Bloody Water (Clay Warrior Stories Book 3)

by J. Clifton Slater

  “Let me guess Commander. Most of the pirates came from Martinus Cetea’s ship,” ventured Alerio.

  “All right, what are you getting at?” inquired Cephas.

  “I don’t think those three Illyrian captains want to be here or in this fight,” Alerio stated. “They aren’t committed. The only two that seem to be committed to the attack are Martinus Cetea and Pholus. Give me five men and I’ll remove the Navarch.”

  “There’s no way I can spare a single Legionary,” Cephas declared. “I’ve got to protect Bovesia and guard the garrison.”

  “You know Commander, you’ve been in charge for less than half a day,” said Alerio. “And you already sound like an officer.”

  “It’s making decisions that affect the future of too many people,” admitted Cephas. “It makes you over think everything.”

  “You told me earlier that the reason for the garrison was to protect the town and to keep the beach safe,” Alerio reminded him. “Now, you have a force moving in from your rear and a larger force to your front. Why protect the garrison when you have limited resources?”

  “You are suggesting, I desert the garrison, and consolidate my forces in defending Bovesia?” Cephas incredulously exclaimed. Before Alerio could say anything, the Commander held up his hand for silence while he thought. After a long pause, Cephas nodded and asked, “What do you need to cut the head off the Illyrian snake?”

  “Private Lupus couldn’t have said it better himself,” replied Alerio.

  Chapter 50 – The Difference Between Mad and Daring

  The sun dipped low and as it faded below the mountains to the west, a column of Legionaries marched from Bovesia, down the hill to the garrison, and returned loaded down as they reentered the town. Other than those on watch at the north end of the garrison, and a few left on the rooftops and stairs, everyone else hauled, toted, or pulled equipment.

  After his fourth trip, Alerio went looking for Helicaon. He found the Spartan hammering a chisel through the end of a log. Two others lay nearby, already notched.

  “Building a Spartan training pit?” Alerio asked as he sat on one of the logs.

  “No, Lance Corporal. I’m building a stand,” the old man said as he tapped out a slice of wood leaving a notch.

  “For where? I don’t think the Commander will start rebuilding the watch tower just yet,” ventured Alerio.

  “When you fight on uneven surfaces, you’re limited in your foot work,” he explained. “Grab a couple of logs and follow me.”

  They had to squeeze by the squad guarding the stairs but once on the last step, Helicaon lay down his log. He picked up a stick squared on the sides, and fit the stick into the notch on the log. After another square stick was placed in the notch on the other end, he and Alerio picked up the log.

  The log fit snugly between the walls with the sticks resting on the step two tiers higher. When they fitted two more logs on top of the first, the stack created a short wall between the steps and the second level plaza.

  Commander Cephas arrived and after consulting with the Spartan, he directed men to fetch dirt and begin filling in the space behind the wall. Soon, there was a flat surface from the top of the log wall back to the height of the third step.

  “Now you have a fighting platform,” Helicaon announced. “When the Illyrians come back, you’ll be fighting down at them and they’ll be straining to reach up and fight you.”

  “I’m surprised you went for it, Commander,” Alerio said as Helicaon directed the dumping and compacting of the dirt.

  “Lance Corporal. If you ever have a command, I hope you remember this,” said Cephas. “Out of all the bad ideas offered, one will save the lives of your men. Hopefully, you will recognize which one. Speaking of bad ideas, how is your plan shaping up?”

  “Just waiting for it to get darker, Sir,” Alerio said. “Lupus assures me he can hunt in the dark. Helicaon has volunteered to row. And I found four archers who are good swimmers. How about my diversion?”

  “It’s odd. I told the squads about your mad idea. After taking to them, except those defending the stairs, and Third Squad, who I excused,” Cephas said. “They all volunteered. Then, Third Squad growled at me and demanded to spearhead the diversion. They mumbled something about wolves in Hades. Any idea what that’s about?”

  “Not a clue Commander. Not a clue,” replied Alerio.

  ***

  Alerio climbed the stairs and crossed the plaza. At the alleyway, he found Lupus squatting against the wall.

  “We’ll find out who has the gift tonight,” the Private said. He raised his face in the lantern light. His teeth and eyes reflected the light making him seem to be only glowing eyes and sparkling teeth.

  Before Alerio could respond, four men came out of the darkness. They rattled, not from their armor. They wore none. Rather, they rattled from the bundles of arrows slung around their necks.

  “Lance Corporal. When do we leave?” one asked. “Because, if we’re going to the Fields of Elysian tonight, we’d like to have a hot meal and a mug of wine first.”

  “Make it two mugs,” advise Alerio. “The water will be cold.”

  The four walked away in the direction of the closest pub. After they left, Alerio looked around for something to do. Although it was dark in the shadows, the sky still held the last vestiges of daylight.

  Alerio sat down next to Lupus and rested his head on his knees.

  “When I was a lad, three bullies beat and robbed me almost every day,” he said. “I got lucky and learned the gladius. If it hadn’t been for them, I might still be on my father’s farm. This time of year, we make cider and butcher hogs.”

  “Feeling melancholy and homesick?” asked Lupus. “Missing the ole hearth and home?”

  “No, Private. There’s no place I’d rather be than here,” Alerio replied. “Because, some farmers aren’t having a good year. And I plan on butchering the hog who ruined it for them.”

  ***

  A long time later, as full darkness closed in around Bovesia, Helicaon came out of the darkness. Spying Lupus and Alerio, he squatted down in front of them, pulled out a comb, and began running it through his hair.

  “Nervous old man?” Lupus asked.

  “Not since I was eighteen years old and stood in my first shield wall,” Helicaon said. “It’s when I learned to depend on the men on either side of me. I feared for their safety. I fought hard so they would live. Me. I was too busy fighting a naked brute with bad breath, and worst body odor. But I did learn one thing.”

  “What’s that?” asked Lupus.

  “Well, it was raining and cold but my savage didn’t seem to feel it,” Helicaon explained. “At first I thought he was drunk on beer or wine. But as we fought, I noticed the water beading on his flesh. When the battle line passed us, I was along with him. It was the last time I was afraid. After I killed him, I moved up with my messmates. When the battle ended, I went back and checked the brute’s pouches.”

  “What did you find?” demanded Lupus.

  Helicaon put away his comb, reached into a big pouch, and drew out a large wrapped mass. He tossed it to Alerio.

  “What is it?” Alerio asked as he peeled open the goat skin wrap. After sniffing, he jerked his head back, and coughed. “That’s foul.”

  “It’s bear fat and pine tar,” Helicaon stated. “Waterproofs your skin and helps keep you warm.”

  “Repels friends and foe alike, I’d venture to say,” Alerio observed. “Does it work?”

  “In that battle, the rain was mixed with sleet and snow,” Helicaon said. “And we were fighting on a frozen lake. What do you think?”

  “Think about what?” an archer asked.

  He and the other three came into the lantern light.

  “I’ll show you at the dock,” Alerio said as he stood.

  ***

  It took the Legionaries guarding the alleyway a while to move the upended cart and pull back the boxes to open the barricade. Once Alerio and his six-man
detail were through, the obstacles were restacked.

  The detail marched down the path and across the ground to the top of the cliff. Taking the ramp slowly in the dark, they descended to the pier.

  “That’s a tiny boat,” Lupus whispered as he felt the leather boat. “Are you sure it’ll carry us?”

  “If you don’t want to ride,” one of the archers offered. “I’ll trade places with you.”

  While the two talked, Helicaon tied a long hemp rope to the frame of his boat. After securing it, he began measuring out lengths and tying loops. After each loop, he measured another section and tied another loop. When he reached five, he handed the last loop to Alerio.

  Alerio stripped off his woolen clothing, bundled them up, and tossed them into the small boat. With the loop hung over his arm, he produced the ball of bear grease and pine tar. With a swipe of his hand across the mixture, he began to rub it on his skin.

  “That stinks, Lance Corporal,” one of the archers observed. “But if it’ll keep me warm, I’ll take some.”

  As Alerio and the archers smeared their bodies with the grease, Lupus and Helicaon hoisted the boat and set it in the water. They climbed in and Alerio and the naked archers sat on the edge of the pier gripping a loop.

  “Kick but don’t swim with your arm,” warned Helicaon. “When we get to the other side, get out of the water, and rub your limbs to keep warm. Once we’re out to sea, it’ll warm up a little.”

  “What’s a little?” an already shivering archer asked.

  “Not enough to notice because by then, you’ll be too cold,” the old Spartan advised.

  “Go,” Alerio ordered as he slid into the cold river water.

  Lupus and Helicaon began digging in with their paddles. The operation depended on crossing the river quickly. If the swimmers were in the icy mountain runoff for too long, they would drown. Or, become so cold as to be useless for their part of the mission. So, the paddlers matched powerful strokes and the line tightened and soon they were dragging five kicking and shocked Legionaries behind the small leather boat.

  Chapter 51 - Angitia’s Beauties

  Alerio shivered and rubbed his arms and legs. In the distance, he could see fires at the fishermen’s huts. The draw was unmistakable. He had to fight the urge to run naked through the brush and throw himself on the warmth of the fire.

  “Think warm,” suggested Helicaon. “When I was a boy in training, we were taken to the highlands in the winter. Twice a day, we bathed in the mountain streams. The only thing that worked was thinking warm thoughts.”

  “I’m thinking warm all right,” one archer declared. “I’m thinking about killing you all and burning your bodies.”

  “Anger works as well,” added Helicaon. “But the heat of passion burns out fast and leaves you colder.”

  A breaking of branches announced Lupus’ return.

  “Twenty-five of Angitia’s Beauties,” Lupus said as he held up two withering goat skin bags. “The goddess will be pleased tonight.”

  “Back into the water lads,” Alerio said with false enthusiasm.

  “Did I tell you that I hate you, Lance Corporal Sisera?” an archer stated.

  “Right now, Legionary, I hate myself,” Alerio replied.

  The hemp line went taut and the five swimmers wadded in and began to kick as the rope pulled them through the frigid water.

  ***

  Between the shivers, the weakening kicks of their legs, and the endless flow of water across their faces, the five swimmers barely noticed when the water went from turbulent to simply swelling. From killer cold to just cold, they transcended from the Kaikinos River to the Ionian Sea. Far out, the boat turned until they were towed parallel to Bova Beach.

  Alerio caught a glimpse of the first Illyrian bireme, the second and the third. His confidence climbed, if not his temperature, as they passed the fourth. One feature stood out. Along the beach, campfires burned brightly offering warmth. Fortunately, he knew the warmth came with death at the hands of the pirates. So, he clung tightly to the loop, and kicked as best he could in the cold.

  Eventually as most uncomfortable situations would, the end came in sight. The boat turned and the swimmers could sense the water warm as they neared the shallows.

  Helicaon and Lupus climbed stiffly out of the boat. Their arms were dead from the rowing and their hands refused to grip when they attempted to pull on the rope. All five swimmers were dead weight and none helped by kicking. The Spartan and the Legionary had to force their hands to close and their shoulders to haul on the rope. The swimmers were barely moving as they were reeled in from the sea.

  Chapter 52 – Wine for Warmth and a Mission

  Alerio was the first swimmer to revive. He accepted a drink of strong wine as a dry woolen shirt was thrown across his shoulder. Weakly pulling the shirt off his back, he slipped in on properly. It took concentration to pull on the wool trousers and even more to tie the string belt. Then, he pulled on his hobnailed boots and went to check on the archers.

  One was sitting up but shivering violently.

  “Get up and walk around,” Helicaon ordered. “Don’t think about it, just get up, shake your arms and walk around.”

  The Legionary finally climbed to his feet and began to move. Another archer crawled to his knees and looked up at Alerio.

  “Sisera. Remember when I said I hate you?” he asked. “Well, now I hate you even more.”

  “I was right behind you in the water,” Alerio informed him. “The best part of the swim was when you peed in the water. For a fleeting second, I was grateful for your warmth.”

  The archer stared at Alerio for a few moments. Then, he climbed to his feet and stepped up to face Alerio. After a pause, he threw his arms around the Lance Corporal.

  “That was some adventure,” he whispered. “Let’s go kill some pirates.”

  “First, we need to have everyone fit,” Alerio said.

  The other two archers were slow to come around. Prolonged cold effects people in different ways. One couldn’t stop shivering, and was curled into a ball and crying. His fellow archer just sat with his head bowed. Unmoving or unable to move, he seemed lost in his own mind.

  “What about those two?” asked Lupus.

  “If they don’t come around soon,” Alerio said. “We’ll have to leave them.”

  The Spartan took the wineskin and approached the unmoving Legionary.

  “See here lad,” the old man said as he sat and draped an arm over the archer’s shoulder. “You’ve a mission and I have wine. And I promise, you don’t have to go back into the water.”

  “I thought I was going to die,” the archer mumbled.

  “You almost did. But you’re safe on dry ground,” Helicaon assured him. “I’m thirsty. Wine’s a good way to rinse the salt out of your throat. Here, join me.”

  The old man took a drink than pressed the wineskin into the hands of the archer. Slowly, the Legionary lifted his head and poured a stream into his mouth.

  “I may have had better wine,” he whispered. “But I can’t remember when.”

  “Get dressed,” ordered Alerio. “You may die tonight but you wouldn’t have to get wet to do it.”

  “I’m fit Lance Corporal,” the archer said as he stood and took some more wine. “But, let’s never do that swimming thing again.”

  “Not in this lifetime,” Alerio assured him. “Get dressed and move around. You’ll feel better.”

  “And that leaves one,” observed Lupus. “Any more tricks from you, old man.”

  “Just one,” Helicaon said. “Throw him into the water. If he wants to live he’ll swim back to shore. If not, he’ll die. In either case, you’ll know where he stands.”

  One of the archers was kneeling next to the curled-up Legionary. As he patted the man’s shoulder, he whispered, “Lance Corporal Sisera. Can we start a fire? We can’t see the pirate’s campfires from here so they shouldn’t see ours.”

  “The Illyrians on the first level plaza wil
l see it,” Alerio assured him. Then, he knelt and placed a hand on the curled-up Legionary. “I’m not going to throw him in the water. We’ll leave him here with Helicaon. Gaither your equipment and let’s get moving.”

  “I’m not staying here and missing the fun,” the Spartan announced. “Your lad will have to fend for himself.”

  After Lupus had removed his squirming sacks, the three fit archers grabbed their bows and bundles of arrows from the boat. Alerio plucked his duel rig from the bottom and slung it over his shoulders. It wasn’t surprising when Helicaon reached in and pulled out a gladius.

  “Are we ready?” asked Alerio.

  “Hold on,” said Lupus. “Almost done.”

  The Legionary stood away from the rest. Higher up the bank, he was lost in the moonlight shadows, and the dark of the steep hill.

  “All set,” Lupus said after a while. “Let’s go see who is blessed with Angitia’s gift.”

  Alerio led and the others followed him toward the pirate camps.

  Chapter 53 – Wolves in Hades

  As the evening deepened into full night, all the civilians and most of the Legionaries on the plaza slept; except for those on guard duty, and three squads. They sat around cook fires sharpening their gladii, or eating, or mending their equipment. Garrison Commander Cephas finished another round of checking on the night guards and walked wearily to where the squads sat.

  “Go in, raise Hades, and get out,” he offered. “I need every one of you for tomorrow’s fight. Understood?”

  Squads Four and Five replied, “Yes, Commander.”

  Third Squad growled.

  ‘I’ll have to ask them about that when this is over,’ Cephas thought as he walked away.

  He went to the first man on guard duty and told him to wake up a friend. They were encouraged to have a conversation; not too loud, but enough so the voices created noise from the plaza. After giving the same instructions to the other men on guard duty, Cephas went in search of one of the bards. He figured a ballad couldn’t hurt.