Aegean Sea, 440BC

The noise of boots coming down the ramp seemed to last a lifetime for Alexander, as if the whole of the port had been up on the main deck and now sheltered in the hold. The ship seemed to dip and then start to move more. He realised in shock that they’d cast off. With a loud crack of the sails taking wind, the ship surged on, soldiers falling, unbalanced by the sudden change in pitch. A few fell into each other with some good natured ribaldry from their unwilling crutches.

A few even fell to the deck, unable to find a tunic to grab to hold them steady. One stumbled onto the ramp, the change in level unbalancing him further causing him to fall off the ramp sideways and crash to the planks. The nearest soldiers laughed at him as he rolled around, tryin...

Please subscribe to keep reading.