Chapter 11

Mithridates did not come home by midnight and I was worried. I was debating with myself to go out and look for him. I had wanted to climb the wall around the home of Quinctius and have a firsthand look.

The city was much too large to search and going out now to search would leave me a target for every cutpurse I passed. The same was true if I climbed the wall but the number would be a lot less.

I slept for another hour and was awoken by somebody coming up the steps. The weight and gait told me it was Mithridates. I opened the door just before he was going to rap with the butt of his knife.

Mithridates was not surprised and came in. The candle he held was the only light in the room. He smelt of stale wine, sweat and blood. I could not see any wounds and asked, "Are you hurt?"

"No. I was just letting off a bit of steam and forgot the time."

"Anybody seriously hurt?"

"No, it was in fun."

"Good. I have to go out for a few hours too."

Mithridates smiled and said, "You going to be back before dawn?"

"I hope to be."

I carried a bag with my ninja clothing and a few tools of the trade. The walls here were very good because of the earthquakes that frequented this area. The stone blocks were large and had a tongue and groove arrangement to keep them in position better. Some I was told had iron pins to lock them together. I had two tools that could grip the gaps in the stone much better than my fingertips. If I had to, I could fashion some pitons but this required me to hammer them home which would cause noise.

The city gates were guarded but open. I did not climb the steps to high town but went out the harbour gate and walked around. I was in luck because the moon was over the wall and I could climb in the dark. The wall though started on the top of the plateau and I had to climb this first.

It took a few hours to get to the base of the wall for the rock was loose and difficult to climb. The wall here was still twenty metres higher. The tools allowed me to climb this last portion much quicker and I was now able to look down into the city.

Quinctius' property was about a third of a hectare in size and large for even this part of town. I was not in the best position to view the property though and climbed to the top of the battlements. I ran quickly for nearly a hundred metres and crouched in the merlons. There was a lot of activity for this time of the day. The walls had a dozen troops with the colours of my opponent. Below I could see perhaps a dozen more. They looked to be waiting for something and I had to guess that it was me.

I had to hang over the wall when a patrol went by but I was then able to get closer again.

There was the main house with an atrium. There were other buildings. One looked like a large stable while the rest looked to be for storage or for slaves. A large structure that was near a gate could only be the barracks. The slave quarters did not look to be able to handle the forty seven women and children that were still missing.

The wall beneath me was bathed in moonlight and would be for another hour. I intended to descend when this wall was in the shadow of the other wall.

I hung by a rope strung from the two tools and occupied my time trying to figure out the timing of the guards. My position was shifted twice and it was more to do with allowing blood to flow better in my feet because the rope loop cut off circulation.

The guard detail finally passed and I counted one minute then climbed to the top once more and looked for an enemy. I climbed down to the walkway and then I was over in seconds. I had to hurry because the top few metres were still in the light of the moon and I could possibly be seen.

I slowed my descent once I was in the shadow and I was soon on the ground. There were patrols here too but thankfully no dogs. I had pepper just in case but it was not needed.

Instead of going for the slave quarters, I went for the house. Holding the women and children would not help me but holding a knife to Quinctius' throat would.

The shutters were in place and locked but I was able to use the steel again from my boots to slip the lock and gain entry. This particular room was empty and was the reason I chose it. The room was just a bedroom and I went into the hallway and searched untenanted rooms which happened to be all but one. The breathing told me that it was a woman or a child because it was shallow but faster than what a man would have.

The study drew me and I searched through the records trying to find any reference to the pirates. It was difficult to see the text because the entire courtyard was in darkness.

With nothing else to do I slipped out of the house once more and searched the stables and then listened to the sounds coming from the slave quarters. There was at most seven people here and two were men. I went around the building and sniffed the air but none of the scents were of people that I remembered.

The barracks was last. If there were slave women here there was a good chance they could be found in the beds of some of the men. I actually had to enter the barracks and I was surprised at the number of guards and the absence of all women. Quinctius would not station all these men here without a reason.

The wall was easy to climb and I had to wait while two guards had a short chat but I learned nothing new. The descent on the outside of the wall was quick until I hit the native stone of the plateau and I had to be very careful now. It took an hour to get to the bottom and I had caused a few rock falls. During the night I heard more fall so it must be a natural occurrence.

I reentered the city just at dawn with three rabbits. It may be unusual to hunt at night but I at least had a reason for being out.

Mithridates was quick to answer the door and he immediately asked, "Well?"

"I stopped by to visit Quinctius. He was not home and neither were our people. There were a lot of guards there. I counted almost seventy and guessed at another fifty on the property. Many of them were awake as if ready for me."

"They see you?"

"They did not react if they did. I think we are just going to get packed again and go to Antioch."

"Quinctius' other home?"

"Yes." Quinctius owned other properties including some farms but I doubted if my people would be held there. It was still a possibility though.

Mithridates and I slept until noon while Lazeez arranged for some horses and a cart for the trip to Antioch tomorrow. We could take a boat but we would then have to still find a cart to carry our belongings.

We got up and ate but kept a low profile. There were many people that could use my help but if I healed even one, the word would surely get to Quinctius.

Later in the afternoon, I climbed the wide steps to the upper city and just listened without tipping my hand that I was interested in Quinctius. The man had a lot of clients here and the city was well disposed toward the man even if he happened to be a villain.

After a meal I went to a play. Here is where the people met and talked. My wakizashi stood out even if it was shorter but many men of some status came here with guards who wore swords but not themselves. I learned nothing new except that I was propositioned many times by both men and women. I may even have accepted if I thought it would get me somewhere.

When the play was over, I listened more intently as liaisons were made. I heard the name Quinctius a few times but the conversations were all in passing.

What I did not expect to find was a man outside the theatre preaching about Wodenism the same way I had heard Christians doing this. I went the other way rather than be recognised. I did not know the man but he may very well know me.

I tried one more wineshop and used my coin to get some information from few men that were pretty far gone. One man had tried out for the private army but was not accepted. He was still happy at the way he was treated though. I learned that the army was over six hundred men now and all of them were supposed to be super soldiers the way the failed man spoke.

When I got back on the streets I found it already dark. I quickened my pace to lessen the chance of a conflict but this was not to be. I turned a corner that led to the steps when I heard some steps from an alley there was an echo that told me that somebody was at least a few metres back. I hurried past and saw two men in the dark. I was sure that they didn't suspect that I saw them.

Three businesses down the street was another alley and I heard voices whispering to get ready. Trying to avoid trouble, I immediately crossed the street only to find a man with a bow that was probably covering the alley that I may have passed.

The man fired his arrow quickly while I was only four metres away. I wore no armour but I already had my hand on the shorter wakizashi. The arrow sped toward me and I both slashed out and moved to one side. I was so keyed up that I had hit the arrow and it was deflected to one side.

The men I avoided were coming out of the alley and I did not wait for another arrow to come my way. I moved in quickly and used an upward stroke to cut the man's arm from his body then a downward stroke to remove his head and shoulder. I had put a considerable amount of effort into the strokes.

I made a quick check for more bowmen then turned to my attackers. They made no noise and neither did I. They had swords, knives and a short spear. I counted seven men and I moved in now instead of waiting. I could face them only a few at a time this way.

My blade made quick powerful strokes. I went for necks and abdomens so that my sword would not be slowed down. I had to strike a leg of one when two came onto me at once. I took the man's partner with my foot then my blade through his ribs. In a matter of seconds all of the men were down.

The one with the severed leg cursed me but I did not think he knew who I was. This was much better than the alternative. The rest were dead and I swung the wakizashi one more time and the man's head rolled free. I cleaned my blade quickly on the man's clothing and hurried away even faster.

In lower town, I was almost robbed again but the man was inept and all I had to do was pretend to fight him and he ran.

When I got back to the inn, Mithridates asked, "Did you find anything?"

"Just thieves. Did you?"

"Nothing new."

We left early the next morning but not before Mithridates heard the gossip of the deaths in the upper town. We were safely on the road with a cart driver when he rode up to me and asked, "Did you use your blade last night?"

"A bit."

"No armour?"

"No."

"You are going to get yourself killed going out at night. How did you beat the bowman? They found a severed arrow nearby."

"I think it was more luck. I am fast but not that fast."

"You better try to get faster I think."

We were a day on the road and arrived around ten in the morning. If we had horses we would have been much faster but our cargo was bulky. I did not want to wear my armour because of the attention it would generate. The wooden boxes could be carried in a better constructed cart much quicker. The road at least was up to spec for a Roman roadway.

Antioch was not only a haven for the Christians until they got the upper hand but a place to be and be seen by the Roman elite. Again we took an inn but Mithridates now was in charge with his son Lazeez and me as a barbaric slave. If Quinctius had kept all those guards ready for me in an empty house then he would be even more careful if he was in his home here.

It took until noon to find out that the man was in residence or at his estate out of the city.

Antioch had a lot of rich visitors and so they had a large and efficient city watch that patrolled the walls and the streets. This did not stop a mob of Christians from stoning a man and his wife that were preaching the benefits of Wodenism. Christians got the dirty end of the stick but usually for rebelling against the empire. Now that they were on the ascension, they did what was done to them many times. This did not make it right. I could not right the wrongs of the world all the time.

Antioch was a large city that covered more than a square mile. It started on a small level strip near the river but then as it expanded it climbed the gentle slopes of the mountain. This had been the capital of an empire and at some times had been given the status of free city but usually a rebellion revoked this.

The senate here was large and imposing. Julian in the old time had come here and been laughed at. He was also in the mood to placate the gods at that time and sacrificed many bulls. He was just overcompensating I felt but I had never told him about this even though the memory had been recalled after I met him. He was a slightly different man now and did not need to be goaded by pride.

Mithridates paid the driver the balance of his pay and then added a tip which I said he should give. Mithridates did not understand but did as I asked. Lazeez went out and looked for places to rent houses and another cart if we had to go to an estate.

After a noon meal, Mithridates and I went out again but I left even my wakizashi in the room with Lazeez. I wanted to still come across as a slave even if I was a pampered one that ate very well.

Quinctius had been seen in the city as late as three days ago. This meant to me that he could still be here. There was a long coffle of slaves that matched those that I was looking for. The women were all naked as well as the children. This was sure to inspire the populous to remember if and when somebody came to ask.

One of the female slaves had been lashed to a public post and whipped to death. There was no crimes listed and a man as powerful as Quinctius could do as he chose. The man telling Mithridates seemed to get off on the torture. This was common in this age. I still wanted to kill.

I did not know if KhAvar was still alive or not and had to control myself from finding out now and getting killed for it. The death of the woman was an added incentive for me to fight first and think later. This was what Quinctius wanted.

Quinctius' home was not close to the city walls. I had climbed those same walls after locating his home but I could see little. Tonight I planned on getting closer.

Mithridates and I acted much more circumspect now. There were important facts to learn but the important one was whether Quinctius was still in residence or not.

I figured that he had the remainder of his men nearby and that totalled to around five hundred. I was also sure that everything known about me had been shared so that my tricks would be less effective. To do otherwise would have to brand Quinctius as a fool and he certainly was not.

Getting five hundred crack troops to surrender would be quite an achievement. I had heard that Quinctius gave them hashish when he sent them into battle. The same thing I heard was done by some militant Jews and Christians. It had been done in my day too for that matter.

Our recent use of mace was a success but we used up a lot of our supply. If it were to be used successfully a lot more had to be made. I had to rethink some of my plans now. I may have to kill when I could not intimidate or incapacitate. The latter two were preferable though and there were a lot of methods from tear gas to puke gas or a mixture with mace. The trouble was that the weather had to cooperate or I had to use a lot of the weapons. Doing this in the city could kill a lot of civilians as they ran for safety.

I had made claymores and used them but the projectiles had been pebbles and not steel. I had everything I needed except the stones. The amount of plastique I carried would ensure that I could make a lot.

I had a few dozen incendiaries but they were of little use except as a shock weapon. They would set fire to one or possibly two men or a target. Regular arrows of mine with a small steel head were almost as destructive because they penetrated armour, even our own if the targets were near.

My stingers may do a good job but a person analysing my tactics and the capabilities of the weapon would know that all they had to do was to disperse. I would have to use a regular arrow then.

Automatic weapons or even a single shot rifle was not in the works with current technology though a musket could be. Doing this now would take months if not years and I wanted the captives back as soon as possible.

The only way I saw was to capture Quinctius, find out what he knew and force him to return those that were still alive. This had worked in the past but I didn't see this happening this time. Quinctius would know of this and find a way to stymy me.

When we got back to the inn, Lazeez was not in the room but waiting by the steps. He looked worried and I got close and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Four men not just one but four men came here and asked about you. They mentioned a disguise but the inn keeper didn't seem to recall you. What are we going to do?"

"Stay here and watch. Try not to act so nervous and I will pack our things. We are going to be camping I think instead of living in an inn."

"That is fine with me."

If Quinctius was actively searching for me in the city then there was a good chance that a lot of innocents would be killed. Mace could discourage a few soldiers but lots of enemies would require the explosives. The best thing to do would be to leave and hope that Quinctius did not think we were close.

I was down in a few minutes and sent Lazeez to talk to the people that had horses for rent. If necessary I would just purchase them. From the rates Lazeez had brought back then this was more likely.

I anxiously waited for Mithridates while trying to stay out of sight. My swords were wrapped in a blanket and were nearby.

Lazeez came running back. He said breathlessly, "One man did not have enough for sale. You have to inspect the horses and pick the ones you want."

This was a possibility all along and I just hoped that Mithridates was here but he was not. "Lazeez, I cannot go because that many horses will raise a few eyebrows. They will remember me. You are going to have to purchase them for us."

"Me! I never owned a horse in my life."

"Lazeez you come from a long line of traders. It is in your blood to succeed. The traders your people come from are some of the sharpest known." I handed Lazeez more than enough for prime stock and said, "Take the gold and see what you can do. Woden will be watching and possibly helping. Be fearless because the gods are on your side."

Lazeez looked at the sack in his hand and didn't seem to understand what it was or what he was to do. I reached out and touched him as I sent a small amount of joy through him. Her brightened immeasurably and smiled with confidence. He was back out the door in seconds but now he was marching.

Mithridates did not come back. In a few minutes a tired man came in the door and settled in a booth. The man called his order in and a woman came over to the table. Coins were scooped up before the wine jug in her hand moved. In this case it went into one of the four mugs chained to the table. The man was not unusual but I knew him from the training centre on the Rhine. He had taken the new religion into his life the way a man takes to a life preserver in a stormy sea. He was not only very persuasive but he came across as a good man. He also was fairly well educated and spoke Greek very well.

I pulled back into the booth I was in to hide until he left. The man did not leave though. The people came for their mid day meal and their wine. When the seating became acute the owner came to me and said, "Move slave. I need the seat."

I said nothing but tried to use a meek attitude to hide my face from the man spreading the word of Wodenism. The bundle of weapons was near and I picked them up and used the bundle to partially obscure my face as I moved to the steps and our room upstairs.

Behind me I heard a quickly indrawn breath and knew that I had been discovered. I continued up the steps but just stopped when I was out of sight. Instead of a mad rush, the man took a minute and a half before he came to the bottom of the steps and looked up. His eyes got big and his mouth opened. I didn't know if he was going to call out or not so I beckoned him to follow before I turned around and walked up the remaining steps.

The man followed me into our room and I turned and said, "You are prudent, a good thing to be in a land like this."

"Master... what are you doing here?" he said in a quiet voice.

I lead him to our room and said, "I have picked up some strays that needed a new start. A powerful man attacked them when I was away and carried some to this city. I mean to get them back."

"I will do whatever I can to assist you, Master."

"I remember how persuasive you were and how well you took to your studies but I do not remember your name."

"Demetrius, Master."

"Demetrius, I am here with only two other men. We face some very high odds. I am pretending to be a slave so that I am not noticed. At the moment, a man by the name of Lucius Quinctius Flaminius is searching for me. He hopes to lure me into a trap and my people are the bait."

"I know of this man. I was born in Seleucia Pieria."

"Then you know how powerful he is. At the moment we are trying to get out of the city. The man has sent people around asking questions about me and giving my description. It is only a matter of time until somebody thinks of me."

"We can fight him, Master. You have many followers in this city."

"The man has a large well trained army. Some of our number were stoned here recently. The city is Christian, Hebrew and the followers of Zarathushtra. You would all die for nothing. I have to defeat him with cunning, stealth or weapons that only Woden can help me with."

Demetrius made the sign of the Möbius strip. "We will all die eventually and this is a very good cause."

"Did you not learn that I dislike fanatics? We will all die but pursuing death to gain a place in Valhalla is abhorrent to me."

Demetrius bowed his head at being chastised and said, "I do remember, Master. It is just that it is so hard in this dimension sometimes."

"It makes us all stronger. Now tell me what you know about Quinctius so that I may defeat him."

We talked for an hour until Lazeez came back. He was all smiles until he saw Demetrius. When he finally looked at me he said, "I have done as you asked."

I introduced the two and they shook hands in the new tradition. I asked Lazeez, "Where are the animals?"

"The man that I bought some of the horses from is outside with them. I figured that we could load up the animals now and wait for..."

"It is ok to speak in front of Demetrius."

"Mithridates can come later or with us."

"We cannot leave now. There are too many people below. We will go down and eat and wait more. You will have to be the leader here, Lazeez. I am still a slave."

Lazeez was very solemn and just bowed his head.

I turned to Demetrius and said, "I am a slave here. If you act out of character you will endanger all of us."

"I will... try to act as I should."

Lazeez ordered us a large meal and then left to talk to the man that had sold the horses. He came back and talked to the proprietor then sat down.

"I sent a meal out to the man to keep him at the stables while we wait."

"You are acting like a sharp-witted trader now, and I like this in you."

I got a smile and he sat down. I quietly encouraged both men to eat more. We may be on the run now and a meal was a good to have.

In half an hour the dining room started to empty and we went out to inspect the animals. The horses were good but the man did not seem too happy. From his speech to Lazeez I figured that the man did not make the type of profit he had hoped to get on such a sale.

We had our own ropes and harnesses but needed more. Demetrius and I got the boxes and Lazeez criticised our speed. He did get the man to assist us in loading the animals for a consideration. The Persian looked at the New Roman script on the cases and tried to decipher what they said.

The last of our property was lashed to the packhorses and the Persian was interested in the sound of metal in some of the leather sacks. He asked questions and the new Lazeez put him in his place.

We had not stalled but we did not race. The packs were loaded as good as possible but now only the bottoms showed to the casual viewer.

Lazeez went inside and gave a message to the innkeeper for Mithridates and we left. I was the only one walking because I was not given a horse due to my slave status. The previous owner of the horses was encouraged with some asses to assist us in getting past the gate and into the countryside.

The guards looked closely at the men on the horses and much less at a tired and dirty slave running at their heals.

Outside the gates the man returned on his own animal after being paid. He still looked at me closely as he left and he was probably wondering how a well built slave was not riding because I looked to be well taken care of.

Demetrius pointed in the distance and spoke of a village. This was a red herring for the watch's benefit. He then professed to forget something and returned to the inn to wait for Mithridates. The horses he had with him were to transport a tent that he had to buy and some dried food.

Lazeez cursed me and said, "You better get on a horse or you will slow me down."

"Yes, Master," I said in a meek voice.

We headed in the direction Demetrius mentioned but this only happened while in sight of the city. We found our way past a great many farms to a winding road that led into the hills. We only stopped long enough for me to don my weapons.

Lazeez said, "Will Mithridates be able to find us?"

"I do not see why not. Demetrius will be with him."

"Where do you know Demetrius from?"

"I have a home on the Rhine. That is where we make most of the iron and steel products. We have a school that teaches medicine and also about Woden. Demetrius was a man that came and applied himself diligently to the study of the world of the gods and to what Woden wants to accomplish. He left to carry the word of Woden to those he grew up with as a boy."

"Can we trust him?"

"I do not have the ability to see what a man thinks. I can only do as you do. Now tell me how you got these animals. The man who you bought some from seemed to be displeased."

"He was the third man that had horses. The horse you are riding now was the single one I bought from him. Because I knew that Woden was watching me, I dealt fearlessly. The man thought I had changed a lot and he asked me about it. I said that my god was watching me today. I think he could almost see Woden looking over my shoulder. All of the times I heard my father trade with people came back to me. I could not lose."

"And the second man?"

"Ah, he was easier than the first. I bought five horses from him. They were his best. We argued for a long time but I was positive that Woden whispered the final price into my ears. That man was worried about his horses when I put the gold into his hands. They were like his children to him. I told him that my god would look after the animals with more care than any person has ever done before. Did I do wrong?"

"As long as he does not link the god that helped you with my ability to heal horses."

"I do not think so. I heard your name in the market a few times. There was no problem when a Jew overheard but the Christians do not like you. Why is that? You say in your book that all those that follow Woden need to be tolerant of others."

"Religion is used among other things, to gain power. This is true no matter what the beliefs are. If a person feels safe in his convictions then he has no reason to fight. If he sees his ideals threatened by something that may be superior, he will lash out. It is not just the Christians because men have fought over religion for as long as we have been men."

"So the Jews feel more secure?"

"Yes, for now but they have some crazy people in their midst that will assassinate or kill for their religion. This is true for people in every walk of life and only gets less as time goes on. Education is the answer. When a man or a woman knows the truth or at least what a great many people think then they too can make some rational decisions. Now tell me about the last man."

"He was the worst and that was why I saved him for last. He tried to sell me the poor horses and I seemed to know what was wrong with each and told him. He had to take me to another corral and I saw some of the horses we have now. When I complained about the quality and the numbers, I saw in his stables. He did not want to show me his good horses."

"Why was he upset?"

"I picked out six horses and argued with him for a long time. I put two good horses back and picked two of equal quality. The money I offered was fair and the man thought he did well. After that we shook hands and I complimented him on being a good breeder. That is when he became more upset."