william23
Magistrate
The Black Eagle Returns
It had been a good five years since the mutiny on The Black Eagle slave ship had been thwarted and the prisoners ending their lives shrieking on crosses at the side of the quay. Goab, the whip master, had been honoured for his work and even though his body had long been consumed by the fish he received full military honours. Due to the amount of damage The Black Eagle had received in battle it was decided to re-build her but much stronger and larger than before.
Slaves toiled for two long years, many died of exhaustion, some were crucified, if they disobeyed, but all had tasted the whip. The task was complete and the crew selected, it was decided that Goabs younger brother would take control. His name was Vestipus and he bore an uncanny resembelance to his older brother. He stood proud on the deck and looked along the length of the deck and gasped at its size. He gazed up and saw the huge white sails flapping in the light breeze, the huge black eagle emblazoned on the center sail. At three points, along the deck, were vent holes and, below, the two hundred slaves were chained to their oars and ankles fastened to the foot blocks. From below the slaves looked up at their new owner, the one that now beheld their fate and ultimate end. Vestipus grinned, as he surveyed the new stock of rowers, and rubbed his hands together.
Just then a trumpet sounded which signaled the arrival of the captain. A stout man with a slightly crooked nose and one ear lobe missing, both disfigurements picked up from battles. He beamed at Vestipus and paced up to him.
"My dear friend," and he hugged Vestipus warmly, "I am so glad that we serve together again, how long has it been?"
"All of three years," responded Vestipus, "needed some time off after my brother was murdered by those slave scum!" His voice was full of hate and anger and those chained below shivered at the tone of his voice. What would lie ahead for them was unclear but one thing was for sure they would feel the wrath of Vestipus in revenge for the death of his brother.
The captain and Vestipus returned to the captains quarters to discuss the details of their imminent voyage.
Both sat opposite each other and the captain unrolled the map on the large oak table.
"Vestipus," the captain spoke, "many Roman galley's have been attacked by a mystery ship, we have no idea where this ship comes from. There are suggestions that it may come from Carthage or the Gauls, no one knows for sure. The only thing we know is that the attacks are swift and with an element of surprise. There are no survivors and the ships disappear without trace."
Vestipus leaned over the table and surveyed the crude map in front of him. There were marks over the map which indicated where the ships had been attacked. Vestipus rubbed his chin, "it is an honour for us to seek and destroy this ship, when do we sail?"
"As soon as the sun sets," responded the captain, "we will slip out at night, the fewer people who know we are sailing the more likely we will have the element of surprise. We cannot rule out that the rebel ship is being fed information of ships sailing."
"An informer!" exclaimed Vestipus.
"Yes, an informer," replied the captain, "better get some sleep we sail in a few hours."
To be continued..............................
It had been a good five years since the mutiny on The Black Eagle slave ship had been thwarted and the prisoners ending their lives shrieking on crosses at the side of the quay. Goab, the whip master, had been honoured for his work and even though his body had long been consumed by the fish he received full military honours. Due to the amount of damage The Black Eagle had received in battle it was decided to re-build her but much stronger and larger than before.
Slaves toiled for two long years, many died of exhaustion, some were crucified, if they disobeyed, but all had tasted the whip. The task was complete and the crew selected, it was decided that Goabs younger brother would take control. His name was Vestipus and he bore an uncanny resembelance to his older brother. He stood proud on the deck and looked along the length of the deck and gasped at its size. He gazed up and saw the huge white sails flapping in the light breeze, the huge black eagle emblazoned on the center sail. At three points, along the deck, were vent holes and, below, the two hundred slaves were chained to their oars and ankles fastened to the foot blocks. From below the slaves looked up at their new owner, the one that now beheld their fate and ultimate end. Vestipus grinned, as he surveyed the new stock of rowers, and rubbed his hands together.
Just then a trumpet sounded which signaled the arrival of the captain. A stout man with a slightly crooked nose and one ear lobe missing, both disfigurements picked up from battles. He beamed at Vestipus and paced up to him.
"My dear friend," and he hugged Vestipus warmly, "I am so glad that we serve together again, how long has it been?"
"All of three years," responded Vestipus, "needed some time off after my brother was murdered by those slave scum!" His voice was full of hate and anger and those chained below shivered at the tone of his voice. What would lie ahead for them was unclear but one thing was for sure they would feel the wrath of Vestipus in revenge for the death of his brother.
The captain and Vestipus returned to the captains quarters to discuss the details of their imminent voyage.
Both sat opposite each other and the captain unrolled the map on the large oak table.
"Vestipus," the captain spoke, "many Roman galley's have been attacked by a mystery ship, we have no idea where this ship comes from. There are suggestions that it may come from Carthage or the Gauls, no one knows for sure. The only thing we know is that the attacks are swift and with an element of surprise. There are no survivors and the ships disappear without trace."
Vestipus leaned over the table and surveyed the crude map in front of him. There were marks over the map which indicated where the ships had been attacked. Vestipus rubbed his chin, "it is an honour for us to seek and destroy this ship, when do we sail?"
"As soon as the sun sets," responded the captain, "we will slip out at night, the fewer people who know we are sailing the more likely we will have the element of surprise. We cannot rule out that the rebel ship is being fed information of ships sailing."
"An informer!" exclaimed Vestipus.
"Yes, an informer," replied the captain, "better get some sleep we sail in a few hours."
To be continued..............................
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