"The way I see it, we have two choices," Phaedra explained. All of the senior commanders, Brasidas, Sayf, Tychon, Eudoxia and Iona were sitting in the cool interior or a pleasant wine shop. Only Zoe was missing, as she was out attending to the scouts. As always in Atvari territory the frenetic work of the army had slowed to a crawl. It was simply too hot to undertake any significant labor and soldiers lounged for their mid day meals, finding what shade they could. Some of the Miravet were even swimming in the river, having enticed a number of the Imperial troops to come down and watch, even if they were unable to swim themselves. Quite a number of the Miravet would find lovers amidst Brasidas' force if they stayed together long enough, that wouldn't be a problem on her end, but it was possible that jealousies might flare from other quarters. It was one of the reasons why Miravet were rarely used as garrison troops, one of several reasons.

"Either we head back along the north bank, take the easier route, or we cross and strike south for Agrah, resupply there and then head back across towards the Silver Lake." 

"Why go back at all First?" Iona asked, not disagreeing but simply puzzled.

"I mean we won didn't we, cant we just sit here and wait for reenforcement?" the Tetrarch asked.

"There is no point Arbela isn't defensible and if we are going to fight another pitched battle we are better off further west. A major clash anywhere between here and they sea will determine who controls the land all the way to Sidris. If the Great King is making offers its a good bet the Satrap at least is in the field with his army, maybe thirty thousand, we know from the ambush the other night that there are Atvari at our rear, probably a decent force up at Zoltai. If they haven't marched south to block our retreat yet they will soon." Phaedra took a sip from her wine cup and looked somewhat peevishly west. There should have been more Imperial troops on the horizon by now, another two or three thousand infantry plus Georgicus, but the scouts had not reported anything, not even any camp fires at night.

"We can wait here and find out, there would be time to pull out if the Satraps army shows up, we would spot them two days out," she argued. Phaedra looked a Brasidas and made a shrug.

"If we wait we have to cross the ford and risk the desert, it will give them too much time to block a retreat along the north bank."