Pirata: The Pirate Chief: Part five of the Roman Pirata series by graogonzo & Simon Scarrow

Author:graogonzo & Simon Scarrow [Scarrow, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2019-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The pirates were still swarming over the side rail as the marines ran forward from the parade ground. Their commander shouted an order and those Romans clutching javelins hefted them up and drew back their arms. Telemachus instantly saw the threat and called out to his men, ‘Raise shields!’

In the next breath, the marines released their weapons and a torrent of iron-tipped shafts flitted through the air. At close range it was almost impossible to miss, and most of the missiles found their targets, glancing off the curved rims of the pirates’ shields or punching through the strips of leather-bound wood. Those men who were slow to react cried out as javelin shafts struck home. A few were cut down before they could reach the quay, impaled as they climbed ashore. Several others fell to the ground around Telemachus, clutching at the shafts protruding from their torsos and limbs, crying out for help, but he spared them only a quick glance as he ran on.

There was time for the marines to loose a few more javelins before the men of Poseidon’s Trident fell upon them, hacking and stabbing viciously. Telemachus pushed his way to the front of the melee and struck out at the man directly in front of him, a stocky optio with several deep scars lining his face. He was clearly an experienced soldier and he read his opponent’s intentions easily, edging up his shield to deflect the blow. Telemachus’s falcata glanced off the shield boss with a metallic ring, and before he could regain his balance, the Roman stabbed out at him, forcing him backwards as he parried the blow with a jarring clatter.

‘My turn!’ the pirate captain growled.

He stabbed low, forcing the Roman to adjust his shield. As he did so, Telemachus clamped his fingers around its top edge, wrenching it down. The marine grunted in pain as the lower rim slammed down on his foot, crushing bone, and Telemachus followed up by thrusting out over the slight gap that had appeared above the Roman’s shield. The blade caught the man in the throat and blood sprayed out of the deep wound, splashing down the front of his scale armour. He managed to let out a strained gurgle and then collapsed to the ground as another marine stepped forward to take his place.

This opponent was more cautious than his companion, keeping his shield raised as he aimed a measured thrust at Telemachus. The pirate threw his head back and the blade narrowly missed as it scraped over the top of his buckler. The marine’s lips parted in a cruel grin as he readied to thrust again. Before he could stab out, a powerfully built pirate stepped forward and swung down with his boarding axe, roaring in triumph as he buried the blade in the Roman’s spine. Telemachus just had time to nod his thanks before the pirate’s cry was cut short as another marine ran him through the stomach with a spear tip, piercing his vitals.

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