Chapter 66: The Departure

"Wait! My brother! It might be a trap!"

"Why?"

"Because I know the Pasha of Saruhan." Abdullah replied in a fast and anxious tone. "And his name is not Emel! That man is telling a lie!"

"I see." Antonius replied but did not stop his footsteps. "Thank you my brother, but even if he and his army is real or not, I have to go, because I cannot take risks or else this victory today will turn its tides and engulf you, I and all our men with it."

Upon hearing this, Abdullah said no more words and watched Antonius' back as his body shape fades away among the woods.

Antonius and Ibrahim Pasha stood together face to face in a three-meter distance. Antonius scrutinised the man before him under the moonlight; a man in his mid thirties, with a slight scar on his left cheek, a signature moustache like all other Ottoman men and a pair of eyes that cannot hide away its owner's arrogance and nobility.

'This man is definitely not a messenger.' Thought Antonius as he moved his right hand to the grip of his cutlass.

Ibrahim Pasha is also examining this young man before him in his mid twenties, seriously speaking he just looks like an ordinary skin. A blonde hair with a Southern European face, most importantly a rugged nautical face that really looks like an ordinary pirate, not really any nobles who spend quality time on skin care, thus he secretly patted his guard twice lightly signalling him that the plan to take some important Roman personnel as hostage is aborted.

"I am Sir Antonius' messenger." Antonius broke this awkward silence first. "What do you intend to say? That is if you have anything to say."

"Ah yes." The' messenger' Ibrahim Pasha cleared his throat and replied in fluent Greek. "The most mighty and respected Pasha of Saruhan Lord Emel descended to this place with the wishes to communicate with the Roman general who showed his unquestionable bravery, astute, valiant and heroic virtues demonstrated in this battle, he who the Pasha pointed shall come here to have a few words of trust with the Pasha himself."

"Sorry I don't understand?"

"What do you mean you don't understand?"

"Can you speak Latin?"

"…"

Ibrahim Pasha found the most absurd thing he has ever met today – a Roman soldier saying he do not understand Greek and asked him to convey his message in Latin. If it is a thousand years ago that would be a norm, but it is the year 857 in Hijri A.H, 1453 AD.

Although Ibrahim Pasha cannot believe it, he still conveyed the message in a less fluent Latin as requested. The young pirate before him finally understood, nodded his head and replied that he is the legate with full responsibilities granted by the admiral of the Romans, the Ottoman messenger shall just tell him the message and he shall tell his general what the Ottoman messenger told him without a single mistake. In the end of his words, Antonius narrowed his eyes and warned the Ottomans to not attempt anything fishy or else the Romans will not let them leave this place easily.

Ibrahim Pasha, still pretending to be a messenger, gave a cold snort and retorted that they have brought a five thousand men strong army with them this time, best soldiers from all of Saruhan who can slaughter all Romans in the hills easily within an hour.

Antonius immediately jeered back that if they really come they will have a good time enjoying the guerrilla ambushes in the woods, perhaps five thousand come in and only five hundred can make it out of there alive.

The two men ended up in silence again. While the forest behind them became increasingly rowdy, a sign that the Ottoman deserters have been chased into the ambush encirclement of the Romans in the woods. Realising he do not have much time left, Ibrahim Pasha opened his mouth first once more.

"I am here on a fair deal, my Pasha, a merciful knight with all good virtues of Islam, has a proposal for your commander. Listen Roman, we demand you release all Ottoman warriors to be released as soon as possible and hand over the naval installations. While the merciful Emel Pasha shall grant your army the permission to retreat safe and sound."

In the end, he threatened. "We have five thousand men with us, if you do not obey…"

Antonius shrugged his shoulders and frowned. "Pfft…Then what, we have no fear of your puny army…We just defeated one and we can defeat another…. Let me go back and ask my commander."

Antonius went back into the woods for a brief period of time and came back, stating that their commander Antonius agreed to his proposal, but will only release one quarter of the Ottomans he captured first as a gift of trust, then gradually release other portions along the wall until they get back safely onto the ships.

"Why." Ibrahim Pasha grazed Antonius by his eyes. "Your commander do not trust us?"

"What do you think? Deal?"

"…Fine"

The long retreat back to the port three Roman Miles behind began with Antonius' six hundred sailors as rear guards observing the Ottomans led by the supposed 'Emel Pasha of Saruhan' in a close distance. While Ibrahim Pasha maintained five hundred meters away preventing the Romans from knowing their true figures.

The long road became actually quite peaceful. Julian and Yuri's men went back and joined forces with the sailors guarding the ships, then slowly maneuverer the ships inside the port which is now filled with remnants of burnt ships, scattered wooden planks and floating bodies.

Ibrahim Pasha kept his truth and did attack the Roman formations, while Antonius also kept his promise and released the prisoners and refugees slowly. After the last portion of Ottoman are released and Antonius has bored his flagship, Ibrahim Pasha could not resist his temptations and asked.

"Hey! Romans! What is the name of your leader!"

Hearing this, Antonius burst into laughter on the deck and shouted to his crew without looking back at Ibrahim Pasha.

"Lads! Tell'him!"

"Aye sir!"

"Remember the name who burnt all your ships! Ottoman! It is Antonius De'Ricci!"

"Remember the name who burnt all your ships! Ottoman! It is Antonius De'Ricci…."

…

"Antonius De'Ricci…" Ibrahim Pasha murmured to himself.

The ships began departing from Gölcük under the watch of the crescent moon and the twinkling stars, paddling and sailing across the forever tranquil sea water of Marmara. The gentle southern season wind billowed the sails of the fleet, leaving a trail of white crested waves behind like a pack of dolphins.

Some sailors, bulging with the excitement and thrill of gaining such a grand victory, decided to break the silence.

"Hee-Hoo!"

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

"The battleships and Aegean are my friend!"

"Serving for the hon-, the honourable Roman Empire!"

"With all my valor and guts!"

"And we' waiting for the battle!"

"waiting for the loot,"

"waiting for the foes,"

"Nothing in our Galley – nothing except men!"

"Men with the valor of Caesar!"

"Men with the spirit of Hannibal!"

"And with the souls of Constantine!"

"We send fright to our enemies,"

"So, thee dare not raise his blade!"

"I swore to Virgin Mary, and our blessed Basileus Constantine XI,"

"And burn our foes' ships into ashes!"

…

The sound of the Roman fleet fades away into the midst of darkness, leaving Ibrahim Pasha behind on the dock getting blown by the chilling night wind.

"Antonius De'Ricci…"

"In the future, when my soldiers are practicing archery every day, I want all targets to have the name 'Antonius De'Ricci' written on it, is that clear?"

"Yes, my Pasha."

…