Free Cato 06 - The Eagles Prophecy by Simon Scarrow

and battered face. Glancing over at Cato, he saw his friend staring dejectedly at the mosaic floor, wholly absorbed in his misery.
    The Imperial Secretary’s meeting with Emperor Claudius went on, and on. As the sun rose above the sprawling city, the shafts of light slowly glided down the walls of the corridor and finally bathed the prisoners and their escort in a warm golden glow. Macro eased himself back and shut his eyes, and, despite their predicament, he began to enjoy the soothing sensation of the warmth and the hazy orange glow of the sunlight through his eyelids. So it was that he missed the faint creak of the doors as they swung open. As the guardsmen stiffened to attention, the clerk jumped to his feet and bowed. Cato rose quickly, but before he could stir Macro, the Emperor of Rome and his most faithful and trusted servant, Narcissus, emerged into the corridor.
    ‘S-s-so, you really think it’s that important?’
    ‘Yes, Caesar.’ Narcissus nodded to emphasise his agreement. ‘It is a vital component of the work. Without it, posterity will be forever impoverished.’
    Emperor Claudius looked at him wide-eyed, and there was a violent twitch of his head.’Really? You r-really think so?’
    ‘Yes, Caesar. Without question.’
    ‘Well, put like that, w-w-what can I say? I had thought that my ch-ch-ch-childhood poetry might not be quite the ticket for an autobiography.’ He smiled, twitched, and squeezed Narcissus’ arm. ‘But you’ve convinced me. As ever, your good t-t-taste and sound judgement are a perfect complement to my genius.’
    ‘Caesar.’ Narcissus bowed low.’Your praise is undeserved. Any mortal with any literary sensibility at all could not mistake the divine brilliance of your powers of perception and description.’
    Claudius beamed and clasped Narcissus’ arm in gratitude, then froze as he spied Macro, nodding off on his bench. ‘I somehow doubt that f-fellow shares your point of view.’
    Narcissus glared into the niche and snapped an order. ‘Get that fool on his feet!’
    Two guardsmen took an arm each and hauled Macro up. He opened his eyes blearily. ‘What? What? Oh . . .’
    At the sight of the Emperor he was instantly awake and stood straight as a marble pillar. Claudius limped over towards him and looked the centurion over.
    ‘Is this one of the men you were telling me about, Narcissus?’
    ‘Yes, Caesar.’
    ‘Hardly an impressive sp-sp-sp-specimen, I must say. But he looks like the sort of man we might sacrifice without losing much s-sleep.’
    ‘Yes, Caesar. Once again you anticipate my thoughts.’
    Claudius turned to Cato, with a look of surprise. ‘And this other one, this boy? Surely he’s not the other officer you mentioned. Why, h-h-he doesn’t look old enough to even shave!’
    Narcissus forced a laugh, and when his clerk followed his cue the Emperor turned round with a frown.’No one asked you to join in!’
    The clerk froze, and blanched, dropping his eyes at once.
    ‘That’s better.’ The Emperor turned back to continue his examination of the two centurions. ‘I suppose you know what you’re d-d-doing, Narcissus. That other business we talked about will need careful handling. Are you sure the-the-these men are up to the job?’
    ‘If they aren’t, then no one is, Caesar.’
    ‘Very well . . . I’ll see you at dinner.’
    ‘Caesar.’ Narcissus bowed again, as did the Praetorians, his secretary and the two centurions. They kept their heads down as Claudius shuffled away down the corridor and disappeared into a side gallery. The moment the Emperor was out of sight there was a collective sigh of released tension. Macro felt as if he had escaped instant execution by a hair’s breadth and the blood pounded through his heart.
    Narcissus glanced at the two centurions and snapped an order. ‘Bring them in!’
    He turned on his heel and strode back into his office as Cato and Macro grabbed their yokes and, flanked by the guardsmen, they were escorted