They had pushed hard in their trek to Alexandria, with minimal breaks for food and rest. Valerius normally wouldn’t have pushed his men so hard, even during war, but he’d seen the restlessness of their assigned Commander. He’d made an effort to get to know Stephanos just a little whilst they’d sailed together to the Egyptian shores. But Valerius knew there was much more of the man than what he revealed to any of the Colchians. The commander was clearly worried for the Taengean king, his cousin – by all reports that Val had garnered. Valerius well knew the bonds and ties that family and blood could bring. Thus, with haste, they’d ridden. At least the journey was not completely dull and sullen. Lord Timaeus had remained at the Captain’s side nearly the entire time. Val welcomed the light comradery his friend’s presence offered. It was a nice contrast to the seriousness of the mission, and a break in the monotony of the sands around them. Oh, how Valerius despised Egypt. He’d have rather not come back to this place, but he knew his duty to crown and country, and he held them just as high a regard as his loyalty to his family. More than once – not for the first time and not for the last – Valerius’ thoughts sailed back to Greece, to Colchis, where his children were awaiting his return. More than once, the proud captain prayed to the gods that he be allowed to see them again.

Despite the mostly lightheartedness of the conversation between Val and Tim – for between the jokes, Val told of his previous trips to Egypt during the last war and the best killing techniques he’d learned to use against them - the Captain of the Golden Shields was fully aware of the movements of the unit’s scouts and the messages being passed through signals and ultimately directly to his ears through the few runners among his men. He issued instructions and mentally calculated all the information being brought his way. Rarely did he look in one direction for very long.

Soon, though not nearly as soon as the captain would have liked – but one could only hurry the movements of this many men just so much – there came reports that the sails of the Egyptian fleet and the buildings of the port city were within sight. Val’s attention was pulled more firmly into his duties as Captain as he relayed this to Stephanos and gave his men further instruction. Before long, Valerius, Staphanos, and Timaeus, along with one of Val’s lieutenants (though this fourth man respectfully stayed back from the three), we gathered atop a dune, looking over the city of Alexandria. The bright and harsh sun was at their backs. Valeirus counted this as a blessing as it would make it less likely that anyone below would be looking towards their position for now. Val did not speak at first, instead he let his gaze roam the lay of the land before them. He’d been here before, as well as more than a few of his men, though Val did not think fondly of the memory. For just outside this city, not far from where he now stood with his comrades, Valerius had witnessed the fall of his own Captain and had nearly been slain himself. His head ached with the mere memory of the pain of that blow. He closed his eyes for a moment, hoping to stave off one the painful headache that had haunted him since, and was threatening to start now. The heat of the day had certainly not helped these matters much.

’How shall we proceed, Commander?’ he heard Timaeus ask.

’King Tython wants those ships as a beacon, Lord Timaeus. I think we ought to light them up for him. Give the king a bit of a glow to look at.’

There was a hint of something in the commander’s tone that Val had not heard during their mission thus far. Curious. No time to examine that now, however. The captain straightened his shoulders and opened his eyes as the commander began to share what he had in mind. As the man spoke, Valerius began to see it unfolding in his mind, comparing what he saw to what he remembered, calculating the resources they had and what they would need to get. Valerius had to admit, it was a good plan, and one that should be entirely doable. Again, he was pleased that he and his men had been chosen for this mission, for his unit was well suited for such stealth and fast paced hits and retreats.

It was time to choose the men that would be most useful for the moving parts of this mission. A handful of soldiers to send into the city to acquire the oil they would need to douse the ships. The best archers for sending a flaming arrow or two for lighting the decks. The first assignment was easy enough. But Valerius cursed under his breath about choosing archers. Why couldn’t Mihail of Thanasi have been sent with them? For he was the best archer Val knew. Very well… the captain would make do – and may the gods have mercy on them all if his men missed the shot. Val did his best to banish his doubts, reminding himself that he’d trained his men well, and they all knew what was at stake in this war.

Val stepped off to speak with his waiting lieutenant to relay the plan and the orders for the men he deemed best for going into the wall-less city. The men who were familiar with the city, as well as knew at least some passing Coptic. When Val returned to Stephanos and Timaeus, the captain looked to his friend. ”Lord Timaeus. I am aware that you retain somewhat of an understanding of the native language here. Would you consider leading my men into the city? Your experience as a captain would be an asset in coordinating their movements.” Val would had gone himself, but he felt he would have stood out no matter how well he disguised himself. His lieutenant, too, would have been a beacon to the Egyptians, with his golden flowing hair.