Lilybaeum

Chapter 10

Day approached with ease and Amellius quickly awakened it had been a week since the first skirmish, today was a chance for him to inspect the harbour and ships allowing him to completely gauge the strength of the fleet, after the minor skirmish. He was to be shown round by the senior captains of the fleet who knew every inch of each ship they sailed, giving Amellius an invaluable insight into the nautical world. But before he could leave for Lilybaeum he had to check the correspondence that had accumulated since yesterday, firstly was a congratulations from the Senate for his minor victory and for the report he had sent to them about the small battle. Other letters detailed the trade income for the month and a summoning for the town council which was due to meet in the next week. He quickly replied to the summoning and hurriedly melted a pool of wax onto the document and pressed down hard with his senatorial ring leaving the imprint of his family's coat of arms. The shape of a laurel wreath that enclosed a scroll had embedded itself into the crimson wax, several droplets like tears of blood formed below the seal but quickly hardened into the symbol of his house.

 He quickly handed the reply to the messenger and hurried out to the stables where his horse stood waiting, already saddled and brushed the horse gleamed and shimmered as light shone through several chinks in the door of the stables. The gelding stood proud and tall obviously very pleased with his majestic new look, his mane was now unknotted since they last went on a ride and the mane bounced as the horse tossed its head from side to side. His tail flickered to and fro swatting some of the flies that seemed to congregate around horses feeding off one of the best bloodlines in Italy. Amellius threw back the door and led the horse out towards the gate which lay open as they were expecting more wood to be delivered as the supplies in the villa were dwindling after the hours he had spent in the bath house and the time he spent working late into the night.

Amellius threw himself up into the saddle and spurred the horse off down the road, his heels digging into the animal's firm flanks. Vibrations jolted through his body as the horse hurtled down the cobbled road, it's feet slipping slightly on the uneven surface. When riding it felt like horse and rider became one and he could feel every jolt and every bump in the road as if they were connected in some way, it made it the most satisfying and thrilling form of transport. The gelding's legs pummelled and contracted on the road below, the powerful legs moving his own in a rhythmic pattern. Severance passed through several small villages waving at the small children who gazed up in awe at the mounted figure and in terror of the beast which he rode. A cart lay up ahead it's wheels trundling along as the driver casually cracked his whip at the mules that plodded forwards lazily heaving the cart along, Amellius picked up speed and went for the overtake, the thundering below became louder beneath him. He exploded past the cart, startling the driver and his mules from their daydreams, the cart driver roared behind him swearing at the unknown rider, Amellius laughed into the rushing air, the little perks like that adding to the enjoyment of the day.

The city of Lilybaeum appeared when he looked up from his moment of humour, fishing ships busied themselves for the day ahead and many moved out of the harbour leaving thin white trails in the ocean. Many a colony of gulls circled the stumpy masts of the fishing fleet, waiting to pounce on the helpless fish that reached the surface of the water first after being snagged by one of the many nets. The fishing ships could cover large swathes of the sea in a day but they had to return to port several times as many of the ships were small and could not hold vast amounts, also the day was hot and they wanted to get the catch in the shade and cool as quickly as possible. Fishing was a family thing and fishermen would hand their ship down to their eldest son and many of the ships were decades old, many fathers brought their sons on the fishing trips to teach them the family trade yet those who were not their father's eldest son would have to start from scratch or go into a different trade when they came of age.

 When he arrived at the gate he drew his horse to a halt as a wagon was undergoing a routine search, the cart driver stood to one side as the guards had a quick check through the goods he had on board. The guards signalled the all clear and the cart driver climbed back on, took hold of the reins and eased off into the city. Amellius rode forward and stopped in front of the guards, they saluted to him and he returned the gesture.

"All clear Praetor" the closest guard announced and gestured towards the city.

"Thank you gentlemen" Amellius smiled before urging his mount forward under the shadow of the gate, the city was as busy as ever. Town watch patrolled the streets in case of trouble but the city seemed too content for that.

 He moved through the crowds towards the docks, several men philosophised to any who would listen and several had large groups around them as they talked about the world. Amellius knew his view was as long as you keep the gods happy you should live a relatively good life, he had stuck to it so far, at least he hadn’t died in Gaul, who would want to die in that hellhole he smirked. His mind moved backwards and remembered the spear that had changed everything; it had arced through the air curving silently towards its prey. It just so happened that he had been its target and he had not noticed the deadly missile gliding towards him. He had turned at the last minute expecting it to hit him, his eyes closed and he heard a dull thwack but he felt no pain, was he dead? He remembered thinking. He opened his eyes and saw a young soldier lying at his feet the spear protruding from his chest, blood seeping from his open mouth, choking on blood and spluttering as his life was being snatched away. The soldier had died to save him, he wished the young man hadn’t as fate had wanted him to die not the young man. It kindled a seething hate for all the barbarians, the debt he owed the dead man weighed on him like marble pillars. There was but one way to repay the man and it was to avenge the man’s soul and so far it lay unpaid it haunted him to this day but it did not show through his appearance, the burning anger in his stomach would never leave and he knew that that event had changed him from a stuck-up politician to a soldier, a proper Roman. He would never forget it.