Tribune's Oath (Clay Warrior Stories Book 17) by J. Clifton Slater

Author:J. Clifton Slater [Slater, J. Clifton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-07-23T06:00:00+00:00

Act 6

Chapter 16 – Freed from an Oath

“Spartan, a word if you please,” Alerio called to the Hoplite.

As the Spartan marched towards him, Alerio stood, brushed off his rear, and straightened his tunic. It wouldn’t be right begging for help with his butt covered in rock dust.

“That’s a relief,” the Hoplite stated when he was an arm’s length from the Latian. His hand fell away from the hilt of the kopis. “I didn’t want to kill you.”

“Why would you do that?” Alerio questioned.

“That dagger you have hidden in the small of your back,” the Spartan pointed out. “When you reached back, you might have pulled it.”

“I don’t usually go around killing people that I need help from,” Alerio told him.

“And why would I help you?” the Hoplite inquired.

Alerio was relieved when the Spartan didn’t question him about the Golden Valley dagger. It would be awkward asking for assistance by starting with a lie.

“I’ve come across some information,” Alerio told him. “A finance committee is going to remove funding for the Iberian and Noricum mercenaries.”

“We’ve been expecting it now that the threat is neutralized,” the Hoplite remarked. Seeing the pained expression on Alerio’s face, he added. “In Sparta, we say it’s the business of war. And business is good. You lost.”

“It still hurts,” Alerio admitted. “But here is the information I hope to trade. After the mercenaries leave, a special branch will issue an arrest warrant for your Commander.”

“That as well was expected,” the Hoplite commented. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

The Spartan didn’t reply. He marched away and Alerio had to run to catch up. Outside the courtyard, they mounted horses and trotted away from the building site.

***

When the Legionaries arrived in Qart Hadasht, the streets were dark, the men exhausted from fighting, angry at the murder of their comrades, and confused about surviving. Almost drowning in the flood of feelings, they failed to note streets, turns, and landmarks. Putting one foot in front of the other, they passed through the defensive walls, and tramped up and across several streets before entering the courtyard.

Alerio had seen the defensive walls from the top of the dilapidated building. Distance in roof tops was different from the experience of riding on streets. Narrower in person and encroached upon by the limbs of trees and canopies from both sides, the roads had shade but little width.

“In Rome, we have directional boulevards,” Alerio observed. “The thoroughfares allow our Legionaries to move quickly to any location at our defensive wall.”

“In Sparta, we have no walls to protect our city,” the Hoplite bragged. “Our soldiers are the walls.”

“It appears Qart Hadasht is the worst of both,” Alerio ventured when he noted the absence of Empire soldiers. “They have walls surrounding a labyrinth of impassable and unguarded streets.”

“It would be difficult to move a force through this,” the Hoplite stated. “Either for an invasion, or for a pursuit of escaping prisoners.”

To Alerio’s delight, they turned on several streets taking a circuitous route. In fact, on two occasions, he saw the entrance to the construction site’s courtyard between houses.

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