A Faction of Intelligence -- Part Three
The situation on the island of Marcello was getting worse. Marcellus had not made contact with the Celts and more and more were falling ill each week. Scouts were sent off in different directions. Some came back with no news of these Celtics, some never came back at all. Production had ground to a halt due to what seemed to be a blanket of plague that fell over the island. Even Phronesis had grown weak.
A horn erupted from the harbour, a fleet of ships was on the horizon. Phronesis scrambled out of bed to look out the window. He could hear Marcellus screaming orders in the distance. It didn't look good. Marcellus had spread the navy around the island. But even if they could all be summoned now it wouldn't be enough. These weren't traders, this was a show of force.
These boats seemed to sail in perfect unison. As they grew closer one could see that this fleet was broken up into several squadrons each with a unique formation. In the center was what could only be the Admiral. Just as they were coming into range of the catapults they stopped. The ship in the center, with the crimson sail, began to creep forward. This was the Admiral approaching the main dock.
Phronesis had caught up with Marcellus. He was in the main tower overlooking the harbour. Phronesis was just in time to see Marcellus in deep thought. They were alone.
"Care to share what your strategy is?" Phronesis encouraged.
"To be honest, I'm almost too weak to think. I fear this admiral will see that. This is a display of power. He will not need to bargain when he could devour our city. It would be no hard feat considering this nation is ill and of unsound mind." Marcellus trailed off and began talking to himself.
Phronesis "Let us go to the docks and meet these people. We must at least try to show fortitude. At the very least it is better than festering up here."
Phronesis and Marcellus stood at the dock waiting for the admiral to arrive with his single ship. His guards lay at a distance to both show good faith and to prevent the newcomers from seeing how pathetically weak they looked.
The boat drew close enough for Phronesis to somewhat make out the complexion of the passengers. Phronesis began to giggle. "We're saved." He whispered to himself. He could see the radiance of their fair skin. The fact that is was clean helped. Phronesis new these were the Celts.
One man stood out among the rest of that ship. He was tall, sturdy, and had braided hair and beard. He stepped foot on the dock with confidence and a big grin on his face. There was a pause.
"My friends!" He said in Greek. "I bring gifts."
Marcellus and Phronesis looked at each other and then back at the Admiral.
"I'm surprised you can-" Marcellus was cut off.
"Talk in your tongue? There are many things I can do that you cannot assume. How can you be surprised if you have just met me?" appealed the Admiral.
Phronesis grinned.
"I'm-" Marcellus was cut off again.
"You are self-proclaimed Emporer Marcellus." He stared at Marcellus for a moment then moved his gaze to Phronesis. "And you, who are you?" beckoned the Admiral.
"I'm Phronesis."
"Phronesis." The admiral said with a smile. "You must be important."
"You said you had gifts?" Marcellus redirected.
"I do." The admiral whistled and supplies wrapped in hide were thrown over the boat onto the dock.
"What is it?" Marcellus inquired.
The Admiral reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bar. He tossed it to Marcellus. "It's soap." The Admiral looked back at Phronesis and chuckled "But you already knew that."
"What is your business here?" asked Marcellus.
"You haven't even asked my name yet." chimed the Admiral.
"What is your name?" Phronesis requested.
"They call me Calder" bragged the Admiral. "Now that we have done away with the formalities let us speak freely." He added sarcastically.
Phronesis grinned again, he liked the blunt character of this fellow.
"Old man Phronesis from where do you hail?" Calder begged.
Phronesis tried not to pause for too long. But he was not quick enough.
"Your accent seems to place you in Syracuse." declared Calder.
Phronesis went a little red in the face. He was truly trying to hide his accent.
"No matter, you are here now!" Calder said with a chuckle as he slapped Phronesis on the back.
"What is the true purpose of your visit, Admiral Calder?" Marcellus maintained.
"Admiral Calder. I like the sound of that. But please, just Calder." He started to stretch, sore from his long journey. "I'm here to make friends! I can see you need a good friend right now."
"One loyal friend is worth 10,000 relatives." Phronesis said pleased.
"Why have you brought a fleet with you if you are here on the account of friendship?" grunted Marcellus.
"This is not my final destination. I will continue on to conduct business elsewhere after we are done here." Calder put forth.
"What would you like from us in return for your gifts of both soap and friendship?" Phronesis probed.
"We will speak of this another day. I am not an unreasonable man by any means. I shall return on the next full moon and we can talk more in depth about our relations." Calder reassured.
Calder climbed back on to his boat and the crew pushed the boat off the dock. The oars hit the water and moved as one entity. As the ship sailed back to the rest of the fleet Calder shouted back to Phronesis and Marcellus.
"Marcellus, get rest. You look worn." Calder howled. "Archimedes, it was a pleasure to meet you!"
Marcellus and Phronesis looked at each other with great shock. Who exactly was this man and how did he know so much about them?