"Who leads here now?" Tychon inquired, leaving Demaratus to lead the men to camp before Arbela as Brasidas, Tychon, and Sayf galloped back to the front of the township where Brasidas spied Phaedra rode to. The Protos Kapetanos saw the pyres of her dead still burning brightly, and to the south his own dead were being interred. Some were burned, but others were buried under small cairns, as was the Boreas way. 

"No one. Both the Miravet leader and I are Protos Kapetanos, so until we find someone higher rank we'll have to agree or debate on everything." Brasidas said with a shrug. 

"Do we not have the larger force?" 

Brasidas gave him a look. "They might be small, but they are soldiers same as us. The women made a good accounting of themselves yesterday, from what little I saw. If she and I have the same rank, we are equals. Besides, I'd rather follow her than Georgicus. At least she is loyal and fights her own battles." 

"As you say, but I am still worried, Brass." Tychon said as Sayf rode ahead. It was clear he wanted to meet with Phaedra first. "We received an envoy a week ago. An envoy of the Great King." 

Brasidas did a double take. "Why did you not say this before?" 

"I wanted to when I had you alone." Tychon explained. "They were trying to hire us, saying something about fighting a losing war. Last I checked we were invading them, not the other way around. I sent them home and made it for Arbela with all speed." 

Ahead, Brasidas saw Sayf and Phaedra conversing, the nomad making whimsical gestures with his hands in a no doubt ineffective way to woo her. The two commanders reached them not moments later, Brasidas giving Phaedra a nod in greeting, and gestured to Tychon. He was even larger up close, sporting a goatee that would be a full beard on any other man. He had no weapons with him, as they would be a bit too heavy to fit on his horse. Behind them, the army went to set up camp as runners headed up the slope to the town.

"Kapetanos Phaedra, this is Tychon. My second." He introduced, and then spoke to his old friend. "Tyke, tell her everything you were going to tell me. She needs to hear it as much as I."