Transsilvanian by Hector Miller

Author:Hector Miller [Miller, Hector]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20 – Hostages

On the positive side, I heard that my friend, Thiaper, had survived. In addition, the Hun commander managed to find four local peasants.

They were caught in the act of stealing a pair of the Huns’ spare horses.

“I rescued them”, Gordas stated proudly. “The warriors were about to exact punishment.”

“What kind of punishment?” I queried.

“They probably would have ripped their arms off”, he answered earnestly, “but because they stole horses, it might have been worse.”

I found it difficult to imagine what kind of punishment could have been worse, but chose not to ask.

I turned to face the four men, or rather two oldsters, and two boys who could not have been older than seventeen summers.

My appearance was far from Roman hence I could see their surprise when I addressed them in Latin.

“Are you aware that you are dead already?” I asked.

One of the oldsters nodded, too afraid to speak in the presence of the strange barbarian lord.

“But I have the power to let you live again”, I said.

I took two gold coins from my purse and handed it to Gordas. “Give this as compensation to the warriors who have been wronged. I am taking these men.”

“Come with me”, I said and walked away.

They followed, reluctantly at first, not knowing what horrible fate I had in mind for them. That is, until Gordas fell in behind them, which served as a reminder of the alternative.

First we spoke about the weather. Once I had enough of a grasp, I fed them well and readied the oldsters for the mission. They would leave as soon as darkness descended. The two boys would remain as hostages, their fate sealed should their fathers fail.

I sought out the Roxolani king to share my plan. I found Bradakos sitting with his face in his hands inside his tent.

There was only one possible explanation.

“Tarbus?” I asked.

He sighed. “I am past getting angry. Talking to him now fills me with despair.”

He filled his cup from a small amphora and emptied it in one gulp. “We will break our men on these Roman walls, Eochar, until we start fighting one another. A full-scale confrontation with Tarbus is unavoidable. He came to me and blamed us for his defeat. His said that you and your Roman friends were aware of the ballistae, but chose not to warn him. Not that he would have listened to reason.”

I put my hand on his armoured shoulder. Touching the person of a king without permission would normally mean death, but Bradakos and I were closer than brothers.

“Come, brother. Sit. Listen to the message of Arash.”

When I was done sharing my plan, it was nearly dark and time to act.

Bradakos summoned his two best scouts and I explained what I required.

Once I was certain that they understood, I made them repeat the instructions given to them.

I added: “Go when it is dark. Use the river and the forest. Take along sufficient cold fare for seven days. Do not show yourselves until the appointed time.”

“We are only four men, lord.

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