Rahab Bk. 05 Ch. 06: Red War

"Are you sure, darling?"

Ana and Damila asked the same question at the same time.

"Well we have to assume that the Mongols swallowed the bait and will think our feint in the mountains is the real thing, but it would be wise to assume that they will still seek to block the assault across the plains of Yerevan. It might be fun to bypass them with a substantial force."

"But the people here," Ana pointed out, "are not used to naval warfare."

"Well, to be honest," I responded, "it is not really naval warfare, it will just outflank the Mongol cavalry, leaving them with a dilemma."

Ana, and the Emirs all agreed that it was wise to assume that the Mongols would divide their forces, and that given their reliance on cavalry, there could be no harm in giving their horses a run for their money.

That morning we had had the great Paschal ceremony in the Christian church, and on the morrow we would prepare for departure.

Ana, Damila and I were relaxing with Mel when a servant came.

"Urgent news from someone called Aly, Highness."

I told him to let the messenger in.

The man was travel-stained and weary.

"Thank Allah the merciful I made it. It is but a day and a half since I left Yerevan."

I thanked him and ordered food and drink to be brought. I opened the message from Aly. It was short and to the point:

"My friend tells me that the Mongols intend to assault the Jews on the Wednesday after the Pasch."

Damn, damn, I thought.

Ana paled.

"What can we do? We can't bring forward the assault plans, and the quickest we could get our force to the Jews would be Friday, and that would be too late."

Quick thinking was required.

"Sent for Commander Kunt."

His name never ceased to amuse us, but he was a solid and good soldier.

"Commander," I asked, "could we fit a force on our fastest barge which would be capable of holding a defensible position for three or four days?"

"Against what force, Highness?"

"That I do not know, but one substantial enough to massacre a whole town."

"Would we get help from the townsfolk, Highness?"

"No, but," and I turned to Ana, "could we get a small force from the Bodyguards there in a day, it could be done?"

Ana looked at me gravely.

"It could be done my darling, but it would be risky."

"It is that," I said, "or we lose the Jews."

Commander Kunt looked at me.

"Highness, it could be done, and I would be privileged to lead the force."

Bless him, I thought.

"Spoken like a brave soldier, but, Commander, I shall lead!"

Ana gasped, a sound made by the others.

"But darling, no, you are needed her."

"No, if we turn up without me, the Jews may flee, thinking they are under attack. Besides, it is my duty to be there."

"No, stop Commander, Damila, Mel, if Rahab mentions her duty, you might as well talk to the wall as persuade her otherwise. I will send an order now to the Bodyguard, but I am coming with you darling."

I agreed.

Commander Kunt left to gather his crack troops. He could have them ready in two hours, and we could have the fastest of the barges ready.

The Amirs and their chosen men gathered in the great square outside the Serail; I can see it from where I write. It was customary for the Viceroy to address the leaders, though I had heard that they were not expecting me to follow that tradition. So, while Mel and others prepared my baggage, with Ana I went to the balcony.

"Soldiers of Othman," I began:

"Though I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, I speak with the voice of Othman himself, and his great descendent, the Sultan. Against you stand the forces of Shaitan in the form of the Mongols, degraded swine who need sweeping away by the forces of the Prophet, peace be upon him. This will be your glorious task, and from it you will win immortal glory. Each of you will also be rewarded with a special donation. But, men of the Empire, soldiers of glory, it is your strength and skill which will win the day. I bid you Godspeed, and I go before you to establish a bridgehead, Pray for me as I do for you!"

When I started there had been a murmur or two, but silence had now descended. It was broken with a great roar.

"Long live the Little Vizier! God save her! Long life to her!"

At that cry, I took my sword and bow from Mel and donned them with my helmet.

The cry could have been heard in Damascus.

Accompanied by the Commander and Ana, I boarded the fastest barge and to the cheers of the men, I set off for my rendezvous with Destiny.

In our cabin, Ana asked me whether I was sure?

I loved her concern, and her love which prompted it.

"Yes, my darling, this is my destiny. Do you remember when we first met?"

"How could I forget, rescuing you from those monsters, and then holding the stairs, with you showing unexpected prowess as an archer. It was then that I first learned never to underestimate you. You may look like a child, but you have the mind of a stateswoman and the heart of that lion you mentioned."

I hugged her.

"I also have you darling, and while you are there, no harm will befall me - of that I am sure."

The advantage of the barge was that it went even more swiftly than the fastest horse, and without the fatigue from which horses suffered.

Ana, Commander Kunt and myself discussed long into the afternoon how we would hold Yeghergis against a Mongol force of unknown size, and we came up with a plan which, we hoped, would allow us to hold out until the Ottoman armies won the day on the Plain. I could sense the Commander's unease, but he said that he thought that it could be done.

Late that evening we saw the lights of the town, and we berthed safely, having made record time. I had worried that there would be a momentary alarm which might turn into panic, but we were met by Helena and a detachment from the Bodyguard.

Ana embraced her.

"You made good time dearest."

"You called, I answered. Rahab!"

She embraced me.

I felt more secure now.

The Commander supervised his troops, and Helena led them to their makeshift billets for the night.

We convened a meeting with Rabbi Rabin and the town elders, who were all in a state of high anxiety.

"We think we ought to get out, the Mongols will be here soon, possibly as early as tomorrow."

"Rabbi, do you really want your people on the plain when the Mongol cavalry catch you? There is no Red Sea to divide and then crush the troops of Pharaoh. No, the only hope is we hunker down here. They will not be expecting us, and in two days our fleet will be here to take you to safety if need be."

"But you are so few," one of the elders complained.

"This is all that could be spared," Ana replied sternly, "and in terms of quality you have the best that the Viceroy and I can provide. If that is not enough, then we can always leave."

There was a murmur of alarm, and then agreement and thanks.

When the meeting was over, I met with the Rabbi, and explained our plan. There was a small citadel with walls, and into it the townsfolk would have to retreat. Even as we were speaking, Kunt's men were digging ditches and erecting obstacles to the cavalry. His engineers were repairing the walls where they needed it. As I told Ana later, I was under no illusion, we could not hold out against a long siege, but if our men did their work on the Plains of Yerevan, then the Mongols would have to lift their attack on Yeghergis. If not, well God help us, as there would be no place to hide.

We spent a grim night. Kunt had men on patrol, and at the first sight of the enemy, we would have to spring into action. But with all that, sleep was needed; but hard to come by.

Ana hugged me.

"I love you, Rahab, and the hardest part of this will be if anything happens to either of us. But know this, my love for you surpasses that of my ability to frame the words to tell you."

My love gushed forth, and I kissed her with passion, before pulling away and responding.

"You have made me know real love Ana. With you, with our love, I have grown, and I have no sense my darling that this is the end for us. If it should be, then if we die side by side, there will be no mourning, no sense of loss."

As I kissed, I felt her nipples harden, and my lips slipped down her body to tend to them. I sucked, flicking her nipples and making her moan. My hand slipped between her thighs, feeling her wetness grow. Knowing that this might be our last time, the urgency came to me, I wanted her, wanted her so much.

My teeth grazed her nipples, and I curled two fingers into her cunt, making her grunt and double down on my hand. She felt warm, her juices thick and gooey. My fingers pressed home, loving her, wanting her, taking her, as my lips sucked on her nipples. I felt her body soften, yielding to me in a way she seldom did. And I took my Ana that night, letting her know she was mine, wanted, desired, loved, adored.

The memory of it is so sweet, and none of the years that have passed since has done anything to lessen those feelings; if anything they have grown deeper and wider and stronger. Ana, my Ana!

Ana climaxed, and then did so again and again. My own climax came spontaneously with her last one, and finally exhausted, we slept.

To my surprise, we were not woken early, and as the sun came up, we woke, kissed, and then bathed. She bent, kissing me.

"Rahab, my darling, that was perfect. You knew I needed that, and gave it to me. Just wait until we are out of this, and your reward will be what YOU desire!"

"Ah, I have that already my Ana, for it is you I desire."

We held our council of war over breakfast in the courtyard of the citadel.

Commander Kunt reported that the walls had been made safe, and the town's street unsafe. All the townsfolk had been gathered in, and outside the safety of the walls there were only our troops, plus a small complement on the barge, which was in the middle of the river.

Kunt, Ana and I inspected the troops. They really were the best. Each man was keenly anticipating the fight to come; the promise of Paradise if you died in a Jihad was a good spur to fearlessness. I should not like to have been facing these warriors. Ana's women were where they should be, and we were as ready as we could be.

Just before noon the alarm was given.

Ana and I headed into town as agreed.

We saw the dust from the cavalry before we saw them. Anticipating an easy slaughter, the Mongols had taken no precautions.

We watched. As they approached the designated spot, Ana gave the signal, and our archers fired volley after volley. Then they hit the ditch which Kunt's men and the townspeople had spent half the night digging and then concealing.

As they stopped, realising the trap, our archers fired again.

Dismounting and climbing over the bodies of their fallen comrades, the Mongols came on, blooded but unbowed.

They could see where we were firing from, and made a direct line for us - as expected.

When they reached the half way mark, Ana gave another signal and, from the barge, the catapults sent Greek fire to land among them, and, as it hit the ground which we had saturated in oil, the flames rose in a terrifying manner. There was no return, and to advance meant going through the flames and facing our archers. But some there were who hazarded that. Their reward was to be slaughtered by the Amazons, who swept down on them and put them to the sword.

The cheers from the Citadel rang out.

Though the smoke and fumes we could see only a mass of bodies. Then I heard the trumpet sound the retreat, and we ran back into the Citadel.

From the battlements the scene was of a slaughter great and grim. The flower of the Horde had gone down together, their over-confidence preparing, as I had hoped, the way for their downfall.

The plain outside the town was scattered with the dead and dying bodies of men and horses. The ditch had done its work in breaking the momentum of the charge, and the oil field and Greek Fire had wreaked havoc among those who had pressed on. Through my spyglass, I could see that a substantial body remained, unused, but they had stopped, no doubt taking counsel about what to do next.

Ana and I hugged each other, and for once, we included the Commander, who I swear came close to blushing.

"That, Viceroy, was masterly. Where did you learn such things?"

I did not like to say that between reading accounts of Caesar's Wars and the Battle of Hastings, my reading had given me insights into how the great generals of the past had managed such things, so simply said "instinct." Ana smiled: "Well your instincts here, as elsewhere, are pure gold darling."

I was under no illusion, we had won but the opening skirmish; that was not the same as winning the war.