James Mullins - The Winter Sniper

Nasir barked a command at his nine men who were all engaged in a game of dice on the ground behind the wall, “Look alive you sluggards companies coming.”

The men stood up and helped each other put on their leather armor. Like the wooden door, the leather was cracked and faded from too much time in the Arabian Sun. Once they were finished donning their armor, they each picked up their spears and old style square shields. The shields were a haphazard mix from various units dating back to roughly the 4th Century. Faded Latin letters on the shields proclaimed the unit that they were originally used by, such as the Legio X Fretensis and Legio XII Victrix. Without a word, they took their positions on the wall trying to look intimidating.

Nasir walked inside the gate, shut it, and barred it against the approaching caravan. He stepped up into his position just to the left of the gate and remarked, “Odd, caravans usually do not have so many people with them.”

Piran, one of Nasir’s men, remarked, “Maybe they bring slaves for the market?” This statement elicited several lust filled noises from the other men.

Nasir replied, “Aye, that would be good, I could use a good hump right now.”

As the caravan drew near, Nasir noticed that many of the people kept glancing back over their shoulders with a nervous look, “I wonder what’s got them so frightened?” Nasir asked to no one in particular.

Another of Nasir’s men, Shidfar, answered, “Perhaps they are worried about someone catching up to them?”

Nasir pondered this answer for a moment, as he did so, the lead camel and people walking around it drew near enough for him to read their facial expressions, “Look at their faces. The lot of them look like they’ve seen a ghost, or perhaps something even worse? I’ve never seen so many terrified expressions in one place before.”

As they approached the wall Nasir cleared his throat and then said in a loud, deep, commanding voice, “Halt. What business do you have in the Empire?”

An older man in his mid-fifties walked to the front of the group. The keffiyeh wrapped around his head was composed of black and white squares. His flowing white robes were of an expensive cut of Egyptian cotton, “Greetings soldiers of the Empire my name is Waqi, and I speak for this group.” He gestured with both of his arms to indicate the people standing behind him.

The group consisted of several camels whose backs appeared to hold all of the worldly possessions of the people. Many of the keffiyehs worn by the men were of different colors and patterns indicating that they were not of the same tribe. The colorful keffiyehs stood in stark contrast to their flowing white robes.

The ladies, wives, and daughters of well to do families, wore dresses made of Egyptian cotton that were dyed festive colors. The less fortunate women from poor clans wore cheaper fabrics, such as homespun or wool. These were either an undyed dull gray color or varying shades of tan.

Nasir responded, “Well met, Waqi. I ask you again. What business do you have in the Empire?”

Waqi’s shoulders slumped a little, and he replied, “A horrible plague of demons has struck our homeland. We request asylum within the Empire.”

Nasir frowned, “Entry into the Empire is not free. What do you have in payment?”

Waqi replied, “Alas, due to the haste of our escape we were unable to bring our coin.”

Nasir pointed at the goats, “Yet you had time to bring your livestock with you?”

Waqi sighed audibly, “Unlike the coin, they had legs that enabled them to depart with us in haste. Though many of us will surely go hungry at such generosity, I offer you two goats for admission into the Empire. Excellent animals from the herd of a chieftain.”

Nasir paused and looked at every member of the group. His eyes fell on a beautiful female. She had raven black hair and her dress, simple homespun, was a light grayish color. When their eyes met, she had the faintest upward curve to her lips. Was she smiling at me? Nasir wondered to himself. Her simple loose-fitting dress failed to disguise the ample curves underneath it. I must have her. Nasir thought.

Nasir said, “The Empire has plenty of goats. What need do we have for more? We are simple soldiers alone, and in need of warm companionship; however, our rations are simple fare so it would be nice indeed to supplement them with goat flesh. Five of the beasts should be sufficient.” Nasir then pointed at the woman, “And that woman as my slave.”

Waqi gasped in shock at this steep price, “We are modest folk and must start over with nothing more than the clothing on our backs and what we carry with us.” He then turned and pointed at the woman, “Maarika, is like a daughter to me. As such I cannot in good conscience sell her to gain our admission. I respect the soldiers of the Empire who labor so hard to keep its borders secure. Such hard work must indeed build quite an appetite. I offer you three goats for admission into the Empire.”

Nasir thought to himself. The old bastard probably has designs on bedding her himself. He then said, “I appreciate your generous offer; however, service is a lonely affair. We require companionship so that we may remain sharp and focus on our duties of protecting those within our borders. In the spirit of friendship and the hopes that your people can quickly become productive members of the Empire I require but two goats and the girl.” Pausing for a moment, he added, “This is my final offer. Refuse it, and you can turn around and face whatever you are running from.”

Waqi’s eyes fell as he acknowledged defeat, “You drive a hard bargain, but I see that further argument is pointless.” He paused a moment to sigh deeply before acquiescing, “Very well I accept.”

Nasir, now smiling, replied, “Excellent, bring forth the goats and Maarika, and we shall open our gates to you.”

Maarika’s face went white, and she sank to her knees. Waqi walked over to her and spoke with her for a minute. Nasir could not hear the words being exchanged between the two. Maarika finally nodded, got to her feet, and walked to the gate. Waqi then picked out two goats and led them up to the gate. He handed the lead for each goat to Maarika and backed away.

Waqi said, “Here is your price. Please open your gates to us.”

Nasir directed his men, “Unbar and open the gate. See that the goats and the woman are secured. Then let them through.”

The men did as Nasir bid, and the group marched through the gate. They continued on their journey without another word. Once the last of them was through the gate, Nasir’s men closed and barred it. Nasir turned and watched as Waqi’s group slowly made their way up the road toward Aqaba. When they disappeared, he turned and looked at Maarika. She stared back at him defiantly.

Nasir walked up to her and sniffed, “You stink.” He gestured at the building, “Follow me I’ll show you where you can bathe.”

Maarika’s defiant glare softened, and she said, “A bath? With actual water?”

Nasir smiled at the question, “Aye, from the look of you, it’s been a long time since your last one.”

Maarika smiled, “A bath with water is an unaffordable luxury amongst my people. It is true what they say about you Romans, rich beyond imagination.”

Nasir chuckled, “So it would seem.”

He led her inside the structure. The first room had nine cots in it belonging to Nasir’s men. They cots lined the stone walls five on one side, and four on the other. Underneath each cot was the worldly possessions of the bed’s owner. Each cot had a gray woolen blanket neatly folded at the foot. Several of the blankets were threadbare and had holes in them.

The next chamber held Nasir’s bed, a chest, and a desk with a chair. The bed had a simple white linen straw-filled mattress, a red colored blanket with yellow trim, and several cushions. Several wax tablets were scattered haphazardly across the desk. The chair, while of a simple design, was made from Oak.