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Chapter 3

At The Port Of Joppa

At the strike of dawn, Menelaus Casicus had awakened in great spirits. "Thanks be to Poseidon!" He announced, as the shore of Joppa came into the early sunlight, illuminating the port of Israel with its glorious golden hues as though it were a heavenly country. Why, in that premature hour, Jason's homeland looked to be almost ethereal. Menelaus could not hold back a low, amazed gasp, overwhelmed by the majestic beauty of the foreign land. "We made it!" At his pronouncement, the other four rushed out on the deck, similar exclamations spilling forth from their lips. "Thanks be to Neptune! Neptune has been generous!" Lentulus and Apidius said in unison, uttering a prayer to the Romanized sea god of the Greeks, and leaning on the rail with excitement. Out of everyone, however, it appeared to Menelaus that Jason's aqua-coloured eyes shone the brightest upon viewing his motherland. His expression seemed to be mingled with genuine happiness and a bit of apprehension that he tried to conceal it, but Menelaus, being the closest to Jason, always saw right through him. This was something he shared with Titus. Although, the cynical Roman was good at reading most people, Menelaus only bothered to assess his closest of friends. Jason was the one who had chosen to befriend him, in spite of his low upbringing and then introduced him to the rest of his companions. For that reason alone, Menelaus had a soft spot for the good-natured, charismatic half Hebrew.

Clasping his hand on Jason's shoulder, Menelaus' smile broke into a wide grin. "Feeling bit sentimental, are we?"

"I cannot believe I am back in Israel." Mumbled Jason, trying not to pinch himself. "It has been far too long."

"Prepare yourselves lads, new adventure awaits us!" The Greek proclaimed in a loud voice that was so typical of him, causing Titus to roll his eyes and respond in disdain. "I did not realize military service was regarded as an 'adventure' by some."

"I know you loathe this assignment, but it will only be for a little while." Menelaus encouraged. "I am certain your esteemed father will not keep you here for long. He will be using his political influence and you will be sailing to Rome in no time. But nevertheless, we should enjoy the present. It will be a thrill."

Jason smiled at that in agreement. "I will tell you one thing from what I remember of my homeland: none of you will be bored."

Lentulus chuckled. "Good to know, my friend. What is a man without a rush of adrenaline?"

But Apidius sighed wistfully. "I still miss Rome."

"We have not even docked yet, and already our friend, Apidius, is homesick." Jason shook his head, chuckling lightly.

"By missing Rome, he actually means Drusilla." Corrected Titus with a sly smirk, throwing a brief glance at the transporting vessel behind their ship.

This subtle action of his did not go unnoticed by Menelaus, who curled his lips upward as a twinkle of mischief appeared in his hazel eyes. "By the gods, Titus, you are really hung up on that horse of yours, are you not?"

"Argento is worth his weight in gold."

"So you say."Menelaus chortled teasingly and then muttered under his breath so that only Jason could hear. "Doesn't necessarily mean it is true."

Jason pulled him closer and whispered. "I am quite certain Titus will throttle anyone who crosses his prized beast. In fact, do not even jest about such things. It will do you no good, friend."

"And trust me, you do not want to get on Titus' bad side." Chimed in Lentulus with enough volume for the two to hear.

Truly, a wise person would know right away that infuriating the ex-consul's proud son would be gravest of mistakes, especially if that son happened to be someone like Titus Asinius. Half of the soldiers on the ship, who were to join the Tenth Legion, already feared him. But the Greek was not so easily intimidated, considering he was friends with the solemn, at times intolerable Roman. Instead, finding all this somewhat amusing, Menelaus merely cackled as the brisk sea air danced around his face and he inhaled in contentment. Before the five of them knew, the ship had docked.

There was a veritable entourage awaiting them, which they guessed was sent directly from the Praetorium with strict orders to have them escorted to Jerusalem. Menelaus surveyed the collection of slaves, soldiers carrying banners, eagle standards and insignias of Rome, horses, and carts that stood inland a few hundred yards, amid the bustling of the small port city.

"Why are there so many?" Wondered the puzzled Greek.

"The larger the procession entering Jerusalem, the more attention it gets." Responded Jason thoughtfully. "It is the governor's direct message to the people of this land: The power of Rome cannot be trifled with."

"I heard the people of Israel are incredibly stiff-necked and set in their strange ways." Lentulus put in, obviously wondering if what he had heard was close to the truth at all.

Jason nodded. "Yes, the obsession with their sacred Law and Religion can be exhausting to follow. But it is also what makes them so distinct among nations." There was a certain amount of pride in his voice as he spoke of his mother's people. Why? He did not know and he did not care to dwell on that emotion. It was too strange. No, Jason was Roman through and through.

Slowly they commenced to disembark from the ship, Titus and Menelaus were one of the first to get off, striding down the gangplank as the others followed their suit and saluted their rather impressive escort. The vessel carrying the horses also anchored by the side of their craft. Titus immediately began to bark orders to the galley slaves since the transport ship was technically one of his father's – Caius' – trading vessels. It belonged to the wealthy Asinius family.

"These clumsy fools." Dissatisfied Roman clenched his jaw, muttering through his teeth as he went up to see to his horse's safety himself, evidently displeased with the way the crew were handling the arrival to the busy port. Their awkward and flimsy efforts to get Argento were not at all appreciated. The stallion was too fiery and did not seem to respect anyone but his own master and just like his master, he was intimidating the entire crew. Menelaus' eyes followed the annoyed Titus with amusement, as he was unable to hide a smile that plastered upon his countenance. Jason, Lentulus and Apidius were right behind him; weaving their way along the quay amid the busy activity of men loading and unloading ships.

Menelaus was little interested in the details of disembarking, but he certainly thought it entertaining when the son of the patrician, ran to aid low class men with unloading of the horses. "By Epona, I have never seen Titus so riled up." He quietly commented to Jason next to him. "He is even doing a slave's job. I tell you by Athena, he has lost it. Completely lost it. Who goes so crazy over a horse?" So much for being the "stoic" of the group.

"It is one beautiful animal though." Jason shrugged, but was powerless to hide his admiration as the iron grey stallion whinnied and snorted when he saw his master nearing him. His coat was glowing with a silvery sheen, his mane hung long in elegant waves, his legs were strong as they pounded against the plank. He was impatient to get off the vessel and finally be on land again. Titus had received his gorgeous stallion with a relieved pat and a low word of greeting. "So there, my good friend, thanks be to the gods, you are safe!" He throughly inspected him, making sure not a mark tainted his perfect form and then led him towards the wagons, where the servants and slaves were loading them with cargo. Restlessness overtook the young stallion and he pranced around, looking at the busy port-side of Joppa. Now he was growing tense from the level of activity on the docks and nearby city streets.

"Why, if it isn't Alexander the Great with his loyal Bucephalus." Menelaus joked customarily as the horse and human pair approached.

Titus ignored the jests in his usual stoic manner and handed the swaggering stallion to his friend. "Here, make yourself useful and hold on to him for me." Before Menelaus could protest, the Roman had turned to speak with the captain of his father's vessel. No doubt to finalize their arrival in Israel. "Whoa, easy, boy. Easy there...Bucephalus." The Greek attempted to soothe the strutting animal as the nostrils of the stallion dilated. The bustling activity at the docks were making the young, restless horse even more excitable and Menelaus found himself jerking him back more than once in order to calm him down. Also, it seemed to be growing nosier by the second. In many ways, Joppa was too much like Ephesus, Corinth and other major cities he had visited in the Empire. Marbled buildings in the distance rose grandly, piercingly white in the morning sunlight. Wandering auctioneers and town criers advertised goods and rewards for lost slaves. Wholesalers jammed the ports and ships' captains traded spices for honey, medicine and perfumes to take back to Rome. Menelaus whirled round, trying to locate his friends and the members of the Tenth Legion. Everything seemed rather chaotic in that moment. Where had Jason gone off to? Where were Apidius and Lentulus? How long would it be till Titus returned and relieved him from this rather nerve-wrecking duty of handling his crazed horse?

"That is a magnificent horseflesh you have attained for yourself, soldier. Will you be willing to sell?" Someone spoke in a heavily accented Greek. Menelaus found himself looking at a short, stout man with a long beard, tan skin and shrewish eyes. From what Menelaus gathered, this stranger appeared to be a Syrian merchant.

"I apologize, but Buceph– I mean, Argento, is not for sale. In fact, I have no authority over him. He belongs to my friend."

The merchant looked disappointed at that news but he quickly recovered. "Perhaps, your noble friend would be willing to breed such a fine creature to one of my prized mares? An animal like that should not go without offspring. He will produce formidable foals." As he spoke, he tilted his head towards couple of horses that seemed to be attached to his small, wooden cart, carrying some goods he no doubt wished to sell. Menelaus was by no means an expert when it came to horses, but even he could tell that those mares were not worthy enough to mate with such a powerful beast as Argento. They resembled donkeys rather than "prized" broodmares as their sly owner had claimed.

Jason's head was swarming with all the unnecessary, irrelevant information that one of his father's subordinate officer had thrown at him. Smiling and nodding in order to appear polite, he looked over his shoulder and noticed that the men from his ship had unloaded almost everything and were preparing to mount their horses and move onwards with the entourage. Good. The sooner they would reach Jerusalem the better. He was done feeling anxious about his homecoming and was ready to be back to the place of his boyhood, where his parents awaited him with impatience. He was about to walk to where Lentulus, Apidius and Titus stood, speaking earnestly amongst each other, when a flying red cape of a legionary – similar to the one he was wearing – flashed before his eyes.

"Menelaus!" He was startled at the Greek's dishevelled appearance. "Are you alright?"

Pure panic escaped his friend's mouth. "Run your gladius through me! I'd rather die at your hand than at Titus'."

"What happened? What in Jove's name do you mean by that?"

"Bucephalus is gone!" Menelaus' eyes were wild with frenzy and frustration.

"Bucephalus?" Jason repeated questionably, raising his brows.

"Titus' horse! I lost him! I am surely a dead man!"

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