Quoted By:
As the men discuss the plan of battle, seated upon the stern deck, you listen to the relative merits of each approach; your mind, cloudy from the head blow you received from the best of the Epigoni, is nonetheless able to eagerly digest their statements… A new world of warfare is becoming known to you, and you are thrilled at the prospect of an unexplored arena for your talents! Stories of naval action previously told to you by Pollux take on new meaning, and you look upon your ship’s rigging, sails, keel, deck and rowing benches with fresh eyes - these now represent elements of your battlefield.
You rapidly invent and discard a variety of scenarios for ship defense that the Salaminians might possibly employ, as you turn to watch them rowing below you – the ship itself provides some natural elements of defense, you realize – the external walls of the ship rise above the deck by two or three cubits, and men crouching, shield on the shoulder, may be able to shelter in relative safety from thrown missiles from another vessel side-by-side. However, you see how a boarding action could become a bloody enterprise – the galley deck itself is narrow – combatants would need advance or retreat along the central axis, or instead risk an awkward, shambling advance over the rowing benches – all the while, they’d be exposed to deadly javelins and arrows from above, from the elevated stern and fore-decks. Studding the deck itself, trapdoors provide access to the storage chambers below, although for a man of your size, it would be difficult to move quickly amongst the bound amphora and other sundries there. You wonder how many men might be able to hide underneath or where the trapdoors could -
“Young Nikandros – what say you?” – Ajax asks, interrupting your train of thought. He leans forward – bearded face stern and framed with curly hair, pale eyes alight with interest. The conversation around you dies down. “What does the champion of Skyros have to contribute to our plans? Let me see if you are well-named, Nikandros Bouleeis!” Ajax announces, with a wry look in his eye – he is clearly poking fun at you – but no matter, he will learn of your true value in time.
“I concur with the recommendation of both Pollux and Andocides, who are my betters at sea; it would seem best to ram the enemy ship to begin the strong encounter – we are outnumbered, yes, but we must reason that these pirates do not have access to sailors of comparable mastery to Pollux –“ here, you nod politely at the blonde boxer, who returns the favor, “- and Odysseus. We can quickly gain advantage in this way.”
The other men of the expedition make their votes known: Andocides, Pollux and yourself in favor of ramming. Pollux sends a meaningful glance to Castor, and you sense that much is communicated between the brothers in an instant.
>cont
