Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4 - 7 2018 | Page 303

We looted what was useful and buried the dead. I found a new sword which could be a replacement
and antique as well as chainmail armour. We then moved on to another City, being introduced once
again to the irritant sand. The sand in my boots never seem to go away from the wasteland. My Horse
grew tired, cantering over 5000 kilometers. On a quiet day, Darius stood in awe, he then said “We
have made it to Baghdad, an important trade city on the Silk Road.” “What goods do they trade?” I
said with a tired face. Darius said “Trying to get a Business Acumen eh? Well they deal in Dates and
Lapis Lazuli, a rare blue dye.” Baghdad was a new city that I was captivated by, the people and the
architecture of the market. Especially in the Merchant Quarter, with mosaics creating stories of how
the Sassanid Empire came to be. Darius traded off Spices and Silk from China for thousands of gold
coins that I could dream of not working ever again. “We are going to Rome next, rest up for 3 days
and we will be on the road again” Darius said to the group. We stayed in nice accommodations, fit for a
middle class member of the society. We rested, talked and feasted in the house we hired in and I got to
know my group members. The people are very kind yet shy, staying away from unfamiliar ideas or
people, loving the stability maintained after the countless wars waged in the region. Unfortunately for
us, the days became shorter as we started enjoying ourselves. By the 3rd day, we left Baghdad
reluctantly to Alexandria, a city near the ocean. We rode through the plains of Syria and south of it,
filled with fertile farmland of swabs of wheat. Canals flowed with fresh water, enriching the land with
nutrients. We galloped under the guise of the red sun, not burdened as hard as months before. The
journey was filled with discovery, friendship and a bit of danger and hardship which I carved for all this
time, but the crowning part was Rome, in which we take large boats to the City.
After a month, we reached Alexandria, a “scholarly capital” as Darius said. It had contained all the
written work from the West, in a library, a great library in which Scholars all over the Roman Empire
took a tenure to study the vast knowledge housed in such a city. I was left dazed by seeing a huge
expanse of water that I have never seen before, It seemed to never end and the horizon was met with
mystery. “We will be taking all of our goods and horses in this Galley to transport all of our goods and
horses to Rome, the journey with take 3 weeks at most, if the wind is good 19 days. Any questions?”
One member asked “How treacherous are the seas?” Darius replied with a frank statement, “Pirates
constantly patrol our route so be vigilant of black sails, I’ll give you 2 days to rest.” The City had
stranger culture and architecture, It was more refined, with marble and white stones making up most of
the buildings. The people wore simple tunics compared to those in Baghdad which adorned themselves
with modest clothing. Food in Alexandria was also vastly different, with a different types of bread.
Meats overflow the food market, ranging from lamb, beef and pork. Combined with Cheese made
from milk, it is a proper Roman Feast. I asked Darius “Where are you from?” Darius with an empty
face answers plainly, telling me that “I am half Roman, half Sassanid. It is a strange combination I know.
My father was a legionary and my mother was a tailor. They both met in Constantinople, the heart of
the Byzantine Empire.” I was taken aback slightly, as it was a strange combination. “Both the
Byzantines and the Sassanid Empires were at war right as you told me?” I replied with inquisitiveness.
“It is a strange combination but It helped me mould the person that I am today.” We looked out into
the sunset and enjoyed the midday breeze and the incoming tide smashing towards the docks.
The galley took off from the port and we set out to the North West. Our Navigator, Horacles sailed
the ship. I spent my days looking out into the sea, smelling the fresh fragrance of the salty sea, seeing
fish swimming alongside our wooden oars and the gusting winds, which dried eyes without mercy.
There was a hint of black on the horizon, very soon I realized it was a pirate galley, I rushed to see
Darius, who was napping at the time. As soon as I told the news, he shook with shock and adrenaline
and cried “Ready for Battle!”. My heart was pumping, I was not ready to die just yet. 100 crewmen of
the ship, including our company readied themselves for battle. The pirates unleashed a volley of arrows
which impaled some of our crew. Projectiles ranging from rocks, arrows and javelins were hurled at
one another during the skirmish, but very soon, the oars broke as the pirate galley closed in and
boarding action was taken. The fighting was not confined to martial ability, it was a battle against the
sea as the waves disrupted any form of cohesive fighting. People were falling over from the strong
winds and waves and cried as the amount of wounded piled up. Me and Darius fought alongside one
another and performed the best switch and successfully dealt with each others opponents. However, the
battle was not over, for we had to counterattack. We lunged towards the galley and fought several
pirates. I had a cut on my legs and the Captain approached us, with a massive two handed hammer.
Darius and I fought him together but his defence was impeccable. A minute of endless attacks proved
fruitless. By the time we finished fighting the battle had been won but the Captain was not willing to