Eight for Eternity by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer Read Free Book Online

time out but I hear he had an accident?”
    “That’s right. A bad accident. Some Greens caught him a couple of nights ago and broke his legs. Those kinds of accidents are happening all the time. Last week someone tried to poison Porphyrius.”
    “I’d like to meet one of your charioteers.”
    The chubby worker looked dubious. “It might be arranged….” His dirty fingers closed over the coins John handed him. “Yes, you’ll want to talk to Junius. He’s checking chariots to make certain nobody has tampered with them. If you hurry, you’ll just catch him. You never know but what some Green has managed to bribe someone to do a little damage.”
    John found Junius, a tall, lean man with sinewy arms, in a cavernous storage room filled with chariots. He and a short companion were examining the underside of a quadriga propped up against one of the many pillars supporting the vaulted ceiling. John paused for a moment, half concealed by another pillar.
    “Axle and pins in place, pole well seated,” Junius said. “Perhaps that shadowy figure Porphyrius saw last night was a shade of the wine jug rather than the human sort.”
    “And perhaps not.” The shorter man spun the left wheel. “Three spokes are partly sawn through from the inside. How long do you think the wheel would stay on once the race began?”
    Junius uttered an oath. “Have it repaired and don’t let it out of your sight while you do. Isn’t there anything Porphyrius doesn’t see?”
    The other shook his head. “He’s not human. Imagine anyone needing to sabotage the chariot of a graybeard like Porphyrius. He’s too old to be driving chariots, let alone winning.”
    John stepped forward. “Junius?”
    The charioteer didn’t appear surprised by the interruption, just annoyed. “What of it?”
    “I wish to talk to you. In private.”
    Junius laughed. “And a blade in the ribs in private too? You Greens must be desperate to think I’d fall for that.”
    “I’m not from either faction. I’m here on behalf of the emperor.”
    The wheel examiner guffawed. “A nomisma says otherwise, if I had a nomisma to wager!”
    Junius stared at John for a heartbeat. “I’ll talk with this man,” he told his companion. “Leave us alone.”
    “You look familiar,” Junius said, when his assistant had departed. “Haven’t I seen you in the imperial box at the races?”
    “You have a keen eye. There are always a lot of people in the kathisma.”
    “Few as tall. And you have the bearing of a military man. Very noticeable among all those perfumed flowers trying to brush up against Justinian’s robes. What do you want to know?”
    “First, one of those perfumed flowers is a prominent courtier who owns horses in which the Blues may be interested. I can put you in touch with him. If the races continue. Justinian is considering closing them down forever.” He paused to let the statement sink in. “The emperor is not pleased with the factions. He’s been told that there’s talk of replacing him with one of Anastasius’ heirs.”
    Junius pulled a rag from his belt and wiped grime off his hands. “You’ve been sent to deliver a warning.”
    “No. I’m looking for information. What about this seditious talk?”
    “Nothing specific. There’s always some malcontent ready to stir up the factions. Even a one-eyed fool can see the riots aren’t always connected with who won the latest race. Some fight for the love of fighting. Some skulk round the edges looking for a chance to loot. Others brawl to defend the honor of their team.”
    “Indeed. I didn’t need to venture into the depths of the Hippodrome to learn that. Tell me about those two who escaped execution.”
    “Nobody seems to know where they are. It’s being whispered if they are not brought forward and pardoned there will be another riot. But then you must be aware of that too.”
    “So the rumors are true. What are the men’s names?”
    “I have no idea. I don’t know every member of