Bloody Water (Clay Warrior Stories Book 3)

by J. Clifton Slater

  But the charging Legionary stopped at three steps and a shuffle from the knifepoint. The knifeman thrust the knife forward to close the distance. He got agitated when the hand holding the knife flared off to the side. When he pulled back his wrist, the stranger’s wrist stayed attached to it. Jerking his arm up to disengage, the hand holding the knife, aided by pressure from the strangers’ hand, rose too fast and traveled too far. The knifeman had to rock his head to the side so the blade only nipped his ear.

  Alerio had the knifeman’s right arm up and out of the way. Just as he made a fist with his left hand preparing to drive it into the sailor’s ribs, the knifeman collapsed. The blunt end of a herder’s club withdrew over Alerio’s shoulder. Turning to see who knocked out the sailor, Alerio came face-to-face with a handsome woman.

  She was tall, with a cascading mane of wild black hair framing her face. But it wasn’t the height, or the hair that fixed him in place. It was the gold flecks in her brown eyes and the challenge in her stare.

  “Out,” she ordered. “No fighting inside.”

  Alerio’s sense of what a fight was or wasn’t didn’t match the situation. So, he laughed. Her eyes narrowed and the herder’s club rose from alongside her long leg. He didn’t mean to look that closely, but her leather pants did nothing to hide her shape.

  The shift from facing a knife brandishing sailor to facing a beautiful woman armed with a club was too much. Alerio doubled over with laughter while holding out a hand to stop her from hitting him with the club.

  “Out,” she insisted while pointing the weapon at the doorway.

  From across the room a familiar voice called out, “Need help Marija.”

  “No. Hyllus and I have it under control,” she replied to Corporal Cephas. Then to Alerio ordered, “Get out, now.”

  Corporal Cephas had just walked into the triclinium. Flanking him were two armored Legionaries. The three didn’t look pleased to see a Legionary facing off against Marija.

  Alerio, from past experience, knew nothing good could result from confronting someone in a dinner. Pulling out a few coins, he dropped them on the table and headed for the door. Corporal Cephas’ face was screwed down in an unpleasant expression and he didn’t acknowledge Alerio’s nod. As Alerio approached the threshold, the giant came in from the porch. He noticed Alerio heading for the door.

  “You. Finish your food,” ordered the big man.

  “The lady said to get out,” Alerio explained.

  “Woman. See this?” the giant asked while raising his arms to shoulder level and turning in a full circle.

  “See what, Hyllus?” she asked curtly. Despite the short question, her face softened and the scowl lifted.

  “No knife hole,” he said lowering one arm and drooping it over Alerio’s shoulder. “If it wasn’t for him, there would be a hole. Or, a couple of holes. Did you see any?”

  “No, I don’t see any holes but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t install a few myself,” she replied. “All right, he can stay.”

  She made the pronouncement, marched to the back of the dining room, and disappeared through a rear door.

  “Hyllus,” the big man said to Alerio. “That’s my woman Marija. We own this fine establishment.”

  “Lance Corporal Alerio Sisera,” said Alerio. “I’ve just reported to Bovesia garrison and stopped in for a bite. I can leave if it’s going to cause a problem.”

  “Marija, you barbarian of a Macedonian, can the little guy stay?” shouted Hyllus.

  Alerio had been called a lot of things over the years, but little wasn’t one of them. However, after craning his neck to look up at Hyllus, he decided most people were little in comparison to the giant.

  “Oh, he can stay you sweet talking Athenian. But you should take the next boat back to Greece,” Marija bellowed from the back room. “Or, you can stop hanging around like a King holding court, and come back here and help me move this kettle.”

  “Duty calls. Go eat Lance Corporal,” Hyllus said as he ambled toward the rear. “I’ll bring you a honey cake for dessert.”

  Chapter 22 – Beaching Fees

  Alerio had just taken a bite of lamb when Cephas and the two Legionaries approached his table.

  “Good afternoon, Corporal,” Alerio said in greeting. “You missed the excitement.”

  “Seeing you squared off with Marija was more excitement than I needed,” Cephas said. “I was afraid you’d messed me up.”

  “How so?” asked Alerio.

  “There are two other tricliniums in Bovesia. One is a glorified gambling hall, and the other is a favorite of oarsmen who like to wrestle,” explained Cephas. “The Columnae Herculis is quiet and peaceful thanks to Marija and Hyllus.”

  “I can see the giant keeping everything orderly,” admitted Alerio.

  “Oh, he’s tough enough but his wife is the dangerous one,” said Cephas to a surprised Alerio. “I supposed you noticed the club and the leather pants? But did you pay attention to the short sword on her left hip? Most men miss that until it’s buried in their guts.”

  “Never saw it,” admitted Alerio. “I was too busy laughing.”

  “Anyway, I use their dining room to meet with ship’s captains and collect beaching fees,” said Cephas. “They don’t mind coming in here. Although they do mind paying the Republic’s fees for stopping at Bovesia.”

  “Why would they pay?” asked Alerio. “They could pull into any inlet.”

  “Legion protection while docked,” explained Cephas. “The beach, this town and the supplies are guarded by us. Without the Republic, pirates would take over within a week.”

  “Sounds noble,” Alerio ventured. “You know, keeping the trade routes safe.”

  “I never thought of it like that,” admitted Cephas. “Ah, my first merchant captain of the afternoon. Enjoy your meal.”

  While the Corporal, followed by his Legionaries, made for a table in the corner to collect a fee, Alerio looked down at his cold lamb and vegetables. He shoved the platter away. A glance showed him the triclinium was mostly empty, but the party on the porch was going strong. He was about to stand when two shadows fell across his table.

  “Lance Corporal Sisera. This is my woman, Marija,” Hyllus said.

  The big man placed a plate holding a slice of honey cake on the table as well as three mugs of ale. Then, the big man pulled two chairs from the adjacent table and held one for Marija.

  “I’m perfectly capable of getting my own chair,” she complained but the tone didn’t match the smile she flashed at the giant.

  “Of course, you are, my sweet,” Hyllus assured her as he sat in the other chair and picked up a mug. “To my savior.”

  “I thought you were with the sailors. When I came out of the kitchen it appeared you had a falling out with your crewmen and started a fight,” Marija said while reaching out and laying a hand on the big guy’s arm. “Hyllus explained that you came to his rescue. Thank you.”

  “Not much of a rescue; he had them handled. I just detoured the knifeman,” Alerio stated. Then he asked, “You two aren’t from Republic territories. Where are you from?”

  Chapter 23 – Divisive Politics and True Love

  “I was an oarsman on a Greek ship,” Hyllus started to explain when Marija interrupted.

  “Don’t be humble. He was first oar on an Athenian Navarch’s trireme,” she stated with pride. “I have all his medals and trophies in a trunk in the back. Go ahead, love.”

  The big man waited a heartbeat to be sure she was finished before continuing.

  “The Macedonians launched a fleet of warships and military transports,” Hyllus said. “The army was bound for the coast between Thebes and Athens. The plan was to march on Athens from the backside of our defenses. But we discovered their plans and our fleet met them in the Aegean. By nightfall, their transports had turned back. Their fleet stayed to cover the retreat. During the naval battle, we captured the Macedonian General and their Navarch.”

  “Hyllus. Please,�
� Marija said in exasperation.

  “All right. As first oar, once the ship-to-ship fighting started, I grabbed my shield and sword,” the big man said haltingly as if speaking about himself was difficult. “I boarded the Macedonian flag ship and joined in the hand-to-hand fighting. I was swinging and blocking from behind my shield when all of a sudden, it ended. Somehow, I was in the lead. As the first fighter in the rank, the Macedonian General and Navarch surrendered to me. The rest of their fleet fled.”

  “We floated around for two days to be sure their fleet didn’t come back,” explained Hyllus. “On the second day, a single Macedonian bireme rowed between our picket line. It seemed their King wanted his commanders back. My Navarch thought it would be fun to sail into their harbor and deliver them personally. So, we rowed in and my commanders left the ship to personally escort the Macedonians to their King. A squad of our soldiers were on the docks guarding the approach. I had nothing to do, so I grabbed a block of wood, my best knife, and I sat with them while I carved. Then the most beautiful women in the world danced onto the pier.”

  Marija tossed her head back and full belly, open-mouthed laugh.

  “I wasn’t dancing. I was challenging the Athenians to come forward and fight,” she stated. “There they were, bronzed helmets and shields on my pier, on my ground, on Macedonian soil. I was prepared to push them into the sea or die trying.”

  “You were going to fight men in armor holding shields?” asked Alerio.

  “I had my spear and my sword, so yes, I was prepared to fight,” Marija stated. “My family are Macedonian nobles and warriors. While other girls learned sewing, I practiced with the sword and spear. The very thought of an Athenian ship at my dock was infuriating. I was about to attack when my father’s personal guard arrived and held me back. While I argued and begged them to join me in the attack, this huge, half naked Greek steps from behind the soldiers. He struts up to me and hands me a carved piece of wood.”

  Marija stopped talking and turned to gaze at Hyllus with adoration. The giant returned the look. They stared long enough for Alerio to feel he was intruding on a private moment. Finally, they broke eye contact, and Marija’s attention returned to Alerio.

  “The nerve of this Greek to approach me and hand me a piece of wood. I had my arm cocked ready to toss it into the sea,” she explained. “Before could I launch it, the Captain of my father’s guard stopped me. Look, he said, it’s you. I peered at the block. Carved into it was the likeness of a wild haired women with a face I recognized. My face.”

  “I let my father’s guards guide me away. As darkness fell, I slipped back to the docks,” Marija explained. “The soldiers wouldn’t tell me who the big man was who carved so delicately in wood. It wasn’t until I began to yell at the Athenian ship that Hyllus reappeared.”

  “She was screaming something about wanting to see the savage who carved her image,” Hyllus said. “No one could get any sleep, so I went down to face the Macedonian banshee. I figured she assumed I’d captured her soul in the wood or some other mystical thing. I didn’t take my sword and shield although a few soldiers suggested it.”

  “So, there I was on the dock yelling over the armored line of men when he came strolling down the ramp,” Marija said. “I didn’t have my sword out so I don’t know why he stayed behind the soldiers. I held out the carving and demanded to know where he’d seen me before. It was too fine and couldn’t have been done in the short time I was at the pier. He insisted he did the carving while I was there and claimed he’d never seen me before. I challenged him to prove it.”

  “She didn’t have a blade out, so I pushed through the guard line, and showed her my carving knife,” Hyllus said. “We walked to a deserted section of the dock and sat down under a lantern. With our legs dangling over the water, I carved, and we talked until the sun came up.”

  “Unfortunately, he carved a mooring post so I couldn’t take it with me when my father and his guards arrived,” Marija said picking up the story. “We jumped up. I told Hyllus, if we had a boat, we could run off together.”

  “What saved me was the arrival of my Navarch and his guards,” Hyllus said. “During the standoff, I leaned down and kissed her. Then I ran for my ship.”

  “He kissed me. Right in front of my Macedonian father and his Athenian Navarch,” Marija said with a sigh. “For decades, our people have been at each other’s throats. Seeing two of their people in love didn’t sit well with either of them. With the taste of his lips on mine, I floated between the armed men and headed home.”

  “But if you went home and he rowed out with his ship,” asked Alerio. “How did you get back together?”

  “A week later a boy delivered a carving to me. It was a scene of a merchant ship moored to a dock,” Marija replied. “I recognized the dock area and when I went to investigate, there was Hyllus sitting on the bow of a merchant vessel.”

  “I resigned my position at the first commercial harbor,” said Hyllus picking up the tale. “I caught a ride with a merchant and after a number of ports-of-call, we arrived at the Macedonian capital. When it sailed in the morning, Marija and I were on it.”

  “We couldn’t stay in Macedonia because of Hyllus, or go to Greece because of me,” Marija said. “We got lucky when we found a ship heading for the Straits of Massina. Bovesia was the first stop after the ocean voyage.”

  “We got off the ship to stretch our legs,” Hyllus said. “And never left.”

  “Do you still carve?” inquired Alerio.

  Marija stood and walked to a shelf. From it, she plucked a small block of wood and returned to the table. She handed it to Alerio. As if cast in clay or painted by a master, Marija’s face peered back from the carved block.

  “Every shelf around the triclinium has carvings on it,” Marija explained. “Birds, animals, Legionaries, ships and mythological creatures, all carved by Hyllus.”

  “It’s why there is no drinking in the triclinium,” said Hyllus as he collected the three empty mugs, the plate and the platter. “Cuts down on the fighting.”

  “Thank you for the drink, dessert, and most importantly, the story,” Alerio said as he stood. “I need to go and get familiar with the rest of the town.”

  “Don’t get caught by surprise,” warned Hyllus as he walked away with the dishes.

  Chapter 24 – Bovesia, the Steep and Narrow Way

  Alerio dodged between the sailors on the porch and reached the street. A stroll down the flat center plaza carried him to another triclinium and pub. Unlike the Columnae Herculis, oarsmen with clay mugs flowed in and out of the building at will.

  A few doors down and closer to the stairs, he encountered another dining and pub enterprise. From inside muffled voices rose in sudden outbursts before the low mumblings returned. It was a typical gambling establishment with dejected losers sitting on the porch in groups sharing their misery.

  Just before stepping down onto the first riser, Alerio glanced over the rooftops of the buildings on the next plaza’s level. Blue and gray water spanned the vista for as far as the eye could see.

  While taking the stairs down, Alerio judged the width between the buildings to be about five shields wide. A squad of Legionaries could hold off an army on this walkway with a two-line formation.

  The sun was low and most of the supply businesses had closed for the day. It made sense as the five boats on the beach two levels below had been there since midday. He meandered through the plaza looking at the merchandise and seeking someone to question. So far, Alerio was a failure as a spy.

  He strolled down the stairs to the next plaza and thought about having another of the brews. But, he was full and the beer would lay heavy on his stomach. After crossing the plaza Alerio stopped at the top of the stairs and looked out over the ocean.

  The sea rolled, birds dove at the swells, and clouds hung low on the horizon. Below, the five merchant vessels rested solidly on Bova Beach. Four of the firewatchers huddled together in conversation. One, however, was working
on his ship’s hull. An idea formed and Alerio turned from the stairs. He walked back toward Pholus, the vendor, who sold the delicious beer.

  ***

  “Thirsty work,” suggested Alerio as he approached the man working on the ship’s hull.

  A clay bowl half filled with melted tar rested on iron legs over a small wood fire. Before answering, the man shoved a dowel into a sack of hemp fiber. With fibers dangling from the stick, he dipped them in the clay bowl. The resulting messy clump was set against the side of the boat. With his other hand, the sailor used a wedge to stuff the tar coated fibers into a gap between the boards. Once the fibers and tar were spread along a crease, he picked up a hammer. Tapping carefully along the newly placed sealant, he drove the waterproof material into the crease to seal the hull.

  “Not so much thirsty as frustrating,” the workman said as he lay down the wedge and hammer.

  “I’m new to Bovesia garrison and thought I’d get to know more about the ships that beach here,” Alerio said while holding out the mug. “I’ll trade you a beer for some information.”

  “Why not. I couldn’t finish caulking this tub if the Captain gave me two full days,” the man exclaimed as he took the mug of beer. “What do you want to know?”

  Alerio studied the ship, and although not a sailor, he realized the hull had many warped boards. This vessel needed a lot more hemp fiber and tar treatment to keep out the sea water.

  “Why can’t you take two days to finish the repairs?” asked Alerio. “This seems like a safe harbor with food and beverage.”

  “It’s a good port. I was surprised when the Captain said we’d row out at first light,” the man stated between sips. “I was eating when he charged into the diner and whispered that I needed to finish what maintenance I could before dark. So here I am, slopping and pounding until the light fails me.”

  “What’s your next port?” inquired Alerio. “Is it close?”

  “No. We’ve got four days of rowing and sailing to reach Syracuse,” the sailor said. “It’ll be good to get home. If Favonius grants us a steady west wind and we don’t sink on the way.”