Traveller Probo

With a clatter, swords were dropped onto the table while the men gathered expectantly. Finally, the day had come that they were to cast aside their dulled, weighted training swords to use real weapons. There would, of course, be an element of danger with a real blade, which each found exhilarating.

The Travellers had done everything they could to live the culture of the Byzantine Empire. Their clothes were those of Kievan Rus traders, the raw-woollen tunics and breeches all too similar to those worn by the Saxon Traveller team. Most of the men were bearded, their hair long and tied back with leather thongs. They wore soft, handmade leather boots and belts which held pouches and a sheathed knife. Another favoured item of apparel was the leather jerkin that acted to not only protect from the weather but also from thorns and branches normally experienced in overland travel.

Osborne had ordered the trainers to dress like the men so they could also experience the challenges of living as a Traveller. He had retained his long moustache, while his hair had grown. On inspecting his men, Osborne smiled. Red hair, blonde hair and brown bent to examine the weapons. The only black-headed Traveller was Parker. Professor Taylor suggested that Parker, who had largely taken the academic under his wing, could be written off as the result of rape by invading Turkic horsemen. He doubted there would be undue attention given to their dark-haired companion if the team managed the backstory correctly.

They trained extensively on how to move through and live off the land, though Osborne emphasised combat training, especially in countering attack. The men had developed advanced spear and sword skills as they sought the advantage against any number of foes, whether on foot or mounted. They even created their own sport, where two combatants, protected by helm and shield, threw blunted spears at each other until one scored a hit, or until they were exhausted. Chuck stressed the usefulness of the controversial training as they learned to dodge a thrown spear with surprising alacrity, though whether their abilities could compare to someone who had worked with spears all their life, who could tell?

Quite some effort had been given to analysing how to best dismount and kill a mounted attacker, another skill lost in the evolution of warfare. Since the Saxon Traveller project, there had been enormous interest in traditional fighting skills, with a range of sporting organisations now using medieval fighting arts for fitness and self-defence. There had even been talk of including one or more of the medieval fighting arts as a display sport in the next Olympics. The Traveller trainers had, however, found it increasingly difficult to source experts with enough ability to enhance the skills of their men.

As Osborne watched the men examine the swords, he hoped they would not have to put their skills to the test. Each Traveller was to be armed with a spear, knife, and sword. Naturally the men developed their own preference in weapon, though they had to be efficient with each.

The blacksmith, Owen, had been involved in Saxon Traveller and was well acquainted with the original Travellers. The brawny, bald, bearded craftsman headed a team of ironworking specialists who hailed from England, Germany, America and Turkey and smelled perpetually of smoke, iron and singed hair.

“See here,” he exclaimed as he lovingly picked up one sword and presented it to the team. “This is the slightly curved sabre of the earlier Middle Ages, the paramêrion. Its fundamental advantage is mainly for us smiths, because a single-edged curved blade is easier to make than a straight blade.” Owen handled the blade with easy familiarity. “These were the Ford Model T of the time, ’cause they were mass produced. This style is much easier for the smith to fix any deviations in the metal that can result from the hardening and tempering process. It’s rumoured to have originated with the nomadic tribes of western Asia, probably because their smiths weren’t as skilled. It’s worn from the shoulder or a baldric, the harness favoured by our Saxon Traveller lads.”

The men took turns to feel the weight and balance of the weapon.

“What about the straight sword?” questioned Chuck as he gestured to the bench.

The smith nodded, “Well that is the spathion, isn’t it? This was used by all types of troops and was normally carried from a shoulder strap, while more lightly armoured infantry could have the slightly smaller spathion zôstikion we see here. As you can imagine, that can be hung from the belt of a cavalry rider and hangs straight down.”

The blades flashed in the overhead lights as the men tested which they preferred. Thumbs ran along the blade edge while eyes peered to gauge the straightness of the steel.

“So, what we’ve done is made these prototypes for you,” he continued. “Each are typical to what we consider to be the Byzantine design of the time. To avoid attention, we’ll keep decoration to a minimum. Our steel is better than theirs, of course, or at least that’s what we reckon anyway, so these will stay sharp and do the job well.”

Osborne turned to the trainers and Professor Taylor and Professor Askar, who watched silently. “Well, what d’you think?” he asked. “What model shall we suggest or shall we let the lads choose.”

Baki spoke up, “Most Turks would prefer the paramêrion. It is like our ancestors wore in battle but I suggest each choose for themselves.”

There was a murmur of assent and Chuck nodded his agreement. “Yeah,” he grunted, “they’ve trained with both designs.”

Owen nodded happily. “Great! Just let us know and we’ll ’ave them made.”

Taylor simply shook his head. “I won’t avail myself of the offer Captain. You know I can’t fight with these things.”

Osborne simply shrugged. “But you’ll have to wear a seax, like the rest of the team.”

As the Travellers handled the weapons, Osborne took the big English smith aside. “Owen, I suggest your blokes make them like we discussed earlier. Do you think you can have them in time?”

Owen grunted, “Easy. Just have the lads come in with their final choices over the next day or two and we’ll be onto it!”

Osborne turned to leave, his mind as busy as always. Horses were soon to be trucked in to develop the men’s horse skills.

That, he smiled, should make things a little more interesting.