by Brown, Nick
They were led over to the wall.
‘Bring me those chairs.’
Once a legionary had done his bidding, Carnifex sat Annia down facing the wall, her bound hands in her lap.
Not for the first time in his life, Cassius was grateful for being tall. He reckoned the nails were about seven feet off the floor. The men had stretched his arms high and dropped the rope tying his wrists over the nail, but he could easily touch the floor. Carnifex shook his head as he watched his legionaries struggle to get Indavara up high enough. Three of them eventually managed it, though the toes of Indavara’s boots were barely supporting his weight. He’d made no attempt to resist or even curse at them. Cassius hoped he was saving his strength.
‘You lot – disappear,’ ordered Carnifex.
The legionaries helped the other two with the body and left through the newly opened door. Beyond was a sunlit section of grass enclosed by a cactus hedge.
Carnifex sat down and leant back in the chair, arms crossed. He turned and looked at Annia. Her hair had come loose and hung down over her face. She had lost her stola and her pert breasts were visible through her tunic.
‘Mmm,’ said the old centurion. ‘There’s women, then there’s girls.’
A soldier arrived with a jug of wine and a plate of bread and cheese. Carnifex pointed at the floor next to his chair. Once the soldier had put the food and drink down, he left. After a few more moments spent staring at his captives, Carnifex picked up the jug and drank noisily.
‘Sore throat,’ he said, standing up when he’d swallowed half of it. ‘That’s what comes of having some stinking rag in your mouth for twelve hours.’ He took another mouthful of wine and spat it at Indavara.
‘How you doing, One Ear?’
As the wine ran down over the still-drying blood, Indavara looked at him.
Carnifex grinned. ‘I’m guessing knocking me about with that stave is starting to seem like a pretty bad decision, eh?’
‘Yes,’ said Indavara. ‘I should have stuck you with a blade and had done with it.’
Carnifex laughed, and turned to Cassius. ‘I do like him.’
He sat back down, grabbed a hunk of bread and started chewing his way through it.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Annia said quietly, head bowed.
‘You should be, Beautiful,’ said Carnifex. ‘Otherwise these two might just have got away with it. What were you doing on Rhodes, Streak? The truth – or Beautiful here won’t keep her name for long. I’m not a big face man.’
Carnifex reached over and tweaked Annia’s left breast. She let out a little cry and managed to drag the chair a few inches away.
Cassius cursed Carnifex, then the girl, then himself, for ever allowing her to set foot on the Fortuna Redux.
‘I was there to meet Memor,’ he said. ‘I arrived at the house the day after Nicasias killed him.’
‘Lucky.’
‘That’s not the word I’d use.’
Carnifex tucked in to the lump of cheese.
Cassius doubted he would get another chance to reason with him, though he knew his chances of success were negligible.
‘Centurion, I’m a realist. I’m not going to pretend my position is a strong one. But neither is yours. The Service know I’m here. If they don’t hear from me soon they will come here and they will retaliate. You may think you’re untouchable, but I can assure you, you’re not.’
Carnifex didn’t bother to finish his mouthful of cheese before replying. ‘Streak, no one gets post out from here. Which means if you did contact your masters, you sent a letter from Rhodes. You telling me you already knew then that Nicasias was on his way back to Darnis?’
Cassius was ready for that one. ‘Your assassin friend talked too much. To a thief named Drusus Viator – on the ship that brought them to Rhodes from Paphos. My superior is named Aulus Celatus Abascantius. He was friends with Memor, as was Chief Pulcher – I’m sure you know that name – and when they find out the girl’s missing too, I think there’ll be a ship full of troops arriving here pretty soon.’
‘Careful, Streak. I’m starting to think maybe you’re threatening me.’
‘Not at all. Just making sure you understand the consequences of your actions.’
‘Thing is,’ replied Carnifex. ‘I’ve known Nicasias since he was your age. One of my best men till he was discharged and took up a new career. When he arrived here needing to lie low for a bit I was happy to look after him – in return for a favour for some associates and me. He sat in the mansion garden yesterday and swore with his hand on his heart that he hadn’t spoken to anyone about me or Darnis. Reckon I’ll take his word over yours any day.’
Cassius thought suddenly of the timber yard. Nicasias had ridden in from the south, probably returning from the mansion. The exchange of greetings between him and Carnifex at the quarry had been purely for the benefit of the three conspirators.
‘Course we’ll have to do something about your friends at the harbour,’ Carnifex continued. ‘I could use a ship. But all things considered, probably better to just kill them all and sink it.’
Cassius’s head dropped. He had no leverage over the old centurion and Carnifex knew it. He’d been a fool not to listen to Eborius that night at the barracks. They could have already escaped Darnis on the Fortuna and left Abascantius to deal with Carnifex later. How many lives would have been saved?
‘You should have stayed on Rhodes, Streak. You already know what I do to grain men who get in my way.’
‘I didn’t know what I would find here. I was just doing my job.’
Carnifex stood up again. He walked over to Cassius, then glanced back at Annia.
‘Reckon that’s what her old man said when he had me sent here. Took me twenty-five years to reach legion quartermaster of the Fifth Macedonian. Prefect was a useless arse-stabber with a pretty face and a palace accent just like yours, Streak. I led them men. All five thousand of them. Up into the mountains of Dacia to root out mercenaries, north to see off the Goths, even against other legions when them usurpers tried their hand.’
Carnifex stepped closer. ‘You know, I’m in the history books, me. First man to win four medals in one battle. All for chopping the heads off Carpi tribesmen no brighter than the barefoots round here. Was one of them gave me this.’
Carnifex pushed a finger into the hole in the middle of his forehead. His stinking bulk had blocked out all the light.
‘Then one day the prefect gets a letter from that cocksucker Memor and it’s marching orders for old Carn. And for what? Taking a few little extras here and there. So here I am, and I reckon that as Rome don’t need me no more, I don’t need Rome.’
‘I didn’t start this,’ Cassius said quietly. ‘You did – when you sent Nicasias to kill Memor.’
‘He’d still be alive if he’d kept out of my affairs. Same goes for you, Streak, but you just had to stick your snout in.’
Carnifex gripped Cassius’s nose between his thumb and forefinger. Cassius shut his eyes as the centurion pinched harder. He could feel his teeth grinding together.
Carnifex twisted his fingers in an instant, snapping Cassius’s nose.
He felt bone splinter and pierce his skin. As blood ran down into his mouth and his eyes filled with water, he heard himself scream. Forgetting his hands were tied, he tried to bring them down and ended up spasming against the wall, boots scraping the floor.
But the pain had peaked. And as it subsided he heard a voice: ‘Corbulo, put your head back.’
‘Cassius,’ Indavara continued. ‘Put your head back.’
Cassius did it, and after a time the flow of blood began to slow.
‘Keep it up,’ advised Indavara calmly. ‘Deep breaths.’
Cassius blinked away salty tears and spat out blood.
Procyon and Mutilus walked into the barn. With only a passing glance at the three captives, they stopped beside Carnifex and bowed their heads.
‘Sir.’
Carnifex sat down aga
in and spoke while he chewed through the last of the bread. ‘Twelve hours I was gone. You had a hundred and thirty men and you didn’t manage to send one of them to a hut less than a mile from the harbour. If not for this’ – he nodded at Annia – ‘I’d probably be on my way back to Rome by now.’
‘I’m truly sorry, Centurion,’ said Procyon.
‘Me too, sir,’ added Mutilus.
‘Who’s still out?’
‘Couple of squads on horseback,’ replied Procyon. ‘Everyone else is here.’
Carnifex continued to speak without looking at them. ‘Gather the men by the barracks. We’re going to have some fun with these two.’
‘Sir,’ said Procyon. ‘We lost four men in skirmishes with the Maseene overnight and there have been several sightings of a large band of them gathering on the plain.’
‘How big?’
‘Around a hundred.’
Carnifex snorted. ‘I’m shaking.’
‘Sir, even some of our people in the town are talking about leaving. And the locals – this talk of the clans coming together—’
‘Talk. How much bloody talk have we heard in the last year? What does Sulli say?’
‘He says the clans haven’t come together in a century and they’re not about to start now.’
‘Exactly. And he knows them better than anyone.’
‘We’ve also seen more of them close to the town, sir,’ added Procyon. ‘More than ever.’
Carnifex sighed. ‘All right. Standing order – every man to carry full weaponry, armour and shield at all times. Now do as I said and gather them at the barracks.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Procyon and Mutilus left.
Cassius decided he had nothing to lose. ‘Carnifex.’
His voice sounded strange: muted and low. ‘It’s not only the Service you have to worry about. Another of my patrons is Prefect Oppius Julius Venator of the Fourth Legion. I have powerful friends. They will avenge me.’
Carnifex took a last swig of wine.
‘What’ll they know, Streak, these friends? That you, your mate, a girl and a bunch of sailors headed south from Rhodes after some ship? Could easily have been lost in a storm. There won’t be a trace of you – I’ll make sure of it. All except Beautiful that is. I’ve got me a maid, but I’ve done her every way I can think of – and you know what, it’s getting a little stale. Think the magic’s gone.’ Carnifex ran a finger down Annia’s tear-stained cheek. ‘A year or two of fun with me then I’ll hand her down to Procyon and Mutilus. When they’ve had their fill, she can join the other serving girls and double as a barracks whore.’
Carnifex stood and lifted Annia up off the chair, his thick, filthy fingers around her pale throat once more.
Indavara strained against the ropes, his face colouring as veins bulged on his arms and neck.
Carnifex laughed. ‘Reckon you boys’ll be thinking on that – and how there was nothing you could do about it – just before your eyes close for the last time.’
XXVIII
Simo and Asdribar hurried past the dye works, anxious to see what had drawn so many of the townspeople into the square. Cassius had told neither of them about the plan to capture Carnifex, only that he and Indavara would be returning at dawn. And so when a tearful, desperate Clara reported that Annia was also missing, Asdribar didn’t wait long before deciding they should head into Darnis to investigate.
As they got closer to the crowd, Simo realised the townspeople were gathered around a group of legionaries. Behind them, lined up on the Via Cyrenaica, were a dozen carts loaded with belongings. There were many women there, a few children too.
Simo kept close to Asdribar as the Carthaginian pushed his way through the locals. Noster and the other soldiers had formed a protective cordon around two injured comrades, one of whom had a bandaged thigh, the other a wounded wrist. All the soldiers had the ‘II’ sewn on to their tunic sleeves. Centurion Eborius was kneeling between them, trying to talk to his men, but the locals were firing questions at him.
‘Where were they attacked?’
‘What about the First Century?’
‘Why isn’t Carnifex taking action?’
‘Why aren’t you doing anything?’
Eborius stood and held up his hands. ‘One at a time. Give me a chance to speak.’
As the crowd quietened, he noticed Simo and Asdribar. ‘Why are you still here?’
‘They didn’t come back,’ said Asdribar. ‘And we can’t find the girl.’
‘Noster, with me.’
The veteran followed Eborius as the centurion ushered Simo and Asdribar away through the crowd, some of whom groaned and shouted protests. Only when he was out of earshot did Eborius speak again.
‘Noster, go and check the hut. Quickly!’
The legionary ran over to a group of horses tied to a vacant market stall.
‘When did the girl go missing?’
‘Dawn,’ replied Asdribar. ‘Her maid said she went out on deck and never came back inside.’
‘She knew what Corbulo was doing?’
‘No, sir,’ answered Simo. ‘He didn’t even tell us.’
‘She must have been waiting for them,’ said Eborius. He gazed towards the harbour. ‘Perhaps she saw me – where I went.’
‘She was desperate to know what was going on,’ said Simo.
‘So am I,’ said Asdribar. ‘What’s this about a hut?’
‘Just down the coast there,’ answered Eborius. ‘That’s where they were keeping him.’
‘Keeping who? And what about last night? Why were you and those others searching my ship?’
Eborius lowered his voice. ‘All right, listen. We wanted to keep it between us but you may as well know now. It was Carnifex – he was behind the murder of Annia’s father. We grabbed him yesterday. Corbulo and Indavara were holding him in the hut. I had to go along with the search, pretend I was helping his men.’
‘So what do you think happened?’ asked Asdribar.
‘I don’t know. It’s only been an hour or so. Let’s see what Noster finds.’
Two men ran over to them. Simo expected them to address Eborius, but it was Asdribar they were interested in.
‘That your ship?’ asked one.
‘It is.’
‘How much to take us and our families?’
‘My vessel’s not available for hire.’
Simo was relieved to hear that. From what he’d seen over the past week, the captain was a good, fair-minded man. But sitting somewhere in his deckhouse was a stash of gold coins, and if Master Cassius, Indavara and Annia really were missing, surely he might be tempted to leave – especially as the situation in Darnis seemed to be worsening by the hour.
‘We have money,’ said the man.
‘Plenty of money,’ added the other.
‘You heard the man,’ said Eborius. ‘Back over there. I’ll speak to you all in a moment.’
The pair grudgingly left.
Asdribar glanced at Eborius’s soldiers. ‘What’s going on?’
‘More attacks by the Maseene last night,’ explained the centurion. ‘Killed a farmer and his sons. My men were hurt after running into another lot. Some of the townspeople have already gone. The Maseene won’t harm the locals, but the settler families have a lot more to fear. They’re thinking about forming a column and heading west to the Five Cities. They want me and my men to provide an escort. Wait here.’
Eborius ran back to the crowd and quietened them down. Simo and Asdribar listened as he tried to reassure the people but it seemed minds had already been made up. As he spoke, a man wearing a purple-edged cloak approached the crowd.
‘That the governor?’ asked Asdribar.
‘I think so,’ said Simo.
Lafrenius Leon stopped at the edge of the crowd and waited for people to turn and notice him. He was lean almost to the point of emaciation, his thinning hair forming a V atop his head. When the noise died down, he clasped his hands behind him and spok
e with an affected gravitas. ‘People, these are difficult times. But we must put our trust in Centurion Carnifex and the men of the First Century. They have protected our lands for years—’
‘They can’t protect a damn thing any more!’
‘Where is Carnifex anyway?’
‘I heard he’s missing – that’s who they were out looking for last night. I heard the Maseene got him!’
Leon blanched and didn’t say another word. As the discussion descended once more into a shouting match, Noster’s mount came charging back into the square. When Simo saw what the legionary was carrying, he knew something had gone dreadfully wrong. Eborius shouldered his way back through the crowd and ran over to them.
‘The hut’s empty, sir,’ Noster said as he dismounted. ‘All I found were these …’
He showed Eborius Indavara’s stave and dagger and Cassius’s sword.
‘… and this,’ he added, passing his centurion a few strands of rope.
‘Cut,’ said Eborius. ‘By the gods, he’s free.’
He glanced around the square.
‘Where could Master Cassius and the others be?’ asked Simo.
‘Look,” said Eborius, “I did all I could to help. My first obligation is to these people.’
Another of the legionaries jogged over to the centurion. ‘Sir, they want to leave now. They say they’re going with or without us.’
Eborius looked despairingly up at the sky before responding. ‘Take the men back to the barracks and saddle the horses. I want everyone in full armour and ready to leave within the hour.’
‘Yes, sir.’
The legionary hurried away.
‘You’ll do nothing?’ Simo asked quietly.
‘Remember your place, servant,’ snapped Eborius. ‘Carnifex lives in a fortified compound and has one hundred and thirty men. I have thirty-seven. Thirty-five that can walk.’
‘And the girl?’ said Asdribar.
‘There are women here. And children. I suggest you return to your ship and cast off. I’m sorry.’
Eborius looked at the weapons Noster was still holding and pointed at Simo. ‘You might as well return those.’
He walked back towards the crowd.
‘You won’t leave them, will you, Captain?’ asked Simo.