped and looked up at the Amazons who had bows drawn and arrows pointing at him.

I am here to speak with Queen Hippolyta of matters of great importance.

Let him in, Alexius, and bring him up to the council fire.

They were all sitting back in their seats when the Hun general arrived at the fire. He stopped at the fire, and Hippolyta asked, What is so important that one of Attila’s generals comes into my village without fighting the bonds that hold him?

The general laughed. Yes, it is also a strange experience for a Hun general, my Lady. I am Bleda, and I have been sent here by Attila’s command, but I also have to inform you that both you and he have a huge problem. The Alani have started to raid villages to the west of the Big River in the disputed realm of Attila’s empire. It has always been a problem, but until now it has been no more than a minor inconvenience. Now, however, the raids are by between two and three thousand Alani.

Why would that bother me, General?

Not long after your warriors left a town west of the Big River, two thousand Alani raided it. The only reason I know this is because we caught them, fought them, and destroyed them.

What were you doing there, General?

"We just happened by, on our way here. We have also been told to look after the villages and towns in the disputed realm. Attila has never asked for taxes from the south because there is nothing down here to tax, except the port from which he already receives a fair tax.

"We had a spy in Goar’s army who has recently returned to us. Goar is rebuilding an army of the size and power he once had. It already more than twenty thousand strong. Goar is not in the disputed lands here in the east, although his smaller armies are here and causing trouble. Attila believes him to be in Gaul, and his armies west of the Big River are coming from further east. Whether he can bring them all together quickly is another question, but the threat is very real.

"The Hun forces are widely spread, as you know, although I have now an army of ten thousand mounted warriors. I have six thousand of them in smaller contingents just to the west of the Big River. I also have available between eight and ten thousand foot warriors, if I need them, but we would be hard pressed to deal with Goar if he really can put together an army of over twenty thousand warriors that our spy informs us he may be able to do, and it’s quite possible that he can command upward of thirty thousand. He is a very deceitful leader, and Attila has not forgiven him for turning against the Hun and leaving us high and dry on the Catalonian Plains. Attila would like to see him and his generals dead.

"We also know from our spy that Goar hates the sound of your name and intends to make you pay for throwing Akbar to the wolves. Attila thanks you for that, and it made him a very happy king when he heard that news. Attila also sent warriors down to clean up that mess in the town Octar destroyed in his senseless act of madness. They also rebuilt some of the dwellings to erase the deed from his mind. I think it was Octar’s biggest mistake, and it upset Attila more than him siding with Akbar of the Alani.

"I do not have the warriors to hold or defeat Goar’s army if it numbers thirty thousand. I believe you have maybe thirty or forty thousand warriors, and you too would find it a hard battle to win. The only way to defeat an Alani army of that size would be to cut it down bit by bit, and I do not wish to take the risk of travelling around the south of the empire trailing my ten thousand warriors – which will hardly go unnoticed.

"On your word, my Lady, I will gather the foot warriors together, to be ready for battle should it be necessary, but I must tell you that all this is preliminary to specific orders and strategic planning from Attila. I am sure his personal messenger will bring you further information, and I am equally certain that it will all be as I have related.

I am now going to set camp at the end of the long valley to rest for the night. My warriors and I have ridden for three days without stopping. We can talk again in the morning before I return to the east. I trust this meets with your approval, my Lady?

Yes, that will be fine, general. I have much to discuss with my commanders.

Bleda walked away down to the north gate, leading his horse. Hippolyta asked her commanders what they thought of Bleda’s information and conclusions.

Thraso was the first to speak: Do you think we can trust the Hun, Hippolyta? We have been warring with them for more than ten years, and despite the recent truce and the proportion of the port fees paid to Attila, do you think they would change now?

Hippolyta did not answer. She looked up at Alexius, who was standing in his usual place. He realised that she expected his opinion as a Roman commander, and perhaps an overview of the political and military situation in that part of the world, that the Romans with their extensive empire might know better than any others.

Alexius, however, was only able to provide part of the information she hoped for.

"I think it is much as Bleda has told you, my Lady. The Hun army is thin on the ground this end of the empire. The Alani have been pushing Attila more than three years, and his patience has worn thin. We know that, despite his ambitions of empire, Attila has more than often kept his word than the Alani. Even when he had an alliance with them, it was the Alani that broke the treaty. More importantly, as long as a treaty is in Attila’s favour, he is unlikely to break it for a small gain.

"You aren’t having any trouble from Bleda because you are paying Attila a tax that helps him pay his army. Attila, like, you also knows that all the time Goar has no big army he is not a threat to the north and northwest of his empire. Neither is he a threat to you at the moment. However, with a big army he could overrun the Hun and possibly you and the port. The Alani have to be contained in the southeast and not allowed to create bigger armies. Remember that Attila is getting more revenue from your port than he could raise in taxes from anywhere in this poor part of his empire. He’s realistic enough to know that, and he also knows that you and he have to put your differences aside and fight together against the Alani.

I must say that I cannot be sure of most of this. I’m speculating, but it’s based on the limited knowledge I do have. I am in no doubt that Attila and Bleda know more about Goar than I do. I expect it will all become clearer when the messenger from Attila arrives. My opinion is just that: an opinion, but I hope it will help you make whatever decision is necessary to continue the prosperity of your village and avoid any risk of it being conquered by the Alani. I will leave you with those thoughts while I see to the running of the Legions, my Lady.

Thank you Alexius. As you say, the decision is mine alone. I think you for your input, and I will certainly not blame you for any decision that I make today.

Scyleia started to speak: I have seen a few of those Alani armies Bleda was talking about. They were so far away in the distance to the east that I did not realise they were Alani. I assumed they were contingents of Hun, but I should have realised that Bleda would have a far bigger army to ride with.

I too have seen them, Phoebe said, and like Scyleia I mistook them for Hun. If they are showing themselves without fear of being seen, I would assume they are confident they can take control of the trade route.

Andromache said, You need to remember also, Hippolyta, that Attila has been sending trade this way down the Danube. The cargo of pottery on that last boat was his. We have been sending animal furs and weapons back his way that Attila is willing to pay for, to replace his aging weaponry, although – as you well know – we have been careful enough not to risk sending him enough weaponry to equip new forces that might become a threat to us.

The lookout shouted down once more, There is a runner coming in from the northeast. He looks like a young runner from the north-eastern villages.

Some time later, the boy stopped at the gate. I have a message for the queen, he called up to the guard on the gate.

The gate was opened to let him in so that Alexius could take him up to the council fire.

The boy seemed nervous as everyone looked at him expectantly.

Don’t be afraid of us, boy. We are not going to hurt you.

My Lady, last night an army of raiders came to our village, and stole all the cattle, horses and the corn for the bread. They killed two of the young men that tried to stop them. When our village leader Fedeyka tried to plead with them to leave the corn, their leader, called Chuluun, killed him with his sword. He then shouted, These are taxes for the great Goar, and I will be back for more."

Toxis, give the boy some food and something to drink.

There is more, my Lady. On the way here, I came past the valley to the north of that forest. He turned and pointed to the north. The army is in there, because I saw the sentries on horses. They were dressed the same as the raiders were last night, and they are camped just inside the entrance. I saw the smoke from many fires.

"Toxis, look after the boy. He has served his queen well.

Scyleia, I want three thousand of your archers on the rim of that valley. You must travel fast, and blow the horn when you start shooting. As soon as we hear the horn, I will have two thousand warriors ready to deal with any of the Alani that escape your arrows. After today, Goar will know that I am at war with him.

It took very little time to prepare the army, and Scyleia left the village first with her archers. Hippolyta left soon afterwards, with Danilo riding just behind the queen and Thraso. Before long they were at the corner of the forest before the valley, and waiting for the sound of the horn.

* * * * *

A rider jumped from his horse and walked over to the fire where Bleda was sitting with his commanders. General, that queen has just ridden out from her village at a fast pace, heading north along the side of the long forest.

What were you doing when you saw her?

I was hunting for a meal tonight.

"Well, you had better get moving because the light will be starting to fade soon. You had better remember this while you are hunting: the queen and her warriors are fighting the Alani at our side and have an alliance with Attila. So, if you see any of them while you’re hunting, you had better leave them alone. This is not the time to start a war