Hooves, Tracks, and Sabers-Available Now!
Treat yourself to some fantastic alternate history stories this weekend!
Hooves, Sabers, and Tracks available a whole day early!
As I’ve said repeatedly (I know you’re probably getting tired of it), I am really excited about this anthology. It was a really cool story to write, and if you missed my previous post, check it out below.
I find the time period of my story (titled Allies) fascinating, and I wanted to try and bring some of that amazing history to life here. Below is a short snippet of my story which introduces a really interesting person, Masinissa of Numidia. Happy reading!
Five Miles West of Cirta (Modern Constantine), Numidia, North Africa
216 BC
Masinissa, Prince of the Massylii Tribe of Numidians, moved slowly and carefully so as to not draw attention to himself. The ridge's wooded slopes provided plenty of cover, but there was no sense in tempting the gods by being careless. He eased out of the trees and crouched beside a shoulder-high juniper bush. The juniper stubbornly clung to the edge of the rocky crag he stood on, overlooking the only passable route over the ridge in a day's ride.
Below him, filtering through a narrow, steep-sided pass, were his prey.
The rebellious Syphax's Masaesylian army had gotten an early start this morning, departing their camp well before the sun rose. They hadn't stopped since beginning the long climb up the pass west of Cirta. Now, just after midday, their lead scouts were riding into Massinissa's ambush; tired, hungry, and thirsty after staring into the sun the entire ascent.
The trees behind him rustled as a messenger approached. The boy, probably no more than fourteen or fifteen, was clad in a plain linen tunic belted with a length of rope. He carried a wicker shield strapped to his left forearm and gripped a pair of javelins in that hand. He held another javelin at the ready in his right. There was little chance the Masaesylians would surprise the runner up here, but Masinissa approved of his caution.
"My Prince," he huffed, "the main rebel force is beginning their ascent up to the pass. They are split into three groups with a screen of riders behind them. Between the three groups there are about two and a half thousand cavalry with one or two hundred more spread out screening the rear. The first gap between the groups is about fifty or sixty horse-lengths. The second gap is smaller. There is a gold standard in the center group, but we cannot see it clearly enough to identify it."
Masinissa grunted in acknowledgement, nodding a dismissal to the runner. As he suspected, there were three clans of rebel Numidian horsemen trying to make it through the pass and into Masinissa's unprotected rear before he could react. Syphax knew Masinissa's army, made up of Massylii horsemen and Libyan infantry, didn't have the men to face him on two fronts while defending the town of Cirta. The rebellious king was trying to take advantage of his greater numbers and march through this little-used pass to fall on the Massyliian capital from behind.
With a tight smile he watched the cavalry vanguard filter through the narrow confines of the pass. They spread out quickly, searching for foes in the valley opening up before them. He commended the riders for their vigilance, but they were looking in the wrong direction. With one swift javelin thrust, Masinissa would destroy the vanguard. With Syphax's cavalry bloodied and the pass blocked, Masinissa's main force would sally from Cirta and attack Syphax's main camp at night, sowing confusion and terror.
Massinissa's heart swelled with pride and anticipation as the rebels rode on, completely missing his army hidden in the olive and fig groves along the sloping ridge. After his men crippled the rebel cavalry, Syphax might finally negotiate with Carthage to end this ridiculous rebellion.
And then, when he did submit, Massinissa would return to Carthage to the praise of the Senate and people for saving them. And he would receive his promised rewards—the hand of Sophonisba, daughter of Hasdrubal Gisgo, in marriage. He savored the thought for a moment. Legitimacy and Carthaginian citizenship for the many sons Sophonisba would no doubt bear him was a prize worth the endless fighting across Africa.
But that was for later. For now, he had a victory to win.
If you liked this snippet, check it out on Amazon right now!
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time!