Marcus turned to him impatiently. ‘Well, what do you think we should do? Give up?’
‘Certainly not. There is a way that might get us through that door. But first I need my writing materials. Listen …’
Marcus was still keeping watch when Festus and Lupus returned two hours later. Festus was carrying a small bundle under his arm and he parted company with Lupus at the end of the street before coming over to Marcus.
‘How’s Cerberus coping?’ Marcus asked at once, anxious that his dog had been alone for most of the day.
‘Not happy, as you might imagine. Pining for you the moment we returned. And he didn’t seem to take kindly to being tied to a post either. Won’t be for much longer, though, if this works.’ He jerked his thumb towards Lupus who was waiting at the corner of a building.
‘Do you think it will?’
Festus shrugged. ‘What choice have we got? I can’t think of anything better. We must put our trust in Lupus and be ready to act. Speaking of which …’ He carefully undid the bundle of material and, making sure that no one saw them, revealed two swords. Marcus slipped one out of the bundle and under his cloak, before Festus flipped the material over the remaining sword and held it under his arm.
‘Ready?’
Marcus nodded.
‘Then let’s do it.’ Festus turned towards Lupus and made a small gesture. Then he and Marcus threaded their way through the market until they had passed fifty paces beyond the house of Decimus. When he was satisfied they were far enough away Festus turned back towards the entrance of the house, with Marcus at his side. They began to walk casually along the street, while ahead Marcus could see Lupus detach himself from the corner of the building and walk steadily towards them.
Lupus felt his heart beating fast against the inside of his chest as he made his way towards the man sitting outside the door. He had changed into his best tunic and cleaned his boots and combed his hair so that he might pass for a member of the governor’s household. He climbed the two steps leading to the porch. The watchman did not bother rising from his stool but leaned forward slightly to block Lupus off from the door.
‘Yes?’
‘I’ve come from the governor’s palace,’ Lupus explained. ‘With an urgent message from Euraeus to Decimus.’
‘Let’s see it then.’ The watchman held out his hand.
Lupus tried to calm his nerves as he reached into his haversack and brought out the sealed letter. The wax seal bore an impression of an eagle and there was a neat signature across the fold in the parchment. The watchman examined it briefly and Lupus prayed that the seal he had carved from soap and the forgery of the Greek’s signature would look real enough to pass muster. The watchman stood up.
‘All right, I’ll see it gets to him.’
Lupus had been expecting this and spoke up. ‘Euraeus said I was to pass the letter into the hands of Decimus in person.’
‘Too bad. The master is not at home.’
Given that Decimus was lying low, Lupus had also expected this and had a response ready. ‘Then my orders are to ensure the letter is given directly to the steward of the house.’
The watchman frowned. ‘In person, eh?’
Lupus nodded. ‘Those were my strict instructions. That, and it is vital the letter is delivered as soon as possible.’
As he spoke Lupus saw Festus and Marcus approaching out of the corner of his eye and knew that the timing of what happened next was critical. With a weary sigh the watchman stood up and rapped on the door. A moment later the grille opened and a face appeared.
‘Open up,’ the watchman instructed, with a nod towards Lupus. ‘Messenger from the governor’s palace. Delivery to the steward.’
The grille snapped shut and there was a scraping groan as the doorkeeper slid back the locking bolt. With a faint squeal from the hinges the door began to swing inwards.
‘Now,’ Festus snapped in a low voice. He charged up from the street, Marcus at his side, swords in their hands in the blink of an eye. The watchman just had time to look over his shoulder before they piled into him, knocking him back against the door, which struck the doorkeeper and sent him sprawling. Lupus rushed in after them. Behind them a few people turned towards the sudden commotion, but before they could react Lupus had closed the door. A handful of passers-by hesitated, then shrugged and continued along the road as if nothing had happened.
Inside the atrium of Decimus’s house Festus had knocked the watchman out and pulled his body behind one of the benches by the door. Marcus had his boot on the doorkeeper’s chest and held the point of his sword to the man’s throat.
‘Decimus,’ Marcus growled. ‘Where is he?’
The doorkeeper was an older man, with weathered skin and a thin band of grey hair round his wizened head. He held his hands up imploringly as he muttered incoherently.
‘Quiet, or I’ll cut your throat where you lie,’ Marcus hissed at him. ‘Now, I’ll ask you again. Where is Decimus? Which room?’
‘The M-master’s not here!’ the doorkeeper whimpered.
Marcus froze. ‘Not here? Not in the house?’
The doorkeeper shook his head.
‘Then where is he?’
‘G-gone.’
Marcus gritted his teeth in frustration. They had kept a close watch on the house all day and Decimus had not gone out. Not by the front door anyway. He might have used the slave entrance but Marcus doubted it. A man of Decimus’s lofty social station would not be able to stomach that.
‘When did he go?’
‘Yesterday. As soon as he returned from the g-games. He gave orders for his horses to be made ready and left as soon as they were saddled.’
Marcus withdrew his sword as his mind took in the news. Festus and Lupus came and stood round the prone doorkeeper whose rheumy eyes flitted from one to the other.
‘I sw-swear it’s true. He’s not here.’
‘Damn!’ Festus balled his hand into a fist. ‘That explains why we were held until this morning. Euraeus wanted to give Decimus a chance to leave Athens before we came looking for him.’ He leaned over the doorkeeper. ‘Where did Decimus go?’
‘I–I-I …’
Marcus poked the point of his sword into the man’s neck, pricking the skin so that a thin trickle of blood ran down his neck. ‘You tell us! And you tell us the truth. You even think about lying and I’ll cut your throat, right here and now!’ He let the threat sink in before he continued in a cold deliberate voice. ‘Where has Decimus gone?’
‘To his estate … Close to Tegea. That’s where you’ll find the master. I swear it’s true.’
‘Tegea?’ Marcus repeated, to be certain. The doorkeeper nodded. Marcus withdrew his sword and stood erect as he faced his friends.
‘He’s got a day’s start on us. And he’s on horseback,’ Festus commented.
‘Then there’s no time to lose,’ Marcus decided. ‘We leave Athens at once and make for Tegea as fast as we can.’
The others nodded and Marcus swiftly prayed to Jupiter, best and greatest, that his mother would still be alive when they reached Tegea. If not, then he would not show one shred of mercy to Decimus.
20
They left Athens on foot, not having enough money to buy horses, and not willing to risk stealing any and being caught. They had won the governor’s mercy once. There would be no second time. Festus calculated that it would take them three days to reach Tegea. Having gone through their packs, Festus stripped them down to the bare minimum for the coming march. They left behind all but their clothes, a cloak, canteens, hard rations and the weapons needed for the work at hand. All the rest was sold on the nearest market for a fraction of its true value.
Lupus had wanted to keep his writing case, but Festus had refused and the scribe could only look on in despair as a Greek merchant picked his way through the pens, inks, styli, waxed tablets and bundles of papyrus, pursing his lips with disdain before making a derisory offer. And Festus had accepted without argument. The only thing they bought was a short chain for Cerberus in case they needed to keep the dog on a lead.