The Emperor's Silver: Agent of Rome 5 Read Online Free

embellishment; the bulky limbs and solid neck showed him to be every inch a military man. Marcellinus held up a hand, halting the Praetorians and the others. He let his horse take a few more steps until he was level with the flags, then stopped.
    A servant ran up with the box.
    ‘Keep it, boy,’ said the marshal, his voice an intimidating rumble. ‘I’m short but I’m not that short.’
    The lad retreated as Marcellinus dropped to the ground. The men assembled in front of him had been saluting ever since he’d appeared.
    ‘At ease, all of you.’ He stretched out his arms and yawned, then shook forearms with Nerva. ‘Sorry if I caught you out, Chief. Entirely unintentional, I assure you. An unexpectedly swift trip – the roads down here are far less busy than in Syria.’
    ‘We are honoured by your presence, Marshal.’ Nerva bowed low.
    ‘Everything looks in order. We’ll be ready for the Emperor?’
    ‘Absolutely, sir.’
    ‘Good, good. Well, have some lunch put out for me, would you? Some hot water too – bloody blisters are playing up again. All these tours and inspections take their toll.’
    Nerva pointed at an elderly servant who bowed and hurried inside.
    Marcellinus looked along the line and exchanged some light-hearted banter with a couple of the centurions. His gaze eventually reached Abascantius. ‘And there’s Aulus – still wearing his black crest. Thinks it makes him mysterious, you know.’
    Nerva and the centurions chuckled.
    ‘How are you?’ asked Marcellinus. ‘All this riding hasn’t taken much weight off.’
    ‘Unfortunately not, sir,’ said Abascantius.
    Cassius was surprised by how relaxed the agent sounded.
    ‘And who’s that with you there? Not Corbulo, is it?’
    Cassius could hardly believe what was happening. The Protector of the East had just spoken his name!
    ‘It is, sir.’
    At a nudge from Abascantius, Cassius stepped forward and bowed.
    ‘Ah, I was hoping to meet you, young man. You shall join me inside. You may as well bring Aulus along too.’
    With that, the marshal strode between the flagpoles and through the doorway.
    Cassius stood there, eyes wide.
    ‘Well, come on, then,’ said Abascantius irritably. ‘And remember – say no more than you have to.’

    There were six of them in the parlour. One was a Praetorian Guardsman; a towering grey-bearded giant who stood in a corner with his hands tucked into his belt, face impassive. Marcellinus was sitting on a chair turned away from the table so that he could dunk his feet into a bowl of water. According to Abascantius, the older, toga-clad man also sitting was named Glycia – the marshal’s chief adviser. He seemed tired from the journey and was sipping wine from a glass. There was also a servant, on hand to provide the marshal with whatever he needed from the food and drink laid out on the table. Cassius and Abascantius stood together by the door, helmets under their arms, waiting. They had been called in after the marshal had spoken to Chief Nerva.
    ‘Ah. There are few better feelings in the world than that.’ Flexing his toes beneath the water, Marcellinus closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he was looking at Cassius. ‘Yours is a name attracting some attention, young man. The Emperor was very angry when he heard of the theft of the black stone. To have it returned to its rightful place with such speed was a great relief to him. Is it true, this tale of you raising your spearhead among a crowd of rebels and exposing this Ilaha character?’
    ‘It is, sir,’ said Cassius, trying to sound magnanimous. ‘Though there were allies as well as enemies within that crowd. We received a good deal of help from some of the local tribesmen.’
    ‘Troublesome lot, these nomads. Another breed, really. And what about this bodyguard of yours? This ex-gladiator? Apparently he played his part too. I’m told he’s quite a specimen. Is he here?’
    ‘He is recovering, sir,’ said Cassius. ‘There was