INVICTA: Hell's Last Gate

Water was sprinkled onto Rainer's face, and his eyes abruptly opened to the morning sun.

Above him stood Kotys with an open water skin.

"It's morning, wake up."

Rainer groaned at the brightness, shielding his eyes while wiping water from his face with a groan. He seemed frazzled and perplexed, as if wondering if he was still dreaming.

"!!"

Suddenly, he gasped, rolled, and pushed up on all fours to gaze at Kotys with a horrified expression.

"It's morning!?"

Kotys frowned slightly. "You fell asleep. I tried waking you up but you kept pushing me away. In the end, I thought it might be better if you had a good rest."

With an astounded expression, he glanced aside to find soldiers marching out of the camp in orderly columns, arching away toward a small fortress a distance away.

Kotys squatted on the ground, brought out his dagger, and began sketching on the soil.

Rainer let out a long sigh, head tilting to the ground. He was disappointed that he couldn't train during the night. He was distraught to realize that his rest didn't do him much good.

He felt languid and heavy, like a rubber mannequin filled with cement.

Kotys glanced at him and spoke.

"While you slept like a literal corpse, I thought out a plan for when you get on the wall."

Rainer pushed himself to his feet and stretched.

"Ugh! I'm not ready to fight this battle."

Kotys' eyes hardened and his face wrinkled in consternation.

"No one ever is."

Rainer rolled his eyes and looked at his sketch on the ground. It seemed to be an outline of the garrison fort.

"What's that?"

Kotys sighed and glanced up at him.

"My observations from yesterday's siege. What you do with this information is entirely up to you."

With that said, he turned back to his sketches.

"The wall top is tight, barely enough for two horses to trot side by side. There should be stairways leading down on either side, so you should take the ladders at the extremes. Once you clear the wall of enemies, you could head down and take the door below leading up into the wall, or stay put and keep the wall top clear for reinforcements."

Rainer's head tilted slightly as he grimaced with uncertainty in his eyes, and Kotys cut a line downward.

"The wall itself isn't fortified but we are lacking in siege equipment, possessing merely ladders and a ram."

"Hm." Rainer squatted, taking it all in.

"Why did you mark 'X' on that window?"

Kotys bit his lips.

"The Chieftain leading this group of rebels is a renowned archer, and I think I glimpsed him on that window the day prior..."

Rainer nodded and Kotys went on.

"The battles yesterday took a heavy toll on their men; they now number about a hundred, more or less. The fortress is located at a strategic location, cradled between a rocky ravine and a fast-running river, which they were able to channel around back into the ravine before we arrived."

Kotys' dagger swiftly cut through the soil, expertly fashioning the landscape he envisioned.

Rainer pointed toward the gate.

"That means a frontal assault is the only option."

"With the available siege equipment, yes," Kotys affirmed with a begrudging nod.

At that moment, two horsemen rode up to them, kicking up dust as they came to an abrupt stop before them.

"Daem—Stranger! We have been ordered to escort you to the front!" The horseman addressed from his high perch. His tone was forceful, albeit with a certain fretful quality.

The second horseman dropped a leather vest onto the ground with a look of disdain.

"Mercenary leather armor, courtesy of the Lord Praefect." He notified before casting a disgruntled look Kotys' way.

"Pedite, you may return to your century."

Kotys simply nodded and stood. Then he went to a large rock, where a spear and a reinforced round wooden shield rested.

He picked them up and brought them back to Rainer.

He took them with an intrigued look in his eyes but couldn't help but notice how the horsemens' grip on their weapons tightened when he did.

Rainer twirled the spear in one hand, testing the weight and finding its center. Then he grinned at Kotys.

"Nice work, Kotys. Just as requested!"

However, before Kotys could reply the spear Rainer twirled fell to the ground.

The horsemen looked at each other and guffawed.

"Son of Mars?! If Mars were a bloke!"

"I reckon a certain drunkard called Mars stumbled about my village in my youth. Could you be his lost spawn?!"

Rainer's brows furrowed and he clenched his fist, raising it up at them in annoyance.

"At least I have a father, bastards!"

They laughed some more, and Rainer began bickering infuriatingly with them.

All the while, Kotys observed this interaction with grim silence. He shook his head, picked up his spear and shield, turned, then left.

Rainer glanced at him and called out.

"Kotys!"

Kotys stopped and glanced back.

"Be glad! Because you just won the lottery!"

Kotys frowned mildly in confusion.

"What is that? This—lottery?"

"My friendship." Rainer gave a big smile.

"..." Kotys watched him with mild uncertainty for a while, but then he turned back toward the marching columns, leaving a word behind.

"Farewell..."

Rainer sighed with contentment and looked down toward the armor. He picked it up and slid it over his tunic, the light weight centering him.

Then he took and hung the shield to his back before picking up his spear.

*Buoooo!!!*

A horn blasted into the sky making the air tremble, and Rainer smirked lightly.

'This brings back memories of high school days... Like the morning before an exam you weren't prepared for.'

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the dry air filter into his nostrils.

'But there comes a time when all things must prove themselves true against absurd odds...'

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was focused.

–––

The atmosphere was thick with tension as soldiers moved in formation. The dust-choked air rose from their march, clogging and scratching at the airways.

Beyond, palisades hedged into the ground stood interspersed around before a tall menacing wall. Resistance soldiers ran across the walls and windows, the stringent cries of their commanders booming across the sky in the distance.

*Cluk!* *Cluk!* *Cluk!*

The battering ram rattled, ponderously rolling forth as archers advanced into the safety of the palisades to exchange fire with the rebel archers.

*Buooo!*

The signal was given, and multiple formations formed testudo as they steadily marched forth into range of the barrage of arrows whizzing down.

Mounted on a glorious steed behind the formations was the Praefect Alexios. He was garbed in pristine muscle plate armor as he sat dignified between a pair of distinguished armored officers also on their steed but slightly behind him.

He watched the wall brimming with lives but soon to be extinguished with a hard gaze.

"Rebel scum! They do not appreciate what Rome brings to their lands." An officer beside him spat, face twisted in disgust.

The Prefect snorted. "It is not wise to rebel against Rome...unless the rewards far outweigh the risk. Chieftain Teres is a fool, his bow shall be broken this day."

The officers exchanged knowing glances and smiled.

Suddenly, a pair of horsemen rode past the columns of reserve soldiers behind, and up toward Alexios.

"Lord Praefect! He is here!"

The horsemen came to a stop and Rainer dismounted. When he turned and looked toward the garrison fort, he didn't seem impressed.

"It's smaller than I imagined." He dully stated, glancing at the Prefect.

The officers exchanged odd glances.

"Really?" The Prefect mused.

"Yeah. I've faced worse." Rainer casually noted, and then he looked up at him. "By the way, do you have any special requests?"

Intrigued, Alexios leaned down toward him.

"Request?"

"Yeah, like the head of their leader or something."

He tilted his head slightly, face awash with doubt.

"You can give me that?"

Rainer shrugged. "I'll try, but you have to promise me my freedom. Honestly, I despise this slave status."

Alexios seemed struck with wonder and soon he began laughing.

Rainer's nose pinched, frowning.

"What's the matter? You don't agree?"

"No..."

Alexios shook his head, trembling in delight.

"No, I agree. Bring me Chieftain Teres' head and you shall be 'well' rewarded."

His face cracked into a wide smile, and from the looks on the startled officers ' faces, it wasn't something they were used to seeing.

A mischievous smile pulled at Rainer's lips and he thrust his spear into the ground

"Deal."

Suddenly, he sprang out at Alexios.

A hand smoothly pulled out his exquisite, white-crested gallic helmet, and Rainer's other hand unhooked his gem-encrusted dagger from the sheath, to the stupefied expressions of all who saw.

Alarmed, the officers were already drawing their weapons. However, Rainer had already grabbed his spear and ran.

"I'll be needing this!"

He turned and strapped it on, while looking at Alexios with a mischievous grin.

"Worry not, boss! That head is yours!"

With that, he turned and sprinted toward the garrison fort.

Alexios stared in bewilderment.

"Perhaps, he really is Mars' wayward son." An officer whispered in wonder behind him.