Gladiator: Vengeance (13 page)

Then he frowned. He had fully expected to see Festus and Marcus. Instead there were two soldiers waiting. They wore the red tunics of the legions, together with heavy boots and short swords hanging from thick leather straps across their shoulders.

‘Where are my friends?’ Lupus demanded. ‘There’s something I have to tell them!’

‘You can tell them, all right.’ One of the soldiers grinned as he stepped forward and grasped Lupus’s arm.

‘Hey!’ he protested, and tried to pull himself free. ‘What do you think you’re doing? Let go of me!’

But the soldier just tightened his grip and bunched his spare hand into a fist that he raised threateningly. ‘Stop struggling, or I’ll give you a thick ear, boy!’

Lupus reluctantly did as he was told and the second soldier took his other arm, then he was led into the corridor.

‘Just tell me what’s going on. Where are Marcus and Festus?’

‘You’ll find out soon enough.’

‘Where are you taking me? What’s going on?’

‘You know well enough, lad.’ The soldier glanced at him with a cold expression. ‘Don’t play the innocent with me.’

Lupus was confused and afraid. ‘I have no idea what this is about.’

The soldier sniffed dismissively. ‘Of course not. That’s what all criminals say.’

‘Criminals?’ Lupus felt his heart lurch. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘You and your friends are under arrest. For murder.’

The cell was small, dark and airless, and the only light came from a narrow slit high up on one wall. Together with a handful of other cells it had been constructed under some storerooms at the rear of the palace, away from the garden and out of earshot so that those being held would not disturb those who lived and worked in the palace. Unlike the previous night there were no comforts for the prisoners. Instead of beds there was just a pile of straw in one corner, a slop bucket and a small grille beneath the door where food and water were passed to the prisoners. Outside there was a narrow passage with three cells on each side. A single jailer had a small room beside the stairs leading up from the prison.

Marcus and Festus had been thrown into the cell over an hour before Lupus joined them, and their relief at being
reunited was short-lived as they considered their situation.

‘Murder, he said.’ Lupus shook his head. ‘What murder? Do you think it has something to do with that slave auctioneer, Pindarus?’

‘What else could it be?’ Festus replied as he tested the door, grasping the bars in the grille and giving it a good shake. The hinges rattled and squealed but the door was solid enough.

‘Hey!’ the jailer called from the end of the passage. ‘Leave that alone. I’m responsible for the fittings, I am. You do any damage to ’em and there’ll be no rations for you lot!’

Festus stepped back and slumped on the straw next to the others. ‘We’re in trouble. Deep trouble.’

‘But how can we be?’ asked Marcus. ‘How can they have connected us to what happened in Stratos? It has to be something else … Someone’s made a mistake. As soon as it’s discovered we’ll be out of here.’

Festus shrugged. ‘I hope you’re right that this is a mistake, Marcus. But this smacks of something else.’

Lupus started. He had been so preoccupied with the sudden reverse that he had forgotten the news he had for his friends.

‘Decimus. It must be something to do with him. I saw him a short time ago.’

Marcus turned to him, his eyes intent. ‘What d’you mean?’

Lupus briefly described what he had seen as the others listened closely.

‘I was rushing back to tell you when I was arrested,’ Lupus concluded.

Marcus rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. ‘Which way was the litter heading?’

‘Down the street. In the opposite direction to the governor’s palace.’

‘Then it’s likely he was here and I fear he is behind this, like you say. The question is, how did he know we had arrived in Athens?’

‘How do you think?’ Festus responded flatly. ‘I told you that few secrets are kept in a place like this. We turned up, with you waving Caesar’s letter of introduction and explaining our business, so word was bound to get out. The only surprise is that it happened so quickly. Decimus must have spies everywhere.’

Marcus bowed his head for a moment. He had made a mistake in coming to the governor’s palace. He had let his impatience and frustration get the better of him and now all three of them had paid the price for his folly. Marcus cleared his throat and spoke quietly. ‘I’m so sorry. I should have been more cautious. It’s my fault.’

‘That’s true,’ Festus responded coldly. ‘But it doesn’t change
anything. We’re in here and we need to get out. The question is, how? Escape is out of the question. The door’s solid and we have no friends in Athens to help spring us from this cell. We’re stuck. The only chance we have is to try and talk our way out of it when the governor hears our case.’

‘How can you be sure he will?’

‘Because I’m a Roman citizen, and you have Caesar’s letter of introduction. All three of us are connected to Caesar. Only the governor of a province can sentence a Roman citizen for a crime.’

‘What about me?’ asked Lupus. ‘I’m only a freedman. Not a citizen.’

‘You’re with Marcus and me. That should cover you. Besides, that’s not the point. We only have to be put in front of the governor. Then we can explain ourselves and hopefully get out of this mess.’

Marcus nodded. ‘And get our hands on Decimus.’

The bodyguard clicked his tongue. ‘That’s not going to be so easy. He knows we’re after him now. Even if we get off the murder charge he’ll be sure to surround himself with men to protect him. More likely he’ll leave Athens and run for cover.’

Marcus considered this briefly. ‘His estate.’

‘That’s my guess. And we won’t have the element of surprise any more. It’s going to be tough.’

There was a brief silence before Lupus spoke. ‘Aren’t we getting a bit ahead of ourselves?’ He slapped his hand against the cold stone wall. ‘We have to get out of here first.’

Festus pursed his lips. ‘You’re right. No point in looking too far ahead. We’ll have to bide our time until the governor hears our case.’

‘How long will that take?’ asked Marcus.

‘Hard to say. This spectacle he’s throwing for the local people will occupy most of his time until it’s over. We might have to wait here until then, and then a bit longer as he catches up with the backlog. On the other hand, if Servillus is an efficient man, he might want to get it out of the way before the spectacle begins.’

Lupus stared round the grim cell with a look of horror. ‘You mean we might be in here for several days?’

‘It’s likely. Better make yourself comfortable.’

Lupus pulled his knees up under his chin and stared in misery at the opposite wall. Marcus was still feeling guilty about having put his own needs above the safety of his comrades. Even though Festus had a fatalistic attitude to their plight, Marcus could not let himself shake off the blame so
easily and sat brooding. The hours passed and the shaft of light that came through the slit slowly traced its way along the wall until the sun dipped behind the palace, leaving them in gloomy shadows.

It was two hours after sunset, as near as Marcus could estimate, that they heard footsteps in the passage outside as several men approached the cell. The flicker of light from a torch lit up the bars of the grille. An iron bolt on the outside grated back and the hinges groaned as the jailer thrust the door open.

‘On yer feet, you lot! They’ve come fer you.’

He stepped aside as an optio ducked his head into the cell, torch in hand, and his nose wrinkling at the stench before he gestured to the prisoners.

‘Outside.’

Marcus and the others exchanged anxious glances as they rose quickly and followed the optio into the passage. A section of soldiers lined one side and four turned to lead the way while the other four followed the optio and the prisoners, escorting them towards the steps at the other end of the passage.

‘Shall I keep the cell fer ’em then?’ the jailer called out.

The optio glanced back and replied sourly, ‘You’ll be told in good time. Meanwhile get the straw changed and slop it out.’

‘What? There’ll be an extra charge fer that! I ain’t runnin’ a bloody charity house here, yer know!’

The optio ignored his rant and the party climbed the stairs to emerge in the moonlit yard behind the palace.

‘Where are you taking us?’ asked Marcus.

‘Shut your mouth,’ the optio snapped. ‘You’ll speak when spoken to and not before. Clear? That goes for all of you.’

They proceeded in silence across the yard and through a small door at the rear of the palace. After following a corridor lit by oil lamps, they climbed a flight of stairs into a wider thoroughfare where a few clerks and palace slaves bustled to and fro. At the end of that corridor was an impressive doorway guarded by two more soldiers. As they approached, the optio nodded his head and the guards grasped the handles to swing the doors open. Marcus glanced through the gap between the soldiers striding ahead and saw a large chamber beyond, lit by candles set at intervals along the wall. At the far end was a dais with a large desk on it. To one side a clerk was setting out his writing materials, while a slave placed a glass jar of wine and a silver cup on the desk.

The optio marched his party across the hall, their boots echoing off the high walls, and halted in front of the dais. He waved Marcus and the others forward.

‘Stand there. In line, facing the dais.’

They did as they were told and the soldiers formed up behind them. Then there was quiet, except for the clerk busily rubbing down a wax slate in readiness for the notes he would be taking shortly. The slave who had brought the wine and cup left the chamber, disappearing through a small door at the side. Once the clerk had finished his preparations all was still and silent. Marcus stood and waited, wondering what they were doing in the chamber. He risked a glance at Festus and cocked an eyebrow, but Festus simply shrugged.

‘Eyes front, you!’ the optio barked and Marcus quickly did as he was told.

They were not kept waiting long. Footsteps approached down the corridor behind them, then entered the chamber. A large man in an elaborately embroidered tunic climbed the steps on to the dais and moved round to take the chair behind the desk. Behind him came Euraeus, clutching a scroll and a few waxed tablets under his arm. Once he was settled the fat man cleared his throat and addressed the small gathering.

‘I am Governor Servillus, present to hear the case of those accused of the murder of Pindarus of Stratos.’

So, Festus was right, Marcus admitted to himself as the clerk scratched down the opening remarks.

The governor gestured towards Euraeus. ‘The particulars of the case, if you please.’

‘Yes, your excellency.’ Euraeus bowed his head, then opened one of the waxed tablets as he consulted his notes. ‘Two days ago a report reached the palace of the murder of a slave auctioneer in Stratos some days earlier. He was found dead in his garden and had been struck on the head. His servants reported that they had disturbed robbers who had broken into the house of Pindarus. The magistrates of the city described the suspects as being a man and two youths, strangers to the town. They disappeared after the killing had taken place. A few days after that there was another incident reported relating to an event at Leuctra where a man and two boys were involved in a fight in the town market. And then yesterday these three individuals turned up in Athens. They entered the palace and requested an audience with your excellency. I explained that you were busy with your duties and they would have to wait until later. It was then that I recalled the news from Stratos and decided to offer them accommodation in the guest quarters where an eye could be kept on them while I investigated the matter further. After I heard of the event in Leuctra I gave the order for their arrest and for them to be charged with the murder of Pindarus.’

Euraeus concluded his overview and looked up from his notes. The governor stared at Marcus and the others as he considered the information and then he wagged a fleshy finger at his official.

‘You have done well, Euraeus. Quick thinking.’

‘Thank you, your excellency. But I was only doing my humble duty.’

‘Of course you were. You’re a damned conscientious fellow. Wish there were more like you on my staff.’

‘Your excellency is too kind.’

The governor turned his attention back to the accused. ‘Well? What have you to say for yourselves, eh? Speak up!’

Festus took a deep breath. ‘We are innocent, sir. We did not murder Pindarus.’

‘Of course not,’ Servillus said. ‘But that’s what all murderers say.’

‘Sir, if we had murdered the man, and were on the run, then what good reason could we have for turning up on your doorstep and asking to see you?’

The governor sniffed. ‘Why don’t you tell me?’

‘Very well. As we informed your official over there, we have come to Greece in search of a woman, the wife of a retired legionary officer, who had been kidnapped and is believed to
be on the estate of a tax collector and moneylender by the name of Decimus.’

‘Decimus?’ The governor’s eyebrows rose in surprise. ‘My good friend, Decimus? How can that be? The man is an honest chap. Pillar of the community and all that. Why, he was only here earlier today to make a most generous contribution towards the costs of the spectacle I am providing for the people of this city. You dare to accuse him of kidnapping?’

Festus continued in a calm tone. ‘If the woman concerned is indeed held among the other slaves owned by Decimus, then he is committing a serious crime, sir. That is why Caesar, my master, sent us here to search for her and see to it that she is set free, and that those responsible for her kidnapping are brought to account.’

‘Caesar sent you?’ Servillus laughed mockingly. ‘Look at you. You appear and stink like common vagrants.’

‘That is because we have been held in one of your cells for much of the day, sir.’

The governor ignored the comment as he leaned forward and pointed at Festus. ‘You are a liar. The very idea that you represent Julius Caesar is laughable.’

‘But we can prove it!’ Marcus blurted out. ‘I have a document signed by Caesar. A letter of introduction.’

‘What’s this?’ Servillus demanded. ‘Damned impudence!’

‘Sir,’ Euraeus intervened. ‘This matter is easily resolved. If the boy claims to have such a letter, then let him produce it.’

‘Indeed! So, boy, where is this document of yours, eh? Show it to me.’

‘I can’t, sir,’ Marcus conceded. ‘It’s in a leather case in my pack, back in the guest room. If you let me fetch it this can all be settled and you’ll see that we are telling the truth.’

‘You’ll do no such thing,’ the governor snapped. ‘Optio, you go. Search these scoundrels’ baggage for this document and if you find it, bring it back here at once.’

‘Yes, sir!’ The optio saluted and strode out of the chamber, back down the corridor. The governor turned his attention to Marcus and the others. ‘We’ll know the truth soon enough. I warn you, if you are lying to me it will go ill with you.’

‘I’m telling the truth,’ Marcus said firmly. ‘As you shall see.’

The governor poured himself a cup of wine and eased himself back in his chair, sipping occasionally, as they waited for the optio to return. Euraeus stood to one side with the faintest of smiles on his lips. Looking at him, Marcus had a vague sense of foreboding, but it instantly faded as he heard footsteps in the corridor. When the optio entered the chamber he strode across the tiled floor to the dais, halting in front of the desk to salute.