Sorry for the long update! Well, here goes:

Zion had rode out of the city with fifty mounted hoplites, and they watched the forest line expectantly.

As they inched forward, they suddenly saw about two hundred horsemen burst out of the forest, each wearing the standard Roman uniform.

Zion's eyes widened as he recognized Captain Octavian, one of his most trusted advisors, as well as one of his best friends.

"Forward!" Zion yelled. "Intercept the force following them!"

He had seen several hundred cavalry charging after the Equites, and saw that his enemy cavalry was only using swords.

"Lower your spears!" Zion called. "Charge!"

The Scythian Cavalry had lost momentum as they drew to a halt, unsure of what to do, and as the first line stopped, the second line crashed into them, and when they entire cavalry force had stopped, a hundred of them had fallen to the ground.

It was purely bad luck that just at that time, Zion's cavalry smashed into them, their spears quickly massacring the Scythian Cavalry, who were unable to fight back for the most part, and were quickly retreating back into the forest.

At that moment, Zion saw Rius and Rio riding out of the forest with fifty Noble Cavalry, three hundred archers, and hundreds of Town Watch.

"Nicias," Zion said to the Spartan next to him. "Take all but five of the men, and retreat into the city. Prepare the weapons and ready the archers."

"Are you sure, sir?" He asked, his voice wavering.

"Yes." Zion replied, and waited for the majority of the cavalry to be fifty meters away, before approaching Rius and Rio with his five cavalry.

As he waited, Rius and Rio rode forward with four Noble Cavalry, drawing their blades.

Zion quickly glanced back at the city, and raised his long cavalry blade forward and aimed it at Rius. His men, sensing battle, leveled their spears as well.

"Once we strike, we pull away." Zion said, loud enough for his troops to hear.

Rius and Rio watched expectantly as Zion slowly trotted forward.

"Generals, please stay in back of us for now." One of the Noble Cavalry said, moving forward.

Once Zion's force had moved close enough to them, they struck.

The hoplites quickly lunged with their spears, killing three of the Noble Cavalry, and Zion quickly made short work of the other one, and watched as Rius and Rio moved to engage his men in battle.

Zion looked back, and yelled for retreat.

His force, now diminished to four men, quickly raced towards the city, with a dozen cavalry following in hot pursuit.

Captain Augustus Flavius Markus was leading four hundred Scipii Troops towards Riston. The Roman Senate had ordered them to reinforce the city's defenses, and to make sure the Scythian garrison was ready for action.

Augustus had recently heard of his friend Xeoner's death, and had been saddened by it, and therefore had an unhappy mood.

However, he knew that he had to obey the Roman Senate, and as a result, had taken 100 Urban Cohorts and 300 Triarii to march towards the city or Riston.

As they neared the city, Augustus saw that something wasn't right.

Instead of being inside the city, the Scythian flags were flying in the forest, which only meant one thing.

The city had been overrun.

Augustus quickly directed 100 Triarii to move to the city gates, while he led the main force towards the Scythian Encampment to see what was going on.

Rius and Rio watched as a Roman Captain dismounted and moved forward.

"Captain Augustus Flavius Markus." He stated. "I am here to reinforce the city of Riston."

"How can you do that, if rebels are in it?" Rio demanded. "They took over the city a few days ago, and we just arrived and lost a few hundred men in a skirmish with their cavalry."

"I have come with 100 Urban Cohorts and 300 Triarii, to help you, if that is the problem." Augustus replied.

"This night, we will send one our archers up the walls to take them, and then the gates will open for us. We will pour in, and retake Riston." Rius stated. "They have no chance against us."

"My Triarii should be first to enter. They are experienced troops and would hold out long enough for the main body to arrive. I have already positioned 100 of them near the entrance, hiding. I will detach a soldier to report to them our plan."

"Agreed. The attack will begin when we light out camp fires." Rio stated.

Zion watched carefully as the sun set, and the moon arose.

"Do we have two dozen Cretans on the walls?" He asked Nicias.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Get fifty hoplites, and position them on the wall."

"For what reason, sir?" Nicias asked.

"I think they will try to scale the walls this evening. Also, tell Jerome to ready the catapults. Best to use flaming boulders this time, to show us where they are."

"As you wish, sir." Nicias replied, and hurried off.

Zion spurred his horse forward, followed by half a dozen of his bodyguard, his original Roman followers, as well as a few Equites.

He nodded to Octavian, who got the message, and organized his troops together, forming sixty light cavalry.

The Cretan archer was the only one paying attention at all.

He stood ready, his bow at his side, and his quiver of arrows within easy reach.

He glanced to one side, to see a hoplite yawning and sitting on the battlements, sprawled on the ground.

He shook his head.

He looked to his left, to see his brother leaning over the battlements, looking down as if he had found something.

"Marcus." The archer, Brutus, whispered. "What are you doing?"

There was no reply, so Brutus grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back.

As he did, he saw that an arrow had been lodged in Marcus' chest.

At that same moment, a ladder was propped up against the battlements, and Brutus immediately went into action.

"Enemies attacking!" He yelled. "Ready yourselves!"

As his cry was echoed by other archers and hoplites, ladders were kicked down, and arrows were fired into the enemy archers.

However, some archers did get onto the battlements, and the Scythians quickly attacked the Cretan archers, but were intercepted by the hoplites, who desperately tried to fend them off. They were scattered in a thin line, and couldn't hold so many of them off forever.

Brutus aimed an arrow, and let loose at a Scythian who had just gotten onto the battlements. The arrow sliced into the man's throat, knocking him off of the ramparts and into the men below.

At that moment, a volley of arrows streamed into the men on the battlements, and Brutus saw at least fifty enemy archers firing volley after volley into them, hoping to crush them with superior numbers.

Brutus knew that he couldn't win this battle, and he ran.

Zion heard the commotion, and quickly yelled for the Equites to move out, along with the 100 hoplites on duty, and they quickly moved through the streets, pushing aside curious villagers who were confused.

By the time he had arrived, however, he saw only a handful of his troops fighting off a hundred elite trained warriors.

Triarii.

And with them, was one person he thought he'd never see again.

Augustus Flavius Markus swung his blade into a hoplite, and watched as cavalry formed up in front of him, along with many hoplites.

"Well, well, well, August," Zion spoke loudly, stepping forward. "It's been a very long time, hasn't it?"

There. I only had half an hour, so here you go! I'm busy these days, so I can't update for very long periods of time. DX