The Slave King - An Illyrian AAR

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Berkeley, ma boi!
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[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Nine: The Freeman

Narrator: Demeas Lechaios

Working on Polyades’ ship is simple enough of a job. When we get out to sea with a good wind, we pull the oars in, set the sails free, and enjoy the ride. When the wind dies down or we get close to shore, we row. When there is a storm, we tie ourselves in and pray. The work is physically demanding, but so was pulling in nets heavy with fish.

The process of buying low and selling high was a little harder. The admiral would send me and a few other men into the marketplace to listen for rumors. If there was a salt shortage in Athens, we would sail down the coast while filling our cargo holds from the salt mines we encounter. Krete needs wheat? The rich farms of the Epeiros would surely provide. Sparta needs slaves? Well, in that case, we change from merchants to pirates.

Which is another complicated issue that I have to deal with. I have grown up now and am taller and stronger than the others, except for Polyades who can talk to me at eye level. I have trained with the Celtic swordsmen during my service under Kamandros and the other pirates have taught me how to fight in their own style. Steady feet are absolutely necessary when fighting on a ship and a hard blow is less useful than a well placed one. Once on shore, we use our ropes and nets to capture slaves without doing much physical harm to them. I don’t really like fighting and I especially dislike enslaving others, but in life, we do what we must.

The old pirate has friends (and enemies) in every large port we visit, may they be his former crewmen, smuggling fences, or rival pirates. During every occasion, he is sure to introduce me to the others as my grandfather’s grandson.

“It is important that you get your name out there” Polyades explained one night, “You killed a Roman general while a slave and a boy. You stood your ground and rallied the men when the horses bore down on you. Heroic deeds, Demeas, are only heroic when many know of them. It is a currency more valuable than gold”

“What use do I have with such things?” I muttered to myself, but Polyades heard me.

“You are the grandson of Luftar, the greatest of all Illyrians. You are a freeman now, but you are not freed from your name and no man is free from his people” He waved over at the Illyrian pirates gambling at the docks. “We have fought amongst each other for hundreds of years, coming together only to steal from others. We need a leader”

“I’m no leader” I shook my head and swung my mace around. “I don’t even like fighting. My grandfather once said…”

“…that in life, all you need are sons, fish, and peace. I know, he told me the same thing when I asked him to lead” Polyades’ eyes suddenly hardened. “But your sons will be slaughtered, your fish stolen, and peace cannot exist without strength. Not just one man’s strength, but the strength of a people”

“You say that I am a freeman, yet you say that I am not free” I shook my head again and smiled. “Are you saying that I wasted my money when I bought my freedom?”

“Oh, far from it” Polyades grinned again, showing off his cracked and missing teeth. “You bought freedom for all Illyria. Quite a bargain for the few silver pieces you paid!”

[BerkeleyBoi]

Well, I'm going back to the countryside tomorrow and there's no internet, so I don't think I'll be able to finish this AAR before then. I seriously underestimated how many chapters this thing was gonna have (12 chapters left to write)... ah well... I'll write as many as I can before I leave.