Simon Scarrow - Gladiator - Vengeance

‘I think he’s dead.’

‘Impossible.’ Festus held up his dagger. There was only the dull metal gleam in the moonlight. No blood. ‘I didn’t touch him. I held the dagger out to the side.’

‘It wasn’t the blade.’ Marcus gestured towards the urn. ‘He hit his head on that.’

‘Damn. Stupid fool shouldn’t have run for it.’

‘Master! Master!’

They both looked round towards the bottom of the garden. There was a figure moving there, then another, and behind them the glow as a third approached, a torch held aloft.

‘Master?’ The first figure hesitated as he caught sight of Marcus and Festus. ‘Who’s there?’

‘Quick!’ Festus hissed. ‘We have to get out of here.’

They left the body and raced over to the flower bed where they had crossed the wall. Marcus threw his back against the wall and cupped his hands. Festus clambered up, roughly placing his hand on the crown of Marcus’s head to thrust himself up. His foot pressed heavily on Marcus’s shoulder as his fingers grappled for purchase on the top of the wall. At once he threw a leg over and lay along the wall, then reached down for Marcus.

‘Thieves!’ The voice from the bottom of the garden called out as he hurried forward, outlined by the glow of the torch of the man behind him. ‘Robbery! Raise the alarm!’

‘Come on, Marcus!’ Festus urged.

‘Wait!’ Marcus looked back at the house. ‘His record scroll … I must have it.’

‘No! There’s no time. Pindarus is dead. If you’re caught in here with the body they’ll charge you with murder. We must go. NOW!’

He thrust out his hand and Marcus reluctantly grasped it to pull himself up on the wall, his toes scraping the plaster as he scrabbled for any grip that would help him over the top.

‘Don’t let them escape!’ a voice cried out. ‘They’re getting away!’

Emboldened now, the men were rushing up the path and Marcus knew the body of their master would be discovered at any moment. Festus dropped down into the alley and Marcus quickly landed beside him.

‘What’s happened?’ Lupus asked anxiously.

Festus shoved him towards the street. ‘Later! We have to run. Go!’

They started up the alley, feet slapping on the stones. They had almost reached the street when a shrill cry cut through the peaceful night air. ‘Murder! MURDER!’

They ran into the street as the glow of more torches loomed above the walls of the neighbouring houses. They had not gone more than a few paces when a door opened in the next house and a man stepped outside. He saw the three figures racing past.

‘Stop! Oi, you lot! Stop!’

They ignored the command and ran on down the street towards the inn where they had rented a room.

‘Stop them!’ the man cried out as he gave chase. ‘Murderers! Stop ’em!’

More people began to emerge and then fifty paces ahead Marcus saw a group of young men heading up the street, talking cheerfully. As the man behind called out again, they stopped and saw the three figures racing towards them.

‘This way!’ Festus pointed to an alley and dived into it. Marcus and Lupus followed as the party further down the street began to echo the cry of the man chasing them. The alley was narrow, barely more than a pace wide, and hardly any moonlight penetrated the darkness. Marcus prayed to the Gods that they did not stumble over anything and twist an ankle or tread on anything sharp. Festus turned left at the first junction and they ran on to the next, then took a right fork. Behind them they could clearly hear the pursuit being taken up by more of the townspeople.

At the next corner they stopped, chests heaving as they gasped for air.

‘Which way … now?’ Lupus gulped.

‘I’m not sure,’ Festus said. ‘I’ve lost my bearings on the inn. But we can’t stay here.’

Marcus thought hard, taking account of the direction they had originally come from and the diversions that Festus had taken. He stepped towards the opening to another alley. ‘This way.’

Festus hesitated. ‘How do you know?’

‘Trust me and just follow!’

Marcus plunged into the gloom and trotted down the alley. It was relatively straight and when they reached a small square with a well he continued across it and into the street on the far side. Behind them the sound of their pursuers was starting to grow more distant and Marcus heaved a sigh of relief. He slowed his pace for a little longer and then eased into a walk. A moment later they stepped out into a street that all of them recognized. The inn was in sight a short distance to the left. With his heart still beating fast, Marcus tried to affect a casual air as he led his comrades towards the opening into the yard. Then he heard the sound of voices and laughter and paused.

‘Keep going,’ Festus insisted. ‘We have to get off the street as soon as possible.’

They walked into the yard and Marcus saw a handful of men sitting on the ground where the dice game had been taking place earlier. They were in their cups and called out a slurred greeting as the three figures passed by.

‘Come on, friendsh! Come ’n share a drink!’

‘No, thank you,’ Festus replied with forced levity. ‘Been a long day. The boys and I need some sleep.’

‘Shuit yerselves …’

Marcus lifted the latch on the door to their room and hurried inside, closing the door behind them. Lupus collapsed on his bedroll and gasped as he caught his breath. Marcus slumped opposite while Festus went back to the door and opened it a crack to look outside. When he was satisfied they had escaped their pursuers and that no one had raised the alarm, he shut the door and sat heavily. A thin shaft of moonlight pierced the window and washed their faces with a pale blue tint. Marcus could see the fear etched into Lupus’s expression as his chest rose and fell. Festus puffed his cheeks and stared fixedly at the far wall.

‘Do you think … we’re safe?’ asked Marcus.

Festus cracked his knuckles. ‘For now … But we were seen.’

‘It was dark. They couldn’t have seen clearly enough to identify us.’

‘But they did see a man and two boys. Pindarus is dead. They will be looking for the killers.’

‘But we didn’t kill him on purpose,’ Marcus protested. ‘It was an accident.’

‘Do you really think that will make any difference? You heard them. Murder, they said. They won’t be in any mood for an explanation. Besides, we were caught in his house. Where we had no good reason to be. They’ll say we were robbing his house and killed him when he came across us. And who can blame them …’

Marcus was silent for a moment. ‘Then what should we do? Lie low for a few days, until the auction?’

‘No. It’s too dangerous. We have to get out of Stratos. As soon as possible.’

Lupus gulped. ‘You mean now? Right away?’

Festus shook his head. ‘Not while there are people out on the streets looking for us. Besides the town gates are closed for the night. The only way out is over the wall. If we were caught trying to escape that way they would instantly connect us to Pindarus’s death. We’ll have to wait until morning when the gates are open, and leave like any other travellers. I just hope they won’t be watching for us.’

‘What will they do if they arrest us?’ asked Lupus.

‘What do you think they do to murderers?’ Festus responded curtly. ‘We’ll be put to death.’

‘Put to death …’ Lupus muttered. ‘Oh no … Oh no.’

‘Try and rest,’ said Festus. ‘We must rise early and leave the town, to put as much distance as we can between us and this place.’

‘But what about the auction?’ asked Marcus. ‘What about the man who’s coming from Decimus’s estate? If we miss him, then we’ll lose this chance to find my mother.’