Chapter 59: The Path of Blaze and Inferno

"So, honourable Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey, what you are suggesting that a Rumelian fleet came right down from the gökyüzü, hissing the breath of Şeytan, and bearing the inferno of Jahannam?"

Ibrahim Pasha got off the horse, gave Kapudan Pasha a piece of blanket and a flask of alcohol to warm himself and shield against the cold, and then sat down together asking him a few questions about the enemy they are facing, being cautious as always.

"Yes…"

"…You are trying to suggest that those Rumelian now have a sort of weapon that is even more powerful than the Greek fire? Able to fire inflammable projectiles directly into the harbour from a far distance?"

"Yes…"

"How many enemy ships are there? Do your scouts have an exact figure? How many enemies are on shore? How many men of us are still inside the harbour waiting for reinforcement?"

Kapudan Pasha Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey replied him with silence.

Ibrahim Pasha observed the smokes in the harbour, it has gone stronger, lesser and lesser sailors in Turbans are seen escaping from the harbour, signalling that those who never made it out might never make it out of the fire.

With limited useful knowledge about the enemies, Ibrahim Pasha made brief analysis of the current situation.

First, he has to rescue this man no matter what, although he tends to avoid muddy water like this, or else his Sultan Mehmed, enraged, might chop down his head as well because of his incompetence.

Second, the Rumelian now possess a mysterious kind of weapons that can shoot inflammable projectiles like the Greek fire but more powerful and a much better range.

Third, judging by the surrounding geography and terrain, there cannot be too many Romans on shore, at most a thousand, as they cannot just rush into the port enduring the flames, they must have adopted another path.

With that in mind, Ibrahim Pasha stood up and went back to his horse, readied his man preparing to set off for the harbour three Roman miles away. Seeing this, the Kapudan Pasha Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey immediately approached him from the back and pleaded. "Ibrahim Pasha…"

"Yes? Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey?"

"You know, today's defeat is definitely not because of I don't dare and don't wish to fight… it is just that one simply cannot resist the force of fire! Please aid me in front of our Sultan!"

"I know, I know." Ibrahim Pasha patted the man on his shoulders. "I know, it is not your fault, of course I shall aid you before our Sultan, we have been colleagues for so long, I cannot step aside when you are in deep troubles Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey…"

Ibrahim Pasha rolled his eyes as an idea came to his mind. "How about this… You see my friend; the harbour is now engulfed in flames meaning that the Romans cannot reinforce their troops on land. Why not you take the opportunity to take back the harbour and eliminate all the enemies inside? I brought around four thousand men this time and I shall grant you the command of three thousand men, while I shall be here re-organising those who have escaped out of that burning inferno."

The Kapudan Pasha appeared reluctant about Ibrahim Pasha's suggestion.

"My friend, you cannot escape from it this time." Ibrahim Pasha sighed with a serious face. "You have already lost your fleet, and if you lose your port too, I don't know what our Sultan will do to you…"

Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey gulped, filled with nervousness and anxiety.

"… On the other hand, if you managed to take your port back, and get rid of the enemies, you might earn yourself the credit in front of our Sultan and prevent what is the worst to come. You may even… push the blame to some other unlucky folk and say you are completely innocent! No matter what you have my full and vivid support in our Sultan's court."

Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey made up his mind, he nodded with strength, snatched the flask of alcohol from Ibrahim Pasha's belt and quaffed down the entire flask. His eyes socket soon flushed with blood making him look like a wyvern, he threw Ibrahim's flask onto the ground, jumped on top Ibrahim's horse without giving Ibrahim Pasha any appreciations, signalled the three thousand men with his own guards to follow him, then they swarmed towards Gölcük like a pack of bees.

Ibrahim Pasha did not mind the Kapudan Pasha's rudeness at all, he elegantly picked up his flask, cleaned the dirt and dust of it, rode a random horse his soldier gave him while ordering the surrounding people to spread out searching and regrouping Ottomans who successfully escaped, then strolled his way towards Gölcük.

…

Meanwhile back in Gölcük, Antonius and the rest of his men has already landed on shore, delighted after claiming such a glorious victory, Antonius wanted to make a poem on the beach with a stick exclaiming that this poem, will be remembered in history for a thousand years, just like this battle and his name.

But to his embarrassment he found himself illiterate, cannot recall some Latin words he wants to write, while what made the atmosphere even more awkward is that no one around him knows how to read or write in Latin. It is not until Abdullah arrived and solved his dilemma by writing the poem for him.

In the end with Abdullah's aid, Antonius managed to produce a poetry that any literate child can make in the city of Rome or Florence. The poem goes like this:

I walk the path of blaze and inferno

Behind me follows my faithful friends

Side by side, we torment foes before us

Wherever I go, I bring my formidable armada

Creating infernos and suffering along the way

Oh! Sorry, antique lands of Anatolia

Sorry for bringing this pain upon thee

But weep not ancient lands

As you shall be liberated one day

Under the shine of the cross and Holy Mary

For people who dare raise their blades against me

I admire thou valour and conviction

But just remember

What happened here today at Gölcük

Might become the final memory of your destiny

--- Antonius De'Ricci, by the coast of Gölcük, Tenth of February, 1453 years after the birth of Jesus Christ.