The Winter Sniper

by James Mullins

  Constan paused again, produced a flask, took a long pull from it, and continued, “A Kentarchia consists of one hundred men, who are housed in ten whitewashed rectangular buildings. The ten men that sleep in each building form the core building block of the Kentarchia, the Kontoubernion.”

  He took another pull from his flask. Athos and Baltazar gave Constan a disapproving look. “Don’t look so shocked, lads. A man needs to continuously lubricate his pipes to keep them in good working order,” Constan chuckled at his joke.

  They marched on his silence. In time Athos’ mind started to wander once again. Luckily his mind snapped back into reality just in time as Nikas barked the halt command. Athos, Baltazar, and Constan stood at attention sweating profusely from the intensity of the sun and their recent efforts in the desert.

  Nikas paced back and forth in front of the men and yelled, “You girls look pretty beat from our little stroll in the wilderness!” He then lowered his voice, “Apparently I have been far too soft on you. I don’t understand how a little extra exercise could wear you out so much,” Nikas frowned, “What am I going to do with you sluggards?” He paused for effect and snapped his fingers, “I know! How about tomorrow we just skip all the drilling and just start with a twenty-mile stroll through the desert?” As Nikas grinned the light from the Sun created an evil gleam in his eyes.

  The men of the 2nd Kentarchia groan in response to Nikas’ pronouncement. “What, you don’t like my idea?” Nikas responded with an expression of shock on his face. The shocked look quickly turned to a grin, “Ok I hear ya, men. Since you gents don’t like the idea how about we make it twenty-five?”

  Constan stepped forward from the formation, “Permission to speak, sir?”

  “Granted,” said Nikas.

  “Sir, I think that is an excellent idea. These young pups don’t know what it was like to have to march thirty miles and fight a battle against a massive Persian host. They simply don’t know how easy they have it. I think your idea of a twenty-five-mile march through the desert is an excellent idea.”

  Nikas grinned, “See men if you had the proper amount of seasoning, like Constan here, you would see how benevolent I am, dismissed!” The men let out a sigh of relief and disappeared into their barracks.

  August 1st, 636 Arabia Province, Byzantium

  Border post

  Nasir squinted as he looked down the road. He was trying to identify a group that was approaching the border post, he commanded, through the haze induced by the intense heat of the Sun overhead. In front of him was a rutted, well-traveled road of dirt leading into the heart of Arabia. The winding rock strewn path was surrounded by cliffs on both sides and represented the only known way through the Sarat Mountains into the Roman Empire in the region.

  The border post behind him consisted of a wall across the mountain pass that stood about six feet high. The wall, crumbling in places, looked like it had been built back in the time of Emperor Trajan some five hundred years prior. A rampart about three feet high, also made from crumbling stone, allowed the soldiers to stand behind the wall and look down on whoever was on the other side. Built into the wall was a wooden door that had seen many decades of use. The merciless rays of the sun had faded the door to an almost white color.

  Behind the wall on the Roman side was the beginning of the Roman Road that stretched from this simple Arabian border post to the port city of Aqaba on the Red Sea. To the right of the road was a disintegrating building front carved into the cliff face where Nasir and his garrison of nine soldiers spent most of their time when they were not on duty. As Nasir watched the group make steady progress toward him, he thought to himself. Probably another caravan of goat herders looking to trade skins and cheese for Roman tools. He rubbed his hands together and smiled greedily at his next thought, or maybe they bring some herbs and spices from Felix Arabia. Nasir’s face held the smile at the thought. If that’s the case I’m going to need a bribe to let them into the Empire. The Emperor is not the only one who should collect a duty on such things.

  Nasir barked a command at his nine men who were all engaged in a game of dice on the ground behind the wall, “Look alive you sluggards companies coming.”

  The men stood up and helped each other put on their leather armor. Like the wooden door, the leather was cracked and faded from too much time in the Arabian Sun. Once they were finished donning their armor, they each picked up their spears and old style square shields. The shields were a haphazard mix from various units dating back to roughly the 4th Century. Faded Latin letters on the shields proclaimed the unit that they were originally used by, such as the Legio X Fretensis and Legio XII Victrix. Without a word, they took their positions on the wall trying to look intimidating.

  Nasir walked inside the gate, shut it, and barred it against the approaching caravan. He stepped up into his position just to the left of the gate and remarked, “Odd, caravans usually do not have so many people with them.”

  Piran, one of Nasir’s men, remarked, “Maybe they bring slaves for the market?” This statement elicited several lust filled noises from the other men.

  Nasir replied, “Aye, that would be good, I could use a good hump right now.”

  As the caravan drew near, Nasir noticed that many of the people kept glancing back over their shoulders with a nervous look, “I wonder what’s got them so frightened?” Nasir asked to no one in particular.

  Another of Nasir’s men, Shidfar, answered, “Perhaps they are worried about someone catching up to them?”

  Nasir pondered this answer for a moment, as he did so, the lead camel and people walking around it drew near enough for him to read their facial expressions, “Look at their faces. The lot of them look like they’ve seen a ghost, or perhaps something even worse? I’ve never seen so many terrified expressions in one place before.”

  As they approached the wall Nasir cleared his throat and then said in a loud, deep, commanding voice, “Halt. What business do you have in the Empire?”

  An older man in his mid-fifties walked to the front of the group. The keffiyeh wrapped around his head was composed of black and white squares. His flowing white robes were of an expensive cut of Egyptian cotton, “Greetings soldiers of the Empire my name is Waqi, and I speak for this group.” He gestured with both of his arms to indicate the people standing behind him.

  The group consisted of several camels whose backs appeared to hold all of the worldly possessions of the people. Many of the keffiyehs worn by the men were of different colors and patterns indicating that they were not of the same tribe. The colorful keffiyehs stood in stark contrast to their flowing white robes.

  The ladies, wives, and daughters of well to do families, wore dresses made of Egyptian cotton that were dyed festive colors. The less fortunate women from poor clans wore cheaper fabrics, such as homespun or wool. These were either an undyed dull gray color or varying shades of tan.

  Nasir responded, “Well met, Waqi. I ask you again. What business do you have in the Empire?”

  Waqi’s shoulders slumped a little, and he replied, “A horrible plague of demons has struck our homeland. We request asylum within the Empire.”

  Nasir frowned, “Entry into the Empire is not free. What do you have in payment?”

  Waqi replied, “Alas, due to the haste of our escape we were unable to bring our coin.”

  Nasir pointed at the goats, “Yet you had time to bring your livestock with you?”

  Waqi sighed audibly, “Unlike the coin, they had legs that enabled them to depart with us in haste. Though many of us will surely go hungry at such generosity, I offer you two goats for admission into the Empire. Excellent animals from the herd of a chieftain.”

  Nasir paused and looked at every member of the group. His eyes fell on a beautiful female. She had raven black hair and her dress, simple homespun, was a light grayish color. When their eyes met, she had the faintest upward curve to her lips. Was she smiling at me? Nasir wondered to himself. Her simple loose-fitting dress failed to
disguise the ample curves underneath it. I must have her. Nasir thought.

  Nasir said, “The Empire has plenty of goats. What need do we have for more? We are simple soldiers alone, and in need of warm companionship; however, our rations are simple fare so it would be nice indeed to supplement them with goat flesh. Five of the beasts should be sufficient.” Nasir then pointed at the woman, “And that woman as my slave.”

  Waqi gasped in shock at this steep price, “We are modest folk and must start over with nothing more than the clothing on our backs and what we carry with us.” He then turned and pointed at the woman, “Maarika, is like a daughter to me. As such I cannot in good conscience sell her to gain our admission. I respect the soldiers of the Empire who labor so hard to keep its borders secure. Such hard work must indeed build quite an appetite. I offer you three goats for admission into the Empire.”

  Nasir thought to himself. The old bastard probably has designs on bedding her himself. He then said, “I appreciate your generous offer; however, service is a lonely affair. We require companionship so that we may remain sharp and focus on our duties of protecting those within our borders. In the spirit of friendship and the hopes that your people can quickly become productive members of the Empire I require but two goats and the girl.” Pausing for a moment, he added, “This is my final offer. Refuse it, and you can turn around and face whatever you are running from.”

  Waqi’s eyes fell as he acknowledged defeat, “You drive a hard bargain, but I see that further argument is pointless.” He paused a moment to sigh deeply before acquiescing, “Very well I accept.”

  Nasir, now smiling, replied, “Excellent, bring forth the goats and Maarika, and we shall open our gates to you.”

  Maarika’s face went white, and she sank to her knees. Waqi walked over to her and spoke with her for a minute. Nasir could not hear the words being exchanged between the two. Maarika finally nodded, got to her feet, and walked to the gate. Waqi then picked out two goats and led them up to the gate. He handed the lead for each goat to Maarika and backed away.

  Waqi said, “Here is your price. Please open your gates to us.”

  Nasir directed his men, “Unbar and open the gate. See that the goats and the woman are secured. Then let them through.”

  The men did as Nasir bid, and the group marched through the gate. They continued on their journey without another word. Once the last of them was through the gate, Nasir’s men closed and barred it. Nasir turned and watched as Waqi’s group slowly made their way up the road toward Aqaba. When they disappeared, he turned and looked at Maarika. She stared back at him defiantly.

  Nasir walked up to her and sniffed, “You stink.” He gestured at the building, “Follow me I’ll show you where you can bathe.”

  Maarika’s defiant glare softened, and she said, “A bath? With actual water?”

  Nasir smiled at the question, “Aye, from the look of you, it’s been a long time since your last one.”

  Maarika smiled, “A bath with water is an unaffordable luxury amongst my people. It is true what they say about you Romans, rich beyond imagination.”

  Nasir chuckled, “So it would seem.”

  He led her inside the structure. The first room had nine cots in it belonging to Nasir’s men. They cots lined the stone walls five on one side, and four on the other. Underneath each cot was the worldly possessions of the bed’s owner. Each cot had a gray woolen blanket neatly folded at the foot. Several of the blankets were threadbare and had holes in them.

  The next chamber held Nasir’s bed, a chest, and a desk with a chair. The bed had a simple white linen straw-filled mattress, a red colored blanket with yellow trim, and several cushions. Several wax tablets were scattered haphazardly across the desk. The chair, while of a simple design, was made from Oak.

  No Oak tree grew within a thousand miles of this location which made it an expensive addition to the room. The sound of bubbling water could be faintly heard coming from the space beyond. Nasir lit a lamp and then led Maarika into the next room.

  The next chamber was a natural cavern. In the center of it was a small pool of water. At the far side of the basin, the water seemed to bubble up from a crack and flow into the natural bowl of the pool. The pool then emptied into a small crevice that flowed off into the darkness in a downhill direction.

  Nasir gestured at the pool, “You can wash in the pool and clean the stink out of your dress too.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the room. As he did so, he gently shut the wooden door behind him and walked out of the building.

  Nasir wandered around camp until he came upon the cook, “Oshnar, slaughter one of the goats for tonight’s dinner. I want to show our new guest a good time.”

  Oshnar nodded, “Yes boss.” The other men let out lustful sounding laughter.

  Tajvar in a teasing tone said, “You know she is our slave. You do not have to court her.”

  Nasir smiled, “True, but it’s much more satisfying to plow a soft field that willing yields to your efforts than it is to plow one that is hardened and rocky.”

  All of the men within earshot laughed at this. Nashir headed back inside and went to his room. The door to the spring room and the rest of the cavern was still closed, Good I hope she takes a good long time to get all of that grime off of her. I hate filthiness.

  He approached his bed and pulled up the mattress. He rummaged through his possession for a few moments and located what he was looking for, a bottle of wine. He blew the dust off of the bottle and set it off to the side of the closed door to the spring room.

  Nasir then laid down on his bed and shut his eyes. Falling asleep he was awoken when Maarika opened the door. As she made her way across the dim room with the lantern that Nasir had lent her, the sounds of her wet feet made slapping noises on the stone floor. She did not notice Nasir lying in bed and was startled when he spoke.

  “Much better.”

  Nasir stood up and walked over to her. He took the lantern from her hand and held it up as he walked around her and inspected, “You no longer smell like goats and camels.” he said smiling.

  Maarika grinned back at him, “Thank you, Lord, for the wondrous treat. That is more water than I have ever seen in my life. Is it common in the Empire to bathe in this way?”

  Nashir nodded, “Yes, in the larger cities, we have entire buildings dedicated to holding water to clean yourself. These structures are called bathhouses. Some of the larger pools hold a hundred times the water that my little pond holds.”

  Maarika gasped at Nashir in shock, “I cannot even imagine what so much water would look like.”

  Nasir looked down into her deep black eyes and smiled, “Care to join me for dinner?” He held out his arm to her as he finished the question. A man could get lost forever in those eyes. He thought.

  Maarika smiled again, “Yes! I haven’t eaten in days. Not since. . .” Her voice trailed off as she thought about the horrors that befell her tribe. Then she started weeping.

  Nasir stopped turned and looked down at her, “Its ok, you are safe here.” He then wrapped his arms around her in a comforting embrace as she sobbed into his shoulder.

  Nasir held her until he felt her calm, “Come let’s eat.” Maarika smiled, and they walked out of the building. As soon as they stepped outside, the amazing smell of goat meat sizzling on a spit washed over them. Both Nasir and Maarika’s mouths started watering at the delightful odor.

  Nasir paused and snapped his fingers remembering, “Wait a moment I’ll be right back.”

  He went back to his room, grabbed the bottle of wine, and two goblets and headed back outside. As he emerged back into the open-air, he held the bottle up, “Can’t have an excellent meal without something sweet to drink.”

  The two walked over to the fire pit. Oshnar greeted the pair with a smile. He was missing several of his teeth. Nasir led Maarika over to the cliff face on the other side of the fire pit. There was a large stone that jutted out of the cliff. Nasir sat down on the rock
and pointed to the other half. Maarika got the hint and sat down beside him.

  Oshnar brought over two plates. Each plate had some green vegetables that had been grown in the border post’s garden. On top of the bed of vegetables consisting of green beans, carrots, radishes, and cucumbers were several choice pieces of goat meat.

  Maarika squealed in delight, “I have never had such a feast before. I’m almost glad that bastard Waqi sold me into slavery. He was probably angry I refused to lay with him. You’ve been so nice to me today.”

  Oshnar looked at Nasir and winked, “Don’t forget about your wine boss.”

  Nasir thumped himself on the head with his hand, “Of course.” He then took out the two goblets, placed one in Maarika’s hand, and set the other on the rock where he had just been sitting. He took out the bottle, removed the cork, and filled each of their goblets.

  “To new possibilities.” They tapped the two goblets together and took a sip.

  Maarika’s face lit up, “This is amazingly good!”

  Nasir smiled, “I’m glad you like it. It’s from a region of the Empire called Cappadocia. The wines from that region are unusually sweet and flavorful.”

  The two of them ate and enjoyed their meal. Maarika spoke of her time growing up in Arabia with her tribe, and Nasir talked about growing up in Arabia Province and the circumstances that led him to join the army. They were of the same people, but two very different worlds. As the evening progressed, Maarika rested her head on Nasir’s shoulder, and he put his arm around her. Finally, Maarika stood grasped Nasir’s hand, and led him toward his room.

  When they arrived at the chamber, Nasir closed and barred the door, so that they would not be disturbed. He then retrieved another bottle of wine. They toasted their new found friendship, fell into the bed in each other’s arms, and made their connection much deeper. Nasir awoke in the middle of the night to screams and dull thumping on the door. He thought about telling them to go away but the alcohol he’d drank prevented his tongue from properly working. Giving up, he let oblivion reclaim him.