Greek Fire

by James Boschert

  “Gregaros aggalon, Sir Talon. We are here because Alexios Kalothesos sent a messenger calling upon us to come to this house. This is very unusual. Can you explain what is going on?”

  “No, I cannot at this moment, but I do know that there is danger and it is a good thing that you have come. We might need you before long. Come with your men to the house as it is there that we will have to defend ourselves if anything happens.”

  The young man nodded, clearly curious, and ordered his men to enter the compound.

  “What was going on out there when we arrived?” he asked.

  “One of the women of the family was killed out there by an assassin. The reason is unclear, but I killed him. Before he died he told me that Senator Spartenos had sent him.”

  “Dear God. You cannot be serious? Senator Spartenos, the father of Pantoleon? Are you sure?”

  “I am sure of very little right now, but I am certain of one thing and that is that this family is in danger and I am glad that you came.”

  Over the Golden Horn the lightning flashed, lighting up the roiling sea, followed by a crack of thunder.

  Damianus and Joannina had been alerted to the commotion in the street and had come out onto the steps, despite the rain, to investigate. But now they were standing, looking stunned, in the anteroom. Alexios stood next to them just as numb, leaning on his cane. Their shocked expressions told Talon that they knew of Eugenia.

  “What has happened, Sir Talon? Tell us what is going on?” Damianus demanded. His voice quavered, near to breaking. Joannina was weeping. She excused herself to attend to her daughter and hurried out, her face buried in her hands.

  The senator eyed the newcomer warily.

  “Who is this man, and what are those soldiers doing here?” Damianus demanded, as he realized that the man standing in front of him was in uniform.

  But Alexios embraced the officer, exclaiming, “You made good speed to get here when you did, Gregaros. I thank you with all my heart. You find us grief stricken at the death of my sister, dead for what reason we do not know. God protect her soul. Talon, can you help us to understand what happened?”

  “I do not know what you told the commander, Alex, but it is as though someone kicked over a hornet’s nest at the barracks and I heard what sounded like fighting at the Great Palace as we hurried over here. A large troop of Varangians went galloping by heading for the Blachernae palace as we came to the Mese. By the saints, they were in a hurry! My orders were explicit, however. Not to turn aside for anything but to come here immediately,” Gregaros said.

  “Fighting at the palace? Dear God, what is going on in this city?” Damianus exclaimed.

  “I do not know, Senator, but it is something very serious. Soon after the messenger came from your son, another arrived from the Palace telling us that an Arab fleet had been sighted only a day’s sail from the city and to prepare for a siege.”

  Everyone blinked in surprise. They moved indoors to the warmth of the dining room where there was a brazier burning. Talon was comforted with the knowledge that the alarm had been truly sounded, so he relaxed somewhat. Although, there was unfinished business to deal with.

  He told them in a few terse sentences what he thought he knew and what had transpired on the street. But their shaking heads and shocked expressions told him they could not believe him.

  “Dear Lord help me, but I cannot believe it, I will not believe it! You must be mistaken, Sir Talon. John is my friend and fellow senator. I know him well and we all knew and loved his son Pantoleon. There must be some mistake!” Damianus groaned as he put his head in his hands. “What possible reason could he have to kill my daughter?” Alexios hobbled over and helped him sit, where he stayed with his head in his hands.

  “I do not know, Sir, but I intend to find out.” Talon turned to Alexios and said, “You must put aside your grief for a little while and prepare to defend this house. Call all the servants into the main building. Gregaros will assist you, but lock all doors and be ready.”

  There was a flash of lightning over the harbor and another rumble of thunder, then the rain came down harder than ever, thrashing at the shutters and creating a light mist on the ground outside.

  Alexios stared at him as though he had just lost his mind. “What are you talking about, Talon?” he demanded.

  “Please, Alex, do this. It may be for nothing, but you must prepare. I shall be back. There is something I have to do.” Alex nodded reluctantly, but he clearly trusted Talon as he immediately began issuing urgent orders to the servants, who in turn began to run off and gather up the others. Servants were told to close the shutters on every window and the soldiers were placed at every entrance to the house.

  Before he left, Talon sought out Guy and found him and his two sailors standing guard at the doorway of a room from which could be heard the wails of grief from Eugenia’s mother and sister. The men were clearly uncomfortable with their role but he told them to stay where they were.

  “Be on your guard, Guy. Make sure the windows are locked and one of you stays inside next to them just in case; there are assassins abroad tonight. We have the soldiers here to help, but you must protect these women. Tell Alex and his father not to leave the house under any circumstance until I come back.”

  Guy gave Talon a ferocious grin and said, “We will be here, Talon.” They clasped hands and he disappeared.

  *****

  Alexios and Gregaros rapidly organized the servants and the soldiers into well armed groups and placed them strategically around the interior of the main villa. Alexios made sure that his parents and his sister were well protected by asking Gregaros to provide a couple of extra men to support Guy. He was impressed and not a little startled when Guy gave him a grin like a troll and told him respectfully that Talon had ordered him to protect the women. After that Alex was able to concentrate his attention on the pressing matter of what he might be defending against and trying to guess how to counter whatever it might be. He and Gregaros were seated in the main dining room with a couple of oil lamps for light when Theodora walked in. Guy was with her acting as her bodyguard. He shrugged when he saw them.

  “I could not stop her so I am with her,” he said in broken Greek.

  Theodora was still in her damp tunic, her face was streaked with dried tears and her eyes red from crying; her hair was tousled and she looked very fragile. She almost threw herself into Alexios’ arms and began to weep again, her head buried in against his tunic.

  “Oh, Alex, what has happened? Why did someone want to kill her?” she sobbed some more while he patted her on her shaking shoulders, unmindful of the tears that were wetting his tunic. He held her close and whispered to her. “We will find out, my little sister. We shall be avenged for this. Before God I swear it.”

  She said something that was muffled and shivered. He reached for his cloak, which was lying near to hand and pulled it around her shoulders.

  “What did you say, my Theo?” he asked.

  “I asked, where was Talon? I have not seen him since he was fighting with that…that…assassin on the street.”

  Alexios looked up at Guy, who shrugged and opened his hands. “He is gone, Sir. That is his way. He does not say anything. But he will be back, of that I am sure. I saw how he dealt with the man who killed…er... your sister, God preserve her soul. He took his bow, I know that much. None of us know him well, but we all trust him.”

  Not for the first time Alexios contemplated this man who, along with the other rough companions Talon had accumulated, had a frightening aspect to him; but the most terrifying thing, he realized, was that Talon, who did not seem to be, was indeed the most dangerous of them all. He was glad that these people were on his side this night.

  Theodora sat up sharply. “I know where he is gone to! Oh God, but they will kill him this time! They will be waiting for him!” she cried.

  “Calm yourself, little sister,” Alexios said gently, holding onto her. “Where has Talon gone?”

  �
��I shall tell you, brother. When he was here the last time those weeks ago he…he was bleeding. It was late and I was um…reading in the library room, as I could not sleep. He came into the room and pretended that he was all right but he wasn’t, as I noticed that someone had cut him on the side. There was blood all over his side.”

  “How come we know nothing of this?” Alex demanded.

  “Because he made me swear that I would tell no one,” she hiccuped.

  “You had better tell me all you know,” Alexios said, and his tone was ominous.

  “I noticed the blood and asked him what had happened, but he told me that he had been attacked by footpads. I helped him dress the wound and then he went to bed, as did I later.”

  “Perhaps he was attacked. I know he can look after himself,” Alexios said, but he sounded uncertain.

  “I almost believed him, but the very next morning Senator Spartenos came to visit.”

  Alexios gave a start and exchanged glances with Gregaros. They both looked grim. “Go on, little sister. We are listening,” he said.

  “Well, it wasn’t just a social visit, and in any case the senator does not really like Papa, as you well know; I cannot remember the last time he came over to visit, although his wife Constance does sometimes.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “He was oily nice. I never did like him much nor that prig of his son.” She sniffed, and Gregaros had to put a hand over his mouth and look away to hide a grin.

  “Theodora, please stick to the point,” her brother admonished her.

  Thunder rumbled overhead and lightning lit up the gardens. The hiss of rain muted other sounds and the brazier that had been burning brightly earlier had almost gone out. Guy sensed what Alexios was thinking and went over to throw a log on the embers. The fire brightened and drove back the shadows that had darkened the room.

  Theodora continued. “Yes, well, he kept asking questions, about whether we or the house guards had seen an intruder coming over the wall into our compound. Of course, Mamma and I did not know anything, nor did the guards, who denied ever seeing or hearing anything. But he insisted that his dogs had found blood at the base of our walls. He told us that there had been a disturbance in his compound and that his men had wounded an intruder who had tried to get into his house.”

  “You think it might have been Talon?” Alexios asked aghast.

  “Do not you see? That very night Talon came in with a cut to his side. I am sure it was he, although I have little understanding as to why. He did mention the words Greek Fire and asked me about it, but nothing more. I didn’t know what he was talking about in any case.”

  She stopped and wiped her nose with a cloth that lay on the table, but the tears came again.

  “He killed that…that monster who killed Eugenia, and before the assassin died he told Talon something, and now Talon is back there. I am sure of it! We have to help him!” she wailed.

  “There, there! Stop crying, my dearest!” Joannina swept into the room followed by the two sailors, who hurried after her then joined Guy near the brazier. Her face was puffed with weeping and her lovely eyes were red, but she looked determined to be brave and took the girl onto her lap and held her like a child, rocking her in a chair next to Alexios.

  “What have you been talking about, Alex?” she asked, looking at him reproachfully over her daughter’s head.

  “She is telling us of the visit by the senator, Mamma,” Alexios said, “but there is something you do not know. It is about Talon.”

  At that moment they heard a commotion outside. There were shouts and the clash of weapons. Alexios and Gregaros started up.

  “You must go and deal with this, my friend. Sir Talon must have been right. I shall stay with my family. God go with you.” Alexios’ sword rasped as he drew it. He turned to Guy. “Do you know where my father is? Please have John bring him here as fast as you can.”

  Guy hurried off, while the men who had been with him moved closer to stand next to Joannina and Theodora. Gregaros drew his sword and ran out to join his men.

  *****

  Talon was glad of the rain and darkness as he slipped over the by now familiar wall near to the postern gate. No one stirred in the garden as he dropped onto the soft earth behind the bushes. He listened carefully for any indication that the dogs might be abroad, but so far nothing. He assumed that the guards might well be taking shelter from this unpleasant weather.

  He watched the house, looking for any indication that there might be more activity than normal, but it was dark and very quiet. He began to head for the house when he sensed a movement off to his right. In an instant he had vanished into a dark group of bushes. He peered out in the direction of the noise. A flash of lightning over the Golden Horn briefly illuminated the garden, and he saw a man huddled in the shelter of the arch into which was set the postern gate. The man was peering in his direction as though he sensed something. Very slowly Talon stood up and notched an arrow. It sped true, hitting the man, who died with only a low grunt, falling out of sight at the base of the door.

  Talon turned to leave, but then he knew with absolute certainty that a dog was rushing at him from the house. He caught a glimpse of the large shadow as it ran into the bushes about fifty paces away, silently speeding directly towards him. He dropped his bow and settled his sword in his two hands, its point facing the area where the animal might attack from. He did not have long to wait. Within moments the huge animal burst out of the bushes in a spray of water to leap at him, going for his throat.

  Talon knew that he had a split second and thrust sharply forward at the huge black form diving at him. His sword met flesh and penetrated; he rammed it forward even as the huge jaws of the animal snapped within inches of his own throat. His sword went deep, almost to the hilt as it penetrated the chest cavity of the dog, which now dragged him down as it fell. Fearful of the noise it might make Talon drew his dagger and finished the twitching creature off before it could do much more than make some broken grunts and a low choking sound of agony.

  He rose to his feet, panting, to again watch and listen for any more danger. Picking up his bow and slipping it over his shoulder and holding his sword in front of him he moved very cautiously away from the area of the gate and slipped though the bushes and under the low trees to arrive just in front of the loggia of the huge building. In the darkness he could only see the dim light of oil lamps in one or two of the rooms on the ground floor and one on the second floor. There did not seem to be much activity going on and he wondered if he might have been wrong all along.

  But then he saw the movement of another dark figure standing in the deeper shadows of the loggia. The man came to the balustrade and gazed over to the place where the dog had encountered Talon. The figure was obviously concerned and Talon reasoned he had loosed the dog to go and investigate something the animal had sensed. The sentry gave a low call and then whistled.

  The man never knew what hit him. The arrow went into his neck, quickly followed by another that struck his chest with an audible thump. The man doubled forward and toppled over the low railing into the bushes, where his body lay there inert. Talon heard an urgent call from along the loggia and another guard ran down its length, no longer trying to remain silent. He called out a name. When there was no response the figure leaned over the railings nearer to where Talon hid and stared out across the garden. A flash of lightning lit up the trees, followed by a loud crack of thunder, and the rain hissed, obscuring the far end of the compound.

  Talon slipped behind him and thrust his dagger deep into the man’s middle back, just to the left of center. He held the body as it slumped and then allowed it to fall over the rails to join his companion in the bushes. Talon looked around and wondered how many more sentries there might be. He decided to get onto the second floor. He heaved himself up to the supporting beams and then eased himself onto the tiles of the roof. To his consternation he found that the tiles were loose in places so it took a great deal of care to move up the slopi
ng roof without slipping on the wet tiles, to arrive at the closed shutters of the nearest window.

  Then he heard a commotion below him on the loggia. Someone shouted and there was the sound of running feet as the alarm was raised. He guessed that another alert guard had discovered the bodies of his companions. Using his dagger to prize open the shutters, he hurriedly entered the room on the second floor. He made sure that the shutters were closed again and then crouched, listening to the sudden increase of activity taking place below. He could hear shouts and running feet, then doors were opened and slammed and more running feet, now with female voices crying out in fearful tones adding to the commotion.

  Talon guessed that it would be only a matter of time before someone came up the stairs to investigate. He slipped out of the room and went to the stairwell to listen and see what he could. The ground floor was a blaze of light and hurried footsteps told him that the staff was now wide awake. His work was going to become much harder. He made his way cautiously down the stairs and then hid behind a thick drape that covered the opening to a small archway. No one came by so he listened carefully and made out the sound of voices raised down a corridor he could see to his left. There was a guard standing in front of one of the doors further down the hallway. The guard was facing forward and alert. Talon drew his bow and stepped into the middle of the corridor. The guard must have sensed something at the last moment, for he turned to see the dark apparition lit from behind and the arrow already speeding toward him. He had no more time than to give a cry of terror before the arrow embedded itself in his breast. He fell without another sound, but his shield and spear fell with a clatter. Talon was already racing down to reach the body as the door opened. Without stopping Talon hammered against the door with his shoulder, knocking someone backwards.

  As he crashed through the entrance Talon noticed the shocked face of a servant who had fallen to the floor and was now holding his nose and staring at him with stark fear in his eyes. Leaning over the man Talon seized his shoulder to stop him moving then hammered the pommel of his sword down onto the top of his head, sending the servant sprawling unconscious.