Companions (The Parthian Chronicles)

by Peter Darman

  ‘Have you forgotten about the Romans?’ I said.

  He grinned, his white teeth flashing in the half-light by the stream.

  ‘We won’t have to worry about the Romans when we get to Lemnos and link up with our reinforcements, lord. Will Prince Orodes be commanding them?’

  ‘What?’

  Domitus kneeled and dipped his water skin in the stream.

  ‘That’s right, Surena, he will be leading the Durans and Exiles who have been transported to the island.’

  Surena finished filling his skin and replaced the cork. The water containers were the hides of goats and calves sewn together with the hair on the inside to prevent evaporation of the water.

  ‘Do you think we will hold any games at Dura, lord?’

  ‘Games?’

  ‘If we built an arena outside the city then we could invite gladiators from all over the Roman Empire.’

  ‘Just what the king wants, Surena,’ said Domitus, ‘Romans flocking to Dura.’

  ‘There will be no gladiatorial games at Dura, Surena,’ I said, ‘and no arena.’

  He looked disappointed. ‘That is a pity, lord, I would have liked Viper to have seen me in the arena.’

  Domitus was shaking his head as Surena reflected on his lost opportunity for more glory in the arena. I hoped that one day he would become a great Parthian warlord as he had that crucial ingredient that all successful commanders must have: supreme faith in their own abilities. But at this precise moment he was nothing but an irritation.

  I looked round to see we were alone; Athineos and his men had departed.

  ‘Let’s get back to the boats,’ I said.

  In front of us the cracking of twigs and occasional obscene word when a man tripped on a stone indicated the presence of Athineos and his men, some distance away. We quickened our pace but I stopped when I heard a rustling sound behind me. I turned and peered into the trees. I thought I saw something but there was just gloom. I continued on, following Surena and Domitus who had increased their pace. I heard a twig snap and halted again. Domitus heard it too and also stopped and turned. The hairs on the back of my neck pricked up and my instincts told me something was wrong. I strained my eyes to try to see in the darkness. I saw what appeared to be the black shape of a giant lumbering towards me. But it had a head that was totally flat. It was a crest. I slipped my bow off my back and nocked an arrow in the bowstring as the figure got nearer. Behind it were more moving shapes – Romans!

  I raised my bow and released the bowstring. I heard a hiss followed by a yelp that pierced the night air and did not stop to see if I had hit the man with the crest atop his helmet.

  ‘Run,’ I shouted.

  Surena and Domitus bounded ahead of me as shouts erupted behind as the Romans gave chase. I heard a thwack and saw a javelin embed itself in a tree to my right. I ran on, stumbling into branches and bushes that impeded my progress but also that of my pursuers. Still gripping my bow, the water skin and quiver, branches flaying my torso, I at last reached the beach to see the two rowboats being pushed into the water. Domitus and Surena stopped and turned as I caught up with them and pulled another arrow from my quiver.

  The enemy was fast on my heels but fewer than I had expected: I saw only five. I shot one who was about to hurl a javelin and Surena cut down another marine who was running at him. I nocked another arrow and shot a man who moved his scutum to reveal his torso as he ran at me. I estimated him to be twenty paces away, maybe less, so the arrowhead easily penetrated his mail shirt to pierce his belly. It didn’t kill him but winded him and dropped him to his knees.

  ‘Time to go, Pacorus,’ shouted Domitus as Surena shot another arrow that struck the shield of the surviving marine.

  I was about to turn and run to the boats when I saw the Roman with the crested helmet – Marcus Aristius, the man who had held a sword to Gallia’s throat.

  ‘Surena,’ I called.

  He came bounding back to me as Domitus screamed at me to get off the beach,

  I handed my bow and water skin to him. ‘Take these and go.’

  He had no chance to reply as I pulled my sword and advanced on the tribune, thrusting the point of my spatha forward to skewer him. He deflected the blow and came at me with his own thrusts that I parried easily enough. I heard a low groan and out of the corner of my eye saw the surviving marine fall with an arrow in his throat. Surena just could not help himself.

  Marcus Aristius knew how to use his sword, making a flurry of attacks directed at my head and torso. But I either avoided or parried them with relative ease. The fact that his men had been killed around him did not seem to perturb him in the slightest. And then I realised why as more marines ran on to the beach. I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and, after stepping back to avoid a side slash of his sword, turned and ran into the water. The boats were being rowed back to The Cretan and it took all my strength to swim in my clothing holding my sword to reach them. I threw my spatha in the first boat and Domitus and Surena hauled me aboard as Marcus Aristius stood at the water’s edge and cursed me.

  ‘That’s why I did not want to go ashore,’ said Athineos gruffly.

  When we reached the ship he ordered that the boats remained in the water ready to pull The Cretan out of the cove when the dawn came. Drenis, Arminius, Cleon and his four Greeks had stood to arms when they had heard the tribune’s curses and threats. But now they stacked their weapons when he stopped and silence returned to the night. A grateful Alcaeus came from the hold and took the water skins for the wounded, five of whom had already succumbed to their injuries.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Are you hurt?’

  ‘Just wet,’ I answered. ‘I apologise for dragging you to Ephesus and for all the subsequent drama, Alcaeus.’

  ‘Apologies not required, Pacorus. The truth is that I am grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to see Ephesus. It is truly a wonder of the modern world, and a Greek wonder at that.’

  ‘Perhaps there will come a time when it is ruled by Greeks once again,’ I offered.

  ‘Not unless the Roman Empire crumbles into dust. It is too rich for the Romans to allow it to slip from their greedy paws.’

  He sighed and looked at Cleon holding Hippo in his arms.

  ‘What are you going to do with those two?’

  ‘I have no idea,’ I answered.

  He slung a water skin over his shoulder. ‘You should get her to say a prayer to Artemis in front of everyone. It will raise morale, and I have a feeling that we shall all need our spirits raised come the dawn.’

  On Alcaeus’ advice I asked Hippo if she would ask the goddess for Her protection and be our guide during the coming day. She turned away from me when I had finished.

  ‘I broke my vows. The goddess has abandoned me.’

  ‘I neither condemn nor condone your actions, lady, but what I would say is that had the goddess truly abandoned you then She would not have allowed you or the rest of us to escape Ephesus. That being the case I believe that your destiny lies elsewhere and in your quest you have the blessing of the goddess.’

  She looked at me. ‘When I first heard the name King Pacorus it meant nothing to me. Many kings and nobles have visited Ephesus seeking the favour of the goddess. But none have pretended to be a slave or risked their life fighting in the arena, much less risked their life to rescue a slave from Roman bondage. And then I met you and your queen at the high priest’s house and I knew that your coming was a sign from Artemis Herself. And when word reached me that the audience in the arena was rioting and the disturbance had spread throughout Ephesus, I interpreted it as a signal that I should declare my love for Cleon who would free the goddess’ city from Roman oppression.’

  Her head dropped. ‘But the rebellion failed and many Greeks died in vain.’

  ‘And yet we lived,’ said Cleon.

  ‘Because the goddess willed it so,’ I added.

  She lifted her head. ‘You really believe that, lord king?’r />
  ‘With all my heart. And tomorrow shall be the day of our deliverance.’

  She agreed to appeal to the goddess.

  We gathered in front of the cabin as the dawn broke, the Aegean blue-grey and the sky shades of red and yellow as the sun rose slowly in the east. Hippo lit a simple white candle that she placed on the deck in front of her, raised her arms to the sky and called on Artemis to help and protect us. Her voice was strong and powerful as once again she became the High Priestess of Artemis.

  ‘Artemis we praise You, sister of bright Apollo, first-born of blessed Leto, dear child of Zeus. Fairest among maidens, You roam the wilderness; the enchanting nymphs are Your friends and companions. You take joy in wood and meadow, swift-footed one, You who loves dances and games, You who wins every race. As the wild lands are Yours, so too are the wild beasts; huntress with a bow Your skill is unsurpassed, always do your arrows find their mark. Artemis, O kindly one, You ease the sharp pains of childbirth, and You are the fiercest protector of children. O luminous goddess, we praise and honour You.

  ‘Under Your care are the creatures of the field and the forest, the sea and the sky. I pray to You, Artemis, keep safe these helpless ones who now stand before You, shield them from harm, defend them from those who would destroy them, guide them to flee and to hide from perils and foes. Goddess Artemis, I pray to You, shelter these Your servants.’

  Hippo let her arms fall, picked up the candle and blew out the flame.

  ‘It is done,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Get your arses into those boats,’ Athineos bellowed to the sailors earmarked to pull The Cretan out of the cove. Two more hauled up the anchor as the others began scrambling up the rigging on the mainsail to unfurl it. He went to the stern, patting the swan head before he grabbed the steering oars. The sailors in the boats began frantically pulling on their oars as the wind began to pick up and fill the now unfurled sails. As the sky began to change from red to yellow and the sea became a lighter hue, those of us who were not attending to maritime duties leaned on the portside gunwale and stared south to where the Roman triremes would come from. I saw nothing but a calm, empty sea but knew that the enemy ships would soon be snapping at our heels like angry wolves chasing a defenceless roe deer.

  The rowboats returned to The Cretan and were hauled aboard as a brisk northerly wind picked up and filled the sails. It felt good to have the breeze on our faces and the mood of the crew and passengers picked up markedly as the sun appeared from behind Psara’a rocky crags to turn the sea a rich blue. Athineos steered the ship away from the island and towards the north where Lemnos lay, around a hundred and fifty miles away. Athineos told me that if the wind held it would take around thirteen hours to reach the island.

  ‘That long?’

  ‘It’s a long way,’ he said, holding the steering oar. ‘But we are not carrying any cargo, which makes the old girl lighter, so we have a good chance of reaching our destination well before dark. You should get some sleep.’

  ‘I’m not tired.’

  But after an hour of the breeze in my face and the gentle rolling of the ship a great tiredness swept over me. The ship had a shift rota and several of the sailors were already lying on blankets on deck, fast asleep. Surena also had his head down, sleeping like a newborn. I stood looking down at him with Gallia beside me.

  ‘Dobbai told me that he will be remembered by future generations,’ she said. ‘It is most strange.’

  ‘I like to think that I found him in the southern marshlands, but perhaps the gods willed that I should go to the land of the Ma’adan so Surena could find me. Success seems to follow him like a loyal dog.’

  I looked at her. ‘What did Dobbai say about me?’

  ‘That you ask too many questions. Come; let us find a place where we can rest. The excitement of the last few days is catching up with me.’

  We found a quiet spot near the prow and slept on a makeshift mattress of empty sacks. It was hardly a bed fit for royalty but we slept like the dead and when we awoke several hours later I at least felt more human, albeit with aching limbs. I rose and stretched out my arms and inhaled the sea air, closing my eyes as the sun warmed my face. I looked around to see Domitus, Arminius, Drenis and Alcaeus wrapped in blankets fast asleep, and a new row of sailors taking their rest opposite them. I saw the two rowboats lashed to the deck, sailors going about their duties and Burebista chatting to Cleon. As Gallia was still sleeping I ambled over to them and enquired as to the whereabouts of Hippo and Anca.

  ‘In the cabin,’ Cleon told me, ‘resting.’

  I looked up at the billowing sails. ‘If this wind holds Athineos believes we will reach Lemnos before nightfall.’

  Burebista looked at Cleon who stared down at his boots.

  ‘You disagree?’ I said.

  Burebista looked towards the stern. ‘We might not make the island, lord.’

  I saw the burly figure of Athineos holding a steering oar and then felt a sense of dread as I spotted, in the distance, two square sails. I left them and ran past the cabin to get a closer look at the triremes, which appeared a good way off.

  ‘Made an appearance about two hours ago,’ he said nonchalantly.

  ‘Why didn’t you wake me?’

  ‘No point,’ he sniffed. ‘There is nothing you nor I can do. I got some shut-eye myself, telling my crew only to wake me if they got really close. As it is they are content to just keep us in sight. They are just using their sails, I would say.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because even Greek rowers can’t pull on their oars for twelve hours without expiring. No, they are using sail power to keep on our tail and when they get close enough they will make a sprint and catch up with us.’

  ‘We can’t outrun them?’

  He shook his head. ‘Their ships are sleeker than this old barrel and that means they cut through the water faster, even with the weight they are carrying.’

  I looked at the triremes, the eagle insignia on their mainsails clearly visible.

  ‘What would you advise?’

  ‘Get something to eat,’ he replied. ‘You will need all your strength for the fight. I hope you have enough arrows left.’

  ‘What tactics will they use?’

  ‘When they get close enough they will employ their oarsmen to provide a burst of speed that will allow them to swing out and then turn quickly to use the their bronze-covered rams to smash my hull. Then they will board us.’

  He considered for a moment. ‘Having said that, if both the triremes strike this boat at once they will probably cut her in half so we will all drown instead of being killed by the enemy’s spears and swords.’

  ‘A most heartening thought.’

  When I returned to the deck I found Gallia awake and checking her bow, which like mine was without its bowstring. I told her about the trailing Roman triremes. She appeared unsurprised.

  ‘You know the Romans as well as I do, Pacorus. They neither forgive nor forget. Did you think they would abandon their search and sail back to Ephesus?’

  ‘Athineos says that they will catch up with us eventually.’

  She pulled her dagger from her boot and examined its edges.

  ‘But not before we have Lemnos in sight, I think. And then we will turn the tables on them.’

  I looked around to ensure no one was within earshot.

  ‘You know that there are no lions on Lemnos?’

  ‘You should have more faith in Julia’s words,’ she reprimanded me. ‘She was proved right with the quiver of silver arrows, was she not?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Well, then, pray that we reach Lemnos and then our faith will be rewarded.’

  But there was a distinct absence of faith on board as the triremes got steadily closer and all on board The Cretan realised the danger we were in. We appeared to be in a trap that had no escape. If the wind dropped then the triremes could employ their oars to catch us. There was no land in sight so abandoning The Cretan was not an option. Al
l we could do was watch the triremes get steadily larger and pray that the wind continued to blow to allow us to reach Lemnos.

  A sparse meal of salted fish and rock-hard biscuits was eaten in silence and afterwards Athineos issued short swords and fishhooks to his sailors. The triremes were now perhaps two miles to the south, their oars out of the water and withdrawn about half their length into the hull. I called together my companions, minus Alcaeus who had returned to his medical duties in the hold. If anything the wind had increased in intensity, the mainsails causing the mast to creak as the air filled it. Cleon, his four remaining men, Hippo, Burebista and Anca also joined our group as I stood in the middle of it and explained our predicament. I told them that the triremes would attempt to ram us, after which The Cretan would probably break in two.

  ‘We should shoot at them from the stern of this vessel, lord,’ said Surena, ‘pick off their soldiers before they get a chance to board us.’

  ‘We would be shooting into the wind and have a limited supply of arrows,’ I replied, ‘but I agree that we should use them to kill their men before they board us.’

  ‘Then wait until after they have rammed us,’ offered Domitus. ‘After the shock you will have time to use your bows. But if this boat breaks up then they won’t board us because there won’t be anything to board.’

  ‘In which case we will need to get the rowboats in the water to save the women,’ I said. ‘Cleon and Burebista, I would ask you to get Hippo and Anca into one of those boats and ensure you and they get to Lemnos.’

  Hippo looked at Gallia.

  ‘What of your queen, King Pacorus?’

  ‘She will be staying behind with her husband to kill as many Romans as she can,’ stated Gallia flatly.

  ‘Then I too will stay,’ said Hippo, ‘the goddess will protect us.’

  ‘And neither will I abandon my husband’s side,’ said Anca defiantly.

  ‘And he will not be abandoning his lord,’ stated Burebista. ‘We are staying.’

  With nothing left to say, I descended into the hold where Alcaeus was attending his surviving patients. The compartment was hot, airless and rank with the smell of blood and sweat. Two of Athineos’ men were assisting the doctor, whose tunic was soaked with sweat. He himself looked tired.