Free Cato 06 - The Eagles Prophecy by Simon Scarrow Page B
Authors: Simon Scarrow
Narcissus smiled faintly. ‘The death sentence is upheld. In addition, the general states that there is enough circumstantial evidence to warrant the execution of Centurion Macro on charges of mutiny and murder. You are both dead already.’
He let the words sink in, staring at the centurions intently with his dark brown eyes, sunk deep beneath his plucked brow. Cato stared back, angry and afraid, as he knew that he and Macro were being thrust into new perils by the Imperial Secretary. Cato swallowed nervously before he replied.
‘Unless we do your bidding.’
‘That’s right.’ Narcissus nodded. ‘You’ll do my bidding, or be fodder for the carrion before this day is done.’
Macro sneered at him. ‘And what is it you’d have us do for you? An assassination? Make someone disappear? What?’
‘Nothing so easy,’ Narcissus laughed. ‘I have plenty of men for such menial tasks. No, for what I have in mind, I need two resourceful officers. Ruthless men who are also desperate enough to succeed at all costs. Men who know their lives are forfeit unless they carry out their orders. In short, men like you two. I won’t demean your intelligence by offering the job to you. You’ll do it, or you’ll die here and now. All that remains is to tell you the details. Understand me?’
‘Oh, we understand all right . . . sir.’
‘Very well.’ Narcissus leaned back in his chair and drew his thoughts together. ‘A month ago a merchant ship was captured not far from the coast, off Ravenna. It happens from time to time. Someone fancies his chances as a pirate and starts preying on shipping. We can afford to overlook the loss of the odd vessel here and there, but if they get too greedy we send a squadron after them to scare them off. Only this time, the pirates captured a ship which happened to be carrying one of my most trusted agents. He was on a mission of the utmost sensitivity. He was taken prisoner, and tortured. They sent word that they want a ransom for him. Together with his ring finger. I assume that’s some kind of pirate tradition to show they mean business.’
‘You want him back?’ Cato asked. ‘Is that it? Is that all?’
‘Not quite all. My agent carried within his baggage some items of great value to the Emperor.’
‘Treasure?’ Macro frowned. ‘You want to send us on a treasure hunt?’
‘Treasure? Yes,’ Narcissus replied.’But treasure that has far more worth than all the gold and jewels of Egypt.’
‘Really?’ Macro sniffed. ‘I somehow doubt that.’
‘What kind of treasure are we talking about?’ Cato interrupted his friend.
‘Scrolls.’ Narcissus smiled. ‘Three of them. The pirates want ten million sestertians for the return of the scrolls.’
‘Ten million? Just for three scrolls?’ Macro laughed and shook his head. ‘You’re not serious, sir.’
‘I’ve never been more serious in my life.’
Macro’s laughter died in his thoat as he beheld the intent expression on the Imperial Secretary’s face. ‘These scrolls - what’s so special about them?’
Narcissus stared at him. ‘You don’t need to know. You will be told more, if the situation requires it. Suffice to say that if I gain possession of them then a great danger to the Emperor will be averted. For now, all that need concern you is your mission. You will find and recover the scrolls and bring them to me here. If you can manage it, I also want the rest of my agent returned. But if that should jeopardise the safety of the scrolls the agent must be regarded as expendable.’
‘Who else knows about this?’ asked Cato.
Narcissus thought for a moment. ‘The Emperor. My clerk and one other.’
‘Who is he, sir?’
Narcissus smiled and shook his head.’You don’t need to know. For now. In the meantime I have arranged for you both to be posted to the naval base at Ravenna. We’re sending a column of marine reinforcements for operations against this new pirate threat. You can join them. The prefect
He let the words sink in, staring at the centurions intently with his dark brown eyes, sunk deep beneath his plucked brow. Cato stared back, angry and afraid, as he knew that he and Macro were being thrust into new perils by the Imperial Secretary. Cato swallowed nervously before he replied.
‘Unless we do your bidding.’
‘That’s right.’ Narcissus nodded. ‘You’ll do my bidding, or be fodder for the carrion before this day is done.’
Macro sneered at him. ‘And what is it you’d have us do for you? An assassination? Make someone disappear? What?’
‘Nothing so easy,’ Narcissus laughed. ‘I have plenty of men for such menial tasks. No, for what I have in mind, I need two resourceful officers. Ruthless men who are also desperate enough to succeed at all costs. Men who know their lives are forfeit unless they carry out their orders. In short, men like you two. I won’t demean your intelligence by offering the job to you. You’ll do it, or you’ll die here and now. All that remains is to tell you the details. Understand me?’
‘Oh, we understand all right . . . sir.’
‘Very well.’ Narcissus leaned back in his chair and drew his thoughts together. ‘A month ago a merchant ship was captured not far from the coast, off Ravenna. It happens from time to time. Someone fancies his chances as a pirate and starts preying on shipping. We can afford to overlook the loss of the odd vessel here and there, but if they get too greedy we send a squadron after them to scare them off. Only this time, the pirates captured a ship which happened to be carrying one of my most trusted agents. He was on a mission of the utmost sensitivity. He was taken prisoner, and tortured. They sent word that they want a ransom for him. Together with his ring finger. I assume that’s some kind of pirate tradition to show they mean business.’
‘You want him back?’ Cato asked. ‘Is that it? Is that all?’
‘Not quite all. My agent carried within his baggage some items of great value to the Emperor.’
‘Treasure?’ Macro frowned. ‘You want to send us on a treasure hunt?’
‘Treasure? Yes,’ Narcissus replied.’But treasure that has far more worth than all the gold and jewels of Egypt.’
‘Really?’ Macro sniffed. ‘I somehow doubt that.’
‘What kind of treasure are we talking about?’ Cato interrupted his friend.
‘Scrolls.’ Narcissus smiled. ‘Three of them. The pirates want ten million sestertians for the return of the scrolls.’
‘Ten million? Just for three scrolls?’ Macro laughed and shook his head. ‘You’re not serious, sir.’
‘I’ve never been more serious in my life.’
Macro’s laughter died in his thoat as he beheld the intent expression on the Imperial Secretary’s face. ‘These scrolls - what’s so special about them?’
Narcissus stared at him. ‘You don’t need to know. You will be told more, if the situation requires it. Suffice to say that if I gain possession of them then a great danger to the Emperor will be averted. For now, all that need concern you is your mission. You will find and recover the scrolls and bring them to me here. If you can manage it, I also want the rest of my agent returned. But if that should jeopardise the safety of the scrolls the agent must be regarded as expendable.’
‘Who else knows about this?’ asked Cato.
Narcissus thought for a moment. ‘The Emperor. My clerk and one other.’
‘Who is he, sir?’
Narcissus smiled and shook his head.’You don’t need to know. For now. In the meantime I have arranged for you both to be posted to the naval base at Ravenna. We’re sending a column of marine reinforcements for operations against this new pirate threat. You can join them. The prefect