The boy replied looking a little put out that Balthazar could see him as anything less. With a glint in his eye Balthazar pondered for a while as he stroked his chin between thumb and index finger of his left hand. When he finally came to a decision he clapped his hands in glee and said,
“Well I stand corrected my young prince, perhaps I should stop calling you that and call you king instead?”
Balthazar dropped to both knees as he spoke and pressed his forehead to the ground in complete genuflection.
“That’s enough from you two, I have work to conclude before we can all set sail so be off with the both of you.”
Chided Joseph trying to look annoyed but it did not show.
Balthazar stood up looking confused and said,
“You mean he’s coming with us on the voyage?”
“Oh I’m sorry I forgot to explain, I promised my sister as soon as our young prince entered his thirteenth year I would take him on our longest voyage to the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire and educate him in the ways and cultures of other lands and their people.”
Joseph replied but before he could say anything else, Balthazar had picked up his precious cargo under one arm and ran out through the door heading to the dockside leaving Joseph to finalise his instructions.
“Hurry up Hajer; we are going to miss the boat.”
Called a shrill voice from the courtyard as Psyom stood waiting in the glare of the morning sun.
“I’m coming my dear, I was just paying for the nights lodging, and you know I always pay my debts.”
Hajer emerged through the hotel doorway hastily hiding his purse in the folds of his toga and tapping the toe end of his sandal, trying to dislodge a stone from under his foot. Psyom had already sent the small caravan of porters carrying all their belongings on ahead to load onto the ship that was to take them to their destination in Albion.
“Hurry, you are falling behind.”
Psyom said as she stepped up her walking pace to catch up with the caravan, which was almost out of sight.
“Where’s Toomak, I thought she was with you?”
Asked Hajer as he hopped along trying to replace his sandal, which had now slipped completely from his foot.
“She’s with Feriluc leading the porters to the boat which we are about to miss so come on!”
Hajer and Psyom quickly caught up with the caravan and were directing proceedings at the dockside when Balthazar, still carrying his ‘young prince’ came bounding out of an alleyway running straight into the head porter who went sprawling over. He dropped the chest that he was carrying which split open spilling Psyom’s finest clothing across the dockside for all to see.
“You clumsy oaf, what do you think you’re doing running about like that, someone could have been hurt.”
Psyom yelled; as she attempted to strike Balthazar across the head while he knelt down to gather Psyom’s belongings. With the reactions of a cat, honed from years in the gladiatorial arena Balthazar grabbed her wrist in mid-flight and stood up to his full height, still holding tight to her arm. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the situation.
“Let go of me you great lump, how dare a slave like you touch a woman of my importance. I’ll have you flogged. Now let me go.”
Balthazar slowly released his vice like grip and Psyom snatched her arm away, theatrically massaging her wrist even though there was no mark. Balthazar in spite of his immense strength had gripped her as gentle as a kitten without allowing release. The veins of his temples stood out and beat to the rhythm of his heartbeat as he fought to keep his temper in check from Psyom’s insult. Undeterred Psyom attempted to barge Balthazar out of the way only to bounce back into the arms of Joseph who had just arrived after finalising his work and headed for the ship. As Psyom tore herself away from Joseph’s hold, she screamed, first pointing to Joseph and then to Balthazar,
“I don’t know who you are but get your hands off me and you! Get out of my way.”
Balthazar seeing the funny side stepped sideways and bowed deeply as Psyom stormed passed him and to his surprise headed straight up the gangplank of his ship hastily followed by her porters and family bringing up the rear. Balthazar stood open mouthed and furious at the invasion of his territory, turned to chase after them only to be held back by Joseph,
“Wait a moment, before you get into any more trouble, they have just been added to the passenger list, and I haven’t had time to tell you.”
Balthazar stopped, raised himself up to his full height, puffed out his chest and looked down his nose as he towered menacingly over Joseph.
“I am not having that woman on board my ship.”
He growled, panting as he tried to keep his rage under control. Joseph took a small step back, well aware of Balthazar’s temper and tried to think quickly to diffuse his anger.
“Strictly speaking it’s my ship but I’m not going to argue about it now, tell you what I will double your usual commission for this voyage as they have paid very handsomely and requested your ship personally as the safest in all the fleet.”
The red mist cleared quickly from Balthazar’s eyes at the flattery and the thought of extra income, he knew very well that one day he would be too old to work and had been saving all he could for that fateful day. In addition, his pride at never losing a passenger during all his years as captain was unequalled and Joseph used this fact to his advantage. With a deep breath, Balthazar loosened his anger and mumbled his reply.
“I’ll go and make sure everything is well for the voyage.”
He turned and walked away leaving a relieved Joseph shaking his head and smiling to himself at the bizarre situation.
On board the ship, Balthazar kept his distance, staying in his quarters and leaving his second in command to settle in the late arrivals, which was no mean feat. Psyom complained about everything from the size of their rooms to her insistence that her own cook would supervise all her meals. Her husband on the other hand was very easy going and gracious to a fault, apologising constantly, in particular for the inconvenience caused by Psyom’s ten servants cluttering up the deck. Another worry for Psyom was the length of the voyage. He had so far kept his fear of travelling on water in check over the relatively calm waters of the Mediterranean, but the thought of the ship passing through the gates of Hercules for the open ocean terrified him.
Joseph finalised any outstanding duties and was the last on board to join his nephew who was standing next to Balthazar with his arms folded across his chest, copying his godfather’s pose as he stood in command of this truly impressive ship. At over forty meters in length and fifteen meters at its widest part, with three masts and a re-enforced hull, the huge ship cut an incredible sight. It required two huge tillers that looked like narrow winged protrusions, supported on a pivot that passed backwards through either side of the bulwark at an angle of forty-five degrees and then plunge into the water where the wood flattened out into a massive paddle. Steering is facilitated by holding onto the clavus handle bar attached at right angles to the upper end of each tiller allowing the helmsman to gently propel or alter the ship’s course with the minimum of effort.
One such helmsman is Icarus, a wizened old superstitious sea dog who stood grumbling under his breath until he caught Balthazar’s ear.
“I got a bad feeling about this trip Cap’n, you should never allow a woman like that on board and we got two if you include the girl and did you see, she got flame hair, I don’t like it I don’t like it at all.”
“I think you’re turning into an old woman Icarus. That bad feeling in your gut is probably all that beer you drank last night, celebrating your birthday.”
Balthazar chided, dismissing the old man’s superstitious tales of woe but deep down inside he felt exactly the same.
With everything on board the vast ship, dock workers unhitched the mooring ropes and armed with long poles carefully pushed the huge craft away from the dockside. With the aid of the tillers gently propelling the
ship through the water, Balthazar expertly navigated along the busy shipping lanes through the harbour entrance. Clear of any obstacle, crewmen unfurled the sails and they quickly blossomed to the rush of the wind and the ship soon disappeared over the horizon.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Balthazar prowled along the deck smarting at the way Joseph had outwitted him at the dockside into allowing that evil woman Psyom and her family on board. The rest of the crew recognised his brooding scowl and kept their heads down, working twice as hard when he walked by. The only person oblivious of this was Joseph’s nephew Yeshua who followed Balthazar practically everywhere observing his actions in hero worship.
“Perhaps you would like to introduce yourself to the daughter of that Psyom woman; I think her name is Toomak.”
Balthazar suggested to Yeshua, as he grew weary of the endless questions and just need some time to be alone. Yeshua, looking rejected dropped his shoulders, turned around and looking at his feet sauntered back the way he came leaving Balthazar feeling guilty on top of all his other emotions.
Yeshua went to find Joseph but he was busy with his paper work, so he found himself bored and alone in his bunk when he heard a commotion on deck and ran up the ladder to see Psyom clutching Toomak close to her body defending her against Icarus who looked in a state of upset.
“Don’t you ever touch my daughter again you filthy little man.”
Psyom screamed, pointing an accusing finger at Icarus’ face. Icarus stood his ground but said nothing as he saw from the corner of his eye, Joseph swiftly approaching.
“What seem to be the problem here?”
Joseph asked Icarus but before he could reply Psyom began her rant about how Icarus had molested her daughter as she stood alone at the handrail of the deck. Joseph eventually managed to quieten Psyom down allowing Icarus to tell his side of the story. Wiping spittle from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and not enjoying at all being the centre of attention he began.
“It was like this boss, she had a handful of round black stones that she poured from a pouch in her hand and was about to throw them into the sea. So I grabbed her wrist to stop her and tried to explain that it will bring death to the ship if she does and she just laughed. That’s when her mother hit me over the back of the head and accused me of touching her funny like. You know it ‘aint true don’t ya boss?”
Icarus looked embarrassed and upset, dreading the thought of Joseph dismissing him from his service and offloading him at the next port. Getting another job would be very unlikely as sailing was mainly a young man’s game and his advancing years would seal his fate.
Joseph tried to explain to Psyom about the superstitious nature of sailors and throwing a stone into the sea from the deck is one of them, believing death will soon follow.
“I am sure Icarus in no way intended to hurt your daughter and will apologise, won’t you Icarus?”
Joseph said to Psyom, turning his head to Icarus as he finished the sentence.
“I didn’t mean to hurt the young lady, I’m very sorry.”
Icarus replied, feeling very sheepish amongst the crowd that had gathered to watch.
“I want him flogged.”
Psyom demanded, stunning Joseph who was at a loss for words.
“There will be no flogging aboard my ship, away with all of you, including you Icarus.”
Boomed Balthazar as he pushed his way through the crowd. Icarus did not need to be told twice and left the scene as fast as he could.
“Are you letting your slaves tell you what to do now?”
Psyom accused Joseph as she still held Toomak tightly to her bosom. Joseph expected Balthazar to explode with rage but he remained surprisingly quiet, his gaze was taken by Yeshua who stood behind Psyom pleading silently to Balthazar to remain calm.
“I don’t think you two have been properly introduced, Madam Psyom, this is Balthazar, not a slave but the captain of this fine vessel and a personal friend of mine. Balthazar this is Madam Psyom, wife of Hajer, fellow trader, heading for Britannia.”
Balthazar nodded politely but Psyom huffed indignantly as Joseph continued.
“Even though I own this vessel, Captain Balthazar has complete autonomy onboard and his decision is final. I hope I make myself clear on the matter.”
Psyom glared at Joseph and yielded to the tightening grip of her husband’s hand on her shoulder but not before adding a few choice words.
“It is obvious that I am powerless in this matter but I do question the type of people that you place in positions of authority. I will therefore in future direct all my correspondence with the owner of this vessel not his performing ape.”
On that statement, Psyom sneered as she turned and walked away leaving Joseph to stop Balthazar chasing after her and throwing her overboard.
Everyone dispersed except Yeshua, who standing alone spied something glinting under the rigging on the deck. He crouched down and picked up a palm sized amulet on a broken chain. Holding it up to the light he marvelled at the way the sunlight shone through the emerald mounted in the centre when it was snatched away by the daughter of Psyom who had returned to the deck to look for her lost possession.
“What do you think you’re doing? I found it first.”
Yeshua snapped as he watched Toomak repair the chain and place the amulet back around her neck.
“It’s not yours it’s mine; the chain must have broken when that dirty old man tried to grab me.”
She replied as she closely examined the amulet for signs of damage. Yeshua conceded possession but leaped to the defence of Icarus.
“He wouldn’t hurt anyone and I think that you know that don’t you.”
Toomak remained silent while she finished the examination and when satisfied there was no damage looked Yeshua coldly in the eye as she removed the pouch that hung from her waist and tipped one of the five black stones into her empty hand. Before Yeshua could stop her, she ran to the rail and hurled the stone into the sea while whispering something under her breath. As the stone plopped into the surf Yeshua watched fascinated as the surrounding water fizzed and bubbled and he was sure he saw a skeletal hand rise up holding the pebble in its bony fingers then suddenly disappear back under the waves. Before he could turn and question Toomak about this, an intense searing pain gripped his chest and he fell to his knees. It coursed rapidly through his body, instantly stopping his breath. Yeshua fell heavily onto his side, curled up into a foetal position, and twitched with terror. He watched through blurring vision the sight of Toomak laughing at his pain, completely unwilling to seek help. She held the amulet tightly in both hands as she continued her chant and her eyes widened in anticipation at his worsening plight. His lips turned blue from the lack of oxygen and as the convulsions increased a blood vessel burst in the back of his nasal passage spraying his chin and his tunic with a crimson mist. Yeshua’s heart pounded in his ears, trying to keep his body alive as he gasped for air. The very last thing he observed was the emerald centre of the amulet glowing brighter then dim, pulsing with the rhythm of his heartbeat as everything went dark.
An hour later, Yeshua woke up in his bunk to see his uncle Joseph and Balthazar looking anxiously down at him. Someone had placed a cold damp rag across his forehead, which slipped away as Yeshua attempted to sit up only for Balthazar to force him back down, insisting that he rested.
“You took a nasty turn their young prince; you probably haven’t got your sea legs just yet. Rest the night and I promise you will be better tomorrow.”
Balthazar ordered, and as Yeshua, lay back down in his bunk and let Joseph fuss about him, Balthazar stepped away, leaving the room to attend to his duties.
“Is Toomak a shaman?”
Yeshua asked over the top of Joseph’s inane babble as they were left alone. Joseph stopped in mid-sentence and he paused for a second before continuing as if Yeshua had not spoken so Yeshua tried to repeat,
“I said is Toomak a”
Joseph interrupte
d.
“I heard you the first time and if you talk like that up on deck we’ll soon have a mutiny on our hands.”
He snapped, a little more angrily than he meant to, leaving poor Yeshua stunned and very confused. Joseph continued,
“It’s obvious you have a mild ague and need more rest, I’ll come back later with some food and I do not want any more of this dangerous talk, do I make myself clear?”
Yeshua glared then turned his back gruffly on Joseph allowing him to leave without any further argument.
Out in the walkway as Joseph tried to climb the ladder to the deck, Balthazar appeared from nowhere, dragged Joseph into his quarters and said,
“We have a huge problem sir; some of the crew saw what happened and by now the rest will know as well, what are we going to do?”
Joseph looked very serious as he deliberated over the right course of action, which Balthazar hindered by tapping the floor anxiously with his foot while he waited for an answer. Finally Joseph came to a decision and said,
“We will have to tell the crew that they were just play acting and when Yeshua fell to the floor he banged his head, knocking himself out and that’s all there is to it.”
Balthazar scowled at the flimsy explanation but he was at a loss for a better one so he agreed and went off to tell the crew. On the way, he made a personal decision that if anything else untoward happened regarding Psyom or her devil child that he would find the nearest port and personally remove them from his ship whatever the cost.
None of the crew really believed Balthazar’s explanation but out of respect and a great deal of fear of their captain, not a single rebuke was uttered leaving the subject closed.
“Right back to work you lazy dogs.”
Balthazar ordered, leaving him alone to ponder if any one of them believed a single word he said, or would this type of evil surface again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
That night the trade winds dropped and a heavy fog descended, shrouding the ship making it impossible to navigate. There was nothing anyone could do and with the sails hanging listless the ship bobbed aimlessly on the sea. Balthazar, wary of running aground, ordered constant depth readings to avoid drifting into reefs and shallow water. This was achieved with a length of thin rope that was weighted at one end and lowered over the side. Knots had been previously tied equidistantly along its length one fathom apart and when the weight hit rocks or the sea bed it allowed the user to accurately measure the waters depth thus keeping the ship from danger.
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