Avenger of Rome by Douglas Jackson Read Free Book Online Page A

few of their ships they simply vanished, like smoke. It doesn’t take a great deal of effort to turn a pirate galley into a coastal trader and most of the pirates were as much merchants as they were thieves and murderers. But if a juicy target lands in their lap …’ The seaman glanced towards Domitia’s pavilion.
    ‘The girl?’
    ‘I doubt they are after the timber and olive oil in our holds, tribune. Someone will have seen us dock in Creta. In a harbourside bar one of the crew boasts that his passenger is the daughter of the famed General Corbulo. They wait. They watch. They see us leave unescorted. If they catch us, they might take us all, but probably not. No, it is the girl they are after. They will move her along the coast to a sheltered cove – past Tarsus, maybe – and smuggle her into the hills where they will sell her to one of the bandit kings who still rule in the disputed lands on the borders of Cappadocia and Armenia. Those men have little love for her father. They will ask for a ransom that will make his eyes water and he will either pay it or get her back one pretty piece at a time.’
    ‘Then let us hope they don’t catch us.’
    Aurelius sniffed the air as if testing the wind for scent. ‘Sharpen your swords and pray.’ Valerius nodded. ‘And tribune? Don’t mention this to the general’s daughter. The last thing I need is a hysterical woman panicking all over my deck.’
    Three hours later there was still no sign of the poor weather Aurelius had predicted, but they were back on course and there’d been no hint of the other ship for more than an hour. Aurelius had a man permanently at the masthead, but the captain still stood on the steering platform scanning the northern horizon with a worried frown on his tanned face. Valerius wasn’t certain whether he was concerned about pirates, the clouds, which had turned into a brooding, dark-fringed pyramid, or the atmosphere, which had become sticky and breathless, though there was still enough breeze to stir the sails. The frown deepened when Domitia left the curtained tent with one of her serving girls and approached the stern.
    ‘Good morning, captain.’ She gave Aurelius a smile that would have melted another man’s heart. ‘I wonder if I might trouble you for some fresh water to use for washing. Sea water is all very well, but …’
    ‘I’m sure that can be arranged, lady,’ Aurelius said briskly. The dwindling water reserves had been on his mind, but if they made port as planned at Cyprus it wasn’t a major concern. If for any reason they missed their landfall he would have to turn north to seek water at some settlement or river outlet on the Asian coast. He had no doubt he would find somewhere suitable – he’d sailed these waters since he was ten years old – but it would take time and he would prefer to preserve stocks if he could. Still, it would be worth a pint or two to get the general’s daughter off his deck.
    ‘Julius, a bucket of clean water for the lady and her serv—’
    ‘Sail, due north!’ The whole ship froze at the sound of the lookout’s voice. ‘And another just to her east.’ His voice faded and he muttered what sounded like a prayer.
    ‘What else?’ Aurelius snarled.
    ‘Captain, a third, a mile further east still.’
    Aurelius darted another look at the clouds gathering in the north, but there was no help there. He turned to Domitia. ‘I’m sorry, lady,’ he said quickly. ‘I’m afraid your request is denied and I must respectfully ask that you and your slaves take up your quarters below decks. It will be safer there.’
    Domitia Longina lifted her dainty chin and glared at the captain. ‘I will go below decks when I see fit, and not before,’ she snapped. ‘Safer from what, captain?’
    ‘Lady, I command this ship and I do not have time to argue. You will go below. Tribune, will you escort the lady Domitia and explain our situation?’ He nodded to Valerius and ran off, roaring to the