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Working from sunrise to sunset every day of the week takes a toll on a person’s mind and body. Add six hours to the workday and life becomes a struggle. By sundown, our warm afternoon had transformed into a turbulent evening. Storm clouds raced down from the north, flowing over the hills and lake as rain poured down like someone dumped a bucket of water over your head. Thunder and lightning hurt your ears and lit the sky. Gusts of wind, powerful enough to knock a person off balance, might send anyone venturing outside to the cobblestones, and the first frost of the year may arrive by morning.

  Tallis decided to spend most of the shift working and acquainting himself with Acaph and Mered, so he assigned the pair to protect the north gate. At this stage of their career, the Decanus needed to provide guidance and direction, and they must earn his trust. An hour into the first watch, Tallis gave the recruits specific instructions. “I’m going to check on your colleagues stationed throughout the village. Stop anyone not having appropriate business in town from entering. If you need help, sound the alarm by blowing your horn. In the meantime, keep your ears and eyes open, and avoid the weather by standing beneath this ledge whenever possible.” Both men nodded before Tallis turned and headed down Hammath’s main road toward the south gate.

  The frigid wind pushed the Decanus along the road, cape flapping while Tallis struggled to control his outer garment and shield. I hate working in blustery weather. With luck the night would pass without incident, making the soldiers’ job easier. I hope this storm ushers in the rainy season. It’s well overdue this year.

  Thirty minutes later, Tallis returned to find Mered and Acaph, shivering and rocking back and forth, trying to keep warm, under the arch of the north gate. “Tallis, how long do you expect us to stand here like two wet rats? We’re freezing to death, and we haven’t seen anyone since coming on duty at sundown?”

  Tallis took a quick step toward Acaph as the man’s eyes opened wide. “How dare you say something so ridiculous to me? It’s not your place to question my orders. You know your assignment. Do your job without complaining. I talk. You listen, and follow directions, soldier.”

  Acaph stepped back, trying to increase the distance between him and his Decanus, but he lost his balance and bumped into the wall. Tallis grabbed the soldier and shoved him back against the bricks. “Your attitude is less than impressive, mister. Why did you decide to join the army? For the money? Acaph didn’t respond. Mered stood nearby with a sheepish grin on his face, attempting to avoid Tallis’s anger.

  As the night dragged on, the storm intensified, limiting the vision of anyone brave enough to venture outside. Near the end of the first watch, Tallis decided to check on his other soldiers a second time. Before leaving the north gate, he reminded his two men to sound the alarm if they needed help. Walking became harder, as the wind kept shifting directions, blowing sand and dust into his eyes. Controlling his cape became impossible as he headed toward the lake. At least the streets remained empty. In the distance, he saw Bazak standing near the bathhouses, next to the guard tower located at the east end of the north wall.

  “All is well, Tallis.”

  “I hope everything remains quiet in the other parts of our village. Try to keep dry, Bazak. This storm won’t let up anytime soon. Remember to patrol along the entire lake throughout your shift. I’ll check back with you before the second watch ends.”

  With the town secured, Tallis returned to the north gate to check on his newest team members. As he approached their position, he overheard the pair chatting with each other well before he reached their location. “You two need to keep your talking down. The wind carries your voices along the road. If I could hear you, so could anyone wandering the streets tonight. Remain vigilant and quit gabbing. People don’t need to know we’re on patrol this evening.”

  Mered wiped the rain from his eyes. “Sorry sir, but people don’t go outside on nights like this.”

  “You can’t say such a thing for sure. Besides, inclement weather isn’t an excuse to shirk your duties or give away your position. Someone could slip up behind you two and slit your throats. Remember, nobody forced you to join the army. You choose this profession. So, focus on doing your job well, and not on each other.” Tallis turned and walked to the other side of the road. Where did they get these guys? Kaleb mentioned Nikolaos handpicked them. Why?

  After standing in the rain with Acaph and Mered, Tallis decided to make another check on his other troops. “Stay alert while I’m gone. You can hide in the alley where those two boys ran this afternoon. You might find a spot where you can get out of the rain and still see the gate. Don’t shirk your duties and keep your voices down. Do you understand what I’m saying?” The pair nodded. “You know your assignment. Make me proud.” Mered and Acaph looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Tallis couldn’t complain to Kaleb, or he’d find his Conturbenium understaffed again.

  Tal stepped into view as Tallis approached his position at the south gate. “No one has entered or departed since we came on duty, sir.”

  “I’m beginning to believe the information Kaleb shared with me this morning is little more than speculation. If the night remains trouble-free, we’ll all go home at midnight. We can use the rest. If you need me, I’ll be at the north gate after I complete my rounds.”

  By the time Tallis returned to the north entrance, the winds had ceased, and the storm was nothing more than a memory. The moon’s full face began to appear through the lingering clouds, and reflecting off the lake’s glassy surface, making the soldiers visible to anyone venturing outside. The Decanus also noted the lack of enthusiasm on the faces of Acaph and Mered, as Abigail’s warning came rushing back into his mind. Can I trust these two? Thus far their attitude remained less than impressive.

  An hour later, Tallis decided to patrol the village streets one last time. He excused himself after complimenting Mered and Acaph for doing their jobs well thus far. Walking down the main road, the Decanus turned left at the fifth street, heading toward the lake. As he neared the water, he heard footsteps in the distance behind him and realized they came from more than one person running. The sounds echoed along the street and off the walls of houses lining the roads, making it difficult to determine which direction the sounds came from. Turning around, Tallis ran back toward the main road as a blast from a horn ripped through the night, followed by another alarm sounding seconds later. Tallis broke into a sprint. Turning the corner, the Decanus pushed himself to run faster, and the gap between him and the runners began to close. The lead runner picked up his pace. The others did the same. Tallis was no longer gaining on them, though he wasn’t losing ground either. He reached for his horn and blew as hard as he could. “Stop!” The four ran faster. “Mered, Acaph.” They didn’t reply. Nearing the gate, Tallis called their names again. Where are they? Did they follow the runners? Neither soldier remained at their assigned position. How could they abandon their post and allow four men to leave town with ease?

  Realizing he wasn’t going to catch anyone, Tallis stopped and turned around and ran back toward the well. He thought the alarm came from the area where he’d stationed two soldiers, near the center of town. Did Kush or Masa see something and tried to alert us? Are they in trouble? Run, Tallis.

  Reaching Hammath’s seventh street, the Decanus turned and headed down the narrow road. Two other soldiers came running toward him. In the shadows, Tallis saw two bodies lying face down on the cobblestones covered with blood. Crimson liquid oozed from their heads, and Masa suffered a stab wound on his left side. Their helmets lay next to the bodies, as did two swords. Neither man moved when Tal bent down and checked their pulse.

  “They’re dead, sir.”

  Tal’s grief-stricken roar ripped through the night as Tallis sank to a knee and looked at his fallen soldiers. He’d never lost anyone under his command during his three years of service as a Decanus, but tonight, two valiant warriors died while another pair abandoned their post when they needed them most. Tears welled up in his eyes, and, once again,
Abigail’s words came back to him.

  A few minutes later, another pair of soldiers arrived, reporting they’d seen five men near the dock. “They turned and ran when we approached them,” Shet said. “We didn’t blow our horns, thinking Masa and Kush would see them running toward them.” Tallis nodded. “We couldn’t keep up with the runners, sir. They ran much faster than we can wearing our armor and carrying shields. Besides, they had too big a lead for us to catch them.”

  Bazak stared at the bodies as he struggled to catch his breath. “It looks like they overpowered Kush and Masa. I wish I’d sounded the alarm before pursuing them.”

  Tallis glanced at the deceased then at Bazak. “What if they died before you saw the men near the lake? You mentioned seeing five runners. I saw four and chased them. I blew my horn hoping Acaph and Masa would stop them at the gate, but they weren’t at their post when I arrived.”

  Ula and Tam reached the scene of the crime, running from their assigned position at the south entrance, and saw their comrades lying in a pool of blood. “What happened?” Tam said, as Ula turned away from the bodies and vomited on the street.

  Tallis looked up at the soldier. “We don’t have any witnesses. The first thing I heard was the sound of footsteps before spotting four men running down the main road toward the gate. I yelled at them to stop, but they didn’t obey my command. Mered and Acaph weren’t at their post for some reason, and when I realized I couldn’t catch them, I turned back and ran here.”

  Shet spoke up. “Bazak and I arrived seconds later. We found Kush and Masa lying on the road. At least the killers didn’t take their weapons though it appears both men had time to draw their swords. I’ve never felt so useless. What do you think happened to the fifth man, Tallis?”

  “Did you see where he went when you chased them?”

  “No, sir. We lost track of him in the darkness.”

  Tam continued to stare at his fallen friends. “What do we do now, Tallis?”

  “Let’s get the bodies off the street. We don’t want everyone in Hammath to know we had trouble tonight. The news will spread through town soon enough. Ula, how are you feeling?”

  “I’m feeling better, Tallis.”

  “Good. I want you and Shet to go to my house. Hitch the horse to my wagon, and bring them here. I’ll take the corpses home to the night and on to the fortress in the morning. Kaleb and I will meet before our meeting begins. I’m hopeful he can convince Nikolaos to help us catch the killers.”

  “Who’ll notify their families?”

  “I don’t have time to concern myself with them now, Tam. I’ve never been in this position before. I suppose our Centurion will notify their relatives, or he’ll assign the task to me. I don’t believe either man had family in the area.”

  Four of the soldiers helped Tallis place their comrades’ bodies on his hay-covered wagon. “I want to thank you for your extra efforts tonight. Eighteen hours is too long to work without a break, and the night became more stressful than expected. I want everyone to go home and get some sleep. I’ll meet you at sunrise, and we’ll transport our friends to Tiberias.”

  Tallis returned home, unhitched his horse and secured the mare in her stall, before giving her some oats. Next, he found two linen sheets and wrapped each body. By sunrise, a stench would fill the air, and Abigail would ask questions. Kaleb will be furious, but he may mellow when he finds out Mered and Acaph abandoned their post. What a day. Two soldiers died on my watch while two others deserted. The army stationed in the area hasn’t lost a man since Zealots killed my father. I miss him. For some reason, Tallis didn’t expect the new day to be any better, and he hoped to catch up with Acaph and Mered soon.

  Chapter 3