Nick Brown - The Emperor's silver

Once around the bend, Cassius saw the sergeant, fifty yards away. Ahead of him were two colossal chunks of rock that had at some point fallen from above. The trail passed the first one to the left then cut down the slope to avoid the second, which was much larger. The sergeant was approaching the first rock when he held up a hand and dismounted.

Cassius looked back again; Indavara and Cosmas had just rounded the bend. He waved to Indavara then held a finger to his mouth. They halted. Cassius dropped gently to the ground and watched Kallikres. The Syrian left his horse and walked carefully forward until he was next to the first rock, close to the point where the trail turned down the slope. His hand drifted to his sword hilt as he walked on, taking care with every step.

‘Bloody fool,’ breathed Cassius. Kallikres should have waited for them if he thought there was something worth investigating. But could they really have caught up already?

The sergeant reached the edge of the smaller rock and looked around the bend. He then walked swiftly back to his mount. Stroking the animal to keep it calm, he led it back to Cassius.

‘What is it?’

‘There are two horses tied up, drinking from a pool.’

‘Did you see the riders?’

‘No. But I heard a woman’s voice.’

Once they reached Indavara and Cosmas, Kallikres again described what he’d seen and they led the horses out of sight. While the others tethered them, Cassius walked back to the bend and surveyed the terrain ahead. The weariness had momentarily left him.

‘Cosmas, you and Kallikres continue along the trail and get as close as you can. Indavara and I shall come around the right side of the smaller rock and cut them off.’

As the four of them walked along the trail, Cosmas gripped his sword.

‘Not yet,’ said Cassius. ‘Main thing is to get into position, stop them getting to their mounts. We move in when I give the shout, not before.’

Once they reached the smaller rock, Cassius and Indavara edged down the slope. Thankfully, there were few fallen twigs underfoot; it was mainly grass and fern. Cassius kept close to the rock, moving around it until he was only yards from the trail. Conscious of his colourful tunic, he got down on his knees then crawled forward. Positioning himself between two ferns, he examined the ground ahead.

The horses were tied to a low branch on the other side of the trail. One was munching grass, the other was drinking from the pool. Cassius glimpsed something beyond them. He put his head even lower so he could see between the animals’ legs.

There they were; standing together in a small clearing. The woman’s back was to Cassius, her long hair quite clear. The man was facing her, a shaft of sunlight illuminating his side. Cassius thought they were talking but it was hard to be sure.

Indavara tapped his leg. Cassius withdrew and stood beside him. ‘Got them. Man and a woman about forty feet ahead of us. Horses are in the way, though. We’ll go round.’

They retreated into the forest, then continued down the slope, staying low and using the trees and the fern for cover. They covered about thirty yards before crossing the trail, where they had a clear view of Kallikres and Cosmas. The two sergeants were standing in the shadow of the larger rock, close to the mounts but well hidden.

Cassius and Indavara continued circling around until they were on the opposite side of the clearing to the horses. The man and the woman were still standing together, talking. Cassius and Indavara darted from tree to tree, the shadows of the canopy shrouding them.

They stopped behind a broad trunk and gently drew their swords.

‘He has only the dagger,’ whispered Indavara, ‘and I see nothing on her. I’ll come in from the right and handle him.’

‘Got it.’

Keeping his blade behind his body, Indavara moved off. Cassius squatted down and peered around the tree. The woman offered her hands and the man took them. She spoke. They embraced.

Cassius glanced to his right. Indavara was still moving but this opportunity had to be taken. As if hearing his thoughts, the bodyguard turned round and they exchanged a nod.

Cassius stepped out from behind the tree and strode into the clearing.

‘Now, Cosmas!’

The pair separated and spun around, eyes darting from one interloper to the other.

‘Who are you?’ said the man, who was younger than Cassius had expected.

‘Imperial Security. I’d like to talk to you about counterfeit coins.’

The man made no attempt to reach for his dagger as Indavara sprang forward and held his arm.

The startled horses whinnied and tugged at their tethers as Cosmas and Kallikres ran around the pool into the clearing. The sergeant gave a cry and for a moment Cassius thought he was about to strike the man but he instead threw his blade aside and embraced him.

‘What are you doing?’ demanded Indavara, letting go.

Cassius grabbed the woman by the wrist and spun her around. ‘Who are you?’

‘I am Lyra, sir,’ she said, in Latin, with what to Cassius sounded like a German accent. ‘I – I – think perhaps you are looking for my master and mistress. They told us to just keep riding but the horses grew tired.’

‘Oh no,’ said Cosmas.

Kallikres was holding the young man tight, his eyes squeezed shut. Only now did the youth reciprocate, putting his arms around the sergeant.

‘Where are they?’ Indavara asked the maid. ‘Your master and mistress.’

‘I don’t know,’ said the girl. ‘They left with the other staff.’

Gritting his teeth, Cassius dug his sword blade into the soil and knelt in front of it. ‘The “bodies” under the blanket. They were right there. We had them.’

With a bellow of rage, he stood, pulled the sword out of the ground and heaved it at the nearest tree.

It bounced off and fell into a clump of fern.

‘You would like to see her, I suppose – check she’s safe?’

‘Yes.’

Indavara and Simo were sitting on a low wall next to Diadromes’s stables, waiting. A young lad came out of the kitchens, hand covering a taper, and lit the four lanterns in the corners of the courtyard. Indavara glanced up at the purple, pink and yellow that now streaked the darkening sky.

‘Anything?’ Simo asked the lad, whom they had already consulted twice about progress within. They had seen messengers, clerks and gentlemen coming and going for the past two hours and weren’t even sure if Cassius had spoken to Diadromes yet.

‘Master’s still in his meeting,’ replied the lad before returning inside.

Indavara said, ‘If he’s not out soon, I’m leaving.’

‘I’m sure she’s all right,’ replied Simo. ‘The city seems to be getting back to normal.’

‘Really? What about that?’ Indavara pointed at a distant pall of smoke to the west. Apparently the weavers had set a factory ablaze and the authorities were struggling to bring it under control.

‘You should stay – at least see Master Cassius back to the tower. He has enough to worry about.’

‘Nobody wins every time.’

‘He was so close, though,’ said Simo.

‘ We were close. It was me that found the coins, don’t forget. If it hadn’t been for the stupid bloody magistrate and his centurion mate we would have got to that villa in time.’

‘What will happen to the sergeant, do you think?’

‘Kallikres? Not our problem. Do you know he cried when he held that boy in his arms? There were a few of the fighters who went with other men. I’ve always thought it a bit strange.’

‘It is unnatural,’ said Simo. ‘A terrible sin and an affront to the Lord.’

‘Some sins are worse than others, Simo. How many have done violence today?’