Agent of Rome: The Far Shore

by Brown, Nick

  ‘That’s history now. You stayed. And you stood up to Carnifex. I don’t believe I would have.’

  Eborius said nothing, which to Cassius seemed like progress.

  He continued: ‘I thought I was going to die in that pit. You risked everything in coming after us – you should feel pride, not shame.’

  ‘Pride?’ Eborius looked towards the square. ‘For that?’

  ‘You’re a good officer. I see it, and your men know it.’

  ‘My men are dead.’

  ‘Not all of them. And Noster, Adranos and Lentellus need your help just like we do. No one else is going to get us out of here.’

  It took a long time for Eborius to reply. ‘You speak well, Corbulo.’

  ‘Better than I fight, so I hope you’ll continue to lead us as well as you have so far. What now?’

  Eborius got up on his knees and looked out of the window facing north. ‘Once it’s properly dark, we shall try and find a gap in the lines – get across the road.’

  ‘Let’s head back to the others then,’ said Cassius, moving towards the steps.

  Eborius stayed where he was. ‘Must be three hours or so since the bridge. Plenty of time for Carnifex to reach the town. He’s out there. Somewhere.’

  XXXIII

  Even in the time it took them to collect the others and move east, the numbers of Maseene seemed to swell, with warriors converging on Darnis from all directions. Eborius had already identified four different local clans; it seemed the rumoured coming together was no longer a rumour. After another hour of darting from one villa to the next, they finally reached what the centurion had decided was the best place to cross the Via Cyrenaica.

  Though the Maseene were in control of the road for at least two miles east of the square, the largest gap in their lines was next to the roofless temple of Jupiter. As Cassius joined him at the corner of the walled sanctuary behind it, Eborius quietly explained why. ‘They have always feared the place. It’s the only structure above ten feet still standing – testament to the power of the Roman god of gods.’

  ‘Even though the roof came down,’ said Cassius.

  ‘It didn’t come down. It was never built. They started work when I was a boy. The temple was paid for by a man named Sallustius, the richest man in Darnis at the time. He died before it was completed and his family decided they would rather spend the money on themselves. But Sallustius had insisted that every part was to be made as strong as possible – said he wanted it to still be here in a thousand years.’

  Cassius listened to the hurried breaths of the others arriving. He and Indavara had taken it in turns to lead Annia through the maze-like town. Even so, she had fallen several times and had barely uttered a word. She was standing behind Cassius now and he could feel her shivering, even though Indavara had found an old blanket and tied it round her shoulders with twine.

  ‘All here?’ asked Eborius.

  ‘All here,’ confirmed Noster, who was still guarding the rear.

  ‘Stay close.’

  The centurion led them up the broad stone steps and between two of the columns into the half-completed structure. There was one distinct advantage to moving through a temple: they invariably followed a uniform design.

  Close to the rear were the staircases leading up to the anterooms where religious documents and treasures would be stored. These rooms, however, hadn’t actually been built – there was just a section of floor mounted on a set of smaller columns.

  They then entered what would have been the temple’s central chamber. There was no proper flooring of tiles or mosaics, just slabs of stone underfoot. Neither was there a statue of Jupiter, only a large, unoccupied plinth where Eborius waited for the rest of the group to catch up. When they’d all come to a stop, Cassius realised he could hear the squeaking and scurrying of rats somewhere beneath.

  Eborius continued on through a wide doorway to the porticoed, open section at the front of the temple. Ahead was the podium where priests would address the faithful, then another set of steps leading down to the low-walled courtyard next to the road.

  The centurion paused by a column, Cassius and the others gathered behind him. The Maseene had kept away from the front of the temple, but had made fires on either side of it. The tribesmen could only be seen when they passed in front of the flames; lean, long-haired silhouettes, swigging wine or raising their javelins. From one group, a melodic song; from the other a burst of gleeful laughter.

  Cassius descended the steps as slowly as Eborius, holding the javelin high to stop it striking the stone. They were so close now; once across the road they could easily move along the shore to the harbour. But what of the Fortuna? Had Asdribar already left?

  Halfway across the courtyard, Eborius stopped next to the temple altar.

  ‘I’ll go first,’ he whispered. ‘Wait a few moments, then Adranos and Lentellus, you come across. Corbulo, you and the girl next. Then Noster. Indavara – will you cover the road?’

  Without a word, Indavara headed for the courtyard wall. Eborius and the soldiers moved up to the entrance.

  ‘Are we going to the ship now?’ Annia asked, teeth chattering.

  ‘Hopefully, miss,’ said Cassius.

  ‘I’m cold. Very cold.’

  ‘I know.’

  He took hold of her arm and led her over to the others. Eborius and the legionaries were down on their haunches, checking the road. Cassius could make out Indavara to the right. He was on his knees, head just above the level of the wall.

  ‘See you over there,’ said Eborius.

  He got to his feet and walked boldly across the road, his broad, mail-clad back soon merging with the darkness.

  Lentellus whispered a brief prayer to Jupiter, which Adranos repeated. Cassius closed his eyes and gave a line to the god of gods himself.

  ‘Now?’ asked Lentellus.

  ‘Wait, man,’ warned Cassius. ‘He said to give him a moment.’

  ‘Shit,’ said Adranos. ‘Look.’

  To their right, three Maseene warriors were walking away from the fire towards the square. One was holding a lantern.

  The legionaries shuffled backwards. Cassius and Annia followed Noster, who had crawled behind the left side of the wall. Cassius leant back against the cold brick, wincing as the spear blade clinked against the stone floor. The trembling in Annia’s fingers seemed to transmit itself to his, but he gritted his teeth and resisted it.

  The soft, near-silent footsteps of the Maseene made their proximity hard to gauge. They began talking just yards from the temple entrance, then stopped. The lantern seemed impossibly bright; its glow reached far beyond the altar into the courtyard. Cassius bowed his head.

  One of the tribesmen belched.

  Noster was to Cassius’s right. Cassius felt him reach for his sword, ready to draw it and strike. Cassius moved his hand to a less sweaty section of the javelin. He had to be ready too.

  Then came the faint sound of movement and the voices drifted away.

  ‘Go,’ whispered Noster, and they all returned to their positions by the entrance.

  ‘You two now,’ said Cassius.

  Lentellus and Adranos stood, edged away from the shelter of the wall, then they too were lost to the darkness.

  ‘Annia, are you ready?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Cassius took a last glance in both directions. All clear.

  He gripped her hand tight. They stood, then started across the road. At the first tap of his hobnailed boots, Cassius forced himself to slow down. Not daring to look at the Maseene, he stared straight ahead as they walked. Only when they were almost in the undergrowth on the other side did he spy Eborius. The centurion was squatting between two bushes, waving them forward. Once Cassius and Annia were beside him, he turned to his men.

  ‘There’s a path back there somewhere that leads down to the shore. Go and find it.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Cassius gazed back across the road but all he could see were the great columns
of the temple, black against the dark grey sky. Then two shapes materialised out of the gloom, one considerably bulkier than the other. Indavara and Noster came across side by side and dropped down next to the others.

  ‘Thank the gods,’ said Eborius.

  ‘Jupiter in particular,’ added Cassius.

  ‘Even if the ship has gone, the shore might be the safest way to get clear of the town,’ said Eborius.

  ‘And this village?’ asked Cassius. ‘We could make it by dawn?’

  ‘Probably. Let’s hope we don’t need to.’

  Noster stood up and peered towards the marsh. ‘That Lentellus and Adranos?’

  ‘Back already?’ said Eborius, turning round.

  Cassius could just about see the two figures coming towards them.

  ‘Get back across the road,’ said Indavara, moving in front of Annia.

  ‘What?’ said Eborius.

  ‘It’s not them,’ said Indavara, raising the bow. ‘Look.’

  Cassius saw it straight away. Of the two figures, one had only a single eye glinting in the dark. Mutilus.

  From behind him, a desperate cry: ‘Eborius, help us!’

  ‘Lentellus! Adranos!’ yelled Noster.

  ‘Hel—’ The second cry ended as a groan.

  Another rank of men appeared behind Mutilus.

  Cassius gripped Annia’s hand and ran back across the road with Noster and Eborius not far behind.

  Indavara drew the bowstring, aimed at Mutilus and let fly. He heard a metallic whine as the legionaries accelerated, armour jangling, blades held high. Trying to ignore the shouts of the nearby Maseene, he turned and sprinted after the others.

  Annia somehow struck the edge of the courtyard wall and Cassius felt her hand slip from his as she tumbled to the ground. Eborius and Noster skidded to a halt behind him as he helped her up.

  ‘Quick,’ said Eborius, striking him on the shoulder. ‘Back through the temple!’

  Cassius and Annia ran on, only stopping when they reached the bottom of the steps. Cassius turned in time to see Eborius and Noster on either side of the altar, blades already drawn.

  Indavara paused long enough to shoot another arrow at the legionaries, then dashed through the entrance. One of the soldiers cried out and managed only a couple of stumbling steps before hitting the ground. Mutilus jumped over him and led the others into the courtyard.

  ‘Cassius!’

  Annia pointed up the steps. Standing at the top was a large figure flanked by two men on each side. The silhouette of the cut-off crested helmet was unmistakable. Carnifex waved a hand and the four legionaries came charging down the steps.

  Hauling Annia along beside him, Cassius made for the eastern side of the temple.

  ‘They’re behind us too,’ he cried. ‘This way!’

  Eborius and Noster sped after him.

  Indavara was last away. The bow and quiver were now more trouble than they were worth, so he threw them at Mutilus and darted round the altar after the others.

  Carnifex’s men came down from the podium at an angle, trying to cut him off, and the quickest of them was almost ahead of him. Bounding down the steps, the legionary raised his sword. He was right-handed, so Indavara reckoned his blade was far enough away to risk a pre-emptive strike.

  He leapt up two steps, straight into the legionary’s path. The shoulder charge knocked the man clean off his feet and sent him crashing into the unforgiving stone. ‘Uhhh!’

  One of the soldiers behind tripped and came flying over the top of him. A flailing hand caught Indavara’s trailing boot. He stumbled and overbalanced so far forward that his hands scraped the steps, but he somehow stayed upright. A few more paces took him to the edge of the temple. He jumped down to the ground then followed the others to the right. More shouts rang out from the road; the Maseene were on the move.

  ‘Go!’ yelled Eborius from somewhere ahead.

  Cassius didn’t doubt Annia’s willingness to run but the girl was simply exhausted. She was whimpering at every step and almost fell again as they reached the rear of the temple.

  ‘Annia, come on.’

  Eborius and Noster were just a few paces behind and only narrowly avoided running into them.

  Indavara had already caught up. He shouldered his way between the two soldiers. ‘Javelin!’

  Cassius gave it to him.

  Eborius took Annia’s other hand and they set off round the corner of the temple with Noster.

  Indavara drew the javelin back over his shoulder as the first of the legionaries charged into view. This man had evidently overtaken Mutilus, but he paid a heavy price for his enthusiasm. Again Indavara aimed low and again he hit something, because in a moment the soldier careened head first into the ground in front of him. Indavara sprang away once more.

  The others had just turned left down the next street, Cassius and Eborius virtually dragging Annia along. Cassius knew it was only a matter of time before she fell again.

  ‘Eborius, she’s had it,’ he said. ‘We have to stop and hide somewhere.’

  ‘All right, do it,’ replied the centurion. ‘We’ll try and draw them off. Noster, this way!’

  The two soldiers stopped, then ran back the way they’d come.

  Luckily for them, Indavara was unarmed. He had just turned on to the street, and if he’d had a sword in his hands, might well have swung at the two figures speeding towards him out of the gloom.

  ‘Keep going!’ yelled Eborius before cutting right into a nearby alley. He and Noster continued shouting to try and attract the legionaries’ attention.

  Indavara ran on, but soon realised there was no one coming after him. He slowed to a walk and listened. More shouts to the east, but he couldn’t tell from whom. And he thought he could hear quieter voices too, close by. Then came pounding footsteps from behind him and the rattle of heavy armour.

  ‘Got one!’

  ‘Over here, sir!’

  Knowing he could outpace the legionaries, Indavara bolted down the street and was already pulling away when he heard a familiar voice spitting curses. He spied Cassius to his right, trying to force a door open, Annia beside him. They turned as Indavara vaulted over the villa wall.

  ‘Corbulo, stand clear!’

  Cassius pulled Annia out of the way as Indavara sprinted past and leapt at the door. He struck it with his shoulder and knocked it clean out of the frame. Landing right on top of it, he slid into the room beyond.

  Cassius hurried past him, Annia in tow. ‘They’re right behind us!’

  Once back on his feet, Indavara reached down, gripped the sides of the door and picked it up. He waited until the first legionary ran into the dwelling, then heaved the door straight into his chest.

  ‘Uufff!’

  The wood splintered as it struck the man’s plate armour, the impact sending him backwards into the others.

  The villa was dark. Cassius blundered forward, determined not to let go of Annia. Pushing a table out of the way, he found himself in front of another door. He tried the latch but it too was locked.

  ‘Move!’ yelled Indavara.

  The legionaries had recovered quickly.

  ‘I’ve got it,’ said Cassius. He pushed Annia aside, took a run-up and threw himself at the door. To his surprise, it gave way easily and he half fell into the next room, colliding with a chair by the wall to his left.

  Vaguely aware that there was light coming from the right, Cassius turned to see Indavara and Annia bundle through the doorway, the broad bulk of Mutilus looming behind them. Lacking any other armament, he picked up the chair.

  Him or me.

  Summoning a roar, Cassius darted in front of Indavara and Annia and smashed the chair down on Mutilus’s helmet. The chair disintegrated in his hands but at least stopped the optio. Head still down, Mutilus struck out wildly. His arm caught Cassius a glancing blow on the face, knocking him back. Cassius hit something and dropped on to his backside. From the tone of the ensuing grunt, he realised the something was In
davara.

  Suddenly there was a lot of light coming from the other side of the room. Mutilus and his men stopped just beyond the doorway. Cassius, Indavara, Annia and the legionaries all turned at the same time.

  Only a few yards away, a youthful Maseene tribesman was holding up a lantern, staring at them open-mouthed. Behind him at least twenty more of the young warriors were gathered round a fire in the middle of the room, where a steaming pan hung from a spit. Most of them were holding wooden mugs and many of them spilled their wine as they overcame their initial shock and jumped up. The biggest of the youths pointed at the interlopers and yelled, then reached for his javelin.

  ‘Out the way!’ growled a familiar voice.

  Mutilus and the other legionaries parted and Carnifex himself strode into the room, clad in muscle cuirass and helmet once more. Sweat glistened on his broad, scowling face. He aimed the tip of his sword at Cassius and Indavara as they got up. ‘I’ve had about enough of this chasing through the streets shit.’

  Cassius looked over his shoulder. Annia was pressed up against the wall beside another door.

  A javelin flew across the room and struck the side of Carnifex’s helmet. Without even flinching, he turned and glanced curiously at the Maseene. Raising his sword high, he bellowed at them. ‘Yaahhhhhh!’

  The young tribesman with the lantern stumbled backwards and fell over.

  Carnifex chuckled as more of his legionaries piled into the room behind him.

  ‘You know the problem with these barefoots?’ he said to Cassius and Indavara. ‘Never bothered to understand the value of a good set of armour.’

  The big Maseene warrior dropped his javelin, walked to the fire and wrenched the pan off the spit. The other tribesmen dived out of the way as he ran across the room then swung it straight at Carnifex. Cassius and Indavara turned away as the pan struck the centurion’s cuirass, sending most of the boiling water straight up into his face.

  There was a strange pause, then Carnifex’s sword clattered to the floor. He clutched his cheeks and fell to his knees, steam rising from between his fingers. ‘Aaaggghhh!’

  Emboldened, the young Maseene warriors advanced, javelins ready.