Four Horses For Tishtry (11 page)

“The Galatian stallion got loose,” Holik said at once. “Tishtry was able to strike him with a club.”

“I’m afraid he’s badly hurt. Or dead,” she admitted.

“Just one?” Drosos said, his shaggy brows going up in disbelief. “You must be very lucky or you worked harder than anyone on this ship.” He sighed. “We lost two slaves overboard in the night. They were reefing the sails when we hit a bad swell. Even if we could have gone back, in such heavy seas, there would have been no way to find them.”

Holik nodded. “Two men, one horse.”

Drosos shrugged philosophically. “I’ve had worse luck in better weather. Come. You will want to have food and rest.”

Tishtry almost succumbed to this temptation, but she controlled the yawn that lay in her throat. “I want to make a poultice first. One of the mares has a bad sprain.” She reached up to take Drosos’ hand and climbed out of the hold onto the sunny, wind—scoured deck. “I’ll rest after that.”

“If that’s what you want.” Drosos said, already turning his attention to the ripped sail that flapped overhead. “Holik will help you.”

As she started after the Baetican slave, Tishtry doubted she could keep her eyes open long enough to find her bunk, let alone prepare the poultice. She stumbled once, and then steeled herself to her work. Soon, she promised herself as she got out the green leather pouch. Soon you will sleep. Soon. Soon.

AFTER
five
days, they rounded the end of Achaea and turned northwest, going up the Mare Adriaticum. The weather, after such a ferocious beginning, steadied and held fine, with a good breeze and untroubled waters.

To Tishtry’s surprise, she began to enjoy the voyage, and often spent several hours on deck, watching the distant land slide by.

“That’s Macedonia,” Holik told her as he pointed out the mountains that seemed to rise out of the edge of the sea. “And beyond is Illyricum. We stop first at Apollonia, in Macedonia. It will be two days at the most from Apollonia to Salonae.”

“If there isn’t another storm,” she cautioned.

“True.” He cuffed her shoulder. “You’d take it in stride, though.”

Tishtry shrugged. She was grateful to the young Baetican, for he had appointed himself her friend and her helper. The aid was as welcome as it was unexpected, but she accepted it without question, since she knew she would have no assistance from Naius. “Let us hope it will not be necessary.”

Holik grinned. “Fair skies and calm seas all the way.”

“Good.” Tishtry realized with a pang that she would miss him when she reached Salonae.

“Your horses are getting restive,” Holik commented when a whinny was heard from the open hatch.

“It’s the inactivity. Even with reduced food, they do not like being kept in those slings. They’re used to running every day, and working on the lunge. To be confined for so long is strange to them.” She turned her face up to the sky. “It would be a good day to race, today.”

Holik gave her a friendly, inquiring glance. “Why?”

“It’s warm but not hot, the sun is bright but there is little glare, and there is enough wind to give freshness but not enough to raise dust.” She leaned on the barrier of heavy, knotted ropes that stretched along the side of the ship above the wooden railing. “What is the purpose of these?”

“They let the seas wash over us but catch any cargo that might come
loose,” Holik explained. “There are drains at six places on the deck, but these assure us that we will not ship too much water in heavy seas. And you know for yourself how important that can be.”

“Yes,” she said with a touch of grimness in her voice. “I know.”

“Neptune and the winds were kind to us. They did not blow away the sails, or the masts. Drosos is a good captain, and he is sensible enough to take the most prudent course; not like some who would try to battle the storm with a full hold. There are not many merchantmen that would have come through the storm as well as we have done.” He beamed with pride, his monkey face showing weathered creases already. Tishtry, watching him, thought that he would be as brown and wrinkled as a walnut before he was thirty. “You will have something to boast of when you arrive in Salonae.”

Tishtry shrugged. “I don’t boast. It’s a bad business in the arena. It makes the others test you and trap you. Men have died on the sands for a boast.”

“But how many of them have been in a storm like the one you have come through?” He looked off toward the shore. “We’ll be turning soon. Apollonia is not far ahead now. By nightfall we’ll be at the dock.”

“And I can walk on something that doesn’t move all the time,” Tishtry said with relief.

“You drive a quadriga.” Holik pointed out.

“Hardly the same thing. The ground under the wheels is stable enough.” She smiled. “And then Salonae. I wonder if Naius will be sober enough to find his way to the amphitheater by then?”

“He won’t be if he goes on as he has been going,” Holik cautioned her. “Don’t depend on him for much, Tishtry. Men of his sort are poor risks.”

“Yes; I know.” She looked at the Baetican slave. “I’d prefer having you about than Naius.”

“Slaves cannot choose such things,” Holik said, a bitterness at the back of his eyes. “Still, in time I will have enough to buy my freedom, and then I will do as I wish.”

“What
do
you intend to do, when you are free?” Tishtry asked him.

“I would like to have a little shop where I could sell equipment and material to merchants: ropes, sails, oil lamps, netting, all the fittings for a good ship like this one.” His expression warmed as he spoke.

“It costs money to start a shop,” Tishtry remarked.

“It does. But Drosos has agreed to be my partner when I am free. He will provide the money to start, and I will pay him thirty percent of my profits until the loan is paid off, and twenty—five percent thereafter.” Now he grinned. “It isn’t an uncommon arrangement.”

Tishtry had heard of many similar agreements. “I hope it goes well for you, Holik.”

“And I hope it goes well for you, Tishtry.” He cuffed her on the shoulder once more. “I have to go aloft. And it’s time you watered your horses again.”

“Yes,” she said, reluctant to leave the deck and Holik’s company. “Perhaps we’ll talk later.”

“All right.” he said, reaching for one of the thick hempen lines that ran to the top of the mast.

She watched him climb, then went down into the hold to tend to her team and the other horses confined there.

* * *

The layover in Apollonia was brief, and Drosos was under way again before the sun had set. He had left off eight of the horses he carried, and now the ship was light in the water, skimming along briskly. The crew were in good spirits and they called jokes to one another while they went about their tasks. The two steersmen sang as they held on course, and even Drosos made a witty remark or two while he issued his orders.

Tishtry sat near the afterdeck, staring up at the sails and the stars beyond. The movement of the vessel was comfortable to her now, and she felt happily relaxed. It would be over before night fell again, she told herself sternly, and she would have to get her horses and herself back into form for racing and doing tricks. The storm had frightened her, and she still winced when she thought of clubbing the maddened stallion, but for the most part, her voyage had been pleasant and, except for Naius, enjoyable. At the thought of that ruin of a man, she tightened her jaw. While she was in Salonae, he would be in charge of her, and she did not like the idea. Still, her master had sent him and given him authority, and she could not defy those orders without serious consequences. She leaned back on her elbows. She would have to find a way to guard herself against him, for he had threatened to hurt her more than once. Nothing had happened so far because Drosos and his crew had prevented it. That protection would be gone shortly and she would have to find other means to deal with him.

“Merchantman ahead!” called one of the steersman.

Tishtry got to her feet and went to the side of the boat, peering across the water to another dark shape, like a shadow in the afterglow of sunset. It was headed west.

“Bound from Dyrrhachium to Ancona by the look of her,” Drosos shouted to his crew. “Probably carrying olive oil and linen. She’s small and light.”

The other steersman pointed away in the dusk toward the shore where a light gleamed. “The Dyrrhachium lighthouse.”

“We’re doing well.” Drosos announced with great goodwill.

The steersmen went back to singing their playful, rollicking songs. Listening to them, Tishtry fell asleep on deck, where Drosos found her near the middle of the night.

He chuckled. “You’d do well at sea, girl,” he said softly, and did not disturb her, letting the rising sun wake her.

* * *

Salonae was large and the dock so busy that it took a little time for Drosos to find a berth where he could offload his cargo. Tishtry was alarmed by the constant bustle on the dock and the quay; she confided her feelings to Holik.

“Don’t worry—the crew will watch your belongings while you tend to your team. But it is wise to be careful of thieves, for the harbor has more of them than rats, I think.”

Tishtry took little comfort from this warning, and her apprehension increased when Naius ambled down the gangplank to where her quadriga waited.

“There’s a tavern close by. You’ll find me there,” he told her
as he
strolled away.

“What tavern?” she called after him.

“It has a sign showing a spotted dog. It’s two streets farther on. Ask anyone; they’ll tell you how to find it.” Then he was gone in the jostle of the crowd and Tishtry felt a helplessness she had never known before.

“Here,” Holik said as he came to her side. “You go get your horses and I’ll see that no one takes your chest or your quadriga.”

“Thanks,” she said, bolting back for the ship. “I’ll bring them out as quickly as I can.”

Belowdecks, most of the crew were busy getting the horses out of their slings and starting them up the ramp. Most of the horses were in bad tempers from their long stay in the hold, and a few of them kicked and bucked as they were released.

Tishtry found Drosos attempting to bridle Immit, and she took over for him. “She’s more used to me,” she explained.

“I’ll get the bay, if that’s agreeable,” the captain said with a twinkle in his eyes. “They’re good—looking animals, this team of yours.”

It was pleasant to hear someone speak well of them without criticizing their lack of uniform coloring, and Tishtry blushed. “I have always thought so.”

“Is Holik coming to help?” Drosos inquired as he released the sling holding the bay.

“He’s guarding my chest and quadriga on the dock.” She paused, working the cheek strap on Immit’s bridle. “Naius has gone to find wine.”

“That should not surprise you,” Drosos said gently.

“It doesn’t, but it troubles me. My master has said that I am to obey Naius, but how can I do that when the man is ... what he is?”

Drosos nodded as he bridled Amath. “A pity, but surely your master had a good reason to send the man.”

“He used to race everywhere, but that was some time ago,” Tishtry said, shaking her head as she stood back to lead Immit out of the stall.

“Before he took to wine, I’ve no doubt,” Drosos said. “Here. You may have this one, too.” He handed Amath’s reins to Tishtry. “Let the mare go first; she’s more restless.”

Tishtry accepted this advice willingly, backing up the ramp as she led her horses out onto the deck and to the gangplank. Immit and Amath minced across it, their hooves loud on the wood. The crowd on the pier upset them, and their ears swiveled uneasily.

“Give them to me,” Holik said, reaching for the reins.

“Be sure they don’t get too much of a lead on you,” Tishtry warned as she handed the horses over to him. “I’m going back for Shirdas and Dozei. I won’t be long.”

“I’ve ordered a cart to carry your quadriga. Four—horse rigs aren’t allowed within the city walls at this time of day. You’ll have to walk the horses to the amphitheater and have the quadriga carried,” Holik called to her as she hurried back across the gangplank.

“Very well!” she shouted as she went back into the hold.

“Here they are.” Drosos was waiting for her, the two remaining horses out of their slings and bridled. “The rest of the grain you brought on board for them is in that barrel, and I’ll have Kortos bring it out to you.” He looked at her with concern and respect. “You’re a worthy girl. I hope the gods show you favor.”

“And you, Captain,” she answered, holding the reins as her horses pulled at the leather. “Come to see me in the arena, if you have the chance.”

“I would like that. Perhaps on the return voyage. I have an order to pick up a dozen lions in Tyrus. Twenty days out, twenty days back, you should still be performing then, shouldn’t you?” He chucked her under the chin with his hard, square hand. “I will look forward to watching you.”

Tishtry could not quite smile, but she nodded. “I will do well for you, if you come to watch me.” She gave him her thumb up, and tugged her horses toward the ramp before she felt too foolish.

“They’re being pretty temperamental,” Holik said as he cocked his head toward Amath and Immit. “It’s been difficult to hold them.”

“You’ve done well,” Tishtry said, having her own task with Shirdas and Dozei. “I’ll take them in a moment.”

“You’ll never get them to the arena on your own.” He paused. “Drosos will permit me to help you, if you would like me to ask.”

Tishtry sighed. “It ought to be Naius, but ... If Drosos is willing, I would be grateful for your help. I’ll have to look for Naius later, once I’ve found where I am to stable my team.” She looked about in exasperation, not knowing where the amphitheater was, or how to get there.

Holik guessed her thoughts. “The carter will lead us. Carters always know the best ways through the streets. On a day like this, his help will be welcome.”

“More than Naius’, probably,” she said in an irritated tone. As Dozei tried to toss his head, Tishtry reached up and patted him, smoothing the hair on his neck and tugging his mane affectionately. She could feel his pent—up energy through the rein. The arch of his neck alerted her to his excitement after so many inactive days. “Steady, boy. In a little while you’ll be in a stall, and this evening I’ll work you on the lunge until your sides ache.”

Dozei lowered his head and nudged her arm with his nose.

Holik pointed through the crowd. “I see the carter coming. I warn you, he speaks no Armenian or Greek, just Latin.”