"It is a foolish plan," said Callisthenes."You would surely be discovered. Spies abound. The pirates are well informed, I am certain."Only we know of this possibility," I said.
"Discuss your plan with Aemilianus," suggested Callisthenes. "The pirates of the eastern Vosk are more your concern than mine. The chain will keep the pirates of the western Vosk out of the waters of Port Cos."
"I do not wish to risk several ships and hundreds of men in such an unusual venture" said Aemilianus. "Besides, how to do I know this is not a pirate trick to lure the fleet of Ar's Station into an ambush in cramped waters?" You have my word on it," said Callimachus, the word of a Warrior."
"Perhaps you too have been fooled," said Aemilianus, "I must think of the security of my men an dmy ships," Aemilianus looked at me. "Are you of Ar?" he asked."No," I said. "Are you of the Warriors?" he asked."No," I said.Aemilianus spread his hands. "How then," he asked the others, "in so great a matter, can I trust him?"
"You must do so," urged Tasdron. "Do so," urged Glyco. "Why should you undertake such risks?" Aemilianus asked me. "There is a girl, a slave, I want in the stronghold of Policrates," I said."You would undergo these risks, these dangers," he asked, "for a girl?" I desire her," I said. "I want to own her."
"It that all?" he asked. I shrugged. "Too," I said, "I have scores to settle with pirates."
Twice I had been demeaned by pirates, once in the tavern of Tasdron and once in the Pirate's Chain, the tavrn of Hibron.
"We are not interested," said Aemilianus. "I am sorry." "His plan is bold," said Callimachus. "It is brilliant."I am sorry," said Aemilianus.
"The plan is not only dangerous," said Callisthenes, "and I would not risk men or ships of Port Cos in such a rash scheme, but it is, at least as far as preventing the gathering of the river pirates goes, unneessary. The chain will keep the pirates of the west to the west of Port Cos."
"The chain will be ineffective," reiterated Glyco, miserably. "It will be quiet effective," saiod Callisthenes. "A chain can be forged, a chain can be cut," I said.
"The chain is patrolled, of course," said Calllisthenes."Too, should there be any massing of pirate ships, we can meet them with the fleet of Port Cos.
"What do you think Callimachus?" asked Glyco. He was not, of course, of the warriors. "With all due respect, my friend, Callisthenes," said Callimachus, "I must concur with Glyco for his judgement in this matter seems sound."He is of the merchants," said Callisthenes."he is a man of shrewd and practical judgement," said Callimachus. "And in my opinion his fears are well founded."
"With the chain in place," said Callisthenes, "we need fear nothing." "Placing the chain," said Callimachus, "is unimaginatively defensive. It will be impossible to defend its length agains determined attacks. Do not permit it to lull you into a false sense of security."
"if there is to be at attack at the chain," said Aemilianus, "I am willing to lend you ships from Ar's Station, to strengthen your defenses."
"We can handle our own affairs in Port Cos," said Callisthenes. "The ships of Ar's Station are not welcome in the waters of Port Cos.
"There is no drop of water in this river," said Aemilianus, quietly,"which we of Ar's Station may not put beneath the keels of our fleet.
"You will do so at your own risk, my dear Captain," said Callisthenes, grimly.
"Our projects are doomed," mounded Tasdron. "Captain, Callisthenes," said I, "surely the pirates as you yourself have suggested, are well informed."
"It seems they know anything that occurs on the river," he admitted. "It that be the case," I said, "surely the forging of the chain, or at least its transport to Turmus and later to Port Cos, and the time and effort spent in preparing its mountings, joining the lengths, and setting the chain in place, must have been known to the pirates."
"Supposedly this was done in secrecy," said Callisthenes, "but I think there is little doubt they must have understood what was being done. Indeedk I have heard that there are rumors of the work in various of the western towns, in Turmus and Ven, in Tetrapoli and Tafa."Indeed," smiled Glyco. "We have even received a protest from Ven in the council."
"On the assumption that the pirates understood what was occuring," I said to Callisthenes, "does it not seem strange to you that they made no effort to interfere with the placing of the chain?" It was guarded, of course," said Callisthenes. "You, yourself, are presumable well informed," I said. "I trust so," said Callit\sthenes.
"Does this lack of opposition or interference on the part of pirates as powerful and well organized as thoes of Ragnar Voskjard not seem puzzling to you?" Yes," said Callisthenes. "What would you conclude from this lack of interest or action on their part?" I asked."I do not know," said Callisthenes, angrily.
"The conculsion is clear," said Glyuco. "And what do you conclude?" inquired Callisthenes."that they do not fear it," said Glyco, "that they do not regard it as a threat to themselves."Callisthenes scowled at the portly merchant.
"If that is their belief, they are in my opinion surely mistaken," said Callisthenes."Do you truly think a chain will stop the fleet of Ragnar Voskjard?" asked Callimachus."Surely," said Callisthenes, "the chain-and too of course the vessels of Port Cos."
"We know," said Tasdron, "that the topaz was brought to Victoria. It was doubtless brought as a pledge of Ragnar Voskjard to Policrates. It signifies in effect the agreement of Ragnar Voskjard to join forces with Policrates. I do not doubt that the fleet of Ragnar Voskjard in a short time will follow the topaz."Aiii!" whispered Glyco.
"Voskjard may be on the move now," Said Callimachus. "At this very moment his forces may be moving east on the river."Policrates is expecting their arrival," I said. "that I know. Indeed, it is that which gave plausibility to my plan."
"The chain will stop them," said Callisthenes. "The chain must stop them!"
"I must return immediately to Port Cos," said Glyco. "Voskjard must be met at the chain."
We all rose to our feet. "But what of the stronghold of Policrates?" I asked. "Would you leave such an enemy at your back?" It would take ten thousand men to storm that stronghold," said Callisthenes. "Five hundred, entered, through the sea gate, could take it," I said.
"Your plan is the plan of a fool," said Callisthenes. "I have been within the stronghold," I said. "I know it. I tell you it could be so taken."
"I will not risk a large number of men in this," said Callisthenes, "but I will tell you what I might do. I will give you twenty men, if so many will volunteer, and if Aemilianus of Ar's Station will similarly supply another twenty. Then if, truly, you can enter the seat gate and can hold it, set a beacon at the gate. We can then send supporting forces through the narrow waters to the wall. I have some two hundred men in Victoria and Aemilianus, as my intelligence sources indicate, a comparable number."
"There will be presumably some four or five hundred men in the holding," I said. "You would ask some forty men to sand against them, holding the sea gate for perhaps two Ahn?"