The Eagles Prophecy

Gripping tightly to the rail with one hand Cato drew his sword and tossed it up on to the deck of the bireme. Decimus eyed him anxiously. 'Is that wise?'

'Who knows?' Cato responded bleakly. Then he realised that the trierarch was probably even more nervous than he was. He made himself smile up at Decimus. 'I'll have that back when this is over.'

He looked round, timing the rise and fall of the skiff beneath him, and then dropped down heavily. The little craft rocked from side to side, and for a moment Cato was sure it was going to turn over and pitch them all into the sea. In his armour, he was sure to sink like a stone. But then the young man in the stern grabbed at his shoulder and steadied the centurion.

'Sit down, you fool! Where's the gold?'

'Coming.'

A moment later the marine appeared at the side of the bireme and lowered the box in some netting. The pirate stood up, with the instinctive balance of a man who has spent many years at sea. He stretched up his arms to the chest and steered it down into the bottom of the skiff. He dragged it free of the netting, before placing the chest under the thwart in the centre of the boat, then nodded to his oarsmen. The skiff turned and made for the trireme as Cato squatted down, icy sea water sloshing over his boots and breeches. He had thought the motion of the bireme unsettling enough, but now the sea seemed to be almost level with his face and the boat bobbed up and down in a terrifying manner. When they reached the trireme he grasped the rope that was lowered to him as if it was a lifeline and scrambled up the side and on to the broad deck in a most undignified manner. The relative firmness of the deck beneath him went someway towards calming his nerves as Cato rose to his feet and stiffened his back. An instant later the chest was heaved up and placed by his feet. The young man from the skiff scrambled up and stood beside Cato.

'Welcome!' a voice called out from the stern, and Cato turned and saw a man striding towards him. He was tall and broad-chested, with the unmistakable features of a Greek. A gold earring gleamed from each side of his face, which was so terribly scarred that Cato could not help but stare at it. The pirate smiled as he stood before the centurion, and stretched out his hand. Cato had not expected anything resembling a warm welcome and was momentarily thrown off guard. Then he swallowed, and was determined to play the part of a true Roman. He glanced coldly at the outstretched hand and shook his head.

'I regret to say I am under orders not to fraternise with pirates.'

The Greek stared at him in surprise for an instant and then roared with laughter. 'I've never known such a stiff-necked people! Aren't you Romans taught any social graces?'

'Of course. We just don't consort with criminals. I assume you are Telemachus.'

'I am.' The Greek bowed his head. 'And this is my lieutenant, Ajax.'

The young man beside Cato nodded, as Telemachus continued. 'We'll have to make this quick, Roman. I have business to attend to.'

'Business? Is that what you call piracy and pillaging?'

'You can call it what you like, Centurion… I didn't catch the name?'

'I didn't mention it.'

Telemachus shrugged. 'Please yourself. Is this our retainer?' He tapped the box with the toe of his boot.

'It is.'

'Good. Then I have a message for your masters. Tell them that the merchandise is still with me, but that other parties have also demonstrated their interest – in gold. They will be paying their retainer in the next few days.'

'Who are they?' Cato asked.

'You know I can't tell you that. They wish to remain anonymous, and alive.'

'The Liberators,' Cato sneered. 'Who else could it be?'

'You tell me. It's not as if the world is short of people who have every cause to hate Rome and all it stands for.'

'How do I know that you're not bluffing just to drive the price up?'

'You don't,' Telemachus grinned. 'But can your masters afford to call my bluff? Given the nature of the merchandise, I doubt it. Now then, you will tell them that the competition has offered me twenty million sestertians. Your masters have two months to improve on that.'

Cato struggled to contain his astonishment at such a vast demand. It was a fortune, enough to ransom a kingdom, let alone a king. He stared at Telemachus. 'When you say the merchandise, you are referring to the scrolls, aren't you?'

The pirate chief exchanged a glance with his lieutenant and chuckled. 'That's right.'

'But no scroll is worth such a sum.'

Telemachus poked the centurion in the chest. 'These scrolls are. Believe me.'

'Why?'

Telemachus stared at Cato with amusement.'You have no idea what they are, do you?'

Cato thought about trying to deceive the pirate chief, and then realised he would be seen through in an instant. 'No.'

'But you would like to know?'

Cato stared back at him for a moment, but could no longer deny his curiosity.

Telemachus nodded before the Roman could reply. 'I thought so. If I told you what they were… if I told you any detail of what they contain, you would be in mortal danger, Roman. Be content in your ignorance. If you want to survive.'

He watched Cato closely to make sure the young officer understood the peril, then continued, 'Now, before you run along, there's one other message I'd like you to carry back.' He clicked his fingers and a Nubian came trotting up with a small wicker casket, which he handed to the pirate leader. Telemachus flipped the lid open and tilted it towards Cato. Inside there was a shock of black hair plastered down on to a scalp. 'May I introduce you to the former governor of the former colony at Lissus? Gaius Manlius, I think his name was. Take this back to Ravenna as a little memento of our meeting. Tell your masters that I will begin to raid more colonies from now on, unless I am paid a tribute of ten million sestertians a year, or the equivalent in gold.' Telemachus looked at him closely. 'Can you remember all that?'

'Yes.'

The pirate chief looked a little uncertain. 'How old are you, boy?'

'Nineteen.'

'Why did they send you?'

'I'm expendable.'

'Indeed you are,' Telemachus replied as he scratched his chin. The rasping noise drew Cato's eyes and there was a blur of motion and then a curved dagger was at the centurion's throat. Cato froze, and Telemachus leaned closer, dark eyes narrowing to slits. He spoke softly. 'I'll remember you, you arrogant young pup. I could cut your throat right now and send your head back as a companion piece.' He leered into Cato's face, and the warm odour of fish sauce filled Cato's nose. Then the dagger dropped away. 'As it happens I want to close negotiations reasonably soon and I'm not prepared to wait until you Romans send out an envoy with some manners. If we meet again, I swear I'll gut you with my own blade. Now, take that.' He thrust the casket towards Cato. 'And get off my ship. If you make any attempt to follow us once this meeting is over, we'll turn on you, sink your ship and kill any survivors. Go.'

Cato hurried down the side of the trireme and back into the skiff, and the casket, with the lid fastened, was tossed down to him. Cato quickly tucked it under the thwart and tried not to think about what it contained.

Ajax watched him with an amused expression. 'You've got guts, Roman. There's not many people who speak to Telemachus in such a manner, and live to tell the tale.'

'Oh, really?' Cato looked at him for a moment before he continued. 'You can't have served him for long enough to know the man.'

A strange smile flickered across Ajax's face.'You're wrong. I've known him all my life. He's not the dandy you think he is. If you meet again, he will kill you.'

'Not unless I kill him first.'

The pirate laughed.'Roman arrogance. I've never known anything like it.'

As Decimus helped Cato on to the deck the centurion passed the casket to the marine he had sent to fetch the chest. 'Put this in the cabin, but don't open it, unless you want to be flogged. Understand?'

'Yes, sir.'