The Eagles 2 by Andrew Quiller

Author:Andrew Quiller [Quiller, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Roman Empire, Gladiators, Russell Crowe, Medieval History, Spartacus, gladiator training school, Quintus Arrius
Publisher: Piccadilly
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

True to the nature of his vessel, Solenus held the Swan tight to the coastline, rounding the southern tip of Gaul and steering her due east through the calm blue of the Ligurian Sea. The stores held out for three days before lack of water forced them into a tiny landing on Capreae. Marcus doubted the wisdom of harbouring in so small a place, rather than the larger island of Corsica, but kept his thoughts to himself as the master brought the galley in to the beach, holding her off shore with the quadruple anchors mounted at prow and stern.

Solenus, after all, was an experienced mariner, so there must be some reason for choosing the near uninhabited island in preference to the larger, fortified holding. What that reason was, the master did not vouchsafe to explain to his lone passenger, and Marcus was left to watch the loading, alone on the stern deck.

It took no more than one hour before the anchors were drawn up and the Swan set her oars in reverse stroke, pulling out from the mooring.

Solenus turned her deftly to the open sea, heading south and east in the direction of Pompeii. For two days, they went under sail, using the oars only when the wind dropped, so the rowers were rested and fit as they rounded the promontory sheltering Napoli. Solenus bellowed orders to bis crew and the square sail lifted, folding against the yard as the sailors reefed it in, the oar-banks standing out over the water. A second shout, and the oars dipped in unison, striking sparks of sunlight from the blue ocean. The pace drum rattled as a crewman began to beat the time, the slaves taking up the stroke.

From the gentle sway of wind and wave, the galley took up the rush of the oars, driving through the clear water as though hurrying to battle.

Other vessels came out from the harbour to meet her, and Solenus hurried to the prow to call his identification to the patrolling boats. He bellowed through a copper trumpet that amplified his own stentorian voice to a rolling shout that echoed over the sea. The two galleys, accepting the Swan, executed tidy turns, coming up on either side as the ship pulled into harbour.

Solenus saw his vessel made fast to the harbour wall and then turned to Marcus. The grizzled mariner was twice the age of the younger man, and senior to him in the rigid hierarchy of the Imperial forces, but since the fight on the dock he had treated Marcus with respect, trying in his blunt way to form a bond of friendship. It had not been easy, for throughout the voyage Marcus had fretted with impatience, anxious to reach Pompeii. Equally, he was suspicious of the seaman, for Solenus might easily be involved in the plot against Titus; certainly, he appeared curious about his companion’s mission. Taciturn, Marcus had maintained a guarded conversation, giving little away. And so he was somewhat surprised when Solenus suggested they take wine together in the town.

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