Book 2

Bluetopaz: The War Years

Chapter 1

Dear Scribby,

Once again my duties at the school have kept me from replying to your request for more of my story. I have in spare moments begun the tale of the Hallstatt War. This first part is sort of a “bridge” between the two.........

Scarcely a day after the boys had been born Dorus arrived from the South ready to take up his duties as guardian of the next generation of heirs to the throne of the twin cities of Tiryns and Mycenae . Not that Stenalus had a change of heart and was about to step aside for Alcmene’s children, any more that he was for his brother’s son, Licymnius.

How Dorus knew almost exactly when the birth was expected, I’ll never know. He was quite upset about being a day late but as it turned out he was delayed by a chance meeting with a relative that would ultimately effect all our lives.

He was accompanied to the estate by his nephew, Lampres, a bright cheerful young man who, through family connections, had obtained the captaincy of his own ship at a very early age. Not that he hadn’t earned it, Dorus was quick to add when he introduced us.

The following day, after installing several soldiers at Alcmene’s door, Dorus with Lampres in tow felt secure enough to join our on going discussion in what we had taken to calling The Map Room. Spread out over a large table in the center of the room were all the bits and pieces of maps we had been gathering as we planned our attempt to break the Prophet’s siege of Hallstatt in the far north. Rudd and Erstling, who were old enough to remember much of the area from the time before they had been pressed into service by the Prophet, were deep in their usual argument about which routes and which mountain passes we should use on the march to the north.

After about an hour of this Lampres cleared his throat and asked, “Are you really going to walk all that way?”

Amsel, also in attendance, giggled at the question and jabbed his brother in the ribs. Erstling, grinning almost as much said, “Well, our little black crow here, might try to fly there but yes, the rest of us will be walking.” Amsel obliged his brother by flapping his arms like wings and galloping around the room.

Lampres who was now laughing at the antics of the brothers along with the rest of us finally calmed done enough to say quite seriously, “There is another way.”

Well, that caught our attention! “What would that be?” I inquired.

“Sailing is much easier than walking.” He replied, still grinning.

“Hallstatt,” I pointed out tapping the large general map of the ‘known world’ with my finger, “Is way up here! There’s no river or ocean, no water at all except this lake it sits next to. We’d have to carry your boat across the highest mountains in the world in order to arrive there by boat.”

“Ah,” He replied, “ But there is water here and lots of it. To emphasize his point he spread his hand on the great Adriaticum Superum Mare, as the Romans call the body of water between Greece and the Roman homeland. This Sea will take you three quarters of the way to your destination in a matter of days. Then, there are rivers from there which will take you even further.”

“No one,” Rudd said in his usual stern voice, “Has ever sailed those rivers and few, even have lived to tell about sailing that wild sea between Greece and Rome.”

“I have done both, friend Rudd, and I assure you I am quite alive and quite willing to tell you about it.” Lampres replied.

“I’m sure we’d all like to hear of your adventures, Lampres.” I said quickly, trying to head off the heated argument I could see brewing. “Tell us what you know of this great sea.”

“Gladly”, he replied. “Up here,” he continued as he pointed to the broad arc that marked the northern edge of the sea, “are towns, Roman towns. The have existed for years mostly for trading. In the old days the Gauls from inland would bring their woven cloth and metal work to the towns and trade them for Greek and Roman luxury items like jewelry and vessels made of gold but mostly they traded for Greek wine.”

A smile creased Rudd’s face as he confirmed this part of Lampres’ tale. “That’s true.” He said and then went on, “It was not always we Gauls who came to town. The traders often came into our country with their goods to trade in the more remote villages. I remember well, as a boy, the excitement when a trader would come to my village. We’d have a feast that would last for days and days until all the trades had been made. But, when the Prophets came from the east all that changed. The traders were hunted by the prophets’ men and we villagers were forced to join their army or see our families killed before our eyes.”

Lampres smiled sadly at Rudd and putting his arm around his shoulder said, “Yes, my friend, the Prophets spoiled it for all of us, didn’t they. We sea men were no longer needed to carry the goods from Greek ports to the traders cities or to bring back the Gaulish trade items or the salt that all Greece needed. Together maybe we can put an end to these scoundrels and return to the good times of the past.”

Things were getting a little maudlin about then and so I attempted to get us back on the main subject. “Lampres, it’s seems you have offered us what might be a viable alternative route. Since I’m not all that fond of mountain climbing, please tell us more.”

“Indeed, I will, my lady,” he replied.

I do hate that term but he especially insisted on using it!

“I propose to sail you to the city of Aquileia, here.” He pointed to a place on the map near the end of the arc on the Greek side of the sea. “I have a friend there, a trader, who I have dealt with for several years and who dealt fairly with my father before me.” He nodded at Dorus and was rewarded with an assenting nod from his uncle.

“I thought all trade had been stopped by the Prophets. How can you still be trading?” I questioned.

“Ah, there are ways to trade and then there are other ways to trade.” He said and winked at me good naturedly.

“You are a Pirate! Or, a smuggler!” I said, outraged.

He put both arms up in a signal of surrender and laughingly said, “Oh, no, my lady, nothing so grand or romantic as all that. There are still those few well off people in the trading cities who crave those small easily transported luxury items that might fall into the wrong hands if brought in by wagon or pack train. I merely do a service to them by transporting them by sea.”

“But you said these were Roman cities,” I stammered. “Wouldn’t the Romans tax all these things to the point of making it unprofitable for you to carry them.”

“On your map the coast looks smooth like one big arc but actually there are many, many coves and small harbors here and there. We can usually find a place to make an exchange without bothering the authorities,” he said with that infectious grin. “And,” he added, “the Roman officers stationed in those towns enjoy Greek wine, too.”

Changing the subject again, I asked my next question. “Just how large is your ship, Captain Lampres? We have hundreds of warriors as well as supplies for them and their horses to carry.” I’ve got you now, my smiling captain, answer that, I thought as he sat quietly.

“I could, perhaps, carry 20 of your warriors and their supplies.” he replied. “I do have many seafaring friends who have been made idle by this siege. They are willing to carry the remainder of your army.”

“It won’t be much of a surprise if a whole armada of ships arrives at the port you mentioned. There are bound to be spies about and the word of our arrival will surely run many days before us.” I said.

“A valid point, my lady,” he replied but quickly continued, “That is another reason I’ve picked Aquileia as a destination. There is a Roman Engineer Training garrison there and they are rather vigorous about ridding the area of spies for the Prophets. On my last voyage I made the acquaintance of the Centurion in command of the garrison. He is a Roman citizen but like many, not Roman born.. He is, in fact, from Northern Britannia and rather keen on doing his part to free those enslaved by the Prophets army, since he considers them kinsmen of a sort. He is also an excellent engineer and his men build some of the best roads and bridges in the Empire. When he takes a cohort out to the countryside to practice their engineering skills, more often than not they sharpen their fighting skills on those of the Prophets army who happen to stray near their encampments. One might almost imagine they purposely place their encampments near where the Prophet’s men are likely to be.”

“I think I like your friend already!” I said with a smile. “I will look forward to meeting him.”

Muahahaha! Now who was getting prophetic?

“I think it would be wise,” Dorus said at that point, “To perhaps send a small contingent to Aquileia to meet this trader firend of yours and these Romans who seem to want to be helpful. We can better judge just how well this sea expedition is likely to fare by meeting the people and seeing the lay of the land up close.” Dorus’ face reflected his mistrust of the sea and Romans in general but also his obvious pride in his nephew. These helpful Romans would, however, have to be very convincing to sway the opinion of this determined man.

Our party, we decided, would be small and we would disguise ourselves as Greek traders hoping to set up regular trade with the town locals. Dorus would pose as a wealthy Greek who having married well and being infected with wander-lust, wished to go into the import-export business rather than remain in Greece and manage the family lands. Phyone would be presented as his new wife. I was to portray her maid while Amsel would be Dorus’ personal attendant. Pallus would serve as body guard and Arn would attempt to be the “Lords” secretary and financial manager. Arn was not too happy with his role and when Rudd rather surprisingly requested to go with us, he was all too happy to turn the part of secretary-treasurer over to him. That would reduce Arn to another personal servant for the “Lord” which would not be all that unusual but we then felt it necessary to provide his lady with another, also. Even more surprising than Rudd requesting to go was Lady Cidia’s quick agreement to play the part of the “Lord’s” wife. So, Phyone was quickly demoted to maid status and the party was complete.

As we left the map room I was in for another surprise. The Lady and Rudd were in a rather heated conversation in the hallway. All I really caught of the exchange was Rudd saying, “Just as long as you make it plain to that Greek that all this is play-acting I suppose it will be all right. But, should he even think about anything further he will answer to me!” With that he stomped off down the hall saying something about checking on horses and other supplies that would be needed for the trip. Lady ‘Cidia just smiled and proceeded to the dinning room to be sure lunch was ready.

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