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

past and I wondered …’
    ‘Of course. I’ll jot something down for you later and send it over.’
    Still sitting with his feet in the bowl of water, Marcellinus offered his forearm. Cassius didn’t dare look at Abascantius as he shook it. How he wished his father and his family and his friends back home could be here to see such a moment.
    ‘Watch your back, Corbulo,’ said Marcellinus. ‘An enemy that would dare strike at you here might not give up easily.’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    Abascantius sat down.
    ‘And don’t worry about Aulus,’ said Marcellinus with a grin. ‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t punish you too harshly for your cheek. On your way.’

    ‘What’s up with Simo?’ asked Indavara as Cassius walked into his bedroom.
    ‘I just told him we’re leaving. A disruption to his studies, I suppose. Gods, it’s hot in here – humid too.’
    Cassius elected not to mention the smell. He opened the shutters wider and leaned against the wall opposite Indavara’s bed. The bodyguard was sitting up with a sheet covering his lower half. On the nearby table was an abacus – his preferred method of amusing himself when every last one of his weapons had been cleaned.
    ‘So where are we off to, then?’
    Cassius smiled. ‘Tripolis. It’s on the Syrian coast. A bit of breeze at last.’
    ‘What’s the job?’
    ‘Counterfeiting.’
    Indavara scratched his armpit. ‘What’s that?’
    ‘Fake coins. Someone’s making them and the Emperor wants them stopped.’
    ‘Sounds dull.’
    ‘I certainly hope so. If Abascantius had his way we’d be off to bloody Egypt but Marshal Marcellinus himself gave me the job.’
    ‘Marcellinus. Protector of the East. He’s a general or something, isn’t he?’
    ‘He’s one up from a general. The only man who can give him orders is the Emperor. He knew me by name, because of getting the black stone back. You too.’
    Indavara sat up. ‘Really? Me?’
    ‘Damned impressive character. Certainly told Abascantius what’s what.’
    Indavara seemed amused by the concept.
    ‘And I managed to get a letter out of him,’ added Cassius. ‘There won’t be many people – soldier or citizen – who’ll dare say no to me now.’
    He wandered over to the window and looked outside at the empty courtyard. Four guards had been assigned to the villa and he could hear the pair at the rear talking.
    He turned round. ‘Now – can you travel?’
    Indavara let out a long breath and looked down at his groin.
    Cassius said, ‘How … er … how is … it?’
    ‘It was red, now it’s purple.’
    ‘Ouch.’
    ‘Hurts when I walk. Don’t fancy sitting on a horse much.’
    ‘What about a cart? We’ll probably need one for our gear anyway.’
    ‘That would be better. When are we leaving?’
    ‘The morning. Before Abascantius or Governor Calvinus have a chance of changing the marshal’s mind. Actually I’d better get going – lot to organise.’
    ‘Corbulo – last night. You did all right. Better than usual anyway.’
    Cassius came closer to the bed. ‘Indavara – thank you again. I shudder to think what would have happened without you there.’
    ‘We’re lucky Simo was there to give a warning. Someone was looking out for us.’
    Cassius noted the two figurines on the little table. One had been thrown to Indavara in the arena; a tiny, poorly made thing of low-quality stone. The other Cassius had bought for him; it was three times the size, copper covered with high-quality silver plate. He knew which one the bodyguard preferred.
    ‘Your Fortuna?’
    ‘Probably.’
    ‘Personally, I have rather more confidence in you than the gods. How many times is that now?’
    ‘I’ve lost count.’ Indavara shrugged. ‘Just doing my job, right?’
    ‘Exceptionally well, I would say.’
    Seeing Cassius was about to leave, Indavara held up a hand. ‘Wait a moment.’ He gestured at his groin. ‘Simo thinks it’s just bruising and it doesn’t hurt too much when I piss but … well, I