Chapter 16

Little authors note:

Conversations and interactions with certain gods and goddesses will be revealed as the story goes on, the same with Ares's younger days and interactions and deeper conversations with family will be revealed littered throughout the story as it goes on and on.

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3 months later

????? POV—

We've arrived in the Hellespont to start our great campaign.

While men in armor roam about the land in an orderly fashion, in the middle of the fortified war camp stands a commanding tent, bigger than all others around.

"Our army is about 40,000 strong, drawn from all parts of Greece. The Infantry will commanded by Parmenion. For those that who are unknowing of this man, he is a veteran Macedonian general, he fought will my father."

As the speaker says this heads turn towards the mentioned man. A gruff, serious looking man with black hair and brown eyes. Wrinkles adorn him with a seemingly permanent scowl etched on his face.

The speaker continues, "In the front rank will be 9000 Macedonian Phalangites armed with the 18 foot Sarissa that my father created. These are professional soldiers well trained and drilled formed into a phalanx 16 ranks deep."

The heads of various people nod at their understanding. All of them Generals and Advisors of the great army being mentioned.

"This tight formation will present a solid wall of Iron spear tips. However this is not unstoppable, we must acknowledge the difficulties of maneuvering, and also acknowledge that it is highly vulnerable to attacks on its flanks and the rear.

To manage these we'll have 3000 elite infantry, the Hypastpist, or shield-bearers, that will be armed with shorter spears will guard its flanks."

Heads once again nod at the battle formation plans.

"These Hypastpist will be led by Nikanor, the son of Parmenion and a brilliant commander in his own right.

To the right of the Macedonian Phalangites will be our elite Agrianes, expert javelin throwers from southern Bulgaria. Other skirmishers from Thrace and Illyria are to be armed with javelins, slinga and bows. All in all thats 1000 Agrianes, 1000 archers and 6000 Thracians and Illyrians.

The shock troops of our army will be the companion calvalry. 1000 elite horsemen armed with spear and sword. They will be commanded by Philotas, another son Parmenion and brother of Nikanor, another brilliant commander.

1900 Calvary from Thessaly commanded by Kallas, 600 greek Calvary from other parts led by Erigyus and 900 mounted scouts from Thrace and Paeonia are under Kassander.

The 2nd line will be made up of 7000 of Greece's allies and 5000 mercenaries. They'll be armed as greek hoplites. Each of them will carry a hopplon, a a large round shield, and shorter 8 foot spears. While not being as effective as the Macedonian Phalangites, they are still well armed and heavily armored. This concludes the battle formation, please General Parmenion, inform us of Persia."

The rough looking man responds, " Yes, Hegemon Alexander!"

The rough man takes Alexander's previous spot at the head of the war map, to demonstrate his knowledge about the enemies home and government.

"The Persian empire is divided into provinces or as they call them 'Satrapies', each Satrapy is rules by a governor or a 'satrap'. As of right now our camp is in a territory named the 'Asia Minor'. From our spies in the enemy camp, we've learned that a skilled Greek general named Memnon of Rhodes is in Persian service."

Exclaims of Traitor and Coward come from the different bodies in the strategic meeting but calm down as Alexander raises his hand. "Now go on Parmenion." Alexander with the crowd silence orders The general.

"Yes, Of course. The traitor has urged them to avoid battle with us and instead use a scorched earth strategy - to burn villages and crops, and withdraw to the interior of the country."

A voice belonging to a mysterious figure in the corner of the tent answers out, "A solid plan if I do say so myself, too bad they won't use it."

All the heads of the tent point towards the corner. Weapons are pulled out of scabbards and sheaths while yells of "GUARDS!", "INTRUDER!" and "PROTECT ALEXANDER!" sound throughout the camp. Any soldier who hears of this immediately sprints towards the huge tent, when soldier after soldier burst through the tent ready to slay or get slayed for their leader encounter aa peculiar sight. Alexander holding back and suppressing the blood thirsty Generals and Advisors from attacking a mysterious man in the corner of the tent.

"STOP, STOP!! PEACE MY FRIENDS!" Alexander yells to quell the hoard. Eventually they overcome their first instinct when it comes to threats on their rulers life and reluctantly calm down, although still wary of the stranger.

"This, my friends is the person who has been feeding us information on the Persians and also has been helping with our battle strategies!" Alexander says exasperated at his people, although happy at their protectiveness of him. Alexander looks back at his mysterious helper and see's no form of shock, panic or even nervousness upon his face, interesting since he was just charged at by atleast 15 fully grown, experienced and veteran men decked out in full armor ready to kill or be killed. But he has no fear? Non whatsoever???

He's brought out of his thoughts when his generals and advisers ask him about the man. "And what is the name of such a helpful man?"

"How'd he get in?"

"Where'd he come from?"

"He is OUR spy?"

"Ill do you one better, why is-"

Questions come from all the people from the tent and even the soldiers that managed to get to the tent in time. "HOLD…..This man may introduce himself."

Silence at his answers is immediate, they all want to know of the mystery man. "My name is Altair Ibn-La'Ahad, or just Altair."

"Well…Altair you must be a skilled spy to sneak into fortified camps so easily." A general asks.

"Me and my people are, yes."

Alexander looks surprised, he didn't know their was others. "And who are your people Altair?" Alexander asks, now curious.

"A traveling war band by the the name of War Dogs or Blood Hounds."

Confusion and shock presents itself on the people of the tent even Alexander.

"The War Dogs are a nomadic mercenary/cult of legendary warriors loyal only to the God of War Ares. From my knowledge they are only Greek, yet you are obviously not, have they expanded." Alexander questions Altair.

"I heard the the King Leonidas joined the War dogs, thats why he was not found among the bodies at the hot gates."

"Really, I heard that even the mythical Amazons, are apart of the War Dogs."

Soldier that have entered the tent mutter to each other about the legendary group of warriors. "So a group of Legendary and Mythical heroes traveling Greece and one of its members is suddenly here, helping us, preposterous!"

"I agree, even if they are real, why would they suddenly help now? Why didn't they help King Phillip of Macedonian?"

"ENOUGH!….Thats besides the point. If you are here right now, does that mean that the war dogs will help us?" Parmenion questions Altair.

"Only Some of us will, but yes we will help."

"Then since you are much more knowledgeable, please inform us of Persia?" Alexander asks Altair once more. Altair nods and makes his way through the crowd over to the war map.

"Ok, IF the Persians would have listened to Memnon's advice, it would have starved your army quickly. However the Satraps are unwilling to lay waste to their own provinces without a fight. Due to this they will decide to fight you at the river 'Granicus'. They'll form up behind the river, which is shallow but 60 feet wide with steel banks.

Their front line is a wall of Calvary, about 10,000 horsemen from across the empire. Behind them, in reserve, are infantry, several thousand greek mercenaries, which is a common thing in Persian armies so get used to it. However the Persians are unsure if they can trust these people in combat against fellow greeks and so placed them at the rear."

(Finally, a fic about a war god, and we finally get to see some war.)

Altair(Ares Human Form, sorry for spoilers. Hehehe)-