By Mike Haran
Rome’s envoy stares into waves as high as hills, topped with white caps roaming about the battlefield hunting their prey, some crashing into another, destroying both, some carrying on towards the jagged line of white caps on the horizon flashing sunlight.
The sky turns a flaming red and then purple.
Morning finds the sea flat and windless, dolphins easily pacing the ship. Flying fish skim, creating patches of white; seagulls in their hundreds wheel and screech.
The lateen sails of the Chola hove into sight.
Idly he fingers the leather tube containing the proposal from Emperor Gratian contemplating an Eastern alliance.
Some nice imagery, especially comparing the hills of Rome to the waves on the sea. Nice job.