A number of things happened at once. Aurelia screamed, ‘Brother?’ Two legionaries looked around, and saw Quintus. ‘Who gives a fuck what she is?’ roared one. ‘After what her friend has done, she’ll get what’s coming to-’ His words became an inarticulate scream as Aurelia’s protector thrust him through the side.
‘Drop your weapons and walk away,’ roared Quintus. There were still three uninjured legionaries. He didn’t mind about himself, but if they concentrated their attack on Aurelia and her protector, she could easily be killed.
‘I’m with you, brother.’
Urceus was by his side. Quintus felt a surge of relief. Now the odds were even. The legionaries faltered, and Aurelia’s protector drove his blade into one’s calf. The man fell, screaming, and he finished him off with a powerful thrust to his middle.
‘She’s a Roman, you say?’ asked one of the two remaining legionaries. He backed away to the side. ‘She’s all yours.’
‘Fuck off then,’ snarled Urceus.
‘C’mon, brother,’ said the first legionary.
‘Aye.’ Avoiding eye contact, the second man shuffled away.
‘You can’t let them live,’ said Aurelia’s protector. ‘They’ll tell someone that you aided the enemy.’
Utter shock bathed Quintus as he recognised the voice. The fighting and the man’s helmet and stubbly beard had prevented him from realising before. ‘Hanno?’
Hanno shook his head and laughed; then he stepped forward. ‘By all the gods, Quintus, I didn’t expect to see you here.’
‘You know this sheep-fucker?’ the first legionary screeched at Quintus.
Savagely, Quintus’ instincts took over. If word reached any officer about what he had just done, he’d be executed. So would Urceus. It was their lives against those of the two soldiers, and that was no choice at all. Spinning on his heel, he drove at the legionary with his scutum. Catching the man off guard, Quintus punched him in the belly with its iron boss. The oooofff as the air left the legionary’s lungs was followed by a high-pitched scream as Quintus’ gladius rammed over the top of his mail shirt and deep into the base of his neck. The shock in the man’s eyes pierced Quintus to the quick. It was you or me.
When he turned back, Hanno had finished off the last legionary.
Time stood still. Chest heaving, Hanno stared at Quintus. Quintus’ disbelieving eyes moved from Aurelia to Hanno and back, and back again. Urceus stood by, looking totally confused. It was Aurelia who broke the ice. She threw herself at Quintus, sobbing. ‘Brother! I never thought to see you again.’
He dropped his shield and pulled her close. ‘Aurelia. By all the gods, it’s good to see you.’
She pulled away after a long moment, smiling through her tears. ‘Thank you for saving us.’
‘Us,’ he repeated, wondering if he wasn’t hallucinating. Again his eyes moved to Hanno, who hadn’t moved. Hanno inclined his head, neither friendly nor unfriendly. ‘My thanks, Quintus. Things were going badly until you and your friend came along.’
‘You know both of them?’ cried Urceus.
‘I do.’ Urceus could also see Aurelia and Hanno, so he hadn’t gone insane. The situation was so ridiculous, so bizarre, that Quintus began to laugh.
After a moment, so too did Hanno. And Aurelia.
Urceus coughed. ‘This reunion is lovely, but we can’t stay here. Not with him’ — he pointed at Hanno — ‘being one of the enemy and all.’
‘Any Syracusans who see us aren’t going to be friendly either,’ added Hanno.
Quintus found that everyone was looking at him. Shit. ‘Where were you going?’ he asked Aurelia — and Hanno.
‘To Achradina. Hopefully, it will be holding out,’ said Hanno. Aurelia murmured in agreement.
‘Come with me,’ Quintus replied, staring at his sister. ‘I’ll keep you safe.’
‘I’m with Hanno,’ she replied, chin jutting. ‘Where he goes, I go.’
Quintus tried to digest the meaning of that, and could come up with but one conclusion. The world had gone mad, he thought. Not only were his sister and Hanno here in Syracuse, but they were companions. Lovers even. Anger flared in his belly. ‘I could force you to accompany me.’
‘You could try,’ growled Hanno.
Quintus glared at Hanno, who glared back. Urceus glared at both of them. A couple of moments went by.
The noise of tramping feet from the north brought the peril of their situation into sharp focus. ‘Make your mind up,’ said Urceus to Quintus. ‘Or we’ll all be in the shit.’
Quintus gave up trying to understand. Saving his sister came before everything else. ‘Back this way,’ he said. ‘Follow me.’
It seemed that they had done it, thought Hanno, peering at the main gate into Achradina. Incredibly, it was not shut. Epicydes had sallied forth from here at some stage in an attempt to save the city. He hadn’t come back — there was widespread fighting yet going on in the streets that led up to Epipolae — but he’d clearly ordered that the gate remain open until his return. Hours had passed since Quintus’ intervention had saved their lives. The sun had sunk behind the houses, and the sky was turning orange-red. It was as if the gods were recognising the oceans of blood that had been shed that day.
There had been little chance for conversation as they had hurried from house to alley, and alley to house, avoiding all open spaces. Despite this, Quintus and Aurelia had bent their heads together at every opportunity. They were at it now. Hanno was glad, for time was short and they would have much to tell each other. For his part, it was beyond strange to see Quintus again. It was also a relief to find that there was no hatred in his heart for his former friend. In other times, they would have remained friends, Hanno knew.
A wave of noise from behind them — frantic voices, the ring of weapons — announced an escalation in the struggle for the rest of Syracuse. ‘We had best not linger,’ said Hanno to Aurelia. ‘Once that gate shuts, it won’t be opening for a while.’
She nodded.
Quintus looked stricken. ‘You’re certain about going?’
It was Aurelia’s turn to be sad. Publius died because I came here, she thought. ‘Yes, brother. My destiny is with Hanno, come what may.’
‘Very well.’ Quintus pulled her into a fierce embrace. ‘I doubt that we will meet again in this life,’ he said, releasing her.
‘I hope that you are wrong. One day, when this is over, we shall see each other once more.’
‘Let it be so. The gods keep you safe, sister.’
‘And you, brother.’
Hanno found Quintus’ gaze upon him. ‘Look after her.’
‘You know I will.’
‘Even after so long, I do.’ Quintus took a deep breath and then held out his hand.
After the slightest hesitation, Hanno accepted the grip. They shook. ‘My thanks for stepping in. I’m in your debt.’
Quintus inclined his head in recognition. ‘Protect Aurelia, and I’ll consider us even.’
‘Very well. Stay alive if you can.’
‘You do the same.’
There was time for one last embrace between Quintus and Aurelia, and they parted.
Aurelia looked back several times as they walked away, but Hanno didn’t. When she muttered a prayer for Elira, he felt a trace of guilt and added his own. It had been the right decision not to search for her, however. They had only reached safety because of Quintus. Relief filled him as they approached the gate into Achradina. The walls were lined with hundreds of soldiers. The batteries of catapults were manned and ready. Despite the disaster that had befallen much of the city, this part wasn’t going to be taken today. He felt sure of it. Nor was the struggle for Syracuse over. Himilco’s army would arrive any day, and the tables could be turned on the Romans. Soon he would be able to send Hannibal news to that effect.
Until then, he and Aurelia were alive. So too was Quintus.