Chapter 15: We Leave No One Behind

"Abraham turn back!"

"But sir it is not worth it, it is full of fire back…"

"Turn back!"

"… Aye sir."

Antonius nodded, looked back at the inferno he created, and shouted out to his crew. "Lads! Remember another rule of me! In a battle, we shall leave no brothers behind! Now go back!"

The sailors forcefully changed their oaring direction in the orders of their captain, although they know that the merciless fire there might easily engulf them, but they still chose to follow the order of their captain by instinct, especially after witnessing what he is able to create just now.

The cries and agony on the trapped ship became stronger and stronger, the captain, Julian, ordered all sailors to abort any further attempts to try to oar the ship of the trap. Instead he ordered everyone to have a wet animal hide on their body, lay low on the ships deck and started praying prayers to god.

The wooden structures on the ship has already started cracking, weird sound began developing in the cabin room, everyone is desperately praying but it just seems like their eventual fate is yet unavoidable.

However in this epic moment, a dark ship suddenly rushed forward and rammed the remains of the sinking ship as-if like a fully armoured knight knocking across a crew of bandits, and bringing in hope to those who are trapped inside desperately crying for help.

"Look! Captain!" A sailor gawked in awe at the incoming ship. "It is our admiral! He has not abandoned us!"

The entire crew got up, the fire has leapt onto the deck already, any prolonged time might get the entire ship burning into a huge ball of fire on the waters. Antonius, noticing this, immediately ordered the corvus of the ship to be dropped on Julian's ship.

The corvus is also a mechanic that is invented in the old pagan Roman times, which is like a boarding bridge hang on top of a Galley, releasing and slamming it into the enemy deck when time is right, thus slowing down the opponents ship and allows soldiers on board to engage into close quartered combat.

As soon as the corvus is slammed on Julian's ship, Antonius immediately rushed forward and stabalised it in the smoke, while shouting out. "What are you waiting for! Board the ship! I order you to abandon your sails!"

The trapped sailors, then awakened from the shock that got to them from seeing the admiral himself coming for their rescue. They immediately started boarding the galley with tears filled in their eye sockets, don't know it is caused by the smoke or some other emotion that got into them.

But their crisis is not over yet, they risk themselves getting trapped inside the flames – actually the flames has already leapt onto the deck near the corvus.

"Lads! We got to drop the corvus into the waters! Comon put up your sleeves! Push with me!"

All sailors rushed to the sides of Antonius and began using their force to push the corvus into the water, it is indeed a hard task, the corvus remains intact on the ship and is not moving by a single inch. This further diminishes the light of hope that is just risen in the minds of the already coughing sailors.

But the fire won't wait for them.

The heat began to spread, the fire, after eating up one ship, is still not satisfied, it turned its blood red eyes onto the corvus, and eventually the former master who released them and gave them freedom. Fire are like blades, they know no feelings, they know no friends, they know no boundaries, they engulf everything blocking its path, even its former master.

"Gentlemen." Antonius gave up trying, tired, restless and used up all of his strength, but still got up and started making a speech. "Gentlemen, it is an honour to die with you today."

"Although I have always been harsh on you, but needless to say I cared about you, cared about all of us. If it is god's will to let us die in this place, then let it be! When I go to heaven, I shall draw my blade and ask him why, we can still form an army up there! While here, we shall be remembered as heroes, our names and military accomplishments…. Together with our history, will never die, your sons and grandsons will study about us, remember us, and be proud of us!"

"Aye it is an honour to die with you sir!"

"It is de 'best way to die with ya sir!"

"My brother Antonius, I wish that Allah descend his eternal blessing upon you…"

After this, he drained his last bit of strength and fell lying on the deck, looking at the sky. Indeed, they will be history, people living comes and goes, same goes for countries and civilisation. The only thing that never change is perhaps only the moon and the stars. However, Antonius can proudly say that he has lived a fulfilled life as a former pirate and an admiral.

"Maybe that is the end…" He thought to himself and closed his eyes.

…

…

"I am the sailor, sailor of the Romans!"

…

"The battleships and Aegean are my friend!"

"…The honourable Roman Empire!"

"With all my valor and guts!"

A familiar tune is heard from a distance, closer and louder as it goes. Realised something, Antonius opened his eyes. Miraculously, another Galley, with full speed and force, came knocking through and rampaged the wrecks. Still accelerating and crashed the corvus slicing it straightly into half, while the energy also made a force turn of the flagship showing them a path out of the inferno.

"Admiral! I won't allow you to die like this tonight! Lead us into glory again!" Shouted a familiar voice.

Antonius widened his eyes, filled with motivation and energy again, he jumped up and exclaimed. "Francesco! It is you! Thank god for sending you, I owe you my life!"

"Don't talk about this first admiral, lets get out of here first!" Francesco shouted back.

Antonius laughed again at the sky. "Get up lads and get out of here, today is not a good day to die."

Soon the two ships managed to break free, successfully escaping the living hell while leaving no one behind.

The fleet, carrying full load of plunders, treasures, wealth, arms and horses, made a sail back to their home, Constantinople, while the Ottoman fleet never managed to re-group and stalk on them again, if they still have the wits to.

Men comes and goes, what never changes are perhaps only the crescent moon, the glistering stars hanging in the sky, and the calm Mediterranean waters that witnessed one after one conquerors, one after one empires.

…

They sailed peacefully without any interruption back to Constantinople by evening two days later.

The citizens and merchants on the dock of Neorion were shocked in the sight of such a badly burnt but still sailing perseveringly fleet. The wooden hulk on the front of these ships are already completely damaged beyond repair, and the frames is already twisted caused by the high temperature.

They were even more shocked when they saw injured sailors alighting the ships, without hair and eyebrows but still smiling like a happy child, some even kneeled down and started kissing the ground, as-if they have been away for like an eternity.

The cargo on the ships look like no ordinary items, it doesn't look like food, silk or alcohol that ordinary merchants came selling, it looks much bulkier and heavier, in well decorated chests. It is not until a restless sailor revealed the entire secret. He accidentally dropped the chest he is carrying, the content inside spilt out and the crate turned out to be full of golden coins. This immediately made an uproar in the harbour area and everyone came to watch the sailors carrying gold.

Then a long horn can be heard as a huge, half burnt fleet enters the fleet, then people noticed – they were hanging flags of Roman purple. This sent another uproar among the people as other things like silk, horses, blades and armours starts to be taken down the ships, and with that comes three men – all bald with no eyebrows but donning cloaks in Roman purple, came forward to the crowd.

"Good afternoon! Romans! We are the victorious Roman navy!" Antonius came with arms akimbo and walking in wide steps like a true boss, speaking in his usual pirate arrogant accent as Abdullah translates for him, frowning.

"We have defeated the Ottoman treasure fleet, plundered all its wares and belongings, and burnt another Ottoman fleet thrice the size of us!"

He then pointed to the crates and ships behind him and lured the passer-by and crowds. "Lads! Do you want wealth and honour! Join me! Join my army! I can give you all of what you want! What good is treasure if I'm alone? Come, join me, I can give you all what you want."

"Furthermore… I can offer everyone who joins one silver Ducat per week, meals and a shelter are provided…" Antonius continued seducing the crowd in a tempting tone.

"I am willing to join you sir!" … "Me too!" … "Lemme join please!"

Young people flocked to the harbour to join Antonius' navy. While others, with words of a grand victory by the navy, soon spread across every street and district in Constantinople. The Roman empire haven't got a victory against Ottoman in the past decades or even century, this soon became a major piece of news that spread like wildfire and even alerted the officials in the palace.

*Smashhhh*

A cup of wine is dropped on the floor, smashing instantly.

"Wha… what did you say?" Asked Loukas Notaras, the Mega Doux, with his hands trembling.