“Pooh! Buah! It’s bitter as hell! Take it back!”
Mauro threw back the chewed olive toward Polo, hitting the ship. The pit dropped to the surface and sank into the water below.
“They are still brining… Give them a couple of weeks or so, and they will be ready!” Polo tried to explain.
“If I wanted Istrian olives I would sail there myself with my fishing boat! I would be much faster than that round floating bucket of yours! And I would select better quality olives!”
It was not easy to upset Polo, but he knew Mauro was right about his ship design. Obviously Mauro was an expert seaman, and it annoyed Polo to be criticized about an obvious weakness of his first try at a cargo ship.
Sabino then interjected:
“Every village has to do its small part in supporting the Empire. It’s not right that all other villages contribute to a common defense system, and Metamauco doesn’t!”
“Defense? Defense from what! We are so far out that the only Longobard that would arrive here is a drowned Longobard. The only protection we need is from taxmen like yourself! And believe me, we know how to defend ourselves… ask your father Saverio, who is too chicken to come himself anymore! Heh, heh, heh!”
Mauro laughed with the other fishermen regarding an episode Saverio was probably too ashamed to disclose.
Mauro’s aggressive stance toward Sabino maddened Polo, and he decided to respond to threats with threats.
“You never know when you might need protection, Mauro of Metamauco! There are also a whole lot of pirates in the Adriatic…”
Mauro did not back off, especially now that Polo had called him by his name. So he replied to let Polo be aware that he also knew who he was and where he lived:
“Are you threatening me, farm boy? Don’t think I don’t know who you are… You are that peasant from Altinum, who was rescued by the fishermen in Equilium! I would have let you float out to sea! We mind our own business over here! Now get lost! You, and your shipwreck waiting to happen!”
Polo gave orders to his two sailors to turn the ship around. As they departed, Polo gave a final subtle threat:
“Maybe not this season, Mauro! But you will see… soon you will beg for the Tribune to defend you! And then you will be quite happy to pay your dues just as everyone else!”
Mauro did not reply, but he stopped repairing the net, and gave a long menacing stare at Polo as he departed. Sabino and Polo were quiet for a while as they exited the nearby inlet and sailed back toward Heraclia on the seaside of the outer banks.
Eventually Sabino broke the silence:
“So, what should I tell my father Saverio?”
“To do nothing! I already bought Metamauco’s liability, so their taxes for this season are paid. Now it’s between me and them… I did not care much at first, but now I think Metamauco is a problem to be dealt with… Not much for the taxes, I would not even bother taxing anyone if I was the Exarch. But Metamauco is a potential problem for the rest of the lagoon, and for what we can achieve all together… Now I see why Saverio wanted me to come here and see firsthand…”
“So, Polo, do you think it is time to send Tribune Gregorios over, and straighten those fishermen out, once and for all?”
“No… Tribune Gregorios has to be their savior, the one they are happy to have covering their backs. I know what needs to be done… Oh, I know exactly what needs to be done!”
It was the middle of the night and the town of Forum Popilii was completely engulfed in flames. Heart wrenching screams were heard as Longobards conquered the Byzantine outpost. It had been the southern defensive boundary of the Exarchate of Ravenna.
Grimwald and Bertwalt were sitting on their respective horses watching the result of a successful battle.
“And so goes Forum Popilii, the southern outpost of Ravenna…” Bertwalt boasted.
“I told them I was coming back to burn this town down… and I kept my promise…” Grimwald replied, remembering his experiences in Forum Popilii years back, when as a twelve-year-old he was on his way down to Beneventum.
“So it’s not just a strategic town to take… you also had a score to settle over here?” Bertwalt asked.
“It’s not that strategic… and indeed I had a score to settle here, part of the unfinished business that I plan to take care of here in North Italy.”
“What happened?”
“I was twelve… or thirteen… I just had fled from Opterg through the lagoon, and this was the last Byzantine town before entering Longobard territory… but this is nothing compared to what I will do in Patavium and Opterg…”
“So, we are leaving Ravenna alone and going straight to Patavium?”
“We are going to let everyone think we will be going everywhere. But first, we actually need to go to Papia to settle this squabble over who gets to be King Rothari’s successor… who gets to be the next King of Italy…”
“You haven’t told us which of the two heirs you are going to support, Godepert or Perctarit?” Bertwalt asked.
Grimwald stared at Bertwalt and then started laughing. He kicked his horse on the left flank and had his horse walk away.
“I am going to sleep, Bertwalt. It’s been a long night!”
It was early in the morning of a wintery day in Heraclia. A few fishermen were already out at sea, and farther away a small sailboat was advancing smartly toward shore, thanks to the unrelenting winter breeze. On board the boat was Justo, Livia’s cousin from Ateste, and his sixteen-year-old son Marcello. As soon as they disembarked, and stepped onto the snowy sand, Justo announced the reason for his trip to those by the docks:
“We urgently need to speak to the Tribune Gregorios!”
Soon after, they entered the main hall at Tribune Gregorios’ headquarters, where a few Byzantine soldiers stood guard. Tribune Gregorios was greeting Justo and Marcello, when Polo arrived soon after.
“Justo! What brings you all the way over here! In the middle of winter!” Polo greeted Justo with a welcoming smile.
“Polo, Justo was just informing us that Forum Popilii has been destroyed by Longobards…” Tribune Gregorios reported.
“Which Longobards?” Polo asked, a bit confused.
“From the south, from Beneventum!” Justo explained.
“Yes, Polo, by little Grimwald himself, remember him?” Tribune Gregorios added.
In a sarcastic tone, Tribune Gregorios blamed Polo for not letting him execute the little Longobard warrior when he had the opportunity.
“They are advancing north, and Ravenna fears they will be next,” Justo continued. “They are barricading themselves and they think this may be the time they get expunged.”
“Well, we can’t possibly go all the way to Ravenna!” Tribune Gregorios answered. “We are a much smaller battalion that would not make much of a difference, and we would be arriving too late!”
“Tribune Gregorios, I did not come on behalf of Ravenna, I came representing the people of Ateste!” Justo replied.
“Ateste!? First, it’s not my jurisdiction, and second it’s too far inland for sea soldiers like ourselves!” Tribune Gregorios answered.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong! We have already fled Ateste!” Justo clarified. “We are taking refuge down river in the port of Cioza, at the other end of your lagoon, and that is your jurisdiction!”
“Wait a moment…” Polo interrupted the discussion between Justo and Tribune Gregorios. “You people are Latins from Ateste, which is in Longobard territory. Why are you worried? Why did you flee into Byzantine territory?”
“Because we fear Grimwald is heading to Patavium, to settle a score with other Longobards. Ateste is on his path…” Justo explained.
“And you also fear for Cioza, which although it is an island, it is very close to shore…” Tribune Gregorios added. “You believe it might be on Grimwald’s path as
well?”
“That is our fear, yes, so I came to plead for everyone’s support, from Grado, Heraclia and the rest of the lagoon.”
“It’s the middle of winter…” Polo commented, “…but if we don’t come together during rough times, then when else? I say we immediately bring all able men to Cioza!”
Tribune Gregorios was also of the same opinion:
“As magister militum for the Byzantine Venetikà it is my duty to bring all soldiers to help the people of Cioza. The more privateers that join along the way the better.”
“People of Cioza aside…” Polo continued, “…that’s an important port for the Athesis River… it takes our merchandise all the way to Verona… I think several privateers will come to support it.”
“Good! I will send a messenger to the Patriarch of Grado,” Tribune Gregorios concluded. “Whatever people come from there can catch up with us later. We instead shall sail off today!”
“Justo, you and your son Marcello are welcome for lunch at my house. You need a few hours of rest before we depart as well,” Polo offered.
Justo and Marcello dined with Polo, Aurelia, Clelia and Clelia’s little toddler brother, Manlio.
“Justo, is it really necessary for Polo to take part in this battle?” Aurelia asked.
Aurelia was very preoccupied. Losing her father in Opterg was still a fresh memory for her. And even if Polo’s victorious return just a year after was a big relief, she was still haunted by the possibility of losing the man of the house.
“Aurelia… Cioza is different from Opterg…” Polo reassured. “Opterg is inland and they were sieged… Cioza is an island. It’s close to land and may take incoming arrows and spears, but we are protected by water…”
“Yes, Aurelia, we are mainly giving a show of force,” Justo confirmed. “We do not want the Longobards to think that there is any access for them into the lagoon…”
“We want to show our numbers, and not have them think that Cioza is just a little village,” Marcello also added. “Besides, there are plenty of stone houses, and we are well protected.”
Marcello was eager to take part in this battle, and he continued discussing defensive details with passion. Polo was very amused and eventually asked:
“So, Marcello, you are a man of war, I see!”
“He is only sixteen…” Justo interrupted, “…but he gets much more exited during these times of peril, rather than when accompanying his father up and down the river trade route…”
“That’s good! That’s good! We can’t just all be traders, right?” Polo replied. “We always leave all the fighting to the Byzantines and the Longobards? And we are just pawns of a bigger game? I hope to see more youths like Marcello coming forward, and perhaps this Cioza expedition might be a chance for some youngsters to stand out…”
Polo looked over at a preoccupied Aurelia and then adjusted his conclusion:
“…and still be fairly safe!”
They finished lunch and after a long pause, Polo concluded:
“All right! We better sail off toward Cioza, or Marcello will miss all the action!”
Justo and Marcello, having a smaller ship, took the inner route through the lagoon canals. This way they could relay the gathering call imparted by Tribune Gregorios and have all young men from Equilium and Torcellum (since most older men had perished in Opterg six years before) follow them to Cioza. Polo and his two sailors took the outer route with Polo’s ship and sailed directly to Olivolo’s basin to call upon the men of Murano, Olivolo and Rivo Alto. In the evening Polo was arriving with the ship’s launch-boat to Rivo Alto, and he started to call Marcia:
“Marcia! Marcia! Get Orso and yourself ready! Tomorrow morning we are going to Cioza!”
Marcia came out of the house as Polo was docking the boat, and sarcastically replied:
“We already heard of the gathering in Cioza! Don’t you think your three-year-old son Orso is a little too young to take to battle?”
Polo ignored her remarks and continued:
“We also need to load the ship with all stored food from the emporium: what remains of the olives, the salted fish we could not sell, sacks of cereals… what else… oh, wine! We need to bring lots of wine!”
Marcia let Polo talk until they entered the house. While Polo hugged Orso, she got a chance to interject:
“Are you going to battle or is there some sort of festivity I don’t know about?”
Polo was holding Orso up in his arms and explained:
“I really do not think there is going to be any battle. Grimwald has no interest in Cioza. He probably is not even going to Patavium, at least not during the winter…”
“So?”
“Think about it! There are going to be men from all over the lagoon idling about, without wives to cook for them. Cioza is not ready to supply food for everyone in the middle of winter!”
“Oh, you are incorrigible, Polo!”
Marcia tried to be appalled by Polo’s wicked thinking, but then she could not help it and let out a big smile and continued:
“…and that’s why I love you!”
Marcia put her arms around Polo’s neck and gave him a long, soft kiss.
“This will be a great chance to get rid of all the stored food that we would otherwise have to throw away this spring,” Polo continued. “We need help. We will have to set up a kitchen on the deck of the ship… and have tables, and benches… Where is your brother, Claudio?”
“He is with his wife, Paulina, at his house, around the corner.”
“Go tell him to meet me at the emporium. We need to load everything on the ship. You and Paulina can plan the kitchen stuff. Oh, and yes! Paulina and Claudio are coming with us.”
The next morning, Polo, Marcia, Paulina, Claudio and little Orso were below deck on Polo’s ship sailing toward Cioza, and they were accounting for all the pantry items.
“Polo, did you pack extra wood for the stove?” Paulina asked.
“Yes, it’s behind the barrels over there, but be sure not to burn the ship down…”
One of the sailors interrupted Polo, calling him on deck.
“I told them to sail near Metamauco and let me know when we were there…” Polo explained to the others below deck. “That must be it…”
Polo climbed up on deck and shouted as they were sailing by:
“Mauro!”
From one of Metamauco’s huts Mauro came out in the cold winter morning and stared back at Polo.
“Mauro! I know you don’t give any backing with taxes, but your neighbors in Cioza need our help against the Longobards! Are you at least backing them by bringing your men in support?”
Mauro shouted back:
“Polo Licio! Do you know who asked me last to come join and fight the Longobards?”
“Who?”
“Bruno and Elio from Equilium!”
Polo did not have anything to shout back as unpleasant memories came to mind. Then Mauro continued:
“I told them to go to hell then, as I am telling you to go to hell now!”
At that moment, Paulina, hearing her father Elio being mentioned, ran up on deck and yelled at Mauro:
“Mauro! You are a coward! You go to hell and do not talk about my father who died for all of us!”
“Polo Licio!” Mauro yelled back, ignoring Paulina. “Do you always go to battle with women? I don’t even believe you are going to battle, you scoundrel! Stay away!”
Polo then told Paulina to go back below deck, as there was no point in arguing, and followed her down. The ship sailed along toward Cioza.
Chapter 12
THE NEW KING
A series of boats were slowly floating down the Brint River. It was the portion of the river after Patavium, and it was at this point almost indistinguishable from the lagoon. More and more canals surroun
ded by snowy reeds intersected the main flow. Only the first two boats were visible on that foggy morning. In the front boat sat Adalulf, his wife Hermetruda, his eight-year-old son Trasoald, Fabia, now about thirteen, and Primo, navigating the boat. Lucilla, Livia, and Livia’s two children were in the boat behind, with Tiberio at the helm.
“Primo, it was awfully nice of you to let Hermetruda and I anticipate our summer visit,” Adalulf told Primo. “I think the lagoon in a snowy winter must be very charming, and we could not resist.”
“Adalulf…” Primo replied, “I understand you need to seek refuge from Grimwald in the lagoon. My brother Polo was in Opterg five years ago and saw you chasing Grimwald all the way to the town walls… Adalulf, we can talk straight to each other…”
Now Primo felt he could talk straightforwardly to Adalulf. They were not in the hall of his palace. He was the lord of Patavium no more. Now he was basically a refugee. Adalulf did not know what to reply, and after an awkward pause, Hermetruda broke the silence with a trivial statement:
“Traveling on water is quite comfortable!”
“Yes, I agree, but I still prefer traveling on horse,” Adalulf commented.
“You can go sit on your horse back there, standing a few rafts behind us!” Hermetruda snapped back as she pointed toward the back of the series of boats, and with the fog thinning out a quite long procession was visible, with many more people as well: Longobard warriors with families, but also horses, livestock, and packs of belongings. It was a large convoy, and Primo commented on the unexpected situation:
“Adalulf, once we reach Rivo Alto, my house can only host my family and my in-laws. If it was only your family coming, we could have hosted you in a house nearby, but I did not expect such a large convoy…”
“I know, and we will be fine camping. We have all that is necessary. It is also probably for the best that so many Longobard families are kept separate from you Venetians… I do not want to give the impression of an invasion.”
“I have already picked a good spot, Adalulf. It’s nearby, just north of Rivo Alto. It’s uninhabited and because it’s still full of cane reeds we call it Canareclo.”
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