Simon Scarrow: The Eagles Conquest

'There's our man – Bellonius, I'd say.' Macro waved Cato round and pointed. 'See him?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Think we should rush him?'

'No, sir. We've no proof any more. We have to try and speak to the legate, or Narcissus.'

'The freedman is standing in his master's shadow, but I can't see the legate yet.'

'Over there.' Cato nodded directly across the hall. Vespasian's head was turned away from them as he kissed his wife. Behind them stood Lavinia, laughing happily as she watched the tormented bear. A simmering mixture of jealous loathing and remembered affection bubbled up from the pit of Cato' s stomach. Lavinia looked to one side and smiled. Following her gaze, Cato saw Vitellius sitting with a group of staff officers opposite the Britons. The tribune was looking over his shoulder and smiling back at Lavinia, causing Cato to clench his fists and press his lips together in a thin line.

'There's Vitellius, by the Emperor,' whispered Macro.

'Seen him.'

'What now?' Macro eased himself back behind the buttress and looked at his optio. 'Narcissus or Vespasian?'

'Vespasian,' Cato decided immediately. 'There's too many of those German bodyguards round Narcissus. We'd have no chance of getting a message through that lot. Let's wait for the next change in course and use the waiters as cover to get close to the legate.'

'Wait? Can't afford to. Won't take that lot outside long to recover their balls enough to go for help.'

'Sir, what do you think will happen if we're discovercd in here without any invitation or authority, and carrying weapons?'

'Point taken. We'll wait a little longer.'

As they crouched down behind the buttress, the savage growls and roaring from the beast fight reached a crescendo. The banquet guests cheered and howled like beasts themselves as the bear and dogs tore at each other in a terrifying frenzy. With a final shrill yelp that was abruptly drowned by the triumphant roar of the bear, the fight came to an end and the cheers of the audience subsided into loud conversation. Cato risked a glimpse round the roughly hewn stone buttress and saw the bear being led away in chains by a dozen burly Britons, blood dripping from its jaws and numerous wounds. Its mangled victims were dragged away on hooks.

There was a loud clapping from outside the hall and the doors burst open to admit dozens of imperial slaves who flowed round the sides of the hall.

'Let's go!' Cato hissed, tugging at Macro's arm. The two of them rose and causally joined the slaves making for the far side of the hall, mingling with them as they threaded through the mass of entertainers and party guests. Cato's heart pounded and he felt cold and afraid at the dreadful risk he was taking. If they were discovered, the chances were that they'd be cut down at once, before they had any chance to explain their presence. Cato could see Lavinia standing behind her master and mistress. Not far beyond, Vitellius had lisen from his couch and beckoned to Lavinia. With a quick glance to make sure her mistress wasn't watching, she ran lightly over to the tribune. Cato's heart hardened at the sight and he had to force her from his mind.

With Macro at his side, Cato shuffled into position behind Vespasian.

Just then Flavia glanced round, and frowned as she saw the two soldiers amongst the slaves. Then she smiled as she recognised Cato. She tugged her husband's sleeve.

On the far side of the great hall the head steward clapped his hands, and the slaves moved closer to the guest's laden tables. 'Sir,' Cato said quietly. 'Sir, it's me, Cato.'

Vespasian looked up and exactly reproduced his wife's reaction. 'What the hell is going on, Optio? And you, Macro? What are you doing here?'

'Sir, there's no time to explain,' Cato whispered urgently. He saw Vitellius take Lavinia by the hand and lead her towards the Emperor's table. 'That assassin Adminius warned us about is here.'

'Here?' Vespasian swung his feet to the floor and stood up. 'Who?'

'Bellonius. '

The legate's eyes snapped towards the group of Britons opposite, all of them drunk and shouting now, except Bellonius. He, too, was on his feet, one hand hidden in the folds of his tunic.

'How do you know it's him?' He swung round to face Cato. 'Quickly!' At the Emperor's table, Claudius licked his lips as he ran his eyes over the shapely slave girl standing before him. Far from being nervous at the prospect of being presented to her Emperor, the girl was smiling, coyly.

'She's quite something,' said Claudius appreciatively. 'Indeed, Caesar,' Vitellius agreed. 'And very willing.'

'I'm sure.' Claudius smiled at Lavinia. 'And are you ready to surrender to your Emperor?'

Lavinia frowned and anxiously turned to Vitelli us, but the tribune was staring straight ahead, utterly unmoved by the Emperor's advances. 'Well, young lady?'

Vitellius glanced quickly towards the tribal guests then turned back to his Emperor. 'Perhaps Caesar would like a closer look at the goods.' Without warning he grabbed Lavinia's tunic by the shoulders and \vrenched it down violently to expose her breasts. Lavinia screamed and struggled, but Vitellius held her tightly. All eyes turned on them.

There was a sudden movement to the Emperor's right as Bellonius sprang forward, racing towards the Emperor, a dagger glinting low in his right hand. Cato was the first to react, jumping up onto the table in front of his legate and launching himself across the hall towards

BelJonius.

'Stop him!' Cato screamed.

Bellonius darted a look sideways, teeth bared in a snarl, with the wide, blazing eyes of a fanatic, and continued running towards the Emperor. Cato threw himself headlong at the assassin, grabbing at his leg. He caught it, held tight, and managed to bring Bellonius tumbling down. Both pitched forward, but Cato held fast to his man, digging his fingers in for a moment before Bellonius kicked out with his spare foot and struck Cato square in the face. Instinctively Cato relaxed his grip and Bellonius tore free, scrambled up and threw himself towards the Emperor.

The German bodyguards, momentarily distracted by Vitellius' exposure of Lavinia, were running between their master and Bellonius. Claudius had raised his hands across his face and uttered a tremulous scream. The Briton ran on, dagger ready in an underhand grip, making straight for the Emperor. As he reached the first bodyguard, the German leaned back and smashed his shield into the side of the Briton's head.

Bellonius crashed to the stone floor'.

'Guards!' Narcissus shouted. 'Guards!'

It took only an instant for Vitellius to realise that the assassin had failed. Snatching a dagger from the belt of one of the bodyguards, he fung himself on the writhing Briton. The bodyguards were moving in but by the time they had reached the spot, it was all over. Vitellius rose to his knees, cheek and tunic front splattered with blood. Bellonius lay at his feet, dead, the handle of the body-guard's blade protruding from under his chin. The blade had been driven up through his throat into his brain and his eyes bulged with surprise. A dribble of dark blood formed at the side of his open mouth and rolled down his cheek.

In the Briton's hand lay the jewelled hilt of the Celtic dagger Lavinia had smuggled into the hall. She glanced down at it and then looked up at Vitellius with a terrified expression, slowly backing away from him even as she clutched the ruined tunic to her chest.

The bodyguards swarmed forward, weapons drawn. From the other direction the dinner guests and serving slaves were surging forward to get a better look. Cato rose to his feet and found himself surrounded by a dense press of bodies. He looked round and saw that Claudius was safe. Narcissus had slipped his arm round the Emperor and was shouting out orders to have the hall cleared. Cato turned his head and looked about anxiously for any sign of Lavinia. Then he saw her, struggling in the grip of Vitellius who was trying to drag her to one side.